I loved the Panache Olivia in 30D I bought last summer, and have really wanted to get another one. I thought that the 30D was a little bit small for me now at my current 30DD size, so I've been waiting for the 30DD to be a good price in a different color. I was so sure this was going to fit that it was quite disappointing to find out that it didn't!
While the band, wires, and bottom of cup fit me perfectly, the problem is the upper cup. Unfortunately, the upper cup of Olivia is cut to be more projected than the Panache bras ... that work well for me, so it wrinkles and I can't fill it. The upper cup gaps even with foam lining inserted. I realized that I had the exact same issues in the Panache Thea I just tried, and sure enough, the measurements confirm that the cups are identical. Thea is for FOT shapes, so Olivia also follows suit, though the stretchy lace fabric helps make the fit a bit more flexible. I didn't have this problem in the 30D because of the stretchy fabric and the fact that the cups are a little small for me. It's interesting that Cleo Hettie and related cuts are all constructed the same way and give me the same problem in the upper cup, but I couldn't fill out the upper cup of Hettie in 30D. Thus, I would say that Olivia is less FOT than Hettie. The wires are a nice gentle C curve and similar to other Panache bras in this size range.
Construction-wise, I love this bra. The band is super firm and feels secure, and even though it measures as a 30, it feels like a snug 28 and is very comfortable for me. The band is solid powermesh with jacquard elastic lace overlay, so it has two layers of stretch, and the bottom band elastic is firm. The upper cup is the same stretch jacquard lace as used on the band, and it's super soft and comfortable. It is very similar to the upper cup lace of the Fantasie Illusion Side Support bra that I also find to be very comfortable, as it also has.a flat-knit stretch edge that really lays flat on the body without any bulk. The bottom cup is made from polka dot mesh lined with super soft tricot, so they feel a little more like the cups on the Cleo Marcie or Curvy Kate Princess bras, rather than the firm and supportive fabric of the Thea. The polka dot design continues onto the straps, which are fully adjustable, and the only decoration is a bow at the center gore.
Cobalt is actually a dark blue better described as "marine blue" rather than the Yves blue the name implies. It's darker and less bright than it looks in the images online. I've decided to reorder this in a 30D in order to have this colorway in my collection, but I really wish I could find the Deep Jade in my size!
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Updated on May 30, 2020 Flag this
