In the next chapter of “Bras I have owned for ages, taken photos of, wear often, but have never reviewed” is the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless. I feel like I should be ashamed to say that I’ve owned this since 2013 when I bought it on eBay, but then again, that’s got to be the mark of an excellent bra – in fact, it’s potentially the only bra that I’ve kept in my drawer that long! I think it’s safe to say that because it’s an occasion bra only, it doesn’t get enough outings to wear it out.
And that’s exactly why I’m reviewing it today – as an occasion and another solution bra, ideal for under a strapless wedding dress, even if you’re a DD+ cup size. My last solution bra review for under a wedding dress was the After Eden Vivisence Kate backless bra, and I’ve also showed a Masquerade strapless basque (that could also work as a strapless bra too if you wanted!).
I’ve personally struggled with finding the perfect strapless bra for my 28GG size. I didn’t get on all that well with the Curvy Kate Luxe, despite it working perfectly for so many other people. It stayed in place alright, but sadly it was too shallow for me and just kind of crushed my chest.
On the other hand, despite saying I struggle for strapless bras, considering that I’ve had this one for 5 years, I can’t struggle all that much! Char actually reviewed it on the blog too in a 32C a few years ago. So on with the review:
Shape & Appearance
The Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless bra is a feat of engineering in itself and it certainly looks and feels like one too! It’s pretty big and bulky, taking up a lot of room in my bra drawer and on my body, but I’ll give it a little leeway, it does do its job of holding up the breasticles very well!
The bra sits pretty low on the chest, almost like a longline, but it’s unlike any other bra I’ve tried or owned, except for its “sister” – the Wonderbra Ultimate Plunge, which I reviewed here. Instead of having a traditional underwire, it has a large piece of moulded plastic to hold everything firmly in place. In addition, it has “hands” inside to push everything up and in – yes, really, hands! Check out Char’s review to see the interior of the cups. In addition, the bra has a pretty low plunging neckline at the gore.
This combination really truly works for me in terms of cleavage, uplift and shape. As you can see, I’ve got a pretty spectacular “buttcrack” cleavage in the Wonderbra strapless AND “cakes on a plate”. For something with no straps, that’s pretty impressive!
The bra is also entirely smooth and seamless, meaning that it doesn’t show through any fitted clothing. My version has a lace overlay, but you can find it without this for an even smoother look.
The Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless bra fastens with 3 sets of 3 hooks and eyes at the back. It also has silicon strips on the interior which hold it in place.
Size, fit & comfort
Back in 2013 when I bought this bra, my normal size was a 28G. I sister sized into a 30FF after reading that the band runs pretty tight, but also because it starts at a 30 band so it was my only option. At the time of purchase, it fit really well. Now, a cup size up, it still fits pretty well – I’d say that’s a versatile bra!
The recommendation to size up in the band is a good one I’d say. I’m very happy in the 30 band and I think a 28 would be too tight. Generally I prefer a tighter band in a solution or strapless bra since they ideally need to stay in place for a long time, so I’m glad this one does run a little tight.
I think you can tell that the cups on this bra are a little on the small side for me in a 30FF, but thanks to the deep plunge and the fairly open top, I can get away with it. In fact, considering it is technically a cup size too small, it’s not a bad fit at all!
The only issue I have with this bra is how low it sits on the body. This is due to the rather large expanse of plastic that creates the support, but for someone like me with a short waisted torso, it means it takes up quite a large space on my body – and considering my breast tissue takes up a pretty large expanse of that already, I’m not left with much torso! It occasionally feels like it’s sliding down, but when I’ve tried to tug it back up, I realise that it’s in fact in the right place still, it’s just the feeling of the band sitting low on my torso that makes me think it’s slid down.
Saying that, the bra stays in place remarkably well. In fact, that last photo above with my arms in the air – I’d just done star jumps to see if it would move, slide or let any breast tissue escape, and it passed the test! I’ve worn the bra out on several occasions and always been happy with the shape it’s created and how well it’s stayed. While it’s not the most comfortable bra, and I’m not all that keen on wearing it all day long, for a strapless bra in a DD+ size, I’d say it’s really pretty good.
And while we’re at it, here are a few outfits I’ve worn this strapless bra underneath over time:
Your figure is absolutely stunning. How do you get such a flat stomach? I’m a 38h and just look permanently pregnant!
That definitely looks like a Holy Grail, and I adore the white top polka dot skirt outfit, you look stunning!