Lingerie Reviews: The Cacique Line of Bras from Lane Bryant

Bras are a very important article of underwear. There is nothing worse than seeing an older woman in a fitting with shirt with breasts that droop to her knees, and no bra to support them. Younger women can certainly get away with the no-bra look, but definitely not older women - especially those that have a few extra pounds than the skinny Minnies that grace the pages of most magazines.

Fortunately, Lane Bryant, the store that caters to big and beautiful women, acquired the former french lingerie boutique, Cacique, and offers their bras for sale in their stores and online. The Cacique bras come in all sorts of styles: underwire, strapless, halter, M-frame, bustier, demi, half-demi, full coverage and many more. There is a wide array of all sorts of colors, as well as cute patterns. Plus, you can choose the bra that you want in many different fabrics, from cotton to satin. There is a lot to choose from.

The price range for Cacique bras really isn't too bad. They range from $22 to over $40 (for the very fancy ones). Often times, you will find a Buy One Get One Half-Off sale at Lane Bryant and the Lane Bryant website. So, the price of two bras is significantly less than the price of just one. It is definitely worth purchasing two during these terrific sales. Of course, you could always find a less-expensive (and lower quality) bra at a different store, such as a low-end department store or even a mass-merchant store.

As insinuated above, the bras by Cacique are very high quality. You will never have a problem with fraying, ripping or running in the fabric. All of the material, from cotton to satin, is high quality and very comfortable. Even the dyes are high-quality, and you won't have a problem with colors running or fading when you wash them. (Just be sure to use a good detergent. The fade factor can be contingent on how often you actually wash your bras, and the manner in which you wash them.) You will be hard pressed to find another bra of such high quality in this price range.

Unfortunately, every silver lining does indeed have a cloud. While the Cacique bras are high quality, the cut just isn't right. I personally wear many different styles of Cacique bras, and I have had the same problem with all of them: They don't fit me correctly. I am a 40C. I have been measured professionally, and I know for a fact that I am this size. I have other bras by Victoria's Secret and JC Penney in a 40C, and they fit perfectly. Unfortunately, the Cacique bras are cut quite small and fit very snugly. While this may be a good thing for some people, it isn't good for me. The bra so tight on the last hook that it leaves red marks on my chest. I have to go with the larger 42C, which really doesn't make me feel good about myself. And, what is going to happen when I get pregnant and my breasts really grow? There are going to be some major bra issues when it comes to the Cacique fit.

Overall, though, Cacique has some great bras. If you do go for a Cacique bra, just make sure that you go for a larger size than you usually wear. And be sure to try the bra on in the store before you buy. You don't want to take something home that you won't be able to wear!