I love this bra. I now have it in three colors in 30F--black, beige (Caffe Latte), and red (Scarlet). The underwire measurement for this review of the Caffe Latte is for the underwire only. The channel is 3/8" (0.375") longer. I've concluded I don't mind when underwires don't fill their channels, because I can push the wires up higher under my arms and get less pressure on my sternum. The Madison Plunge's center gore is 2.0" in 30F, but I'd like all my bras to have gores of 1.5" or less.
The Madison Plunge works as an unpadded, unlined plunge for my somewhat shallow shape because the seams are ...vertical, the wires go high under my arms, the wires are wide, the wings are 4" high, and the fabric just works to shape my firm, close-set breasts. I am grateful the 30F Madison Plunge has two rows of hooks and eyes. Prima Donna is known for skimping on rows of hooks and eyes.
The side profile is very uplifted and rounded and somewhat minimized. The bra feels light as air. I'll look forward to wearing my Madison Plunges on hot days starting in 2014. I wish I had discovered this model earlier. The fit and finish are, as one would expect from the high price, excellent. No digging in anywhere.
I am desperately seeking the Majestic Purple colorway, which was supposed to be Autumn/Winter 2013. It doesn't appear anywhere except in the full cup or balconet. The Scarlet color does console me when I want to wear a bright, sexy color. It's a true red and a classic evening color. Read more 159 more words
I was expecting this bra to be huge on me. Turns out, it's too small in every way except for the height of the cups/apex and the placement of the straps.
Pros: Quality High (especially considering I bought it used) Sturdy Underwires Stretchy material Wide straps
Cons: The usual for me Straps too wideset Wires too narrow Cups too tall Armhole cuts in Only 2 hooks
The band is on the tight side, which is nice for once. The lace on Prima Donna bras tends to be pretty damn itchy when new, but they get more wearable with use.
Full-cup bras tend to suffer from being rather dull looking compared to other types - both in the shape they give you and in their visual design (which usually seems to involve compensating with a buttload of the aforementioned itchy lace). Deauvilles are mono-colored, and not all that visually appealing to me. But the shape they, and indeed most other Prima Donna full-cups, give you is one I rather like. The silhouette from the side ...is tear-drop like, which is both natural looking and nicely uplifted. From the front, the bra tends to separate rather than push together, which tends to make you look a bit wider than you are - but at least it's not to obscene amounts.
While the band was just about right for me, the cups on my 30H are a bit... off. There's a bit of empty space at the very tops of the cups (near where they join the straps), but one cup very slightly cuts into the breast tissue at the same time! It's a bit difficult to imagine what shape of breasts they've been meaning to accomodate with that kind of design. Read more 114 more words
I love this bra! The materials are amazing and it is so pretty! Positives: The side of the bra really pulls the breast tissue away from your underarms and projects it forward. The lace is gorgeous, and the seaming is supportive. Negatives: It just didn't fit me! It had a crystal on the center gore that fell off after the first washing.
This is a super pretty bra. It fits comfortably, though it doesn't quite sit right on my sternum. Also, by the end of the day, there's a little boob spillage over the top. Strangely, though, it is still comfortable, unlike other bras where this happens.
Beautiful bra. However, I am planning to return it because I feel there is simply too much room from the base of my breasts to the underwire, as I show in the photograph. I bought the 34 even though the 36 would be more comfortable, because I have another 36H Madison that I could wear on the tightest hook after only a week. Instead, I purchased an extender. Before using the extender, I had slight quad boob, but with the extender, everything was perfect . . . except for the space at the bottom, as I mentioned above.
By the way, this specific style # is 0162129 and it has no lace at the top. I love the style.
This bra was purchased around July, 2009. It has been handwashed and is worn about once a week. This review is as of December, 2009.
I first purchased this bra in May, 2009. Very soon I noticed that the underwire was loose rather than fixed at the end nearest my armpits. I returned the bra in June and it was either replaced or mended within a few weeks.
Unfortunately, the bra has continued to irritate me, although the underwires are no longer loose. The wires tend to jab me in the armpits, and it is easy for some of the flesh of my breast ...to get trapped under the outer side of the cup. If I can get it on exactly right, it feels comfortable, but I often find myself adjusting it half a dozen times in the morning to try to find that sweet spot. Furthermore, activity can move it somewhat, so I generally adjust this bra a few times throughout the day. Also, the lace itches.
It does offer solid support. Like my other Prima Donna bras (Madison), I started on the outermost hook and moved to the second hook rather quickly, but I have not noticed any further deterioration of elasticity. I would recommend the Madison model over the Ginza.
The bra is labeled EU 80G, FR 95G, UK 36G and cost 87.95 EUR. Read more 127 more words
It’s a beautiful bra, but if you’re a true 32D, I think it’s unlikely to fit you. Check out my “other bras that fit,” and you’ll see sizes like 30F, 32DD, and 32E, but this bra was large on me.
I do love the narrow wire width of the cups, but the cups are not only deep but quite tall and full most of the way up. I can’t wear closed cups (I have enough top fullness that they cut in), but I couldn’t come close to filling the tops of these cups. If this bra had less fullness on top, I think it actually would have fit well, though I’m not sure that it would work for FOT folks, because it’s also got a lot of bottom depth. Maybe if you have very narrow roots and very round breasts, this might work for you?
Yowza, this is a really small band! (Note: Check out the individual measurements for actual sizing, which is around 27 inches stretched. The interpolated data point is really throwing the numbers off here.)
Delightfully narrow cups, though, and good projection. (Prima Donna runs really deep.) I normally wear a 30E/F UK, but I think I’m going to try a 32D in this. Only thing other than the band that I don’t like is that it only has one hook in the back (I’d prefer 3, but I’ll settle for 2).
comfortable bra for me, which is unusual as I have a smaller band size with larger cup size (32F). I like that the bra is not 'formed', yet has a foam lining, which gives a bit of shape and keeps things smooth (including no nipple show). I have had this bra for YEARS and would gladly buy several more. I feel like the size might actually be a little bit small for me, and if given the opportunity I would try a cup size larger. Incredibly comfortable, nice shape.
After going up a cup size this sadly doesn't quite work for me anymore. I don't get on well with full cup shapes as my bust is too firm and FoT when in a bra, so I now get significant quadding along the neckline.
First, this is a beautiful, high-quality bra. It almost fits me, but for the price, I want perfection.
After trying several Prima Donna bras, I can confidently say: Their unlined, full-cup bras run very large. Size down by a cup size or two! The cups are almost perfect, but a little too closed off at the top for my tallish-roots. Good projection. The straps are set at a really appropriate distance for the band size (not surprisingly wide set like so many bras in small band sizes).
The almost-perfect fit of this bra has given me confidence to try their Twist line, which I’m hoping is actually perfect. I emailed them and they recommended 30E in that line, so fingers crossed that it works.
prima Donna Satin Underwire #016-1330. (EU 70H; FR 85H; UK 32H) Love this bra because of its rounded and minimizing shape and center-pull straps. Its durable and well-made. The band stretches out quickly about 1-1.5" but then holds steady. However, I have to alter the gore to give more cup volume nearest the gore by rotating the underwires inward and up in the center. (I am center full with close-set breasts. H cup is the largest in this style.) I take off 1" at the base of the gore and sew up (like a dart), ending around mid-height of gore. This also takes off ...1" from the base. Without altering, I'm at the smallest hook AFTER its "stretch-out period"; with altering I'm at the middle. The downside to this alteration: the straps at the back move further apart and sometimes slide off my shoulders. I tried the 34H, hoping that the extra cup volume would mean I wouldn't have to alter the gore and simply shorten the band. This would bring the shoulder straps inward, but for me, that'd be good. Unfortunately, the geometry of the cups changed. The apex of each cup moved further east-west without giving extra volume centrally. All that extra volume went to the outer portions of the cups. Read more 110 more words
This bra's measurements have been altered
Altered band,
Narrowed gore by rotating underwire taller in center. Narrowed approx 1" at base of gore, which gave more cup volume in center, shorten band, and made back straps farther apart.
This is a very pretty bra, but it is also comfortable enough to be a good everyday option. The cup isn’t as firm in the bottom half as the Ewa Michalak Sf Garden or the Comexim Whimsy Floral (CMWHIMSY) so it doesn’t have as much lift, but the wire fits comfortably around the breast tissue. This doesn’t have the forward projection of the Polish styles, but the cups have enough depth for my breasts. There is a little gap at the top of the cup because these cups are rather tall. The gap isn’t visible under a shirt so it’s not really a problem. ...The top part of the cups is a stretch lace, which I like a lot.
This is a vibrant, true red color. I tested it under a white shirt, and it mostly disappears. The texture was more visible than the color, but that may have to do with the soft, cotton T-shirt that I happened to try. The embroidery on the cups and the appliqué details on the strap feel a little fancy (in a good way).
This bra isn’t going to create sexy cleavage, but it will give you a nice, natural-looking shape, and you’ll feel supported. The fabrics are soft, and nothing is itchy. This is a good choice when you want a supportive, basic bra in something more exciting than tan. Read more 123 more words
TL; DR — good sports bra, natural shape, some compression, comfortable, medium to high support. If in doubt, size up one cup. If you like a very firm band for exercise, go down in the band (and up in the cup to compensate) or plan to use a tighter hook. ——————
I am used to the Panache Sport Sports Bra (5021), which I like a lot. ...This Prima Donna is similarly tall, but it hugs better at the top edge because it doesn’t have any padding. I get a natural shape with the Prima Donna, and the wires are narrow enough (unlike Freya sports bras, which tend to be wide for me and/or give me cone-boob). It’s not the same shaping as Panache, but it’s flattering.
It is difficult to scoop and swoop properly because the cups height is so high. Unlike the Panache, which has a J-Hook on the back if you want the straps centered, on the Prima Donna, you have to criss-cross them at the base of the strap prior to putting on the bra. So once the straps are crossed and tightened, there’s not a lot of room in there for scooping. I find that the center wires do float for me, but if I push a finger against them, they’re able to lie flat against my sternum. It would probably be perfect if I went up a cup, but this bra doesn’t come in a larger cup than my 34H (EU/US). The band is not overly snug so a 36H would definitely be too large in the band. I think maybe the cups need to be just a little deeper... or maybe I need to fiddle with the straps. The fabric relaxed a little once I got sweaty so I think I could shorten the straps a little more. I got a little more bounce than with my Panache, but it wasn’t painful. I suspect if the gore sat flat, there’d be very little to no bounce.
This bra is more breathable than the Panache (remember, no padding). I took my daughter to the park and was comfortable for our park trip on a hot day, followed by a couple of hours at home, and a workout afterward, all in the same bra. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to wear the Panache for that length of time (as much as I love it for exercise). The comfort and support are good enough that I can tolerate the not-quite-right fit at the gore. (I am hopeful that maybe the bra will soften with more wears and washings. I’m also working on losing a little weight so I’m OK with it being a tad small, since it’s not uncomfortable and is still supportive.) Read more 392 more words
I like this bra a lot! Like most Prima Donna bras, it gives a natural, rounded shape. There is a good amount of forward projection due to the side support panels. The bottom cup section gives decent support/lift. The top of the cup has some stretch to it, which helps with fit if your breast size fluctuates or if one breast is larger than the other. The fabric is soft. The gore tacks nicely. The band is stretchy, but it’s true to size. (Note: it’s EU/US sizing so my 34H in Prima Donna equates to a UK 34FF.)
The only real con is that the seams and/or textured fabric ...can be visible under a very thin shirt. I don’t have much of an issue with nipple visibility, as long as I position my nipples under a seam.
I wish the straps were just a little closer together in the back, but I have narrow shoulders so others might disagree. (They don’t fall off if I have them properly adjusted.)
Really good basic, everyday bra. Based on the previous Prima Donna bras that I’ve owned, I expect it to last a long time. Read more 81 more words
I’ve always come back to this bra in shops, even the helpers always end up with this one. It is quite good and really handles well. I think I’ve washed mine countless times, and not by hand! Never have a single one broken
I just added the 016-2129 model to the models list http://bra.pe/MnL/ . You can edit the bra and set the correct one now :)