Disclosure: The lingerie in this review was purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
Curvy Kate Victory Bra and Short
I tend to associate UK brand Curvy Kate with bright, playful, and ultimately feminine aesthetics. Their bras, of which I own a good few, tend to use cheery colors, embroidered mesh, and plenty of ribbons and bows. The Victory Bra feels like a slight, but not unwelcome, departure from their signature looks.
With plain mesh and simple trim, the Victory has none of the feminine texture of many of Curvy Kate’s other offerings. Featuring a cut-out bridge and an interplay of sheer and opaque layers of mesh, the architectural form leans androgynous. Also available in black, latte (beige), and wine, the bra immediately caught my eye in this bold electric blue color. The Victory bra is available in band sizes 30-44 and cup sizes D-K (UK, not all cup sizes available in every band size). The Victory short is available in UK sizes 8-22.
I like that the androgynous feel of this bra isn’t about minimizing the size or shape of my breasts, nor is it overtly sporty. Rather, it has the slightly fantastical quality of a superhero costume. Between the bright color, the sweeping style lines, and the almost gravity-defying lift, it perfectly embodies a playful – and powerful – comic book aesthetic!
Style
Curvy Kate Victory Bra and Short
The Victory features a four-piece, non-stretch mesh cup with a distinctive cut-out bridge. While I’ve seen similar cut-outs on smaller sized bras, they’re rare on DD+ bras, which require more architectural support. I appreciate Curvy Kate for making an effort to pattern out a sturdy way of including this detail up to a UK K cup.
Curvy Kate Victory Bra bridge detail
The elastic used doesn't have picot edges, the common lingerie elastic with decorative loops, but rather is plain, giving a streamlined appearance. Decoration is minimal, with small grosgrain ribbon bows at the base of each strap and the top of the bridge. A V-shaped charm tops off the center bridge decoration, a detail repeated on the brief. The charm mirrors the shape of the cut-out and emphasizes the geometric styling of the bra as a whole.
The briefs are high-waisted with a cheeky rear cut. They are made of soft, stretchy mesh with narrow, plain-edged elastic coverstitched on the waistband and leg openings.
Fit
Curvy Kate Victory Bra and Short
I bought my usual 38G (UK) size in the bra and a UK 22 (labeled as a US 4XL) in the briefs. I could have sized down in the briefs as they’re a little loose and thus tend to ride up in the back. I like that they’re fully mesh rather than opaque in the front, as that gives them a more streamlined and slightly edgy quality.
The fit of the bra is where this set stands out. Somehow, the construction of the cups works to emphasize a very lifted and rounded shape, something I’ve never experienced in a bra that isn’t a molded-cup push-up bra. As I vastly prefer an unlined cup to a molded cup, this was a pleasant surprise! Though it’s not a shape I would seek out every day, I like having the option.
Other than some slight wrinkling in the lower cups, I feel this fit works well with the size and shape of my breasts. The band feels firm, and the lower bridge doesn’t dig in, something I was worried about given the shape. After a few wears, this bra is comfortable enough for all-day wear.
Final Thoughts
Though I don’t want the very rounded shape every day, I find myself reaching for this bra when I’m in the mood for something with a powerful edge. I like the recently-released wine color, but the electric blue color really allows the playful qualities of this bra to shine. I hope Curvy Kate will consider more bold, bright, maybe even neon, seasonal colors. If you like this version, don’t hesitate – this color is on sale at a number of online retailers now!