I have been looking for bras to replace the Bestform 6040 shirred front, back hook, cotton sports bras that I've worn for years and that seem to have been discontinued ages ago. I wanted a bra to wear when doing yard work and light exercise (walking fast on a treadmill), but that would also be ok to wear under regular (not work or fancy) clothes in case I got lazy and decided to leave the house without changing. I sweat like crazy but I don't find the high tech, microfiber/wicking products to work well, so I wanted all cotton (or just a little bit of spandex/stretch). I need low(er) V cut, want wide(r) straps (preferably not stretchy, although the Bestform did stretch a bit) that are an integrated part of the bra cup like a true sports bra, and a back (NOT front) hook closure (preferably at least 3 hooks wide). And I really don't want to pay a fortune. I guess all this is a lot to ask from a bra because I just can't find it anymore. I have to trade off something in every bra I buy. The Bali is no exception, but some tradeoffs are acceptable, others aren't. Here goes . . . Maybe this part is TMI, but I hope it helps other buyers: I'm 5'2' 134 lbs; I wear a size 36 (C or D cup) or 38 (C cup); I'm full in the bottom half of the breast, but not full in the top half (some would call this "droopy"), which can leave a gap "up top" in certain bras. This also means that I can't wear front hook bras, because they fold over and dig into my chest. I can't stand padding but do want fabric to be substantial. I want a bra that holds up to machine washing, which rules out most of the fancy new materials, especially with padding. I don't want stretchy straps because of the "bounce" factor and am willing to put up with some of the digging that solid straps cause in the shoulders (although I wish I didn't have to). I have lost track of the number of bras that I've ordered and then had to return or throw out because they seemed to fit the bill but then just didn't measure up. For that reason I buy bras online only after finding one in the store and being able to try it on (albeit over clothes). I tried the Bali DF3036 size 36D on in a store over my bra and thin T shirt--my mistake but only part of the reason that I'm giving just 3 stars. The bras arrived super-fast and I tried on the 36D gray first. The style has a little bit too much seaming (but I knew that from the try-on) that makes me look "pointy-er" than I'd like. But it does have a moderately deep V (which I like--I find the higher cut ones make me too sweaty in the cleavage area) but not so deep that I will fall out when I bend over (I tried a few times). The gray bra has satiny, non-stretch straps that are attached to the cup portion with a plastic O. This is one of the tradeoffs that I accepted, but I still really wish the Bali were more like sports bras and the old Bestform, which are an integrated piece of fabric from breast over the strap area. Then I tried on the 36D white--hmmm. Same double layer of fabric as the gray bra but you definitely can see through and can notice the, um--nipples. I'll be certain not to wear light colored T shirts when gardening or exercising! Otherwise the gray and white versions are identical. I would not have known this next difference except from seeing all of the bra colors in the same place in person in the store (and then looking very carefully at the online pictures): the gray and white ones from SOME sellers have totally "satin" non-stretchy straps while the nude/pink and tan/beige ones have elastic straps with little loop trim on them. Apparently, the Style DF3036 has two different sub-styles. You can distinguish only by LOOKING at the straps very closely not by the tag or the description. I mention this in case it matters to a buyer (I didn't want any stretch). Note that ALL of the colors have that little loop decoration on the band under the bust but so far it doesn't seem to be an issue for me. I do like the 4 row hook/eyes in the back-close although this does make the whole back of the bra a bit wide (the 36D closes snugly for me at one hook from the end of the line of hooks). Now for the real reasons for 3 stars. My old Bestforms fit sooooo smoooothly even at the seams where the bra cup met the strap that hooks the bra closed. There was no uncovered, exposed elastic; they never rubbed under my arms, and I couldn't feel threads or elastic rubbing anywhere. The old Bestforms fit like a sports bra, except a cotton one. It's been an hour wearing the Bali and doing nothing but typing a review and sitting around the house and I can feel the threads rubbing just about everywhere on the bra where there is an attachment point, especially under the arms and in the back but also at the O ring on the front. Even with adjusting the straps "lower" the bra seems to be cut high under the arm and up the front of the armpit. I don't think this would be as noticeable if the sewn-in elastic and the thread used were less scratchy or if the elastic were covered. I'm hoping that when I wear the bra for the purposes for which I bought it the rubbing and scratching remains at about the same level as it is now while I'm doing not much at all. I desperately need new cotton bras and these seem to be as close to my old, disintegrating ones as I can get, so for now they get 3 stars.
