This bra is the second of 2 Annie bras I ordered at the same time. Click the link below to read that review. Be warned that it is a fairly long review.
As you should expect, the initial measurements were similar with perhaps a 1/8th difference on some dimensions.
4 Months Later My two 40 band Annie's are still my favorites. The odd shaping people caution against are virtually non existent on me, which further adds to my love of this bra. I have a habit of buying (some would say hoarding) multiples of things I like and while I already have two 40 band and two 38's, I'm feeling the need to buy at least one more of each. I literally look at a drawer full of Alana's each morning with only a couple nearing retirement, plus the many Selina's and Georgia's that I have pretty much ignored recently so I best not spend even more.
My 40 band Annie's are still going strong with the only hint of deterioration being the bottom hooks pulling out slightly on both bras. There has been virtually no change in shaping from when I felt them to be finally broken in, which was after approximately 3 months.
As of today, Apr 7th, the blush pink Annie is fully stocked so I better order a few more before they disappear forever. This by the way is my biggest gripe with Bravissimo - they tend to let some intriguing bras disappear forever. A fellow bratabaser feels the same too with bras like the Dina for example. Perhaps the Annie will replace the Alana as Bravissimo's high volume good quality bra and will remain in their lineup for the next 5 years. One can only hope.
Another 4 months later...
The straps are folding over a wee bit more which now causes a bit of shoulder strap pain. My 2 Jenna's are far better due to their strap design, The fasteners are about the same as where they were 4 months ago, likely the result of being more careful when taking the bra off.
The wrinkling along the vertical seam is still quite visible under a top on my smaller side and continues to be non-existent on my larger boob. I get the same result on both of my Gemma's as well as my other Annie's while all of my other 20+ Bravissimo bras don't have this flaw, except for my Erin which I have not worn in close to 2 years.
Also wanted to add a comment on the photo of this Annie that is laid on top of Bravissimo's 40K Satine.
Good gosh, what difference! You would think the Annie would be too small for anyone who fits well in the beige Satine. The wires are so much wider on the Satine that you would think there is a difference of 3 to 4 cup sizes yet I quad over the top and sides (and initially underneath) on the Satine whereas the Annie is perfect in every dimension.
My Satine in the champagne colorway does look gorgeous though and if this even remotely fit, I would have gone for this bra in teal, it really is gorgeous.
Am now on the tightest hooks on both of my 40 band Annie's. I find my 38 band Annie has been so much more comfortable, so I'm not surprised the 40's have stretched so soon. The straps are also becoming more painful with each wear as they fold over more and more.
I see the 40L Annie's are sold out so I better stock up on the 38L soon.
To alleviate my stretchy band issue, I have started washing my 40 band Annie's after each use. I know that sounds a bit awful but oh well. I also find the folding over straps don't hurt as much if frequently washed.
The cups are thankfully no longer pointy or torpedo shaped, I attribute this to the weakening of the vertical cup seam that weakens over time. The cup on my larger side seems to be sagging just a little bit now but hopefully this sagginess does not grow.
2016 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.
2019 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, 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.
2021 Well, I have had this bra for over 5 years and while I wear it far less now than before, I am amazed by the longevity of the Alana. Yes, I have owned many Alana's over the years (21 of them!!!) so that is the reason why they haven't worn out sooner but still, both of my white Alana's have had more use than all of the other colorways I have.. Just this past weekend, I have started using the tightest hook and while it certainly feels tighter than before, the support is still amazing for a bra that has been in heavy use for 5+ years. In the past year, my preference has switched from the Alana to the Selina and recently to Bravissimo's Annie but as of today, Alana is still my go to bra for regular everyday wear. I initially gave Alana a "Good" quality rating but I'm upping it to "Excellent". Any bra that lasts this long deserves this rating. Read more 379 more words
In spite of the colorful pattern, the Alice was one of those "what was I thinking" purchases. The quality is ok, comfort as well but the pattern is just so wrong for me. It shows through so easily on so many tops that I have given up on it. This appears to be based on the Darcy and so fit and comfort are not a problem. Wish I had something good to say but I don't.
Winter 2020-2021 This bra curiously went missing in late 2020 and I found myself surprisingly happy that it did. The pattern was so annoying that I may have eventually thrown it out. Perhaps I subconsciously did.
A year and a half later and still no sign of this bra. Bravissimo has released the Penny which has a similar flowery print that I find even more offensive than this Alice. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
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.
Oct 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched... 32.00 / 33.00 / 1.00 band length stretched......... 39.25 / 41.00 / 0.75 cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.00 / 1.25 cup height............................. 14.50 / 15.00 / 0.50
The 1.00 inch increase in the un-stretched length is surprising. This should have shrunk by about 0.5 inches The 0.75 inch increase in stretched band length is a little surprising. Most of my other Alana's have increased by over 1 inch The 1.25 inch increase in cup depth is no longer very surprising since my other Alana's have increased by a similar length. The 0.50 increase in cup height is no longer surprising.
These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.
Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Read more 351 more words
The daffodil Alana is bright and cheery. It also has that Alana fundamental rightness for me, I can put it on, go about my day and not be in a rush to get it off at the end of the day. As usual, the fit and comfort are spot on for me with just a little cakes on a plate and no quadding. The band is starting to stretch out and I will likely be on the last set of hooks before long.
Oct 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current ... / difference band length un-stretched... 32.75 / 32.50 / (0.25) band length stretched......... 39.75 / 40.00 / 0.25 cup depth.............................. 17.75 / 19.00 / 1.25 cup height............................. 14.50 / 15.00 / 0.50
The (0.25) inch decrease in the un-stretched length was initially surprising but is likely the result of 50+ hand washings. The 0.25 inch increase in stretched band length is a little surprising. Most of my other Alana's have increased by over 1 inch The 1.25 inch increase in cup depth is no longer very surprising since my other Alana's have increased by a similar length. The 0.50 increase in cup height is no longer surprising.
These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.
Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Read more 262 more words
I am not sure why I constantly skip over this daffodil Alana as I do like the color and it does not really show through on white tops. I wore this yesterday for the first time in probably close to 2 years and still appreciate what this bra provides - comfort, support, bounce control...
I purchased this bra from Bravissimo in Jan of 2016, approximately 3 months after discovering this wonderful retailer. I had such great success with their Alana that I decided to spread my wings and try something a little more outside my comfort zone. The Nordic Rose was definitely outside but it did come in an L cup so I figured why not. I have since found out that this bra is based on Bravissimo's Darcy and my experience with the Nordic Rose has planted a seed of doubt as to whether the Darcy line will work as well for me as the Alana's do. The Nordic Rose was comfortable ...although perhaps a smidge less supportive than the Alana. The straps were average with bounce not much of an issue but they were fairly wide set and were falling off my shoulders, even on the tightest hooks. My biggest complaint was the way my arms would brush against the side of the bra and I caught myself several times walking around with arms to the side walking like a biker This is certainly not a problem I have with my Alana's so the Nordic Rose never made it to full time use. I am not a true 40 band so I suspect this was a bit large for me. The Nordic Rose was discontinued shortly thereafter.
Oct 2020 A recent bratabaser's review of the Bravissimo Allie reminded me of how soft the cups of the Nordic Rose were compared to my staple, the Alana. I sadly parted ways with this bra about 18 months ago so now I am eyeing the Allie as a replacement. I wish the leopard print Allie wasn't so dark, which is one of the reasons why I moved on from the Nordic Rose. Read more 185 more words
In hindsight, I wish I had gotten this in 38L instead of 40L. It was soft and comfy yet supportive and the straps falling off my shoulder problem would have been eliminated. Maybe it's time to try the black Darcy which has the narrow wires.
Acquired in Dec 2016, this white Alana was my first ever free bra from Bravissimo and is the 2nd of 2 white Alana's that I own. At the time of the purchase of my first white Alana in 40L in late 2015, 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 a wire pop out on any of my Alana's. Or of ...any other Bravissimo bra I have. I hand wash all my bras regardless of brand so that may have contributed to my success with the Alana. The wires of all my Alana's end at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the top of the side channel while they do reach the top of the channel in the gore. 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 both of my white Alana's are also soft to the touch but a little less so than the papaya's but a lot softer than the rest of the colors I have. 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. As good as that may sound, it's the result of s slight decrease in cup support which I do notice but doesn't bother me too much. 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, 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 and I hope future white Alana's I buy retain the quality of the 2 I own so far.
Sep 2020 I thought it would be interesting to compare my original measurement data for this bra to what they are today.
.......................................... original / current / difference band length un-stretched..... 33.50 / 33.50 / 0.00 band length stretched........... 41.00 / 42.00 / 1.00 cup depth.............................. 18.00 / 19.00 / 1.00 cup height............................. 14.50 / 16.00 / 1.50
The 0.00 inch change seems unusual as I would have expected some shrinkage with 50+ hand washings. The 1.00 inch increase in stretched band length is not overly surprising. The 1.00 inch increase in cup depth is very surprising. The 1.50 increase in cup height is extremely surprising.
These results lead me to wonder whether Bravissimo deserves its reputation of being small in the cup and a buyer thus needing to size up. Yes, a bra will initially feel small/tight but will it expand with break-in? I plan to explore this further.
Note: I do not use the cup over knee technique to measure cup depth as I think a more meaningful and relative data point is when a cup is occupied by ones breast. I think it makes sense that depending on bra style, bra cup dimensions can also vary during the life of a bra. Also, the cup over knee technique does not take into account the distance and hence volume I gain from a floating gore. With this white Alana, I have 4 inches of floating gore today, I did not record this measurement in my original review. Read more 590 more words
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.
I have had this bra for 4 years now and it is still supportive and fits. Wore this recently on the middle hooks so there is still some life in this one.
Wore this one yesterday and there is still plenty of lie in her. Bounce control is still excellent and the cakes on a plate look is somewhat mild, especially compared to my 38 bands o the same colorway.
The straps are showing some wear though and has lost maybe half of it's original elasticity. I anticipate this bra will last anothe10 wears before being retired to the housework rotation.
I bought this Erin in Jun 2017 and had very high hopes for this bra. The Erin is based on the Darcy and my only previous experience was with the Nordic Rose, a bra I grew to hate because of its colorway. The Erin seemed up to the task and checked all the boxes in terms of fit, comfort and appearance. I wished that the color was a little bit bolder as the Pearl Pink seems just a little too faded for my liking. What frustrated me though was how quickly the eyes were pulling themselves out, a problem a fellow bratabaser also had. In my case, this happened in a little less than 2 months while it took only 2 weeks for this to happen to the other reviewer. I rarely wear the Erin as a result and thankfully, none of my other Bravissimo's have failed at all, let alone so quickly.
Admittedly, I have not worn this Erin more than say 5 times during that period but last week I wore it twice, once on Monday and again on Thursday, with great success! My concern with the fasteners pulling out is real but I decided to cope with it - I could always go to the ladies room and go with either of the other two rows in a pinch.
What I had not noticed before was how comfy the straps were and this is something I started paying more attention to since acquiring my Jenna's. As far as regular straps go, these and to the same extent my Georgia's, have straps that are way better than any of my Alana's, stiff enough to support but soft enough on the shoulders.
I still laugh though at the eyes of the fasteners which stand up perpendicular to the fastener backing. I keep asking myself if today is the day these eyes get pulled out at an inopportune time of the day. I really should stick to wearing this at home when such an accident won't be a problem.
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.
Purchased in Oct 2015, this Alana in teal is still comfortable and supportive although perhaps a little less so now in 2020. I purchased a white Alana on the same order and the white seems to be just a little bit less supportive, especially in the cup where I have a bit of sagginess compared to the teal. To be fair to the white, I wore this teal maybe 6 times a year and the white maybe 6 times a month. 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 teal Alana seems to mask my nipples a little better than other colors but I still try to wear layers of clothing. Before I became aware of Bravissimo and the Alana, I was stuck with matronly fullcup bras with very tall wings that quite often didn't breathe well, especially in the summer. With the Alana, my excessive summer boob sweat seems like a distant memory. Bravissimo appears to have altered the design and materials of their newer Alana colorways. My most recent Alana purchase has newer straps that tend to roll up and dig in so I prefer older versions such as this teal. Read more 133 more words
I am wearing this teal Alana today and it still fairly supportive and comfortable for a bra that is 7 years old. I feel a little less supportive today compared to when purchased and although comfortable enough, it is not as soft as my newer bras.
I recently decided to create a rotation of work around the house bras to save my better ones for when I am not at home. This teal Alana will join my other Alana's that have been heavily used as well as those, like the Elomi Caitlyn, that I do not expect to ever use outside the house.
My 40 band Annie's are still going strong with the only hint of deterioration being the bottom hooks pulling out slightly on both bras. There has been virtually no change in shaping from when I felt them to be finally broken in, which was after approximately 3 months.
As of today, Apr 7th, the blush pink Annie is fully stocked so I better order a few more before they disappear forever. This by the way is my biggest gripe with Bravissimo - they tend to let some intriguing bras disappear forever. A fellow bratabaser feels the same too with bras like the Dina for example. Perhaps the Annie will replace the Alana as Bravissimo's high volume good quality bra and will remain in their lineup for the next 5 years. One can only hope.