I received these items free of charge to review.
After reviewing some Bravissimo bras last year, their (sadly now discontinued!) Niya bra has gone on to become the #1 most worn bra in my collection. So I was delighted to be given the chance to review some of their swimwear as well. Bravissimo are D+ cup specialists, and what makes their in-house swimwear range special is that it’s all sold in band-cup sizing, so you’re getting proper bra-style fit and support. I normally just buy my swimwear in S-M-L sizing, so I was curious to see if this would be a game-changer for me.
We kicked off with a virtual ‘fitting’, where we went over my usual size (30DD) and I noted that 30 bands aren’t a super firm fit on me, but it’s what I gravitate towards simply because it’s usually the smallest size available. The fitter mentioned that a Bravissimo 30-band swimsuit is designed for a UK size 8 body, and I wear a UK size 6, so a 28E seemed like the ideal option – firmer in the band, the right size through the body, and the same cup volume as my everyday-favourite 30DD Niya.
Then she helped me pick out some options; I explained what I liked in swimwear (one-pieces, something more interesting than plain black) and we settled on the idea of trying one underwired swimsuit and one wireless one, so I could compare the 28E fit in both.
The Bravissimo Cancun swimsuit (underwired)
£75, available in 28D – 40J
This is the first swimsuit that caught my eye on the Bravissimo website, and the one I was most excited to try. Currently available in Khaki or Chocolate (I chose Chocolate) with a contrast stitch trim, or various colours and prints without, it’s available from a 28 band in selected colours and a 30 band in others.
It’s a high-leg, low-back design with built-in underwired bra cups attached to a non-adjustable band with a plastic clasp. The hidden bra is made from mesh, and the swimsuit itself from a textured fabric with a smooth lining layer.
Shortly before my call with the Bravissimo fitter, I’d placed an order for the discontinued Niya bra in 28E (I desperately wanted another before it was gone for good, and 30DD was already sold out). Unfortunately, it’s too small in the cup – I definitely need a F cup on a 28 band in that style. And this swimsuit appears to be the same. The band fit is great – firm but not uncomfortable – but I’m either spilling out of the centre of the cups or the sides. At least now I know my size in Bravissimo 28 bands. Maybe it’s because of that, or maybe it’s just the design, but the outer fabric has a tendency to buckle along the seams at the sides of the bust as you can see below.
Here you can see the buckling at the sides of the bust
However, there are plenty of positives too! Despite needing a larger cup size, I feel very secure and supported in this swimsuit, and you can see that it’s delivering bra-style lift. I’ve never had that much support and shaping in a one-piece swimsuit before. I feel like I could comfortably jump on a jet ski while wearing it, or do a handstand without the risk of falling out.
And because it comes with a built-in bra, it’s the perfect transitional piece. Once you’re tired of the beach, just throw a skirt/shorts/trousers on top and you can head straight to lunch or for a walk in the town – no need to head back to the hotel or change under a towel. (You could say the same of any one-piece swimsuit I guess, but I’m speaking as someone who always wears a bra out). That’s one less top you’ll need to fit inside your suitcase.
The Bravissimo Sydney swimsuit (wirefree)
£72, available in 28D – 38H
The Sydney swimsuit is currently available in this colourful tile print which I find rather fun, or a white-background cherry print which comes with little cherry charms on the ties instead of gold starfish.
This one is a wirefree option, but it does still have a proper band-cup sized support inside. It’s constructed with an outer layer, inner lining, and a third layer of fabric at the bust which is sewn in place at the front and features a firm elastic underband all the way around the body (no fastening on this one).
Unlike Cancun, this swimsuit also has adjustable shoulder straps to tweak the fit, and adjustable side ties that allow you to convert it between higher and lower leg silhouettes.
The adjustable hip ties, worn as low and high as they go.
The fit of this swimsuit at the bust also feels nicely secure, but without underwire, there’s more bounce and you don’t get the same lift as in the Cancun swimsuit. The wirefree design does make the fit more flexible, so although I feel like sizing up to a 28F and having a touch more room at the bust would be ideal here too, I’m not obviously spilling out and it’s still very comfortable.
Due to the ‘bra’ band on this design not having a closure however, it is a pretty tight squeeze to pull it over my hips. And I don’t have especially wide hips – if you do, a design like the Cancun that opens and closes is probably the better option.
So, am I a bra-sized swimwear convert?
Since I am neither a particularly active beach-goer (sunbathing for me!), someone who swims for sport, or someone with a very large bust size, I’ve never really felt the need to specifically seek out swimwear with extra bust support. However, I have owned various pieces over the years where I felt like I was at risking of falling out of them, and that always made me very self-conscious.
I have yet to wear these two Bravissimo swimsuits in the water (they will be coming with me to Ibiza in a few weeks though), but they seem like designs that I’ll be able to completely relax in and not worry about that kind of thing. Hooray for carefree splashing in the waves!
Both swimsuits – even the wirefree one – offer a more secure fit than I am used to from swimwear. And while I’m towards the lower end of Bravissimo’s sizing and can usually fit in an XS swimsuit without any major bust-fit concerns, if you’re someone who wears a 28GG or 30H for example, I imagine most swimwear sized for your body is going to leave your bust feeling incredibly squeezed in – if it even fits. I absolutely see their appeal for larger bust sizes.
Have you tried Bravissimo swimwear before, or other bra-sized swimwear? I would love to hear your thoughts about it.