Bravado Sublime nursing bra review

Since then the company has attracted the attention of many celebrity mums, including Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba and Beyoncé Knowles. The brand has also won numerous awards for it maternity wear from various mother and baby institutions, but its commitment to make stylish nursing lingerie paid off when it made the UK Lingerie Awards finals in 2013.

What’s in the box?

Sublime nursing bra

Any additional extras?

Matching Sublime brief - £18

Bra conversion kit (BCK) - £23.40

First impressions?

I like the ethos of Bravado, which focuses on looking after mums during pregnancy and nursing. The bra arrived with information on breastfeeding in the first six weeks and a detailed size charts to ensure correct fitting.

I was also excited at the prospect of testing the Bravado Sublime nursing bra as I thought it would introduce sexy, feminine lingerie back into my pregnant world. However, although it looks feminine and feels comfortable, I soon found that it lacks support.

How comfortable is the Sublime nursing bra?

The bra offers good coverage, fits well and its four way stretch design makes it feel like it will grow with you throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding. The range also comes in double cup sizes, which means it should fit all body types and it goes up to a UK size G/HH. And it has four back hook options that, once again allow for changes in size.

However, the thin material combined with the lace on the cup of the bra offered little support and sadly made me feel in need of an uplift! I was paranoid this may just be me, but after looking at customer reviews of the product across various websites I would say around half the reviewers felt the same.

Compare the Sublime with the Bravado Bliss bra.

How was the lingerie when breastfeeding?

I tested the product as a maternity bra rather than a nursing bra, but I think it would be easy to breastfeed while wearing this bra because of Bravado's signature 'B-clip'.

It is simple to clasp and unclasp one handed and there is plenty of access for baby to feed. Once the clips are opened the whole cup drops down for full access to your breast, which is great for skin-on-skin contact with your baby.

What about the style?

Although the Sublime nursing bra comes in three colours – french vanilla, black cherry and chai, I tested the french vanilla version, which I would describe as the lingerie version of magnolia. Not the most exciting of colours but practical for everyday use. It has a low neckline so works well under a number of outfits.

Is it easy to clean?

Not really, unfortunately the bra is hand wash only, which for busy mums does not make it the most convenient of items, however I followed the instructions without any issues.

Want a bra that's machine washable? Check out the Original Nursing bra.

Can you wear the bra after the breastfeeding stage?

Yes, Bravado has launched a bra conversion kit (BCK) that enables you to turn your nursing bra into normal everyday lingerie when you have moved on from breastfeeding.

It is currently only available for a few Bravado products but is a great idea and would help you regain some of your old self, without having to splurge on new lingerie!

Is it value for money?

Yes, the bra retails at around £36 so although not cheap it puts itself in the more affordable range, especially as you may only buy a few maternity bras and almost live in them for the best part of a year!

Made For Mums verdict?

The Sublime Nursing Bra appears to have a marmite effect with some people raving about the comfort and style while others say they are left feeling disappointed. For that reason I wouldn't rule out purchasing this bra but perhaps keep it aside for days when you want to feel like attractive lingerie isn't totally out of your realm.

After something different? Bravado also do a maternity tank top.