Priced £25, the Blooming Marvellous Animal Maternity Bra is hand-wash only, as most bras are (whether any of us ever pay attention to this is another matter!). It comes in sizes 34-38, C to F, is lined with 100% cotton jersey and the outer fabric is a stretchy polyester/elastane mix, a bit like a bikini top.
What we love
Most maternity bras seem to come in white, black or nude and look rather like tents. In other words, they don’t make you feel particularly sexy. This Blooming Marvellous Animal Maternity Bra manages to do the job well – it’s has good coverage on the cups, is wide under the arms and has a thick band under the bust for support. Yet it’s also fun, feminine and flirty with it’s zebra-print and pink bows – I couldn’t help but smile as I tried it on and channelled my inner Bet Lynch!
It’s a good investment as the stretchy material and extra fastenings (there are six rather than the usual two or three) mean it’ll grow with you.
If, like me, you have a thing about your underwear matching, you can buy the co-ordinating briefs.
What to watch out for
Although the lining is jersey so cool and comfortable, there’s a seam across the cup that could be irritating, depending on how it fits you. It wasn’t a problem for me, though.
The Blooming Marvellous Animal Maternity Bra comes up slightly on the large side – I’m a D-cup but could have managed in a C-cup.
There isn’t a huge range of sizes and the straps aren’t that thick, so it’s perhaps not an option if your bust is very large or uncomfortable. And, of course, the print won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Who is the Blooming Marvellous Animal Maternity Bra best for?
Mums-to-be who are 38F and below, after fashion and function in one.
The Blooming Marvellous Animal Maternity Bra is a distinctive bra for lingerie lovers who want to feel comfy but not look frumpy. The stretchy material and extra fastenings give you a bit of room to grow too. If you’re bigger than a 38F however, you’re out of luck.
