I got this bra for a good price on eBay. It is a full - cup bra and has the same cut as my 34KK - Bravissimo » Darcy Bra (LN260) bra. The material is a soft silky fabric that is at the same time looking sturdy. Much better fabric than on 34K - Bravissimo » Georgia Bra (LN563) The top of the cups features stretchy lace but they are lined. The lace does not stretch much but feels very supportive because of the lining. I love the light pink color. The band is very firm and does not stretch too much. ...Ideally I would wear a 34 band in this bra.
The support and uplift is superb. The bra gives a very center front shape with lots of forward projection, also a round shape from the side. The shoulder straps are not too narrow and fully adjustable and don't slip. The cups are rather tall and deep, there is lots of room at the bottom and top of the cups. I think this bra is better for full on top shape, if you are more full on bottom you probably have to size down.
Issues I had:
The band feels a bit too tight. The cups come up too high under my arms and I cannot fill the top section. If I adjust the shoulder straps very short to get rid of wrinkling in the cups. I feel like they don't need to be that tight and that it makes the underarm issues worse. I don't think it is such a bad fit, but I think I need to size down in cups to get better support and less tall cups. I'd love to try this in 34JJ.
Edit: I decided to keep this bra because it's really close to a good fit. I thought it would work well on bigger boob days and it does. Fits perfectly on my pms boobs, I got rid of almost all wrinkling. Also I don't find the band too big anymore, I wear it now without the extender. With the extender I even felt like the band rode up a bit. The shape is amazing, boobs inside the contour of my body, I look like I'm 1 clothing size smaller in this. Read more 276 more words
Thank you for this informative review. This bra looks supportive and comfy.
ooh here's to hoping you'll be able to try this in a 34JJ. It looks like it would be very supportive.
I decided to Keep this bra because it's the closest to a good fit I currently have besides Panache Tango. I thought it would work well on bigger boob days and it does. Fits perfectly on my pms boobs, I got rid of almost all wrinkling. Also I don't find the band too big anymore, I wear it now without the extender. With the extender I even felt like the band rode up a bit. The shape is amazing, boobs inside the contour of my body, I look like I'm 1 clothing size smaller in this.
I too have the Erin and can relate to your issues. I have a substantial amount of wrinkling at the seam in the under cup so I am glad to see that you don't have that problem. I noticed after about my 8th wear or approximately 2 months, the eyes have begun to pull themselves out and although this would not be the first time, I have never had this problem this early with any Bravissimo bras. I hope you don't experience this.
l454d Actually I just noticed that 2 of my hooks on this Erin bra already start to pull themselves out! I have this bra since a 2 weeks! I wore it 4-5 days in a row since I have no other bra that fit me well currently but that should not happen that fast. Also my 34KK - Bravissimo » Darcy Bra (LN260) already has hooks pulled out and I only worn the bra for 3 months. My old 34L - Bravissimo » English Rose (LN357) which I have worn so often for over a year never did that! Ugh quality is declining on Bravissimo it's just sad.
alisa I have had mine since Sep 2017 and although it is one of my more comfortable bras I seldom wear it because of this problem and the excessive wrinkling in the cup that I get . I just realized that some minor stitching on the eyelets to strengthen them might fix this. I will try the repairs for a few days and report back on whether this helps or not.
l454d I took a picture of the issues, does it look like this on your bra too? http://bra.pe/Imro/ also I took another pic of my cup wrinkling, is it that kind of wrinkling on Bottom you get with your Erin bra? http://bra.pe/Imrn/
alisa looking at your new pictures, have you ever worn your bras hooked unevenly, or with an extender hooked unevenly? It looks like the bottom of the band is too short and the top is too long and I wonder if the hooks wouldn’t pull so much if the tension was more even. This band is definitely for a very V shaped torso.
Hi alisa, yes to both the hooks and the wrinkling although my wrinkling seems worse. I get the wrinkling on my Erin only while my LN511 Maisie, LN521 Alice and LN436 Selina, which I believe are from the same cut, don't wrinkle. The wrinkling is not visible under clothing but still... I uploaded a photo of my Erin to my entry for this bra and you can see how the middle row are pulling out.
cupandahalf you are onto to something here! I have not thought about this myself yet. Today when I came home, my Tango 30K already felt unsupportive again and I wanted to get out of it and at the same time wear a bra with a tighter band for more support. I quickly (or not so quickly it is a bit tricky to do) tried what you wrote here about the hooks. The bra felt more supportive when the upper hook was on the tightest position and the lowest on the loosest. I will also try this with the Erin bra and an extender.
l454d do you have the issue with the hooks on the other Bravissimo bras too or only on Erin? I had a Selina bra but there wasn't much wrinkling on Bottom http://bra.pe/IdYd/. But Selina has a different fabric. Also when I was at a 34L I had less issues with bras in general than I have now.
alisa have you observed what the band does (no extender) when you loosen the straps a LOT (like at least 5cm)? I imagine the upper cups may become loose again but I just am curious about how the band will behave.
wendybien I did not try that yet, I loosened the straps a bit so they don't cut in as badly but not very much. I will try this tomorrow and take some pictures in the daylight. Should I try it when wearing the extender or no extender or both?
alisa if you've noticed that it's now too loose with the extender, don't bother with that. I just want to see if it still rides up or not when the straps are much looser. And how the sides of the cup/wing look.
wendybien I'm not sure if the band was really too loose or if too big cups made it feel loose :S The 32 band on this bra is on the smaller side compared to other bras.
alisa, I do not have problems with my Maisie or Alice but I get the feeling the Selina is close to becoming a problem. I have purchased well over a dozen Alana's in the past 5 years alone and while not perfect, I cannot complain about them, especially at their price. You appear to be going down the Ewa Michalak path and I hope you have good luck with them but they are too expensive for me.
wendybien here is how the bra fits with the loose straps: http://bra.pe/Ims6/ more wrinkling, more gaping in the cups and less support and no uplift, boobs just lie in the bra.
Yes, I see, so the band looks like it's not riding up when straps are loose. However it does indicate the cup is actually too big, as can be seen by the fact that the cup suddenly appears SUPER loose on you when you aren't artificially reducing/adjusting by tightening the straps. So I think you are right that your optimal cup volume would be at least 1 cup down in this bra. You could do 34JJ or 32K depending on preference I would think.
l454d I also had many Alana's in the past. It's a decent bra but I don't like the fabric very much and the shape is not the best for me. I still hope I can find a few Bravissimo bras that fit okay, because I also find EM a bit too expensive even more if in the FB size range.
wendybien Thank you, so I have to size down in cups in this bra or in another Bravissimo bra.
Yes, I would suggest that. This one does look like great proportions for you--so if you can, maybe try to stick with this?
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.
Darcy bra cut was one of my fave from Bravissimo. In the + K cup range it's one of the best and most supportive bras. But also there aren't that many in that range.
my shape: narrow - medium wide tall root, full on top, center heavy and projected.
Darcy in + K cups has extra lining in bottom and top cup, which makes the bra extra sturdy and hard working. The material is nice woven fabric that feels soft. I really like it as it reminds me of Elomi & Sculptresse luxuorious fabrics. Also kinda like the print, it has grown on me, it's very spring like.
Now to ...the bra, the band runs really tight on this one. It feels like a 30L! I have to wear an extender for comfort on this bra. The wires are a U-shape and medium wide and quite tall. The cups are tall and slightly shallow. The bra keeps your boobs close to chest. I struggle a bit with projection at the wire, I have slight wrinking there. It's not very bad so I think it's okay to ignore it. The gore tacks and I can fill the cups well, size is correct. I just find the fabric comes very high under my arms. At first I found it uncomfortable but I have worn the bra for 1 hour and it was okay. It's a very supportive full cup bra, it's in the name, full coverage... no breast tissue can escape. I like bras like this as everyday bras that keep me secure and supported all day. If it were possible I'd exchange this bra for 34 band - but it was one of the last sizes on the sale section, so I probably gonna kept this one and wear it with extender. Read more 190 more words
I'm glad you found it to feel okay after the 1 hour wear test! Hopefully it stays that way :)
I think the fabric is really cute!
Maybe at this rate you'll end up wanting the 34KK Darcy back haha :)
alidieux It is actually quite pretty compared to more recent prints. I tried it on again and notice slight gaping on my smaller boob. Pls don't jinx it I don't wanna grow more. It's enough that my PMS boobs need 32KK cups. :S
Hooray! Hooray for COMFORTABLY fully enclosed breast tissue! On sale no less! Fingers crossed the comfort stays!
I had to return this bra. It came up too high under my arms and was uncomfortable after wearing it 30min for trials. :( Also there was almost no stretch in the band.
I grabbed this Alana bra in the sale section. I love the lilac / light yellow color combination as it is so unique. Apart from that I like the Alana as a staple but it's not the best bra for my shape and I struggled very hard to make it work in the past.
my shape: narrow - medium wide tall root, full on top, center heavy and projected.
The Alana bra is very closed on top and the fabric has no give, so if you are full on top size up. I did in this bra as I usually wear 32JJ/K. The 32KK fits me quite well, band feels ...snug enough but not too tight. The cups fit well and there is no cutting in on top for once! Yay!
The wires on this size are very wide and they have a more V shape than U shape. I prefer the U shape --- V shape wires go just very far back. The bra feels still supportive though. The cups have decent projection and I don't get a too pointy shape. The fabric comes very high under my arms, I first found it uncomfortable but it's a matter of getting used, the wires don't stab me but they shouldn't be any taller or they would. The straps are as always on balconette styles very seperated and I'd like them to me more centered as they are right in my armpits. I gave the bra 1 hour trial at home. I think it's okay and the size is correct and it does it's job. Read more 153 more words
Oh no, I say it runs bit small but E-cup would probably be too large for you :(
Woohoo- look at you! Two wins in one order! My goodness -the day I find a truly comfortable *and* sexy/flattering bra I'm popping the cork on a good bottle of bubbly!
I give up on Alana. Tried it on again and swooped and scooped to make final decision to keep it and what happened??? Suddenly there was overspill and the top edge cut in. I'm so sick of this. I think Alana will just cut in on any tall & full on top shape unless you size up infinitely but I don't wanna try the 32L as I already find this one is too wide at the wire and almost too high under my arms.
aw that sucks. Based on this I think you should try the Annie since it's also balconette but will have narrower wires than Alana. And it's cute! :D
I hate that this top edge cuts in... I wonder what happens if I size up to L would that also cut in or I finally see some gaping.
This bra is quite pretty, I really like the patterns on the upper, mesh portion of the cup, and the color (Iris) is a lovely purple. The straps are really nice, substantial material (not too thick, just enough that they feel sturdy), soft to the touch, good amount of stretch. It has pretty bows in the middle and on the sides of the cups. The bra feels light and comfortable to wear, and is probably a great bra for someone who fits the shape well.
The cups are three-section, with a small inner section, and large outer section and an upper mesh section.The straps attach to the outer section. ...The main parts are a two layer mesh material, the upper section is one layer of sheer mesh with embroidered patterns on it. The band is a single layer of mesh with a strip of the same material as the straps along the inner edge (continuing down from the strap attachment to the hooks).
The cups are relatively wide, but narrower than comparable size Goddess/Elomi bras. The cups are fairly shallow at the bottom and reach full depth fairly slowly. (This was a big problem for me, I need the cups to be full depth, or close to it, almost immediately.) There is very thin edging, but no real amount of band below the cups. I found the straps to be much too wide-set, probably owing to them being placed in the same position as any smaller size but with a cup this big, it winds up with the straps very, very far apart, so they were basically in my armpits.
The bra fit over my boobs nicely when leaning over (and actually looks pretty good before I "scoop" ) but once I stood up and fastened it (and scooped), they didn't get along so well. The combination of the wires being a little too narrow for me and the bottom bit of cup too shallow meant that I couldn't get the wires to align properly with the base of my boobs (the wires sat too low on my torso, with an empty space under my boobs). The top of the cup would have been great if the straps were attached at a different angle/further in. (Basically if I held the cup an inch or two in from the strap attachment and pulled up a little, the top of the cup looked great.)
This bra helped me figure out pretty conclusively that a balcony/3-section cup is unlikely ever to fit me properly (a "full coverage"/4-section cup handles the cup depth at bottom and strap attachment angle problems better), and that I really do need extremely wide wires.
ETA: I wanted to mention that I did *not* find that I needed a bigger cup size in this bra, compared with the Oriental Bloom, as some have reported. My soft breasts and I do not have a problem with the tightness/enclosedness of the top of the cup.
(Note: I tried this bra on with an extender, as I intentionally ordered it on the tight side and I didn't want to damage the band or hooks trying it on. My report of "how it fits" as far as the tightness of the band is based on how it would be if I didn't have the extender.) Read more 441 more words
I really thought this bra was "it" but once I wore it for a day I noticed wrinkling UNDER the cup and my boobs did indeed bulge over the top. I love it and only wish I had gotten the right size. As it is, I will still be wearing it.
I gues I should take some more time to tell you all about the bra: It is pretty comfortable and while I am usually highly allergic to any shape that is not completely rounded, this shape is naturally minimizing, more natural but not pointy at all. I love the shape. It is absolutely great material, too, besides being very pretty- I can tug at it and it retains its shape.
Oh, this bra is gorgeous! I really hoped this would work, as I love the look of it, alas it was not meant to be. Apparently this style is now discontinued, but some sizes are left (and my 32K and 32KK will presumably be available to someone else once they get my return package!) and maybe someone will be looking at one on ebay or something in the future, so I will go ahead and put a review anyhow. There's a lot of compare/contrast with the Alana in this review, it's just the way it made the most sense to me, and since the Alana is Bravissimo's staple large-cup ...bra, hopefully this will make sense to others as well.
Really beautiful bra! The cups are navy blue mesh with two-tone pink embroidered flowers. There is a pretty bow with a little crystal on the center gore and small ribbon bows at the straps. The straps are, if possible, even nicer than the Alana's: nice, thick/soft, silky material, good balance among support/comfort/stretch/looks. I love how the embroidery continues out the top of the cups, and how it makes the top edge look against my boobs.
Like the Alana, the cups are three-section, with a small inner section, and large outer section and an upper lighter mesh section. (I wish these cup shapes had names I could use to refer to them! There's more than one way to do 3-section, so I'm trying to be specific here.) The straps attach to the outer section. The band is a single layer of mesh with a strip of the same material as the straps along the inner edge (continuing down from the strap attachment to the hooks). The band could be a little stronger, it seems a touch light for the work it needs to do.
The cups are relatively wide, shallow at the bottom and they are more open on the top than the Alana, which gives a distinct "enclosed" feeling to the top of the breast. This one doesn't do that so much. The center gore on this bra is one of the narrowest I've seen. (Great for close-set breasts!) The straps were definitely too far apart for me, digging into my armpits, although not quite as badly as the Alana.
I had similar fit issues as with the Alana as far as the cup width, the shallowness at the bottom of the cup, and the strap attachment angle, although these problems were slightly less on this bra. Still not right for me. Note, by the way, that the size that fit the best was the same for these two bras, unlike some who seem to find they need a cup bigger in the Alana due to the tightness of the top of the cup.
(Note: I tried this bra on with an extender, as I intentionally ordered it on the tight side and I didn't want to damage the band or hooks trying it on. My report of "how it fits" as far as the tightness of the band is based on how it would be if I didn't have the extender.) Read more 410 more words
Straps have a glittery fabric which irritates the skin quite a bit. Little too close-set for me, but otherwise fits very comfortably. Band is comfortable as well for someone in between a 32 and 34 band.
It is impossible for me to find a bra that lies flat against my sternum but this is as close as it gets. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> I am very pleased
Thank you for this informative review. This bra looks supportive and comfy.