This is one of those times where it's important to note the colorway in review because it ends up fitting differently from the rest.
Duck Egg Clara is indeed an abberation in fit compared to all the other colorways. It does have more room at the bottom, the wires do fit all right in my IMF where they belong, unlike with Heather or Slate/Teal. It is probably too much to hope Panache would go back to this particular cut on further Clara colors, as overall I rather enjoy the look of Clara, and the bottoms are just great (unlike Jasmine, sadface).
With Clara I get a not outrageous but lifted, round appearance, and not exactly east-west but further separated look than Envy or Jasmine.
The Clara is one of my favorite bras (I have 3, one is Duck Egg!). I agree with all your comments - lifted, round, not as centered as Envy/Jasmine, great matching briefs. I haven't tried the Heather or Slate/Teal colorways though - interesting to hear they all fit so different!
eryoptical , I've taken to understand the other colorways fit the same, just the Duck Egg is different. (Or perhaps, SO different from the others it's super obvious instead of subtle.) The Panache Orianne fits much like Duck Egg Clara, but with more coverage, (blues and golds gotta stick together, I guess) if you were considering trying that one.
Also, I read your review on the Duck Egg Clara, and I think we have the same issue with gores as I'm also 5'2." My breasts start 5" below my collar bone, so 4" gore seems SUPER TALL on me, and I can't wear deep necklines with most of my Panache bras because shirts seem to expect more vertical chest space than I have. (Also, whereas Petite and Plus don't seem to go together.) Sigh.
Oh goodness, don't even get me started on how clothing manufacturers can't conceive of a person being both petite and plus size! It really irks me.
Yes, Panache wires seem super tall on me, even though I don't find them uncomfortable. They're definitely visible in v neck shirts, even more so because I'm so short and most people are looking down to talk to me.
I have Duck Egg, the beige Clara, and a teal/navy in 34g (which fits about the same as my others in 34gg but is slightly less comfortable because the g-gg jump is where they change construction). The beige one and Duck Egg do fit a smidge different, but I just chalked it up to the difference in individual bras! Good to know.
Yeah the advantage of being plus sized petite in a well fitting bra is I've had other women notice my gore tacks when theirs doesn't which sparks the "wait, how does that work" conversation. And I love helping, but also it'd be nice if I didn't have it on display so often, as it were. (Or, why Snug camis are my friend.)
I do see some instances plus+petite being addressed in pants but never in tops/dresses. So, half of me is represented. :x
Plus size petites unite! 5'4" - my boobs and my hips are pretty much the biggest parts of me. I'm a little different than y'all in that I have a lot of center fullness, so taller Panache gores work well on me... but their wires can get pretty stabby in my armpits.
My Duck Egg Clara is a really close fit. I get some quaddind unfortunately.
Also, I know Talbots and Lands End offer plus size petites but they're not exactly the height of fashion. The sizing is annoying too. I have a 0X sweater from Lands End that's a great fit, but it's like, 0X, really?? And Talbots only goes up to 16 in plus petites - I tend to be an 18 in pants and 16 in shirts. But size 18 regular women's pants are often a poor fit, and size 18 plus pants are too long...argh!!!
I am 5'2, and petite pants never fit me, because of the shape of my waist. I wear short length, not petite
High fives!
Panache/tall gores work fine as far as fit and comfort on me, they're just really tall, so I have to be careful about necklines. It's why I was super happy to see the Panache Ava Plunge (9396) and somewhat disappointed by it's fit issues.
I get a lot of my clothes from Torrid and LoveSick because I have a more than ample rear, so their pants fit me well most of the time. Thankfully several of their jeans have a short or extra short version, and their cropped leggings are pretty much ankle length on me.
Despite having a 45" bust tho' I can't wear any tops with buttons, they even gap in size 2. It's dumb. Otherwise I'm normally 0x or 1x and have just resigned the sizing to "whatever, it fits."
Jockey also makes super comfy underthings and thermals that are quite forgiving in regard to size. I find myself happy in a large or 7 there, where as in Torrid bottoms I'm 1 or 14 , sometimes 16.
my boobs are very low on my chest, so i have only recently had a panache wire poke me in the underarm, and that was 32JJ floris, but not the jasmine. very tempted to get another jasmine. feeling like none of my bras fit, again. but i have 2 Ewas on the way. you know, in a month or two.
Dear Panache, your plunges need to be plungier. See: Elomi's killer plunges. On your model the gore looks much lower; at my size it's 3.25," or at least 1.25" more than I like to see in a plunge. We sacrifice coverage (and maybe some support) at the center to be able to wear deep v necks. PLEASE PLUNGE MORE.
Also, this band is super stretchy! I bet the combo of soft stretch lace and I having 2 hooks instead of 3 is the key. Wore for half an hour, did light chores, lots of band movement. Went to second hooks, still some movement but not nearly so ...bad.
I should add I have been losing weight and it's possible I've lost enough to be in SUPER AWKWARD between band territory. So first I'll order the 34H, try it, and keep the one that fits best.
Pros:
SOFT! Based on the model I was expecting something like the Jasmine, but the lace is much softer, even more so than the Envy. I was hesitant to buy the matching bottoms because Jasmine bottoms just do not work for me, but... now that I have to exchange anyway I am going to give them a try.
Partial transparency. Also based on the model I was expecting the more opaque appearance like the Jasmine, but the two inner panels have a slight transparency, I love it.
Oh yeah, the straps! They're thinner than average for my size, which is GREAT! Usually I'm looking at .75-1" for straps, and tho' these straps are more like .6" it's a noticeable and welcome difference.
Neutral:
The grey is darker than expected, so those of you with darker skin tones looking for a good "nude" should consider this. Read more 176 more words
Yes, I want all bra makers to make their plunges plungier, too, bliz !
The lowest gore I own is about 3.4", and that's on a Comexim plunge with a reduced gore. Once you hit a certain size, the plunges just get really tall :(
Orianne's fit is not unlike the Duck Egg Panache Clara Full Cup Bra (7255) . The overall style of the bra is much more full cup tho'; the coverage reminds me of some of my old Elomi bras, and the gore is a whopping 5," where I'm used to 4. Not uncomfortable, but this will absolutely be an issue with those who are very close set. I do have a small amount of tissue it rests on at the very top but it's not an issue. The wire also comes up quite high under my arms and around my sides (this really is FULL COVERAGE), so ...if you have an issue with sensitivity in these areas/prefer less coverage you'll want to skip Orianne.
The wires are maybe .25" wider than I need; I can fit a finger width between where the wire ends and where my tissue does. But like the Clara I get a super round shape from Orianne, while also giving plenty of projection at the wire.
The color scheme and design is very classy and elegant. Super dark teal on soft gold organic leaf and vine shapes; not exactly floral, which I'm totally fine with. And the matching bottoms are microfiber, SO SOFT. They offer more coverage than the Clara, Envy, or Jasmine briefs without getting into high waisted territory. Which I also really appreciate.
I've worn this a few times and am super happy with my purchase. Also, totally worth it to pick up a second pair of the super comfy bottoms. Read more 147 more words
Thanks for your review - very helpful. I had my eye on Orianne as she is so beautiful, but I don't think that tall gore will work for me. I may yet try Clara in duck egg.
bliz I wear the duck egg Clara in a 30H and while I love how it looks on the hanger I do want to warn you that it wears out really quickly. I had to force the adjuster over the lace filigree at the top of the strap recently because it had stretched out and wasn't supportive. The band also stretched out much faster than I expected, especially for a PA bra. I was expecting a band more similar to the Envy (my favorite bra) but I'm having to go on the second hook already, and I don't even wear it that often! I also don't put it in the dryer or spin it. I still like it because I think it's a beautiful color and I figured out how to push the adjuster past the stitch point, but I don't think I would buy another one (and I'm really tempted by the navy blue that came out and the red that's coming out this season).
bliz I also work at a bra boutique in Richmond, Virginia and a lot of women have come in saying they don't like the bra or that they had issues with it because of the looseness.
Jasmine and I did not always agree...our love story was one that was developed with time and patience! The first time I tried Jasmine, the seam where the top lace is inserted gaped a lot, resulting in a pointy shape, that made me quiver...we weren't meant to be then. But alas, luckily for me, with the "orchid print" things changed: the fitting of the 28F was phenomenal, light years away from my unpleasant previous experience!
MY SHAPE: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.
THE TAKEAWAY: Front, center, and on display! Gives something of a retro, pointed silhouette - if you're into it, you'll love it, but this is not the bra for you if you want to minimize your bust line. Forgiving stretch lace is great for even to FoT shapes. Average wire width. If you have very little tissue on the sides, you may experience wrinkling at the side sling. Band runs true to size.
DETAILS: I'm not new to the Panache Jasmine - it was in my first batch of properly fitting bras back when ...I was in 32DD; a mid-way point between the 36C I'd worn for so long and the snugger, but better fitting, 28F/30E. I've long since needed to retire my 32DD in Black Ricamo, so over the last couple months I've tried various colorways and sizes until I settled on this one as the keeper. Love the rose print! It's sophisticated and sexy. I've always enjoyed the retro, pointed Jasmine silhouette and that remains true today. Fabric is a bit stiff and scratchy out of the box, so the seam between the printed fabric and the stretch lace is pronounced under tight fitting clothes. A few handwashes takes care of that.
While the bra definitely fits as per Bratabase criteria, I do get a curious bit of vertical wrinkling on the sides at the sling (see side view picture). The wire width is right within my best fitting parameters (5.0-5.2", this is 5.1") so it's not that the wire is too wide and I'm unable to fill out some of the cup. I'm guessing this is an outer fullness issue? Almost all of my tissue is on the front of my chest, so I'm guessing there's not much for the sling to gather and push forward. Anyone have any other thoughts? Read more 210 more words
Well I think we have very similar shapes so I'm going to be nosing around your reviews >>
The worst side sling issue I've ever had is definitely the Sophia from KHI, but I probably also have some side wrinkling in my own Jasmine :\
rainbrasspetals come to think of it, I HAVE had issues with side slings in the past - more specifically, the Fantasie Marianna Side Support Plunge Bra (9202), which basically indented into my breasts. It was a comically bad fit, and I wish I'd taken pictures now!
Beautiful bra! That color on you is fantastic. Did you try a reverse swoop and scoop to push more to the sides? I sometimes do that on some bra types.
Sob!
Yeah I have a fit request for an Empreinte that flattened me out hilariously on the side with the support sling...
I also feel like my center fullness has caused a lot of unhappiness with bras that fit okay, but gave me a weird shape I couldn't otherwise explain. I'm sort of desperately looking forward to the Cleo Mimi that will arrive on Friday, and future orders with Impimi after my bank account recovers a little. (Which might be sooner rather than later if more of the other bras I'm waiting on strike out.)
wow, thats a gorgeous colorway! hopefully the wrinkling will calm after a couple of washes
Gorgeous!
roxannelovesbras I gave the reverse scoop 'n' swoop a go, and while that does alleviate some of the wrinkling, it creates a new problem: I can't fill out the top of the cups. Luckily, the wrinkling isn't a deal breaker by any means, so I'm keeping it :)
Finally tried Jasmine and wish I'd tried it sooner!
Floris was my favorite bra until I outgrew it - but I mostly grew in fullness, and when I tried a larger Floris, the shape was all wrong - too wide, too deep.
But this bra fits similarly to the way the 32J floris fit me - almost pointy, which i like under over-sized shirts. Great uplift, easy fit for me! It is slightly loose at the top on my smaller side, but thats fine - I needed this for a PMS bra. I might even borrow a pad for my smaller side, from other bras.
Oh yay, glad you finally got one and you love it! I actually tried on a 34J Jasmine (only size they had) in my local store the other day with you in mind. I was going to message you to let you know it fit me, besides the band being too big, but never mind now -- you already got one. :) Hope the stretch lace works well for you as a PMS bra.
truthfully I hope I lose weight and never wear it! But that probably wont happen. I still sometimes wear my 32JJ - Curvy Kate » Lola Padded Balcony Bra (SG1901) during PMS, and I HATE that bra, so a little extra lace on my smaller side is just not a thing at all.
That looks nice! Maybe something I should try...
Well if you lose weight you'll just have to size down ;-) it looks great on you!
This bra, people. This bra. Why is nobody talking about this bra? I. Love. This. Bra.
Okay, Okay. I know. Different strokes for different boobs (that sounds sort of wrong, doesn’t it?). I know lots of people just don’t care for the T-shirt bra aesthetic. However, as a SAHM, T-shirts are basically my uniform, so I am happy to have finally found one that fits, is comfortable, and looks good both in and out of shirts.
On with the review.
As the name says, it’s a moulded spacer foam bra. I’ve never had much luck with moulded bras. I never managed to cram myself into a foam dome when I ...was still stuck in the matrix. I’m guessing I was a 32E then (prior to babies and breastfeeding, which seems to have permanently biggered them) and was wearing 34DD, so technically a sister size and not insanely wrong. But I was always too projected for any of the T-shirt bras I ever tried. And I tried a lot, since that’s mostly what was available. Spacer foam is much lighter and more flexible than the typical moulded foam.
I have tried a couple of other spacer bras. I had a @Fayreform Profile Perfect 32FF briefly that I got off ebay. Holy crap. You think Panache wires are stiff? That thing left semi-permanent grooves in my ribs. I was definitely a 32FF then but the cups were too tall and too deep for me. So uncomfortable I don’t even want to try it in another size. I also tried on a @Fantasie Rebecca a couple of years ago at a boutique and was completely underwhelmed with the shape it gave me. This bra does looks a bit like that one. I knew this bra was a risk but it was cranberry and Butterfly Collection had it on sale so …
Well, it’s pretty much perfect. Wire width good, enough projection, gore tacks, band just right. My boobs aren’t lifted like in my unlined Cleos, but they’re lifted enough for me, and the shape is just infinitely better under clothes. It is minimizing in that it seems to hold the breasts close to my body, but not flattened out like every other minimizer I’ve ever tried on. Let me put it this way, my boobs are nicely separated but there is no east-west action. It is by a mile the most comfortable bra I have. The spacer foam is very light and I think it will be fine for summer (although, technically, nothing is good for the hot and humid summers we have here). I have a little bit of gaping on my smaller side, but it is not bothersome and absolutely does not show under clothes.
I know some people might think it’s a boring bra, but I think it’s lovely in an understated way. Of course, cranberry is one of my favourite colours. There is some tone-on-tone embroidery on the mesh around the cups. There is a bow at the top of each cup where it meets the straps, as well as the obligatory bow on the gore. Band has two hooks. It has a j-hook so I even have the racer-back option for summer, but I have not tried it yet.
I’m sort of between sizes right now. When I ordered this, my 32FF unlined bras were still fitting OK and I ordered down a size as per recommendations. Well, since then, I lost a few more pounds and suddenly all my 32FFs just collapsed on me. Even my Envy 32F, which was always on the small side, is getting a bit floppy. I think because the spacer foam is a bit stretchy I could actually size down to 32E and this issue would disappear.
Of course, Butterfly Collection shut down about two weeks after I got this bra. I went back to order another one, but was too late!! Sob, sob. It hasn’t really shown up on clearance anywhere or on ebay yet, since I guess it’s still so new. I need, need, need the champagne colourway of this bra … but I need to be patient because the best price I can find is just utterly ridiculous, even before duty and shipping are factored in. Oh, Canada, Y U such a bra desert? (Sorry, this is supposed to be a review, not a rant!)
This full cup is far from looking granny! The new spring/summer 2016 Panache Andorra colorway is stunning! The bra is projected and narrow enough for my taste!
As someone with a small frame this bra ends about halfway into my armpit. The underwires are hugeee on me!
This bra is very pretty and I really wish it fit, but it's just terrible for me! The gore is too wide for my close-set breasts and rubs onto the breast tissue there, while the cups are too wide and the underwire ends in my armpit and also rubs there. The band is too big and the cups could perhaps be a tiny bit smaller, maybe a 28JJ would be a better size for me.
I did attempt to non-permanently alter this bra by sewing the gore closer together and the underwire forwards to stop the rubbing, but it didn't help all that much. I've removed the threads I had sewn in and I don't see any needle holes but if you do, that is why.
After finding that a lot of my previous fit issues with Panache (straps too far apart, wires much too wide, cups digging into my arm pit, gaps in cup, etc.) were all nearly eliminated with my 32GG - Panache » Andorra Full Cup Bra (5675) in a smaller cup size I generally go for in Panache, I decided to give this one a go in a 32GG as well. So glad I did! Holy projection, Batman. This gives Cleo levels of projection and lift, miles (or...erg....inches, many inches) better than any other UK bra I've tried before. My only fit quibble, other than the usual Panache ...super strong wires and super firm band, which will be alleviated with some wash and wear, is that the top cuts in slightly on my right breast -- the bigger of the 2, always causing problems. Once I pull up the cups a bit and force my tissue really into the cup, it's not really an issue anymore. Other than that, love the lift, support, and projection with this baby!
Aesthetically, the ivory colorway is much more brighter and gorgeous in person. I haven't really been a fan of their past prints, but LOVE this. The ivory background is a lovely neutral, and the bright colors of the sweet flowers really pop against the lighter base color.
Panache Tangos work on a specific shape. That shape not being my shape. I was looking for a simple, unpadded plunge bra with little projection to wear under work blouses. My last Tango was 28GG and cut terribly into my cleavage, so I ordered up to a 28H.
The problems that affected me in the 28GG returned with a vengeance in the 28H. Starting with the gore, it is a bit wide for my close set boobs. It's like the bra does not want my boobs touching AT ALL (I like a little bit of touching, it's more comfortable). Would not be a problem if there was less fullness in the centre.
The only thing I like about this bra is that the band is firm. There's very little upwards shifting when I move about. Unfortunately, the shape it gives me is unforgivable and I'll need to sell this to someone who is a Tango fan.
I love this bra. I had my doubts about it being a "full cup" but it's not matronly at all. I'd highly recommend it. I love the shape of this bra. It's demure yet very round. It's also very comfortable!
Andorra is known to run a bit small in the cup. I recommend sizing up 1 cup size compared to your usual Panache size but mostly because that bra is insanely shallow on bottom. I was about a 32K / 34JJ when I received this bra and of course it was too small. The wires were too short on the side / cups too short which ended up in some side spillage. I also got some quadboob despite the stretchy lace. So I would say the bra was about 2 cup sizes too small for me. The shoulder straps are very thin (although fully adjustable) and not very comfortable.
Obviously, the band is too large for my 32.5 inches underbust and I can easily fasten it to the tightest hook, but the cups are perfect and the centre gore lies flat (not flush but flat) against my sternum, with the band fastened to the middle hook. The wires sit on top of one another, which takes up less place between my close set boobs. They do come up a bit higher than I'd like and can poke me at times. Still, this should be a pretty good fit once I alter the band. I really liked the print when I first saw the bra, but wasn't crazy about ...the large lace part. Since then, I've seen people raving about the stretch lace and how accomodating it was. Now that I've tried it, I see their point, but apparence-wise I would still like a bra made completely out of the print fabric or at least with a smaller lace section. The lace is good at preventing quadboobs, but doesn't shape the breast tissue, so if you're ful on top, this really shows! I personnally prefer a little more support there. The bra gives me more projection than I prefer and makes my boobs look taller than they are. It gives a very upfront shape, which I like though.The wires are shorter on the sides than on old Panache styles, but the centre gore is still pretty high. Even though the band is too big, the wires don't slide down over the course of the day, but stay firmly at the crease under my breasts. I had to force the staps to adjust them short enough for me as the adjustable part is very small. As usual with Panache, the quality is good.
Edited to add that the band tends to ride up even after being altered for some reason. Read more 197 more words
I bought this bra knowing that the band would be too tight. I'm hoping it'll stretch out; this review is on how the bra fits with an extender.
First of all, I didn't believe a bra could actually affect posture until I tried on this one! I do find myself standing straighter with my shoulders more naturally back in this bra.
What I love about it is the stretch lace. For once when I bend over without a very full coverage bra, I don't get quadboob. My breasts are very soft, which makes it easy to just flow out of the tops and middle of cups and make unsightly bulges ...under clothing. At first I thought I was doing that in this bra... turns out that although when I bend over my breasts do start flowing out the top, the bra doesn't cut in and cause quadboob! It just stretches and keeps a smooth line.
It also does what a forward projecting bra should do; gather in tissue from the sides and shove it forward. Because of this it's a pointy shape, but it lifts nicely and narrows my front profile. (A little too much for my body, but that's because right where the bra goes is the narrowest part of my torso width-wise. This bra really shows that off and makes me look unbalanced with my wider bottom half.)
What I also love about the bra is the immediate cup depth in the middle. That's exactly what I need for my lack of separation. It lets my boobs go straight out forward instead of pushing them outwards like other bras do when there isn't enough depth around the center gore.
There are two major problems with this bra; the straps slip off my shoulders because they are too wide, and if I lean the wires poke at the back of my armpits because they're too wide too. This explains why although I have a perimeter of 14.5, a cup with a depth of over 15 has no gapping.
The fabric of the cups buckles/wrinkles a bit underneath, but I think that's due to the straps not being supportive enough to keep the cups where they should be because they're too wide.
Note: I measured cup depth with the bra cups stretched down over my knee. I did this 3+ times with each cup, and 15.25 is the average. Read more 284 more words
UPDATE 2: I think I have FINALLY made friends with this bra. I tightened the straps about 1/2-1 inch past what I thought was a good fit and it doesn't slip down as much. I may try tightening a bit more, but I think that is going to make the wires poke under the arms. At the level it is now, I can feel the wires, but they are not painful. I think I'm walking a fine line with this one and I think if I shorten the straps the poking will become bothersome. Hopefully I can find the "sweet spot". ...
I will say I still think the center gore is VERY high on this bra. That's because I'm used to more of a plunge style, I think. Much of my wardrobe is knit v-neck shirts, so the seams show through, the darkness of the bra shows through lighter colors, and with the center gore so high, I'm feeling it's rather visible. I can't see it in the mirror, but can when I look down. Maybe no one else can see it?
I am going to try sewing a bra liner for myself because now with the elastic on the front sewn up, the wires themselves are digging in. They are not very padded and I think sewing up the elastic has stretched the casing, making it provide even less cushion.
UPDATE: I thought I should update my review on this bra because my views have changed, as noted in the numerous comments below. This bra has taken a back seat to my too big band/too small cup bras I had been wearing because of comfort and ill fit. I have worked with it to try and make it wearable, but it just isn't fitting well. The elastic rolls under in front, cutting in. I have rolled it out and sewed it up so it does not roll under and cause pain anymore.
The major problem is that the bra slides down after and hour or 2 of wear, making my breasts droop, causing quad boob, the wide-set straps to cut in on the front of the arms, and major jiggle with each step since there's basically minimal support in that slipped-down position. I've added "after" pictures, where you can see the major difference when it slips down. I cannot be sure if it's a cup or band problem. The band could be too tight, although it's pretty comfortable after washing and wearing a few times. I have long, heavy breasts, so it could just be the leverage that heavy breasts sticking out that far in a bra is too much for the bra to hold up.
This bra, for me, starts out great and ends up MEH in a couple of hours. :-/
ORIGINAL POST: I've seen several rave reviews about this bra and finally got mine, in a 36J. I have to say, this bra is some kind of wonderful. If it came in 20 colors, I'd probably get them all. Sadly, as of now, there is only ONE color - a black bird print. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":-(" /> It's very pretty, but I doubt it would be acceptable under a white shirt at church.
While the bottom of the cups aren't quite full enough for me (still have some wrinkling and push-down of the wires under the cups from orange in a glass syndrome), I think it's just about as close to a perfect fit as I may ever come. Band is quite stiff, but it is still very new. It does seem to create less prominent back rolls than most bras because the mesh is stiffer and the elastic along the bottom and top edges of the band are thicker.
When I first put it on and looked down, I thought... wow, that's some forward projection right there. Think dual rocket boosters. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":-D" /> Seriously, there's like a parallel line between the cups actually LIFTING, POINTING FORWARD and SEPARATING my breasts instead of just splaying them east and west like most bras seem to do.
Also, the stretch lace on the top of the cups is very forgiving. I think it makes the cups more adjustable than most bras with nonstretchy material along the top edge. I've seen it referred to as a half cup with a stretch lace "guard" to keep soft breasts from falling out when you bend over. I agree with this description. I bent over as if to pick some things up from the floor, reached down with both arms a few times, and stood back up. Still completely contained. I can't say that about many bras.
I do have one complaint. The straps are too wide set. Because they are attached on the side of the cup instead of the front, they twist and the edge of the strap digs in and rubs a bit on the front of my arms and shoulders. However, I think attaching far at the sides is what gives you the forward projection instead of simply smashing the cup and breast tissue against you. I'm not sure how you could do that and not have the strap turn that direction. Most bras with "side support" seem to do this, but this one more so and perhaps the straps are set a little far back. I'm thinking straps placed 1/4 inch forward on the cup would alleviate the rubbing for me. Read more 858 more words
Thank you! I might try that alteration, but I'm worried it would change the fit of the bra. As difficult as it was to find ONE, I'd hate to ruin it. :-) I am going to wash and wear it a few times and see if it improves. If not, I might try moving it forward just a smidgeon.
mtblankus I just thought I'd let you know, I've been playing around with strap positioning on my Jasmine, and you are definitely correct. Moving the strap in as much as I would want to (to the inside of the little tab where the strap is attached) definitely messes up the side support, etc. I guess this is basically what the point of a balconet-style strap attachment is. I've always seen people say that the point is to push the breasts towards the front, but I never really understood until I tried this experiment.
I haven't detached the original straps, just sewed on a different one in that position, and tried it with the original strap off, and it make the side sort of bulge out and just generally not be the shape it's supposed to be. I'm curious if, like you said, it could be moved just a little bit and it wouldn't have this problem, going to try that next, I think. Barring that (or even if that does work ok) I think I will pad/line that area with some smooth fabric, since I think part of the problem is the fabric is so stiff and firm it makes the digging in extra uncomfortable.
Raspberryleaf, thank you for letting me know about the strap positioning you've tried. Were you about to try moving it just a little? I've also noticed the bottom elastic on the front rolls under, creating a ridge under the underwire, which isn't comfortable AT ALL. I don't think this is because the band is tight (which it is at this point) because that's not where any stretching goes on because of the rigid underwires. I think it's just a flaw in the design, as I've seen someone else mention it.
Since this is the best fitting bra I've found to date (although it still seems to tip forward in the cups due to "orange in a glass"), I'm not about to abandon it.
I was wondering, though, if having the band wider so the TOP of the wires were supported by the back band would keep it from tipping forward/down as much. I've got large, heavy, and seemingly LONG breasts. When you have that kind of leverage at the apex of a cup, there's only so much an underwire and 3-hook band can do to keep them lifted. That's my theory, anyway. I've always felt a bra that did not dip down in the back, but had a wider band going straight back from the wings would be more supportive, though I've never found one to try.
Yes, I want to play with moving it just a little, but I haven't done so yet. This is definitely a bra that takes some breaking in, so some of the issues get at least a little better once it's been worn and washed a few times, and I think I've seen someone say this applies to the band rolling as well. (I wear bra liners all the time, so I don't really pay attention to elastic rolling in the front, but I definitely know it can be annoying, just one more reason I <3 my bra liners.)
As for a wider band supporting the top of the wires providing better stability, this is EXACTLY what I've been thinking about/realizing recently. It took trying my recent EM bras and really looking at what's going on to figure this out (see my adventure I posted recently), but I totally agree. I definitely hate how hard 4-hook and 5-hook bands are to close, but I think I'm gonna force myself to get used to it because I really think they will be able to support and lift my boobs much better. (I will need to be altering bands anyhow (due to needing the bigger cups of a 36/38K, rather than 32/34K, for example), so I can alter them to having more hooks in the process.)
BTW, your boobs sound a *lot* like mine, shape-wise.
Yes I think the two of you look rather similar as well :)
I know that feeling when you *finally* list a fitting bra on bratabase :) I could't be more happy for you mtblankus, and let me just say this looks positively amazing on you <3 I also want this in white and basic nude!!! There is a new colorway coming out soon but it's also dark :(
So, here's probably a dumb question, but are the wires actually supposed to TOUCH the sternum? Because even on the Jasmine 36J, they are about an inch away. I thought they touched the first time I wore it, but now that I look closely at the pictures I took, they were still about an inch away. Jiggling, pushing, bending (well, as much as you can bend these super-wires - what are they made of????) doesn't bring them closer.
I posted a fit request on this bra again yesterday because it seems to fit worse the more I wear it. :-/ I was wondering if I should try a band size or cup size up. Band is quite tight. Maybe just an extender, which was suggested as well. After wearing for a few hours, cups slip down and I end up with empty cup at the bottom and quad boob at the top - even with the stretchy lace. Also, the elastic band rolls under in the front, turning my "miracle bra" into a torture device.
I just wanted to post a little update on the strap position thing. What I wound up doing is compromising, and adjusting the angle by taking in the inside part of the "tab" that the straps are attached to, so this basically tilts the straps slightly more inward. (I just took a tuck and sewed it down. Totally reversible if I need to, so it was less scary to try!) This helps some. Not as much as I might like, but I think it's a good compromise between getting the straps out of my armpits a little, but still having the angle necessary to do the side support/balcony effect.
Great idea, you should do an adventure about it!
Thanks, raspberryleaf. I've actually been able to handle the straps as they've softened. As an added "bonus," it reminds me to keep my shoulders back. Ha! But, if it starts cutting in again, I'll definitely try the tuck. Seems like it would work fine on this bra without making the top edge too tight because that lace is quite stretchy. Another bra might not fair so well. I'm quite impressed with the Jasmine, as it's been the only decent fit I've had so far. However... we have sort of a love/hate relationship. I want a bra to be perfect and I don't know that I'll ever find one that is. I do have some EW bras on their way (got the ship notice yesterday). Can't WAIT to try them. :-D
This bra is too small for you in the cup by probably two sizes, which is why it is slipping down and you get a downward pointing apex. The cup shape may also simply be too shallow for you in the lower panel; it has an angled lower rather than a projected one, so your breasts are forced to either compress or shift upwards where there is more room leaving empty space at the bottom.
Underwires should sit flat against your ribcage at all points, including at the gore. If they don't, and your band feels snug, then your cups are far too small.
I realize this is a somewhat stale thread, but it's worth answering these questions for anyone else who comes along to read your review.
Thank you, uptight for the comment. I don't know if it's actually too small or just the wrong style. But I think you're right about one or the other. It certainly does seem to fight my breast shape at the bottom. Since finding my size in Ewa Michalak bras, no other bras have seen the light of day. I should list it and give it a new chance at life with someone else!
Can you define this statement further: angled lower rather than a projected one, so your breasts are forced to either compress or shift upwards where there is more room leaving empty space at the bottom.
I am struggling to understand the visual, but think you might have touched on why some of my bras fit better than others.
If you look at a bra in profile/from the side and compare the angle of Yeh bottom of the cup to the chest wall, some bras come up at an acute angle (shallow lower cup) whereas other bras come straight out parallel to the ground at a right angle to the chest wall before curving up (projected lower cup).
Breasts which are full at the bottom of the breast root will not have the gradual increase in breast tissue that shallow lower panels expect as you get higher above the underbust towards the nipple. Instead, these breasts go drastically from no breast tissue at the underbust, to projecting fullness. The breasts thus take the path of least resistance and shimmy up higher in the bra little bits at a time where there is more space. The weight at a further out point combined with the lower cup being empty causes the cup to wrinkle or buckle near the underwires if it is unmolded, or simply be forced to slide down in structured cups.
mtblankus : You stated in a prior comment that "even on the Jasmine 36J, [the underwires] are about an inch away". I own this bra and its design causes the gore to tack firmly if the fit is close - painfully firmly. In general, a bra will not tack at the gore (touch your sternum with its underwires) if it is too shallow for your breasts. Because the Jasmine is actually quite a deep bra proportionally, it is not that the cup shape is too shallow for you in terms of shape but rather because the cup size is too small such that the bra is too small all over, including in terms of depth.
The cup depth is 15.1 inches and my Ewa bras are around 14.0 to 14.2 - a full inch difference, yet they are big enough. I think the problem comes with the width of the wires on the Jasmine. They are much wider and my breasts do not fill the part of the cup under my arm. So, you may be right - the extra inch and then some is not used for breast tissue because it's under my arm, "where no breast has gone before." And hopefully it won't! With all of the ill-fitting bras I've worn in my life, there is still a definite breast crease on the sides in FRONT of my arms. I have yet to find a bra that the wire actually sits at this side crease. They are ALL too far back by a good inch or more. In the Jasmine, it's MUCH more than an inch. We're talking 2 or even 3 inches. So, that wasted cup space may make the cup fit too small. Maybe I'll look for a cheap Jasmine in a larger cup size just to test the theory, but really there are other detractors on this bra, such as the super high gore, that make me just want to toss it aside.
This bra is a fancier, limited edition, version of the basic Tango bra, with nicer materials and detailing, and it is, in fact, quite nice. The satin touches are pretty and silky and the back band material is really nice feeling. I love the color of the orchid, especially on the satin parts, and I imagine the ocean blue is just as pretty.
I went back and forth a lot on whether to keep this bra, but ultimately, even though I got it on sale, I'm sending it back, because the band is really, really too big. (They don't make a KK, so I can't just get a ...32. C'mon Panache, more KK's please!) I was thinking about getting it altered, which I think on this bra would work pretty well, but I do have bras coming from Bravissimo that will fulfill a similar position in my wardrobe, so I'm gonna pass this time. (Note to self: if it shows up on Ebay or something for an even better price, grab it!)
The cups shape on this bra is 3-section, with a large upper section that goes all the way across and two lower sections. The cup is deep enough at the very bottom for my boobs and I don't get orange-in-a-glass like I do with the other type of 3-section cups. Not as good as a 4-section, but an acceptable secondary shape option for me.
The cup on this bra is actually, really big enough for my boobs, I can scoop all my breast tissue into the cups and they don't spill out over the tops. I got a large enough cup size that the cups fit more like a full coverage than a balconette, which is good for me. Unfortunately the strap angle is still bad, positioning the straps too far out on my shoulders and making the outer cup dig into the front of my armpit. (I really wanna try altering this, because if I can fix this issue a lot more bras will work for me. I should experiment on an older bra.)
The straps are pretty and satiny and would look nice in a situation where they will show, because they don't really look like bra straps. However they do roll as the material is not stiff enough to keep itself spread out. (Being too wide-set for my shoulders probably doesn't help this issue any.) For comparison, I think Bravissimo does really nice straps, that stay where they belong better.
The back material is really, really nice and comfortable. Very fine stretch mesh, it kinda reminds me of a leotard or dance costume of some sort. The satiny band is really nice too. However this band is overly stretchy. For comparison, I bought the Panache Jasmine in the same order, in a 32K, and will wear it on the tightest hook of an extender for a little while until it stretches out a bit. The 34K Tango Luxe is so loose/stretchy that I can fasten it on the tightest hook straight out of the package and still fit my whole hand in the band. (It's really too bad they don't make it in 32KK because I think that would fit really well.)
This bra is actually really comfortable. I think the underwires may be a little less out of control thick/stiff than my older Tangos, and miraculously they do not jab me in the armpits! This might be because the cup is actually fully wide enough for me, which means the back ends of the wires hit behind my arms. (good for me, bad for someone with narrow boobs) I would certainly recommend ordering a cup size smaller than usual in this bra! The shape is ok. Nothing special (not like the Jasmine!), not too different than my everyday Goddess Kiera's. A bit low and wide, but totally serviceable.
I really wanted to keep this bra, and I do think with a few alterations it could be great, but I just can't justify keeping a bra that needs alterations and isn't too much different than what else I have, just because the materials are so nice.
There are several things about the Confetti which I love - it's small and sheer, optically minimising the boobs and making it an awesome choice for heat waves. I'm also a big fan of the rounded and uplifting shape it gives from the side and it is quite a pretty thing with all the floral embroidery and whatnot.
The straps are only semi-adustable, but still adjusted long enough for me. Also, the bra is sold as ivory, but I'd say it was lighter - I'd call it off-white rather than ivory.
Although the bra fits me very well and when I breathe out, the cups seem even a little larger, ...I got a little quadraboob after wearing the bra all day long and bending up and down a lot (spring cleaning the flat). It's also not a bra to run aroun in https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> (fixed this in the end by stitching the wide center gore together - boobs don't escape anymore). I'm tempted to try a 28J next time I order the Confetti (because I'm definitely getting a black version!) to see how it works out... but as it is, this size fits fine as well.
(EDIT: After wearing it for a few months, the cups stretched and now fit me absolutely perfectly - I was quite surprised! Also, while the underwire poked sometimes in the beginning, this has now also stopped)
Lastly, the only two things I don't like about the Confetti are of a rather cosmetic nature: the metal clasps on the straps are gold in color (gold/white? Has to be my least favourite color combo ever) and the white bow in the middle of the boobs tickles and is generally a nuisance. But that was easily solved by cutting the excess bits of ribbon off https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 198 more words
This bra did not fit me, clearly. I'll do my best to comment on aspects other than the fit. The band is a good fit, I'd say it's squarely in the 28 category, so no need to size up or down. It's a little stretchy but the elastic is firm, and I had to really pull to get my stretched measurement. The straps are fully adjustable, for those of you who need it. The bra is really not the most charming thing I've ever owned, but the seams and embroidery are rather flat, and this comes in about a million colors, so it's a good candidate for an everyday ...bra. I find the mesh in the wings a bit thin (it's probably prone to emphasizing back fat, even if there isn't much to speak of). The mesh of the cups is really sturdy, though, with zero stretch at all. Actually, the comfort issue I had with the cups is that the seams are pressed to the inside, but the cup is single-layered. While they try to remedy discomfort with a strip of fabric over the seams, the edges of that really sturdy mesh are not completely covered and I found that they were very itchy. Now, my one comment on fit: This being Panache, the wires are somewhat wide (which I like), but contrary to most of their other styles, the cups here are very deep. To top it off, the top of the cups closes up pretty fast. It's not a look that I can fill out, and even more, it's not the type of plunge that will give lots of cleavage (especially in this size). Just be aware of that if you're thinking of buying. Read more 177 more words
Fits well (tight) in the band, and fits very nice in the cups, with a smooth line at the top of each, no spill over at all. The cup is seamed, so it's definitely not a tshirt bra as the seams did show through the few different tshirts I tried it with.
Profile from the side is pretty rounded, not pointy at all. View from the front is good, and not wide. I wish it had a touch more lift, but honestly it's actually quite good.
The underwires aren't the most comfortable at first, although I think I'd probably get used to them. Also, the band is somewhat scratchy ...on the skin in certain areas, not sure if this is due to the lace or what....I think it would probably lessen with washings and wear.
Straps are too far apart, but this is an on-going problem for me. I haven't had a strap slip on it yet, but I do feel potential for slippage. Thought not ideal, using a strap accessory in the back would fix this for me. I often have a problem with straps pulling at my armpit when I reach forward, however that does not happen with this bra, which is nice.
Also worth mentioning...when walking, there is a little bit of bounce, which I'm not crazy about. This might just be me and not something that happens for other people, but I thought it was worth pointing out.
At this point I'm going to return the bra as I don't really need it right now, although it does fit so I may possibly pick one up in the future. Read more 161 more words
The Clara is one of my favorite bras (I have 3, one is Duck Egg!). I agree with all your comments - lifted, round, not as centered as Envy/Jasmine, great matching briefs. I haven't tried the Heather or Slate/Teal colorways though - interesting to hear they all fit so different!