Pretty barmaid cleavage produced by shallow cups. (Those same shallow cups give a flattened-against-window look under shirt.) I find this uncomfortable for my shape, though. The seam is uncomfortable against the breast tissue due to the overly shallow cup. The satin parts are the biggest problem--both the front of the straps and the front bit of the bra band don't stretch because they're satin not elastic. Because I have rib flares on both sides, the non-stretch section is a problem. This causes both straps and band to feel too small and too big at the same time (because the back halves are made of stretchy elastic, apparently to compensate.) Rode up in back but cut in painfully on rib flares, and cut into shoulders if I tightened the straps enough to prevent cup gaping. So pretty, but the detailing showed through most things, even with a tank over it.
I already own and love the Antique colorway in the same size, so I was incredibly happy to come across this long-discontinued one, which has an ivory satin background with dusty lilac-pink lace trim... it's girlie but still very regal looking. It's the sort of bra I would've dreamed about having as a little girl https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Honestly, I'd love to have all the colorways of Rhea as I think they're all so gorgeous, if only Masquerade was still in business! I just love the luxurious-looking details and find that the fit of this one is pretty identical to that of my original one, except that the band in this colorway is not quite as firm. The shape is lovely... rounded but quite minimized, awesome under a wide and square neckline. The only drawback of this bra is that the lace shows through any sort of thin knit, so that unfortunately limits the clothing it can be worn with.
Admittedly, aside from being open on top, this bra is not ideal for my shape. It is very shallow, which causes the gore ever so slightly and the bra to slide downwards a little throughout the day. The straps are quite wide-set, which may be problematic for those with narrow shoulders.
Nevertheless, I absolutely LOVE this bra, even after discovering Ewa Michalak's CHP cut, which is far more suitable for my shape and projection. Rhea was one of the first bras I got after learning my correct size, and is truly the epitome of what I look for in lingerie! It is incomparably beautiful and sumptuous-looking... dusky lilac-taupe satin, ...vertical seams ending in thick lace, and a delicate ribbon bow and rhinestone pendant at the center gore. The materials are definitely evocative of something from the Italian Renaissance, if not some other historical aesthetic! The cup construction is extremely uplifting and keeps your bust close to your chest to create a beautiful cakes on a plate cleavage. I find that it's a wonderful piece practical for both bedroom and everyday wear. Every time I wear it, it makes me so happy to know I have something so lovely beneath my clothes! Read more 93 more words
Very weird fit, with that typical Panache wires lack of comfort, similar to what 30FF - Masquerade » Capella (6426) and 30FF - Panache » Porcelain Elan Moulded Plunge Bra (7326) had in stock for me. The cups kind of fit, apart for the lacy part on the top of the cup - it wrinkles quit badly and I look as if the upper part of my bosom has been flattened with something heavy. This is going to be returned to the store.
This is a beautifully made bra. It feels very secure when worn for long periods, the band has a rubbery lining to hold it it place. The shape of this bra is not ideal for low cut or a desire for cleavage. It holds and separates the breasts without pressing in too much. The band runs small and doesn't lend itself well to comfort.
The satiny mineral blue colorway is just gorgeous and so luxe looking. This bra definitely provides lots of cleavage with a very deep plunge shape, and in that respect it would likely make a pretty bedroom bra more so than something super practical for daily wear.
Band runs tight/firm - as a true 30 with little squish, I need an extender for comfort.
Cups are a little shallow at the base, but don't fight with my even-fullness shape; better than Freya's half-cup offerings, which end up digging in to my ribs beneath my IMF because they're too shallow.
Good for inner fullness as there's plenty of immediate projection at the gore.
What a beautiful bra! The black fabric is satiny and luxurious with the barest sheen. All of the hardware is sturdy metal. This is good for wider set, shallower shapes. It should lift a lot if the cups are the right size! The lace at the top is unpadded. The band feels very supportive, despite its thinness (2 clasps). With the low gore, I expect it would make an excellent date night bra. Wish it had been a good fit for me.
This bra came to me very pre-loved from a cheap eBay lot. Maybe I'm weird in that I don't mind that--it's already broken in so it's very comfy, and the fact that it's a little pilled makes me not feel guilty about wearing it to work where I get all sweaty. Unfortunately its straps are only half adjustable so i can't get it to stay up where I need it to. Additionally preventing that, the bottom of the cups are too shallow for my boob to get into.
I adore this bra, and this was definitely not the right size when I bought it, but I fell in love with the ivory/pink colourway after it was discontinued and snapped this up when it was listed on here and just stared at it in my drawer.
Through some fortuitous size fluctuations, this fits pretty well now, though I really wish that there was a bit more immediate projection at the base of the cup. The shape I get from this is very round pushed-up cleavage on top, but a little boxy from the side. This only looks good under a certain type of neckline, which is a shame since this bra is so pretty.
This is a lovely basque. Unfortunately, the band is much too big in the 30, my usual Panache size -- I need to do it up on the tightest set of hooks, and even then it's not as firm a fit as I would like. The cups are also considerably too small in the 30FF -- again, my usual Panache size. So beware of somewhat inconsistent sizing compared to the parent brand.
This thing is a real bother to do up -- there's no way I could get into the thing without help.
Bought this one because I love the fit of the 30FF - Masquerade » Antoinette Bandeau Bra (4381) , but there've been a few changes between model numbers that mean this new incarnation don't work for me.
The cups have the same depth but are a little wider, so therefore run a little shallower than previously. There's sufficient immediate projection at the base of the cup, so the bra remains FOB-friendly -- but the upper edge of the cup is now more closed. On me, with soft tissue, it creates a cutting-in/quad-boob effect. There is however plenty of space still inside the cup, so those with firm tissue may not experience the same problem, or not to the same degree. Still, if you're full on top or have a tall root, you may want to try this one on in-store or from a store that has cheap/free returns.
The antique colourway is a truly beautiful colour: I expected a sort of shiny beige, which it is, but it also has a lilac underhue. Much more beautiful than the photos suggest.
Unfortunately, this bra just is not made for my shape.
There is nowhere near enough immediate projection for me. The bottom half of the cups are incredibly shallow, I presume by intention because the bra is designed, after all, to push everything up. (And boy does it deliver.) I'm getting some crumpling in the base of the cup -- oddly, it's on my smaller side. Perhaps because on my larger side there's simply so much tissue crammed ...into the cup it supports the cup shape even though I'm not quite filling out the bottom.
I'm getting quite a blocky profile in this one, which is indication the cup size is too small for me; however the cup is so open on the top that what would be quadboob on any other bra is just cakes on a platter cleavage. The top edge of the cup is quite stiff and stands upright on me; I'm wondering if it's actually a result of the blocky profile and would lay flatter in the 30G. But I think the gaping along the top is also due in part to strap placement: they attach too far to the side of the cups for my frame.
Very snug band on this bra: I'm normally quite happy in a 30 band in Masquerade but am using an extender for an extra column of hooks to start with.
Very high gore, which doesn't sit well with my inner fullness and close-set breasts.
I had tried to talk myself out of the Delphi, but this bra has just convinced me all over again that I do want to try it. Read more 192 more words
I've already reviewed the plum colourway of this bra, but thought it worth adding here that the vanilla is a beautiful colour. Photos show it as on the creamy side of white; in person, I found it to be an antique ivory hue.
Also, the vanilla colourway seems to run tighter in the band than the plum. I wear my plum Orla using 1-2 sets of hooks care of an extender; for the vanilla, I need the full length of an extender.
I hesitated on which size to buy, because there were so few reviews out there for this bra. Pretty much all of them agreed that the band and the cups ran small -- but at the same time, whenever I order a 32, the band just will not stay in place on me. And whenever I order a cup size larger, it doesn't work.
In the end I took a punt on my normal size, and it's fabulous!
The band definitely runs tight. I'm a true 30, in that my underbust is 29.5". In Cleo and Masquerade bras, I find I need to buy the 30 and use ...an extender for an extra column of hooks to get the right band tension. In the Orla's case, I need 2 columns. (But using the full length of the extender resulted in the band being too large.)
The cups are a true halfcup cut. Good immediate projection, and good inner projection as well, since I don't find my breasts waging war with the gore on this one quite so much as in other bras. I'm *almost* quadding, but it's so open at the top that it isn't a problem and just contributes to the regency cleavage look.
As for whether the cups run true to size, well, how to answer that? I fit perfectly in this in 30FF, which is the size I take in Cleo and Freya bras, if that helps.
The lace doesn't lay flat at its upper edge when not wearing a shirt -- but I've not noticed a problem with it showing even under thin, clingy shirts, so perhaps the weight of the shirt holds it down flat.
This is without a doubt the comfiest bra I own. The band is snug without being restrictive or firm or digging; the wires perfectly follow my inframammary fold, the straps don't irritate my arms... There just seem to be none of the little niggles I get with any of my other bras. By the end of the day, the gore does stab me a little, but I think that's more to do with the fact that it's too wide and my boobs and the gore are sick of each other after 10+ hours.
Unfortunately, I think I managed to snare a bra with a manufacturing defect, as the lace doesn't lay flat anywhere over the cup. The lace layer appears to be made for a larger cup size than the lining layer, but it's sewn in place as if it's the same size as the lining layer, which results in puckering and rumpling over the whole cup. I've emailed Panache about it for their advice, and am still waiting to hear back. Pretty sure it's not a size problem as I have the Orla in the vanilla colourway and it doesn't have the same problem with the lace layer.
*Edited to add: Panache have confirmed the lace layer is probably faulty and will be sending me a replacement bra. Read more 389 more words
The band is too tight to start with, but I find my ribcage is an awkward size for Panache/Masquerade bras: the 30 bands are tight enough that I want an extender for the first few wears, but the 32 have me on the middle and final hooks far too quickly. So I opt for the 30, because the rest of the bra (cup height, wire height etc) fits better.
The band has 3 hooks -- bliss! And quite high wings, which successfully grab everything from under my arms and push it forward. It still looks wide from the front, but for a UK half-cup it's ...delightfully narrow. Even better, it has enough immediate projection to make my boobs happy, and is lovely and open on top, giving support and soft hills/regency cleavage at the same time. Gives a rounded, forward but slightly minimised shape. This could well become my go-to bra for low-cut tops.
Straps are only partly adjustable. The top edge of the cup is quite thick/rounded, so it might show under clingy fabrics.
I'm devastated that this bra is discontinued. Why do I always find bras that fit only to discover they no longer exist?
This bra fits okay. As a petite person, the straps are a tiny bit too wide. The straps adjust enough for me though. It also gives me slight quadriboob and a squarish shape - not really noticeable under clothes though.
