A nice, supportive bra that gives a great shape and makes me look smaller it’s comfortable and I like the fabric. Being only 1.63m that doesn't give me much space under my arms and between my huge breast. So I like the wires size.
I'm usually a 34-36 and bought 38. And the L cup is almost like KK cup from Panache. It’s my first Bravissimo and I must say it does run smaller than other brands, but it's a pretty good shape and the wires are comfortable.
Unfortunately like very often the cup size is too small for me. (Tight but wearable)
A very good bra but now to be really satisfied I wait larger cup size from Bravissimo Brand.

Updated on May 25, 2011 Flag this

This Cobalt blue colorway may be my least favorite Alana. As usual, this Bravissimo 38 band is perfect for me but the cups are a little small, with quadding on both sides. The straps seem to be the weak point for me. The strap material is only average and stretches a bit more than my other Alanas. The strap separation is what is my main complaint as they tend to fall off my shoulders when on the loosest or middle hooks, a problem I do not have with my other 38 band Alanas.

Cobalt colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jun 22, 2020 Flag this

Apr 2018
My nude/porcelain Alana's are very different from other nude colorways I have had in the past. It's almost like there is a hint of pink in the material. This Alana was naturally very similar to the other Alana colorways I have. Comfort and fit with any Alana far exceeded anything else I previously had.

Feb 2021
It's been 3 years of infrequent use for this Alana as I have worn this bra maybe 10 times since my purchase in 2018. My rotation is over 50 bras strong so this should not be surprising. My recent success with a pair of 38L Annie's and a similar sized Gemma prompted me ... to revisit all of my 38L Alana's. The wires on this Alana run over an inch further towards my back than the Annie or Gemma do and I now realize that I am not filling the back of the cup very well. The cups on this Alana are at least 1 and maybe 2 cups smaller than the Annie, which are another cup smaller than my 38L Gemma. Being 3 yeas old, the straps on this Alana are not as nice as the newer Bravissimo bras and are thus of inferior quality and seem to be carrying more of the load than the Annie or Gemma do. The cups are a little too snug, with significant compression and how I quad out of the top. The band also feels significantly tighter than the newer bras.
Bottom line, if the new narrow wire Bravissimo bras did not exist, I would be happy with my Alana's. Unfortunately, this one will be used even less because of my newer Bravissimo bras.

Aug 2021
In my previous update, I incorrectly described how the cups on this 38L Alana were smaller than the similar sized Annie and Gemma. The reality is, they have a similar depth compared to the Annie and about a cup size smaller than Gemma and this is because of where the wires on this Alana ends on the sides. The wires go at least an inch further back on the Alana which makes sense as the new narrow wire bras are marketed as, well, narrow wire bras. I can't fill the sides of this bra yet the cups seem too small. This results in a bra that seems too small and a significant pointy cakes on a plate look. My 38L Annie gives me more usable space in the cup and so I end up with less of a pointy look. Of my 3 - 38L nude/beige/porcelain Alana's, this one gives me the most pointy look and I am not sure why.
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Porcelain colorway

Updated on Oct 05, 2021 Flag this

I picked up this mint Alana in early 2016. It was on my 3rd order from Bravissimo over a 4 month period. I had purchased this mint colorway in a 40L previously, I loved the color and the cups were spot on but the band was destined to become too big as it stretched out.
The band on this 38L has been perfect over the past 4 years as I am most often on the loosest hooks still. I will never tire of this color but the cups are another matter, as they usually are for me in a 38L. I have given up hope that Bravissimo will ever ... put out a LL or M cup as I imagine there are not many of us out there who need this size.
So, I get my usual quadding in this 38L but the straps are perfect, they never fall off and they tame any bounce I may have. The band is TTS and supports me very well as the strapless test confirms, the bra stays up and in place when I tug them off of my shoulders.
I dread the day when Bravissimo discontinues the Alana. At my age, I am fairly certain I have stopped growing and although I may develop more sagging as I get even older, the amount of compression I currently experience does not bother me much and a little more should be ok. I hope.

Winter 2020/2021
I wore this bra for the first time in over a year. I did this one up using the middle hooks for the first time and the fit was nice and snug. As expected, I was still quadding out of both cups although it was barely noticeable on my smaller side. I was a little disappointed though with the straps, especially on my bigger side as it seemed to have lost its elasticity. The strap kept falling off my shoulder, even if I tightened the strap far more than my smaller side. The straps on my newer bras, like the Annie and Gemma are much better and I think will last longer.
After Bravissimo released bras with the new narrower wires, I found myself hoping they will release an Alana with the same wires as this may give me the 38LL or 38M Alana I have been waiting for.
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Mint colorway

Updated on Sep 02, 2021 Flag this

Jul 2019
Purchased in Oct 2015, this white Alana is still comfortable and supportive despite at least 100+ wears. I purchased this 38L Alana along with a 40L nude/porcelain and 40L teal on the same order and the white seems to now be just a little bit less supportive, especially in the cup where I have a bit of sagginess, especially when compared to the teal. The teal was worn far less than either the white or nude/porcelain so that could explain why it is still holding up.

At the time of this purchase, Bravissimo was enduring a controversy relating to wires popping out of their channels prematurely. I was ... so thrilled with the fit and comfort of my initial purchases that I decided to double up on my Alana orders with the expectation that I too would have to deal with the wire issue. I have never had to. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana.

One inconsistency I have noticed between different colorways is the softness of the hook and eye materials. Some, like the Papaya's I purchased in 2017 are very soft and luxurious while others, like all 3 on this order are rather plain. Curious.

If you don't mind a tendency to a cakes on a plate look, the Alana may become a staple for you as it is for me. Through the course of time, I have noticed that my Alana's tend to initially have the cakes on a plate look but will soften and become a rounder shape with frequent use. This white Alana does not do a very good job of masking my nipples though so I tend to wear a camisole or add additional layers of clothing or if I really have to, nipple covers, to compensate.

Mar 2020
I recently purchased the lilac/lemon version which has different straps that tend to roll up and dig in. That feels like a step backwards for Bravissimo. I have a 21 Alana's in either 38L or 40L and still believe a 38LL would be the perfect bra for me. Bravissimo has not done this yet but I do hope they release the Alana with their new narrow wires that I have had success with. My 38L Annie's are like a 38LL in terms of cup volume but they are still a little torpedoey although much less so than when initially purchased. I am a bit amused that I have still not endured a wire popping out on me on any of my Alana's or any other Bravissimo bra. I guess I bought into Bravissimo just after they solved this problem
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white colorway

Updated on Aug 21, 2021 Flag this

May 2017
My nude/porcelain Alana's are very different from other nude colorways I have had in the past. It's almost like there is a hint of pink in the material. This Alana was naturally very similar to the other Alana colorways I have. Comfort and fit with any Alana far exceeded anything else I previously had.

Jun 2021
I got this bra over 4 years ago and aside from being too small cup-wise, it's always been comfortable & supportive. That said, I likely have worn this, and my two other 38 band nude/beige/porcelain Alana's less than 25 times over those 4 years, mostly due to the in-cup quadding. If I was ... a seamstress, which I am definitely not, I would have matched this band to the cups of my 40L Alana's - that would have been my perfect bra for sure.

Bravissimo released a number of new models that feature narrow wires for J cup and above which has effectively increased cup volume and Bravissimo recommends sizing down a cup as a result. A 38L Annie has the cup depth a 38LL Alana would have if it came with these new wires while the 38L Gemma is more like a 38M Alana.

A fellow bratabaser recently expressed an interest in one of my porcelain 38L Alana's that I had listed. I thought about going through with the sale but I developed cold feet when I realized how under used they, and all of my other 38 band Alana's were. Thankfully, she understood my reluctance and I may sometime soon re-list these bras as they really are too small cup-wise.
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Porcelain colorway

Updated on Jun 30, 2021 Flag this

Purchased in Oct 2015, this white Alana is still comfortable and supportive despite at least 100+ wears. I purchased this Alana along with a nude and Teal on the same order and the white seems to now be just a little bit less supportive, especially in the cup where I have a bit of sagginess, especially when compared to the teal. The teal was worn far less than either the white or nude so that could explain why it is still holding up.

At the time of this purchase, Bravissimo was enduring a controversy relating to wires popping out of their channels prematurely. I was so thrilled with the ... fit and comfort of my initial purchases that I decided to double up on my Alana orders with the expectation that I too would have to deal with the wire issue. I have never had to. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana.

One inconsistency I have noticed between different colorways is the softness of the hook and eye materials. Some, like the Papaya's I purchased in 2017 are very soft and luxurious while others, like all 3 on this order are rather plain. Curious.

If you don't mind a tendency to a cakes on a plate look, the Alana may become a staple for you as it is for me. Through the course of time, I have noticed that my Alana's tend to initially have the cakes on a plate look but will soften and become a rounder shape with frequent use. This white Alana does not do a very good job of masking my nipples though so I tend to wear a camisole or add additional layers of clothing or if I have to use nipple covers, to compensate.

I recently purchased the lilac/lemon version which has different straps that tend to roll up and dig in. That feels like a step backwards for Bravissimo.

Jun 2021
I have been on a recent journey to lose some of my pandemic weight gain. I've been on this journey for about 4 weeks and have lost about 2 lbs so far, not bad but still a long way to go. It's been close to 6 months since I last wore one of my 38 band Alana's as they were tight on the band and too small in the cup. This one fits a little better but I still have these 2 issues. I am getting the most pronounced cakes on a plate look that I have ever gotten out of any bra which is very surprising as I have always thought this was caused by a bra that was too big. I am still quadding over top and the cups are filled at the bottom. Weird.
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white colorway

Updated on Jun 30, 2021 Flag this

My nude Alana's are very different from other nude colorways I have had in the past. It's almost like there is a hint of pink in the material. This Alana was naturally very similar to the other Alana colorways I have. Comfort and fit with any Alana far exceeded anything else I previously had.

Porcelain colorway

Updated on Jun 25, 2020 Flag this

I purchased the Papaya in 2017 in both 38L and 40L I find the 38 bands are perfect, especially since the straps seem to barely need to contribute any support, a real shoulder saver and I definitely do not have to worry about the straps sliding off my shoulders. On this 40L, I am still on the middle hooks but the straps do tend to fall off. I get some quadding on the 38 band but essentially none with this 40. My perfect bra would seem to be an Alana in 38LL or mybe 38M.Maybe oneday they add this size to their line.
There seems to be nothing else in my range except the Ewa Michalak FB line. Although they have almost a dozen models, none currently appeal to me and at roughly twice the price or more, I simply cannot get interested in switching away from Bravissimo. My recent success with the Selina line pretty much locks me in with Bravissimo, perhaps forever.
This is by far my favorite colorway, with the mint a close second.

papaya colorway

Updated on Jun 17, 2020 Flag this

This Cobalt blue colorway may be my least favorite Alana. As usual, this Bravissimo 38 band is perfect for me but the cups are a little small, with quadding on both sides. The straps seem to be the weak point for me. The strap material is only average and stretches a bit more than my other Alanas. The strap separation is what is my main complaint as they tend to fall off my shoulders when on the loosest or middle hooks, a problem I do not have with my other 38 band Alanas.

Cobalt colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jun 15, 2020 Flag this