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
"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??" Ha! Sounds like Heaven. But I believe the day will come. Lovely review, convinced me to at least give it a try.