Purchased in Oct 2015, this white Alana is still comfortable and supportive despite at least 100+ wears. I purchased this Alana along with a nude and Teal on the same order and the white seems to now be just a little bit less supportive, especially in the cup where I have a bit of sagginess, especially when compared to the teal. The teal was worn far less than either the white or nude so that could explain why it is still holding up.

At the time of this purchase, Bravissimo was enduring a controversy relating to wires popping out of their channels prematurely. I was so thrilled with the ... fit and comfort of my initial purchases that I decided to double up on my Alana orders with the expectation that I too would have to deal with the wire issue. I have never had to. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana.

One inconsistency I have noticed between different colorways is the softness of the hook and eye materials. Some, like the Papaya's I purchased in 2017 are very soft and luxurious while others, like all 3 on this order are rather plain. Curious.

If you don't mind a tendency to a cakes on a plate look, the Alana may become a staple for you as it is for me. Through the course of time, I have noticed that my Alana's tend to initially have the cakes on a plate look but will soften and become a rounder shape with frequent use. This white Alana does not do a very good job of masking my nipples though so I tend to wear a camisole or add additional layers of clothing or if I have to use nipple covers, to compensate.

I recently purchased the lilac/lemon version which has different straps that tend to roll up and dig in. That feels like a step backwards for Bravissimo.

Jun 2021
I have been on a recent journey to lose some of my pandemic weight gain. I've been on this journey for about 4 weeks and have lost about 2 lbs so far, not bad but still a long way to go. It's been close to 6 months since I last wore one of my 38 band Alana's as they were tight on the band and too small in the cup. This one fits a little better but I still have these 2 issues. I am getting the most pronounced cakes on a plate look that I have ever gotten out of any bra which is very surprising as I have always thought this was caused by a bra that was too big. I am still quadding over top and the cups are filled at the bottom. Weird.
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354 more words

white colorway

Updated on Jun 30, 2021 Flag this

I purchased the Papaya in 2017 in both 38L and 40L I find the 38 bands are perfect, especially since the straps seem to barely need to contribute any support, a real shoulder saver and I definitely do not have to worry about the straps sliding off my shoulders. On this 40L, I am still on the middle hooks but the straps do tend to fall off. I get some quadding on the 38 band but essentially none with this 40. My perfect bra would seem to be an Alana in 38LL or maybe 38M. I continue to hope Bravissimo will one day add these sizes to their ... range.
There seems to be nothing else in my range except the Ewa Michalak FB line. Although they have almost a dozen models, none currently appeal to me and at roughly twice the price or more, I simply cannot get interested in switching away from Bravissimo. My recent success with the Selina line pretty much locks me in with Bravissimo, perhaps forever.
This is by far my favorite colorway, with the mint a close second.

Aug 2020
Still my favorite bra in terms of fit, comfort and color. I estimate this bra has been worn more than 100 times and still looks and feels close to brand new. In comparison, my 40L Alana in Mint seemed to hit a wall a couple weeks ago. By that I mean the straps suddenly lost much of their elasticity and the band did the very same. I am not looking forward to the day when this papaya does the same and am thankful that I have more than one of these.

Jun 2021
Bravissimo introduced new bras with narrow wires last fall which I bought and used almost exclusively since then. I pulled this old Alana out yesterday though and was both amused and amazed at how good it still was. The straps and band have still not stretched out to the point of being unwearable and thus held up well throughout the day.
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225 more words

papaya colorway

Updated on Jun 26, 2021 Flag this

June 2016
The daffodil Alana is bright and cheery. It also has that Alana fundamental rightness for me, I can put it on, go about my day and not be in a rush to get it off at the end of the day. As usual, the fit and comfort are spot on for me with just a little cakes on a plate and no quadding. The band is starting to stretch out and I will likely be on the last set of hooks before long.

June 2021
Wow, here I am 5 years later and this daffodil Alana is almost like new. Tbh though, I might have worn this 5 times ... a year since 2016 so it certainly is not in heavy use. I have been on the middle hooks for the past year so who knows, maybe I will get another 5 years out of this bra! Compared to Bravissimo's new bras that use their new narrow wires, I prefer this Alana less. The straps are not as soft as the Annie and Gemma but they do not fold over the way the new ones can, at least according to reviews here and on Bravissimo. For whatever reason, these folding straps are less of an issue for me as the folding is barely noticeable. The cups are smaller with a little less depth than the Annie and a lot less than the Gemma. My current cup depth on this Alana is 18" on my left side and 18.75" on my right side using the bra on method of measuring.
I wonder if Bravissimo will ever release a narrow wire Alana? That would be really exciting.
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164 more words

daffodil colorway

Updated on Jun 11, 2021 Flag this

2016
Purchased in Oct 2015, this white Alana is still comfortable and supportive despite at least 100+ wears. I purchased this Alana along with a nude and Teal on the same order and the white seems to now be just a little bit less supportive, especially in the cup where I have a bit of sagginess, especially when compared to the teal. The teal was worn far less than either the white or nude so that could explain why it is still holding up.
At the time of this purchase, Bravissimo was enduring a controversy relating to wires popping out of their channels prematurely. I was so thrilled with the ... fit and comfort of my initial purchases that I decided to double up on my Alana orders with the expectation that I too would have to deal with the wire issue. I have never had to. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana.
One inconsistency I have noticed between different colorways is the softness of the hook and eye materials. Some, like the Papaya's I purchased in 2017 are very soft and luxurious while others, like all 3 on this order are rather plain. Curious.

2019
If you don't mind a tendency to a cakes on a plate look, the Alana may become a staple for you as it is for me. Through the course of time, I have noticed that my Alana's tend to initially have the cakes on a plate look but will soften and become a rounder shape with frequent use. This white Alana does not do a very good job of masking my nipples though so I tend to wear a camisole or add additional layers of clothing or if I have to, nipple covers, to compensate.
I recently purchased the lilac/lemon version which has different straps that tend to roll up and dig in. That feels like a step backwards for Bravissimo.

2021
Well, I have had this bra for over 5 years and while I wear it far less now than before, I am amazed by the longevity of the Alana. Yes, I have owned many Alana's over the years (21 of them!!!) so that is the reason why they haven't worn out sooner but still, both of my white Alana's have had more use than all of the other colorways I have.. Just this past weekend, I have started using the tightest hook and while it certainly feels tighter than before, the support is still amazing for a bra that has been in heavy use for 5+ years. In the past year, my preference has switched from the Alana to the Selina and recently to Bravissimo's Annie but as of today, Alana is still my go to bra for regular everyday wear. I initially gave Alana a "Good" quality rating but I'm upping it to "Excellent". Any bra that lasts this long deserves this rating.
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379 more words

white colorway

Updated on Feb 08, 2021 Flag this

So I had so many Alana bras over the years, you can find a few in depth reviews from me on various sizes on my profile.
I keep it short here, this did not fit me. The band was good, cups fit well on bottom, wire were okay but the top just cut in. Avoid if you have full on top boobs and / or size up at least 1-2 cup sizes.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 07, 2021 Flag this

I have a slight amount of gaping near the centre, which I believe is due to the bra being too close-set for me, while the straps go out too far. Other than this, it is a very good fit for me and a comfortable bra.

Updated on Oct 30, 2020 Flag this

I purchased the Papaya in 2017 in both 38L and 40L I find the 38 bands are perfect, especially since the straps seem to barely need to contribute any support, a real shoulder saver and I definitely do not have to worry about the straps sliding off my shoulders. On this 40L, I am still on the middle hooks but the straps do tend to fall off. I get some quadding on the 38 band but essentially none with this 40. My perfect bra would seem to be an Alana in 38LL or mybe 38M.Maybe oneday they add this size to their line.
There seems to be nothing else ... in my range except the Ewa Michalak FB line. Although they have almost a dozen models, none currently appeal to me and at roughly twice the price or more, I simply cannot get interested in switching away from Bravissimo. My recent success with the Selina line pretty much locks me in with Bravissimo, perhaps forever.
This is by far my favorite colorway, with the mint a close second.

Oct 2020
I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.

.......................................... original / current / difference
band length un-stretched... 32.00 / 33.00 / 1.00
band length stretched......... 39.25 / 41.00 / 0.75
cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.00 / 1.25
cup height............................. 14.50 / 15.00 / 0.50

The 1.00 inch increase in the un-stretched length is surprising. This should have shrunk by about 0.5 inches
The 0.75 inch increase in stretched band length is a little surprising. Most of my other Alana's have increased by over 1 inch
The 1.25 inch increase in cup depth is no longer very surprising since my other Alana's have increased by a similar length.
The 0.50 increase in cup height is no longer surprising.

These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.

Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra.
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351 more words

papaya colorway

Updated on Oct 26, 2020 Flag this

The daffodil Alana is bright and cheery. It also has that Alana fundamental rightness for me, I can put it on, go about my day and not be in a rush to get it off at the end of the day. As usual, the fit and comfort are spot on for me with just a little cakes on a plate and no quadding. The band is starting to stretch out and I will likely be on the last set of hooks before long.

Oct 2020
I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.

.......................................... original / current ... / difference
band length un-stretched... 32.75 / 32.50 / (0.25)
band length stretched......... 39.75 / 40.00 / 0.25
cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.00 / 1.25
cup height............................. 14.50 / 15.00 / 0.50

The (0.25) inch decrease in the un-stretched length was initially surprising but is likely the result of 50+ hand washings.
The 0.25 inch increase in stretched band length is a little surprising. Most of my other Alana's have increased by over 1 inch
The 1.25 inch increase in cup depth is no longer very surprising since my other Alana's have increased by a similar length.
The 0.50 increase in cup height is no longer surprising.

These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.

Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra.
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262 more words

daffodil colorway

Updated on Oct 26, 2020 Flag this

Straps have a glittery fabric which irritates the skin quite a bit. Little too close-set for me, but otherwise fits very comfortably. Band is comfortable as well for someone in between a 32 and 34 band.

Updated on Oct 02, 2020 Flag this

Acquired in Dec 2016, this white Alana was my first ever free bra from Bravissimo and is the 2nd of 2 white Alana's that I own. At the time of the purchase of my first white Alana in 40L in late 2015, Bravissimo was enduring a controversy relating to wires popping out of their channels prematurely. I was so thrilled with the fit and comfort of my initial purchases that I decided to double up on my Alana orders with the expectation that I too would have to deal with the wire issue. I have never had a wire pop out on any of my Alana's. Or of ... any other Bravissimo bra I have. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana. The wires of all my Alana's end at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the top of the side channel while they do reach the top of the channel in the gore.
One inconsistency I have noticed between different colorways is the softness of the hook and eye materials. Some, like the Papaya's I purchased in 2017 are very soft and luxurious while others, like both of my white Alana's are also soft to the touch but a little less so than the papaya's but a lot softer than the rest of the colors I have.
If you don't mind a tendency to a cakes on a plate look, the Alana may become a staple for you as it is for me. Through the course of time, I have noticed that my Alana's tend to initially have the cakes on a plate look but will soften and become a rounder shape with frequent use. As good as that may sound, it's the result of s slight decrease in cup support which I do notice but doesn't bother me too much. This white Alana does not do a very good job of masking my nipples though so I tend to wear a camisole or add additional layers of clothing or if I have to, nipple covers, to compensate.
I recently purchased the lilac/lemon version which has different straps that tend to roll up and dig in. That feels like a step backwards for Bravissimo and I hope future white Alana's I buy retain the quality of the 2 I own so far.

Sep 2020
I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.

.......................................... original / current / difference
band length un-stretched..... 33.50 / 33.50 / 0.00
band length stretched........... 41.00 / 42.00 / 1.00
cup depth.............................. 18.00 / 19.00 / 1.00
cup height............................. 14.50 / 16.00 / 1.50

The 0.00 inch change seems unusual as I would have expected some shrinkage with 50+ hand washings.
The 1.00 inch increase in stretched band length is not overly surprising.
The 1.00 inch increase in cup depth is very surprising.
The 1.50 increase in cup height is extremely surprising.

These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.

Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Also, the cup over knee technique does not take into account the distance and hence volume I gain from a floating gore. With this white Alana, I have 4 inches of floating gore today, I did not record this measurement in my original review.
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590 more words

white colorway

Updated on Sep 11, 2020 Flag this