Summer’s classic fuller-bust conundrum: Do I buy the adorable strapless dress and show some skin? Or do I mope over how no strapless bra holds up these boobs? I, dear readers, moped. However, like all fashion lovers, I wanted to participate in trends. While strapless items will never be a staple in my wardrobe, I would like the option to own a couple. Enter: The Scultpresse Dana Strapless Molded Cup Bra.

Size: UK 36GG/US 36J

When my amazing sales rep sent me the Dana, I was between a 34 and 36 band, leaning hard into 36. My cup size was a UK 34HH/US 34L to UK 36H/US 36K, but I was pretty dead set (*cough* delusional *cough*) that I would lose the weight in like two weeks. Initially, the cup was a size too small, and the band on that sucker was so tight it took a full extender to buckle it. From my decade of fitting experience, I saw the immediate potential of Dana, but I did not want to review an excellent bra in the wrong size. Then life happened.

Flash forward to today: I measure 33” around the ribcage and am comfortable in UK 34H/GG cups again. After contracting the Delta variant last year, I am sensitive to tightness around my ribs. Compression causes breathing difficulty, meaning I went from the gal who would have been wearing 32s with a small extender to one who prefers “moderately tight” on my calculator. The band on the 36, nevertheless, is pretty damn firm. I am on the loosest set of hooks (middle in the pictures for some reason!), so I highly recommend you size up in the band.

The cup fits true-to-size. There is minor gaping near the side when I move, but I attribute the phenomenon to the lack of straps. Straps provide some support but also contour the cup to your breasts. For example, if you wear a UK 38GG, consider a UK 40G instead.

Finally, can we talk about the impressive size range? When I first opened my shop, you were lucky to find a good strapless bra over a UKFF/US H cup. And up to 46 band? Forget it . . . unless you were willing to purchase that garbage Goddess strapless bra with the weird oval underwires built into the cup. Sculptresse managed to accommodate up to a UK J cup/US M, and even in 46 bands, the cups reach a UK GG/US J. *golf clap*

Fit

Panache utilizes a narrower cup frame although not as narrow as Polish brands, but still U-shaped enough not to create much space on the side. Too many plus-size companies think women have boobs coming off their back and angle the underwire up the arm. It’s a pet peeve of mine as it negates certain cup design features like a side panel because guess what? The side panel is wrapping halfway toward your back. How is it going to promote projection when it is not touching breast tissue?

The center gore tacks comfortably. The cup sits slightly lower on my ribs because the padded cup shape is not deep enough for my tissue, which is a minor quibble. As I mentioned, the 36 band is perfect on the loosest hooks and feels snug around the ribcage.

The big question is: Does Dana hold up? Literally. I have danced and bent over and jumped. I have even shimmied. Throughout all the movement, the Dana Strapless stays put. No adjustments or tugging required. This is hands down the best strapless bra I have ever tried, and it has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me.

Materials

Sculptresse and Panache its parent company never skimp on materials. Bigger boobs require quality design and quality materials to provide support, and and Sculptresse gets this. A lightly padded cup composed of four sections features three lower sections with two vertical seams to lift tissue from the bottom while the single upper cup panel pulls closer to the bust. The interior fabric is soft while the exterior is almost silky to prevent showing under thinner materials. Wide two-ply wings with two side stays taper to five hook-and-eye closures in the back. On the exterior, the fabric boasts a sleek, restricted stretch while the interior utilizes two upper and two lower lines of silicone gel for hold.

The back itself is not parallel to the floor as with most strapless bras, a thoughtful finishing touch. Many strapless items, especially formal wear, have angled backs which can cause the strapless bras to show if worn the proper way. By also angling the Dana Strapless, Sculptresse ensures maximum versatility.

With regard to the name, I would not consider Dana a true molded cup because of the sectional design. When clients asked for a molded cup, they specifically meant something without seams. Personally, I have a long held distaste for molded cups because the fit problems are manifold. It’s also a convertible bra. You can reattach the straps to wear like a normal bra, one-shoulder, or cross back.

If I had one materials complaint (hey, it’s a review! I’m supposed to be critical!), it would be that I’d like to see additional places to reattach the straps. The Curvy Couture strapless bra, for example, has a total of eight reattachment places, and Sculptresse could easily achieve this with Dana.

Pricing

At $78, Dana is a pricier bra, and most Sculptresse products tend to be in the $70 range. However, I am a firm believer in the phrase “you get what you pay for,” and bras are no different. Strapless bra technology is difficult. It takes years of development and testing to create a style as nice as Dana, and the materials required to execute that design are more expensive.

Considering Wacoal’s Red Carpet Strapless (another excellent style incidentally) is $72, I think $78 is a steal for the materials, design, and size range. If you are at a stable weight, this bra will last you for years. If you are losing weight or having fluctuations, you can always wait until you are more stable to purchase if the price is stretching your budget.

Overall Thoughts

Sculptresse continues to impress me, and I think there’s an argument to be made they are producing some of the best plus-size bras on the market. Yeah, I said it. Dana continues the trend, and I am looking forward to seeing what they produce next!