This is my first purchased bra since joining bratabase and using the calculator, which gave me the size 34FF as a starting point. This review is for the Idina Plunge 6966 in Latte in a 34G, and I suspect I would better fit a 34GG in this model.
Following advice on bratabase and also customer feedback on Bravissimo's website, I chose the Idina Plunge because I wanted an unpadded, everyday bra with decent coverage, but with a low-ish gore for my close-set boobs.
Although this was my first purchase, I had previously tried on a selection of bras in two UK department stores, where 34G was a ...best fit in several Freya and Debenhams own brand models and 36F a reasonable fit in M & S (where most band sizes seemed to run tight, and where FF cupsize does not exist!)
Based on this experience, and after reviewing others' feedback on the Idina plunge, I therefore sized up one cup size to a 34G from my suggested starting point size of 34FF.
On first trying on the bra, I found the band to be stretchy and comfortable but also very snug and level around my body (34 for a snug underbust measurement of 33.5, and a "break the tape" measurement of 31.5). After several hours' wear, it is still in place, and feels both firm and supportive without digging in.
The cup size I chose is OK, and the stretch lace helps to give a smooth fit, but there is slight quadding on my larger breast, and so I suspect the 34GG might be a more ideal size for me. I bought this bra from an Amazon seller and don't feel inclined to send it back, but will store this information for next time.
I think I am even/FOB in shape and the cut-and-sew cup of the Idina gives good coverage for my immediate projection. The gore sits flat against my ribcage and the wire fits nicely right around the breast, with no excess fabric wrinkles underneath (which is a problem I have found with the "smoothing" unpadded T-shirt bras that I prefer aesthetically under slim-fitting clothes, but which tend not to provide the immediate projection that I need on the bottom of the cup). Under a semi-sheer blouse, the lace pattern of this bra does show slightly, but it does not show under a reasonable quality T-shirt, so this seems a good compromise for now.
Other than the cup fit issue, this is a lovely everyday bra with stretch lace over smooth mesh-lined half cups. The straps are backed with soft lining for comfort, are fully adjustable and fit well. The hardware is a warm copper which makes an otherwise plain bra look more pretty.
The bra feels so lovely that I am going to keep it, and will probably wear it into a Bravissimo store, to give a good starting point for a proper fitting session where I can get a second opinion to help me find an even better fit.
Edited to add: after a couple of wears I am still very happy overall. I did start to feel the wire on my fullest breast side digging in after a full day of wear. It was digging into the ribcage, not the breast tissue. I noticed that the wire is actually a half inch shorter than the casing so, as I prefer a low central gore anyway, I pushed the wire round so that it comes higher up the side and lower in tbe middle. I will put a stitch in the centre to keep it this way, and make a note to myself to look for models with a low central gore but a higher side wire when I go shopping.
First impression: Wasn't sure I'd like the dark rose color scheme, but it's nice. Main color is burgundy, with reds and purples. Fit: Band is snug but not unreasonably so. I'm between 32/34 and panache runs firm so I sister sized to 34G instead of 32GG. Could have gotten the 32 but would have needed an extender to break it in. Straps are a very wideset, and super bothersome for me. Gore is too high for me, but I'm very close set. It didn't bother me for the 5 minutes I had it on, but it might with extended wear. The highest I've regularly worn is 3.5" I think. ... Wires are very narrow for panache from my experience. Feel great. Cups are projected front and center. Looks and feels great, No gaping or loose edge. Only 2 hooks on 34G. Appearance: It's alright. I like the cut of the bra, and will consider it in other colors (the new ivory? yes please) Lattice and pointed detailing on the upper cup is a neat touch that sets it aside from other bras that are just straight across Read more 76 more words
First impression: so pretty! pale ballet pink. Would probably work great as a nude for very light skin tones/people that never wear white. Love the delicate rose embroidery on the upper cup and dot embroidery (like Marcie) on the lower cup Fit: Band is very snug. I'm between 32/34 and panache runs firm so I sister sized to 34G instead of 32GG. Definitely a good decision. Will probably break in with an extender. Straps are a smidge wideset, but tolerable. Gore is too wide and high for me, but I'm very close set. It didn't bother me for the 5 minutes I had it on, but it probably would ...with extended wear. Wires are very narrow for panache from my experience. Feel great. Cups are slightly minimizing and very slightly east west. I prefer a very projected look (and would wear bullet bras if I could) but it isn't too bad. Top section of the cup is very soft and stretchy. Like microfiber panties, the seamless kind. Only 2 hooks on 34G. I would guess 3 hooks starts at GG since another user has a 3 hook Olivia Appearance: soooo pretty. I may consider repurchasing this bra in the future, once it goes on sale. I love the color and embroidery, I'd just have to fuss with the gore.
So its similar to the floris but not quite the same, huh? It does look slightly less projected and . . higher? than the floris?
Pretty darn similar in my opinion. The lesser projection could be due to the gore being slightly wider and the different material. It's only a little higher at the strap attachment. I don't feel like the cup is significantly taller than floris. :)
Thank you so much!! I'm very excited for june!
Thank you from me too, that means it's probably not for me, I don't need anything higher or more East/west, or with wider gore than Floris so this was really helpful for me
I really think I'm a 32GG in the Panache Tiana, but I couldn't find one in Prime Wardrobe. So, I tried on the 34G as the next best thing, fully expecting it to be a bit too wide and shallow.
Fit issues/description: As I suspected, the 34G was a bit too shallow for my breasts. The cups were a bit too wide (although not terrible), and there was a fair bit of empty space at the bottom of the cups. Although my hypotheses WERE fundamentally correct, I was still pleasantly surprised with this fit. The amount of room and the level of support at the center of the ...bra is GREAT for my center-full breasts. (Although likely wouldn't be good for those needing a narrow or low gore). The gore does tack on me although it's soft, and I'm not sure if this is because the gore might be just a fraction too wide for me or if it's related to the other fit issues. Despite being too wide, the actual underwire follows the actual shape of my breasts quite well, and I think it'd be a great fit if there was just a bit more projection at the wire (which makes me optimistic about the 32GG being a better fit).
The straps are much wider than I'd like. Not surprising as this is a common issue I have with balconettes. Hopefully the 32 band size will have the straps a bit narrower, although I don't expect it to be significantly better, tbh.
One fit issue I didn't expect was that there was a bit of gaping/extra space at the top of the cups. I expected the lace on the Panache Tiana to be stretchy like the lace on my (beloved, but woefully outgrown) Panache Jasmine. Unfortunately, it holds it shape, which isn't the best combo for my FOB breasts. This MIGHT be related to the other fit issues, although it's somewhat uncommon for me. More commonly, with bras that are too shallow, I get the "Orange in a glass" effect, making my FOB breasts looks much more FOT than they actually are. I'm not really sure if the other fit issues I described above might be contributing to this (open to any suggestions!), so I'll just have to see if the 32GG has the same issue. (Even then, it might not be a deal breaker. I think it'd be fairly easy to make a tack to take up some of the slack.)
Other comments: I think the color and pattern is quite pretty. Some people might find the lace + pastel blue/pink + floral pattern to be a bit matronly, but it doesn't bother me. I think the sheerness of the material (especially in the lace at the top) helps bring a bit of sexy to offset the sweet.
The bra is made of a high quality mesh material that is very lightweight and will be very nice and breathable in the summer heat (especially as I'm about to move to the desert). The mesh does not feel rough or scratchy, although some may prefer a smoother/more satiny fabric. The bra as a whole does feel nicely supportive and not like it's straining the carry the weight, despite being very lightweight material. Read more 434 more words
I outgrew my 34FF in this style so I stalked this one on Amazon until the price was right. When my old one got too small I forgot how comfortable it was. When I put this on my boobs say, "Aaaahhh!"
I have a high, close set of breast and I am shallow at top The bra runs very snug and 1 cup smaller Im a 33 under bust, and 40 over bust, I regularly use a 32 G I sized up both in band and cup. I regularly use a 32G and I bought the 34G. I must say this bra is absolutely gorgeous, and an every day bra in a neutral color, that allows me to wear it with white T-shirts and blouses. this bra is fabulous for my needs. I'm short (I'm just 5´2 1/2 tall), I have wide, high root, shallow breast. and this bra fits me really wonderful! ... Exept, is not much of a plunge on me, the gore fits me more like a medium gore (but that is because I have a high set of breast) I like that the straps are fully adjustable and firm, you won't need to adjust them so tight. the wires are wide, but not long(at lease, not as long as cleo's, which I find too long and painful for my frame. This bra offers great support. One of the features I liked the most, is that the armpit area is reinforced, if this is a trouble area, Idina will keep it under control, the bra is also fresh,and it doesn't shows dark nipples under white shirts, I'm pretty pleased with that feature. I'm not a fan of metal loops in bras, but this bra is so great that I don't mind those loops at all! The only thing that could make this bra better, would be a a wider band with a third hook!
I have the Clara in the wrong size, but I really think it could be a great fit for a lot of women. Its true to size, deeper than Andorra, less deep than Jasmine, and none of the pointyness of either. The wires are narrower like the Jasmine, and like Andorra it has a side support sling. I get wrinkles in the bottom of the cup, which seems to be a common complaint, but I really dont think its a projection issue. I think the wrinkles come from the very firm side sling that lifts the breast so much that it actually prevents tissue from reaching the bottom of the cup, causing the fabric to not lay taut at the wire base.
I'm definitely reordering this in the right size when the gold/black version comes out!
What's with Panache and the wires on the side? This seemed like a safe bet - it's called a low-front Balconette! And sure enough, the gore was a bit shorter than some others I've tried, which seemed great, but alas, it was not to be. It's like the whole thing perfectly followed the curve of my breast, then on the side, it got distracted and wandered off in another direction entirely, right into my armpit. If the wire had just continued on its trajectory, at the same degree of curve, and terminated around the same height as the gore, it would have been golden. The straps ...are a bit wide set as well, which is a frequent problem I have. I'm starting to think that the bras I'm trying are made for someone with a wider skeleton than mine. My breasts tissue is wider than my body on the sides, so that may well be the case. Even the "orange in a glass" effect I get seems to be a result of the basic being stretched too tightly between the wires at the bottom (so, too shallow, basically). This one didn't actively hurt, which is great news, but it's one of the only ones I've paid full price for, and for $67, it's headed back to Amazon. Read more 111 more words
Certainly it's not my size. This bra is bought for my mom, but as here we have no information about this model, I decided to add even anything. So, this is a new model from the last collection. And it's really very-very beautiful! It's a three-part balconet. The cups are unlined and made of black embroidered tulle with purple side slings. Front part of the band is made of combined purple base and black embroidered tulle, back part of the band is quite plain and made of black mesh
This is the best plunge bra I've ever owned. I'm not sure about the size—I have a vague memory that the store where I bought it might have been out of my regular cup size, and so I went up a cup. Interestingly, the band has also stretched out more than my other Panache bras—when I buy a replacement, I'm going to go with the 34FF.
The gravity-defying powers of this bra are amazing! Once I'm all strapped in the girls are like, "Well, HELLO!" Right up there, front and center. The secret is the cups: double layer of stiff mesh on bottom and sides, stretch lace on top. I get a very youthful uplifted shape with just a hint of a point, evenly full top and bottom.
The tradeoff of course is comfort. It doesn't hurt anywhere but the fit is quite firm. You wouldn't forget you're wearing it. The cup mesh and power mesh back are slightly scratchy. Straps are thin and have very little stretch. They're also wide-set so they cut in at the fronts of my arms a bit.
The perfect time to wear this is when you need to look your best and comfort is not a big concern.
A lovely and comfortable bra! In this size it has enough plunge for me although it's not the lowest. I love that the wire channels overlap at the gore - heaven for my close-set boobs.
The cups are made of stretch lace which provides a forgiving fit. The lower cups are lined with non-stretch tulle for support and there are side slings made of a double layer of tulle. These aren't problematic for me but might be if my tissue was softer than it is.
Straps are fully adjustable. They look a little unfinished where they join the cup. Maybe some kind of lace ...detail at the junction would have been prettier.
The back is one layer of mesh which promises to be pretty stretchy over time. I wear a 34 or 36 band. I'm wearing this with an extender currently, but only need about 1/2" of it so I'm glad I got the 34.
I agree with others that this is not the most center-full-friendly bra. I am slightly center full and I get a little bit of quadding at the gore. It's barely noticeable though.
I don't have monthly fluctuations in size, but this would be a good bra for those who do. Just make sure the cup really fits, as the stretch lace can mask a cup that fits too small. Taking pictures and posting them here helped me see that the 34FF I tried first was not as good a fit as I thought. Try your usual size and a size up if possible. Read more 160 more words
The wires on this bra are so wide/tight under my arms and the ends of the gore dig into my sternum. I bent both ends of both wires outward, but it's not enough. I wonder if it's intended for a taller woman. The band itself is firm, but fine; I wouldn't want to size up to a 36. The cup is clearly too small even though the lace is so forgiving that it isn't obvious under clothes. It's so small that it pulls the band off my ribs under my boobs. I have the same bra in 34GG in a pink/coral color that fits similarly (although the cup is larger, I would need an H/HH). The larger cup size doesn't fix the brutal digging of the wires. It's a pretty bra if you like full coverage and sheer lace. The support is good. Lift is meh; I'd like a lot more. It's got 2 hooks; really needs 3-4 at this cup size.
The expectation of the fit was to be similar to that of the Envy Balconette bra, narrow wires, room at the wire but with a lower gore. The fit was not as expected. Cups were over full and compressive, this bra is shallow at the wire, and the wire is wider than I expected at 6.5 inches. The cups gave me compressed cleavage, my larger side was shoving the wire down and the smaller side had a weird shape like a compressed bullet (shallow round/flattened at the wire with point at apex). The gore is .8 wide but my breasts pushed the top of the wires together. ...Overall the cups are wide and shallow and not a good fit for some one narrow and projected.
The construction of the bra is interesting the wire channel is cut to a V at the center, it's non stretch mesh with a lace overlay for the base of the cup the stretch lace for the top. The side panels/wings are stretch mesh and in the size reviewed is a two hook and eye closure. The straps are a firm elastic with texture and the slides do not do so easily. The colorway is named Emerald Leopard it is more of a Kelly green than an Emerald. ss
This was not the bra for me. It has been returned. Read more 117 more words
I've tried everything - even the Polish bras. Nothing fits right, for all kinds of reasons. I'm very close-set, with a wide-ish root, full on bottom & empty on top, yet also extremely squishy (like, balloon-a-third-full-of-marshmallow-fluff levels of squishy. SO squishy). All other bras a) empty out underneath & slide down my IMF and/or b) gap up top. Plenty of armpit & sternum digging, too. Now granted I've worn this bra all of twice, but my friends, that band stays put like the SNL house musicians got high & drove into a tar pit. Or if you prefer your wordplay nerdier, it's more embedded in ...the IMF than capitalism.
The grail, right?
However, there's a wee bit of quadding along the top of the cup (and a wee bit of nothing under the apex), so I find myself stumped. It looks like the problem is more about projection than anything else. So, Do I: A) go up a cup to 34GG & risk more enptiness at the apex? B) go to the 32GG sister of 34G since I'm already using the middle hooks & will definitely move to the tightest hook after a few more wears because Panache makes their bands out of warm taffy (and also I'm losing weight)? C) go down a band & up TWO cup sizes to 32H so I don't wind up quadding in the 32? Or is that going to wind up being both too tight and too roomy? D) stop overthinking it & buy more of the close-enough 34G?
I can only guarantee that whatever I go with, it will be the wrong call. So analysis paralysis wins the day again. Photos to come. Read more 172 more words
I often see the Panache Jasmine recommended to others. I have tried it before, but don't remember how I felt (and it was a different size).
I actually feel like my breast tissue fills this brass cups well, but the underwire doesn't work for me. The gore hits me wrong and digs into my sternum. The wire under my arm also feels like it is both too wide and too stiff. It digs in there as well. The straps are also too wide (common for me with Panache).
The thing that really makes this bra not work for me is the underwire. If it were less stiff, I may be able to make this bra work. But that underwire is too prominent for me.
I know the Panache Envy was one that did not work for me in the past, but I don't remember exactly why (and haven't looked to see if I wrote about it).
It feels like it fits a lot better now though it still is not perfect. The cups fit decently. They're a little wide for me and I can feel that. The height of the cups under my arms is also a little high and the straps are set a little too wide. The magnitude of each of these issues is small, so the bra is definitely wearable.
I have mixed feelings on this one. The bra is a little tight for a 34 band, but I have spent a lot of time in the no-man's land of really wanting a 33" band so that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think the band would fit more comfortably when it stretches after a few wears.
The cups mostly fit me. The only real complaint I have is that the underwires extend farther toward my back than I would prefer. This means there is a little bit of the cup on the side that isn't filled well. But the top and bottom of the cup seem to fit me decently.
The straps are partially padded, so they are not fully adjustable but the length works for me.
This is a great review. Very detailed and informative.