Pretty As A Pin Up was not destined to be a success for me. The wide spread perception that Bravissimo cups tend to run small rings true for me. This, and all my other 40K bras are simply too small even for my small side. Excessive quadding, which is something I simply accepted before I discovered Bravissimo, was now not good enough. The pattern was also bolder and darker than I expected and therefore more visible under clothing.
It's annoying that so many Bravissimo styles run small in cups. Also many of these older bras had really tight top section making them fit even smaller especially on fot shapes. I used to size 2 cup sizes up in Bravissimo compared to other UK brands - which makes their awesome L-cup actually only K-cups :S
I had that thought in mind when I bought a 38K Jasmine a few years ago. Compared to my 38K Alana's, the un-stretched Jasmine had 1.75 inches less depth, the cup width was 1 inch narrower and the cups were almost 2 inches shorter! The straps did not adjust long enough either although with wear it might have stretched to the right length. On the other hand, I had 3 Panache Melody's which were larger than my 40L Alana's in every way.
correction, I should have said "my 38L Alana's".
Ah so it makes more sense now with the 38L. :) I have 32K Alana here which is a bit small on me - it has similar volume to 32J Fantasie full cup! If I lay them over each other they are the same bra. The Fantasie has slight stretch so it's easier to fit.
Arla, Dina and Lacey run a bit larger though. Dina came up to L cup did you ever try it? It's an amazing bra. I wished I discovered it before it was discontinued so I could stock up.
No, I never did try the Dina. It came out at a time when I tended to wait for bras to go on sale but by that time my sizes would be sold out. I'm going to ask Bravissimo to consider re-stocking their products at least once to allow for those of us who miss out on a popular colorway. I'm hoping Bravissimo's next Dina comes in a mint.
Which Fantasie bra were you comparing your Alana to? I wish there were more reviews of older style Fantasie bras as I have this impression the cups were larger, with more depth than you would expect. For years, I have considered the Fantasie Belle 6001 but the measurements I see in Bratabase really confuse me. For the 38JJ, there are 5 entries but only 2 measurements, the un-stretched band data are 37.4 & 38.0 inches and the stretched data is 43.3 and 44.0... for 38JJ!!! And the cup depth, 18.1 and 17.0!!! Aren't UK JJ cups supposed to be for a 14 inch cup depth? So confusing..
alanagirl it was Fantasie Illusion Side Support Bra (FL2982) - I have it in 32J (will have to add it) - it has slight stretch in upper cup. Measurements here are sometimes so weird. I also have seen bras have 3-4 inch difference in some measurements compared to others. I think measuring instructions are clear? I assume some don't stretch the cups over knees while others do? Also if you don't want to keep a bra you measure a bit more carefully and don't stretch the band too much?
alanagirl , I have also been trying to figure out Fantasie Belle Full Cup Bra (6001) masurements! alisa it is just all of us amateurs making measurements that leads to “unusual” such large differences in a given measurement like cup depth. That is why the measurement tables also tabulate averages
Of course measurements can never be 100% as we are all human. Some measure the whole wire channel other only the actual wire. Also inches rounded up or down or translated to cm.
alisa I'd love to talk a bit about how to properly measure the bras because I usually feel like I do it wrong, I've remeasured a few times for my bras on different days because I felt like it was wrong the first time lol. Mostly cup depth and height, and I pop them over my knee but my knee isn't big enough for the bra haha.
dfe98we It could also be the way Bratabase "populates" some of the data. I am not a fan of seeing measurements with no bra entries so I try to ignore those. alidieux I choose to measure cup depth and height wrong!! I prefer to measure depth and height with boob in cup. I know some will argue this is wrong but I am more comfortable with boob size changes verses variation in tension when using the over knee method. For example, I was trying to convince alisa that both depth and height has changed on some of my Alana's. Last night, I measured 4 of my 40L and one of my 38L Alana's and the depth on all were larger by 1-1.5 inches with the height being about 1 inch bigger compared to when I first measured them. I am not so sure I would have been able to quantify this with the over knee method.
That's a good idea to measure when wearing the bra! makes it easier. In the past I used to stuff the bra with fabric to fill it to measure but that takes just too much time. I put my knee at the deepest part of cup and let stretch it just a bit so there is no wrinkles - then I measure and sometimes add 1 cm if I think it would be more but my knee can't fill it. https://imgur.com/a/W6B2IPr here how I try to do it.
I think this method makes total sense for those of us who are fuller busted. Plus, the Bratabase measuring instructions acknowledges this in bra measurement as an acceptable alternative to the over knee technique. I did not measure this when I first entered my bra data but I measured 4 inches of floating gore on all of the 40Ls and 4.5 on the 38L. I like to combine both cup depth and floating gore length to determine what my actual cup depth is. I added a comparison of my original measurements to this recent data to my review of one my bras. https://www.bratabase.com/bra/dn54w/
I am starting to wonder if initial measurements are not as important as long term measurements. We all agree that bra bands will stretch out. I think some bra cups can also stretch out, which is not a good thing in theory but if you know this will happen and when it does happen, the cup continues to be just as or even more comfortable, then isn't this a more relevant measure?
I'm gonna measure mine wearing them to see if it's a big difference.
Have to measure my Fantasie Illusion that I showed on pic, if I get the same measurement when wearing it. I also have 38cm breast perimeter and bra is 38cm in depth (measured over knee bit stretched ) so assume it should match. Will update.
Added another re-measurement, this one is my most recent Alana purchased, the Lilac-Lemon. I think I see a trend here, at least for Bravissimo's Alana.
I meaured my 32J - Fantasie » Illusion Side Support Bra (FL2982) wearing it and it was similar to cup depth I measured over the knew. Difference might be 0,5 cm depends on how I stretch the bra a bit more over the knee.
The stretched band length is almost 4 inches longer than the bra size. Does that surprise you or is that your experience with bras from Fantasie?
No it didn't surprise me since only Bravissimo bras are usually "tts" in band - most other brands bands stretch much further than they should. For example Panache... I can fit easily into 30K Tango but struggle to close 32JJ Bravissimo Arla.
Now that I think about it, I should not have been surprised as well. BB (before bravissimo), I never had confidence in a brands offering being tts. After discovering Bravissimo, I tried a number of 38K Panache but my experience seems to have been the opposite of yours. I wore these 38Ks with an extender but I was not happy with any of them, mostly due to the cups being narrow with insufficient depth. In fact, the 42J Tango I had was better fit and comfort wise compared to 38Ks but the band was ultimately too loose for me.
Maybe my Tango just has too big cups for me? So I was able to wear a smaller band? I rather have Bravissimo wires and fit - Panache wires while being sturdy and supportive, were almost too hard and hurt me a lot. Bravissimo hardly does unless there is something off with the fit.
Oh yeah! that's true, the wires of my Tango were pretty firm especially on my sides. They didn't really hurt but it was uncomfortable for sure. I'm sure if I tried a 38 or 40 band Tango, those wires would have been painful. I have owned 7 Panache bras but I have never had one that I truly liked.
All panache I've tried were really big in the band except jasmine. My tango is also too big band.
Could be that the band sizing is inconstistent. For example old Panache Ariza - bands above JJ cup run big... so 32JJ I got fit like 34J! Bands J and below run firm, so 34J I got fit like 32JJ but 30K also fit like 32JJ.
Pretty As A Pin Up was not destined to be a success for me. The wide spread perception that Bravissimo cups tend to run small rings true for me. This, and all my other 40K bras are simply too small even for my small side. Excessive quadding, which is something I simply accepted before I discovered Bravissimo, was now not good enough. The pattern was also bolder and darker than I expected and therefore more visible under clothing.
I love the color of this burgundy Layla but being a Bravissimo 40K, it is just a bit too large in the band and definitely too small in the cup for me. Quadding is excessive although support is quite good with the girls being front and center. I find the straps a bit too springy which leads to a little too much bounce.
3 years later A day after a discussion here on a white Layla that Bravissimo recently released, I wore my burgundy Layla for the first time in over a year. I don't know why I thought the straps were springy in my initial review because they are ...not, they are quite strong yet comfortable. Boobs are front and center, perhaps more than any other bra I have and they seem to be an inch or two higher, reminding me of how the Panache Jasmine fit me but without the wire pain. I am quadding significantly less than my initial review so I suspect things have stretched out somewhat. Throughout the day, I barely noticed this Layla as it was very supportive yet comfortable. I likely will not get the white Layla as it seems too plain for my liking. Cup depth was a good match for me, unlike my Bravissimo Lacey which although is also a 40K, is far too shallow for me. I normally avoid darker colored bras but with my recent success, I will be adding the Layla into my rotation. It's too bad it took me 3 years to appreciate my seldom worn Layla. Read more 149 more words
Looking back, I did not follow through on my intention to add the Layla to my rotation, likely because my newer bras, like the Jenna, Annie and Gemma were all so comfortable and supportive without the quadding I get from the Layla. I am wearing my teal Alana today and plan to wear this Layla tomorrow.
I am only now noticing how stretchy and forgiving the cups are on this bra. I am no longer quadding anywhere near as much as I was when first purchased and yet I am well contained in this bra. My reaction was to consider Bravissimo's white Layla but as of Feb 2023 it is no longer on their site and is therefore likely sold out.
I bought this bra along with a 40L Bravissimo Annie during the lockdown. Bravissimo recently extended the size range of the Satine which went up to a J cup previously. Comparing the two by placing the 40L Annie inside the 40K Satine was hilarious, the Satine wires were 2-3 inches wider than the 40L Annie. If I did not know the bra sizes and simply eyeballed them before trying them on, I would have said the 40L was going to be way too small and the 40K way too big. Of course, I would have been wrong as the Satine was much shallower than the Annie. I will ...not say it's a design flaw though because I am generally between a 38L & 40L, at least when it comes to the Alana. During my first wear, I was unable to fill the bottom of the cups and was quadding over the top. On my second wear the next day, i came closer to filling the bottom but was still quadding, which is pretty much what happens with my other 40K's and is the reason why I don't own many of this size. If I had not ordered the Annie at the same time, I would not have described this Satine as too wide and too shallow but the comparison I did leads me to this opinion. I do love the color of this bra, which is described as nude on the bra label but as champagne on the website. Read more 139 more words
I wore this Satine yesterday for the first time in close to a year. The biggest reason for wearing it was for protection from the bitter cold so I likely still would not have worn it if things were warmer out there. Another reason for wearing my Satine was seeing Bravissimo now offering this in a Teal colorway, it looks absolutely gorgeous!
As before, I still could not fill the bottom or sides of the cups and was quadding on top and the sides but, at least I was warm! Before taking this bra off at the end of the day though, I checked to see if my boobs had settled into the cups and thankfully they had. There was a lot less of all of the negatives described above.
When I put the bra on, I realized that I do like the straps as they were strong and seemed thicker than average. When I took the bra off, I realized there was significantly more soreness in my shoulders than normal and now that I think about it, I may have ignored the shoulder pain throughout the day. The straps, while seeming stronger than average, was maybe carrying more of the weight than many of my other bras. My boobs seemed to gravitate towards the center than usual, perhaps because of this plunge design and this may have led to the straps carrying more of the weight.
I am so happy with my narrow wired Bravissimo bras that I now rarely wear anything else. I think it is time to list bras like this one that I seldom wear.
My previous comment was made in the middle of summer so that may have influenced me a bit. It was a chilly day this morning so I chose the Satine but it turned out a bit warmer than forecasted which contributed to being a little too warm for the me,
I was pleasantly surprised though to see a reduction in quadding with the bottom and sides now adequately filled. I guess I am guilty of not taking my own advice, which is to let a bra break in before passing judgement. I had done that before with the Jenna and Gemma and so this Satine joins that list that I initially disliked but now love. I do now wonder if I was too hasty in passing judgement on the 5 or 6 Panache bras I once owned? The memory of those wires poking my underarm say "no".
Wore this to work yesterday and it turned out to be a difficult day for my shoulders as I was constantly hoisting the girls up by re-positioning the straps. So today, I value this Satine less than I did yesterday and I think my Jenna's with their straps have spoiled/trained me to appreciate the halter style.
Again, the cups seem to have stretched even more as I am quadding less with each wear, at least it seems that way. If I kept quadding the way I did when I first purchased it, I likely would stop wearing it.
After wearing this bra today, I decided to re-measure as I am certain this Satine fits so much better than when first acquired. As to be expected, many of the measurements are bigger, especially cup depth which is now larger by almost 2 inches!
More than ever, I regret returning many of my purchases over the past 8 years because o bad fit and I'm glad I kept bras like this Satine which are fitting better with each wear.
I bought this full cup Lacey in May 2019 but had not worn this often enough to be able to perform an informed review. I do not wear this bra often simply because it is too small and gives me significant muffin top (as opposed to typical quadding) that I cannot hide unless I layer myself up. I have a number of 40K bras from Bravissimo that are all uncomfortably small in the cup but I do keep buying them because they are always the largest band/cup available in that model and I like the style. I guess there is a part of me that hopes to grow ...down into them as I age. This cornflower colorway does look fantastic on my skin color and not only feels supportive but also makes me feel like it will be supportive down the road. When I do wear this Lacey, I definitely feel like I am being minimized, which is a good thing, no cakes on a plate here. The straps feel a bit too wide set which happens on pretty much all of my 40 band bras from Bravissimo. Perhaps one day I will try the Rixie clips that supposedly can help reduce the effective band length although I have heard they can sometimes damage the band. Aside from the quadding described above, I get a round and uplifted shape, perhaps a bit more rounded than my other Bravissimo bras and more importantly, my boobs are more front and center with very little side boob and therefore less rubbing from my arms as I move about. The Lacey also has extra lining in the cups which helps to hide ones nipples and is much much better at this than the Alana. As usual, the gore does not tack and I also get a bit of rolling up of the band beneath the cup. This is not a deal breaker but I seem to experience this more on the Lacey than on others. Read more 220 more words
I have recently got into the habit of wearing my 40K bras, like my Pretty As A Pinup, Layla and now this Lacey. I think I am guilty once again of judging a bra before breaking it in as each of these have become a much better fit than when first purchased.
This Lacey is so much better now than when I first reviewed this in 2019 as the cups have stretched enough to reduce the amount of quadding I experienced during the review. I do appreciate the roundness I get, so much so that I measured an over bust perimeter that was 3 inches less than what I tend to get with my L cup bras.
I think I will now keep an open mind when it comes to other Bravissimo bras that stop at a K cup.
Wore this set yesterday and unfortunately it was not a good day in terms comfort and excessive quadding. I think I even noticed one of my co-workers expressing a puzzled look as she glanced at my quadding but thankfully nothing was said.
It's annoying that so many Bravissimo styles run small in cups. Also many of these older bras had really tight top section making them fit even smaller especially on fot shapes. I used to size 2 cup sizes up in Bravissimo compared to other UK brands - which makes their awesome L-cup actually only K-cups :S