After trying a few other new releases of Panache in 34 bands that were all too big I opted for a 32 this time and so glad I did. This fits like a true 34 band.
It's very different in the cup fit wise from any other Panache I've tried because the cups are actually pretty short. This will definitely not work if you have a lot of upper fullness because the top of the cup will probably cut in. although the lace is very stretchy which is nice.
The gore is very high. On me it doesn't tack so, on the one hand, it doesn't stab me but on the other it's not fitting properly either.
It's not as projected as for example Jasmine, or even Envy. The wires are average I guess. I could do with less width personally.
I'm keeping this because I have very few bras that are comfortable and this one at least is that. It's far from perfect but at this point I just need a bra I can wear lol.
Congrats on finding a bra that is comfortable to wear. I think it looks good on you. Also I found Panache bands to run big - I wore 30 bands in them when I was still wearing 34s in Bravissimo!
Thanks for the review - i saw this on amazon and thought it was cute, but i dont think it'll be big enough for me.
dbmamaz yeah I've not worn this since I got it, it ended up being too small and shallow. It always happens, it looks and feels great until I cut the tags off then suddenly it's a terrible fit :(
This bra is like a big, sturdy boob cage, and I mean that in a good way! Maybe that's not your preference, but I really like how full coverage this bra is and how firm the material is. I even like the little line of elastic that runs across the top of the cups. It keeps my soft breast tissue from going anywhere (along with the high gore), and it doesn't even cut into my FOT breasts!
The only thing I'm not a fan of in terms of how much of your body this bra covers up is how high the wires are. Ow! You can even see ...in the pictures how the wires dig into my armpit fat. I'm 5'1 and have a short torso for my height anyway, so maybe you won't have this problem, but on me, this definitely hurts after probably less than an hour of wear. This is probably the main reason why I have to mark this bra as not fitting me. Other reasons include the wires being too wide and not sitting in my IMF, but that happens with all of my bras.
My final note for this bra is that I love how the bottom of the cup is sewn. There are absolutely no decorative frills etc under it, and that makes it incredibly comfortable. With most bras, those decorative thrills roll up under the band on me and dig into my prominent rib fat. Not with this bra! Thanks, Panache Olivia!
Overall, I like this bra, and I'm going to keep it. Read more 153 more words
I’ve tried this bra on in probably half a dozen sizes and colours over the years. The last time I tried it, it was a 28G which was too tight of a band for me. I initially pulled a 32E in a purple shade and tried it and, as I expected, it was a little bit loose in the band and didn’t offer the proper band/wire tension. So I was brought this one.
Nude is not really my colour but I can do some. This is one of the shades I seem to be ok with. It’s not anything really amazing or special. I definitely preferred the purple. ...
The fit was comparable with the Jasmine of the same size I tried just before this. But this was more visibly shallow at the wire. It’s possible that it would be better if I had a 30FF, but I had already been there trying things in for quite some time, and since it is a taller gore like Jasmine, plus the firmer wires, I opted to skip trying a larger size.
The stretchy upper lace is nice and I love the houndstooth print, but ultimately, it’s not quite the right one for me. Read more 93 more words
I have heard great things about this bra, but was hesitant to try it as I was exclusively wearing plunges due to my close-set breasts and centre fullness being unable to withstand any higher gores. The gores on Marcie and Hettie were unbearable even though the overall shape of the bra was highly suitable for me. But, since I tried a Comexim Bianca 3HC without a lowered gore, I found that a higher gore isn't that bad. So, I decided to order this bra (along with the Envy).
The cups are the narrowest I have tried in UK bras and they are deep. The stretch lace accommodates top fullness ...well. Everything was good, except the gore which is unfortunately too high and wide for me. It wasn't too uncomfortable, but the wire marks are on the inside of my breasts instead of at the outline / on my ribcage. So, I decided to overlap and narrow the gore, which I always do for my UK bras. That's where the problems start.
It seems that I have taken in the gore too much, which somehow changes the fit of the cups, and there are now wrinkles at the bottom of the cup. But, due to unknown reasons (or physics?), the wrinkles disappear when I wear the straps more inwards. I think I might need to buy a J-hook to wear this bra as a racerback to eliminate obvious fit issues. I feel that my centre fullness isn't really accommodated by the closer cups and was bulging out. It seems like I have made the fit worse by altering the bra https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
Now, it seems that I should stick with plunges, although they never really provide enough stability for me with my centre fullness and soft tissues. My breasts were almost always jiggling in plunges, especially those with stretch lace. I will have to accept my fate that nothing will ever fit me perfectly because my breasts are simply too close together.
Update: I have taken the stitches at the bottom of the gore apart and reinforced the gore without narrowing it too much. The wires returned to its normal position and the cup doesn't have fit issues anymore. Lesson learned it, never take in the bottom of the gore too much or the cup fit will be messed up. Read more 282 more words
I can’t sew so I have no good advice there re:alterations but I see what you mean in the before pic of you from the front about the gore being too wide. It’s too bad because it looks like great fit in the cups on the side angled pics! I love Jasmine and have it in three different colorways- I’ve never noticed this pattern for sale before it’s very pretty! Hopefully Envy will be better but I really can’t remember if the gore is any narrower since that’s not usually a problem for me unless it’s like suuuuper wide. Which plunges are your fave?
Jolie0216 This pattern is called the Paisley I think and I got it from Bravissimo recently. I love it too! I purchased Envy with this but returned it because I prefer the round shape that Jasmine gives, and Jasmine seems to provide more stability without stretch lace in the entire cup. My favourite plunge is Ewa Michalak M cut, although it gives a slightly more pointy shape than I desire, it is narrow and deep with very low gore.
Too bad it didn't work out for you... you could always try a Comexim 3HC with a lowered and overlapping gore. It makes the bra fit sort of like a plunge but with vertical cups. I did this with my 65J - Comexim » Natalie Half Cup (491) .
Wilderness1 I have a 60HH 3HC with a lowered and overlapping gore, but the EM M cup fits better with more depth.
kate166 oh yeah, I can see how the Ms would work for you.
Thank you for documenting your bra altering journey. It reminds me how little changes can affect fit so much and how a well-fitting bra can flatter so well! Good on you for persevering for a custom fit.
I'm also center full but I've nursed 3 babies, making finding bras challenging. I overlapped my cleo hettie gore and that made it bearable, but I have the same problem with higher gores. I desperately want to try Ewa bras but at closer to a 34/34 F/FF depending on the brand I'm not having much luck finding any second hand and I'm scared to order and be out the money :(
confused If you are in the US, you may order from Levana which offers returns if the bra doesn't fit. :)
I will check them out! I tried a few Comexims from Breakout Bras but wasnt sure since they're marking them UK sizes. I also have a Comexim on the way from Sophisticated Pair but want to try EM so badly!
Panache Floris does nothing for my boobs. At least this 30JJ does not much for me at the moment. I had a few Floris bras in the past, some fitted okay, but they were all painful to wear because the straps cut in my shoulders so badly and the wires hurt me. They left deep painful red marks.
Why does Floris do nothing? The bra is a typical balconette with very separated straps and deep cups. The upper section of the cups is not stretchy but very open and roomy. When I put on the bra. it barely lifts my boobs they just hang in there. The wires ...just hurt me very much. I also NEED the 30 band in this bra or would do even less. The straps would kill me, all weight is on them. The Floris is deep and roomy like the Ewa Michalak SF bras, but the wires are too wide. This just takes so much support away. The bra does nothing with the cups / wires, and all lift is done by the shoulder straps!
Btw the print on this bra is beautiful, when I saw it was the last one on ebay, I had to have it. I wore the bra a few times when I had nothing else to wear. It was "okay" as in it looked okay during the day, but I was in a lot of pain at the end of the day from the issues I described. Also note that I took my pics in May 2019 and the bra fits differently now, back then I had no gaping and it felt a tiny bit more supportive! I don't know if a 30J would solve the problems, or if the bra is just not for me. Read more 187 more words
Those straps look worse than Ewa's SF cuts. Ouch!!!
Sovavosi yes much worse, if you read my latest aventure of all my bra trials SF is so much better! Also do you think my review is clear of what I mean? I know my pics don't show it, so might add a few more , because 4 months ago, the bra fitted a bit better but yesterday it was a huge fail.
Yes, I think so. The side wires look weird, like the CK bra you just reviewed. Not as bad but still pretty bad.
They are just super wide on me. Not as bad as on the CK that bra is a league of it's own! But the wires are too wide to do much support. The cups are so projected and open on top, they don't do much… which leaves the work to??? Shoulder straps! Ouch :/
Okay, so this bra is my best fitting bra so far! It's sturdy embroidered mesh material in a yellow-toned beige colour ('Nude'). I have even all over boobs with a medium width, close set and with average projection. Gores are my nemesis.
Pros: - Comfortable, the only bra I forget I'm wearing! - Straps are a good length - The only bra I can perfectly fully fill out a cup in! - Nice colour selection Cons: - The gore used to be painful, so I bent it out a bit and it's now so comfy. - The wires are a hair too U shaped, so I get some wrinkling at the bottom of the cup, but I ...don't find it to be any other issue apart from cosmetic. - The shape it gives is a little bit 'meh'. It's kind of a 'natural' pointy shape that looks ok under clothes but nothing that makes me think 'Damn I look good!'
Conclusion: My favourite comfy every day bra so far. I think I'll keep looking for something with a nicer shape, but honestly that feels like it might be a unicorn for me.
EDIT: I recently tried this on again with an extender because the band started to feel tight, and I found the top of the cup was gaping and I realized the wires were just a bit too wide for me. Panache Jasmine in 36F is a good fit for me. Read more 121 more words
Curious, in my size range it runs really large in the cup, like possibly a full cup size bigger - does it run big in your size range compared ot other bras you've tried?
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. It fits me the same as my Freya Fancies plunge-balcony does. It's quite deep at the nip rather than deep at the underwire and from what I can tell you have to be a really specific shape for it to work, because there is no give in the cups. I had previously thought I needed a cup size bigger in general because I was spilling out of my Cleo Marcie, but I fit fine in the Tango and the Fancies, so I suspect that the Tango plunge works better for me because it's not as narrow as Cleo's are. The Marcie was probably forcing my tissue up and out. I hope this helps somewhat :-)
Have you tried panache clara? based on this it might work well for you too
hugsforyourjugs no I haven't, I was tempted but I heard it had a wide & tall gore (I'm very close set) so I haven't tried it. It's gorgeous though!!!
At the end of 2017, there was an off topic post in my fb group which was a girl asking for DD+ bra help. Some 300 comments later, I find out that I’d only ever known the bare essentials or bare minimum of bra sizing and fitting, and I learn about Reddit A Bra That Fits. Being a Facebook girl more than a Reddit girl, I turned to the Facebook version of the group. In the first few months of 2018, I tried a lot of bras on, did a bunch of fit checks, and figured out what was and ...wasn’t working for me. One of the admins had suggested this bra, in this size for me. I had always wanted to try it, but never got the chance as it was always too expensive, and any listings were just slightly off in size. A little more than a year later, I finally have this bra as it was one of two bras I received from martka00 in a swap.
Let me start with saying that I was 100% aware that this bra might not fit in this size anymore (as I had a growth spurt in late summer of last year), given measurements, but I still opted to try it because it was possible that the stretch lace *might* be a bit more accommodating and because I really had a desire to test the style out at long last. Not to mention, it’s a gorgeous lilac/heather colour, perfect for spring, lightweight/breathable, and just a nice simple lace without fucking bows all over the place. Lol!
The bra is simply stunning. Simple but elegant and classic at the same time. I just *love* the colour, and I think it really suits my skin tone. The lace is lovely, and the upper portion is stretch, with no inner strip (yes!), which is quite boob fluctuations friendly. The lower cup is two parts in my size. Details at the gore are simple...bow and a tiny bead-like shiny thing. The band is a perfect stretch comfort for me, and I have enough room for the straps to adjust. It’s a great U back (leotard back) which I always find to be comfortable and supportive. The gore is nice and low, and there’s this interesting bit where the elastic from the band crisscrosses at the gore. There’s a section of double mesh side support panels on the inside of the cups, with the intent of pushing or encouraging the breasts in a forward and inward shape.
The heartbreak is that it doesn’t fit. IT DOESN’T FIT! 😭 It might *look* like it’s fitting in the photos, but I’m spilling on both sides...the stretch lace is hiding this somewhat and reducing how bad the quadding would be if it wasn’t stretchy on top. The bra is at least half a cup size too small, if not a full cup small. But I’m leery of a 30FF, as I’m not sure how much wider the wires would be. Not to mention, the bra is slightly too shallow, but not horribly shallow, and the classic rock hard we aren’t budging Panache/Cleo wires did bother me a little bit today.
This said, for the time being, I’m still wearing it, but under selective tops...ones I know that are a bit looser on top so they won’t show quad boobs. My pharmacy assistant scrubs fit this category. I’m not sure if I will keep it or list it yet. I do wish it was a little bit bigger. It’s almost perfect. Read more 495 more words
Yup! Thats a very pretty bra. I love the colour too and the absence of ostentatious bows. Lilac/lavender is so feminine. Ooohhh...and this one has side support! Sweeetttt!!
I appreciate how Panache does the crossed elastic under the inverted v-shaped gore. Krisline does it too.It's great for short-waisted gals.
I have only 1 Panache - the Andora wire-free and I LOVE it and it's in the rotation. I have tried several wired Panaches and I just can't do them. I need FF or G for cup space/projection and then the wires are wrapped around past my armpits. I normally would bend wires, but as you know Panache wires are just too stiff to bend.
BTW - I often think about you when I am trying new bra brands/styles. The first thing I now check is to see if there is a strip at the top of the cup. While I am not convinced that all styles with this would automatically make someone quad (if the fit is perfect it shouldn't happen) but...so far all the Gorsenia, Krisline and Kinga styles that I have tried have it. Gorsenias have the soft clear plastic (so easy to stretch out with warm fingers) but Kinga and KL have actual elastic. I am now waiting on another different Kinga softcup form in stretch lace as well as 2 semi-soft forms which have stretch lace at the top. Of course I will check for the strip and note it in my reviews!
This is gorgeous on you. I think it would be worth trying the 30FF.
What do you think about the side support? Does it bring things more centred? It looks lovely on you, and I agree... the colour works well with your skin tone. Maybe one day you'll get to try the 30FF.
Thanks everyone!
AprilGoulding ha ha! I do also wonder how the different types of cup strips are with my tissue. I do really like crisscrossing elastic and inverted v section on the band at the gore. It’s a subtle difference but I think that it’s definitely beneficial. And yes, at 5’1 and short waisted, I think that I benefit.
SonyaWilderness1 I will definitely have to at least try a 30FF in it if I can. There’s a few other similarly coloured bras out there that are also on my radar like CK Lifestyle Plunge, but I admit I am a little nervous about it not being stretch lace. Bravissimo Stella is nice too. As far as I can see, the side support is helpful though I am not fond about seeing it through the sheer lace...it kinda looks weird from the side. I will have to pay more attention to it though. I think on me, it’s a little bit weird as well, because it’s a little bit too small for me. But overall, from my recollection, it is beneficial and helpful.
This is a lovely bra and on my virtual must-try in the future list as well. The color is really beautiful and romantic and I agree that a 30FF might fit perfectly, hopefully the wires aren't too wide and the shape is still to your liking. The stretch part seems perfect too to accommodate different fluctuations in sizes.
I really love the look of lots of Panache bras, this one, the Andorra, the Clara... I feel they are so beautiful, but why must their wires be so rock hard like you say!!
Thanks braluv ! Yes, romantic is a great way of describing it! They do make some really pretty bras, but the wires are killer sometimes.
Jasmine has been recommended to me (very pendulous, very projected, VERY soft tissue, wide/low set, even to FoB - not sure about this one) numerous times. I can definitely see why, it is sturdy enough at the bottom of the cup to give a nice lift and hold up weight. Most importantly, it does all of this while remaining very comfortable. I can barely even feel the wires, they seem to be a great fit, and the gore tacks beautifully. This colourway is amazing, it looks so good! The lace is very soft, and somehow they've made it so it doesn't cut in and give me quadboob at ...the seam (a very common issue for me with stretch lace.. or any lace... or any seams in most bras I've tried so far).
However, I can't help but feel something about this fit is off. It looks fine in the photos, but when I look down or when I look in the mirror, I feel like it gives me major Madonna bullet bra pointy boobs. It is a problem I've been encountering a lot on this brascapade I've been on. After years of wearing moulded bras that squished my chest, maybe I just need to get used to this look. Read more 100 more words
The Jasmine will give a bullet shape if it's a mismatch to your shape. You don't have to get used to it if you don't like it! If you like Panache, there's a ton of other styles available.
So far I have gotten the bullet bra shape (in my perception, maybe it's really not and it just feels that way cause they stick out kind of) in nearly every bra I have tried on. I'm scared that at this point it's probably a 'me' problem than it is a problem with the bras :/ I felt the same with Panache Envy (in nude, if that makes a difference) in 34E, and in Freya Fancies Plunge (34F and 32FF). I'm completely out of ideas anymore...
I don't really see the bullet shape too much in the photos, how does it look under a shirt? Sometimes pointy is our natural shape, not all boobs are round.
I just uploaded two photos wearing a t-shirt over it.
Okay, I see what you are talking about. It looks like you have tall shallow roots, getting the upper part to be rounded is difficult. If you want a more rounded shape, Comexim's 3HC and Ewa Michalak's CHP will give you that shape. The upper portion will probably stay as a slope though, just based on my own experience with those bras.
Sadly padded bras don't get along with the girls at all (quad boob galore) no matter if I'm in the right size. If it has a hard edge, it will cut in. Oh well, the search continues.
This bra gave me bullet boob too, which I was sad about because it was a beautiful bra that I wanted to love.... I think it's a combination of projection and soft tissue that did it for me. It does look nice on you, but it does give a more naturally pointy shape rather than that super round look. Some people like that look...it's a matter of preference really.
Some half cups are unpadded, and you can make any unpadded Comexim into a 3HC. http://bra.pe/MHUp/
Ewa's half cups are open on top so might cut down on your quadding.
Wilderness1 I'm thinking along those lines too. The tissue is just too pliable and it doesn't sort of work with the bra to get that nice round look, just lets the bra completely shape it. At least that's what it felt like in Envy, and it feels like in Jasmine.
Wilderness1 I'm thinking along those lines too. The tissue is just too pliable and it doesn't sort of work with the bra to get that nice round look, just lets the bra completely shape it. At least that's what it felt like in Envy, and it feels like in Jasmine.
Hold up Sovavosi, they will make whatever I ask of them?
Hold up Sovavosi, they will make whatever I ask of them?
Also I am not sure why it's posting all my comments twice lol
Mostly! You put what you want in the comment box during checkout. Sometimes they won't do the alterations and they won't tell you. I haven't ordered from them in about a year so I don't know if they've gotten any better about this.
That is very interesting. I ordered their Comexim Tropical Garden Plunge Bra (191) but unfortunately it was a comically bad fit. The cups felt like they were too close to each other and I had a huge gap around the gore (which actually was tacking perfectly lol) but I was spilling out on the sides.
brasaremean I was the exact same boob size as you (though with different body composition, I suspect you are taller and leaner than me whereas I had more chubbiness on a smaller height and build) for a LONG time! But at every size I had this issue, except even more dramatic/obvious, with all of the Panache full cup or balconnet bras. If you like I can describe the issue with me and you can try to consider if this might have some relevance for you. (Also if you dig around in my profile to look at bras no longer owned etc. etc. you will see a lot of the bras that did work for me when I was around 32FF-ish, perhaps that will also give you a frame of reference to compare!) As far as I can tell, for me the incompatibility with Panache is due to the shape and angle of the upper portion of their cups: compared to the natural shape made by my center-full and projected soft boobs when they are supported, the Panache cup design tries to shape the breast into a fairly smooth, continuous, gentle curve from apex to top of breast root. The mismatch with me is double: first, Panache designs assume a lower apex than what my boobs effectively have in a bra, so the upper half ends up rather brutally smashed down (so strange-looking that the first time I tried a Panache, back in the late 1990s, I got a severe fit of giggles in the changing-room!) My boobs, when supported, just do not make that smooth gentle curve--they do not have tall roots so since it's a really projected, compact mass of breast tissue, at the top they curve sharply back towards my body and then it's just "finito"--there is no more breast tissue going upwards; in fact it ends a good 8-10cm below my clavicle, even though I have a super short torso with very little space on it overall. So, as a 32FF I was able to wear SOME of the (non Panache) UK balconnet or full cup styles that also make a closed-off shape at the top, but not many of them because they have to have a very high apex, a generous amount of space on the upper inner quadrant of the breast, and narrow-set straps. Most of the UK bras by 2010 and later had been redesigned (compared to the ones I used to buy in the 90s and early 2000s) to have more wide-spaced straps, to allow open necklines, and to stay on me they needed to be angled in and this created too much slack in the cup and a weird, unnatural shape.
Anyway this may or may not be relevant. I just thought I would describe the issues in case it can help you find a kind of bra design that would work better! If you do a fitting request with body measurements and so on that may help people give advice too.
wendybien Thank you so much for this writeup. You know, now that you mention it and this was something I noticed with Envy especially, when I would pull on the outer part of lace a little bit the shape was noticeably nicer. I'm no seamstress so that was as far as I got with seeing what would actually make the bra work. The top of the cups where they meet straps feels like it needs to be different for me. I will check out some of your bras and see what you have working. From what you describe we do have similar issues (body shape aside). I did learn my lesson with Panache here... and while I don't find the wires uncomfortable (quite contrary, they don't bother me at all), I think they may be adding to the overall issue. That being said, I didn't keep the Envy, but I am holding onto Jasmine. Just in case someday I need the pointy boob look, I will have one (secretly I'm in love with this colourway). I was thinking of making a fitting help request but I need to buy a tape measure first as mine seems to have gone completely missing.
I agree with Wilderness1 ... she and I have pretty close shape and size. I also can’t do Jasmine or Envy. My soft tissue just sinks into the cups like pudding. Just filling up whatever space there is, which usually is not all the way up because I lack the tissue on top to fill the rest of the cup properly.
Yeah, it seems like it's just a bra/tissue mismatch. Shame, Jasmine is a beautiful bra, I had high hopes.
I don't particularly think that this bra looks all pointy and madonna-esque to me, but we all have different opinions on that. But what I think you could do to help make it more rounded for youself, you could try lining the cup (top of the cup/lace portion, using light hand stiching you can play with it) with a much firmer fabric and also moving the straps in more towards the center of the breast. I think this would help with a rounded profile.
I may be completely off with this recommendation, but you may want to look for a very FULL CUP bra that is non-padded, meaning it would literally encase the entire breast with supportive fabric. Similar to my 30DD - Claudette » Paramour Underwire Bra (101015008) . Though you may feel a bit squished in it like I do, especially since you are so very projected.
LeProfessor I actually prefer fuller cup bras as I feel like I'm spilling out of anything less. Unfortunately most of them have rigid edges that cut into my tissue but it's something I'm used to. Does Love Claudette no longer exist? I remember ages ago seeing their bras on ASOS and ogling them, but now I can't even find the website.
Yes brasaremean Claudette is a defunt brand. Sadly so. They did so well while they were in france, but when they moved to California they started creating very different, very wide & shallow bra's compared to their previous nicely narrow, slightly projected bra's. I've tried almost all of their styles and have maybe 3 more that I need to get my hands on. XD I pointed to the paloma I have because generally speaking I also have the problem with full cups rigid edges cutting in, but since the paloma literally wraps around the breast, the cups like settle on the rib/sternum and hold the breast within instead of settling on any breast tissue. Which would technically stop all cutting in. Albeit I still have some in the paloma because the gore is too wide. If the gore were narrow enough the cup edges would rest on sternum instead of breast as the outside of the cup does. I do know this isn't always possible depending upon breast shape and how much surface area the tissue takes up. But I thought it would be worth mentioning and hopefully I am making some shred of sense! XD
Yup you're making total sense. I found a cheapo one in 32FF (red one) so we shall see when I get it.
Please excuse my dummyness here. I kept saying the "Paloma" bra, but I meant the "Paramour" bra. XD. I need to try the Paloma, it's not quite the full coverage of the Paramour and I would not recommend the Paloma for you.
Yes I figured it out ;) don't worry. I did order the Paramour so fingers crossed. I also found the fishnet scoop in that beautiful baby blue (I wanted it so bad when it was on ASOS) and got that too even though it doesn't look good for me at all but I couldn't help myself. If anything it looks comfy enough to wear around the house.
I've been wanting this bra since I saw it in the fall of 2016, so 1 1/2 years. Botanical prints are my favorites, especially tropical ones, and although Panache is too tall for me, I decided I would give it another whirl, this time in a more likely to fit size than the 38J - Panache » Thea Balconnet Bra (9261) I tried previously. I liked the print so much I even ordered a matched set, on sale for only $60 total, which is pretty good for Panache in the US. The bra was probably over $60 full price here.
Thea fits me ...a lot like Jasmine, which is to say, a little too tall, with the fullest part of the bra about an inch above the nipple. The depth at the wire is not great compared to my Elomis- the bottom of the bra kind of comes up to the apex at a steep angle, whereas my Elomis are much more curved. The Panache thus gives a more pointy profile, and since the apex is above my own bust point, I get rocket boob, my trademark look in all Jasmine-like bras (Hettie, Blake, Thea, Jasmine). It's pointy and points upward.
I think this this bra would fit full on top, average to tall rooted women really well. The stretch lace, the top room, would balance out the pointier bottom portion.
The band is quite stretchy, the cups are roomy, so much so that someone who measures 42K (UK) might fit this bra if they really are full on top and have taller roots. The straps are pretty wideset.
All the fabrics are super soft. No scratchy yucky Panache fabric here- everything is silky. The band and strap elastics are really nice and plush.
I'm going to see what I can do to add new wires, shorten the gore, and take in the lace to make the shape a little rounder. I was trying it on and my husband was like, oh I love that print (he loves all things tropical), but it's so pointy! If I can make the profile a bit rounder with my sewing skills, it will be perfect.
Thank you! I did alter it (overlapped the wires, smaller wires, lowered the gore, took in the top) and it fits pretty well now and has a less pointy profile! It’s my husband’s favorite bra I own. He loves all things tropical.
Lucky guy in that you can alter his favorite printed bra to fit!! :-) :-)
My chest is full on the bottom and sides, slightly shallow on top and rather tall. I also have broad shoulders for my size. I don't love this, and I can't figure out why. I love the fabric, even though the lace is a itchy. However, I feel as though my chest might be too broad for it though, and the top of the cup feels as though it cuts into my chest just the tiniest bit. Also the straps on mine were super hard to adjust. They did not want to move. I kinda feel as though this may not be the shape for someone with a chest as tall as mine. I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong in my mind. Still pretty though. This is one of my recent grabs from postmark.
This color is very pretty on you. I think your assessment of your shape is correct and this bra is a little too closed at the top and a little to projected in the upper half of the cup, hence the slight wrinkling and cutting in.
lcl0706 Aha! Thank you! That makes a lot of sense. I was wondering why I felt a little strain at the top of my chest and then was still seeing wrinkling in the upper half of the cup. Oh well. Guess I'll list it on here and see if anyone wants it!
I agree with lcl0706 with the shape of this bra. It is such a pretty bra and the color does suit you. I am sure is the fit was better the lace would not be so itchy.
I agree with lcl0706 with the shape of this bra. It is such a pretty bra and the color does suit you. I am sure is the fit was better the lace would not be so itchy.
I agree with lcl0706 with the shape of this bra. It is such a pretty bra and the color does suit you. I am sure is the fit was better the lace would not be so itchy.
I agree with lcl0706 with the shape of this bra. It is such a pretty bra and the color does suit you. I am sure is the fit was better the lace would not be so itchy.
For this one I think it's just a bit of a shape mismatch, the apex looks to be a bit higher than your natural apex and the gore looks like it is too wide for you. Is it lying flat against your sternum because in the pics it looks like it is not laying flat.
Thanks LeProfessor I suspected it could shape incompatibility! The gore lies flat on my sternum, but the top part just makes me so sad. Wrinkling and cutting in blech! Oh well! Back to the drawing board. I had my eye on the Comexim Annika Plunge Bra , because I noticed the reviews mentioned it was more closed at the top! I try that next, I think!
My shape: mid-height front-facing teardrop-profile (ski jump with no "jump") with tall shallow roots, low apex, lots of immediate projection underneath but moderate overall projection, wide roots with lots of side fullness and shallow tails that wrap all the way to the shoulder blade, extremely close-set center tissue (possibly a trace of natural symmastia), and very firm self-supporting tissue that when pushed out of shape will push right back.
Oh, Jasmine, I was hoping at least one of you would work. Oh, well. This one is a pale nude color that is nice enough on my skin, although it's a bit on the beige side and might be better with olive tones.
The 30 band is perfect on the loosest hook (measuring snug 72/BTT 66.5 cm today). I'd say it runs between slightly tight and true-to-size, because I need 28s in Freyas (which are stretchy) but also lots of other Panache and Cleos.
The wings are tall, which I like, and the wires are wide enough and sit comfortably. In combination these keep my root tails in check, and they are not the tallest I've had, although they might be too high in the armpit for very sensitive people.
The cups are where the problems are, though, and there are lots: too projected overall, top panel has too much space but closes too soon, apex is too high, not enough immediate depth at the base OR at the center gore. I think the cups are also a half-size too large today, too, but it's hard to tell with the rest of the issues; they seem roomier than the 30FF in black, though.
Man, this gore. Stab-city. There's no space to shift the wires in the channels, either. No thanks. It has an unusual shape and flares out more from top-to-bottom than most, and mirrors my own IMF shape pretty closely, though, for what it's worth.
When will people learn that small band/large cup people are not 2-dimensional? My shoulders and my ribcage are not wide enough for these straps, and they cut into my armpits and make the cup issues worse whenever I'm not perfectly still and stiffly upright. The straps aren't even broad enough to be really comfy (although they aren't especially UNcomfortable on me, since my tissue is mostly self-supporting). I'm used to it from Freya, but this is annoying! Read more 333 more words
I'm at the beginning of my bra fitting journey, trying to sort out my proper size with help from Bratabase, Reddit's ABraThatFits, and many wonderful bra bloggers. I figure it's time to stop lurking and join the community! I will try to get pics before I return the Andorra. I own 2 ancient Body by VS 34DDs, which I now know do not remotely fit, and I just acquired a Claudette Dessous 34F and a Panache Andorra Full Cup 34E. I need to get over my social anxiety and body insecurity and check out my local Nordstrom's to try on different brands/sizes.
This bra is insanely comfortable! The only ...complaint I have is the profile shape I get, which from bottom to nipple is shaped slightly 'beaky' and compressed to a point. It's not the cute retro kind of point either, it's more of a compressed mammogram kinda point, but then the profile from the nipple up is a nice rounded yet contained shape, with no cleavage (but my breast shape makes it very hard to get cleavage, to my dismay, and I'm super full on top). I think this bottom beaky shape occurs because of Andorra's horizontal seam in combination with my natural shape. I should note that the second time I wore Andorra, the shape wasn't nearly as pointy. Otherwise, I feel comfortably contained, breasts are held close to the body, fabric feels soft and silky, everything feels locked in and secure (but I have firm tissue, so I don't have much jiggle to contend with) and very uplifted. I could see Andorra being a great everyday bra, and especially good for helping prevent button gape on non-stretch shirts, or to lessen the 'boob tent' effect of a flowy top. I wonder if the beaky profile is lessened for people who have a more even or full on bottom shape?
I'm pretty sure the 34E Mineral Blue Full Cup Andorra is a cup size too small for me. I need to take pics and ask for fit advice. The comfy stretch lace makes it so there isn't any bubbling over at the top. The color is more green/teal than the warm blue I expected, but still very pretty, and I like the color on the lace pattern cups, as I feel the light color interwoven with the "Mineral Blue" base color makes it more interesting and sophisticated. When I first put it on, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to close the band on the largest hook. I wore it for half an hour, laughed at the crazy shape the bottom half of the cups gave me, and took it off with the thought that I'd need a 36 band for sure, and possibly a larger cup. I was thinking maybe the profile wouldn't look so bizarre if I sized up, as I've read that this bra can look very pointy if it's too small. A day or so later I tried it on again to get some measurements, and surprisingly it felt a lot more comfortable! The band no longer felt too tight, but nice and secure on the largest hook, with no back fat spillage. Also, the shape wasn't nearly as 'beaky' and compressed in profile as it was for the first half hour of wear. Weird. I guess some bras really do have a kind of break-in period?
I also get a "beak" shape in all Panache unlined bras, unless they have only vertical seams. I got this shape when I was young and very firm with more breast height/upper fullness and I get it now I'm old, postbabies and very soft! The only thing that hasn't changed about my shape is that I'm projected with all my fullness on the inner side of the breast, and although gravity conceals it, my boob structure is technically rather conical if you're looking from the side. I think most Panache cups are seamed in a way that does not accommodate that. If you aren't hung up on designs being super trendy, Fantasie has some full cups that are perfectly shaped to match this breast shape--look for the ones that have straps which aren't too far apart.
Interesting! I wonder why some of us get that 'beak' shape in Panache's unlined bras? As I was reading your response, my first thought was, "Aha! It must be because of firm tissue!" and then as I continued reading, I realized that you still get the beak shape after changes in your tissue softness. Maybe it's due to having a projected and conical breast structure?
Thank you for the tip about Fantasie's full cups, and also to look for vertically seamed Panache bras. I would love to find a bra as comfortably soft to wear and yet still secure feeling as the Andorra, but minus the beak profile! I hope the Fantasie bras are as comfortable as the Andorra. I'm just figuring out what bra shapes will work best with my body. Trends are not very important to me; my priorities are comfort, along with looking nice (to me, 'nice' is not super pointy or east/west) under clothing. It's just a bonus if the bra happens to be what I consider pretty.
I think fundamentally "beak shape" occurs when some or all of your upper breast is not able to conform to the angle and shape of the relatively flattened Panache upper cup shape. (This can seem misleading because "flattened upper cup" doesn't mean FLAT upper boob surface from apex to cup edge: you can have super round boobs and still fit in there just fine as long as your tissue is located where the cup has room for it.) So anyone who has a taller breast shape than the cup, OR a higher breast apex, OR more upper-inner or upper-outer quadrant fullness than the cup does in your size range, is going to end up with this funny shape.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comments on the "beak shape" phenomenon! I didn't realize that there is such a large amount of variables that can affect bra fitting! I'm amazed at the wealth of knowledge in this community, and glad to see this is a place free from body shaming. I really should take pics to accompany my review, and also to post under Fitting Help.
You're welcome! Yes, a wealth of knowledge is what happens when you get a large number of bra obsessed people in the same place ;-) And I'm glad to say there is no body shaming allowed at all!
So sad, not the right shape or size. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Cups too closed on top, projection slightly too shallow at the base, wires too wide, band too snug. I'm currently teetering between 28 and 30 bands, and this maxes at 29 inches and that is stretching hard. The wires are probably being pulled too tightly, and being very firm, the top end HURTS under my arms. The top edge of the cups could probably be stretched out to be more open, but even if I tried a 30E, I still think the wires would be too wide. Shape is not quite right. I'll have ...to return it. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> At least Breakout Bras gives free returns, but it is SO SAD because I've waited and anticipated this bra for soooo long. It's so pretty!! Not quite the dusky lavender-taupe shade I was expecting from all show and product pictures, but still fabulous. The shape has a lot of center and inner projection, but not extremely deep at the wire, and about average on upper edge. Too closed for me, but I've read too open for others. The worst part... Panache just CANNOT figure out the back!!! Those straps are WAY too wide for narrow and/or sloped shoulders!! I had to tighten them uncomfortably and kept sliding them up towards my neck to make me feel like they wouldn't fall off. Another bra just to add to the database, but didn't work out. :'(
Not pregnant or nursing. I bought this to have an alternative to the tail cutting 30J - Panache » Alisha Support (6096). This bra is softer than the Alisha and has 3 columns of hooks instead of two. The design is pretty and the lace isn't itchy. The straps are wider set than the Alisha, but this may be due in part to this being meant for a rib cage that is wider than mine. The cups are very wide, but since there are no wires this isn't much of a problem. The band is very stretchy and causes me shoulder and neck pain faster than the Alisha. This would be a perfect wireless bra if it only came in a 28 in my size. This bra is however, fantastic for sleeping. The nursing clips don't bother me and it stays in place very well.
I admit I had high hopes for this baby. I am newly embarking on my "perfect fit" quest, btw. Everyone was hyping it like it was the holy grail of bras for women with a lot of immediate projection, which I have. I purchased the 36D in the "mosaic" colorway (the pattern is kinda pretty but not my first pick), and it was immediately apparent that the 36 band was too big for me, and the cups... I don't know. I THINK they're too small, but it's challenging to pinpoint the issue-- I seem to bust out of it in some places and have issues with excess in ...others. The gore on this was just shy of 3 inches, and a half inch too high for me-- it dug into my sternum. So here's what I was working with: I have boobs that have roots that are wider than they are tall, and are fairly wide-set, slightly splayed, with a couple generous fingers between them. I have obstinately firm breast tissue, a lot of immediate projection, and usually don't fill the bottom bit of bras because the wire gets pushed down by my bossy ladies. I gently bent the underwires into more "swoosh" like shapes (they are pretty u shaped), but they still seemed off-- they chafed like they were too tall, but I felt like I had a lot of under arm muffin-top over the wings in this bra, especially considering the looseness of the band and the height of the wires. The stretch lace is very nice for moving with you and preventing quad boob-- although it made it harder to determine if cup size was an issue. Generally shape it created is ok -- they seemed a bit torpedo-shaped on me, possible due to being too small. One other thing-- the gore was too narrow for me, which I thought might happen based on other reviews by close-set women praising it for being small. The back has three hooks (nice!), and it a bit scratchy in a few spots by the hooks. I was surprised I had to put the straps on the loosest setting to keep them from digging in, as my boobs are pretty high up my torso. I think it my just be the wrong shape for me, so if my shape sounds similar to yours, you may find this one doesn't work out. If you are "between band sizes", definitely size down-- I am: snug:34.75 tight:32.75 loose:37.75 and 36 was too loose for me. Read more 313 more words
My shape: center-height, forward-facing, very close-set teardrop with tall shallow roots but max lower projection, very wide roots with lots of side fullness, and very firm tissue that pushes push-ups right back
This review is for the black/nude colorway I got from a reddit user who thought she had the Panache Idina Balconnet Bra (6961) , one I've been wanting to try for ages. This is an ok runner-up, though! I love the gores on plunges, even though they're never my shape, and this one is just as wonderful as always. Is there a bra out there that's shaped like a Freya/Fauve half-cup but has a gore ...like a plunge? So far, that answer is no, so I try regular plunges instead! This one is quite tall for a plunge, but it doesn't feel like it when it's on.
The cups are very soft and smooth inside, which is great because I inevitably have problems with inside-cup seams scratching, and the foam lining is about as stiff as padded bras but without the boost in volume, so they're supportive and good for discretion and minimizing stair-bounce. Like most plunges, they are shallow-ish at the wire, causing the bra to ride down fairly quickly while as it tries to find the place with the most depth to accommodate my immediate projection. They also close more quickly on top than other plunges I've tried recently (or perhaps the band is a better size and keeps them more firmly against my chest, making it more obvious), so I get some serious quad boob that doesn't entirely dissipate after swooping and scooping. A 28G might solve all of this, though.
The wires are just on the firm side of the flexy-hard spectrum, which is nice for me. They are too narrow (again, might be solved by a 28G) and the wires are the wrong shape curve (typical, never had one that was right for my Nike Swoosh, not really a problem), but the sides of the cup are tall enough that my feisty side boob is mostly contained within them. The strangest thing, I think, is that there is almost a cm of space in the wire channel, but I can't push the wires out into it, so it's possibly sewn shut? Unless the previous owner did this to adjust her comfort, I've not seen it done by the manufacturer, and this still has the tags on it.
Ladies with long torsos or low-set breasts might need to watch out for the straps: I have them as long as they go, and they are just comfortable. Short ladies may like them, though, because they are fully adjustable. The band has 3 sets of 2 hooks, and is fairly snug on the loosest. It also has fairly tall wings, considering how far it tapers.
There is one spot that's bugging me, and it's where the "Panache" metal label is sewn on (not the tag, kind of on the side; see photos). Something is caught in the threads holding it on and it's scratching me. I'd probably just cut it off if I were keeping it.
Listing this one right away so I can start looking for a 28G! Read more 421 more words
I like this bra, but the gore is definitely too high for me! However, the wires and band are soft such as you would expect from a Freya bra.
My shape is: full on top, full of centre, close-set, very narrow and projected, tall roots, pendulous, slightly splayed.
This bra would fit super great if it was not for the gore! It sits on my breast tissue, which causes irritation, discomfort and instability of the wires. The top of the cups works nicely to accommodate my full on top + tall roots, but it can't handle my centre-fullness and it's not quite projected enough for me. I quad near the ...gore. The underwires tend to ride down because of the lack of projection and the non-tacking gore and I find myself nearly constantly pulling them back into my IMF. However the wire width is nearly perfect for me and this is what I like the most about this bra. On days where I spend most of my time standing, it's quite comfy and doesn't irritate me much, but regularly sitting down and standing up makes the underwires move around too much. I don't think I could handle the band to be much tighter so sizing down to 28FF doesn't seem like it would be a good idea.
It gives a very round shape but not extremely lifted, though I do find it very flattering under tightly fitted tops/dresses. The material is quite soft overall, especially the stretch top panel, but I find the mesh to be a bit rough on my skin. The band also rolls on itself under the cups, I don't know if this is due to or aggravated by my fitting issues, but it bothers me. Read more 178 more words
I found I could size down in the cup in this bra due to the stetchiness of the fabric which really helped the gore height, cup width, and support in general as the fabric was taut rather than floppy. I wonder if you could do the same?
cupandahalf Absolutely not, unfortunately. I tried the 30E in store before buying the 30F online, and 30E was obviously much too small. Since I have tall roots and FoT breasts, the shape of the cups is ideal for me. I really think the instability is due to the fact that the gore doesn't tack, it lacks projection so my breasts want to push the underwires down, and it's still a smidge too wide for me.
MY SHAPE: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.
THE TAKEAWAY: Best for shallower breasts or breasts that don't need much immediate depth. Full cup + stretch lace on top half is quite accommodating and I think would work well for the whole range of vertical fullness. High gore is no bueno for close set busts. Band is stretchy, consider sister sizing down if possible.
DETAILS: Partly because the fit issues in my 30E - Panache » Clara Full Cup Bra (7255) have become much harder to ignore since I've had a slew of really good fits lately, and partly just ...for fun, I decided to size up in the cup and give the Clara another shot in the new AW16 Slate/Teal colorway. My hope with sizing up in the cup is that I might get a smidge more depth and that would alleviate the bottom of the cup wrinkling I get in the 30E. No dice. While I daresay the top of the cup actually looks better (I get a touch of quadboobing in the 30E, but none in the 30F), everything else is all wrong: the wires are about 1/2" too wide, the gore is waaaay too tall and does not play nice with my center fullness, and what's with the fact that my nipples are STILL in the sheer portion of the cup? For real, what's with that?
Clara, you're elegant AF, but you just won't work for me https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Read more 147 more words
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing about the shallowness. I will avoid this beauty. Sigh. ;-)
Love4Pollinators I was starting to feel bad, I've been posting an avalanche of good fits lately - it was time to post up one that definitely, *definitely* didn't work ;)
I have been wanting to buy this as well (red/gold) but I am sure it does not suit me either as I need immediate projection as well. It's a shame as the bra is soooo beautiful :/
such a beautiful bra. It's been tempting. Thanks to your review I know this would never work for me.
Primula I know, this particular colorway is so gorgeous too :( I wish it was more accommodating for projected shapes!
MY SHAPE: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.
THE TAKEAWAY: Front, center, and on display! Gives something of a retro, pointed silhouette - if you're into it, you'll love it, but this is not the bra for you if you want to minimize your bust line. Forgiving stretch lace is great for even to FoT shapes. Average wire width. If you have very little tissue on the sides, you may experience wrinkling at the side sling. Band runs true to size.
DETAILS: I'm not new to the Panache Jasmine - it was in my first batch of properly fitting bras back when ...I was in 32DD; a mid-way point between the 36C I'd worn for so long and the snugger, but better fitting, 28F/30E. I've long since needed to retire my 32DD in Black Ricamo, so over the last couple months I've tried various colorways and sizes until I settled on this one as the keeper. Love the rose print! It's sophisticated and sexy. I've always enjoyed the retro, pointed Jasmine silhouette and that remains true today. Fabric is a bit stiff and scratchy out of the box, so the seam between the printed fabric and the stretch lace is pronounced under tight fitting clothes. A few handwashes takes care of that.
While the bra definitely fits as per Bratabase criteria, I do get a curious bit of vertical wrinkling on the sides at the sling (see side view picture). The wire width is right within my best fitting parameters (5.0-5.2", this is 5.1") so it's not that the wire is too wide and I'm unable to fill out some of the cup. I'm guessing this is an outer fullness issue? Almost all of my tissue is on the front of my chest, so I'm guessing there's not much for the sling to gather and push forward. Anyone have any other thoughts? Read more 210 more words
Well I think we have very similar shapes so I'm going to be nosing around your reviews >>
The worst side sling issue I've ever had is definitely the Sophia from KHI, but I probably also have some side wrinkling in my own Jasmine :\
rainbrasspetals come to think of it, I HAVE had issues with side slings in the past - more specifically, the Fantasie Marianna Side Support Plunge Bra (9202), which basically indented into my breasts. It was a comically bad fit, and I wish I'd taken pictures now!
Beautiful bra! That color on you is fantastic. Did you try a reverse swoop and scoop to push more to the sides? I sometimes do that on some bra types.
Sob!
Yeah I have a fit request for an Empreinte that flattened me out hilariously on the side with the support sling...
I also feel like my center fullness has caused a lot of unhappiness with bras that fit okay, but gave me a weird shape I couldn't otherwise explain. I'm sort of desperately looking forward to the Cleo Mimi that will arrive on Friday, and future orders with Impimi after my bank account recovers a little. (Which might be sooner rather than later if more of the other bras I'm waiting on strike out.)
wow, thats a gorgeous colorway! hopefully the wrinkling will calm after a couple of washes
Gorgeous!
roxannelovesbras I gave the reverse scoop 'n' swoop a go, and while that does alleviate some of the wrinkling, it creates a new problem: I can't fill out the top of the cups. Luckily, the wrinkling isn't a deal breaker by any means, so I'm keeping it :)
Unless your boobs are exactly the same shape as the moulded cups with strong separation, this bra won't fit - there's no margin for error with this one. Long wires with closed cups and a very shallow, but tall gore make for a weird squashed (towards the chest cleavage) and serious quadboob. No amount of bending the wires can help that one. Also has the not troublesome, but aesthetically not great gap at the bottom which the Panache Porcelain range is infamously known for.
Congrats on finding a bra that is comfortable to wear. I think it looks good on you.
Also I found Panache bands to run big - I wore 30 bands in them when I was still wearing 34s in Bravissimo!