Over the previous couple of months, I’ve been working by way of the grueling (and at instances ugly) strategy of overhauling my sports activities bra assortment. It was like all my outdated standbys misplaced their stretch and assist in a single day—though in equity, I hadn’t purchased any new ones in years. To melt the monetary blow of bra procuring, I regarded to Amazon, the house of activewear dupes, for reasonable(-ish) choices.
That’s the place I discovered Baleaf’s Freeleaf Bra ($46, amazon.com), a chunk I used to be deeply skeptical of at first. However its value (which ranges between $32 and $46, relying on Amazon’s present offers) and cute, strappy again satisfied me to take an opportunity. Lo and behold, it’s now a part of my heavy rotation—and I like it a lot, I not too long ago purchased a second one.
The design
The Freeleaf is a longline bra with a scoop neck, molded cups, and criss-cross straps. All these options most likely aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, particularly for those who’re searching for most assist, however I feel they play properly collectively. The news neckline doesn’t plunge too low, and the cups don’t should do all of the lifting, because of the strap configuration: One set of straps creates an X throughout your shoulder blades, whereas one other pair runs straight down out of your shoulders to the bra’s band. And, for my part, a longer-line bra with a pleasant, broad band is rarely a foul factor—I can put on my Freeleaf as an everyday bra or a crop prime, relying on my plans and the temperature.
The one challenge I’ve with the design is that the band and straps aren’t adjustable. Your entire bra is made from a nylon and Lycra materials that’s extremely stretchy and what I’d name reasonably compressive. Which means, the band and straps could be considerably accommodating—however if you’d like a really dialed-in match, it’s your decision one thing with buckles or a hook-and-eye closure as an alternative.
The sizing
Baleaf makes use of a mixture of standalone sizes and ranged sizes, so your choices are small-medium, large-X-large, XX-large, and 3X-large. Is that this complicated? Sure. Did I, as somebody who by no means is aware of if I can purchase sports activities bras in smalls or mediums, respect all of it the identical? Sure. The small-medium is simply the proper measurement for me. The band feels slightly comfortable after I first pull it on, but it surely shortly stretches to suit comfortably round my higher torso.
And fortuitously, the model offers a measurement chart, so you may simply discover the choice that fits your commonplace cup and band measurement.
Unique picture by SELF senior commerce author Sara Coughlin
Unique picture by SELF senior commerce author Sara Coughlin
The texture
Easy is the primary phrase that involves thoughts after I take into consideration this sports activities bra. It doesn’t rub or squeeze anyplace, and it doesn’t chafe beneath my armpits, which is an annoyingly widespread downside for me. I don’t personal any high-end sports activities bras (once more, I’ve needed to substitute so many bras this yr—finances is every part), however that is how I’d think about they really feel: modern, mushy, and cushty.
