The top half of the cups are made with a stretch lace and has no elastic band along the edge. It is very soft and comfortable. The cup is slightly small in the center that was creating just a bit of quad on me, and it 'almost' completely encompassed breast tissue under the arm, so I will check out the next cup size up. The quadding doesn't even show under clothes, but I know it's there and it changes the shape from an otherwise nice rounded profile. The cup also has nice projection and not too narrow a wire. The gore is fantastic...the top edges are overlapped just a bit, reducing the width, which is great for close-set or center fullness. It's also not too tall, but tall enough to support.
The straps are fully adjustable; but might be short on someone with a long torso. The band is decently stretchy, but runs true to size

Pearl Grey colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 19, 2017 Flag this

A lovely and comfortable bra! In this size it has enough plunge for me although it's not the lowest. I love that the wire channels overlap at the gore - heaven for my close-set boobs.

The cups are made of stretch lace which provides a forgiving fit. The lower cups are lined with non-stretch tulle for support and there are side slings made of a double layer of tulle. These aren't problematic for me but might be if my tissue was softer than it is.

Straps are fully adjustable. They look a little unfinished where they join the cup. Maybe some kind of lace ... detail at the junction would have been prettier.

The back is one layer of mesh which promises to be pretty stretchy over time. I wear a 34 or 36 band. I'm wearing this with an extender currently, but only need about 1/2" of it so I'm glad I got the 34.

I agree with others that this is not the most center-full-friendly bra. I am slightly center full and I get a little bit of quadding at the gore. It's barely noticeable though.

I don't have monthly fluctuations in size, but this would be a good bra for those who do. Just make sure the cup really fits, as the stretch lace can mask a cup that fits too small. Taking pictures and posting them here helped me see that the 34FF I tried first was not as good a fit as I thought. Try your usual size and a size up if possible.
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Pearl Grey colorway

Updated on Dec 06, 2016 Flag this

So Ava take two, band size down with same volume.

Ordered a 34H since the 36GG - Panache » Ava Plunge (9396) was so stretchy. Overall fit remains the same for the most part. Band is much more snug on the first hooks (naturally) but not uncomfortably so. I get a little bit more quadboob at the gore because of my centerfullness, tho' the cup depth on both sizes remains 12." I imagine this will relax a little as both the lace and the band stretch out. Thankfully the stretch lace helps mask the issue, and I don't think it'll be a problem under tops.

I forgot to ... mention in the review for my 36GG that the gore overlaps slightly where the wires meet, which is awesome. At both 36GG and 34H the gore is a half inch wide because of this.

I will be returning the 36GG. I do recommend sizing down in the band for the Ava.

I did pick up the matching bottoms this time and they are the same cut as Jasmine briefs. However, the different materials used makes a huge difference in fit and comfort. If I pick up the blush Ava (SS 2017) I will grab the matching bottoms.

My gripes with the not terribly plungey nature of this plunge remain tho'. I know Panache can do 'em, see also:
Panache Tango Ii Plunge Bra (3256) and Panache Porcelain Elan Moulded Plunge Bra (7326), which both feature gores of 2."

Later update after wearing a few times and thoughts:

So one thing brought up to me on reddit was how it was unfair to compare a full banded bra (Ava) to a partial banded (Tango) or one like the Elomi Betty Plunge Bra (8170). This is true. The gore ends at about the same place, but Tango's plunge seems shorter. That said, I would still like to see a plungier gore.

Overall I'm happier in the 34H but the bra is some combination of stretchy and I'm not used to 2 hooks anymore, I felt like I had to adjust the band down just a little several times a day. Right now I can't see myself picking up the blush Ava next year unless it is either a bit firmer or I can alter the band not to stretch so much. (There are some tutorials, I will try them out.) Ava does not come in HH, so I could not go down one more band to try that out. (Which blows my mind anyway, the possibility of fitting into a 32 band.)

The stretch lace is rather accommodating and so ridiculously soft tho', I REALLY want this bra model to work. And the stretch lace does mask the slight quad boob, which is not noticeable under tops.

I know plenty of wearers who are comfy and happy in extended size 2-hook bras, maybe I just am not one. Time will tell.
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Pearl Grey colorway

Updated on Dec 02, 2016 Flag this

This could actually be The One!

I've tried everything - even the Polish bras. Nothing fits right, for all kinds of reasons. I'm very close-set, with a wide-ish root, full on bottom & empty on top, yet also extremely squishy (like, balloon-a-third-full-of-marshmallow-fluff levels of squishy. SO squishy). All other bras
a) empty out underneath & slide down my IMF and/or
b) gap up top. Plenty of armpit & sternum digging, too. Now granted I've worn this bra all of twice, but my friends, that band stays put like the SNL house musicians got high & drove into a tar pit. Or if you prefer your wordplay nerdier, it's more embedded in ... the IMF than capitalism.

The grail, right?

However, there's a wee bit of quadding along the top of the cup (and a wee bit of nothing under the apex), so I find myself stumped. It looks like the problem is more about projection than anything else. So, Do I:
A) go up a cup to 34GG & risk more enptiness at the apex?
B) go to the 32GG sister of 34G since I'm already using the middle hooks & will definitely move to the tightest hook after a few more wears because Panache makes their bands out of warm taffy (and also I'm losing weight)?
C) go down a band & up TWO cup sizes to 32H so I don't wind up quadding in the 32? Or is that going to wind up being both too tight and too roomy?
D) stop overthinking it & buy more of the close-enough 34G?

I can only guarantee that whatever I go with, it will be the wrong call. So analysis paralysis wins the day again. Photos to come.
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Vintage blue colorway

Updated on Jul 26, 2023 Flag this

100% the best (US/UK) bra I've found for my very close set breasts. The underwire channels actually overlap!

Black colorway

Updated on Aug 10, 2021 Flag this

Beautiful bra but doesn’t give me the shape or lift that Cleo Marcie does. Band is comfortable, wires are not uncomfortable except at the gore where they dig in if I bed over.
I do have some quadding, but more because the lace doesn’t stretch enough than because the cup is too small.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 28, 2020 Flag this

This bra is soft and sexy! It fits me relatively well but I never reach for it. I've had it for about 2 years and maybe worn it 5 times. Such a shame because I love it!

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 20, 2020 Flag this

Such a beautiful bra. For some reason the tag (and Bravissimo) has it called the Ana bra but the code is the same as the Ava.
It's a great, supportive plunge with narrower wires and nice projection. I have since had a reduction so no longer need this bra but I want to get it in my new size.
The colour, dusky pink, is a great nude colour for fair skintones.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 26, 2020 Flag this

ShonaMarie

420 reputation

80 bras

This first time I have tried a plunge bra, and it is surprisingly supportive. Very comfortable, wore it home from the shop.

Sadly, no longer fits due to recent weight loss.

Vintage colorway

Updated on Mar 03, 2020 Flag this

Great bra for those of us with close-set breasts and a lot of inner fullness. I did need to go up a cup size from my usual 32FF.

Burnt Red colorway

Updated on Jan 27, 2020 Flag this