I was looking for a sheer, light bra for hot weather with a center gore no higher than 1.5" and enough of a back band to be comfy, unlike, say, those in Cleo bras. In those three aspects, Agent Provocateur's Ambrose bra succeeds. The 1.25" gore is amazingly low. The band stretches to about 31" even though it is labeled a UK 34E, so my usually 30F boobs are comfortable. Though there are only two rows of three hooks and eyes, the back band is wide enough to be comfortable and forestall bulging.

Unfortunately the shape is mediocre, partly because the cups are too small, and partly, I believe, ... because of construction. Each cup has one vertical seam that goes partway up from the underwire. I wish that vertical seam went all the way up. That might've helped get cakes on a plate cleavage. I wouldn't alter this bra to make the seam go all the way up. That would make the cup volume even smaller. Plus it would mess up the pretty embroidery. As it is, the shape is somewhat flattened above the nipple, a notable failure in a bra containing my full on top boobs. Given the slightest excuse, my firm boobs achieve epic cakes on a plate cleavage.

I have the pink tulle colorway, with black embroidery. The well conceived design combines scalloped embroidery on the top edge of the cups with ruched black silk straps and the same ruched black silk outlining the bottom edge of the band. There is boning in the wings, close to the underwires. The cups are notably wide and high under the arms, given the 31" stretched and 25.25" unstretched band lengths. The Ambrose may, in fact, be my only well fitting bra whose wires are too wide under the arms for me.

This bra is beautiful and comfortable. It doesn't need breaking in and therefore seems worth more than a full price Freya or Panache bra. The materials and construction do not, however, justify the original retail price of $190. I think it's an excellent buy at the $60 sale price. Despite the price, I am returning this for a refund. Sister sizing to a 36E in the same model would give me more cup volume, to enable alterations, but it would also make the straps too wide set. Now I know to avoid this construction in Agent Provocateur bras.

Edited to add:
I forgot to mention that a sterling quality of the Agent Provocateur bras I've tried is their LOW COVERAGE CUPS. In the Ambrose, my nipples and aerolas are covered, but there is perhaps only an inch of fabric above them. Most of my chest is not covered at all! As a petite person who typically wears 30Fs, I find it extremely difficult to find bras that cover what they need to, and no more. I do have tiny nipples and aerolas, so I can imagine another petite 30F having an issue with aerolas peeking over the edges of the cups. Of course, this bra is sheer pink, so those nips and aerolas are visible and will protrude, given the opportunity.
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Updated on Jul 18, 2014 Flag this

I tried the 34E Agent Provocateur Abbey Bra because it doesn't come in 30F, my sister size 32E wasn't available, and I wanted to enter its measurements into Bratabase. The straps are painfully wide on this one. Standing still is uncomfortable. The slightest movement pushes the straps forward, which pushes the cups forward and makes them gape. The straps are as unsuitable as those of the 36E Agent Provocateur Darla Bra, which is a full band size bigger and, of course, a cup size bigger than the Abbey.

The Abbey's colors are gorgeous! A vivid light blue overlaid with fuchsia leavers lace on the cups. Nothing chalky, grayed, or ... browned about these colors! The gore is acceptably low--1.75"--for my close-set boobs. That short gore, combined with truly low coverage cups, constructed with the vertical seams of a half cup bra, would be fabulous for someone taller and wider in frame but who also has close-set boobs..

The pads are removable, which surprised me, as the description on the website merely said it was a padded bra. The pads are like Ewa Michalak's removable pads. They are thin and good for correcting asymmetry, if needed. They aren't really pushup type. If, somehow, I could stay upright and not move my arms all day, I would still need the pads to fill out the cups. That means the Abbey's cups run larger than the unpadded Darla's cups, which fit me well in both 36E and 34E. The 34E Darla came in the same order. I will review that soon.

The Abbey's straps are partially adjustable. Most of their length is a wide, satin ribbon, the same color as the blue satin cups. I believe the straps would be just short enough, if they weren't so wide-set.

After the 34E Abbey arrived, the 32E again became available at agentprovocateur.com. I've ordered that one. I hope going down one band and cup will ameliorate the wide set strap issue. If the 32E Abbey fits, I'll have a low coverage, low gore bra in gorgeous colors, possibly with the very rounded profile stereotypical of half cup bras.
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Updated on Jul 20, 2014 Flag this