AD: this post contains some gifted items and affiliate links, marked with *
victory latte* was purchased with my own money from brastop*, victory black* is a fit sample, and victory x black/silver was gifted to me by curvy kate for taking part in the #curvykateis10 campaign.
today i’m reviewing one of my favourite bras and a go-to style for day to day comfort and support – curvy kate’s victory balconette bra*. launching in 2017 as part of the brand’s AW17 collection, this 4-part non-padded style has been popular in every single colour released, with classic black and latte as your everyday essentials alongside fun fashion colours like blue and red, and even some sexy re-styling like victory x, victory viva* and victory pin-up*.
the look
i absolutely adore the minimalistic styling of the victory bra*. it’s a no-fuss, no-frills, simple and stylish choice for D+ cups – because we don’t always want ribbons and lace and bows adorning our undergarments! the cups are slightly fuller coverage and have a sheerer top cup that lightens the look, complemented by a cut-out centre gore and chic silver ‘v’ charm. i love that the straps don’t have the picot elastic too, instead favouring a smooth and soft elastic that matches the clean aesthetic of the bra. the underside of the straps is brushed and soft for a non-slip, comfortable fit.
victory comes with a coordinating mid-rise short* and there’s also a matching thong* in the black and latte colours – both choices follow the same simple and minimalist style with matching ‘v’ charm detail at the waistbands. it makes for a great looking set that’s modern and stylish.
#curvykateis10 campaign 
wearing victory x in black/silver
the fit
victory* fits brilliantly, and i take it in my sister size of 30FF as unfortunately no 28 bands are made in this style (yet… please bring some out soon, curvy kate!). the band is on the firmer side of true to size, so if you’re between sizes or prefer a slightly looser fit then i’d suggest sister sizing up. the 4-part cups give a fantastic up-front shape thanks to the clever side support panels that project your breast tissue forwards, while the wings are made from a powermesh fabric that gives enough support and an anchored fit without being scratchy or uncomfortable. the underwires come up higher than other curvy kate balconette cuts, with the tip of the gore sitting quite high in the cleavage. when wearing this style i am aware of the wires sitting on my sternum, but it’s almost like a comforting pressure and i feel no pain or discomfort.
the cups can fit a little shallow at the underwire in some sizes, and when my bust is particularly full at certain times of my menstrual cycle i do find that the cradle can stand away from my ribcage a tad – but this probably isn’t helped by the fact the band isn’t as tight as it could be on me, so isn’t holding the gore firmly against my sternum – so i do have a couple in 30G as a back-up too to give me some extra room! i find victory x (now discontinued) fits ever so slightly differently, but i can’t quite put my finger on what it is. it feels a little wider in the wires than the classic victory, and also a little roomier at the top of the cup. i feel like victory x gives me more of a minimised silhouette, but that could just be the black binding giving this illusion.
despite being a seamed cut-and-sew construction, i find myself reaching for this set whenever i wear a t-shirt because the seams are pretty flat and don’t show much under clothes. also because of the shape it gives, i find it much more comfortable to wear under higher cut necklines – sometimes a moulded t-shirt bra just gives me too much of a boosted and rounded shape which causes me to feel like i’m being strangled by my collar, while victory gives a nice smooth fit without the extra oomph!
the coordinating shorts run a little on the large side in the classic victory cut, but i do find the victory x short fits a little snugger. i wear an 8 easily for the classic victory short but victory x fits much more comfortably in a 10 – i would put this down to the black elastic binding on the victory x set. soft, sheer mesh is comfortable on the skin, though the short is a little too full coverage for my liking as i’m typically a thong or brazilian gal – they’re perfect if you prefer some extra fabric and coverage though! the thong in latte fits like a glove in an 8, and you can be sure that i’ll be buying a LOT more of these!
the verdict
overall, curvy kate’s victory set* is exactly that – a victory! for fuller busted folk everywhere i would say its definitely worth trying if you haven’t already. the black and latte colours have been part of my regular bra rotation for over a year now, and they’re still going strong! my only wish is that they’d do 28 bands – at least in the continuity colours. i can’t say enough how nice it is to have a supportive and comfortable set that isn’t covered in bows and ribbons or polka dots. sometimes simple is best, and simple doesn’t have to be boring. the full size range is 30-40 D-K, and 42-44 D-G with the short going from 8 to 22.
what do you think of curvy kate’s victory set*? have you tried it yet, or will you try it in the future?
xo, the lingerie princess
Outstanding.