This review is for the Masquerade Rhea size 28F in the colour Antique.

Bra description:

A luxurious-looking bra out of matt satin and intricate detailed lace in a beautiful but difficult to describe colour. None of the images I've seen online does it justice. It's a kind of delicate greyish pinkish sandish slightly-darker-than-nude hue -- a light rose or mauve taupe comes to mind. Anyway, even though it's definitely not nude, it's an excellent and definitely more romantic alternative for a neutral-coloured bra, which is exactly what I was looking for. The centre gore is adorned with a bow and a tiny sparkly pendant. As said, the lace is intricate ... and expensive-looking. It's not entirely flat so it might show slightly under tight, thin, clingy clothes. The zigzag stitched seams are much less noticeable in real life than online images suggest although, again, they might show under tight, clingy clothes. The cups are only thinly padded, but the material feels quite sturdy, almost stiff. They are lined with soft and comfortable cotton. Straps are only partly adjustable. The non-adjustable part is completely non-stetchy and covered with the same satin the cups are made of, which feels quite comfortable. The wings are made out of two layers of a perfectly matching stretch satin. There is no boning in the wings.

Bra fit:

I must say, I am impressed. First of all, it kind of sort of fits!!! Secondly, this bra gives me the kind of shape I was expecting from Ewa Michalak's CHP, but that one didn't work for me AT ALL. The cup shaping keeps the breasts close to the chest, pushing them upwards for an uplifted, separated, and rounded 'Regency'-type cleavage. Compared to my Ewa Michalak CH there is a lot less projection and I first thought my breasts looked slightly flattened and almost 'minimised', (*) but it's actually really not a bad look bad at all. I do like the shape a lot: it's simply a bit more subtle than the shape I get in my CH and a bit more wearable for that reason as well. I know others consider this a look for 'special occasions', but I'm also happy with for a more everyday appearance. The cup height is quite perfect on me and there's only the slightest of gapping when I move my arms and shoulders. The only real gripe I have with the cups is the slight irregularity at the bottom of the front most cup seam: for some reason there is a bit of diagonal pull in the cups that makes this part pucker. I'm very tempted to slip in a thin piece of boning to straighten it out as it's just such a shame in such an otherwise beautiful bra. (**)

Technically, the wires are probably slightly too wide for me (judging by the marks they leave on my skin; it really isn't noticeable as such while wearing the bra), but not uncomfortably so. I actually think I prefer them this way, at least as long as I'm still breastfeeding. Unlike the Curvy Kate Tease Me I tried several weeks ago I do not notice the wires in this Rhea at all: no poking or pinching anywhere. The centre gore lies nice and flat and exerts zero pressure on my sternum. The tight band stretches the wires somewhat (hence maybe also the diagonal pull in the cups?), but they do not seem to distort significantly and the bottom of the cups isn't noticeably flattened. My breasts fill out the bottom of the cups reasonably well and the cups do not slip down like they did in the Tease Me and the CHP I tried.

The strap placement is a bit too wide for optimum comfort, but it *just* works. The slight gapping of the cups when I move my arms is mostly due to the wide strap placement. The fact the straps are only partly adjustable is a bigger problem: as I have a very short upper torso I have to tighten them almost all the way to prevent them slipping off my shoulders.The material of the non adjustable part feels sturdy and comfortable. The zigzag stitching isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, but it doesn't bother as much as I thought it would.

The band is really a tad too snug for a 28 band, but it does work for me. I'd say it's about as tight the band on my 65E PL Onyks if not slightly tighter and it really is every bit as tight as I can take. I wouldn't want it any tighter, but one band size up will almost certainly be too loose. (***) I measure 69cm/27" underbust -- someone who measures in as a solid 28 I'd strongly advise sizing up. The band is shaped slightly funny in that it seems the wings to curve up rather than down. This makes it feel as if the band rides up in the back, even though it really doesn't. Simply takes some getting used to, I suppose. Apart from the fact I wouldn't have minded a cm or two more room, my only real issue with the band is the lack of side seam boning and/or the lack of a powernet lining in the wings: the tightness of the band of course doesn't help, but -- I think at least partly due to the fact that the satin the wings are made off is so much stretchier than the edging elastic -- the band wrinkles and causes slight discomfort. Side seam boning and a sturdier powernet lining would allow a more even distribution of the band tension along the entire height of the wings (not just along the elastic edges) and would almost certainly result in more comfort.

Conclusion:

The Masquerade Rhea truly is an Almost Perfect Bra for me. I don't think the shape it gives is as glorious as what Ewa Michalak achieves -- I do prefer the slightly more projected shape I get from my HM Gold -- and I do have some issues with the fit and construction, but really, despite its minor imperfections it is an amazing piece! Anyway, I'm now sorely tempted to get it in all colours available plus, of course the matching knickers https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

Edited To Add:

I tried this bra with an extender and I must admit it fits much more comfortably that way. Of course, with the worst of the strain off the band and the wires it shows the cups are actually too big: they do gap quite a bit. I'm going to try this bra in a band size up and a cup size down, ergo in 30DD -- I'm thinking I should get a pretty decent fit in that size.

Edited to Add, The Sequel:

So, I was taking some photo's today to list this bra for sale as I had concluded previously it fits me too tightly in the band. I had even gone so far to order a band size up ... but before proceeding with the listing I decided to try it on once more as I'm having a Difficult Boob Day and my (only) other fitting bra doesn't fit comfortably at all. 'Lo and behold, miss Rhea fits me so well today, it's as if it's a different bra. I don't even notice the snugness -- what's up with that?! So, here I am, editing this review AGAIN and quite probably deciding to keeping this bra after all. I now have a 28E on the way as well to try when I'm feeling 'smaller'. Heck, why not order a set in black too?! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

Edited To Add, The Really Final Version:

(*) (**) After trying this bra in a 30 band as well, I have a strong suspicion that both the flattened shape and the puckering in the bottom of the cups are the result of diagonal tension in the cup caused by a 'too tight' band. Don't ask me why -- I'm almost thinking it is actually a design or construction flaw that has to do with fabric grain or something. It is also slightly funny, because the 28 band certainly doesn't FEEL too tight on my 69 ribcage (it feels tight, but not TOO tight) and the wires don't really seem as distorted as I've seen them in other bras with much looser bands (Bravissimo Mademoiselle ... ?).

(***) Surprisingly, a band size up seem to work just fine. The band is not very stretchy to begin with and I haven't notice the 30 riding up on me at all. At 27" I'm obviously just in between band sizes so maybe that's why it works for me, but for what it's worth, if you experience a flattened shape and/or pucker in the bottom of the cup, try going up a band size. I myself definitely got a better shape that way.

The Masquerade Rhea is a mysterious bra. I've now tried it on in four different sizes and for some odd reason they all seem to fit. My breast size and density fluctuates (due to breastfeeding), but even though there may be as much a three cups sizes difference between my 'smallest' and my 'biggest' shape, these changes are not very clearly reflected in my actual measurements. Believe me, I quadruple checked! True, these four bras may not all fit the same at the same moment, but for Bratabase recommendation purposes I cannot say of any one of them that it doesn't fit under the current measurements at all. For what it's worth though, I have decided I get a better shape in a 30 band, so this one is probably going to be listed soon ...
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Updated on Jan 02, 2013 Flag this

This bra was a bit of an odd fit for me. I’m not sure I can pinpoint all the fit issues, but the most obvious is the fact that I don’t fill the lace at the top. I have an even shape, and this bra needs more upper fullness than I possess. The Harem also seems to fight against my inner fullness and would probably work better for those with more fullness on the outside. The wire width is the same as other Masquerade bras of the same size, projection is adequate although again mostly on the top.

The band of the bra is not as tight as other ... Masquerade 28 bands I’ve tried. Since most Masquerade bands are very tight, that would probably make this one an average 28. I didn’t find it too loose on my 25 inch ribcage, but then again I only wore it for a couple of minutes.

As others have mentioned, this does not work as a t-shirt bra because the seam joining the lace part on top to the padded part on the bottom is visible under thin clothing.
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nude colorway

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Updated on Apr 16, 2015 Flag this

Aesthetics: this bra is so ridiculously pretty, pale blue satin fabric with bronze embroidery. The charm on the gore is a little plastic silver heart with a rhinestone in the middle. I love the zig-zag seams. The embroidery along the top of the cups and the bottom of the band is raised and is visible under tight clothing. The band is comfortably firm but not the tightest 28 band I've ever tried. The uplift is amazing and I love the open cups.

Fitting: one size down would be better. I waited until I was retaining water to re-evaluate the fit. My larger breast almost fills the cup normally and ... does fill the cup when I am retaining water, however, my smaller breast is drowning. Obviously the gaping is less obvious when my boobs are fuller. The gaping doesn't show under t-shirts. My major problem is wire width; when I take it off, I can see that there is almost an inch of empty space on the outside of the cups! I really want to try this in 28E because of the open cups. Quadboob is a perpetual problem that I think the Rhea can handle very well, if only the wires weren't so wide.
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Updated on Aug 09, 2013 Flag this

I bought it on a gamble, and alas it's too big on me: I can't quite fill it on top.
I normally wear a 28E for reference.
Pros:
-Tight band
-High quality materials
-Very pretty
Cons:
-Half adjustable straps
-Very wide on my small frame

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Updated on Jul 08, 2013 Flag this

PetitePlentiful

1004 reputation

115 bras

I bought my first bra from another bratabase user which arrived this morning, the Massquerade Rhea. Success! It's The tiniest bit big in the cup but I'm my smallest time of the month and it will fit my bigger days. It has nice wide wires with a shallow cup fairly open on top which is perfect for me. There is pretty lace along top of cup but it does show through tight tops. I was fully aware the straps we're only half adjustable which sadly don't quite go small enough which may stop the very small gap at the top of the cup but the straps will stay ... up and the gap isn't noticeable under clothes. It's similar to my Cleo Maddie but the cup is a bit bigger overall, which is what I was after. Maddie is quite small in the cup for the size. Compared to the Maddie, the gore and the outside of the wires come up a little higher which suits me as I think the Maddie is a little too short for me. I'm very pleased with this bra, it's just sad it's not made anymore! If anyone knows of a reinvented version let me know. In the meantime, I have another colour of the same bra on its way to me.
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Antique colorway

Updated on Sep 02, 2016 Flag this

I sized up on this one expecting it to be at least moderately shallow (my normal size is 28E, but I have to go up to 28F in less projected styles), however it turns out that it’s actually quite projected for a strapless. Unfortunately, like every other strapless bra in the universe, it is lacking in immediate projection and slides down below my IMF. Since it is also somewhat closed on top, again very common for strapless bras, it cuts in slightly due to sitting low on my chest. At the same time there is empty space at the apex of the cup since it is both the wrong shape and a size too large. The band at least I have no problems with; it is a snug 28. This bra is no longer available in 28E, but I probably wouldn't reorder it anyway; even by the necessarily lower standard of fit for strapless bras, I’ve found better fits than this.

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Updated on Feb 19, 2016 Flag this

The Rhea was the first bra I bought that was in my correct size: 28F. It's such a wonderful feeling that it'll have sentimental value for me. And the fact that I got it for dirt cheap on Ebay doesn't hurt either!

The color is an extremely pretty ice blue trimmed with bronze lace. I understand this was a Bravissimo exclusive for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection. The material is a sort of satin that's very soft to the touch. I love it.

The band is very firm so if you're between sizes, I'd definitely recommend sizing up. My underbust comes up at 26.7 inches and the 28 band on ... the first hook was quite snug. I even thought it was too tight for me at first but then it got very comfortable after wearing it for a day.

The straps are on the cusp of being too wide-set but they still work for me. They're only half-adjustable but I really appreciate the fact that the non-adjustable part is made of the same non-stretchy satin as the cups. It gives a little of an edge to the support quality of the bra as a whole.

The shape of the cups is perfect for my breasts. They're very separated and the cups are shallow enough that I don't get much gaping on either side of the narrow gore. They curve gently outward and don't thrust forward agressively.

It's clear when you look at the picture that my bigger breast is the right one. There's the tiniest bit of gaping along the edge of the lace on my left one but the cup itself is filled perfectly.

Perfect, rounded shape from the side. The Marie-Antoinette or 2 Cakes on a Plate kind of shape. My favorite kind! The Rhea gives a nice uplift and leaves you feeling very supported. The wires are of a perfect width. They enclose my breast tissue just the way I like it.

Verdict:
The Rhea is my favorite bra. It has everything: great quality, great apperance, great shape, great support.

I definitely want this darling in another color. Just not the continuity colors of black or antique. I've fallen in love with the champagne/pink but it's even older than the antique ice and there isn't a single 28F anywhere. I was hoping Masquerade would introduce a new seasonal color but there's no Rhea in sight for either AW 2013 or SS 2014. Bummer.
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http://mybradventures.blogspot.com/2013/08/masquerade-rhea-antique-ice-28f.html

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Updated on Aug 17, 2013 Flag this

missnymeria

157 reputation

23 bras

This is a difficult bra for me size-wise. I find the band comes up small and has little stretch, which is good for me as I really need a 26, although the lack of stretch means it gets a bit uncomfortable by the end of the day. Hopefully this will make it less likely to stretch out quickly.

The cups are slightly too small in a 28F, but slightly too large in a 28FF. I went for the smaller size because I prefer to have a little cleavage rather than gaping when I lean over. The shape is slightly pointy due to stiff seams, but the bra is softening ... up as I wash it. It still won't be good for tight tops as the lace is quite thick and show through thin fabrics.

The straps are only partly adjustable and I wish this wasn't the case as I'm wearing them as short as they go and really need them to be a bit shorter. They are made of a lovely satin fabric, but this contributes to them sliding off my shoulders!

The comfort and looks of this bra make up for the fit issues. Apart from the band stiffness at the end of a long day, it's extremely comfortable. The wires don't poke anywhere and it didn't require any breaking in. The lace detail and pretty charm in the centre make the bra look really expensive and beautiful. I have the Antique version which was exclusive to Bravissimo and it can be easily matched with a pair of nude knickers.
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Updated on Feb 11, 2012 Flag this

laura_144

594 reputation

126 bras

Rhea is a true Marie Antoinette bra and gives a cakes-on-a-plate cleavage that is out of this world! The cups are very open at the top and accommodate upper fullness perfectly. This size is a bit small for me now, however, and I get some bubbling over the edge of the cups. It does enhance the look in a way, but I also feel like my boobs are about to fall out any minute. I’d like the cups to be a little bit higher.
The look of the bra is very sophisticated with the black satin combined with gorgeous, thick lace at the top of the cups and on ... the band. The cups are thinly padded, but very stiff. The straps are not stretchy at all, and only partly adjustable. I have them adjusted almost to the loosest, but then again I have rather low-set breasts. Band is tight for 28, and fits perfectly for my 26" underbust (for some reason it still looks like it’s riding up). The gore is rather high, but it doesn’t dig into my sternum like some other Panache bras. It feels a little bit pinchy on my close-set boobs however. Also, I think that the cups are a bit too shallow on me, because the wires are pushing my ribcage under my breasts.
Overall, the fit is decent and I love the look, but it’s not the most comfortable bra for me. I rarely wear it and sort of forgot I have one.
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Black colorway

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Updated on Feb 01, 2016 Flag this

I tried both the 28E and the 28F of the Deity Plunge and found them to be fairly similar. In the end, I think the 28F was better for me. There was more quadboob with the 28E. The cups fit fairly well for a plunge on my wide-rooted, shallow boobs – I can fill out the bottom reasonably well. However, there is a bit of quadboob. As much as I like the Deity Plunge, there are better plunges for my shape.

The materials are very nice. I love the soft, stretchy, padded straps. I'm not a huge fan of the seamed construction because it feels a little pointy to me. For that reason, I wouldn't wear it as an everyday bra.

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Updated on Sep 19, 2015 Flag this

Before buying, I read that the Orla runs small in the cup, which I found to be true: the 28F fits more like a 28E. I wear both sizes, but apart from the Orla my 28Fs are all padded bras, whereas I tend to be a more solid 28E in unlined (Masquerade Persia, Cleo Bonnie, Curvy Kate), perhaps because unlined cups tend to be more projected. Just something to consider when deciding whether or not to size up in the cup. Masquerade bras commonly run snug in the band, but the Orla is one of the tightest I’ve tried, and it stretches less than the ones with more ... satiny material. As for shape, it has an adequate amount of projection, but I could wish for a tiny bit more center fullness, although it’s still perfectly wearable.

This bra is constructed rather oddly, with one layer made of mesh edged with plum colored fabric at the lip and seams, and the outer, decorative layer just sort of loosely attached to that. Because it is not attached at more than a couple of points, the top of the outer layer bunches and flops over in such a way that shows under clothing. It’s a pity because otherwise it gives a nice rounded and somewhat minimized shape. Surprisingly given the fact that it is semi-sheer, the two layers are thick enough that nipples are not visible. I have the plum colorway and I love the contrast of the plum colored design against the skin showing through the mesh. I think it’s a gorgeous bra, but then I love the Masquerade aesthetic in general.
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plum colorway

Updated on May 10, 2015 Flag this

Overall, I do not like the Antoinette. The cups are the perfect width and don't dig into my wide-rooted, shallow boobs, but two things make it insufferable. Firstly, the straps are way too far apart. I don't like that they connect to my armpit. Secondly, I can't stand how high the gore goes because it pokes my sternum. Of course, that's just the way bandeau bras are.

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Updated on Dec 20, 2013 Flag this

The bra I am reviewing today is the Masquerade Rhea in Antique Ice, which I believe is a Bravissimo exclusive. This bra is utterly gorgeous, with careful detailing that makes it truly fit to be na...

http://noobsboobs.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/masquerade-rhea-review/

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Updated on Sep 03, 2013 Flag this

The band on this bra runs small, but it's not uncomfortable. It is made of a very soft material. The embellishments look nice but would probably show through any thin/tight material.

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Updated on Dec 07, 2012 Flag this

This is a beautiful bra from an old Masquerade season. Masquerade is known for producing very large-running bands, so I have this bra in a 28F, even though I usually wear a 30E. The bra is slightly padded.
I really like the fact that it has very wide underwires, which I need. It's rather comfortable.

Updated on Jun 04, 2012 Flag this

This one looks awesome and feels really good, but it's a pain in the butt to put on - I need 20 minutes and my husband in a good mood.

I do like the lace-up back though - super sexy and you can really get it tight. I have to watch that he doesn't lace it too tight or I get armpit fat. Just right though and it looks awesome.

Updated on Jun 20, 2011 Flag this

It's pretty evident that I am a big fan of Masquerade Angie, since I've now collected every color. My other two bras are 30DD, but I haven't been able to find my ideal size of 28E. Given that 3HC cuts run shallow and my only complaint about this bra is that it gives me a more minimized side appearance, I decided to try this in a 28F when I saw it available.

Surprisingly, the 28F fits quite similarly to my Comexim bras in 60H. The Basic 3HC in 60H was too shallow in the cups for me, and I haven't received my new 3HCs from Comexim ... yet, so my impression is based on the Comexim Standard Plunge cut. The wires, cup width, projection, and cup height all feel very similar to my Comexim bras. I would say this is almost a half size too large for me, but it fits my larger side well, and is a bit roomy on my smaller size. The cups definitely feel wider and are much taller than in the 30DD, which helps with giving a more rounded appearance, but it also causes the sides of the cups to come up a little bit high on me, and thus the sides of the cups and straps cut in and chafe a little bit. I frequently get the same issue in these larger cup sizes, especially in foam cup bras, just due to my petite frame, so I think this comes with the territory and is not a sign of a poor fit, as to me it's more important to get correct wire size and cup projection.

In this size, I also notice the wires more when wearing, so between the wires and the taller/wider cups, it is less comfortable than the 30DD, but gives better shape and is more supportive. Again, wires in a slightly larger cup size on me tend to be more noticeable, so this is again a common sacrifice I have to make sometimes to get the right cup size.

The 28 band is much better for me than the 30 band, and it feels comfortably snug. It is made from the same firm stretch satin that many other Masquerade bras use, and there is a gentle leotard back. The decorative straps of this bra extend quite far into the back, and the amount of adjustable strap is quite limited on this particular style.

I think that 28E would be my ideal fit, 28F gives better shape and support with some sacrifices in comfort, and 30DD is my most comfortable but less shapely and supportive option.

My other two bras are both in solid colorways, but I finally got the red/black that I really wanted! The vertical seams down the front in this colorway are black, as is the lace, which creates a nice contrast against the red foam cups. One thing I've noticed is that the lace at the upper edge is sewn rather inconsistently on all of my bras, so this may not lay flat under clothing. The seams are also not always sewn straight, so this is a deduction I would make against the quality of the bra. The fabric also feels a bit less luxe than on other Masquerade bras, but this is a subjective opinion and difficult to describe. Once again, Masquerade switched it up with the center gore decoration on the different colorways, as this one has a black ribbon bow with a small circular gold charm. I don't love the charm and I think it distracts from the overall appearance of the bra, but I appreciate the creativity of putting different decorations on each colorway!
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Red/Black colorway

Updated on Jun 04, 2020 Flag this

The Masquerade Antoinette has been coming up in my Bratabase recommendations for a while, but originally in sizes 28D and 30DD. After doing some more research on this bra, it seems that the cups run at least one size small, so based on measurements, I decided to size up 1 cup from my normal 28E to 28F.

Luckily, this turned out to be a very good fit! The cup size is great on me, though the only slight issue is that the wires flare out a bit at the top, so there's a little bit of extra room (about 1 cm) at the upper wire edge under ... my arms. However, I consider this to be a very minor issue and it doesn't create any discomfort. This is a 2HC construction, so I'd say that the Antoinette runs on the shallow side, and if you have a shallow shape, you should go with your normal cup size.

The band is wide, firm, and has 3 rows of hooks, which makes it feel super secure in this size. The powermesh used on the wings is very sturdy, and I'd love to see this on all bras. The best part about this fit is that it would make an amazing strapless bra--it's one of the few styles that stay up without straps and gives great shaping without any padding at the bottom of the cup. It feels similar to the Cleo Swim Hattie Bandeau Bikini Top that I also recently picked up.

The only issue with this bra is that the straps are really uncomfortable on me. Most of the bra strap is made of velvet, with the back 1/3 being adjustable elastic. Since this is a bandeau style, the straps are attached with a split strap in the front, and are quite wide set. I'm seriously considering removing the straps entirely and keeping this to wear as a strapless bra.

Regarding the styling, I know a lot of people love it, but I personally think it looks a bit cheap. It reminds me of the B. Tempt'd by Wacoal Ciao Bella in that it is a 2HC cut and sew foam cup with lace overlay, but the Ciao Bella is a $38 bra at regular price, and I believe this bra originally retailed for over $60. The fabric and trims don't look very expensive to me, especially compared to the Masquerade Athena, and I think that the bow with plastic beads at the center gore looks quite cheap. If you like the Ciao Bella, I think this is a very similar bra in fit and styling and could be a good option. I had expected a more sophisticated appearance though, and styling that better matches the original price tag.
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Berry/Blush colorway

Updated on Mar 24, 2020 Flag this

This doesn't feel like the usual Panache/Masquerade-shallow-wide, it'sway too deep for me. Cups too far apart.

I like the firm band and feel of the materials. Seems sturdy and lovely.

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Updated on Sep 24, 2018 Flag this

This bra is wide and a bit shallow at the bottom, but it has tons of room for center and top fullness. I would say it runs a bit big in the cup, and the band is true to size. It's a nice plunge, and the cups aren't too tall - just wide!

I wish it worked for me - a half padded cup seems really flattering for my shape. However, so far I can't stand how they look with clothing - the seams are so obvious!

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 04, 2017 Flag this