Disclosure: I purchased this lingerie set myself. Links with a * are affiliate links.
Psst, want me to let you in on a lingerie shopping secret? Luxury brand Myla has an official Instagram outlet, where past season pieces can be found for ludicrously low prices – as little as £5! [Edit: I have removed the link as the outlet account has been removed since this review was published]. That’s where I picked up this bra and suspender belt for over 80% off their original retail price. Both matching bottoms were unfortunately gone in my size by the time I saw it, but I really wanted the set so I bought a second suspender belt and made my own thong from it. So that’s why you’ll only see me commenting on the bra and suspender belt in this review, even though there’s a matching thong in one of the photos.
When Myla relaunched in 2018 after a lengthy hiatus I… was not the biggest fan. It was very different to the Myla I’d known and loved before – more sophisticated perhaps, but a lot less fun and experimental. Since then though, the brand has been growing on me once again. In particular, the one range from their relaunch collection that I did really like, Columbia Road*, has become a signature style that they re-release over and over in new and always-interesting colourways.
Currently, it’s available from their main site in red* at the full price of 289€-311€ (approx. £248-£267 or ~$341-$367) for a three-piece set, depending on the bottoms style you choose, or in a mermaid pastel mix* that’s 50% off. Previous versions have included an array of vibrant colours from emerald green to bright yellow, and quite frankly, I want them all! But this pink is what happened to be available in my bra size via the outlet.
Fit
The bra is a 32D, which is the size I typically buy when a brand doesn’t make a 30DD, and it fits true to size. The band feels how I expect a 32 band to feel, and the cups are exactly my size. In fact, I’ve realised that this style of ‘super high apex’ bra design, where a single piece of fabric sweeps all the way down from the shoulder to the centre-front, works really well for a shallow-on-top shape like mine. I think it’s because the tension of the strap helps to pull the cup edge flat against the body so that there’s no gaping. My Mimi Holliday Hide & Seek bra has a similar shape and is another of my best-fitting bras.
The cups don’t provide a huge amount of lift, but neither do they flatten – they are 3-part cups, which boosts support and allows for a rounder shape. Myla describes the Columbia Road bra as “enhancing smaller busts, yet offering comfort and control for larger cup sizes”. It’s available from a 32B to a 36E.
The suspender belt is a size S, which the Myla size chart recommends for a UK 8-10 or US 4-6. This also fits true to size – as a UK 6, I can wear it just fine without it slipping down, but there’s plenty of stretch remaining. It has wide suspender straps with sturdy, solid-feeling hardware and does a good job of holding stockings up throughout the day.
Construction & Appearance
Columbia Road is made from a very fine, beige tulle which disappears completely against my skin tone, and which is embroidered with large-scale flower motifs. All of the trims are dyed the exact same shade of pink as the embroidery, with the only contrast being the gold-tone hardware. The plunge neckline has been outlined with silk-satin, as well as the bottom edge of the front of the suspender belt. The underwires are also topped with silk-satin on the outer side, which adds a touch of luxury and emphasises the curve of the breast.
The bra band is the only place where the tulle is lined – with a slightly less-fine beige net – which is done to add stability. There are also flexible bones at either side to hold it in position. The cup seams have been covered with a beige fabric on the interior to avoid feeling irritating, and although the cups and suspender are unlined, the reverse side of the embroidery isn’t scratchy. I find these pieces perfectly comfortable to wear, and particularly ideal for summer since the set feels very lightweight and breathable.
Overall both of these pieces are very neatly-sewn and -finished, as I would expect from a luxury lingerie brand. They’re hand-wash only, due to the delicate fabric, but seem as durable as they can be despite this. I’m expecting them to last me a long time, and now that I’ve actually worn a Columbia Road set, I’d have absolutely no qualms about adding it to my collection in a few more colourways!
What do you think of this Columbia Road bra set, or Myla in general? Have you shopped with them since they relaunched?
