What Katie Did Bra Review Part 1: Liz Retro Bra

If you’re looking for a good retro-style bra, I would recommend What Katie Did bra options. Recently, I have been struck by a thunderbolt of fascination for vintage lingerie and vintage reproduction lingerie. Vintage lingerie particularly from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s was all very similar and aimed to do one thing: shape the woman wearing it so that she achieves the most perfect figure for her body shape. In a way, vintage lingerie is like a type of armor foraged from elegance and class.

Each piece, whether it be a bra, waist cincher, or stockings, functions to elevate a woman so she not only looks good but also feels good. If you ever look for vintage reproduction lingerie, one of the first brands you will come across is What Katie Did. This is a British lingerie company that has been around for more than 20 years. It specializes in vintage reproduction lingerie, especially items from the 1950s.

I discussed in a previous post that the bullet bra was an essential part of any woman’s wardrobe during the post-war era. What Katie Did sells all sorts of bras and one that caught my eye, in particular, was the Liz Retro Bra.

What Katie Did Liz Retro Bra

When looking for vintage-style bras, I didn’t want anything that was too bullet-y. I found just what I was looking for from the Liz retro bra. In my previous post about bullet bras, I mentioned that what made the bullet possible was a unique form of stitching known as spiral stitching or whirlpool stitching.

Interestingly, the Liz bra does not have this unique type of stitching but still manages to achieve a soft bullet shape. I wouldn’t say that this shape would be immediately noticeable under clothing. However, it does produce a different silhouette compared to what a modern bra would produce which, obviously, is the goal. To dress in an authentically vintage fashion, you would need to take advantage of the refined point that a vintage-style bra gives you to emphasize your waist.

The Liz bra is also quite a bit more visually appealing than many authentically vintage bras. This is because the top half of the cups is made of a thin, stretchy mesh while the bottom half is made from light padding. The padded part has a unique type of stitching that causes the bottom part of the bra to protrude and produce a pointed shape. The sides of the bra are made of stretchy power mesh.

What I find interesting is that this bra was made in a factory that has been manufacturing lingerie since the 1960s. But what makes this bra so great when wearing it?

The Pros and Cons of the What Katie Did Bra

The first thing that I must emphasize is that What Katie did produces high-quality lingerie that is true to what women wore in the 1950s and 1960s. This is unlike many brands that produce cheaper, costume variations that are not meant to be worn every day. Because this bra is high-quality, you can tell just by looking at it that it is durable, stylish, and comfortable all at the same time. Those simultaneous qualities are hard to find in a modern bra, let alone a vintage reproduction one!

For me, the bra fit perfectly. According to the brand’s website, you can order according to your normal bra size as long as you are a D cup or smaller. If you are larger than a D, you will need to adjust your sizing according to the brand’s sizing recommendations. This is because cup sizes larger than D were not common decades ago and since What Katie Did bases their sizes off of vintage sizes, a bit of size adjusting is required.

There is not a lot of stretch in this bra. This is not necessarily a bad thing since bras from the 1950s also did not have a lot of stretch, so the bra remains true to its origin. The sides, lower band, shoulder straps, and mesh on the top of the cups all have a bit of stretch, but nowhere near as much stretch as modern bras. So, you’ll have to make sure you get the right size, otherwise, the bra won’t fit.

The Details

The bra does not have an underwire but it does have a verticle bone on each side of the cups. This functions to support the shape of the bra. I’ve seen some reviews complaining that these bones make the bra uncomfortable, but I personally haven’t experienced this problem. For me, the bra is extremely comfortable and fits perfectly. It isn’t itchy and it doesn’t dig into my skin.

On the back of the bra, there are four clasps, so you can tighten the band however you see fit. According to the tag on the bra, it is made of 80% nylon and 20% elastane. The fabric of the bra itself is very smooth and soft. I was surprised that even the mesh part of the bra was smooth and not itchy. For those who are environmentally conscious, you should know that the bra is made out of recycled yarn.

Final Thoughts

The Liz retro bra in black from What Katie Did, needless to say, has immediately become one of my favorite bras. I would argue that it isn’t just a bra but even a work of extrodinary craftmanship and art. I’m a particular fan of brands (such as the Seamstress of Bloomsbury that I wrote about previously) that do their best to create garments that are as accurate as possible both in style and in structure to garments that were made decades ago.

The details of the stitching, shape, and choice of material makes the bra unque and comfortable while maintaining the vintage shape. Along with this bra, I bought a pair of knickers and two pairs of seamed stockings from What Katie Did.

Stay tuned because I’ll be reviewing these other products very soon!