A nice, supportive bra that gives a great shape and makes me look smaller it’s comfortable and I like the fabric. Being only 1.63m that doesn't give me much space under my arms and between my huge breast. So I like the wires size.
I'm usually a 34-36 and bought 38. And the L cup is almost like KK cup from Panache. It’s my first Bravissimo and I must say it does run smaller than other brands, but it's a pretty good shape and the wires are comfortable.
Unfortunately like very often the cup size is too small for me. (Tight but wearable)
A very good bra but now to be really satisfied I wait larger cup size from Bravissimo Brand.

Updated on May 25, 2011 Flag this

I really like this bra. I generally wear a 30JJ, but the fitter brought a 30K as it seems to run small. It gives good uplift and separation, though it is slightly pointy, but it looks very youthful under clothes. It is cut lower than some of my other balconette bras. It fits well on me, aside from very slight overspill at the top and very slight wrinkling at the bottom, apparently due to fullness on top. However this is barely noticeable, and it is very comfortable, I've had no problems with the band or wires, and it looks good. The only real problem I have had is that the eyes have started, for lack of a better word, "wiggling" - they haven't stayed in place very well. I doubt this is a general fault, though I may have to go back to Bravissimo about it.

Today. I went to Manchester's Bravissimo! For the first time. Slightly embarassingly... I was rather excited. What can I say, it's not every day I get to try on bras made for my size! Though the s...

http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/01/15/a-little-late-to-the-party/

Updated on Apr 21, 2013 Flag this

brasandbodyimage

1046 reputation

88 bras

I found this bra on eBay really cheap, so I couldn't resist purchasing it to try it out before taking the plunge and making an order with Bravissimo.

After putting it on for the first time, I fell in love. It is SO comfortable. Nothing pinches and nothing is binding. The band is very stretchy, so even though I normally wear 32 bands and am slowly transitioning to 30 bands, this one feels very good. I can still pull it an inch or so away from my body, but I don't have a problem with it riding up, so I'm just going to keep it ... on the loosest set of hooks for now.

The straps are too far apart, which is normally the case with any bra for me, but it's cut low enough under the arms that there is no chafing. Just because of that, I find the bra straps very tolerable and it adds to the comfort of the bra.

The cups are a bit too small and cause quadboob after I scoop, which I was afraid would be the case when I ordered it. Actually, before I scooped, I was shocked to see how much tissue I had under my arms! Without trying to sound vulgar, it was nearly a full handfull of tissue under each arm that was overhanging. I used to wear 34 bands religiously and then changed to 32 a few months ago, and now wearing 30 bands I can more obviously see how much migrated tissue I have. Many have commented on how this particular style runs small and it is suggested to size up to prevent the top of the cups from cutting in, so I would definitely confirm this to be the case.

The shape is very uplifted and offers some projection, which I like (I really don't like bras that minimize -- I tried to hide my boobs for most of my life, and I'm over that now.) To me, it's similar to the shape that I get in the Panache Jasmine. It's not rounded, but it's not overly pointy, either. Everything is up-front and center, which is what I prefer.

I have already placed an order for this bra in a 30K, so I am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I've only worn this bra for 2 days, but I am quite happy with the comfort and shape, even though it's a little too small. I am confident that I will love it even more in the proper size. I have a feeling this may become my new go-to everyday bra.

Full on bottom girls, this is a great bra for us. I don't even feel like the pictures do it justice. Normally, I feel like I just look deflated at the top in most bras, but the way that this bra uplifts, it gives me the appearance of full all over boobs (at least to me, anyway....maybe it's just because it's too small lol.) I feel like I look MUCH better in this bra in person than what the pictures represent.
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Updated on Jan 14, 2013 Flag this

Good old Alana. A bra that has been around for years. It is just very reliabale and supportive.

I had a few of these bras over the years. The fit has always been tricky as the Alana is a bra that is not made for full on top boobs. It's top section is very tight and the cups are not very tall. I used to size up 2 cup sizes to get a decent fit.

My shape: projected, narrow roots, center heavy, full on top, tall roots

Since I last had one of These (34L) I lost some weight I decided to try it again.
I really love this ... lilac color with the light yellow, such a lovely color combination and very unique. I knew I had to have it. It makes me happy just looking at it.

When I received this bra 2 months ago, it fitted quite well. At that time I was around 32HH in other bras so I decided to give Alana a try in 32J. It did cut in just a little bit but it was barely visible so I do not count it as quadboob. I just thought that is the bra being not made for my shape. Everything else fits just fine. The bra is also really supportive despite not having any extra lining in the cups. You get what you see on the promo pictures in all sizes up to L-cup!

I am a solid 32J now and since Alana runs small I need 32JJ. I'm so sad this does not fit me anymore, it is one of my favorites just from the look and color combination. I will keep it around for size fluctuations which happen to me all the time. Also I might loose some of my extra winter weight and then it will fit again.

This bra is the new cut of Alana. It fits the same like the old cut, see here http://bra.pe/X1lC/ but the shoulder straps are a different material and it does not have this scalloped thread thing at the band anymore.
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Updated on Mar 06, 2020 Flag this

A perfect bra if you are short rooted and wide set in this size range. Materials are soft, shape is round with a peaked apex. Generously gifted to me by alisa, I did not realize the band had been reduced. So I replaced it with a 40 CK band I had laying around, plus reduced the gore and added shorter, narrower wires, while taking in the top of the cup a bit more. The results are a nearly perfect fit. I could do with even narrower wires and especially cups that are shorter on the sides. I might make those alterations in the future. In the meantime, it's a pretty great bra and nice to know I can size down to a 40JJ when I buy a new one in the future.

White colorway

This bra's measurements have been altered

Altered band, Gore height, new wires, new band

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Aug 24, 2017 Flag this

For me, this is a perfect fit in every respect, the first bra I have had in a number or years that I could say that about.

I normally wear 34KK so the cup runs probably a size smaller. I tried the 34KK as well as the 34L, 34KK gave me a bit of a 4-boob effect, the 34L is a comfortable snug fit on my boobs. Likewise the band is a perfectly snug fit round my torso, it doesn't have a lot of stretch but I like it that way.

Doesn't poke in between the boobs, this has been a particular problem on Panache.

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December 2011

unfortunately since I last reviewed this bra in October 2011, my boobs have grown again, so while it's still perfectly snug round my torso, my boobs are spilling out over the top and sides of the cups.

Updated on Dec 01, 2011 Flag this

I grabbed this Alana bra in the sale section. I love the lilac / light yellow color combination as it is so unique. Apart from that I like the Alana as a staple but it's not the best bra for my shape and I struggled very hard to make it work in the past.

my shape: narrow - medium wide tall root, full on top, center heavy and projected.

The Alana bra is very closed on top and the fabric has no give, so if you are full on top size up. I did in this bra as I usually wear 32JJ/K. The 32KK fits me quite well, band feels ... snug enough but not too tight. The cups fit well and there is no cutting in on top for once! Yay!

The wires on this size are very wide and they have a more V shape than U shape. I prefer the U shape --- V shape wires go just very far back. The bra feels still supportive though. The cups have decent projection and I don't get a too pointy shape. The fabric comes very high under my arms, I first found it uncomfortable but it's a matter of getting used, the wires don't stab me but they shouldn't be any taller or they would. The straps are as always on balconette styles very seperated and I'd like them to me more centered as they are right in my armpits.
I gave the bra 1 hour trial at home. I think it's okay and the size is correct and it does it's job.
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Updated on Oct 18, 2020 Flag this

So yeah first off the bra is much too big for me. However if I would have got a 34JJ or J, I'm not sure I'd have enough projection to fit into it.

Anyway.

I don't like this bra. I don't like meshy bras very much, they are often stiff and scratchy. This is that. The extra lined seam around the inside of the band doesn't help because it's not soft either. Only the material covering the wires is soft. if you are sensitive to fabrics then I'd not get this one.

It has thick sturdy straps.

I thought the gore will be too high for me but actually, the wires ... don't go all the way up in there? The full gore height is 11 cm but the actual wires stop 1 cm before the top. So where the bow is, there's no wires.

Speaking of wires, I think this is the widest bra I've ever tried. I know it's too big so it could be that too but honestly I don't think it would be much less wide in my proper size either? And the band is pretty snug aswell, but I think most Bravissimo run very TTS, like if they claim to be 34 band then they'll only stretch to 34 and that's it. So if you're between band sizes , size up. I think I will if I order Bravissimo again.

I can't say much else about the fit as it is too big for me, and I sized up because on Bravissimo's website it says it runs small. Ignore that.
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lilac/lemon colorway

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Updated on Sep 17, 2020 Flag this

The Alana bra has worked for me at one specific size in my journey. It's a good basic bra that comes up to L-cup and there is no extra linings in larger sizes, you get what you see on the picture. So since it worked for me in the past, I try to make it work again. Obviously it's not gonna happen.

I tried this bra in 32J which was too small in cups. This 30K is still too small in cups! (I wear 30JJ / 32J in other Bravissimo bras!) So it's safe to say Alana does run really small. I recommend sizing up by 1 cup ... size at least. Also the bra is just not made for full on top boobs, there is not much room in the opper part and it tends to cut in. In the past I got the best fit when I sized up 2 cup sizes in Alana compared to my Panache size. The band runs true to size but is more stretchy than usual Bravissimo bands (most I had run really firm). I could close this 30 band easily but it feels just a little tight.

Now I could try it in 30KK or 32K, but I won't. I give up. On my front picture I tried to show just how wide-set the straps are on this 30K. It's not going to be better in a larger cup size. I already feel like the straps want to slip off anytime when I wear this bra. So while the larger size would offer more room in the top of the cup it would probably be too wide in construction for my frame.
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Updated on May 14, 2020 Flag this

UPDATE: My boobs grew a little, so Alana now gives me quadraboob. And no 28JJ in sight. Sigh.
I think the straps might have stretched somewhat, because now I wear the straps as tight as possible.
I really like the design of the Alana and I'm thinking about writing a complaint to Bravissimo because they don't offer JJ+ cups in 28 bands and/or ordering it again in 30J.


Appearance: Unpadded, three-section-cup bra in Black. Striped bows whrere the straps meet the cups. On the center gore, there is one bigger bow made from the same see-through striped fabric and on top of it a smaller, thinner bow. Upper section is ... see-through and features different kinds of embroidery. The band and the straps are rimmed with, uhm, loops (I can't think of a better description, sorry.).
That sounds like a lot but it really works and doesn't look too busy at all.
This bra is simple but sophisticated and basic without being boring (Hooray for alliterations!).

Shape: Very, very uplifted and sadly, also pointy. Perfect example of Bras I Hate's green shape.
I tell myself that it looks a bit "retro". I found that I prefer tight-fitting tops with this bra. They show off the uplift und the rounded bottoms of the breasts. Wearing looser tops just makes my boobs look, well, pointy. I decided to keep the bra anyways but I'll have to see how I get on with that. I never liked pointy shapes and for me, this isn't a "your boobs, but better" shape because mine are naturally round. Yup, still a Cleo girl.
Also, I don't know how this is even possible, but while there is a lot of forward projection, this bra is still minimizing.

Band: It's wide, features a three hooks and eyes fastening and is very tight. I love that, as I need tight 28 bands (or 26 bands). Also, I was very impressed with the fastening: It is rather big and the sets of eyes are wide-spaced. One could probably put four closer-spaced sets on it but the way it is, I think I will get a lot of wear out of this band. Interesting Sidenote: This bra doesn't have a "wing" with boning. I have no idea if this affects the support or comfort of the band or if they decided to leave it it out because the band is so short in this size.

Cup Fit: Pretty much perfection but a little migration would make me quad-boob. My shape is balanced, I think, but my tissue is very soft (even though I'm in my early twenties and have never lost a lot of weight or breast-fed). This is probably the reason why the tight upper section works for me. If you have bottom-heavy, close-set boobs, this bra could work for you.

Wires: Compared to my usual Panache/Cleo bras I wear at the moment (especially Lucy & Marcie), the wires seem to be more narrow, which suits me much better. When the bras laid flat on a surface, that isn't visible, but the wires of the Alana are less flexible and therefore retain their UU shape better. Because I experienced some discomfort from the wires after wearing the bra for a long time, I'm considering trying to bend them.
The center gore comes up very high but, most surprisingly, it works for my close-set breasts.

Straps: Fully adjustable, wide and elastic. I could tighten the straps about 3/4 of the whole length. Meh. Better than the disaster I recently had with the Freya Ivy, at least. I really prefer having the plastic adjuster things on my back, where they belong!
Still, this means that the straps could work for a variety of people both taller and shorter than me (1,60m). Keep in mind, though, that it is a high-cut bra. The fabric between the straps and the outside edge of the wires comes up to my armpits. It's not really uncomfortable but I do notice it. This is probably due to strap placement. I feel that my shoulders are rather broad for my frame but women with narrow shoulders might face bigger issues.

Overall, the Alana is pretty basic bra and feels very supportive.
I think getting used to the shape will take some time, right now I like the look of the bra better with my clothes off.
Also, I wear a lot of low-cut tops, but that won't be possible with the Alana. Both the cups and the center gore come up high on my chest and peek out of my v-necks.
Even though the bra itself is beautiful in my opinion, I will have to use it as a "practical" bra.
I did try the Bravissimo Thea, the plunge version of this bra, but unfortunately I would have needed a 28JJ which never existed and will never be made because the Thea is discontinued.
I want a plunge bra, NOW!

Something strange on sizing:
I chose my usual starting point size 28J.
I ordered a bunch of Bravissimo wardrobe staples together with the Alana and none of the other bras fit, they all were at least one cup size too small. Might be shape-mismatches though.




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Updated on Sep 20, 2013 Flag this