Update: Since Nicole wrote this article, Carissa has rebranded her range as Carissa Rose and launched a new website. We have updated the links accordingly.
Today’s post is written by Nicole, a stylish East Coast lass, long time YLF supporter and fabulous forum member. Nicole reviews Bratique Helene, a new manufacturer of woven tops designed specifically for women with a D+ cup size.
As most of the regular YLF Forum members know, I am a busty gal. As most busty gals know, finding woven shirts that fit and are comfortable is a pretty tall order. Woven shirts tend to have very little give. Also, in order for a shirt to reach across the fullest part of my chest, it will be several sizes too big in the shoulders, sleeves and torso. My biggest hurdle with woven, button down collared shirts is that they are always riding up on me. I spend an enormous amount of time tugging the shirt back down into place. It’s uncomfortable and annoying, so I don’t own any woven collared shirts. Until now.
Enter Carissa Brown of Bratique Helene and Angie’s ability to bring people together.
I was honored when Angie asked me to review Carissa’s product. After I picked a style from their line and provided my measurements, Carissa sent me 3 different shirts. Using photos and email, we compared the shirts and decided which one fit me best. I then had the sleeves shortened and got right to wearing the shirt. Here are my impressions…
The fabric is divine. I chose a plain white collared shirt and it has just enough stretch in it to make it comfortable.
The closure system is genius. Instead of buttons it has hook and eye closures. At first, I was afraid the closures would be troublesome, but they worked well. Fastening them was no more time consuming than buttoning a shirt, but the beauty is they don’t pull at the bust the way traditional buttons would.
The cuffs are generous, which I love!
The seaming makes the shirt work for busty women. The downside is that some seam lines show through the fabric.
The shirt works with layers. I tried on the shirt with a thicker gauge cardigan and a short jacket and both worked fine.
The shirt tail has a small built in peplum. I think the design idea was to keep the shirt tail tailored so it would look good untucked (because us busty gals don’t have a lot of success tucking shirts in). I feel the peplum on my particular shirt fans out a bit too far on the sides. However, my mother thought it looked fine and it’s probably a fairly easy alteration.
Speaking of my mother, she absolutely loved this shirt. A professional dress designer and seamstress for most of her life, she was very impressed with the quality of the fabric, the workmanship of the shirt, and mostly with the design itself.
For anyone who has a high bust to waist ratio, I highly recommend that you check out Carissa’s product line. Although the range is somewhat limited right now, she does have plans to add more pieces in the future. Her company is just starting out and I am very happy to see her succeed.
