A great everyday essential. Envy is a cross between Andorra and Jasmine.

The cup construction is exactly the same as jasmine, with the deepest point being between the gore and the vertical seam.
It has andorras gore - which makes wires sit further apart then jasmine, and also end up a little wider under the arms.

It allows more volume in the bottom of the cup then both jasmine and andorra!!!
Better for those who need more immediate projection.

All this affects shape - profile is more round and lifted then andorras, but also slightly minimized like andorras.
The front is less centered then Jasmine, the boobs do go out of your frame ... but in a very natural, round and lifted manner.
It gives the perfect "purple shape" as described by Bras I hate and Love.

The stretch lace is different then the previous two, it is firmer and more substantial, giving better support from the top, but stil very forgiving. I also suspect this type of lace would hold up better through time.

Band is firm and stable, even more so then the Jasmine.

Materials are the comfiest by far compared to other two, love the houndstooth detail, I'd just like the lace to be less flowery, it would suit the pattern better.

Matching knickers are true to size and very comfy https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

Update: This bra is the best everyday bra I have ever owned. And even though I get better shape in cleos and jasmine, this bra is what I reach for most of the time. It works like a t-shirt bra for me.
My love affairs with bras can be short infatuation, summer flings, passionate love and hate... But this one... I'm ready to marry this one https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

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Updated on Jan 11, 2014 Flag this

Ok, just gotta say right off, this bra is amazing!
No it doesn't fit me 100% perfectly, but I pretty much think nothing ever will. However, no bra, ever has made my boobs look as good as this. It literally made me giggly when I tried it on, it's that good.
If you have breasts are anything like mine (wide root, close-set, soft, uneven sizes) you must get this bra. It's like some kinda bra magic.

The cups are four-section, including a side support panel. The lower two sections and the side section are made of very lightweight fine non-stretchy mesh material that is very supportive. (Others have found it ... stiff at first, I just find it excellently supportive.) This material is printed with an elegant birds and plants print. (no raised bits to show through clothing) The shape and location of the seam between the lower panels and the upper panel is perfect for me. (Sometimes this seam is too low and can create a bad, bottom-curved but then squarish shape.) The cup is nice and deep at the bottom and the stiffer material creates a nice rounded shape.

The upper section of the cup is really where the magic happens. This section is made of black stretch lace. It is just the right amount of stretch to accommodate and contain my soft, uneven boobs that have a tendency to spill over the tops of cups, while helping create a fantastic high, forward, and round shape, without flattening. The lace does seem a bit delicate, so I will be sure to treat this bra very gently when washing, etc.

It is a "banded" bra, in that there is a small amount of band below the cups and to the sides of the cups, with a vertical seam (no boning) before the back band itself starts. The back band is a medium-weight stretchy mesh (plain black).

The straps are satiny and padded. They are actually somewhat thicker than I'd really prefer with the look of the rest of the bra. They are by far the most heavy-seeming component. They only adjust partially, and a fairly small section at that, so this may be an issue for some folks.
The straps are attached to the top of the side support panel, at what I think is a somewhat unfortunate angle. It's not that different than most balcony style bras, but sort of clashes with the rest of the shape of the bra and who it will be good for. (The bra otherwise fits like a sexy, light full coverage bra.) Certainly, for me at least, the straps angle is too outward and makes the outside edge of the cup and beginning of the straps dig into my arm/armpit a little.
However, I first wore it for around 7 hours while attending a wedding, including dancing, etc. and it didn't bother me that much. I do think I will try to change the angle of the straps a little by taking a tuck to the inside in the section the straps are attached to.
(I really do wish companies would realize that when you have a cup this big and a band this small you really can't attach the straps way at the outside of the cup and pointing outward. The attachment point is already starting to be around my side, the straps *need* to go in somewhat to hit my shoulders properly.)

I had heard that Panache made some changes in the underwires for this model, and holy heck, yes they are way better. They are much lighter and thinner, but still plenty strong. And they don't come up as high, either on the outside of the cup or at the gore as other Panache models I've tried. (No poking my armpits!!!) The thinner underwires also contribute to one of the narrowest center gores I've seen. Great improvements Panache! The wires (cup width) are a touch narrower than I'd really prefer, but I usually take extremely wide wires.

It's possible that one cup size bigger would fit better, but a) to get that I would have to go up a band size (because they don't make a KK) and Panache 34's are pretty much always too big one me (I have initially been wearing this Jasmine on the tightest hook of an extender, though I *can* close the band without it, it is more comfortable with the extender until it is broken in a little.) and b) I suspect the larger cup size wouldn't create such a fantastic shape. Since I am treating this as mostly a dressing up/special occasion bra I'm willing to sacrifice 100% comfort for looking awesome. (Seriously, my boobs have not ever looked anything like, oh say, CurvyWordy's from the top view. But in this bra they kinda do!)

As far as sizing, this bra seems to fit similarly to other Panache banded models (like the Tango line). It seems to run fairly "true-to-size", inasmuch as that is possible to say with bras. In general I would say I seem to be between 32K/KK and 34JJ/K. This is consistent with that. The 32 is just a touch snug, but the 34 would definitely be too big. (I guess I really need a 33K, lol. Half a band size bigger and half a cup size bigger would probably be exactly perfect in this bra.)

This bra is the lightest of any I've tried or own in this size or similar. (It's about 25% lighter than my everyday Goddess Kiera's.) It reminds me a little of Pour Moi? bras, except definitely more sturdily constructed. The stretch lace top section makes it perfect for soft and/or uneven boobs. And the improvements to the underwires should eliminate issues many have had with past Panache models. Highly recommended!

Edited to add: It occurs to me that this bra is kinda like a half-cup bra with guard-lace! It seems like it does for full, soft boobs something like what a half-cup bra can do for someone who won't spill over the top, but it has the lace bit on top to keep the top part contained.

Edit2: One thing I am noticing as I continue to wear this bra, the underwires are starting to poke in the middle a bit. The wires are thin and not very padded, so they are starting to poke my sternum some. I think I will sew a small piece of felt or something to pad them a little more and that will probably fix it.
Also I wanted to note that for those who, like me, have no space at all between their boobs, the wires in this bra are pretty cooperative about twisting themselves so they lay pretty much one on top of the other (for me my larger side tends to push the wire outward), which, is actually a pretty good way of dealing with the no space in the middle problem.
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Updated on Nov 16, 2012 Flag this

As promised, here's your in-depth review!

Here's what you should know: The band is QUITE tight. I realistically could not even get it to stretch to 31 in. If you're between sizes, choose your larger band size. In my pics you can see it gives me a much bigger bulge under the back band than most of my bras do, I may end up putting an extender on it for a while. As I expected since it's Panache and not Cleo, compared to Marcie it doesn't fit radically different but it is, as we say, "more bra." Here's a comparison pic: imgur.com/g1cVpdo. The gore and wings are ... higher, and it's a little taller in the cups, a little bit wider wires, probably closer to the cut of Floris but the fabric makes it very different--I'll talk about that in a sec. Even tho it was taller in the cup than my Marcie, I found it still worked for me even with short roots because it seems more closed on top. If Marcie/Floris didn't work for you because you're too FOB, I would say give this a shot.

The biggest change from any of the Panache/Cleo 3-part balconettes that have come before it is that the bottom section is made from a stiff reinforced (laminated?) type mesh. Instead of being made for shape, this one is made for total support. Those in small cup size might find the construction excessive for the amount of support they need. I'd speculate it could give some back pain relief to the J-K crowd cause the stronger fabric really lifts you from the root. The downside is that since it's stiffer it doesn't mold to the body as well, so it's a tad wrinkly, but it wouldn't be visible except under tight clothes (and I wouldn't wear this with a tight shirt anyway because of the lace). Unlike last year's Olivia whose fabric was so stretchy I thought it would only work for those with very firm and full breasts, this fabric is so stiff I would highly recommend it for those like me with very soft breasts who need a little help being shaped, or those with pendulous breasts who need a lot of lift.

The shape is markedly more pointy than the Marcie, at least on me as someone with somewhat conical breasts. As you can see in my pics the "peak" is apparent through clothing. I'm not bothered by this--especially because it gives A LOT of forward projection--but those who dislike a pointy shape might want to stay away, at least until we see how it looks on someone with rounder breasts.

As for its appearance it's absolutely lovely. They describe it as Pink/Grey but to be more specific it's like a dusty rose base with sort of bluish charcoal overlay. The upper section has lace on top of a folded over mesh section, like the top of the Tutti Rouge Sophia/Mae.

All in all, I'm really pleasantly surprised by this one! It's nice to see Panache introduce something different construction-wise because Panache/Freya/other big names seem to mostly stick too "if it ain't broke don't fix it," but the improved fabrication of this bra is a liiiitle step forward.

EDIT: After wearing it today, OW. I'd recommend even more strongly to size up in the band, as this still dug in everywhere even with an extender. The higher wings/gore/etc also made things worse. I probably wore it for way longer than I should have but I don't think I'll be wearing this as a full day bra again any time soon. x_x I should have taken pics of the red marks cause you could see the full construction of the bra all over me! And I know red marks aren't always bad, but these were ANGRY and chafe-y. :'( ouch.
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Updated on Oct 31, 2015 Flag this

This is the first nice bra I've bought for myself since losing roughly 75 pounds. I bought it on a wing and a prayer online because it was on sale and my local shop isn't doing in-person fittings at this time, so I used the calculator here and held my breath until I opened the package today. This bra is gorgeous, I don't know why more people haven't bought it! The colour is so dreamy and pretty. It gives me the *slightest* quadding above the cup, but I'm at the height of water retention during my cycle, so I'm not bothered. The gore tacks *so well* on me, ... something I've missed during my "this'll do"period of bra complacency while I was still losing weight. The band looks very tight on me at the back, but it's comfortable; it's just the result of having softer back tissue now.

I've only worn it briefly for the photos so far, but I'm very impressed by how comfortable it is without moulding the wires to shape, which I always do pretty early on. The side sling is a nice feature, and I greatly appreciate the plushy non-stretch tape at the front straps to minimize bounce. Only a few of my bras have this and I really like it.
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Mauve Mist colorway

Updated on Jun 23, 2020 Flag this

This is VERY similar in fabrication and construction to the Panache Jasmine (6951).
It has the same fine stretchy quad-boob-defying lace across the top of the cups, and the lower cup has 3 vertical panels for a great rounded shape. These lower panels are made (as far as I can tell) from an outer net woven with a houndstooth pattern fused to a smooth inner net, so they are strong but soft and just slightly sheer. The straps are a simple striped elastic, no frills, felted underneath for comfort, from front to back - fully adjustable.
Like the Jasmine I would say it's fairly supportive but the ... softness of the materials mean it's not completely bounce proof. Never the less it certainly gives excellent lift and round (not torpedo) projection for me. The wires aren't flared (wide) but not a true U-shape either (narrow) - they are perhaps a centimeter too wide on me if I were to nitpick but they are nice and close set at the gore, and like the Jasmine they lie flat on my ribcage like magnets on a fridge.
[This is where I took a point off for comfort, and it's not really the bra's fault. Is there a bra out there with 80 cm of wiring that is moulded perfectly to my body, can hoist the ladies aloft and yet feel like nothing at all??]
This is where the Jasmine and Envy differ for me. I have found that Jasmine digs into my sternum when I lean forward or reach across myself, and though the wires appear identical, I've not had this yet with the Envy. If anything the gore is a tiny bit taller BUT there is the improvement. That extra 6mm is a bit of empty wire casing that cushions the ends.
One other difference, and I'm not sure yet how this plays: Jasmine has a single length of elastic which runs along the full lower edge of the band. Envy is constructed with elastic along the bottom of the wings and yoke, running under the cups and then crossing on the gore to anchor against the opposite cup. I'd be interested to know the benefits of these differences in mechanics.
Oh - I did take a point off for quality too because while overall excellent it looks like the lace on the top panels is already pilled, and it came out the box like that.

Update

The above review was for the black colour way.

I now have the nude version, same size, and have been wearing it for some time now. The black is slightly softer than the Jasmine but this colour is noticeably less supportive. I see no essential difference in shape but I don't think it has quite the lift, and I'm conscious of some wobble when I'm not wearing firmly fitting clothes. Also the straps lengthen throughout the day, to the point where they slip off my shoulders. Boo. That hasn't happened since I started wearing the right back size.
I imagine the firmness of the black is due to the colour itself (black dye often results in stiffer fabric) and I'm not giving up on Envy but I thought it worth mentioning.
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Updated on Apr 01, 2014 Flag this

Well, I gave a 28:12 UK bra a try. Not a total success but not a total fail either.

My shape: full on top, short roots, high set, very narrow/borderline Omega shaped, space between breasts, very soft breast tissue, pendulous, evenish to somewhat center fullness (5'1, short torso, store a lot of fat in my ribcage)

I measure 28 inches around exactly snug as of right now, so I'm your litmus test for how true to size a band is. The Envy is a little small, stretching to 27.5 inches--its bands are also a bit small in the 30s I've tried. My break the tape measurement is 27 ... inches, so I can definitely get this bra on my body, but it starts to hurt my back a little bit after a few minutes of wear. I'll definitely be wearing it with an extender until it stretches out that extra half an inch. You can see in the pictures that, because this bra is too small in the band, it pulls back and distorts the wires. In my experience, the Envy just does this a little bit anyway, but it's definitely worse with this size. Without an extender, the bra flattens my boobs and pulls them to my sides quite a bit. However, even though the extender helps, this still occurs when I add that extra half an inch to an inch of length onto the band: as you can see, the wires are wider than the rest of the band is long, and the bra can't sit flat as a result. I think this size is just by design going to do weird things with its wires. This is actually why I'm sharing this as an adventure--beware if you're buying an Envy with a smaller band size and bigger cup size!

Otherwise, my usual comments on the Envy. See my review for 30H - Panache » Envy Balconnet Bra (7285) . The wires are too wide, not enough projection, etc, but I find that I enjoy the Envy anyway (even this one with the too small band, I wore it around today with an extender). It does seem that I have a higher tolerance for firm and tall wires than a good amount of other people, though.

Also, I LOVE this purple. I've already had such a good time flashing these straps!
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Updated on May 18, 2021 Flag this

So, here's my first review of four, which I'll complete in the next few days. First of all, I didn't even realize that the Panache Cari (or any spacer foam bra for that matter) came in my size until Broad Lingerie posted it on their Instagram a month ago. I was immediately attracted to it because of the beautiful colour, but I didn't know if it would actually work for me or not. So, when I was in Toronto the last couple days, I knew I had to make a trip out to try it on, and spoiler alert, I was pleasantly surprised!

Next, we can all see how ... beautiful the appearance is. I love the unique colour, which works as a nude for me, and I love the geometric lace on the bridge which has a beautiful sheen to it. The finishes are so clean and so professional.

This bra is honestly a bit of a revelation for me, because as I said earlier, I never even realized that spacer foam bras came in my size, but it has already become a favourite of mine. The foam moves with my body because it is very thin and flexible, and there is potential for nipple show-through, but most of the time that's not an issue for me. I've worn it for about ten hours since I got it, including a four hour waitressing shift, and it didn't budge and it was extremely comfortable and light on my body. I forgot I was wearing it. It fits well on either the loosest or the middle hook, depending on the day and how I'm feeling. The wires are a tiny bit wide, but not enough to bother me. The only potential fit issue is that the top edge is on the verge of cutting into my tall roots, so if I gain any weight I may get some quadboob going on.

Overall I'm extremely happy with it and I look forward to hopefully a long relationship with it!
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Heather colorway

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Updated on Jun 01, 2018 Flag this

People, choirs of angels started singing when I put on this bra. It was epic.

Why do so few bras have much depth in the bottom of the cup? It hardly seems to be an unusual bra-fitting problem. Whatever the reason, if that's one of your problems, too, the Envy is well worth a try.

My breasts have average height/width roots, set low on my chest, and are self-supporting, with even fullness, average projection, and firm tissue. The Panache Envy just might be the only bra I've ever tried that has enough depth in the bottom of the cups that my breasts don't push down the underwires to find enough ... room (which seems to be their superpower). Can't and don't even want to. Wow.

My previous best fits were the Cleo Lily and Panache Jasmine (both also in 30FF), but while those are pretty good, neither of them have quite enough projection at the bottom of the cup, which leads to me needing to hike the underwires back up into my inframammary fold every couple of hours, just like other bras.

The Envy, though? I wore it all day yesterday and the underwires did. not. budge. No readjusting; no real need to think about my bra at all. Took off my bra at the end of the day, and there were the temporary red marks, right under the breast roots where they belong, rather than a finger's width below. The lovely round, uplifted shape it gives me is the icing on the cake. I have the [white person's] "nude" color, and I plan to buy the black and cassis colorways, too — and every other colorway Panache releases in the future.


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Updated on Oct 01, 2014 Flag this

Finally, the Envy in something close to my skin tone! I'm excited Panache released this colorway (chestnut) and hope that this becomes a permanent option.
I own the same bra in black and in navy-- see 32J - Panache » Envy Balconnet Bra (7285) for my full review of the black colorway.

Chestnut colorway

Updated on Apr 04, 2021 Flag this

When I lost weight and my old bras wouldn't fit anymore, I had to buy a new bra quickly. Panache Tango can be found at good prices on eBay and it is very reliable so I opted for that one.I find that the Tango is a very supportive and reliable bra and expecially in big cup sizes. I had many of these over the years.
The band runs true to size and the cups fit slightly big, but they are not very roomy on top. So for full - on - top boobs, it is not the best option. The bra is very supportive and I don't have to ... adjust anything during the day. The quality is excellent.

What I don't like about it: the shape from the front is a bit east- west which I don't like. The wires are slightly too wide for me. The biggest problem is the center gore. I have close-set full on top boobs. The Tango bra really seperates boobs with a very tall gore. The top of the gore pushes against my sternum painfully and I get red marks. I really wanted to get out of this bra quickly at the end of the day. Oddly my 30K Tango does not hurt me at the gore, I noticed the gore is 1.5cm lower on that one. I would have to keep that in mind if I every buy a Tango again in any size... not have the gore be higher than on the 30K. (30K I wear wear with extender so it's like a 32JJ) I will keep it and wear it occasionally but continue to search for something a bit more comfortable and with a more center front shape.

My pictures I have taken 4 month ago, when I got the bra, I have lost few kg since then, so it fits a little differently but not much. Just a bit more room on top and it don't look like I spill out of the sides anymore. I will take new pics and add them soon.

I have worn it for a full day again. It is my best Fitting bra currently, but I'm so glad to get out of this bra at the end of the day. The wires are so sturdy, which is a good Thing for support but I feel like I wear a corset. The gore pushed on my sternum very badly. So bra fits, but is not comfortable.

1 month later and the bra is really too big now and I cannot make it work anymore by tightening the straps. 30K is a better fit in cups now.
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Updated on Mar 18, 2019 Flag this

Another debut is upon us; non-nursing bra without wires from Panache. Anybody su

http://miskidwie.pl/en/panache-andorra-soft-30f/

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 18, 2018 Flag this

MiskiDwie

6201 reputation

586 bras

After receiving this bra in the mail I was disheartened that it didn't fit, until I made it fit that is. Usually I have an issue with the upper lace sections in bras being too tight so I assumed that hey, I must be FOT. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG. After trying this on I realized that my whole life of having boobs really has been a lie and I am actually FOB/Immediately projected with center fullness. So me, being the crafty bitch that I am, did some quick alterations (took in part of the upper lace section, converted the bra into a racer back and took in the ... gore [special thanks to @brasihate]) the bra fit like a DREAM. (Excuse the awkward wrinkle the first alteration attempt was a bit shoddy). No more awkward space at the bottom of the cup/upper lace cutting into the top of my breasts. For once there is actually enough immediate projection (I think it might actually be comparable to polish brands? Because there is *extra emphasis on* A LOT). My boobs actually hold the wires in place after i unhook the bra which could actually make for a pretty cool magic trick. As for the band I can still easily get it onto the last hook which leads me to assume that either my real band measurement is either a lot smaller than I'd thought or every bra brands bands that ive tried aren't actually 28s. So far this has happened with every 28/30 band that I get, the scenario usually goes like this:
》buys 28 or 30 band bra
》Before stooping, scooping, wrestling, swooping, jiggling, and wrestling again the bra feels like it fits fine on the second hook, first hook if I'm lucky
》After wrestling my titties into their prisons I then realize that I actually need to tighten the hooks even more than what I first thought which then puts me on the third row of hooks
》insert minor defeat
*deep inhale*
BUT the underwires are a bit sturdy, I feel like it'll become more comfortable with wear and washing as the Elsa did.
All in all I would rate this a major win due to the fact that this bra fits for the majority of the part (After alterations), even my SO was excited when he saw that a bra actually FIT me for once and not just kinda but enough so that I could make do. I can already tell that my search for a bra that fits is coming to a much needed end (for our wallets and my sanity). Stay tuned for next time!
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Black colorway

This bra's measurements have been altered

Altered straps, Altered center Gore, took in part of upper lace section, added projection

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 19, 2018 Flag this

This is a beautiful bra. The lace is lovely and I really like the colour. It could work as a nude on a lot of skin tones. The cups are fairly projected and lightly padded, and the foam is nice and soft against your skin. The 28G fits me really well, I think. I get a very small amount of quad boob on my larger side. The band is nice and snug and the overall comfort is good. I do find the wires a little long so they are rubbing into my armpits a bit, and the gore digs into my sternum slightly. While I love the aesthetics ... of this bra, I do get a bit of an upside-down 7 shape with it, especially on my larger side. Overall, I'm happy with this bra. My breasts are narrow, soft and pendulous with a FOB, centre-full shape and lots of projection just above the wire.

Update- Having worn this for a full day, I can tell it doesn't have enough projection above the wire. The underwire marks are more than an inch below my IMF when I take it off.
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Updated on Feb 11, 2018 Flag this

I have no idea why I waited so long to try the Tango. Just last week, someone on facebook mentioned that Tango fit bigger than Jasmine for them. I'm on the verge of out growing my 32JJ Jasmine and even my 32JJ Floris is getting small. So I found this on clearance on Amazon, with prime shipping and free returns (have you used an amazon locker for returns yet? So sweet! I have a locker about a mile from my house!)

Yes. Yes this DOES fit bigger than the jasmine. It looks like a much better shape for my full-all-over omega boobs. ... I mean, there's some wrinkling, and some gapping at the top, but we big girls cant be so picky. If there's no quadding and good support and no pain, its a win!

Sorta tempted to buy the "Heather Ombre" which is a dusty purple, but I think I'll wait and see if my weight drops. After all, I have a 75K S rokoko coming from Ewa and I'm in negotiations to buy a (probably) never-worn 75K S Mojito, so I should be ok for a bit.
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Ruby colorway

Updated on Dec 10, 2017 Flag this

I'll have to review this again in a few months for sure, but as of right now, with a few modifications I have never had a bra look like this on my body before.

The pictures I took made me REALLY see my own shape, what I'm supposed to look like in a bra and what support is supposed to feel like. I learned that I don't like too tall a gore, which led to me learning how to modify gores and wires and I bought some meshy athletic fabric that's coming for me to pad a little bit behind the gore and behind another itchy spot. I learned ... that I had quilting soap in the back of my closet and that you can use that for bras!

The uncomfortable parts: I've worn sports bras for... pretty much my entire bra life. So having a real band is taking some getting used to. The gore itches like mercy and I'm not quite sure why, I'm hoping it was excess soap but I'm going to probably sew a tiny thing on the inside to protect my skin from it, and I'm going to bend the wires a bit so it isn't touching as hard. The part where the bra cup turns into the strap has some lace that itches as well so if you have super sensitive skin you might have to do a little modification of this bra.

I don't know what it'll be like in six months, but as of 3/17/2017, Panache is getting some money from me.
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Heather colorway

Updated on Mar 17, 2017 Flag this

The fit of this bra isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn close. I have a fun backstory with this bra though (sorry it's a bit long)-

I've been breastfeeding continuously for 3.5 years. During that time I've been pretty prone to clogs anytime I even LOOK at a wired bra, so I've been mostly wearing bras I affectionately call "stretchy beige tarps." My youngest baby is a little over 1 year old and only nurses twice a day now, so I was VERY excited to make a trip to the local fancy bra boutique (Breakout Bras!) and have a proper fitting. Even before I got pregnant, I was wearing ... super old stretched out bras. I honestly can't even guess what size they were. In preparation for my fitting, I measured myself and followed the directions on r/ABTF and come up with a size somewhere in the neighborhood of 34G/GG. That seemed about right to me, I knew my band was 34ish but I couldn't find cups big enough in stores. I planned a girls' luncheon with my friends to try on bras, and off we went.

When I got to the bra boutique, the clerk (fitter? salesperson? I don't know her actual title!) gave me a once over in my stretchy beige tarp and declared me a 32HH. I was skeptical I'd be able to breathe, but figured she was the expert, so I eagerly waited while she brought me some bras to try. She brought a mix of Elomi, Fantasie, and Panache bras... everything was VERY full coverage. Not that I really requested super sexy/plunge stuff, but I'm very petite and have a short torso, and full coverage bras always feel like they come up to my neck. (I've since determined that my shape is very short-rooted/high set, narrow, and projected. I'm 5'2" and my bra band in the back is usually only 4-5" above my pants... super short torso.)

So I started trying on these bras, and I could BARELY fasten them... as in, if my ribcage were even 1/4" bigger, it wouldn't have happened. I was worried I was going to break/rip the bras. In hindsight I am certain the wires were probably distorted in everything I tried on. To say I was uncomfortable would be putting it mildly... my "break the tape" measurement is 32.5" and most 32" bands are painful. I told the woman that was helping me, and she dismissed my concerns, and said I'd get used to it. In all the bras I tried on, the straps had to be adjusted as small as they could possibly go. I realize now this was a sign that the cups were probably a bit too big and she was pulling up the slack (and they all still gaped a bit on my smaller side); it didn't actually make the straps too short. What it DID do was pull all the cups straight up into my armpits (I'm sure the super tight band and wire distortion played a part as well). The upper/outer sides of the cups were digging into my Tail of Spence and armpit and the area was red/raw feeling after about half a dozen bras. Again, I was told it was just because I'd been used to nursing bras, and I'd get used to it. She never took any bras back to try a different size, and according to her the band looked great.

Despite these red flags, I really liked several of the bras she brought me. My very very favorite was this bra - the Panache Clara in Duck Egg blue. When it came time to pick one to purchase, I picked a Fantasie Rebecca (basically a beige t shirt bra) and this one in a 32HH. The last step at the boutique is that a manager/supervisor has to come over and "approve" your fit. Well, the manager didn't care for the fit of this one. Not for any of the reasons I would've cited though; she said it looked like the gore and armpit wires were too high on me and even if it were comfy then, it would bother me within a couple of hours. She did not approve it for purchase. (I think I could've bought it anyway, but forfeit returns? or something, I didn't push it.) So even though it was beautiful and I'd made all my friends that were with me come look at it in the dressing room because I loved it so much, I didn't take it home that day... which is probably for the best because it was a 32HH.

I spent the next month obsessively reading bra blogs and reviews and measurements on Bratabase. I ordered a bunch from Amazon Prime just to try different sizes. And, lo and behold, I determined that a 34GG was a MUCH better fit for me in Panache bras! So I bought this one and am very tempted to wear it to the bra boutique, just to show it off. The fit is great now, the band is comfortable, the wires are comfortable (for Panache), the cups fit perfectly (it's like a second skin!), the straps are adjusted properly, it encloses all my tissue, and the cups are not up in my armpits/ToS. It's a bra miracle. I even posted a photo here in Bratabase, I was so excited about the fit. When I opened the package from Amazon and tried it on, angels sang. I lounged in it and read a book in bed, it was THAT comfy.

It's not quite perfect - I am still a short person and it does have a tall gore (it comes higher than the majority of my breast tissue), but I think I can bend it just enough to make it work. I also think I could use just a smidge more projection near the center (just below/beside the gore). The bra fits strangely in that region (it's that inner triangle of fabric near the center), and it creates an oddly flat area, but you can really only feel it, not see it, because of the location. My only other complaint (if you could call it that) is that the wire swings a bit wide under my arm, and ends up about 1" past the end of my breast tissue. It doesn't bother me comfort-wise, just worth noting for others that have narrow roots. The lace around the band is a bit stiff but I fully expect it will soften up after a few washes/wears.

Moral of the story: Don't let someone else tell you what bra you are comfortable in!
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Duck egg colorway

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Updated on Nov 29, 2016 Flag this

Just an initial review, as I've really only tried it on for now. I plan on wearing it today and likely tomorrow, and I'll update as needed.

This bra works remarkable well, considering my past experience with Panache. The wires are a bit too wide, and I have some empty space on the bottom of the cup on my smaller boob, but their width is not what I would consider problematic. I have some slight wrinkling on my smaller boob, but I've never met an unpadded bra in which this wasn't an issue. The band is firm, but comfortable. I've been straggling between a 32 and 34 band for ... some months, but recently lost 10 pounds, so I am probably closer to 32 than 34 at this point.

The shape is very round for an unpadded -- not CHP round, but nowhere near conical. The straps *might* be an issue, as they look like there's potential for them to dig from being set too far apart, but the fabric of the bra is super soft, so I suspect any issues will ease with wash and wear. As a bonus, the straps are padded, and feel super comfy.

The cups are double-lined in this size, which I prefer, since it lends much better support than if they were not. What I appreciate about Panache is that the aesthetic of the bra is maintained (unlike some of Freya's balconettes in larger sizes), while support and fit is still there. The lace of the bra is quite stretchy, but not so much that support is compromised. The top of the cups, comprised of stretch lace, cut in my FoT boobs ever so slightly, but it's not noticeable in clothing.

The color is gorgeous of course, one of the main reasons I felt the need to purchase this, and works well as a nude bra for my super pale skin. The apricot is brighter in person, and looks great with my pale skin and auburn hair. It's a great spring bra, and will pair well with my brightly colored lace Aerie undies. The cups are patterned on the bottom with polka dots, which extend to the band. The floral lace lines the top of the cup and the bottom of the band, and has a slight sheen to it. All in all, I'm very pleased with this! I'm excited for the future release of the blue colorway I've seen on Moda previews.
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Updated on Mar 15, 2015 Flag this

I recommend getting up one band size in this bra. The band is very firm and runs tight.I normally wear a 30 band in Panache, but the 32 band on Ariza felt almost too tight on me.
The support from the band is awesome. I could almost wear this bra as a strapless.

Shoulder straps are thin. I don’t like that. But the band on this bra is that stable that it really does support a larger bust and there is very little weight on the shoulder straps (as it should be !) I have loosened thee straps to a comfy length, so they do not cut in too ... much.
The shape it gives me is a bit pointier than I prefer. (nowhere near a Bravissimo Dotty Spot though)

Now the 32J is 1 - 2 cup sizes too small for me. I though about trying a 32K as recommended in fitting help section, but then I decided otherwise. I usually like my bras rather a tiny bit too big than too small. On this one I came to the conclusion that It should rather be a tiny bit small than too big. I won’t imagine what these thin shoulder straps would do to me when I have to tighten them all the way!

Comfort: 3 / 5 (I have to wear it with an extender first, the band feels too tight.)
Appearance: 4 / 5 (I love the bright purple color, shape is not that great)
Quality: 5 / 5 (can say nothing bad so far)
All in all a solid 3.75

Edit: I decided to keep this bra. I like that it is extremly supportive. I wear it now with an extender with 2 extra rows of hooks. The cup does fit now better but there is still slight quadraboob, although not as bad that I would have to size up to 32K. 32J is exactly the right size to fit the bottom of my breast (no empty fabric) but I need the volume of a 32JJ or 32K on top to get rid of the quadraboob. A 32JJ would probably be a better fit in this bra.
Now that I'm wearing it for a whole day I have to say that the wires on the side are almost too high. If I bend over they start poking. So I don't think I would get along with the older Arizas, where the wires used to come much higher.

beware of the inconsistent band sizing in Ariza: http://www.bratabase.com/profile/3a1/adventures/1692/
up to J - cup it rans very firm in band - go up 1 band size
from a JJ cup and up it rans rather loose, don't size up
a 30K has the same band length as a 34J !!


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Updated on Feb 06, 2014 Flag this

This is the bra that I would recommend for a woman trying to find her first correctly fitted bra online.

It's extremely supportive and probably provides the most perky shape of all my bras. It's almost a little retro! However there are no stiff seams at the nipple so it's not overtly pointy.

The lace on the top of the cup is very stretchy. The band is firm but also very stretchy and moves as you breathe nicely.

I can wear this bra in a few sizes and there are no obvious fitting flaws. It's the most forgiving bra I've tried. The lace is firm but stretchy and won't dig in. But in the 30G (my standard bra size) this is the most comfortable.

That's why I'd recommend it to a first timer desperately trying to self fit and paying a small fortune in online returns: you'll get close to your perfect size and still be able to wear the Andora comfortably. For your 2nd bra you can work on something more exacting in the fitting department!

Updated on May 21, 2012 Flag this

This bra fit very similarly to the Panache Scarlette bra 30D (http://bratabase.com/browse/panache/scarlett_4501/30D/).

The material in the Tango 2 is silkier than the Scarlett. The band is slightly stretchier, but not really enough to make a difference between the two.

The problem I had again was with the cups. I fit fine on the bottom of the cups, and the underwires were no problem. The top of the cup was slighly too baggy for me, but the top edge was flush against my body. It kind of looked like the top edge was pushing the top of my breasts down because I ended up with a really pointy shape. If the shoulder straps were more centred so the top of the cup was lifted, I think it would have fit fine.

I would say this bra is probably for someone who is full on top.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 03, 2011 Flag this