I have a confession, which I believe to be a bit of bra blasphemy: I bought the Panache Sports bra and I do not like it.
I needed a second sports bra because I was tired of calculating when I could exercise based on when I had time to wash my Freya Active and how long it would take to dry. ... Given all the rave reviews I've read, the only thing keeping me from buying the Panache was that it's not machine washable. But when I found the pink (my favourite colour) for a good price, I went ahead and ordered.
Well...
The band doesn't feel as supportive as the Freya, even though the hooks & eyes are pulling- in fact, they're pulling so much that after wearing it for a few minutes in my bedroom the lowest hook on the loosest row is coming out! This has never happened to me on any bra.
Moreover, there are only 3 rows of 3 hooks & eyes, compared to Freya's 4 x 4.
I had to tighten the straps most of the way right away- with Freya I'm still a third of the way after 7 months. Despite this, Panache doesn't reduce bounce as much as Freya. In fact, I planned to run in it the day it arrived, but ended up ditching it for the Freya. I wore the Panache the following day for a ballet class, and while it didn't bother me in any way, I could definitely see my boobs bouncing in the mirror more than usual. The only way I really felt secure in the Panache was when I fastened the racerback hook, but then it cut into my shoulder in such a way that I experienced instant, acute neck pain.
The bra is very bulky- I was shocked by the size of the package when it arrived, it takes up more space in my cupboard than any other bra I own, and wearing it under a top feels like "too much bra". It also makes my boobs look bigger than the Freya does, and when I'm doing any kind of sports I prefer a more minimized profile. Sure, the side silhouette is rounder than the Freya, but it's a sports bra, so I don't really care. Shirt off, I far prefer the look of the Freya. Also, as a lover of everything pink, ever, this was the first time in my life that I've thought "OK, this is too much pink for me". A black accent anywhere on the bra would have improved the look immensely, IMO.
Not only is it not machine-washable like the Freya is, it's also much more difficult to hand wash, and dries more slowly.
I know the Panache Sports bra has been pretty much universally praised in the bragosphere, so I just wanted to point out that it isn't the bra for everyone. I'll be sticking with Freya Active from now on- bring on new colours!
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Shared on Apr 24, 2013 Flag this
drownedsalad Does this apply to you as well since you look the same as I used to do?
Branarchist I don't think so, but I'm not sure.
I get red marks from some higher-in-the-center underwires, but with how short my torso is, those underwires show under most tops, so they're super duper high on me. I think the marks are more from sternum issues than symmastia because they don't hurt more when I'm menstrual-boobed than when I'm not.
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