I recently picked up two older Panache styles on deep discount to try, both in 30D. I found that both styles are actually quite similar, with Eliza being the half cup version and Loretta being the full cup version. However, neither really ended up fitting me as both had issues in this size.
I was drawn to Eliza because the style looks so frilly and vintage and romantic. Even though it's ivory, I don't think it reads as particularly bridal, unless your wedding dress is vintage lace. It's the equivalent of finding a gorgeous vintage lace slip to wear under some similarly floaty vintage dress ...where cakes-on-a-plate cleavage would be desirable. The cups have little wreaths of blossom embroidery scattered on top, and the upper cup is decorated with a scalloped hem and a small scalloped ruffle. Even the gore is made of embroidered mesh, with a long bow made of the same scalloped ribbon trim. I bought this blindly from Breakout Bras as a final sale item based on the appearance alone. I wanted to have this bra, and I wanted it to fit! Sadly, while it is more gorgeous in person than I had imagined, the fit left something to be desired.
Eliza is surprisingly wide and splayed, and it really felt like this bra was a 32C than a 30D. The band runs a little larger than Loretta, but because this is not a full band style, it feels much less secure on me. The wires are wide, splayed, and shallow. Center gore is set a bit far apart and is very thin rather than reinforced. Because this is a half cup bra, I actually didn't get any obvious fit issues (overflow, wires cutting into tissue) that I would normally experience in a bra that's too small. Instead, I can feel that the wires are too shallow and short and don't contain all the tissue at the sides. This bra gives a softly rounded shape on me, but isn't particularly supportive, as the mesh used is so soft and the cups are so short.
Unfortunately, all the lace, ruffles, and embroidery do show under clothing, so I'm not sure how much wear I'd actually get out of this. The biggest problem, however, is that the straps are really wide-set to the point where they are rubbing against my armpits. Again, this bra feels like it's proportioned for a 32 band and not a 30, therefore it certainly isn't designed to fit on a 28 frame. The front of the straps is actually decorated with mesh and embroidery overlay, which is super pretty, but adds to the chafing at the underarms. Since the cup depth worked for me and the frame is too wide, I think a 30DD would be out of the question even if it were available, which it was not.
Even though this shares the same materials as Loretta and much of the same construction, the partial band and half cups make Eliza a much poorer fit on me than Loretta, and the wide straps make it somewhat uncomfortable as well. I don't mind having this bra around to pop on and feel pretty once in a while, but unfortunately it won't be getting much practical use. Read more 450 more words
The Panache Tango was the first bra I tried in my recent bra-fitting journey, so I really wanted to this fit. Sadly, after trying the Tango II in sizes 28DD and 30D and the Tango II Plunge in 28E, I've come to the conclusion that this line is not for me. All the Tango bras are shaped with immediate projection and a very closed off top, which doesn't suit my wide and shallower shape at all. Every single size and style I've tried end up giving me the orange in a glass effect, and the stiff mesh fabric means the empty part of the cup ...sticks out awkwardly and can't be disguised.
The first Tango II I bought came from another user and was well-worn, so I had no idea that the fabric would be this stiff and scratchy when new. The other one I have seems to be an older model, and I was surprised that the Tango II fits differently. The band is far too big for me, and the cups are also too big and projected. I'm swimming in this bra, and it isn't comfortable enough to warrant any kind of tailoring. I also tried this in the sister size of 28DD and surprisingly it is way too small in the cups and gives me horrible oranges in a glass. Sadly, time to give up on my Tango dreams https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Read more 137 more words
Envy is truly a lace bra made for comfort. I am so disappointed that this doesn't come in a 28DD, because the main problem with this bra on me is the band size. This is probably the most comfortable lace bra I have tried, and if it came in the right size for me, I think I would be wearing this all the time!
I've found that Panache bands in general tend to run a bit large, and certainly much larger than the Cleo counterparts. While in Cleo I usually wear a 30D, this size is hit or miss for me in Panache. The band, ...while supportive and well-constructed with a wide bottom elastic, is too large, and the double layer stretch mesh construction means it is on the stretchy side. Fantastic for comfort, but not ideal if the band doesn't come in your size!
The cradle shares the same construction as Andorra, where the bottom elastic crisscrosses at the gore to provide better stability. I love this detail as it really makes the bra feel more secure and stable at the gore. The cup construction is a 3 piece with side panel (technically 4 piece as the bottom cup is 2 pieces), and is the same block as Jasmine. The exterior cup is stretch houndstooth lace, while the interior cup is lined with supportive powermesh. The top cup is soft, stretchy lace with no binding, so it is fairly flexible for different shapes. I found that this fabrication works much better on me than Jasmine, which was too lightweight and ended up wrinkling a lot in the cups (also because the band was too big). Now, the cups wrinkle on me a fair bit because I can't get the band tight enough (or tighten the straps further, since it just makes the band ride up), but overall the size and shape of the cups works pretty well for me. They give a nice rounded shape and seem to be a balance fit (not FOB or FOT leaning). The straps are also nicely textured to help with grip.
My only real gripe other than the size range for this bra is that I don't love the visual appearance of the houndstooth lace juxtaposed with the floral lace used in the upper cup. I much prefer the floral lace, but I think the combination looks really weird together. I'd love to see Panache bring this fit to a wider size range and use a floral lace like the Andorra.
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28E Revised Comments: Due to an increase in cup size measurement, the cups now fit perfectly. The band is definitely a size too big, but it stays in place when worn on the tightest hook. Read more 357 more words
The Panache Porcelain Elan is a solid, if plain, molded cup t-shirt bra option. It looks pretty similar to the Cleo Koko Plunge or Cleo Neve, which are also partial band plunge molded cups, but the cup shape of Porcelain Elan is a bit more reminiscent of the tall, narrow plunge cups of the Freya Deco Plunge, which didn't work for me at all.
The band is a really nice and snug one and fits TTS for a 30 band, which is great. I've found that sometimes Panache 30 bands are too stretchy or too big for, so this was a pleasant surprise. Since I had ...band consistency issues between the Panache Black Ardour Sweetheart Molded Bra, I was surprised that both colors of this style measured pretty closely to each other.
The cups are quite thin and flexible, so this is definitely a true lightly-lined style and not in the padded territory. I think this is great for people like me who hate padded bras, and it reminds me of a very old Victoria's Secret bra that was a longtime favorite. However, the cup shape for me is all wrong. While the cups are quite wide unlike the Freya Deco, they are even taller! Compared to the 28DD Freya Deco I tried, the cups are +0.9" wider and 0.8" taller. That's a lot of room I can't fill, especially at the top!
I am rather baffled at the measurements of this bra as they are significantly larger than the other Panache molded cup bra I tried, the aforementioned Ardour Sweetheart which ran at least 2 cup sizes too small.
It's a shame that this bra didn't work out for me, as the thin cups and firm band should've been a really comfortable bra for me. If this suits your shape, I would recommend it, but you may need to go down a cup size. Read more 212 more words
Olivia was a random blind buy for me thanks to Amazon's convenient return policy. I couldn't find any info or measurements on this bra, so I ordered it and figured there's no way it would work out (as 30D Panache bras tend to fit me poorly compared to 30D Cleo). However, I was so surprised to find that not only is this an awesome fit, it is exactly like a stretch fabric version of Marcie!
Olivia and Marcie share the same basic cut and shape, and Olivia even shares the little polka dots on the mesh cup. However, Marcie is made from your standard lightweight stretch ...mesh, while Olivia's cups are made from a spongier, stretchier mesh and lined in a very loose and flexible tricot. Olivia's cups are a bit shallower than Marcie's, but they have more give, so I find that the fit is the same. The upper cup is a very loose, spongy stretch lace that doesn't cut into the body. I also find that this functions similarly to mesh upper cups as they both have a lot of horizontal give but don't suck in like elastic or firmer stretch lace. The underwires are better for me than Marcie's, and similar to the Curvy Kate Florence, as they are a true C curve without the flared out shape that Marcie has. The cups and underwire are a solid fit on me.
The cradle and band are made with an overlay of the same stretch lace as the upper cup, lined in the same type of mesh that Marcie uses. The band construction is the same, ,with a nice wide elastic running through the full band. I was really impressed with Olivia's band as it fit like a Cleo band, only firmer. Usually Panache 30D bands are too loose for me (Tango, Envy, Jasmine, Clara), so this was a nice surprise! I really love this band, it's super comfortable and supportive. Straps are also reminiscent of Marcie, with picot edges and a slight texture detail, though not ribbing.
I am so impressed with Olivia, but sadly it was quite expensive (I paid nearly full price), and the range seems very limited. Panache seems to have really scaled back on this style, and it's only available in basic colors right now. What a shame! If you love Marcie, I would highly recommend giving Olivia a try. Read more 302 more words
Idina is the weirdest shaping contraption I've ever put on my body. I hesitate to call it a bra, because I'm not quite sure what this garment is supposed to do for you. It certainly doesn't function like a normal bra. I ordered my normal size of 30D, but got a band that is too loose to support, and cups that turn my breasts into lumpy mountains with weird side dents. It doesn't lift, shape, or support. I've truly never tried anything that fits quite like the Idina.
First, I can't quite figure out why the band is so unsupportive. The measurement is ...spot on for a 30D even considering that Panache bands run a bit bigger than I am used to. This is a full band style, and there's quite a wide bottom elastic, however I noticed that this elastic has a ton of give. The wings are made of double layer stretch mesh and stretch lace, with medium support. However, the band fits quite awkwardly on me.
Even more awkward is the fit of the cups. Seriously, these cups. I'm not sure I understand their construction at all. The bottom cup has a curved panel similar to the Andorra. This bottom panel is lined with powermesh and is very shallow, giving a pointy shape like Andorra or Tango II. However, the bottom cup is way too shallow for me, and I think it's totally unsuitable for FOB shapes. While in Tango and Andorra this construction pushes you up, in Idina, it becomes problematic. Idina's upper cup has a partial side sling that is very wide, taking up about 40% of the cup.
Now, I have rather firm breast tissue, but I am fuller on the outside than in the center. This panel plus the small bottom cups just squishes me into a weird form that I have no geometrical approximation to begin to describe. Idina is also very projected but with a closed off stretch lace upper cup with elastic binding, so it squishes all the tissue and I end up with overflow at the top as well although I have quite short roots. If the interior powermesh panels were removed, I believe that the overall cup volume would be fine for me, but based on the way the bra is constructed, the cups are way too small on me. I might have better luck fitting into 30DD, but the awkward shape of the cups and the loose band make it not worth my time.
In terms of styling, it's a very plain and simple bra, which might be what you're looking for. The fabric is a jacquard-like floral lace, the straps are plain and simple with no frills (also no texture, so they may slide), and there's no center gore decoration or bows to be found. The only bit of flash are the rose gold rings and sliders on the straps.
However, given the shape issues, I have no idea who would be best suited for this bra. I would not recommend this to anyone based on my experience. Read more 422 more words
Jasmine is one of the few examples in which my intensively measurement-based spreadsheet method of identifying bras to try has failed me quite spectacularly.
Based on measurements, Jasmine should've been one of my best fitting bras, as it's pretty similar to Panache Envy in a different fabrication, with a smaller band. Envy fits me well but the band is definitely too large, so Jasmine should've been a natural choice. However, in this instance, fabrication makes a lot of difference.
Despite measuring almost 1" smaller in the band on the flat, Jasmine's band is super stretchy and actually rides up on me (Envy doesn't, but isn't snug enough for ...the right fit). The bottom cups are a super lightweight stretch woven, which behaves in a very unflattering manner on me, bunching up and wrinkling in all sorts of ways. Stretch knits and laces exhibit deeper but fewer wrinkles than this material. The overall appearance is sloppy and just looks sad.
However, the lightweight fabric is very comfortable, and I think it would be a great choice for summer if this style suits you. Like Envy, this style has a wide stretch lace panel at the top of the cup, and this has a lot more give than Andorra, which is more closed off--thus this style would be suitable for tall roots. I think this would be best for those who wear larger band sizes or are true 30 and above, and have full breasts for the cups. Note that the support of these cups isn't much different from stretch lace, so if Panache's stretch lace (Andorra, Envy) aren't supportive enough for you, this will not be as supportive as their non-stretch woven cups (i.e. Tango). Read more 181 more words
Clara was one of those bras that caught my eye immediately, with an assortment of gorgeous romantic and jewel-toned satins and lace. Lately I've been drawn to full cup styles and have really found these to provide the kind of support I like from an unlined bra, and based on measurements I was hoping that Clara would work out for me as well as Andorra and Envy.
Because I was able to squeeze into a 28D Panache Andorra with a 6.5" cup depth without experiencing alarming levels of compression, I thought that Clara's 6.9" cups could work for me, despite most of my fitting bras measuring 7.4"-7.7". ...Perhaps due to some of the recent tissue redistribution I've been experiencing as a result of wearing properly fitted bras (ha!), I am not really as shallow as I thought, and instead am probably more average in projection at this point. Clara's shallow cups are not full stretch, giving me a lumpy pancake chest instead of the elegant look I was hoping for. Though I am average leaning slightly FOB, the bottom of the cup is cut far too small for me, so the fullness was redistributed to the top stretch lace portion of the cup and resulted in anything but a smooth curve.
Sadly, I said goodbye to the black satin one I had in my possession as I dropped it back off with Amazon for return. The rest of the bra fit me well, despite a slightly large band, and I think I could definitely wear this style if the cup had more projection. Based on measurements, the 30DD would probably be a better fit for me, so I may try this style again in the future in another color, as the gorgeous styling details weren't visible in black.
However, it's great to have a gorgeous shallow cup option for those who have less projection, and Clara is one of the most beautiful bras I've come across that's relatively more accessible. I'd recommend it if it suits your shape and style. Read more 238 more words
It is a pretty bra! I found that I really liked the fit of Andorra, and I need projection, but Clara was too shallow on me as well.
Ah, Clara! I tried it in several sizes, and wanted it to work so much that I tried one size two separate times. It looks and feels so luxuriant! But it was also too shallow for me, although it sent my boobs out to the side rather than up, haha. Sorry it didn't work for you!
I am so tempted to try 30DD to see if it would be better! I've had a good experience so far ordering from Amazon when the item is "free shipping and free returns" through Amazon, so I can just drop anything that doesn't fit off at our local AmazonBooks. I might need to update with another review later :)
I’ve been looking for a good unlined, structured cup bra to wear during these hot Texas summers, instead of my standard lightly lined molded ups, and have recently been trying to explore a range of different sizes. I have been a pretty consistent 30C but I always measure closer to 30D (or 28D/DD). I decided to order this bra to try out.
Pros: love the fabric, the overall appearance of the style, the support, and the structure of the cups.
Cons: embroidery shows through clothing, band is stretchier than I expected from a 30, and the sides are a touch high and sometimes dig in a little bit when I ...move.
The main issue I found with this bra is that the cups have extra fabric on me at the top, and don’t fit perfectly. The underwire size feels perfect and the bottom and sides of the cups give me a nice rounded, lifted shape which I love. However, the top of both cups have extra fabric. Since I purchased the bra directly from another user and not from a store, I decided to alter it myself by tucking the extra fabric from the top of the cup and sewing it in place. After this alteration, the bra looks and feels great! Definitely recommend this bra if the shape works for you.
I really enjoy this bra and would like to try sizing down to 28D in order to get a snugger band and smaller upper cup, though I am a little unsure if the underwire will end up being too small. Overall, my first Panache bra has been a pleasant surprise.
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Update:
After trying on some brand new 30D Tango II, Tango, and other bras in the 28D/DD - 30D range, I now realize this bra is way too big for me. The band is as loose as my "comfortable" 30C/32B bras feels, meaning there's no support at all as my breasts slide around and don't stay properly in the cup. No matter what, the Tango's shape is not for me, being way too projected, and the fabric is too stiff to be forgiving for a less than optimal shape.
While my altered Tango described in this post is comfortable, it definitely is far from a good fit! Read more 266 more words
I thought this bra was beautiful... until I saw a picture of myself from the side! During a recent heat wave, I became fed up with my usual t-shirt bras and purchased the Tango II. It will feel nice on hot days because it breathes much better than a t-shirt or contour bra. However, I am not thrilled with the shape... it gives a definite conical look that is not flattering on my small breasts. I have since learned that the Tango II isn't necessarily a "true balconette" shape, due to the way the straps connect to the upper cup section --- in a true balconette, ...apparently the straps should connect to the lower side cup section. This makes sense, because I get a much rounder and more flattering shape from my Freya Antoinette (3925), which does have the true balconette cut.
The support of this bra is wonderful, especially considering the apparent thinness of the material. I am really impressed with how it holds everything together, and it does so quite comfortably. The Tango II is also made very well, and I think it deserves its reputation as a popular bra. Unlike my Cleo bras, the straps are long enough too. The band is a little too stretchy, and I feel I should be wearing a 28 in this style -- as it is, I fastened this on the tightest hook with no problem.
Another thing to note is that while I think the embroidery on this bra is very pretty, it does show through a top. It's not horrible but it's enough to make this bra one I will reach for only when it's really warm out. Read more 181 more words
I have only worn this bra twice so far. Overall it seems to fit ok, so I plan to keep it. My only complaints are that the gore pokes in my sternum somewhat, which isn't the most comfortable, and that on the outer part of the cup there's a lot of vertical wrinkling.
I wish I understood what is causing the wrinkling! Maybe the cup size is too big? If I push my breast tissue outward (the opposite of scooping & swooping) the wrinkles go away on the outside, but then I'm left with a small gap in the inner/upper cup.
I was able to try this shop in a local store in the region where I spend my holidays. My breasts are FOB, rather high set and neither wide nor narrow I guess. This bra was the biggest surprise. I always thought this bra would fit like a nightmare on all persons with smaller breasts. It is still no perfect fit, there is some wrinkling on the top of the cup (I guess it would't be better one size down, its more a shape mismatch) but it is wearable. If I had been on the beginning of my journey to fitting bras I might have liked this bra but at the moment I look for different types of bras.
It's a pretty bra and it almost works for me. I got this in 30D because the bras measurements on bratabase seemed rather large. The cups are not wide enough though. They are also too small when I scoop everything. I plan to try a 30DD plunge version of this bra next.
I give up, the Floris is not for me! I'm usually a 30DD but since that size was not available I first bought a 32D Floris. First of all, the shape was nice, but the band was expectedly loose. The real problem was the cups were just not quite filling up; there was just too much empty space for me to be satisfied with the fit. I exchanged for a cup size down at 30D, but that was a disaster. The band on this one was extremely tight compared to all my other 30 bands, so I added an extender to make it ...a 32C. That more or less solved that problem, but the cups were awfully quadboobing, squeezing what it could into a super pointy bullet shape and the rest overflowing like a muffin top. When I measured the bra for Bratabase, the band came out at 22.5 inches!!! WTF, was there a mistake in the production? Silver lining for 26 and 28 band users, this would totally be great for y'all. I'm sad this was a bust for me, the Aurora colorway was absolutely the most gorgeous bra I've seen in ages. Read more 94 more words
Fits I suppose but I am not full on top at all so the lace doesn't quite lay flat. Also I'm finding that im just not a fan of the shape I get from the super bras I have tried. I prefer a more rounded look.
I was looking for a bra similar to Clara, and so got an Andorra. It does fit, but not as well as Clara and the shape it gives is pointier. It looks quite "natural" with a shirt on, less pointier than I thought it would given the shape I saw with only the bra on. The gore does not float off my chest at the top like with Clara, but it presses down rather hard on my sternum. Not very noticeable at first but breathing gets harder the longer I keep it on.
There is wrinkling on the bottom of both cups and outside of my smaller side. I ...don't really like that my nipples are placed in the top see-through lace section either. This means my nipples completely show through my shirt when I get cold.
The fabric is scratchy, but Panache seems to starch their bras or something, this problem went away with Clara after a few soaks in Eucalan so I imagine it's the same with this one too. Probably not keeping it to find out though. Read more 72 more words
It is a pretty bra! I found that I really liked the fit of Andorra, and I need projection, but Clara was too shallow on me as well.