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Sienna is my third allover lace Fantasie bra and the second lace Side Support model that I've tried. As I initially suspected, there are many variations within the bras classified as "Side Support." Compared to the other styles I have tried, the measurements are closest to Frances in the same size, but the fabrication makes it fit differently. The fit is very different from the all-lace Estelle that really didn't work for me. While Frances was a pretty good fit with a too-large band that can be altered down, this one didn't work out.
In terms of the band, I am pleased to find that ... Sienna actually measures TTS for a 30 band. Comparing the few measurements that have been entered for this bra across different sizes, I believe this is true across the board. The band is still a little bit on the larger end and not as small as Cleo bands, but you can order your regular size and get a decent fit. The band of this bra is made from the same firm powermesh used on most Fantasie styles I've come across. The back is a shallow leotard shape so it would be easy to alter.
Compared to Frances, the cups on this bra measure about the same in width and depth, but the wires are a smidge longer and there is more cup separation. Because this is an all-lace bra, the bottom cup is double lined with non-stretch tricot. I have already talked about how these double-lined cups don't work for me in Fantasie styles, and here it's the same. The cups are pretty rigid and there's not much give. The upper cup is single layer embroidered mesh, but the upper edge of the cup is NOT made from stabilizing elastic. The upper edge has a strip of nonstretch fabric sewn at the edge, so there is no give at all. The upper cup is very firm, so it will not work for tall roots, nor can it accommodate more upper fullness.
Unfortunately, it is this quality that made the bra really not fit me. The wires feel a bit too obviously narrow, but with the snugger band, it is obvious that it cuts into my breast tissue at the gore (the gore is a bit wider in this style than in Frances). The cups are so closed off and have no give that I am really squeezed into the cup unnaturally with a bit of a bulge at the top where my tall roots don't fit. Classic orange in a glass effect here. Thankfully, the shape of the bra is quite nice and it seems to be a similar naturally lifted shape to Frances, though the too-small cups make it look a bit pointy and torpedo-y on me. I think if this were the right size and shape for your body, you'd get a much better profile. The cut is definitely different from Estelle, which had a much deeper and pointier cup that I couldn't fill, and was a bit bottom-heavy. I think this style would suit even breasts with short roots, and probably suits conical shapes better than round shapes.
This bra is super pretty, and it's a bummer that it didn't work out. One thing to note is that I've found Fantasie embroidered lace bras to be a lot scratchier than I anticipated. I'm not sure if they soften up after washing, but the embroidery on these things is seriously stiff, especially compared to lace and embroidery from Panache. The non-lace bras do not have this problem even if they have embroidery.
The embroidery pattern on Sienna is particularly lovely, as it reminds me of blossom designs from the 17th/18th century, and have a lot of texture to boot. The details of the embroidery are quite intricate, and I think it looks much more expensive than most bras in this price range. If only they could solve the handfeel problem and make them softer when they get to the consumer! Even the mesh on this style feels a bit stiff, but I believe that should soften up after washing.
This bra has plain satin straps with picot edging, topped on lace at the front of the strap, and the rest of the strap is fully adjustable. The embroidery goes throughout the bra in the front, except the wings are plain mesh. The gore has a bit of a keyhole detail which I find very lovely; the decoration on this bra is a simple bow with diamante charm.
I am not sure if this bra would fit me better in a 30E instead of 30DD, but I have some more Fantasie styles coming in the mail so I should get a better idea of when it is necessary to size up in these fits and when it's time to accept a shape mismatch.
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Updated on Apr 09, 2020 Flag this