*Updated review: It's just soooo dang wide. The more I wore it, the more I realized the whole neckline and design of the plunge just doesn't work out with my inner fullness. Like the inside edge of the cup barely covers my nipple on my bigger breast. But I don't quadboob, and I don't think a bigger size would solve it. I think the wires would definitely be too big in a 30G. The bottom of the cups is too shallow for me. Plus the band is too loose now, and with the straps barely adjusting long enough for me, it ...likes to ride up.*
Oh, I'm in looooove. What a beautiful bra!
Band: I can close it on the tightest hook, but I'm a bit worried about the durability of the satin band, so I'm closing it on the middle hook for now. Hopefully it doesn't snag or run. Feels snug enough for now, and it doesn't stretch too much so hopefully because of the satin it won't stretch out excessively.
Cups: Wide - 6.1" - the gore tacks nicely. I get great lift and they're tall enough to enclose everything on the sides without digging into my armpits. Open on the top, no quadding. Designed for wide rooted, wide set, shallow boobs. The lace detail is gorgeous. They are cotton lined for comfort and lightly padded but not enough to add to my size.
Straps: Not fully adjustable unfortunately. I have them as loose as they can go, which thankfully is just barely long enough for me.
The lace detail covers the vertical seam, but I probably won't wear this as a thin tee shirt bra. I don't wear a lot of thin shirts without a cami underneath them anyways. Read more 200 more words
cup depth: 8.4 - 9.3 (the referred Panache Tango is actually 9.8 and it fits!)
Judging from that, Alice will probably be too wide for my shape! What a bummer!
I would say it is somewhat shallow, yes. It is wide for sure though. Mine measures 6.1" which is slightly wider than some of the other 30F measurements entered, but still quite a bit wider than your preferred width excluding your Tango. The depth agrees though. It really is a beauty. I gave in and closed it on the tightest hook, if the band stretches it's one I'm willing to alter down to make the bra last.
lcl0706 yeah, it will probably have the same problem as my Cleo Neve!
Yeah, I think you should keep it and alter it when needed!
Yeah, if the Neve doesn't work for you, this won't. Incidentally, I have a Neve arriving tomorrow hehe
I'm currently looking for a strapless bra...can't find the perfect one!
I'm itching to get my hands on a Neve strapless, but waiting to see how my regular Neve fits first. I also would like a nude color strapless, I need to list my 28F deco strapless and get a 28FF but can't find one anywhere and haven't wanted to get rid of the only strapless I own that is passable. Both of those are wide shallow strapless bras so that probably doesn't help you haha. I'm just waiting for a few more things to sell before I drop $60-$70 on the Neve strapless - and finding that one in a 28 band anywhere is proving quite difficult. I see many 30 band alterations in my future :-S
lcl0706 Oh, I was hopeful deco strapless would work for me! :( But 5.8 is probably way too much!
Wow, that's a good deal! Tempting! The Rhea probably wouldn't work for me but the other 2 should. That's kinda worth it just for the Freya.
myfashioninsider have you looked at either the Panache Evie strapless or the Fantasie smoothing strapless? I can't remember your band size, but Fantasie's smoothing strapless only goes down to 30. I've owned & sold one - cups runs big, my 30F I sold swallowed me up. But it does its job well, if you can get over how utilitarian it looks. The 30E is 5.4W x 8.9D according to BTB.
The Evie strapless seems to be narrower than the Porcelain strapless but there's not a full measurement table on BTB.
lcl0706 I was eyeing a 30E fantasia smoothing strapless at ebay, but I saw reviews and they were disappointing! Also, didn't like the shiny finishing...
I'm trying to decide if I should order a Pour Moi strapless in 30F. I've only seen the measurements of the 30G and there aren't much reviews... But it's really cheap, so I'm tempted to give it a go!
As for Evie, tried it once and, back then, didn't like how it fit!
myfashioninsider Ill have to look up the Pour Moi. My fantasie wasn't that shiny, not overly shiny. I think it would have definitely served its purpose had it not been too big. My main complaint was the gore. It was so high it was painful, but I don't know if that was because the whole thing was so big on me.
I bought this basque in black/ruby as a birthday gift to myself after finding out (super belatedly) that Masquerade had gone out of business. It is so very pretty, and I love it just for that! I also decided to get it because I have had great success with vertical seam cups, and because I didn't have any real lingerie that is bra sized.
So, I am pretty accustomed to lacing myself into a corset. It can take 15 minutes and requires some twisting and my arms get tired, but I can even get modesty panels straight by myself, so I consider myself flexible and pretty self-sufficient. Well, all ...that did nothing for me with this basque. I'm not sure how other ladies get into them, but it definitely required the assistance of my fiance (he likes it too, though, so that's good!). 3 rows of hooks all the way up is great, though!
The straps aaaaaalmost don't extend long enough. I don't have particularly low-set breasts (I think) or tall shoulders, but it was almost not enough, so watch out for that. I also have not checked the length on the suspenders, and they look a tad short, too. Luckily, they are all just black satin ribbons, so if you are handy with a needle and thread, you could just replace them.
The gore tacks and doesn't hurt! This is a super duper important thing for me, not least because of how close-set my breasts are but also because I apparently bruise easily from bad gores (looking at you, 65G - Chantelle » C-chic 3 Part Cup (3582) ), and of course it is a super rare thing to find. Something slightly wonky is going on with the left wire at the bottom of the U making it poke if I slouch at all, but I think I can sort that out easily enough. Otherwise it's as comfy as my Fauve half cups!
The cups are also projected enough for me. !!!! I don't even get that with all my Fauves! I wore this thing for two hours as a trial and the wires never migrated, nothing ever wrinkled, and I stopped noticing it after 5 minutes. How awesome is that? Definitely going to invest in an Antoinette bra now, before they disappear forever.
I must say that I am a teensy bit disappointed, although really not surprised at all, by the fact that, since this thing fits me well like a bra up top, it offers no support for me whatsoever anywhere else. This is a thing I deal with all the time, though: pre-made clothes are cut for people straighter than I am, simple as that. On top of that, I like me some corsets and dig the hug-feeling I get from decent compression in a custom rig, so I was kind of hoping to get a little of that, but alas, it is not to be. Still, it's super comfortable and the boning doesn't buckle or poke (although it might with wear, because it does feel like it's plastic, so I'm not 100% sure yet), and it reminds me to keep decent posture. The sheer lace powermesh is a little itchy but I am really sensitive to that sort of thing, and it usually goes away with the first wash. Considering what I paid for it, I think it's absolutely worth it.
The worst part about it, I think, is that the seam at the top of the cups cuts me off. It's another slightly disappointing surprise because it's a vertical seam style with a pretty low neckline, but I have super tall roots and get this with most other bra styles (especially strapless!), so I probably should have expected it. On the other hand, I guess I could say I'm surprised in a good way about how well a bandeau cut works on me! Aesthetically, it's just enough to be noticeable, unless I have a garment neckline fall right on top of it, but not enough to dig or chafe. I do think it is this which makes the cups ever so slightly pointy, but it's a pretty natural shape and not really noticeable if I'm not looking for it. It's a shame because otherwise this basque has everything I could have asked for in an off-the-rack garment.
Overall, an excellent investment. It will be a great undergarment to wear under a fancy dress - not slinky, mind, because the seams will show, but fancy, definitely - and I'm sure my fiance won't mind helping me into it again sometime soon. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Edit: After looking at the photos again, it's pretty obvious to me (and probably only me) that the wires under my arms are pretty narrow and they're resting on my breast root, but in the 2 hours I wore it I never noticed, so it didn't bother me at all. Read more 711 more words
Thank you! I try to be detailed, because if I just say "fit me great", that doesn't give anyone else any frame of reference at all, and then what are the reviews for?
I am really suprised how this bra fits me. It is close in cut to 32E - Panache » Zara (5086), but fits me lovely and I don't have any problems with scooping and swooping. I really like the long straps!
I found this bra to be pretty and comfortable. The satin fabric has a luxe feel to it.
First issue: the band is huge. I reliably wear a 30 band in other Masquerade bras and a 30 in the bra rides way up on me even on the tightest hook.
Second issue: The cup runs small. Comparing it to another Masquerade plunges in the same size and it is obviously a full cup size too small. If you have very shallow breasts it might work for you in your regular size.
I liked it and decided to order another one in a band size down and a cup size up, so 30F to 28G.
My shape: self-supporting teardrop with tall shallow roots, wide full side roots, center-height, forward-facing, very close-set, with very firm tissue that pushes back when there's not enough immediate projection
I got this from a reddit user last week. It's a beautiful turquoise color with embroidered lace overlay and an eyelash finish instead of a separate lace trim around the top edge of the cup. As a two-part half-cup style, it fits a little differently than the 3-part ones that are more common, but it seems to suit me pretty well! I get the ever-elusive Cakes-on-a-Plate look from this when I first swoop and scoop, and I think in the ...right size it would be magic.
I love the way these cups fit, even though they're a size too small. The apex is spot on, the immediate projection is almost perfect (if not actually perfect - the wire doesn't creep out of my IMF!), they are a great height for low-cut tops, and they are super open on top. FOT ladies, if you can get your hands on this one, do it! I do quad a little when I first swoop-and-scoop, and I have a bit of tissue on my Super Side Boob that tries to escape because I need a 30FF, but it's ok. I think I could still pull it off on my less-full days.
The wires are great, and they are almost even the right shape curve for me! There is a little room in the channel to slide them around, which helps with the fact that the wings are just a hair shorter than I'd ideally prefer, and also with the gore which is already mostly unnoticeable (and that's saying something). They are a little firm, but not painfully so for this size range.
The straps are beautifully covered on the front half in the same eyelash lace as the cups. They are only half-adjustable, but that is fine for me. They are set rather far out on the cups, but I was surprised that it didn't really bother me - Freya's tendency to put them in my armpits drives me crazy, but not so with these. Instead, it just leaves the neckline very open.
I wish I wish I wish the band were not too big. I started with it on the tightest of the 3 sets of hooks, and I can still tell when it starts to shift. If it were wider, and had say 3 hooks in each column instead of 2, it might be doable, but as it is, I'll have to take it in or get a 28. It's not especially stretchy and pretty firm, though, which I like.
I am going to get me another Maia, even if I have to scour the whole internet to find it! Read more 353 more words
There is a little quad boob, but it isn't as bad as it looks in the pictures! My main problem is that the wires at the front seem to twist a bit. I think because my breasts are so close together. It still sits flat, but the bow becomes crooked (this often happens for me) and I feel like I can make either one side or the other of my beasts sit properly in the bra. It is reasonably comfy and gives a nice round shape under clothes but I am worried that if I keep this bra it is one which I will be adjusting and fiddling with ...throughout the day, rather than one I can just put on and then forget all about (what I am always searching for, but don't often find haha!!!) I feel like maybe my breasts are too soft for this style too. I feel like it is a style designed to give a more oomph type cleavage, but my breasts are soft and that doesn't happen (or not in this). I feel like I will be fiddling with this bra to hitch up the straps to get my cleavage more up, and also having to try and smooth my breasts into the bra to stop them falling out. So, I guess I shouldn't keep it. The back is a really good fit though. Nice and firm, and the wires seem a good width for me. I think the straps are a bit wide though. They don't fall off my shoulders though, but I think that I am wearing the straps pulled in more than intended, which may also be affecting the fit of the cups. The straps sit at the very outside of the cups, creating a real square shape (sorry, I don't know how to explain this properly), but for me if I let the straps sit where they seem intended to sit, they would be falling off my shoulders. If I pull them in to sit on my shoulders they stay in place, but they no longer go straight up in a straight line, but instead curve in, and I think this affects the comfort and maybe the fit and shape too. Read more 263 more words
It actually looks much too small in the cups from these pics.
+1 to that. This is at least 1-2 cup sizes too small.
I thought the same thing, and then saw the above comments agree. I have this bra in 28E (haven't got around to adding it yet, maybe I'll do that now.) I'm fairly shallow and it's just shallow enough for me. On your pictures it definitely looks like ere isn't enough projection in this bra. Hopefully, that just because the cup is too small and you can try a bigger size.
Thanks for the comments. I am going to return the bra ;)
This review is for the Sky Blue/Charcoal colorway. My shape is a close-set teardrop with super wide and tall roots that give me all the problems shallow ladies have, although I have pretty significant immediate projection underneath, with very firm tissue and roots that wrap past my armpits.
I will say, it is a beautiful bra and I love the color combination and the lace and the details! I think the bandeau shape could really work for me, surprisingly enough (most similar shapes, especially strapless, cut me off something fierce). It seems to work much better in the 30F - Masquerade » Antoinette Basque (7157) on me, ...though: the basque has more immediate projection and makes less of a divet into my upper root with the seam at the top of the cup. I'm not sure why they are so different, except that the tension in the band is distributed across more surface area in the basque. The underwires of the bra seem to want to ride down a hair because of the projection issue, but they don't seem to in photos.
The wires are great, which is crazy because I wasn't expecting them to be so wide - on the basque they are narrower - and they almost encompass my whole breast root. The gore is surprisingly comfy, too, considering how high it is and how often this element gives me lots of trouble.
The band is lovely and tight in a 30, and doesn't feel too stretchy so I think it will last a long time. I wish I could pull off a 28, because the straps are juuuuust barely close enough in - any farther out and they'd be in my armpits, but where they are is comfortable enough not to notice. I hope the 30FF or 30G I have to exchange it for is similarly positioned.
Unfortunately, this one does have to be exchanged. The cups are simply too small, and that top seam really cuts in. It is such a shame, but hopefully a size or two up will be much better. Read more 237 more words
Appearance: Beautiful bra. Would be perfect for a bride, or even a special event. Super soft cups, the satin is very pretty ad it's very malleable while still having a little structure. There's a bow in the front that I wasn't expecting and that fabric seems a little stiff, so be careful if you're wearing it under something clingy as the bow may show through. There is also the bow fabric on the inside of the wing, which is a cute little detail.
Fit: This bra did not fit me. It was too shallow (average projection), however, the reviews were correct in that you should size down in ...band and size up in cup. So instead of a 32DD, I ordered a 30F and it probably would have been a perfect fit had I been a little more shallow. I would recommend that someone measuring a firm 32 to probably stay at a 32 band; I don't think the wing material would allow for too much stretch. The cups seemed a little tall, but weren't uncomfortable or awkward. The straps were somewhat thick, but still soft and comfy. The gore was a nice low height.
Plus: Since it's discontinued, it's only $20 on Amazon! Read more 97 more words
This bra works well for my shallow boobs. The shape is really nice, rounded but in a natural way, and overall it is my favorite bra. Cleavage is impressive but not overwhelming.
The satin-covered straps are very comfortable and the band is firm. I felt it was true to size. The lace overlay pulled the edge of the cup outward somewhat (it is only sewn down at 2 points along the edge) but I remedied that with a couple of added stitches to tack it down.
Definitely a fan of the Masquerade line now because of this bra!
I wrote a review for 32E and then took my own advice and get it in the sister size with smaller band. Have nothing to add. Just one thing: for some reason it paints me dark blue near the center gore (looks like really bad bruises!). First time it I was terrified (how could I got this! It hadn't felt bad at all during the day!) but then I understand what it was. Booh!
This bra is lovely, and I was excited for a plunge bra! However, the band is HUGE. I can visibly pull it away from my body many inches! I knew that a 30 band was pushing it, as I fit better in 28 bands, but this band is beyond a 30 band! The cups are also far too small, and I'd say I would need at least one cup size bigger if not two.
My biggest criticism of this plunge is that the gore is basically non-existent. (I will try to remember to upload a picture of the gore tomorrow!) The two underwires seem like normal bra underwires until ...they meet towards the gore, where they seem to be 'clipped' and just kind of dangle there together in the middle with nothing really stabilizing them. Other plunge bras I know own have stabler gores which are able to tack, but I am not sure this gore would ever tack, even if the cups fit, just due to the construction.
It is a total disappointment! It's not particularly pretty or comfortable otherwise, either! Read more 72 more words
1. For me, it's beautiful. I love the colors and the thin straps with yellow and brown stripes. 2. For me, it's very comfortable. 2. I would tell, it's good for "bigger" 30f. 3. The band isn't very thight, i would prefere to have it thighter. But the bra is beautiful, also the it doesn't really matherhttps://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
My shape is low set, short and narrow rooted, and soft.
This bra is from Belle Lingerie. I've been looking at it for some time, because strapless bras are hard to fit, and this one looked closed off enough that it would work for my short roots. Well it is pretty closed off, but too much so, and it fit a bit small. Because of that, the bra cuts into my tissue on the top like a bowl on my boobs, creating a really weird look that wouldn't be flattering under a strapless top. I didn't even want to take pictures it looked so awful. It would not work ...if you are full on top.
The bra itself is pretty and reminds of the 32F - Masquerade » Rhea (6121) I tried (but the Rhea has quite open cups). It has a circular button jewel on the gore, and lace overlay on the upper cups and just a bit that extends on to the wings. The cups are made of a soft satiny material and would slide nicely under a shirt. The straps are really thin and wide set, but it is a strapless, so that's expected. The inside of the cups has a silicone strip on the top and bottom of the band to keep it in place, and the band is snug. There are 3x3 sets of hooks.
I will be returning this one! Read more 127 more words
Oh that’s really pretty! I’m sorry didn’t work. Do you think of 30FF would fit better?
Calluna maybe but it's unlikely I'll reorder. I don't have a need for a strapless really, it was just a "nice to have in case" kind of purchase. If I really get a need for one come spring/summer, I might consider retrying this bra if it's still availale.
Fair enough. Have you tried the convertible Ewa? I know that there’s a few of her strapless bras floating around the listings too.
I have only tried a ch that had convertible straps. I did contact someone a while back about their EM strapless (not sure if it's still listed) but the shipping costs were prohibitive. I've always wondered if the EM strapless would work though. I'll take a look again through the listings...
I sized up in the cups for this, and that was a good choice. My first impression was that it feels a flimsier than other basques I've had in the past. It doesn't feel cheap exactly, but it feels lighter. That will probably make it easier to wear in hot weather. The boning is supportive but not too rigid. My breasts feel supported and it doesn't give an exaggerated push-up effect. It's not too tight at the hips and comes down slightly in the front to cover the pooch area, which is great. I had one basque in the past that stopped a little higher up and exaggerated my tummy in a very unflattering way.
It is very tricky to do the clasps up oneself. I tried doing it up backwards and then turning it, but it was too tight to turn. I was able to do it up properly by myself, but it would be a lot easier with some help.
* I took my band measurements at the underbust, like it was a regular bra.
I'd say this runs tight for a 30, but true to size in the cup. Nice-looking, well-constructed bra that's just too big for me now. Only downside is that the bra is visible through any kind of smooth top.
I thought this was going to work for me, but not quite.
The cups just felt a bit uncomfortable. Especially when I sat down they cups came right up under my arm pits and was uncomfortable. There was a little bit of quad boob, but only very slightly and also a tiny bit of gaping at the top (where the cup meets the straps). This is a common problem for me. It was only a little bit, and especially as the cups are contoured you couldn't really tell that I didn't fill out all of the cups....but as it is not comfortable I won't be keeping it.
The design is nice and sophisticated and subtlety sexy. I do really like the matching thong. It was comfy and stylish.
What a beauty!!! Congrats on the fit, it sure looks good!
This is one of the bras I have on my wishlist! You said it is somewhat shallow and that worries me!
I've gathered the measurement infos of my best fitting bras atm, and I got a range of:
cup width: 5.3-5.4 (even though I have a Panache Tango as 28G with 5.8 that actually fits: http://www.bratabase.com/browse/panache/tango-classic-plunge-4806/28G/)
cup depth: 8.4 - 9.3 (the referred Panache Tango is actually 9.8 and it fits!)
Judging from that, Alice will probably be too wide for my shape! What a bummer!