Girlfriend Collective Bra Review - is it really worth it?
I got my first two girlfriend bras back in the summer, one Paloma bra and one Topanga bra. I was instantly in love with the Paloma bra. So in love, in fact, that I bought two more of the style but in different colours and one size down. So now after several months and dozens of wears in two different sizes of the same style, I am ready to review the Girlfriend Collective Paloma bra - a sustainable wardrobe staple. Also, please note that while this post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you purchase through these links (at no extra cost to you), all opinions are my own and I bought all these items with my own money. Alrighty, let’s jump in!
Comfort and Support
For bustier people like myself, I would classify the Paloma bra as light to medium support. I can do Yoga in this bra and work out at the gym, but high-impact sports like running are a definite no-go for me in this sports bra.
I'm a fairly busty woman, so for jogging I always need to wear a second sports bra no matter what brand I’m wearing, otherwise it's very uncomfortable and even painful sometimes. Ladies, I'm sure you can imagine why if you suffer with a similar affliction. But for everyday walking and working out at the gym, these bras are incredible. The thing I love the most is the band, which is so sturdy, it almost never buckles or rolls on me and because it's thick it distributes the weight more evenly than some other bras that start to dig into my flesh as they roll up while I'm working out (see the durability section for more info on this). I’ve also found that the straps are a comfy size and don’t cut into my shoulders, which is such a relief!
I've also tried the Topanga bra and found that it was not as comfortable as the Paloma bra, likely because I’m a bustier lady. This can cause the thin straps of the Topanga to cut into my shoulders. But it's still really cute and would be perfect for someone with a small to medium bust, and I still use it for a swimsuit top and that works just fine because I appreciate that the band keeps me safe and snug as I move around in the water and I appreciate that it has a lot more support than a typical swimsuit so I think I'll keep using it for that
Durability
So far these bras are pretty durable. The colours haven’t run or faded too much since buying these in the summer and I find that the band has held up pretty well. It doesn't fold too much, and on the rare occasion that it does roll or fold, it’s not uncomfortable like most other sports bras I have. It's just a minor inconvenience at times. With the bra that I wear all the time around the house in size extra large, I do notice that the band is getting a little ripply. However that doesn't seem to be affecting the integrity of the band yet - it's just an aesthetic thing (but obviously nobody else will even see that because it's under my shirt).
Now, I have found that the bras stretch a bit. I have the Paloma bra in large and extra large and while the large was a bit tight at first it has stretched to the ideal size for me, whereas the extra-large felt perfect at first but stretched out to be a bit lose. I still wear it all the time around the house because it's extremely comfortable, but this is just something to keep in mind.
Wide Range of Sizes
One thing I love about Girlfriend is their size range. With sizes from XXS - 6XL, almost anyone will be able to find an item that fits!
INCLUSIVE marketing
This should be a given with all marketing, but sadly it’s not. I absolutely love that Girlfriend prominently and regularly features people of all sizes, shapes, ages, skin colours, skin textures, hair textures and more in their marketing. As a marketing professional who has seen all manner of ethical and unethical marketing practices, this makes me so so so happy!
Sustainability
Girlfriend’s products are made from recycled water bottles in a factory that guarantees fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions and zero child labor (another thing that should be a given but sadly isn’t!)
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