Enlite Bra Try On Review

With all the [inorganic (honestly, I've never seen so many literal whos surface (in one day!) in the Facebook groups to rave about how they bought two/four/six of this $100 bra based a try-on, only to creep their Facebook pages and see more than a few are key leaders and eds), and don't get me started on all the paid advertorial websites "reviewing" the bra] hype about the Enlite bra on Tuesday I had to go see this bra for myself. I will admit there were a number of people whose names I do recognize who seem to like this bra but they have started out with buying only one to try it out.

Anywho, back to the review - I didn't get fitted by an ed for this bra. I'd been filled in by some people who tried the bra during the preview that you should start around your regular bra size and my Ta Ta Tamer size is 38D so I knew I'd be floating around that size. I grabbed a 38D, 38C, 36DD, and 38DD to try. The one in the top photo is the 38DD and was absolutely ginormous.

I started with the 38D and I had a bit of a hard time getting it hooked, which seems to be a common complaint [from the non-shills] with this bra.

The eyes are pretty flush with the strap.

I think part of the reason is that the Ultralu material is very slick and the bra hooks are flush with the strap. I kept sliding over the hooks again and again. To be honest, I have a very hard time hooking up the Ta Ta Tamer, too, so with those I usually put it on backwards lower down my ribcage and spin it around. I don't think you can do that with this bra because of the crossed back straps. I finally got it fastened and it felt very soft and comfortable. The straps did not dig into my shoulders. When I jumped up and down I felt jiggle in the cups (I should mention I have natural, middle-aged, briefly breast fed three kids breasts) and they seemed to be too roomy, especially at the top, so I decided to try a 38C which worked pretty well but I had more armpit fat than in the 38D. I never got that one fastened by myself and gave up without calling someone to help me. If I can't do a bra up by myself then I'm not going to buy it. I did grab a 36DD but the back hooks were way too far apart and I knew I could never close it.

I have read people recommend you do the bra up first and then slip it over your head, like a regular shelf bra, but I've been trapped in tanks and bras that way before so didn't even attempt it.

I was a bit surprised by how much bounce I had in this bra and I think it's because the back portion of the straps are made of something that seemed a bit like luxtreme. It's pretty stretchy stuff. It's definitely a supportive bra but I thought I'd be a lot more locked and loaded. Or, maybe I'm just more used to smashing my chest down in my other bras.

Why I Didn't Go Home With This Bra:

1- I can't fasten it myself.

2 - It's seriously ugly and gives me a massive boob shelf. I know the hype talks about 'encapsulation' but that's on the inside. It still looks like a boob shelf on the outside. Moreover, the molded cups add bulk and covers a lot of skin. I wore a Salute the Sun tank to the store and it looked like sh*t with that tank. The great majority of my tops are not high necked - I'm really not a fan of high necks for running since that is a high sweat area for me - so I have limited options that I can wear with the bra. I feel the same way about the Ta Ta Tamer. It looks too much like underwear so always wear it with something like a Swiftly tank and not a 105F.

3 - It's $98. I might have bought one to try and just figured out how to get it on if it had been priced more like $70-75 but at nearly $100 I'm not ready to take a chance on this bra. I don't trust bonded seams and I've seen two reviews now where people say they ripped hooks out of bra. I also hate the unfinished edges on the laser cut fabric. 

4 - I don't need a bra like this. I can get similar support from bras that give me a more natural shape - my old Donna Karans and Champion Powerback were pretty good and made me look like I had two boobs. Granted, I gave up wearing them well before I started running. However, I am supremely happy with my Strap It Like It's Hot and Ta Ta Tamer bras when it comes to running. The SILIH comes up similarly high to the Enlite but it's a cute bra and it looks nice under lower cut tanks. I also like the support in the Glide and Stride Bra a lot. 

However, it was super soft and comfy so I might go back and play with sizes more to see if I can figure out how to get into it by myself. It took me many store visits of trying and re-trying on the Ta Ta Tamer before I figured out the right size and developed a method to get into it. Once I did, it was my go-to bra for running until the Strap It Like It's Hot came along.

Have you guys tried it on and taken it for a run? How have you liked it and what is your normal run bra?

Athleta Tie Salutation Capris and Eyelet Dunes Tank

I went to the mall yesterday to try on the new Enlite bra and checked the Athleta site beforehand to see if they got the Tie Dye Salutations back in stock in my size. It turned out they did and I was able to reserve them (love that feature) to try on. I ended up buying them (I'll return my phone order from the other day) and wore them today to the gym for a weights workout. I think I love these more than my plain black Salutations - they seem to have better coverage. They are fully opaque. If they come out with enough cute prints, I am ready to replace a significant portion of my Wunder Under crops with Salutations.

The back waistband logo is very discreet on these.

Fabric content.

Comes with a transfer warning. I made sure to wear with darker colors and I'm going to have to remember to wash with darks, too. I made the error of leaving my hot pink Athleta Sweat Life Tank wet in the wash for hours and some color transferred to two light gray lululemon pieces of mine. The good news is that I stain treated and rewashed them and the pink came right out, so disaster averted.

Hang tag info.

Interior waist pocket, located on the right side.

I've also been eyeing the Eyelet Dunes Tank in the store and on the website. I tried it on and really, really liked it but I don't think I can keep a white top clean. For the price I'd rather not risk it but I keep thinking about it. XL Athleta tops are usually pretty roomy on me but this was snug across my chest. The back on the white is a bit sheer, too. Not terribly but you can definitely see the color/print on your bra.