Pinniped

I don't know why I love this bra so much. It just fascinates me with its suuuuper lightweight mesh, and its lace that goes on forever, and its little jaunty, curvy, turned-up "nose" it makes. But I can't keep it. It is just soo bouncy there is nowhere I could wear it but for my own pleasure in my own house. The side appearance isn't as good, either - very projected with a blunt, rounded shape - like a blimp. And it's not very good at hiding your nipples, much to my daughter's horror when I tried it on. (;


But I do love the light feeling. When you pick it up, it's like a piece of fairy lace. I'm thinking if I tried a smaller cup, it would giver better coverage and support. Maybe. But I also heard - maybe here on bratabase? - that they are going to be putting out a version with non-stretch lace? Maybe I could try again in the fall.

Black colorway

Updated on Jun 27, 2019 Flag this

This Matilda is surprisingly comfortable! The mesh doesn't seem particularly soft, but it's comfy enough I think I could wear it all day. The 36HH size is probably wrong for me, as the band is not tight enough. Elomis seem to be stretchier. The top cup is non-stretch mesh, so full-on-top ladies may have more difficulty. I think I'm pretty even vertically, so the cups fit nice and taut, but not tight. I have ongoing difficulties with bands slipping down out of my IMF, maybe due to shape issues, and this is no exception. A 34 band may help.

Black colorway

Updated on Jun 07, 2019 Flag this

This bra is made for projection everywhere, it seems. I've got pretty even vertical fullness, and I filled out the bottom, but it was just slightly loose on the top cups. The issue I had with this one was scratchiness. It was scratchy on top of the shoulders, under the band where the material curled kept wanting to curl under, and especially near the armpits, where the material bunched up. The mesh of the cups was not the softest, either, and the material was sheer. Maybe because the cups were so large, it didn't lift me up much and let me fall out to the sides more than I like. I could try down a cup size, but I probably will just send it back.

Black colorway

Updated on Jun 07, 2019 Flag this

Jazzy J! I held off trying the Jasmine, I think because of it's reputation for a pointy shape. Then I tried one (34JJ - Panache » Jasmine Balconnet Bra (6951), and it was, in fact, pointy, and I didn't care for it. But I thought I'd see if a smaller cup size would help pull in the points. And it did! I quite like this 36HH in black.

This bra has a four-part construction with vertical seams and a side panel. The top panel is stretch lace with no elastic strip along the edging. The bottom panels are a single-layered mesh - quite light, but not ... unsturdy. I find when I wear it, the cups "disappear" and I just feel the wires and band.

Speaking of the band, I had a blowout the other day when I tried it. Apparently my breasts are rather low-set with my IMF not far above the bottom rib in front. The Jasmine's band rode down till it was resting on the ridge of the last rib, and when I yawned and stretched my ribcage contracted and whoops! The band slipped right over the edge onto my stomach. I took some pictures of the effect, which felt worse under the shirt than it looked outside of it. Anyway, I have ordered a 34J sister size to see if it will still work with the tighter band.

The wires on this one are just a bit too long for me and the wings too high, so it can get uncomfortable under the armpits at times. No surprise for me with Panache.

Overall I think this one fits! If I don't keep it, it will only be for budgetary reasons and that I think it will be easier for me to find a Jasmine later on than a Thea, which I am also happy with. 34J - Panache » Thea Balconnet Bra (9261)
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Black colorway

Updated on Jun 27, 2019 Flag this

I oredered a UK 34J, but was sent this US 34J (with a hanging tag label of UK 36HH!), so I am just including the measurements before sending it back. For a full review, see 34J - Elomi » Charley Plunge Bra (4380) . Sorry no pics of the bra on - I can't get into it, haha!

Black colorway

Updated on Jul 20, 2019 Flag this

I first bought a Matilda in 36HH and had the same issue with the band being too stretchy and riding up that I have had with other Elomis. The bra fitter at Nordstrom's recommended I don't try to size up a cup, and I think she was right. In fact, I'm almost wondering if I could size *down* a cup, since this one is still a little droopy shaped. But surely a 34HH would be too small?

I like the look of the Matilda and find it scratchy when I first put it on, but then really comfortable as soon as my body adjusts to the fabric. I ... find Elomis more comfortable than Panaches generally and don't have the problems with the wires going too high, even though the wing height is one of the taller ones I've tried.

The Matilda is a four-part cup with sheer, non-stretchy mesh on each panel. The top panel with the embroidered decoration is a finer mesh and the side support panel appears to be reinforced with a second ply. The mesh on the wings is stretchy. Elomis always have really nice, soft felt covering the wires, band, and straps. Oh, the Matilda also has a built-in J-hook to wear the straps in a racerback configuration.
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Black colorway

Updated on Jun 28, 2019 Flag this

I'm fascinated by this bra, because it's quite different from any I've had. That may just be me, though, because I've never had a padded bra! The Blanca is semi-padded, just on the lower cups, with a pretty lace overlay that also continues onto the upper cups, on the gore, and on the wings. I was expecting the padding to be some sort of foam, but it is felt. (I think.) It's very soft and thick - not bulky or heavy, though. I don't think it's actually cotton, but it has the feel of cotton. To be honest, it kind of reminds me of the high quality diaper covers/wraps I had when my babies were in cloth diapers. I mean that in a very good way! All of this together gives the Blanca the feeling of being handmade. Again, in a good way. To me. But I'm probably just weird https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

This 80I is horribly too small. I misordered. But the quality makes me want to try again in the right size.

Ecru colorway

Updated on Aug 01, 2019 Flag this

Cate in the guava colorway is bright and festive. It is not ornate, but pretty enough and quite comfortable. I personally don't like the shape it gives, though.

Cate has smooth, satiny bottoms with non-stretch lace uppers with a pattern of tall arches. The gore is a breathable mesh. The straps are ridged on the top surface, felted below. They are fully adjustable, but keep in mind that when tightened, the ridges on the top wrap around to the bottom, which may be uncomfortable if you have sensitivities. The cup of the cups is more triangular on top, giving quite full coverage. Cate also appears to have more fabric in the upper cup than some other models, leading to a lower apex. On me, this leads to a cone shape that I can certainly do without. Cate also is wider in the cup and gives a wider profile than the Morgan or Kim.

Updated on Aug 01, 2019 Flag this

I have previously reviewed the Marcie in 36J - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) and 34J - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) . With this one I was hoping for a happy medium of cups that didn't gape at the top and a shape that wasn't pulled quite so high. But even with the black colorway, the band was too stretchy and the cups gaped almost as much as the 36J. Go figure. So if I end up keeping a Marcie, I guess it will be the 34J. Haven't decided.

Black colorway

Updated on Jun 27, 2019 Flag this

I previously tried the 36J - Cleo » Hettie Balconnet Bra (9011), and was somewhat horrified by how pointy it was. I thought maybe if I sized down in the cup it would pull things in a little. It did... a little. I am learning that my breasts are so projected and so soft that they will just expand forward into all the depth any cup will offer. They would be happy to go straight out for six inches, it would seem. A smaller cup corrals them a little and forces them to take a nicer shape. But in this case, not enough. The cups seem to fit, but maybe I could go even smaller. Just no real reason to do it, since I have Panache Jasmine and Thea that already work much better for me.

Black colorway

Updated on Jun 27, 2019 Flag this