I'm having the worst luck with molded bras now I'm in my proper size. The Freya Deco is entirely the wrong shape, and the Porcelain series has always flattened me weirdly. The Curvy Kate Smoothie fits really well, save some weird bulging at the base of the cup, but hurts if I wear it more than a day in a row. The Panache sports bra really IS my go-to molded bra, but being a sports bra, it often shows under necklines. Which leads me to today.

I just moved to Maryland and am trying to find a good boutique in my area, already mourning Loretta's Intimates in Dallas. I ... checked out Store #1 today, and I had a sinking feeling when I noticed that most of the bras in their Panache and Freya section were 36 bands. This only worsened when I asked if they had a stash of 32 bands, and they pulled out a drawer full of beige. I do give them kudos for not suggesting that I was delusional about my band size and coming at me with a measuring tape. The poor lady helping me must have found every 32FF (3. There were 3.) and 34F (also some 32F and 34FFs, 15 bras total) in the store, and she seemed so bummed that more didn't work. When they offered to order things in for me, I felt a little like crying, either due to PMS, or due to the fact that you go to a store in order to AVOID ordering things that you may have to return.

Sorry, I'm really discouraged. I'm sure you know the feeling. To my 28-banded sisters, I want to give you all a big hug right now, because this must be your life x10.

Anyhow, this bra came the closest to fitting, and it was like my old days at Victoria's Secret, when the LEAST ill-fitting bra came home with me so the poor lady who just spent an hour trying to get me into a bra wouldn't feel totally bummed. I paid $78 for this Porcelain Grace. Unlike other Porcelain models, it didn't squish or flatten me, and it initially looked fine with the scoop-and-swoop still freshly done. Weirdly the band was loose as all get out. I usually have to go to a 34 in Panache, but the 32 was loose. No 30s were available, though.

Still, I bought it. I took it home and modeled it for my husband, whose immediate reaction was "Um." Bless him, he's gotten to be a handy bra-fitter over the past couple of years and noticed right off that I was having to hook it on the closest row, AND it was gapping at the top. I swooped, I scooped, but after a few minutes (more minutes than I'd taken in the Dressing Room of Despair) my tissue had settled, as it tends to do, and left a gap and ridge at the cup's top.

I'm pretty sure it's my shape and not the cup size. I'll be driving back to return this tomorrow. I really hope boutique #2 has more in my size. At least there aren't disappointed salesladies on the internet.
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Scarlet colorway

Updated on Jun 01, 2015 Flag this

This I'd a good all rounder bra. I would say it's relatively shallow and fairly average to wide wires. It works well as a t-shirt bra giving a smooth rounded appearance but the centre gore is relatively low too so works under fairly low cut tops. I found it very comfortable apart from it being a little bit loose round the quite stretchy band, though my under bust is a bit smaller than 28 inches. The Jacquard print is pretty but subtle. If there was a nude version of this bra I would definitely like it even more. It's got fully adjustable straps and the matching briefs are very pretty and really comfortable and flattering.

Candy Pink colorway

Updated on Aug 30, 2016 Flag this

This is a very nice bra. It works as a t-shrt bra but is a bit more attractive than your average t-shirt bra, given the color and pattern. It's different from other cleo/panache molded bras I've tries like the Neve/Koko or porcelain lines. The cups are more formed like the neve, but other than that it's quite different from both of those lines of bras. It's not as much of a plunge, it's more full coverage, the cups are deeper/more projected, and the sides are shorter (don't dig into the armpits as much). For me, some of those things are plusses and some are minuses. I know many people find the Neve and other molded bras in this size range to be too shallow, so that is probably a benefit of this bra for many people. Ultimately this bra doesn't work for me, there's too much extra space on top, which could be a size or shape mismatch, but it's otherwise a very nice bra.

scarlet colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 29, 2018 Flag this

This is a t-shirt bra, but with a pretty pattern on the top to add interest.

This bra is good for my close set breasts. It provides enough coverage, but I can still wear lower cut shirts.

The band on this is extremely stretchy, and is too large of a size for me. The cup is currently a little too small, it can fluctuate based on my weight.

Updated on Jul 25, 2017 Flag this

This bra almost fit. I wanted so much for it to fit -- I love the garnet red color, and the subtle pattern in the fabric adds the perfect amount of detail to the simple design. The cup comes high enough that it would work as a t-shirt bra, which is what I was shopping for, except for the problem that it doesn't actually quite fit. It's just a bit too big in the cup, so there's a line along the top at my smaller side where it gaps away from my body. Because the style is discontinued, I can't even try a size down in the red color I like so much. Phooey.

Scarlet colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 07, 2017 Flag this

I really like this bra, lightly padded but not a pushup bra, gives a nice round shape. Gives lift but not cleavage (at least on me). Reminds me of the plain T Shirt bras I used to wear when I could buy them in a store, but cuter. Gore lies flat on me, which is not true of the Freya Deco which is the style I wear most. This is my first Panache bra and I really like it.

Updated on Jun 19, 2017 Flag this

Nice rounded shape. Band runs large. Fabric is smooth and comfortable.

Sherbert colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 05, 2017 Flag this

The band is comfortable and it is supportive. The band fits one size looser than the @Cleo by Panache Neve model, which I found to run tight in the band. There is some extra room in the cup on this bra, as it has a deeper cup than the other bra's I own which are mostly Panache plunge bras. My nipples are rather high up and this bra covers them completely which I really appreciate. The Neve and Koko and Aria plunge bras allow the very edge of my areola to be visible sometimes.

Pink colorway

Updated on Aug 14, 2016 Flag this

Just like it's blue counterpart, the scarlet fits amazingly! And the color is beautiful and classy!
I happen to find that the cups seem a little bit deeper than the blue version...need more swooping and scooping, maybe?

Scarlet colorway

Updated on Feb 14, 2016 Flag this

Brallerina

1707 reputation

61 bras

A full-coverage, contoured-cup bra with relatively narrow wires and lots of projection at the apex. Would probably suit women with average-to-narrow, average-to-short roots. Please note: The wire is very rigid, so don't expect it to stretch beyond the 6.5 inches I measured.

I should know better than to try contour bras on my soft tissue, but I was seduced by the hope of a T-shirt bra with what seemed to me to be narrow enough wires. Unlike Elomi bras I've tried, whose cups measure at 6.5 inches but stretch much wider, this Panache underwire doesn't budge at all. Couple that with the firm and deep cups, and you have a bra that will either fit you perfectly ... or not fit you at all.

Sherbet colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 24, 2015 Flag this