I have been curious about Masquerade bras for a long time, so I picked up two styles from eBay that I thought might fit. The Athena stood out to me because of the beautiful color combination, measurements that seemed like they would fit me, and being available in my best size, 28E. Unfortunately, this bra didn't work out for me.
I ordered the Masquerade bras in sizes 28E and 28F, but while both measure similarly, this 28E is extra firm, so it's quite tight and difficult for me to put on. This is probably due to the firm satin and elastic used for the wings. ... So, to be able to put this on comfortably, I have to wear an extender. If this were the only concern, I wouldn't mind too much, but unfortunately the cups are also the wrong shape for me.
The measurements are correct for me, but the cups are oddly shaped. The fullness of this bra is very prominent toward the gore, and the outer portion of the cup is very shallow. I'm sure this design is supposed to help push the breasts together to create more cleavage, but in practice, it doesn't work on me. The fullest portion of the bra is too closed off, and my tissue is too firm to be squished into this unnatural shape. This might work better for larger and more pendulous breasts, but I also suspect that this bra won't work well for tall roots since the top is so closed off at the gore. This shape reminds me a bit of the Panache Tango Plunge in 28E, which also didn't work for me.
It's a shame, since this bra is so unique and beautiful. I've never seen a bra in this particularly dusty shade of rich teal. I am partial to deep green bras and would've preferred a bit more green than blue, but it's still a gorgeous and unique shade. The cups are heavy satin on the outside, 3 piece plunge cut and sew construction, and lined with cotton. The same satin is used on the wings, and the cups have a three quarter overlay of black mesh that extends onto the cradle. The center seam of the cups is lined with the same black lace used to decorate the straps, but this means that the trim will make this seam visible under clothing. The fanciest part of this bra is a rhinestone charm that looks like a little flower, attached at the center gore. The attention to detail makes this bra really beautiful, but based on my experience and other reviews, I am really unsure if this is meant to be a functional bra or a special occasion only bra.
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Update: Tried it on again and it fits ok. The band is still tight, but I can wear it without an extender. Cup shape isn't really an issue, but the upper portion of the cup is a bit wide and gaps when moving. Not sure why it fits me now since I didn't change in size or weight.
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Updated on Jun 09, 2020 Flag this
