The fit of this bra isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn close. I have a fun backstory with this bra though (sorry it's a bit long)-
I've been breastfeeding continuously for 3.5 years. During that time I've been pretty prone to clogs anytime I even LOOK at a wired bra, so I've been mostly wearing bras I affectionately call "stretchy beige tarps." My youngest baby is a little over 1 year old and only nurses twice a day now, so I was VERY excited to make a trip to the local fancy bra boutique (Breakout Bras!) and have a proper fitting. Even before I got pregnant, I was wearing ...super old stretched out bras. I honestly can't even guess what size they were. In preparation for my fitting, I measured myself and followed the directions on r/ABTF and come up with a size somewhere in the neighborhood of 34G/GG. That seemed about right to me, I knew my band was 34ish but I couldn't find cups big enough in stores. I planned a girls' luncheon with my friends to try on bras, and off we went.
When I got to the bra boutique, the clerk (fitter? salesperson? I don't know her actual title!) gave me a once over in my stretchy beige tarp and declared me a 32HH. I was skeptical I'd be able to breathe, but figured she was the expert, so I eagerly waited while she brought me some bras to try. She brought a mix of Elomi, Fantasie, and Panache bras... everything was VERY full coverage. Not that I really requested super sexy/plunge stuff, but I'm very petite and have a short torso, and full coverage bras always feel like they come up to my neck. (I've since determined that my shape is very short-rooted/high set, narrow, and projected. I'm 5'2" and my bra band in the back is usually only 4-5" above my pants... super short torso.)
So I started trying on these bras, and I could BARELY fasten them... as in, if my ribcage were even 1/4" bigger, it wouldn't have happened. I was worried I was going to break/rip the bras. In hindsight I am certain the wires were probably distorted in everything I tried on. To say I was uncomfortable would be putting it mildly... my "break the tape" measurement is 32.5" and most 32" bands are painful. I told the woman that was helping me, and she dismissed my concerns, and said I'd get used to it. In all the bras I tried on, the straps had to be adjusted as small as they could possibly go. I realize now this was a sign that the cups were probably a bit too big and she was pulling up the slack (and they all still gaped a bit on my smaller side); it didn't actually make the straps too short. What it DID do was pull all the cups straight up into my armpits (I'm sure the super tight band and wire distortion played a part as well). The upper/outer sides of the cups were digging into my Tail of Spence and armpit and the area was red/raw feeling after about half a dozen bras. Again, I was told it was just because I'd been used to nursing bras, and I'd get used to it. She never took any bras back to try a different size, and according to her the band looked great.
Despite these red flags, I really liked several of the bras she brought me. My very very favorite was this bra - the Panache Clara in Duck Egg blue. When it came time to pick one to purchase, I picked a Fantasie Rebecca (basically a beige t shirt bra) and this one in a 32HH. The last step at the boutique is that a manager/supervisor has to come over and "approve" your fit. Well, the manager didn't care for the fit of this one. Not for any of the reasons I would've cited though; she said it looked like the gore and armpit wires were too high on me and even if it were comfy then, it would bother me within a couple of hours. She did not approve it for purchase. (I think I could've bought it anyway, but forfeit returns? or something, I didn't push it.) So even though it was beautiful and I'd made all my friends that were with me come look at it in the dressing room because I loved it so much, I didn't take it home that day... which is probably for the best because it was a 32HH.
I spent the next month obsessively reading bra blogs and reviews and measurements on Bratabase. I ordered a bunch from Amazon Prime just to try different sizes. And, lo and behold, I determined that a 34GG was a MUCH better fit for me in Panache bras! So I bought this one and am very tempted to wear it to the bra boutique, just to show it off. The fit is great now, the band is comfortable, the wires are comfortable (for Panache), the cups fit perfectly (it's like a second skin!), the straps are adjusted properly, it encloses all my tissue, and the cups are not up in my armpits/ToS. It's a bra miracle. I even posted a photo here in Bratabase, I was so excited about the fit. When I opened the package from Amazon and tried it on, angels sang. I lounged in it and read a book in bed, it was THAT comfy.
It's not quite perfect - I am still a short person and it does have a tall gore (it comes higher than the majority of my breast tissue), but I think I can bend it just enough to make it work. I also think I could use just a smidge more projection near the center (just below/beside the gore). The bra fits strangely in that region (it's that inner triangle of fabric near the center), and it creates an oddly flat area, but you can really only feel it, not see it, because of the location. My only other complaint (if you could call it that) is that the wire swings a bit wide under my arm, and ends up about 1" past the end of my breast tissue. It doesn't bother me comfort-wise, just worth noting for others that have narrow roots. The lace around the band is a bit stiff but I fully expect it will soften up after a few washes/wears.
Moral of the story: Don't let someone else tell you what bra you are comfortable in! Read more 990 more words
Awesome! I have a fancy shop 3 miles from my house. I've been there twice. once just to buy extenders. The other time I tried on bras, but hated it. I hated their snotty attitude and how difficult they make everything. I called once asking if they'd be getting a specific bra in in my size, and they said no but they could special order it - yeah, they have NO returns under ANY condition for special orders so why on earth would I do that?
I have a love/hate relationship with that store right now. On the one hand, I don't care for the whole fit thing I described above. Who does that? Like, I am trying to give you money. Don't say you won't allow it because you don't think I'm comfortable enough. How condescending! Who can really be a better judge of my comfort than... me?
On the other hand, it's very convenient to have a great selection of bras (including Comexim!) I can try on within a 30-minute drive. And they do surprise grab bags a few times a year, which is super fun, and they constantly do sales and things for locals. And their fitting tips on the website are great, I see them mentioned all the time! I did complain to a manager about my experience, and they gave me a really good coupon.
Sigh. Bras are hard.
Well, to be fair, when I was a 32J (UK) they only had like 3 bras that fit. Now that I'm a 32JJ it'd probably be even less
I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience at Breakout Bras; I order from them occasionally and the fit notes are indeed helpful. But I'm glad you went with your gut and spoke with a manager about your experience. That fitter did not have the right attitude, nor was she very helpful. Hopefully she got the additional training she needed after your conversation with the manger, and it doesn't dissuade you from trying them again in the future.
It seriously irks me when I read about folks who go in for a fitting and deal with snotty, high and mighty fitters who may know more about fit than you but also don't listen to your concerns or back down and change gears when they're found in the wrong. "Oh, this band is uncomfortably tight?" should be followed by "let's try the next one up" or "let me bring you a different size" not stubborn deflection.
They didn't really address it, in that they STILL insist I'm a 32 band and I have to really nag them to even let me try 34 bands. But I do still go there, partially because it's the only option, and partially because I like to support local businesses. I buy most bras online from Poland now, but I also encourage busty friends to go there for fittings (with the caveat that they seem to have reverse letterphobia and you shouldn't hesitate to tell them something is uncomfortable)!
Oh yea! A bra that fits me, I'm so happy. I love how this bra looks, it gives me great shape and lift. It looks fantastic under clothes, or just by itself. It holds my breast wonderfully and the wires do not poke or hurt. The band is snug but does not dig in. At the end of the day I am still comfortable, which is the best test of all. If I could change one thing, I would like the center gore to be just a touch lower, but otherwise I am perfectly happy. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
The gore is a good height and width for me, there is enough projection in the cups and they don't cut in at the top. The wires are wide enough and I love that it has 3 hooks. The straps are thick and the lace on them digs into my shoulder blades. This bra is a top contender for me.
I am close set, center and top full, projected, wide roots.
This bra fits okay. It cuts higher than I'd like under my armpits. I also prefer 3 hooks and this only has 2. It gives my breasts an odd angular shape from top down. The cups are deep enough and don't not cut into my upper breast tissue.
I am close set, center and top full, projected, wide roots.
This bra runs SMALL. The wire channels overlap in the center, so it is great for close set breasts. Because it was small, my breasts creases the cups at the bottom and majorly quaded at the top. The wires were slightly narrow for me. The band was very stretchy so it felt too loose, or more loose than I like. I may try this in a larger cup and smaller band.
I am close set, center and top full, projected, wide roots.
I feel decently supported in this bra. I like how the top of my boobs sit in this bra and the separation. I don’t like how it digs into my underarms (especially my right underarm) and how it slides down when I sit so that the underwires are no longer sitting in my IMF but slide about 2 inches down on my rib cage.
I like the way this bra fits quite a bit. Its much better than the wired Andorra in the same size, mostly I think because there is no wire to poke into my armpit (the fabric is a bit too high on the side, but thats much more tolerable) and there is no gore to force my breasts apart, which makes my shape feel much more natural. This on is for sure a keeper. The bottom band is rolling up a bit, but I'm not sure if that's because its a bit tight or because I'm just a bit fleshy below it there. I do definitely feel like the shoulder straps are doing more work than in a wired bra, but I think that's to be expected.
This is the first Panache bra (other than the tango ii which I hated) where I felt like it was too big all the way around. Maybe I'm just not a 34GG. This is very similar to the Envy in terms of support, and I like that about it because I like a little forward pushing from the sides. This gore feels particularly high too me, but as with all Panaches I am being poked in the chest and under the armpit by the underwire. As always, a very pretty bra and feels well constructed.
This bra is very similar to Elomi Tia which is as close to a good fit as I can get with narrow roots, FOB. The only issue I have is that it's pinching in my upper armpit area.
This review is for the Panache Andorra Full Cup in 34GG. My ABTF size is 32G/GG (or more) depending on projection.
Band: * Measured from 28.5 to 32 before the wires started spreading. As a 34 label I'd say this might run a bit small. You absolutely can stretch it more - but you might distort the wire size a little.
Wires: * Very firm.
Cups: * Have a mesh inner side sling. Looks like a half cup to me.
Fabric: * Very comfortable.
About me: very close set (breasts touch), very narrow roots, very projected at the wire, functionally even to full on bottom, short roots, relatively soft tissue, significant rib flares, narrow shoulders.
FIT
* The band ...length was great when I tried it on upside down and backwards, I think it stretched easily. * The gore tacked nicely. It was tall for me, but fine. I found the separation at 7/8ths of an inch to be a little wide for me, so would want to alter them to overlap. * The cups seem to have the right volume for me, and the tops actually laid down perfectly. The wires are not narrow enough for me and it does not have enough immediate projection for me. The seams do show under a thin shirt as you can see in my pics. It does give a nice shape for me. * The straps are long enough, but I'm quite short at 5'4. * The sides are too high for me but that might be because they come too far back rather than actual height.
OVERALL IMPRESSION * This bra is beautiful even though I don't normally like lace. I love how the tops of the cups fit me. I just need a ton more immediate projection and significantly more narrow wires. Read more 178 more words
This bra was listed as a "these will also fit" bra for the Freya Deco Moulded Plunge Bra (4234) in 36G, which was the one "strict recommendation" in my latest recommendations. I chose a "these will also fit" bra over the "strict recommendation" because I hate moulded, padded and lined bras -- and yes, I am starting see that that may not have been the right decision. The straps don't adjust quite long enough. I feel them digging into my shoulders at least a little, and I think this is also what causes the top corners of the cups to chafe the fatty area between my breasts ...and shoulders. All of the other fit parameters are fine, which is why this is listed as a bra that did fit me when I added it. Not sure why the website first asks whether or not the straps adjust long enough/short enough but then doesn't cover that on the following screen where it says "based on your responses this bra does/does not fit" and then asks you to respond yes or no to again to every single parameter except the one about straps -- but it would be nice to get that added. I also noticed -- and I'm not sure this is an actual fit issue -- that sometimes the band seems to ride . . . down? Sometimes I can pull the band up by an inch or so and it will stay in the new position at least for a while -- and after moving it, any problems I had noticed with the cups not not being entirely filled are resolved. I wasn't sure how to indicate that I'm the fit questions, if this is indeed a fit issue. Read more 186 more words
I think riding down means you have a V shaped rib-cage? If you posted pics i cant see them yet. Jasmine was one of my faves for a while but i'm short
Huh -- another thing I've never heard of before! I did load a few basic photos that I'm told were approved last week. You should be able to see the red marks from where the band had been resting before I adjusted it, in the front shot and the side shot. Let me know if you can't see them or if there are any other shots it would be helpful for me to load.
oh, hte pics arent displayed next to your review because you didnt check that checkbox.
Did you mean the FRONT of the band, or the back of hte band? When the front rides down we usually say the cups are riding down or the wires wont stay under my breasts, the band usually means the back
if hte cups are being pushed down it usually means its not enough immediate projection or the cups are just too small - again, your measurements and the bras measurements are realy important for troubleshooting fit
I am short waisted so this bra fits the best in the band and cups. The straps don't fall down when testing but I would prefer them to be kicked in another 1/2". Usually, after wearing a bra all day the straps will slip but since I haven't worn a bra for 2 years and the band size is smaller with the cup size 4 sizes larger so will have to wait and see. I have a lot of armpit tissue that I pulled into the cup so the cup top going into the straps is right against the arm/body wall so it feels strange ... another thing I will need to get use to.
Cups were obviously too big; I think I would really need a 34G in this. The pictures might not accurately show it, but there was definitely room at the bottom and I felt like my boobs were just floating inside this bra. For a while I was confused about whether I was a 34G or 34GG (both seemed to fit equally well), and this bra was one of the things that actually tipped me toward ordering more 34Gs. I read somewhere this bra is based on the Panache Cari, which seems likely based on the pictures I've seen of the Cari.
Pros: Bra seemed to be well made and ...of good quality materials. The stretchy materials (band, slings) were all a nice heavy weight, not flimsy/cheap like some other bras. The closure had a whopping 6 (!!!) sets of eyes for the hooks, to accommodate the changing measurements of a pregnant/nursing mom. I could comfortably close it somewhere in the middle, but I'm between a 32 and 34, so it seemed about right. This band was exceptionally comfortable. Normally I don't care for full slings/"A frame" construction in my nursing bras, as I find it just gets in the way and looks funny, but this one actually stayed in place. I liked the J hook option as well, I don't see that often in my size range and it's an easy way to get more mileage out of a "specialty" bra like this.
Cons: Since I returned it I can't comment about how it wears over time, but I did worry the band would stretch out quickly since it wasn't as firm as my usual bras. That may've just been because it's a nursing bra though, they're usually a bit more flexible, especially when compared to regular Panache bras. The cups did seem to go REALLY high into my armpits (see pics), which was perhaps due to the way they layered the sling with the cup? It's tough to say. All I know is I had a whole lotta bra in my armpits.
Summary: Nice comfortable basic nursing bra. If it weren't so expensive ($70) I'd reorder in the correct size. I'll keep it on my eBay alerts and hope that by the time I have another baby in a couple of years, Panache makes these in more colors and the price comes down a bit! Read more 285 more words
OMGOMGOMGOMG! Wire a *tiny* bit small, so pokes a little, but IT FITS!!!!! (Updates/measurements/pictures later.)
~~~~~~ Update: I've shrunk. The bra is too big on me now. The wire pokes and pokes. Love that the stretch lace allowed me to wear it for much longer, but it is finally just far too big for me.
It's not perfect, but it's just so much better than anything I have right now. My wide root/short boob/lower apex/less upper-volume problems are masked by the stretch-lace. I'm really loving this!
Panache has come up with a bra I really like the look of, which also happens to fit me fairly well. The fit for me is similar to the Jasmine or Sienna, except that the band seems looser. I got a 34 rather than a 36 so that I could get the GG 3-hook version instead of the G 2-hook version, fully expecting that I would need to use an extender initially. However, I'm able to hook this and it seems comfortable. This brings Panache closer to other brands, but it won't be appreciated by people who appreciated the tight bands.
I'm disappointed that Panache ...has again decided to put padding on the inside of the straps instead of making them fully adjustable. I've already tightened them as much as possible, and I expect that in a short while, like the Jasmine, it will become unwearable without alterations. The sliders are held in place with crepe-like folds in the fabric. It didn't photograph well, but by coincidence the Fauve Marla Balcony Bra (0292) in the same order has the same fabric on the straps in a color which was easier to photograph.
I'm not keen on Panache's decision to add a little bit of space between the wires in the gore. I will have to stitch it closed to bring it down to the usual 2 centimeters.
This bra doesn't have a full band; instead, the elastic from each side is angled up and attached to the opposite cup, with the right cup's elastic crossing over the left elastic.
Overall it seems like Panache is really trying some new things with this bra...which leaves me wondering why they couldn't have 'experimented' with fully adjustable straps!
The cups had enough immediate projection for me. There is no elastic along the top of the cups, which meant that I (FoB) had a bit of gaping near the gore on my smaller breast.
I really like the sheerness of this bra, and vertical seams, and the use of minimal embroidery meant to evoke an earlier era. I would have left off the gore bow and the embroidery along the bottom of the cups near the gore; both details seem to belong to another bra. However, they're black on black, so I can only see them if I look closely. It's certainly a step toward a beautiful androgynous bra.
There were a few loose threads hanging off the seams on the inside of the cup, which led me to give a lower rating on the quality than I otherwise would have. The unexpected band is also not a good sign of quality control unless Panache intends to completely change their bands across the brand. Finally, I feel like they really need to solve the strap problem: padding is all well and good, but I couldn't even wear my Jasmine after three washes because the straps had stretched so much and couldn't be tightened.
I ended up getting a Panache Andorra in a 36HH,which barely stretched to 36.5 inches,and then another user on here got one in a 36H and it stretched to 40 inches!They were different colors,mine was blue,her's was pink.Then she got a 38GG in a blue and it was much tighter in the band than her pink 36H.
Ooh I was mentioned! I'm thinking it was because they are from different seasons, but I think the blue one is newer. If I could have the band of the 36H with the projection and padded straps of the 38GG, it would be perfect. Extenders were out of stock at Walmart, so I'm going to cut the hook part of an old 38D off and sew it on.
Hiya! :) haha Oh,that could be. Does the 36H not have padded straps?Mine did. Oh,those old 38D's...whenever I see mine I either shudder with horror or laugh in amusement.
Every Panache bra I've tried has padded straps. Nice for comfort, but a real problem with shortening them enough.
Mine doesn't. I guess the older colors don't have padding. I keep a few of mine for when I miss buying $5 bras from Kmart. I try them on, and I'm like no, I can't go back to this.
Aaa maybe you can take some of the padding off. I haven't looked too closely at the construction, but you could probably take a seam ripper to it.
B1994 - I'd much rather alter it by simply shortening the straps. I just don't think it should be necessary to do so many alterations on a brand new bra, and in my opinion the half-adjustable very long straps have been present in Panache for quite some time and I think they should find another solution. I am not someone who usually ticks the "straps don't adjust short enough" button with a bra, so there have the be plenty of women who find Panache straps far too long.
I just force the adjuster right over that padding on my Jasmines. The padding also assures that the adjusters never slip back down.
Actually, that kind of straps are considered to be fully adjustable. The slider can be adjusted over the padding but it takes some fiddling arround. The easiest way is to pull the strap out from the middle of the slider (with your teeth, a pencil or whatever) and then you just pull it flat shorter regularly.
Padded straps appear only in larger sizes to provide extra comfort.
I have really tried to adjust my Jasmine but I can't. As a result I just don't wear it.
Oh, I thought the criss-crossed elastic at the center was a regular thing? It's like that on my Panache Andorra Full Cup (5675).
drownedsalad - Perhaps it is on all bandless models. I don't own the Andorra so I can't compare. It does differ from the Sienna in this regard, so I thought it was worth mentioning.
Aaa: Interesting. I have no idea. However... I just realized that the criss-cross elastic thing is also on my Panache Emily (6101).
Yes, the Emily, Andorra, Clara, and I guess now Dahlia all have the criss-crossed elastic in front. All of them have a full band. Full band means no elastic under the cups. Sienna is bandless.
It's not you; it's me. I'm sorry, but things were never going to work between us.
For one, your straps are not fully adjustable, and I am tall.
For another, my boobs are a bit wider than your underwire provides for -- but really, just a smidge. Similarly, on a first wear, I already had to fasten the band on the tightest hooks.
I mean, when that happens, you know the bra-relationship days are numbered.
If it were just about the wire and the band, I might have been able to try to make it work. But... um... I'm not sure how to say this. You're ...kind of closed off at the top, and my boobs felt like you were suffocating them.
Phew. Glad that's off my chest.
Listen, I'm sure you'd be a fabulous bra for a bosom that's a touch narrower and fuller on bottom. You have a lot going for you. You're supportive, you're well put together, and you're pretty.
Someday, you'll meet the boobs that are right for you, and then you'll both be so happy. Read more 75 more words
Way to go!!! Inspiring story :-) :-)