Athleta’s been slowly working their way back on my radar thanks to some some strong collections for the past couple of seasons. Since some of my old sports bra standbys are starting to wear out, I decided to sample some of Athleta’s selection. Here’s my thoughts on the triple dare and power of she bras.
Power of she bra
The power of she bra is a higher coverage, mostly supportive bra that delivers some style points rather than being purely utilitarian. It’s advertised for B-D cups, so I decided to give it a shot. The electric fuschia color is a special edition for breast cancer awareness month. It’s a gorgeous, saturated shade with a deep navy contrast elastic band. Despite being exposed elastic, the band is quite wide and thick, which means it offers good support.
As soon as I put this bra on, I was impressed with how comfortable it was. The wide set shoulder straps are comfortable and stay in place thanks to the X-back, plus the extra space at the shoulders makes it easier to get on and off. The fabric is slick-faced and silky; it feels cool and comfortable against the skin. The bra comes with removable cups for extra coverage. The center of the bra has very subtle seam lines that show very slightly, but they’re hard to make out in photos.
This style is a higher coverage style, so it might look funny with low-cut tanks and tops. However, the higher coverage makes it a nice bra to wear sans shirt if you prefer something a little less revealing. The high coverage means this should work for at least a D cup without any spillage issues. You can also see that it’s cut a bit higher on the sides as well, especially when you compare it to the triple dare bra pictured below.
That said, unfortunately this bra didn’t quite fit. I purchased it in size XS for my bra size 30DD, but this size did not fit firmly enough to provide adequate support. I think the XS would be best for a 32 band or possibly even a 34. It was difficult to assess support since this didn’t fit me correctly, but it felt like it would be at least medium support as listed on Athleta’s site. I recommend your normal bra size, or your size down if you are in between.
Sadly, the sizing meant I had to send this back. If this bra was available in a size down, I would definitely buy it!
The power of she bra is available in the special edition pink in this post, as well as several other colors here.
Triple dare bra
The triple dare bra is one of Athleta’s flagship bra designs for training. Since it’s available in XXS, I decided it was worth a shot. I picked up this stripe version from the sale section.
The fabric has a cottony feel, rather than a slick one. The straps have seams on the inside, rather than a flat, smooth finish. In general, I prefer a slick fabric and I don’t like seams on my straps, so that element of the design is a downside for me. The strap placement itself is comfortable, though. The coverage is also better than most: high enough not to cut in, but low enough to keep me cool. As you can see, it keeps me covered from all angles.
I purchased this bra in size XXS; my typical bra size is 30DD. The XXS fits snug and locks everything down. If you’re a 32 band, I recommend the XS; the XXS would most likely be too tight. The seams plus the thicker fabric means this bra is not very stretchy. That’s good news for support, but does make it a little stiff to get on and off.
This bra is advertised as medium support for a B/C cup. I think it’s a little better than that. Although my cup size is theoretically too large for this bra, I often find that bras designed for C or D cups work for me due to my small band size. Interestingly, the reviews on Athleta’s site include other D- and DD-cup shoppers who wear and like this bra as well, so it isn’t just me. I tested this on a 50-minute run; I felt sufficiently supported throughout and the straps did not dig in by the end. Not bad.
As for aesthetics, I really like the design of this bra. None of the stylistic elements interfere with the function. Also, I love stripes, so I think this particular pattern is adorable.
For $25, I opted to keep this bra. The design is cute and it gets the job done, but I’d like it better if the fabric and seaming were a little different. That’s partially personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. For the price, I’m happy with it (especially since I have limited options in my size), but I probably would not pay full price.
The stripe design is currently only left in sizes XXS and XS. However, there are loads of other colors available in other sizes, including several on sale. You can see all the colors here.
I love this bra and own two of them. I have an XS. I was told at Nordstrom that I am a 30DD from a lady in the bra department. However, I buy 32D bras because they are more readily available.
Thanks for the sizing note! I often end up buying 32D due to availability also. 30s are nice when I can find them, but 32’s with a tight band work in a pinch. :)
Both of these look gorgeous on you. You review as usually is so detailed and helpful. I think these may both work for me even though I’m a 32H. I like that they both are cut higher at the front. I don’t enjoy flashing ppl in my gym lol!
Only issue is Athelta charges for shipping to Canada and then we get hit with duties. I may get my hubby to pick some up for me as he travels south for business frequently enough.
Thanks!! The triple dare might be more iffy for you. It’s only a little bit more coverage vs lulu’s energy bra, so you might find it a little revealing. The power of she I bet would be promising though! Hopefully you can find it without getting whooped with duties. It seems like that’s such a common complaint, I hope Athleta starts offering better shipping options for our northern neighbors.
The pink bra looks a bit loose on you but the black/white striped one looks amazing. I love the few Athleta pieces that I own, mostly casual wear though plus a couple of Powervita leggings. I am not impressed with their performance fabric choices and their XS bra is still too big on me (32C).
Yeah, I definitely needed a size down in the pink. :\ I actually just got a pair of powervita leggings in the mail today–the new marble ones. They’re so cute and the fabric feels great, but sadly the front panel is sheer. :'(