Disclosure: The lingerie in this review was provided by The Natori Company. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
Founded in 1977 by former investment banker Josie Natori, Natori is known for running one of the most recognizable lingerie brands in the world, also named Natori. Sold in many upscale department stores, the brand is famous for its classic silhouettes, and the 'Feathers' range is among their bestsellers.
The Feathers underwire is a contour plunge bra (a contour bra is a type of lined bra, usually with foam cups, which holds its shape even when not on the body and gives a smooth, nipple-free silhouette to the breast), and features sheer mesh overlay with lace trim on the cups.
The name 'Feathers' refers to the lace motif on the band (close-up below), a pattern which reappears on the brief. Both the bra and panty are made of nylon, lycra, and spandex. The bra is available in sizes 32A thru 36DDD and the panty is available in sizes S thru XL. As far as prices, the bra retails for $68 and the panty for $30. For this review, I tried the bra in size 34D and the panty in size M, both in the color black.
You may have noticed that the sizes I mentioned above are a little different from the sizes I usually wear (34C bra, L panty), so that seems like a good place to start the review. Natori's cups run a bit small, and while a smaller cup is great for keeping your boobs in place all day, it may mean you need to up a cup size to avoid spillage (aka "double boob).
I don't have especially full or large breasts (my breast shape is best described as shallow), so I hardly ever need to go up a size, but I did in this bra. Because of that, I'd highly recommend visiting a department store to to try on multiple sizes and make sure you're fitted into the right one. I also took a size down in the panty. In terms of fit, I'd say this particular brief (which looks and fits more like a short) is very generously sized.
Natori is a brand I run across all the time, both in the media and in department stores, but it's not a brand I've paid much attention to. I mean, every once in awhile, I'd pick up a bra from Natori or Josie (Josie is the juniors line), but it's not a name that really sticks out in my mind when I'm making my lingerie wishlist - a list I fully admit is more concerned with the "pretty" than the "practical."
That said, I think Feathers is a really nice everyday bra. It's not especially flashy, but that's the point. This is the kind of bra you put on and then completely forget about. It gave me a nicely rounded shape beneath my clothes, yet was completely unnoticeable.
Best of all, the plunge style is suitable for a variety of necklines while the full cut briefs are invisible under even close-fitting pants and skirts. This bra is perfect for those who want lingerie that's pretty without being overtly 'sexy,' and for those who want a bra that offers shaping, separation, and lift without excessive padding.
What I'm not sure of is how this style would work on people with fuller breasts. If your bosom is very full or round, I can see spillage being even more of an issue, and I'm not sure if going up a cup size would always fix it (this is a very deep plunge).
The underwire also became less comfortable for me after about eight hours of wear. It wasn't painful, and I didn't have red marks on my ribcage or anything. I just went from not noticing the bra at all to being very conscious of it quite suddenly. My Feathers bra also accidentally made its way into the washing machine and was no worse for the wear after, so bonus points for that.
Overall, I like this set. It's a bit too plain to add to make it a wishlist item but if you're looking for a new everyday bra, I'd give it a try - especially when the seasonal colorways go on sale.
Have you tried the Natori Feathers range before? What did you think?
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