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!
I don’t know what to say. I’m not thrilled with the shape and minimizing effect this bra gives me. It’s really pretty, but it’s going to go back. The best thing I’ve learned on this bra adventure? Don’t keep a bra that you don’t feel bomb in! Fits TTS as far as I can tell. Pretty comfortable, but the lace is a little rough and the straps sit very wide.
I have some bras that look and fit similarly. They could work but I don't feel great in them. For me I feel like my tissues soft and close set enough that certain gore's size can push my breasts in odd directions and really impact the final shape a bra gives me. It's best to feel comfortable and confident!
I recently purchased the Envy again after out growing my 32E (which I sometimes would still wear!). The navy 34E is very comfortable, only getting a little irritating under the arms after hours of wear, where it's a little high cut for me at the front of the underarm. The Envy (along with the Jasmine and Hettie) have been some of my most reliable, well-fitting bras. The gores tack beautifully, and the stretch lace doesn't cut into soft tissue at the top edge. It's also very forgiving of weight/size fluctuations. The shape it gives me is very front, center, and projected.
I have a light nude one as well, but that one is SO scratchy and uncomfortable to wear in comparison, and from the get-go!
For reference, I am very projected at the IMF, projected at the center/gore, somewhat center-full, pendulous/non-self-supporting, and softer tissue.
Gorgeous & flattering for my wide shallow set - but probably not the right size. Cup loose at top & wires not always pulled clear of side tissue by band.
This bra's measurements have been altered
sewed shallow dart across cup to eliminate gapping
This might just be my first bra that will actually fit me! The Cleo Lucy 34E I recently tried ended up having too narrow of wires so it was back to the drawing board.
The Andorra is very soft and comfortable. The wires seem to be wide enough to hold all my breast tissue in and aren't too short or too tall for me. The gore sits flat without any uncomfortable poking. Overall it fits really nicely. The only issues is that it gives me a pointy shape that I'm not especially fond of, and that it gives me some side/underarm flab. I'm willing to give the bra a try despite the pointy shape and the flab since it's the best fitting bra I've tried yet.
There's nothing particular about this bra that's bad - it fits relatively well and it's comfy enough, but it just strikes me as a bit 'meh'. Like a lot of Panache styles, it's a bit dated and frumpy, and I don't think the lace is as pretty on as it looks in some pictures. That said, the little shorts that match are a lovely fit.
This has very 'round' cups - the underwires are pretty huge and come up very high under the arms, and there's very full coverage. As with a lot of Panache bras, it's good for wide boobs like mine as there's lots of room on the side, but I think this could be a bit lower at the front for a more flattering fit.
I don't have enough upper fullness so it makes a pointy shape. I need more immediate projection so it gets pushed down. The wires are almost too high at the armpit but they're doable. Great bra, just needs more upper fullness then I have.
Purchasing: * $67 on Amazon with free Prime shipping & returns (not Amazon Wardrobe) * Available in solid and beige plus several fun prints.
Band: * One layer of stretch mesh. * Elastic at top of band. * Wing support: soft seaming * Continuous band - wires lower than wings. * Back close with 3 columns of hooks.
Straps: * smooth elastic * stiff (stand up on their own) * full adjust * leotard back
Cups: * 3-seam (4-piece) half cup * Called a balconette but the cup edge is diagonal, not horizontal, so a half cup, not a balconette. * unpadded, stiff underwire * Top of cup is unlined, stretch lace. * Rest of cup is unlined, non-stretch mesh. * Soft cups ...(no molding or padding).
Fit
About me: petite with wide horizontal oval, slightly conical breasts * average projection * wide-set (3 fingers width of space between breasts) * very wide roots (extend past the mid-axillary line) * even horizontal fullness (just barely outer full) * short root height, average vertical placement * mix of firm & soft tissue (front molds to shape of bra, sides push wimpy wires away) * conical shape (but will squish to round) * full on top (2/4 shape, not even or very full) - BUT functionally even to FOB due to short roots and soft tissue * petite (5'3") so have narrow frame * front (anterior) rib flares
Band: * length: band rides up * wings: height good * no axillary skin spillage
Gore: Comfortable, tacks, good spacing, height fine.
Cup: * Gives breasts a projected shape. * Wires wide enough (SO RARE). * Top of cup gaps. * Bottom of cup filled. * Cuts into tail of Spence.
Straps: * too far apart, slip * adjust short enough
Assessment and Plan: * Band too big, cups too projected, cuts into tail of Spence. * Already tried 32E (reviewed separately). Spoiler: too shallow, still cuts into tail of Spence. * Shape mis-match. Try other styles. Read more 190 more words
Purchasing: * $60.3. on Amazon with free Prime shipping & returns (not Amazon Wardrobe) * Available in black, white, nude, and some fun colors.
Band: * One layer of stretch mesh. * Elastic at top of band. * Wing support: soft seaming * Continuous band - wires lower than wings. * Back close with 3 columns of hooks.
Straps: * barely ridged elastic * stiff (stand up on their own) * full adjust * leotard back
Cups: * 3-seam (4-piece) half cup * Called a full cup (by Panache) and a balconette (by Bratabase), but I call this a half cup. Straps sit at the outside of the cup, not over the apex, so not a full cup. ... Center edge of cup is diagonal, not horizontal, so not a balconette. * unpadded, stiff underwire * Top of cup is unlined, stretch lace. * Rest of cup is unlined, non-stretch mesh. * Soft cups (no molding or padding).
Fit
About me: petite with wide horizontal oval, slightly conical breasts * average projection * wide-set (3 fingers width of space between breasts) * very wide roots (extend past the mid-axillary line) * even horizontal fullness (just barely outer full) * short root height, average vertical placement * mix of firm & soft tissue (front molds to shape of bra, sides push wimpy wires away) * conical shape (but will squish to round) * full on top (2/4 shape, not even or very full) - BUT functionally even to FOB due to short roots and soft tissue * petite (5'3") so have narrow frame * front (anterior) rib flares
Band: * length: way too big * wings: too short, boobs escape * no axillary skin spillage
Gore: Comfortable, tacks, good spacing, height fine.
Cups: * Gives breasts an flat, oval shape. * Wires wide enough (SO RARE). * Top of cup smooth on larger breast. Slight wrinkles on smaller breast. * Bottom of cup filled. * Apex of cup higher than my apex. * Outer edge of cup cuts into tail of Spence.
Straps: * too far apart, slip * adjust short enough
Comfort & Fit Summary * Band way too big. Cup size close. * Try one band size down, same cup volume: 32F. (See separate review.) Read more 231 more words
Very comfortable. My first fitted soft bra - I didn't know softies could make the boobs look so good and round! I'm a lazy ass who works with computers and often sits in strange positions on the chair. The wire doesn't poke me then (unless I'm really stretching in a strange way).
This bra works. It fits. I like wearing it. I own in black and nude (purchased the same day from the same shop) and wear in rotation, and hand wash/air dry only. The black one I didn’t hesitate to buy, and considered changing my wardrobe to only clothes I could wear it under. The nude one could be a bit more opaque. I feel a bit frumpy in it compared to the black one, but that’s likely more in my head than a difference in the material/structure. I will repurchase when these wear out/my size changes (currently losing weight).
This bra works. It fits. I like wearing it. I own in black and nude (purchased the same day from the same shop) and wear in rotation, and hand wash/air dry only. The black one I didn’t hesitate to buy, and considered changing my wardrobe to only clothes I could wear it under. The nude one could be a bit more opaque. I feel a bit frumpy in it compared to the black one, but that’s likely more in my head than a difference in the material/structure. I will repurchase when these wear out/my size changes (currently losing weight).
This is a really pretty bra! Though stretchy, the lace feels flimsy at times. One should be careful pulling at it as it isn't very "sturdy" (if one could describe lace as sturdy!). The stretch lace is very forgiving to a lot of shapes. However, those with pointy breasts or dark aureoles should consider wearing nipple shields as it is quite transparent. Wires are quite firm but not uncomfortably so. The band is at best "semi-stretchy". For reference, I am a pretty consistent size 34E with firm breast tissue.
This is the closest fit for me so far, with some fiddling with straps and maybe wearing it on the middle hook it could be a little better. Again the difference between a DD and E means a DD is too small but E too big but it is not so bad in this bra. The underwire on this one is just the right length and shape for me wide, flat boobs. This bra looks lovely on and has a nice soft fabric with stretchy lace.
A little itchy, but may get better with wear. I have pretty short roots and the top of the cup is perfect, but this bra has a little too much room on bottom of the cup for me. I also have narrow roots and the width seems good for me. The next panache I get, though, will be a 36 band instead of 34.
Very nice quality, fit was good for shallow wide rooted breasts, wires comfortable, fit was overall good. The bands run small so when ordering get a size up in band. Cups run true to size. I prefer lined bras, and this is a non lined bra.
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.