I found this bra on eBay really cheap, so I couldn't resist purchasing it to try it out before taking the plunge and making an order with Bravissimo.
After putting it on for the first time, I fell in love. It is SO comfortable. Nothing pinches and nothing is binding. The band is very stretchy, so even though I normally wear 32 bands and am slowly transitioning to 30 bands, this one feels very good. I can still pull it an inch or so away from my body, but I don't have a problem with it riding up, so I'm just going to keep it ...on the loosest set of hooks for now.
The straps are too far apart, which is normally the case with any bra for me, but it's cut low enough under the arms that there is no chafing. Just because of that, I find the bra straps very tolerable and it adds to the comfort of the bra.
The cups are a bit too small and cause quadboob after I scoop, which I was afraid would be the case when I ordered it. Actually, before I scooped, I was shocked to see how much tissue I had under my arms! Without trying to sound vulgar, it was nearly a full handfull of tissue under each arm that was overhanging. I used to wear 34 bands religiously and then changed to 32 a few months ago, and now wearing 30 bands I can more obviously see how much migrated tissue I have. Many have commented on how this particular style runs small and it is suggested to size up to prevent the top of the cups from cutting in, so I would definitely confirm this to be the case.
The shape is very uplifted and offers some projection, which I like (I really don't like bras that minimize -- I tried to hide my boobs for most of my life, and I'm over that now.) To me, it's similar to the shape that I get in the Panache Jasmine. It's not rounded, but it's not overly pointy, either. Everything is up-front and center, which is what I prefer.
I have already placed an order for this bra in a 30K, so I am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I've only worn this bra for 2 days, but I am quite happy with the comfort and shape, even though it's a little too small. I am confident that I will love it even more in the proper size. I have a feeling this may become my new go-to everyday bra.
Full on bottom girls, this is a great bra for us. I don't even feel like the pictures do it justice. Normally, I feel like I just look deflated at the top in most bras, but the way that this bra uplifts, it gives me the appearance of full all over boobs (at least to me, anyway....maybe it's just because it's too small lol.) I feel like I look MUCH better in this bra in person than what the pictures represent. Read more 418 more words
In the 30K you will get rid of that quadraboob but I think it will still look great on you. From my personal experience most Bravissimo bras (at least the balconnettes modelled after the Alana) are constructed for full on bottom breasts. Also they do generally not allow too much volume on top and tend to flatten my full-on- top breasts (see my 30K Linear Rose disaster) and are if I don't size up 2-3 cup sizes an epic fail on me. The shoulder straps dig into your arms because they are too far apart - I have that issue too - it gets better the more you wear the bra & wash it. I don't even get red marks anymore.
A handful is what I have in my armpits as well. And no bra does take care of it because it sits higher. Extremely frustrating!
What is it that some people call the underarm fat spots...."wings"? I have a problem with those in many of my bras, but it just seemed amplified in this one.
*Underarm fat behind my arm (felt like I should clarify)
@alisa: Thank you for all of your info regarding this bra! You are the person I stalk the most on here because we're so close in size, so I love hearing your feedback. :-)
Do you mean at the top of your back even?
No, mainly just a big chunk of fat/tissue that hangs over my bra strap at the part where my underarm meets my back.
Ah, yes I see it now. I get like that in every bra apart from 36J Andorra I think.
It's not really evident in my pics because I had just swooped and scooped, but before....whoa, it was bad! lol
I ordered the Bravissimo Contour in my search for a H+ strapless bra. I am usually a 28HH (Panache)/28J (CK, Flirtelle), and since the only other Bravissimo bra I had ran small in the cup, I decided to order a 28J.
Before it arrived, I lost a lot of weight and basically moved from a 28HH/J range to a 28H/HH (my current measuremements should reflect this).
FIT:
The band is very tight, and at first I put it on with an extender (buckled on the first row of hooks). The cups fit well then, even if they flattened the top of my full-on-top breasts. However, it worked only with the straps, ...when I wore the bra as a strapless around the house, it started sliding down (the cups were winkling, etc.)
I fastened it without the extender, which strained the hooks a little. I recall some talk around the site about not straining the closing, but with a strapless bra, I think it's inevitable if you want it to stay in place. The bra stopped sliding down, however, I got major quadraboob on my bigger boob - a bit disconcerting, since the bra was supposed to be at least one cup size too big.
I think that the construction is a little off here. The wires are very wide and they get pulled almost all the way to the back, which leaves very little depth at the front, resulting in quadboob. With a normal bra, it would be wise to go up a bandsize, but a strapless wouldn't then stay in place.
The bra sits a little lower on one's back and has, for me, quite a wide bridge between the cups.
CONSTRUCTION/APPEARANCE:
The bra is not padded, it is made of some sort of thick fabric, and the lower part of the cup is strengthened by extra boning. It's sewn onto the cup only along the lower edge, so you can sort of flip it back and forth, but you can't remove it. The color is a lighter nude and the bra is invisible under light tops. There are four hooks, and the straps can be attached to three different places (two on the edge of each cup, one at each end of the band).
APPEARANCE WHEN WORN:
Up to this point, I was still considering keeping the bra. The quadboob was, after all, only on one boob, and a small price to pay (in my opinion) for a J-cup strapless. However, the bra looks quite terrible when put on - pointy, east-and-west-splayed and very wideset. See the pictures to get an idea. It doesn't make one's boobs look bigger (the way a padded Freya Deco Strapless does), but it just gives them a really, really weird shape.
SUMMARY:
If you want to order the bra, definitely go at least one cup size up, and perhaps even a band size up (I like tight bands, but a 30 would probably work as well).
I am not keeping it, because I think the shape is horrid and because the cup is too small for my larger boob. Read more 397 more words
I had really high hopes for this bra. It reminded me of the Ewa Michalak BM Crazy Bra as far as the color goes. Which is very pretty in person, but sadly I was left very disappointed with the fit. It was definitely a shape mismatch.
The cup is a 4 part cup consisting of two lower section and two upper sections. The lower part of the cup is lined with a matching non stretch mesh. The upper cup has an outer piece made using the same lace and matching mesh, but the upper lace is a single layer of stretch lace. The back band is full lace ...with a matching mesh lining. The center gore is wide and not too high. The straps are a very hot pink and made of a nice elastic. The hardware is black/gunmetal gray. There is a 2x3 closure.
The center gore is very wide! And the cups also fit on the wider side. Because of this the bra tilted a bit and the bottom of the wire could be felt digging in ever so slightly. The cup is very shallow on the lower portion of the cup and squished my boobs into an East-West spread. This would work great for those with a shallower wider breast. Unfortunately it didn’t work well with my close set, very projected boobs. Read more 117 more words
I totally thought this WAS the EM Crazy bra! Sorry this one doesn't work on you. I do love deep green bras though.
Wilderness1 Oh how I wish this was the EM Crazy bra! That’s one I’ve been drooling over for years. The color of this bra was the main reason I gave it a try.
The cut of this bra is old-school Bravissimo at it's worst. It's like everything I don't want or need in large cup sizes. But lets start on a positive note with the appearance, the bra has a nice smooth fabric, the colour is a very pale light blue. The straps and the embroiderie are in a very bright neon pink, it's even brighter in person than in the pictures. I find it a bit too loud compared to the pale blue. A regular bright pink would have done the job. The cactus embroiderie is very cute.
The sizing: The band runs on the smaller side so I sized up ...to a 34 band. The reviews said the cups run small so I sized up one size too. So this is the advice I give on sizing, size up in band and if you have full on top boobs also size up in cups. This is also the advice I give for all old-school Bravissimo bras!
Anyway lets move on the issues. The cups are rather shallow and wide. I get some wrinkling on bottom. The fancy gore is a very nice idea in theory but just doesn't lie flat on me. I have very narrow set boobs and this type of gore is just too wide and the wires just lie on top of each other. The bra has very wide and tall wires. And it's worst offense: the fabric under the arms comes up so high I it constantly stabs me in the arm pits. Also the strap position does not help, because the straps cut into my arms too. I had this issue with many older Bravissimo bras - and that they run small in cups did not help because you had to size up and that made it even worse. Therefore I do not recommend this bra in my size range unless you have a particular shape where you need very tall and wide cups! Read more 216 more words
I almost did not give this bra a proper chance because I did not like it's print. At first I thought it's slightly too large because I had some gaping on top. The bra also looked a bit pointy. Both is now gone with my PMS boobs. So the perfect PMS bra for me? I really can't stand too much pressure on my boobs during that time, so thise bra is roomy and projected in top and bottom. The shape is very forward facing, uplifted and centered. It's a real confidence boost as it gives a slimming look from the front. However from the side, the boobs are ...quite round and projected, they stick out more than in other more "shallow" bras. I would say it's a green shape (check out brasIhate blog post) but it's rounded enough to not be elf-shoe.
The fabric is nice a bit thicker but not bulky, The lace has no stretch. The bra is very open on top, so do size down 1 cup like they recommend on the Bravissimo page. I also say it's fot friendly. I usually have quadboob in most of my 32K Bravissimo bras so I say this clearly runs big. The wires above J- cup are different. I don't notice that much, but I think it's the overall more projected centered shape they give instead of the more east - west shape of older bras. The band has normal stretch, it's tts for 32 and a good fit. Straps are thick and not too stretchy. I have sligh issue with them being a bit too wide - set and the cup fabric on the side comes a bit too high but it's bearable. I think this bra is as good as it gets? I certainly have seen far worse. Read more 191 more words
I think I should start with the fact that I am A HUGE FAN of Bravissmo Zara bralette. Currently, I own more than 10 of them in multiple colours and they are simply the best bralettes I've ever had. It was obvious that when Bravismo came out with the sleeping top - I had to purchase it. I was not disappointed as it usually happened with the sleeping tops by Bravissimo (I've tried probably all of them and never had a good and comfortable fit combined - either one or the other). This is my second Zara top, I also own it in black but I still haven't ...used them at night because isn't warm enough for me to wear them yet. So while I cannot comment on how they act during sleep, I can give an insight on the fit when just worn for a short while. I have bought the top in the same size as the bralette. As compared to the bralette, the sleep top doesn't have hooks & eyes, so it's just pull-on style. I know this is not an option for some people, but for me, it is okay to put them on and off without a hassle (I suffer from two painful wrists with one being limited in movements). The band feels comfortable, it doesn't cut in or cause me any discomfort. The inside 'band' is made of mesh and so are the cups inside. The band elastic is thick and stretches well to ensure the best comfort while moving around. The cups nicely hug the breasts and don't let them fall out from the middle on the sides (at least that's the case for me). Straps are not adjustable but I found them to be a perfect length. They do stretch too. And if you need shorter straps - it would be easy to fix them. The actual top part is a loose style so if you've got a little bit of stomach it will nicely cover it! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
So to conclude, I am looking forward to using it as a sleep top and I do hope there will be more colours as it's really gorgeous! Read more 260 more words
Great review! It looks really nice, but more like denim blue than bright cornflower? Or is it just the picture? :D Also found their regular sleep tops really unformfortable and bulky.
alisa It is brighter in real life, just the weather was poor yesterday :D The sleep tops (the ones looking like bras) aren't that bad for me, I really like the 30G - Bravissimo » Non-padded Sleep Bra (NW235). I just need to repurchase it in my current size. The ones I don't like are the sleeveless t-shirt style sleep tops with bras underneath :(
That bra is the one of the sleep bras I have not tried yet. Do you size up in it or down?
This was my first try of a non-wired, non-padded sports bra since I had the Enell and the Shock Absober (that was like 8 years ago) - I was a way smaller size back then. Now I am 32K in most brands and can wear 34J in Bravissimo bralettes and sleep bras.
Since this bra got good reviews and I could find it at a good price, I gave it a try. It certainly does not work for me. The problem is the size. While I can wear a 34J in some non-wired bravissimo bralettes like Flora and Zara, I cannot wear that size in this sports bra. It's ...much too shallow and there is just not enough room in the cups. My boobs are squished flat and even try to escape on bottom and sneak under the band. It has tall cups and I am sure in the right size the shallow compression style cup would work. It also depends if you like that type of sports bra. I would not recommend if you are larger than 34HH or have very full on top projected boobs.
I have to add, that it needs a bit of time to put it on as it has this special back closure, see it on my picture. Honestly I don't know why they do it, maybe they thought it looks fancy but it makes it more difficult to do up. I would rather have 4-5 hook closure on this for good support. Read more 139 more words
* The wire measurement is from wire end to end, but the gore is much taller than the wire, but I didn't include that in the wire length, only the gore height. ** The straps are at the widest part 4 cm, and the narrowest part 2 cm.
The straps are half adjustable. The non adjustable straps are padded. Straps can be hooked with a J hook in the back.
The cups have a slight foam padding , the hooks are also padded on the back.
Seems like a decent quality construction, unfortunately it is a very poor fit for me.
I asked Bravissimo beforehand what size to order. They said ..."The Apollo sports bra does come up a little higher than the Inspire and so far the new wire shape had made the cups a little more generous in other styles. I think your regular cup size would be a good starting point in this one" so because I wear 34JJ in Allie and 34HH in Gemma, both with the newer wires, I chose the in between size 34J.
I assumed it would also be more projected, as they said it would be! It's not very projected at all. I've not tried any other sports bra so I can't compare it to them but this to me is very very shallow. I know a lot of sports bras are shallow and close to chest but they don't have to be, and since they've got the new wires on this one it sounded like they were actually making a projected sports bra. Not everyone wants to be squished in a sports bra :/ But sadly this one is a fail in that regard.
The gore doesn't tack anywhere close, there is about 2 cm floating space between gore and my chest. If i push the gore in, my breast tissue escape on the sides, because this sports bra has quite low sides. So even if it had the support of the gore, it would just make my tissue jiggle around in my armpits lol.
The band is insanely tight. It runs over 1 band size small. I had to use 2 extenders with it for it to be comfortable enough to try on.
The wire width is quite decently narrowish. I like the wires. I like the colors and look of the bra is okay, not crazy weird colors like some brands, and not terribly boring. it feels nice and soft and padded. But I hate everything about the fit https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Read more 316 more words
Since I just reviewed Selina in 32K I will now do this quickly too. Check out my 32K - Bravissimo » Selina Bra (LN436) review for more info on the bra.
my shape: narrow - medium wide tall root, full on top, center heavy and projected.
With 32K Selina I had the fit issue that the gore just wouldn't tack. Apart from that the fit wasn't off, there was no quadboob going on. But since the gore did not tack I assumed that I need to size up so I grabbed 32KK on ebay.
In this size I get some gaping at the top of the cups and the gore still does not tack. I assume this bra is now too big for me. It looks like the Selina shape is not compatible with my boobs to fit correctly. The bra is still supportive even when the gore floats. I'd prefer the smaller size and will keep this bra for size fluctuations / PMS boobs.
Looks super cute at least lol. Shame it's so gappy. I guess this is meant for someone with very little projection and very tall/FoT roots lol :D
It's so weird that the gore doesn't tack in any size, either too small or too big. You might be right but I think that shape is very rare, I am fot with tall roots but this is too big on me.
First I want to thank martka00 for this bra. She would not stop to recommend it and now I finally have one. I actually really like it and it's better than I expected. Okay... my expectations of non-wired bras are pretty low: I just wish I be able to wear it to sleep and lounge a bit. I never expected for it to be an option for full day wear and leaving the house at my size, and it isn't.
First sizing... on Bravissimo page they recommend to size up. I agree, but it's not possible for me. At 32JJ/K currently this bra does not come ...in my size. So my only option is to size up in band and hope for the best. I think my 34HH/J would fit a true 34HH best. It is wearable in larger size maybe up to 34J/JJ (my sister size) but there will be bit over overspill either on centre or sides. Since it's a non wired bra it doesn't bother me too much that the "cups" don't fit correctly. I probably use part of the band as extra room for my boobs on the sides. Also there will be mono boob, it can't be avoided as the cups don't seperate.
I really like how comfortable the bra is. It's like wearing no bra. I even prefer this over my sleep bras as they feel a bit bulky with their padding. Zara looks and feels delicate. You think it would be weak then, but it isn't. I think for a wireless bra it supports my boobs quite well. But there is a lot of weight on the straps. They cut in after longer wear (or thats why I only wear it to lounge) also the band is bit large on me and rides up so slightly. The decorative lace at the band will also roll up, I even had to hold it down to take my photo. It is what it is, but it doesn't bother as it's so delicate.
The straps are non-adjustable. They are just okay to me but I doubt they work for everyone. For Bralette with adjustable straps I recommend Bravissimo Nova. On the other side there are no plastic bits on the straps so they are comfy to lie down and nothing cuts in. I think it's either this or that... I wish Bravissimo would expand the size range and make the Zara Super Bralette in sizes JJ/K and KK/L I'm sure it would sell like hot cakes. It's already good as it is but would be so much better if I could get my actual size. Read more 333 more words
Preach! I called in to Bravissimo to say the same darn thing! I kept this bra, and only this bra from my orders, but it fooled me. :(
I wore the 30HH/J a couple hours the first day - no prob. Band was definitely in the 32, not 30 range and was slightly loose on the tightest hooks. But seemed ok.
Second day - poor boobs were drooping a solid inch below the band and as a result the thick seam under the strap actually *was* cutting in to the front of my shoulders quite a bit. Ouch!
So! What I've learned here is that tho you're a 32JJK and I'm around 30J/JJ/K your breasts appear to be more projected and your tissue definitely firmer than mine - no wonder they sit up so nicely off the band!
Also! TIL from a bra blog that even tho I'm not projected at all, because I'm pendulous I still need some projection at the bottom of the cup so my boobs don't push up and out of the cups.
Otherwise the heavy, pendulous tissue slowly but surely start to push the wires downwards out of the IMF and the cups start to droop as the breast tissue spills out wherever it can (Center mostly, for me)
Thanks for the opportunity to compare! I'll try to get my bra measurements up, too - for bra science. :-)
CAGirlGoingPolish Actually they drop down too but I mostly wear the bra to lounge or sleep. Even then in the morning I notice straps cut in as my boobs "rolled" around in the bra. 32J - Bravissimo » Nova Lounge Bra (LN764) is better to keep them seperated, and the sleep bras keep them in but are not that comfy.
The longest time I wore Zara was when i came home at 6pm and went to bed at 10pm it was a relief to wear this after my wired bra had hurt me. But I didn't do much. Def not recommend in our size range to wear it full day out and doing stuff. (Unless you have self -supportive boobs)
Actually I also have very pendulous breasts and they don't look projected if I'm braless but as soon as I put on a bra I need projection. I wonder if there is a difference with firm / less firm boobs. Btw my boobs are not very firm :(
Also didn't we talk other Bravissimo styles? I cannot find the post anymore and I think I had forget to answer.
Wow! Sounds like we have more similarities than I realized!
I liked the comfort of the Nova, but holy Jerusalem, it literally made my boobs look like I plopped them on a shelf. Just a flat east-west line across my chest.That's how I realized I'm wide-rooted for sure! Still prefer narrow wires, maybe because I'm so close-set. Still learning something new every day here!
To answer your question, I had responded to your Lacey review a little while ago. In fact, I placed a new Bravissimo order today, and I decided to try the Dina model thanks to your review! (thank you!) I find most of what seems to work for you looks like it would work for me. Fingers crossed!
CAGirlGoingPolish Ah it was on my Lacey review :) will answer there.
Nova I got when I had a shoulder injury and my boobs made it worse while sleeping so I used it as a sleep bra. I liked it as such in hot summer months since it seperated. I agree it's not a good look and can be east west. Also I have 32J and there is bit of side overspill if I seperate my boobs at the center (with wear they spill to the center). Also the strap adjustors cut into shoulders even though when I'm laying there isnn't much weight on them --- honestly I doubt any wireless bra can give same shape and support like a wired bra for large non self supportive breasts...
CAGirlGoingPolish Good choice with Dina! Also a steal at the same price. I kept it in my Watch list in case anyone sends 32K back but no luck yet. It's a good balconette style but has better shape of wire and is more open on top than Alana. I'm mad that they discontinued it.
ugh I meant "sale price"
After 4 and a half months of use the bra looks quite rough. There are loose elastic threads and a seam has come undone. Added this new pic: http://bra.pe/IsvY/
The Dina bra by Bravissimo is one of their best. It's a shame that it's also already discontinued like all good bras. I highly recommend it if you can grab it on sale or ebay. It came in two colors black and coral.
You can find longer reviews of the coral colorway here 32J - Bravissimo » Dina Bra (LN578) and 32JJ - Bravissimo » Dina Bra (LN578). I had to have the black when I spotted it on ebay. It fits just slightly smaller than the coral in the same size. Which is not good for me since I'm currently closer to a 32JJ ...in this bra. Since my breast size always fluctuates around 1-2 sizes I hope that I be able to wear it again soon. Currently I get some slight overspill between the cup edge and the decorative strap.
I'd recommend sizing up in band if you are between sizes and go up 1 cup size in Bravissimo especially if you have full on top boobs. The bra is a bit more open on top than Alana in the same size, so it works better for my fot shape. It's super supportive, comfortable, doesn't hurt and gives are great round uplifted shape. Read more 100 more words
Looks awesome on you. I love the little front strap detail. It’s always a bummer when a company discontinues something you love!
Cute bra! Love how the straps add just a sophisticated touch of emphasis. Bummer it's discontinued. Thanks for the review, alisa !
It looks lovely on you. I think cage bras to even or FoT shape is just a perfect match.
What a good find! It looks great on you!
Thanks everyone :) Bravissimo now sells the Zadie bra http://bra.pe/MICI/ which is more fancy than Dina. From the looks of it, it looks kinda shallow and not roomy on top. Also I don't like the extra straps. Dina is fot friendly and looks classy.
Nova Lounge bra is a new wireless bra from Bravissimo. The bra band is rather stretchy and feels a bit big- but it stays in place with wear - if I only wear the bra for sleeping. The cups are made of a stretchy fabric that is lined with a very soft - cotton - like lining. There is no padding. What I like about the construction is that the cut of the cups in a triangle way helps to seperate the boobs as opposed to other sleep / lounge bras (like 32JJ-K - Bravissimo » Padded Sleep Bra (NW265) who fit like a crop top ...that just gives giant mono boob.
Now on to the issues: I mentioned the band being quite stretchy. It does not feel very supportive. I also find the cups lacking side support. maybe they could have added a thicker fabric there to support in larger sizes? Also since there are no wires in the cups, the band should do lots of work to carry my boobs but it doesn't. All weight is on the straps.
The shoulder straps have one major design flaw which is that the strap adjustor is on top of the shoulders instead of in the back --- which means the plastic piece is digging into my shoulders. It's not very comfortable for me to wear the bra for anything other than sleeping. It is not build to really support a heavy bust like mine- there is too much breast weight on the straps and not enough support from band and cups. In my size range I only recommend it for sleeping as there won't be as much weight on straps. I still get red marks in the morning from them but it isn't unbearable. I also like how the bra contains and seperates my boobs at night.
It looks on my pics like I get cleavage in this bra - which eventually happens when worn for a while my boobs naturally will go to the center and touch. But they can be arranged in the bra cups so they don't touch at the center which is a huge plus compared to other sleep bras. Read more 257 more words
I really wanted to try this but they were sold out on my size. With a stretch band do you think sister sizing down in the band would help?
confused no I wouldn't - unless your are between sizes then maybe. The band is very stretchy yes, it stretches far more than the average 32 band, but the bra has no wires which would prevent also the cups from stretching when I take stretch band measurement. When I wear it, the band doesn't feel so big anymore... I also think it's intended to be more stretchy for comfortable lounging and sleeping. For me it rides up a bit since my boobs are so heavy they push the bra down in front ...
Good to know! I'm mostly looking for something that keeps me from sweating like crazy from touching skin in the underboon fold but everything I've tried cuts into my soft tissue very badly or gives me uniboob then I just get between boob sweat really bad lol
Very difficult to find a good sleep bra with a good amount of separation AND no underwire. Side support, for me, is also important. :\
Got this in the grey color in a 34JJ. I definitely wish I had got it in 34K because just like all other bravissimo bras, I have to size up in the cup. The band is TTS.
It's decently comfortable but it's very squishy on the chest, like a compression sports bra. Very minimizing from the side. I can wear it for a few hours before it becomes too much squishing but it's fine personally because I never planned on wearing it for full days.
The quality isn't amazing, several times I've put it on and I can hear seams almost ripping, not sure where but it certainly doesn't ...sound good. The rouching (?) in the front shows under tops aswell which is pretty annoying, if you plan on wearing it outside I'd not recommend that.
It's quite low on the sides, so it won't rub in the armpit areas. The band curls but I've not really been bothered. The straps are not fully adjustable, they go up to the top of your shoulders and then become a padded strap the rest of the way.
Definitely perfectly fine for a home bra, not sure if it was worth £34+shipping but it serves it's purpose. Read more 93 more words
I also find it very expensive for just a "sleep bra". Also weird of how low cut it was on the sides. I tried 32JJ-K - Bravissimo » Padded Sleep Bra (NW265) the bra was cut very odd and insanely tall. Also felt constricting. Looks like they made the unpadded bra more lower cut. Probably the better option since it's only 1 cup size instead of dial sized.
Good old Alana. A bra that has been around for years. It is just very reliabale and supportive.
I had a few of these bras over the years. The fit has always been tricky as the Alana is a bra that is not made for full on top boobs. It's top section is very tight and the cups are not very tall. I used to size up 2 cup sizes to get a decent fit.
My shape: projected, narrow roots, center heavy, full on top, tall roots
Since I last had one of These (34L) I lost some weight I decided to try it again. I really love this ...lilac color with the light yellow, such a lovely color combination and very unique. I knew I had to have it. It makes me happy just looking at it.
When I received this bra 2 months ago, it fitted quite well. At that time I was around 32HH in other bras so I decided to give Alana a try in 32J. It did cut in just a little bit but it was barely visible so I do not count it as quadboob. I just thought that is the bra being not made for my shape. Everything else fits just fine. The bra is also really supportive despite not having any extra lining in the cups. You get what you see on the promo pictures in all sizes up to L-cup!
I am a solid 32J now and since Alana runs small I need 32JJ. I'm so sad this does not fit me anymore, it is one of my favorites just from the look and color combination. I will keep it around for size fluctuations which happen to me all the time. Also I might loose some of my extra winter weight and then it will fit again.
This bra is the new cut of Alana. It fits the same like the old cut, see here http://bra.pe/X1lC/ but the shoulder straps are a different material and it does not have this scalloped thread thing at the band anymore. Read more 237 more words
That is a really really pretty bra!! Maybe I should try it. I'm projected, center full, narrow roots, but I think my vertical roots are on the short side, so even though I'm even for FOT/FOB when I check, I often have trouble filling out higher cut bras....
confused Alana is a good one to start with Bravissimo. It's one of their staples and has been around for years. They do recommend sizing up even on the website. So it runs small and the cup is more closed on top / shorter. I think it could work for you.
I've got a Gorsenia coming from Amazon that I think is gonna be just about perfect (fingers crossed!). But Alana may be my next try!
Oh my. I freaked out for nothing. My Pms boobs were extreme this time and now they gone back to normal the bra fits again (with minor cutting in). I labeled the "too small" pics now as pms boob pics.
Wow that is so pretty!!!
Yeah the bra is just too small for me now :( Will try a 32JJ next.
The Lacey is a 3 part cup construction, Bravissimo calls it a full-cup. What is new and special about this bra is that it features centered straps! Bravissimo claims that they solved the problem of straps slipping off your shoulder. Since I have rather narrow shoulders for my size and some bra straps are just too wide-set for me, I was very curious about this bra.
The cups on this bra are very tall, the wires are rather narrow for the size range. The cups are lined with a nude fabric under a pretty red lace fabric. The lace on top of the cups is stretchy, but the nude lining is not stretchy. The bra gives a really nice round shape, I found that it even "minimizes" a bit, look at my angle pics. I don't have the issue that the straps cut off my arms which is certainly an improvement. The cups were slightly too tall for me and the band was a bit too big. I will try this bra in a smaller size.
Ooh narrow wires and centered straps? I should probably try this some time in the future
The pattern on this one is nice. I hope the smaller size works out for you.
It looks a bit wide on my pics but I think that is because the cups are too big for me on this one.
Hopefully that's the case and the smaller size works out. Are you going through the return/exchange process for this one?
Yes they received my return of that big parcel full of bras. I'm still on the fence with this one. It's quite pricey at full price. Also I really need a nude bra for summer, not a red one (although at the moment I need just any bra that fits).
Hey you know they say red is the new nude bra!
I still need a red bra that fits to try this, brasaremean. Soon(TM)
Hm but the lace will show under a t-shirt...
Everybody knows you are wearing a bra though.
Yes true. Also nude bras still have seams that show.
Just try it under a white shirt and see how badly it shows
Sovavosi i couldn't for the life of me find a good red bra :(
I wish they had Panache Andorra in my size, I liked that bra and it came in a lot of basic colours. :|
Is andorra a good bra? Because I wanted to try it but I was scared of Panache wires and the fact it prolly won't have 3 hooks in the back
I returned the bra already. But I can try it with a red Tango tomorrow.
I really liked it when I was first starting out and wore a 32G. It fit my shape pretty well. The band felt tight to me though. Hard wires don't bug me that much unless they are trying to punch through my sternum (Jasmine).
Sovavosi Oh I liked the Panache Andorra back in the day, and I was very sad when I grew out of it.
I think it is a good bra. the straps are rather thin like on a CK Victory. It felt more supportive than Jasmine, but the cups are more shallow and it runs a bit small. (So now I'm around 32J/JJ I would probably need a 32K in this bra, if it's still like it was back in 2012)
brasaremean Andorra is on clearance on eBay for 14.95£ from Belle Lingerie. I admit I was tempted for 1 second to order a 32J, but I need to focus on bras that will more likely fit me than on bra experiments because something is cheap and I'm curious.
Not in my size :( I need a 30GG per measurements. Cheapest I've found anywhere is 30GBP with shipping
brasaremean Keep a saved search on the size, so you get notified when a new colorway goes on sale.
I got this bra in a giveaway/exchange here on Bratabase. Previously I tried a size 34K which was too big. For more information about this bra in general, see my review of the 34K - Bravissimo » Melrose Bra (SB25). I took the chance to try this in 34JJ which I assume would be my Bravissimo size for all bras that have a band that runs very tts or small.
The 34JJ fits better than the 34K, so there is that. I find the band very stretchy and it almost feels like it rides up. It does not really but I'd prefer a tighter band. The cups ...are a typical old school full cup shape which gives natural and not very uplifted look. The wires are too wide for me, like always. There is some wrinkling on bottom towards the sides of the cups and where the cup is empty. The cups are very tall. I can fit all my breast tissue inside of the cups, but the top section of the cups is pushing my boobs down.
Today I wore the bra for a full day while doing some housework, I can say that I did not get any pain from it, so that is a good thing. It looked okay under clothing. I felt like I had to pull the band down a few times. It did not ride up much, probably not more than 1 cm. Also the bra got less supportive over the day, at the end of the day I was glad to take it off, it looked even more sad than in the morning when I took the pictures, almost downward pointy. I felt like my boobs pushed down the bra at the front.
I think I could try a 32K or 32JJ even but I don't think I will bother. I don't like the shape it gives me and I think as soon as the cups are not on the bigger side anymore that top section would push my boobs down even more and there would be overspill. Read more 238 more words
This bra reminds me a lot of Fantasie Alex, down to the shape it gives.
I have also encountered bra looking great when I first put it on, and then slooowly drooping until it looks more like downwards pointy than anything else. Haven't figured out why it happens yet...
Yep I agree the design of this bra is not ideal for your shape--the apex is lower than your own (even though the cup still has a tiny bit of extra room) and the upper cup portion is much flatter than you'd need. I am starting to think you also would benefit from wearing a 32 in most Bravissimos honestly, even if it requires some breaking in. And I'm FAR from a firm-band militant type as you know--I just think this seems like enough of a pattern for you to have some loss of support with 34s that sizing down would make sense. brasaremean yes I have that problem with almost all Panache bras, and many of the Fantasie balconnet/full cup styles. For me it is caused by the cup apex being too low compared to my own and the straps being too far apart (so I have to angle them in so much that it exacerbates the apex misalignment).
It happens a lot with my Ewa Michalak bras, wendybien :( pretty discouraging.
brasaremean oh dear, what type? The BMs or a different style?
The BMs. It feels like I should tighten the straps, but when I do, it's uncomfortable. Ah well...
brasaremean blah, that's annoying... If it's a recent issue, has your size or shape changed at all lately, do you think? Or maybe just how these bras are "aging" or changing with wear? Or have they always done it.
I have worn the bra for another day and I felt that I could already close it on tightest setting to get proper support from the band. The band on 34K felt firmer but that bra was nwt and this one is used. I think I'm in between 32 and 34 band now.
wendybien I also think now that is why I have such problems with Panache bras, Tango is a full cup style too, like Melrose but rather than it is downwards pointy it's east west... I give up on Panache officially now, Panache Tango 30K tried to kill me today. I wanted to be a good bra wearer and not not wear the same bra in a row (Bravissimo Luxe Heart) but that 30 band... it hurt me in a weird way. I thought I have enough squishy fat so I would not get hurt by a band?! (Usually wires or straps attack me and give me pain) So no 30 bands for me. If the cup volume is not too big making a band feel bigger, then 32 bands should be fitting me. I don't know why I insist on wearing 34 bands in Bravissimo... they run tight and tts in most bras but before my weight loss I wore 34L, I used to break in my bands with the extender for the first few weeks. I lost about 8cm on my underbust, so why I would wear the same band?
The Luxe Heart is an older style that has been discontinued long ago and I got this bra in an exchange from another user here on Bratabase. It is based on the same balconette cut like Bravissimo Alana. In the Alana and it's related models I always had to size up at least 1-2 cup sizes compared to my UK size at a time. It also has not so much room in the upper cup. The upper part of the bra has additional lining in black so it looks nothing like the stock photo in large cups. (Meh It's always the same...)
The bra is definetly one of ...the most wearable bras I got lately. The cups have no gaping on top and almost no wrinkling on bottom. I say that cup depth here is right for me. The wires are a bit too wide for me like on all UK brands. What is interesting is that the wires are lower on the sides in this bra than for example in the same size on my 34K - Bravissimo » Georgia Bra (LN563). Also the cup on the Georgia bra is much taller than on Luxe Heart. Georgia is listed as full cup and Luxe Heart / Alana etc. are balconnetes. Since the cups are less tall and the wings are lower I don't get the cutting into the arms effect as much on this bra. I still think the straps are a bit too separate on this but it's not such a big issue. The shape under a top is very nice rounded from the side and not too east-west from the front. (far better than Panache Tango!)
I wore the bra for a full day and felt good in it. Then on the next day I wanted to wear it again (note that I have barely any bra that fits properly at the moment) and it felt less supportive and I felt that I need a tighter band. So I forced myself to wear Melrose and Tango in between since I know you should not wear your bra 2 days in a row. When I wore it again, I had to close it on the second set of hooks already to get enough support from the band. I felt pressure on the straps (red marks) and that it got less supportive over the day. It's not too bad by any means, but also not really good. I'm still glad I own this bra and it is wearable until I have some better bras. Read more 318 more words
So glad that you found something that you can wear :)
It’s really pretty!
Glad you have something you can wear. Too bad about the band, but it looks great on you! And very pretty...
oh this one really does look promising! Maybe in a 32 would be even better.
wendybien Yes it does :) At least it is wearable until I have something better. The style is discontinued so I cannot get another size in this but I have a huge order of Bravissimo bras in several styles and sizes on it's way to me. I also put some 32Ks in there and only ordered 34JJ if there were complaints about awfully tight bands in the reviews. :) I also now think I should go for 32 bands and break them in with an extender if necessary.
The band started to ride up and I had some gaping of the cups on the end of the day. Also neck pain… :( looks like I'd be better in 32K for sure...
Yep, I think so. Don't forget also that in a 32 AND better-dimensioned cup you will not need to tighten strap as much so the band will sit lower, where you are smaller, and even if it's a bit tight it will tend to creep down instead of up.
So maximum cup depth was measured by stretching the cup over the knee. This was recorded at 14 inches, and this is what I had entered in the measurement table. The minimum cup depth was measured by hovering the cup between the knees and hanging the tape measure. This was recorded at 12 inches. It does have the typical wide wires of UK brands, but I find it doesn't poke my back like my Panache Jasmine.
A side note: The measurements probably explain why the cup didn't fit as I think I'd probably need a depth at around 15 ...inches (or greater). I used to think that, maybe it was because of the elastic under the lace portion that caused the quadding (although this could have also contributed) but looking at these measurements, I guess I know why.. That being said, this is a lovely looking bra (just not my fit). It's also pretty firm for a 30 (it stretches to 29 inches - bad for a 30 back, good for 28's that need to sister size) Read more 78 more words
Yay for data!! It's a beautiful bra, sorry it didn't fit.
Yeah, I've been meaning to add the measurements for the bra for a while now, just couldn't get around to it...But data is great and it helps a lot when deciding what bra to try.
It is definitely a beautiful bra, thanks. I still wear it around the house, so I'm making use of it, lol..it's too pretty not to wear XD
Indeed!!
Thank you for adding this data, it is very helpful.
No problem :) I know how much measurements are needed when trying to make a decision.
This bra is the first I've had from Bravissimo. The overall quality and feel of this bra is good, it feels sturdy and it has good seams.
It's really cute. The black background color is shiny in the cup fabric, but the small flowers and the flowery lave in the top part of the cup are really charming. The ruffles along the edges are also a nice touch. I really like the patterns in the flowery lace, and it's a shame that this doesn't fit because the design is quite nice.
The lace in the top part of the cup is not stretchy. And that is possibly an issue for me, as stiff lace gives the cup a more closed shape and since I'm fairly vertically even. The cup fabric is stiff, like I'd expect, but that doesn't leave much room for the breast if it's a little too big for the cup.
This is my first underwire bra that I've bought since being properly fitted. Based upon my measurements, I should be a 40KK in Bravissimo sizing, but after reading reviews on it that it runs a bit small, i decided to size up to the L cup. Great thing i did! This bra is very supportive and very sturdy. I've been able to wear it all day and not worry about unnecessary jiggle or having to readjust my breasts in the cups. The only issue i've had with this bra is that when i wear it on the loosest row of hooks, its still a little too loose, and straps end up digging into my shoulders.Luckily on the tightest setting, the band is tight enough... i dont need my straps trying to support the weight of my boobs lol. Other than that, this is a great bra!
In the 30K you will get rid of that quadraboob but I think it will still look great on you. From my personal experience most Bravissimo bras (at least the balconnettes modelled after the Alana) are constructed for full on bottom breasts. Also they do generally not allow too much volume on top and tend to flatten my full-on- top breasts (see my 30K Linear Rose disaster) and are if I don't size up 2-3 cup sizes an epic fail on me.
The shoulder straps dig into your arms because they are too far apart - I have that issue too - it gets better the more you wear the bra & wash it. I don't even get red marks anymore.