Wow. After all my raving about the Claudette Paramour Underwire Bra (101015008) , I figured I would test out some of their other bras, and conveniently the En Dentelle was on sale so I figured why not!
Here is why not: This is the most uncomfortable bra I have ever worn. It's not even a problem of fit! The cups and band fit just fine, but the choice of materials is brutal. The inner cups and the straps are covered in this extremely scratchy, sandpaper-esque mesh. (In a lovely neon pink, but the color isn't going to save it.) If ...it had just been the cups, I might have been able to deal with it, but the mesh covers the strap right where they rest on my shoulders, so the straps literally chafe away while they help support the bra. Awful, awful choice of material.
Aesthetically, it's a really sexy bra. The black lace overlay over neon pink mesh is a great idea, and there's a nice black lace trim around all the edges of the bra. Construction-wise, it's okay - the straps are a little wide-set for me (what else is new) and I'm generally not a fan of two-part cup construction since it tends to give me an east-west look, as that's the way my boobs tend toward anyway.
But seriously. Sandpaper mesh? On straps? Bad call, Claudette. I'm still a fangirl, but not a fan of the En Dentelle. Read more 147 more words
This bra makes me so, so sad. Let me begin by saying that it is exquisite. Probably one of the most beautiful bras I've tried on, ever. Ivory lace over a rich chocolate brown, an ever so slight long-line lower edge with an almost bandeau style shape. It checks all. the. boxes.
Except, unfortunately, the most important one: fit. To start with, the band runs EXTREMELY small, especially for stretchy Claudette bands. I almost wondered if there was a labelling error, because holy cats, I could barely fasten it around me. And when I did, there were several additional fit issues with the cups: slight quad-boobing, but also creasing at ...the lower portion of the cups, and the gore wouldn't tack. The last two issues largely stem from the fact that the lower portion of the cup is very shallow and take on a shape very unlike my actual boobs. Whereas the bottom portion of my breasts are very spherical and basically stick out perpendicularly from my ribcage, the cups on this bra are more like a 45 degree angle outward to the apex. Finally, since the band is soooo tight and the wires are rather malleable, the cups end up stretching width-wise and losing depth. All in all, the whole bra is simply too small all around, in addition to being at great odds with my shape. And, of course, the straps are too far apart and molest my armpits while falling off my shoulders. C'est la vie.
I would recommend this to someone with a much shallower shape, with very little lower fullness, and broader shoulders. And incredible taste. This bra is goddamn beautiful, and it's such a shame it doesn't fit. Read more 174 more words
Thanks for posting a review, pictures, and measurements! I was just thinking of buying it and now I know it's sadly incompatible despite how pretty it is.
Uggggghhhh this is a great bra and I wish I could fix just one, teeny tiny dealbreaker.
Here's the pros: Love the look - fairly pared-down design which lets the construction speak for itself. I got the navy colorway, which is a lovely color especially in the matte fabric. Also, the straps are a bit wider than standard which is always a design feature I love (not everyone is into this clearly, but I'll dive head-first into those luxury brands that have 1in+ wide straps like Fleur Of England ) Construction-wise, I love the very light lining and vertical seaming in the cups, ...which ends up giving a very uplifted and yet minimized shape. I tend to really like bras that compress everything very close to my ribcage, since when wearing t-shirts and floatier tops it ends up making my whole body look smaller in diameter (read: skinnier). On these counts alone, this is one of the best bras I have ever owned - and that's as a devoted fan of Claudette in general. The cleavage is fairly minimal since the gore is rather tall, but that's not a look I really go for anyway.
Aaaaand here's where I mention the con that SO MANY BRAS have that keeps this bra from being my favorite ever. Wide strap placement. IT'S SO WIDE. I'll refrain from cursing here, but for crying out loud, why does nearly every good full-bust bra have these effing wide-placed straps? Are they making bras for linebackers? At the tops of my shoulders, they can barely stay up, but the real problem is down where they meet the cup, in the DEPTHS OF MY ARMPITS. This is such a common gripe of mine and it makes me so capsy. I feel like I need to start a support group for people. I wore this bra to work once and by the end of the day, my armpits were so chafed that I whipped the bra off and threw it across the room the second I got in the door. Quoth the raven, nevermore. Read more 253 more words
So be fair, I tried this bra in 28DD and loved it except that the straps were too wide. That and I really needed a 28E or possibly a 30DD because the band was so snug. It's not just the larger sizes for this bra, it's just the style, which is too bad because it's SUCH an amazing bra other than that!
Can I join your support group too? "Capsy" is a very good word for describing how armpit strap makes me feel! It's a shame the bra was good apart from the strap issue. Were you able to return it and get your money back?
Alas, I bought it on clearance so I'm unable to return it. However I've made a listing for it so hopefully the shape will work for someone! Normally I'm a huge fan of Claudette, but this one just isn't going to work for me. And yes, you're welcome to join this club of unfortunates! Maybe we can get a catchy name and demand some industry reform ;D
Why yes, I bought another Claudette Paramour. After the miserable failures that were the Gossard Glossies Moulded Bra (6271) and the Parfait By Affinitas Kelly Wire Bra (6702) , I'm so glad I did. It reinstated my faith in humanity and bra manufacturers. I'm convinced that this bra (at least for me) is the best bra on planet earth. It's got non-stretch lower segments in the cups and stretch mesh for the top section - ergo, supportive, and no gaping or quad-boobing at the top thanks to the stretch. Everything about it is comfortable. This is the ...second season this bra has been out (I bought last season's in black and garnet) and I do believe they've made some minor adjustments for the better. The shape is a tad more rounded than last season, and they tweaked the way the fabric is sewn together on the cups (last season's satin fabric shifts around a bit on top of the inner lining of the cup, whereas this season they seem to be sewn together and so give a smoother finish.)
I'm so glad that this springs colorways are light - my main complaint with the black and garnet was that they are my go-to bras, yet I can't wear them under light colored shirts. What was I supposed to do without my beloved Paramour? But now I have it in the seafoam colorway (which features navy blue accents on the bow, straps, and elastic) and now I can seriously wear it under anything. I'm also considering nabbing the light pink as well. Because, at this point, I'm basically fazing out all my other bras and stocking up on Paramours. Read more 186 more words
Claudette, being a relatively young brand, has played a lot with fit from season to season. And while I'm not a huge fan of this colorway (Papaya/Olive) this season definitely has the *best* fit. One thing I have noticed is that Claudette bands tend to be stretchy and loosen a lot over time - I'm probably closer to a 30F-FF in this one. Such a chore, figuring out bra fit without trying it on! Let me just list out the pros/cons.
Pros: so, so comfortable. Love the Dessous in this season and earlier ones (beware the ones from spring 2015!). Love the natural, relaxed shape, the shear cups. And as with all Claudette bras, it's really well made and is lasting a lot of wear.
Cons: I don't like orange, and I'm on the tightest hooks. May have to bust out a Rixi clip if the band stretches any further. All the fluctuation between seasons make it difficult to pinpoint which bra in which season will fit best.
Garnet color: This bra is stretchier in the cup mesh fabric than the black. The band is too big and I would need to size down. Softer and more luxurious than the Dessous, but a slightly more natural shape.
This is a fantastic bra, especially since I got it from Claudette's Encore site (so it was on huge discount!) I'm fast falling in love with seamed bras and I love the fun colors Claudette puts out, especially in Dessous. The fabric is softer than I expected on my skin and it's quite comfortable to wear for a full day of work on my feet. One thing I've noted about Claudette's bras is that their bands are very stretchy. This hasn't proven to be a problem for me thus far though.
I bought this bra entirely because Sweet Nothings recommended it on her blog, and I was not disappointed. It is incredibly comfortable. I had been looking for a soft cup bra to balance out the beginnings of my collection and this bra definitely does that for me. I love that it has 3 hooks because the band feels so much sturdier. The garnet color is incredible as well. I wasn't expecting such a rich, deep red but it's gorgeous. This bra is definitely an airplane flight bra.
It's been a while since I've tried the Dessous (and I don't think I ever did try on the proper size the first few times). It's a really good, basic every day bra with just enough visual interest due to the unusual color choice and sexy sheerness. I got the magenta/lime color way, and wasn't sure if I would like it or not - I definitely do. It's unusual, but still pretty. Plus, damn do I love a sheer bra. Both visually and comfort-wise, beats molded cups any day.
I like most of the changes they've made over the past few seasons. The top sheer portion of the cup ...used to cup up much higher as it met the strap, and it seems they've decided to bring it in at a lower angle. I like the tweaks in fit and shape for the cups, except for one minor thing - what else? the strap separation is a bit wide. Not so much that it will chafe my armpits or fall off my shoulders, but not *perfect* either. Claudette seems to have been straying from their narrow-cup, narrow body template, which is... not ideal for me. Well have to see how this pans out in the next few seasons.
All told, I'm really happy to have this bra in rotation. It looks great, it fits fine, and I barely notice I'm wearing it. That's all I ask in a bra anyway. Read more 130 more words
This bra is okay... better in theory than practice, in my opinion (And it's no Paramour, sniff.)
Pros: Engaging design with the bright colors and contrast black edging, both in the elastic and in a velvet trim around the cup's edges. Fairly comfortable, a typically good Claudette fit for me.
Cons: Something about the velvet edging is a little stiff, it's a bit of a nitpick but I can feel it, particularly along the armpit edges. But more importantly, I don't find that this bra is as lifting or structured as I like - most likely because it is made of entirely material that has some give, a fine fishnet with underlaying mesh for stability - not technically stretch, but not truly stiff either. That, plus the limited seaming (one horizontal seam across the cup) don't make for very powerful architecture when we're talking lift or shaping. So basically, it's just my natural boob shape, encapsulated. Fine for some circumstances, but not my favorite look overall.
Unfortunately this cute bra gives me quadboob. I knew from the start it would be too small, and yes - it cuts into my breast tissue. It's a shallow balcony, in my opinion, something similar to Ewa Bien Balor B230 (7600) or Ewa Bien Amelia Push Up Balconette (B230) , but much shallower.
Straps were too long, boobs were sad and saggy. But worst of all? The sheerness! I didn't anticipate how weird and unflattering that would be. If you have small, pretty nipples you might not mind -- but I don't https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />.
My personal assessment makes this seem like a good bra... however, it gives me the ugliest, pointy boobs ever! I'm ashamed to wear this one under pajamas when no one is going to see me. Awful!
VERY comfy bra. The band stretched out on it quickly though. No worries, I'm getting a rixie clip to tighten it. It keeps me feeling cool during the summer, and it's soft enough to sleep in.
Despite the fact that it is a little too big in the band and a little too small in the cup, this is the most comfortable bra I currently own. The fabric is extremely soft and flexible, the straps are fully adjustable, and I love the fact that it has 3 hooks for closure. I consider this bra to be superior to the Claudette Dessous for this reason - the Dessous has cuter colors, but the mesh is so scratchy and I found it to be quite uncomfortable, whereas the Paramour is smooth like butter. My only complaint is that since the opaque fabric is ...so flexible, it has a little excess stretch in the band and I would prefer to have a 30FF or G
Even though I'm wearing the wrong size, I don't get any quad-boob, which must be a testament to the fact that the cups are deeper and the wires narrower than my other bras (say, Panache or Curvy Kate). I find that those brands tend to get too wide in the cups - heading into armpit territory - yet still cut in at the top, creating the strange sensation that the cup is both too big and too small at the same time. With the Claudette, however, it seems to be better proportioned overall or my shape.
Aesthetically, the bra is simple without being boring - I bought mine in basic black, but at this point it's also available in a nice dark red w/black detail, which I may pick up on sale. It has sexy little mesh panels at the top of the cup, and a bow at the center gore for a little added interest. Nothing particularly fancy, but the basic adornment means that there are no frills or embroideries to show through my clothes, so I can wear this bra under thinner fabrics without concern for excess texture showing through. Read more 215 more words
I must say that shape is spectactular. It actually made me exclaim out loud. I have pretty shallow breasts, but with a narrow root. When I finally get around to it, I hope I can get the same shape as you.
Thanks for posting a review, pictures, and measurements! I was just thinking of buying it and now I know it's sadly incompatible despite how pretty it is.