This balcony style is a great choice if you are looking for a bra to wear under low-cut scooped or square necklines as the straps join at the side of the cup rather than the centre. This creates an uplifting 'lift and separate' effect.
I wear a size 32FF, so I am always on the look-out for the best bras for big busts and I usually wear a full-cup bra to give me the level of support I need. However when I am wearing certain tops or dresses with more revealing necklines I find these bras have a tendency to show. This is why I decided to try a balcony (sometimes called balconette) bra.
Price: £39
Band size: 28-40
Cup Size: DD-K
Padding: No
Wired: Yes
I don't own a balcony bra and haven't worn one for a few years, so I began my search for the perfect style by having a professional fitting at a Bravissimo store which confirmed my size to be 32FF. I was looking for a bra that gave me more uplift and forward projection than a T-shirt bra, but with the support that I need. It had to be comfortable too. The Millie bra was recommended to me by my fitter as being one of their most popular and bestselling styles.
Lingerie expert and body confidence champion Chantelle Garrood (who wears a size 32H) is also a fan of the style and has shared her thoughts with her Instagram followers on her account @thebraexpert. "I love that the Millie bra comes in multiple colours so there is something for everyone," she says. "The all-over stretch lace makes the bra not only look beautiful but it also works with a wide variety of sizes and even moves with your body making it a very flexible option."
After hearing these two expert opinions I opted for the Millie and have been wearing the bra every day for four days. I have considered the level of support and comfort it provides, along with the coverage and practicality of wearing it with a variety of necklines – here's what I thought.
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Comfort
When I put on this bra for the first time I was expecting it to be a little uncomfortable as it is an all-over lace design, however although it wasn't as soft as the best T-shirt bra that I own, the lace was flexible, stretchy and soft to touch which allowed for movement and felt comfortable to wear throughout a long and busy day. The underwiring is encased in soft, slightly padded fabric and I didn't feel it digging in or irritating my skin. The only thing that made this bra slightly uncomfortable was the label that was sewn into the back, but I simply cut this out to remedy the problem. Bra expert Chantelle comments "It’s so comfortable, I’ve worn mine so much since I got it, in fact I’d go as far as to say it’s my new favourite everyday bra."
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Style
This is an incredibly pretty bra, made from an attractive floral lace fabric with pretty scalloped edges along both the cups and around the lower band. I opted for the neon coral shade, which is a vibrant orange and looks very striking. The Millie bra has a choice of three matching brief styles, making a great lingerie set. This is a bra to be seen in!
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Shape & Cut
This bra is a typical balcony shape, with wider set straps and lower cut cups. The cups provide less coverage than a full-cup style. The centre of the bra is wider than a plunge bra and would show under a deep V neckline. The straps are 2cm wide and fully adjustable. The bra fastens at the back with two rows of hooks in sizes D-G, 28-36GG, 28-34H, 28-32HH and three rows of hooks on 38-40GG, 36-40H, 34-40HH, J-K.
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Support
The Millie bra provided me with a good level of support and I was able to go about my daily routine (which included jogging between appointments as I was running late). However, because the balcony style has lower cut cups that offer less coverage over the top of the breast I felt more exposed than when wearing my regular bra. The straps were comfortable and stayed in place.
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Fit
This bra fitted perfectly and was true to size. I recommend getting professionally fitted for a balcony bra as it is not a style that would suit all body types. This bra is very good for wearing under square necklines, especially if you want to show off your boobs and want them to look fuller and more rounded.
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Care
The Millie Balcony bra is made from 88% Polyamide and 12% Elastane and is hand-wash only. I wore the Millie bra for four days and then washed it by hand and didn't see any change in appearance or comfort. I will continue to wash and wear and report back here if this changes.
Bravissimo Millie Balcony Bra Review: Verdict
This is a fantastic looking bra that feels supportive and comfortable to wear. I personally wouldn't wear this style as an everyday bra as I didn't feel as supported as when wearing a full-cup design, however I would chose to wear this bra under certain tops that require a balcony neckline.
Shop The Bra
This is a fun and vibrant colour which will add some personality to your lingerie drawer. It will work well under bright shades of red, orange or pink. It does actually glow in the dark too, which could be fun to wear under the fluorescent lights at a nightclub!
At time of writing the Millie bra is available on the Bravissimo website in 11 shades, which includes this caramel colour that along with Ivory, Black and Hazelnut will make great flesh tone options for the majority of skin types. Wear these shades under pale colours for an invisible effect.
