Now it’s not often I’ll change my mind about a bra. If at first sight I’m not keen, it’s rare that I’m proved wrong. And whilst I didn’t hate this bra, it didn’t exactly jump out and steal my heart as I browsed the Brastop website. But oh how wrong I was…

Freya Pollyanna in Black

Bra: Freya Pollyanna in black.

Product description:

• Supportive balconette bra styled in silky satin fabric over a luxurious black base.
• Decorated with a charming floral print, intricately embroidered lace overlay and delicate petal bow detailing for an elegant touch to the classic look.
• Uplifting, underwired cups provide flattering curves, gorgeous shape and classic Freya fit.
• Adjustable shoulder straps fasten securely with two hooks at the back, across three columns.69% Polyester, 19% Nylon/Polyamide, 12% Elastane/Spandex

My Size: 30G.

Fit: It’s no secret that Freya sizing can be a bit all over the place. Like many brands, there’s fluctuations between styles, but this can be frustrating, to say the least. But to me the Pollyanna is a near-perfect fit. I wear a 30G (as a rule of thumb) but wore a 32FF for the review and whilst I could easily downsize in the back (as would be expected) I doubt I could have gone done to a 28 which I find myself doing on a regular basis with Freya these days. The fit of the back is very true to size (thank God) and once again the fit on the cup is second to none, not that I’d expect anything less from Freya!

Comfort: This bra is so comfortable I could certainly turn my back on a LOT of styles just for it. Recently Freya seemed to have changed their fabric and originally, I didn’t like the look of it – too swimwear, I’d say to friends. Then I tried it on, and all doubt went out the window. It’s so soft I can’t quite get over it, and it fits over curves (and lumps and bumps) perfectly. I have very sensitive skin, and some sheer fabrics can leave me with a slight rash, however I know this will never be the case with the Pollyanna. The fit of the bra is also very comfortable. Quite true to size, the soft fabric isn’t as firm as some of the other styles, but I think this is a plus and doesn’t affect the back size much at all. This is one bra I could wear day in, day out, just based on comfort.

Colour: Whilst not as eye-catching as some of the other Freya designs, the Pollyanna does a great update on a plain black set. The soft black, almost charcoal colour is pepper with a delicate blue/lilac floral design that really makes it very pretty, and it’s set against the dark black lace which gives it an edge (quite literally). Everyone could do with a black set, but the intricate yet simple floral design stops it from blending in with all the other black sets, and looks great against any skin tone.

Occasion: Once again Freya create a bra that can be worn everyday. The comfortable and supportive design and fit means it’s ideal for day-to day activities, however I did find the Pollyanna gave me a little more cleavage than standard Freya bras, something to take into account if you’re a little more modest. I’ve worn this bra countless times and it really is so versatile. Despite the lace it gives a wonderfully smooth silhouette meaning it’s easy to wear under tighter clothing. I’ve even worn this on a night out, and the almost-gothic lace on the top half of the cups actually gave a kitsch peek-a-boo detail when wearing a lower cut top, without revealing everything. I never thought I’d wear this bra so much but it really is a very versatile set.

Price: The Freya Pollyanna in this style is £14.95, with the matching short or thong for £9.95, so whilst it’s one of our slightly more expensive sets here at Brastop, it’s a lot cheaper than elsewhere! The thing I find with Freya is that you know you’re in for good quality, great fit and gorgeous fabrics, and for those reasons alone it’s worth every penny.

I won’t lie – my first (online) impressions of the Pollyanna weren’t great, because I have a terrible habit of over looking just about any set that isn’t in a bright colour. Whilst it may not have been at the top of my wishlist, it’s quickly turned into a reliable, re-occuring set that I wear time and time again. It’s comfortable but still manages to look pretty and what more could you want from a set?

Not too keen on the black design? It also comes in caramel and ivory!

(All prices are subject to change – correct at the time of blog)