When I first tried it on, I thought it was ok, even if the gore left a red mark on my sternum after wearing it for just a few minutes. I had gaps near the gore, more so on my more shallow right breast, but I've heard that's fairly normal in this size range (28DD).

When I went to wear it for real though, I tore it off after an hour. The gore was really uncomfortable and the straps! What oxymoronic straps. They have practically no stretch. At their shortest, it almost felt like they were too tight, like they were pulling up the band. But after an ... hour they were slipping down my shoulders, clearly on the path to falling off. After I took the bra off, I periodically experienced phantom pressure against my sternum for the rest of the day. No, I really did not like that gore.

The gore took some right pressure to bend, but eventually I managed to bend it (against the table, in several spots along the gore) so that it was decently comfortable against my sternum. I haven't worn it again yet, because I'm aiming to get rid of the satin unstretchy part of the straps. I figure I'll replace it with some silicone-backed elastic I have and in the meantime, shorten the straps and maybe even move them in a bit. The only downside is that the elastic is white. I don't have any dyes, so I guess I'll just make do.

I got this bra well used, so I'm not afraid to hack it to fit me. The band is still quite firm with not a lot of stretch, so I expect it'll last me quite some time.

This is the best-fitting 28-band bra I've tried so far. I have a couple of other possibilities I haven't tried yet, but overall it seems I'm just destined for 30-band bras that I'll have to alter to fit my 27.5 inch ribcage.

Update: Decided to test drive the bent gore and use a bra clip to convert the straps to a racerback in the meantime. I had to let the straps out most of the way to do this, so it's not a solution for everyone, and it fit quite well! It fixes both the sliding and wide-set straps.

The wire width is good. The wire channels are quite thin where they meet, which is good, since technically they're sitting on breast tissue, but it's a gradual enough slope that it's not uncomfortable. I think I need the bend the wires a bit more, since right at the bottom under the gore, they're not sitting firmly against me.

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black colorway

Updated on Jun 28, 2015 Flag this

This is still my best fitting bra even after about 5-6kg of weight gain (hoping to lose some of it this year)! I would class myself as having an even shape (halfway between FOB and FOT) but my boobs tend to behave more like FOT due to an extremely tall root - I have breast tissue up to the outer edge of my collarbone. This bra does a great job at accommodating this. Just about everything else I own at the moment cuts in or flattens me on top, but the Rhea doesn't. Even when I pull my shoulders back as far as I can ... go, the cup doesn't cut in at all on my larger side because it's just that open on top. I have some pretty noticeable asymmetry as well (between half and one cup size difference - the bigger boob is just a hair too big for 32HH/30J, the smaller can fit pretty neatly in 32H/30HH with only slight overspill). This is easy to accommodate in the Rhea - my shoulders are sized such that I can just wear the straps shorter on the smaller side and this takes care of any gapping.

The appearance of the Rhea is lovely, I hope it gets introduced again in the new Panache Black line! Aside from giving great 'tavern wench' cleavage, it's very comfy - the cups are lined with a cotton t-shirt type material. The antique colourway could also work as a skin tone for someone a bit darker than me. There are only two things I'd change about this bra - the centre gore and the band. I have extremely close-set breasts - it's very rare for a gore to tack firmly on me - and the gore on this Rhea is probably the narrowest of any bra I've tried, but it still doesn't rest flush against my sternum. It's very close, though! I think it would fit perfectly if the gore was just a centimetre or too lower - it finishes right at the spot where there is no space between my boobs at all. The band stays in place with wear, but feels too thin - I'd definitely appreciate the support of a 3-hook band. It doesn't have much in the way of give either, but that's just as well for me as I've been preferring 30-ish bands lately and Masquerade never made this in a 30HH.

For anyone thinking of snapping up one of these while they're still floating around, my advice would be to go for your larger size if you're between two band sizes, or if you prefer a looser band. The cup felt true to size to me, and I think you could also get away with a smaller one if you're FOT and between sizes.
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Antique Colourway colorway

Updated on Apr 15, 2015 Flag this

This bra puzzles me. It looks gorgeous, so much so I wonder if I'm talking myself into thinking it fits - I especially love the bow and the little charm in the centre. The straps are quite wide-set, not a problem for me as I don't have especially narrow shoulders, but could be for some. The underwires are a bit too wide on my narrow roots, but they're wearable and not especially uncomfortable. The cups on the Rhea are made deliberately shallow on the bottom so they push you inward and upward, allowing for a lot of upper fullness. The band and straps are very firm - it's ... not so much that they're particularly tight, but that they don't have a lot of stretch, which means they don't adjust with your movements in the way they would if they were more elasticated. For this reason it's not the most comfortable bra I've ever owned, though it might become more comfortable as I wear it in.

Fit-wise I'm still trying to figure this one out! I got this bra in a cup size down from my usual size, not through choice but because 28E wasn't available. I think it may be technically too small on my larger left boob, as I get slight quadding and my breast extends slightly beyond the line of the cup; however because the tops of the cups are so open the bra is still wearable in this size. I'm still trying to work out if I'm filling the bottom of the cups - it's really hard to tell because the fabric is so stiff, but I think on my larger boob there may be a bit of space there, based on the marks left by the underwires. But I'm not 100% sure. So although I've marked this bra as fitting I actually don't quite know how to judge whether it fits or not - the style is so different to anything I've tried before! I've ordered a 30DD as a comparison, which will hopefully give me a bit more information to go on.

I do think the bra looks really nice when worn and gives decent Marie Antoinette cleavage, especially considering I'm small-busted. The problem comes when I'm trying to decide what on earth to wear over the top of it. Because of the inward and upward style of the bra, the shape from the side is a little bit minimised, and the lace seams are also pretty visible through clothing. So while it's flattering without clothes, when worn under clothes the shape - at least in my size range - is less impressive. Ideally I'd want a shirt with a very low-cut, square neckline, which would show off the cakes-on-a-plate cleavage. At the moment I don't own such a shirt, but the bra is so pretty it may be worth keeping it and then looking for something to wear with it. Or I could just wear it without clothes. Either way.


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Updated on Dec 18, 2014 Flag this

So,other than this bra being beautiful and soft,it does NOT work on my body. For whatever reason,my right breast barely fills the cup but my left breast is almost spilling over. The center tacks great,and although the band looks tight in the pics it fits fairly comfortably. The padding is a little too thick for my liking. I'm not really sure what's going on here with this bra or my boobs (I'm new to proper fitting) but it just doesn't fit right!

Updated on Dec 04, 2014 Flag this

http://mademoisellek.blogg.se/2014/september/maquerade-rhea-antique-ice-28ff-...

Updated on Sep 26, 2014 Flag this

Staaldrigstill

835 reputation

75 bras

The Rhea was the first bra I bought that was in my correct size: 28F. It's such a wonderful feeling that it'll have sentimental value for me. And the fact that I got it for dirt cheap on Ebay doesn't hurt either!

The color is an extremely pretty ice blue trimmed with bronze lace. I understand this was a Bravissimo exclusive for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection. The material is a sort of satin that's very soft to the touch. I love it.

The band is very firm so if you're between sizes, I'd definitely recommend sizing up. My underbust comes up at 26.7 inches and the 28 band on ... the first hook was quite snug. I even thought it was too tight for me at first but then it got very comfortable after wearing it for a day.

The straps are on the cusp of being too wide-set but they still work for me. They're only half-adjustable but I really appreciate the fact that the non-adjustable part is made of the same non-stretchy satin as the cups. It gives a little of an edge to the support quality of the bra as a whole.

The shape of the cups is perfect for my breasts. They're very separated and the cups are shallow enough that I don't get much gaping on either side of the narrow gore. They curve gently outward and don't thrust forward agressively.

It's clear when you look at the picture that my bigger breast is the right one. There's the tiniest bit of gaping along the edge of the lace on my left one but the cup itself is filled perfectly.

Perfect, rounded shape from the side. The Marie-Antoinette or 2 Cakes on a Plate kind of shape. My favorite kind! The Rhea gives a nice uplift and leaves you feeling very supported. The wires are of a perfect width. They enclose my breast tissue just the way I like it.

Verdict:
The Rhea is my favorite bra. It has everything: great quality, great apperance, great shape, great support.

I definitely want this darling in another color. Just not the continuity colors of black or antique. I've fallen in love with the champagne/pink but it's even older than the antique ice and there isn't a single 28F anywhere. I was hoping Masquerade would introduce a new seasonal color but there's no Rhea in sight for either AW 2013 or SS 2014. Bummer.
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http://mybradventures.blogspot.com/2013/08/masquerade-rhea-antique-ice-28f.html

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Updated on Aug 17, 2013 Flag this

missnymeria

157 reputation

23 bras

This review is for the Masquerade Rhea size 28E in the colour Antique.

Bra description:

(copied from my original review of the 28F version) A luxurious-looking bra out of matt satin and intricate detailed lace in a beautiful but difficult to describe colour. None of the images I've seen online does it justice. It's a kind of delicate greyish pinkish sandish slightly-darker-than-nude hue -- a light rose or mauve taupe comes to mind. Anyway, even though it's definitely not nude, it's an excellent and definitely more romantic alternative for a neutral-coloured bra, which is exactly what I was looking for. The centre gore is adorned with a bow and a ... tiny sparkly pendant. As said, the lace is intricate and expensive-looking. It's not entirely flat so it might show slightly under tight, thin, clingy clothes. The zigzag stitched seams are much less noticeable in real life than online images suggest although, again, they might show under tight, clingy clothes. The cups are only thinly padded, but the material feels quite sturdy, almost stiff. They are lined with soft and comfortable cotton. Straps are only partly adjustable. The non-adjustable part is completely non-stetchy and covered with the same satin the cups are made of, which feels quite comfortable. The wings are made out of two layers of a perfectly matching stretch satin. There is no boning in the wings.

Bra fit:

(partly copied from my original review of the 28F version) I must say, I am impressed. First of all, it kind of sort of fits!!! Secondly, this bra gives me the kind of shape I was expecting from Ewa Michalak's CHP, but that one didn't work for me AT ALL. The cup shaping keeps the breasts close to the chest, pushing them upwards for an uplifted, separated, and rounded 'Regency'-type cleavage. Compared to my Ewa Michalak CH there is a lot less projection and I first thought my breasts looked slightly flattened and almost 'minimised', (*) but it's actually really not a bad look bad at all. I do like the shape a lot: it's simply a bit more subtle than the shape I get in my CH and a bit more wearable for that reason as well. I know others consider this a look for 'special occasions', but I'm also happy with for a more everyday appearance. The cup height is quite perfect on me and there's only the slightest of gapping when I move my arms and shoulders, but as far as I know this is almost unavoidable with padded/molded cups, especially on smaller chests. The only real gripe I have with the cups is the slight irregularity at the bottom of the front most cup seam: for some reason there is a bit of diagonal pull in the cups that makes this part pucker. I'm very tempted to slip in a thin piece of boning to straighten it out as it's just such a shame in such an otherwise beautiful bra. (**)

The wires are quite fine for me in this size. Unlike the Curvy Kate Tease Me I tried several weeks ago I do not notice the wires in this Rhea at all: no poking or pinching anywhere. The centre gore lies nice and flat and exerts zero pressure on my sternum. The tight band stretches the wires somewhat (hence maybe also the diagonal pull in the cups?), but they do not seem to distort significantly and the bottom of the cups isn't noticeably flattened. My breasts fill out the bottom of the cups reasonably well and the cups do not slip down like they did in the Tease Me and the CHP I tried.

The strap placement is wide but not too wide in this size. The slight gapping of the cups when I move my arms is probably at least partly due to the wide strap placement, but then again, as far as I know this type of gapping happens in almost all padded/moulded cups, especially on smaller chests. The fact the straps are only partly adjustable is a bigger problem: as I have a very short upper torso I have to tighten them almost all the way to prevent them slipping off my shoulders.The material of the non adjustable part feels sturdy and comfortable. The zigzag stitching isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, but it doesn't bother as much as I thought it would.

The band is really a tad too snug for a 28 band, but it does work for me. I'd say it's about as tight the band on my 65E PL Onyks if not slightly tighter and it really is every bit as tight as I can take. I wouldn't want it any tighter, but one band size up will almost certainly be too loose. (***) I measure 69cm/27" underbust -- someone who measures in as a solid 28 I'd strongly advise sizing up. The band is shaped slightly funny in that it seems the wings to curve up rather than down. This makes it feel as if the band rides up in the back, even though it really doesn't. Simply takes some getting used to, I suppose. Apart from the fact I wouldn't have minded a cm or two more room, my only real issue with the band is the lack of side seam boning and/or the lack of a powernet lining in the wings: the tightness of the band of course doesn't help, but -- I think at least partly due to the fact that the satin the wings are made off is so much stretchier than the edging elastic -- the band wrinkles and causes slight discomfort. Side seam boning and a sturdier powernet lining would allow a more even distribution of the band tension along the entire height of the wings (not just along the elastic edges) and would almost certainly result in more comfort.

Conclusion:

(*) (**) After trying this bra in a 30 band as well, I have a strong suspicion that both the flattened shape and the puckering in the bottom of the cups are the result of diagonal tension in the cup caused by a 'too tight' band. Don't ask me why -- I'm almost thinking it is actually a design or construction flaw that has to do with fabric grain or something. It is also slightly funny, because the 28 band certainly doesn't FEEL too tight on my 69 ribcage (it feels tight, but not TOO tight) and the wires don't really seem as distorted as I've seen them in other bras with much looser bands (Bravissimo Mademoiselle ... ?).

(***) Surprisingly, a band size up seem to work just fine. The band is not very stretchy to begin with and I haven't notice the 30 riding up on me at all. At 27" I'm obviously just in between band sizes so maybe that's why it works for me, but for what it's worth, if you experience a flattened shape and/or pucker in the bottom of the cup, try going up a band size. I myself definitely got a better shape that way.

The Masquerade Rhea is a mysterious bra. I've now tried it on in four different sizes and for some odd reason they all seem to fit. My breast size and density fluctuates (due to breastfeeding), but even though there may be as much a three cups sizes difference between my 'smallest' and my 'biggest' shape, these changes are not very clearly reflected in my actual measurements. Believe me, I quadruple checked! True, these four bras may not all fit the same at the same moment, but for Bratabase recommendation purposes I cannot say of any one of them that it doesn't fit under the current measurements at all. For what it's worth though, I have decided I get a better shape in a 30 band, so this one is going to be returned to Large Cup Lingerie soon.

The Masquerade Rhea truly is an Almost Perfect Bra for me. I don't think the shape it gives is as glorious as what Ewa Michalak achieves -- I do prefer the slightly more projected shape I get from my HM Gold -- and I do have some issues with the fit and construction, but really, despite its minor imperfections it is an amazing piece! Anyway, I'm now sorely tempted to get it in all colours available plus, of course the matching knickers https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
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Updated on Jan 02, 2013 Flag this

This bra is a tricky one to get right with sizing. The band is very thin, so feels like it's riding up, but is still level with the front of the bra.
The underwires are narrower than I like, so I do have to adjust the bra occasionally as my breast tissue settles outside the cup.
The shape is great, rounded, uplifted and the cleavage is fantastic!
The lace does show through clothing, so this isn't a t-shirt bra. However, it is very resilient lace. I do sometimes wash my bras in the machine, when pushed for time, and the lace hasn't come undone anywhere!
Love this bra, highly recommend, but be prepared to try a few sizes before getting the right fit. I got a cup size smaller, which works for my bottom heavy shape, but other reviews say that top heavy may need to size up in the cups.

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Updated on Oct 16, 2012 Flag this

The band is very stretchy, and it's far too 'open' on top. My soft tissue jiggles about a bit and though the band itself is supportive and firm, if stretchy, my full-on-top soft breast tissue doesn't feel enclosed at all. I wish it did, as it's a beautiful bra. Very well finished, elegant and just the right amount of padding, not too much or too little. I don't think it's particularly suited to wearing under clothing as the lace detailing at the top of the cups is quite obvious under close-fitting tops/dresses etc. A low-cut, fairly open top/dress would work better.

Updated on Aug 11, 2016 Flag this

I really want this bra to fit but it just doesn't work with my breast shape - my boobs start at my collarbone, I think they are average on the top, firm and bottom heavy with lots of projection. The cups are too open at the top and I don't fill the bottom of the cup even though I have a lot of projection. Sizing up doesn't work.

I find similar styles in other brands don't work for me either e.g. Curvy Kate Thrill me & Tease Me. I tried going up by 2 cup sizes. Unfortunately these styles don't work with my breast shape https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":-(" />

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 13, 2016 Flag this