Lingerie Review: Panache “Clara” in 32GG

My most recent review was of a Cleo basic “Marcie” which is something that Panache has been carrying for years now. Another newer model from the Panache core range has struck to me as well during the past few season, that is the Clara. I fell head over heels in love with the style when it first launched but it seemed that every time we were talking about reviews with Panache, it was sadly sold out in my size completely. This tells something about the popularity of the style among stockists and consumers alike – it is a fantastic basic full-cup style bra with a pretty icing on top of it. This season I was lucky enough to receive my first Clara sample in time, so today I bring you this beautiful festive style in the shade Heather.

The Design: The Clara is based on the older Panache classic Jasmine, which is another cult favourite among full-busted ladies like myself. The Clara has the same three piece cup construction as the Jasmine, but I think the side sling of the cups extends a bit further up towards the strap with the Clara style. This is part of the aesthetic differences of the two bras but I would believe it also gives the Clara its extra lift to the cups. The shape of the bra is very rounded and forward-projecting, which is something that I would always expect of a Panache or Cleo bra.

The style of the Clara is much more luxurious than Jasmine which is something I really like. True, you can never go wrong with a cute print and sleek materials but if you don’t mind a bit of lace showing through or just happen to wear thicker materials with your shirts, this is the bra that can bring your everyday to a whole next level. Personally I have always loved each and every colourway of the Clara (especially the emerald one!) but this Heather shade is something rather refreshing alongside of deep jewel tones – it is more delicate than its sisters and thus goes under lighter coloured tops as well. The materials of the bra are rather thin and stretchy, meaning it accommodates perfectly to my breast shape instead of trying to mold it to something its not.

The Fit: I went for the same size as with the Marcie, that is 32GG. I find it is much more comfier to go with the 32 bands these days as I own so many bras, I don’t really wear out the bands that much anymore. I like them to be comfy from the very first moment I put them on to avoid the long breaking-in period – I know, I’m a bad lingerie blogger! If you don’t buy tens of bras every year, I would suggest though to go for the firmer bands if you are between sizes, especially with Panache and Cleo, as their bands will loosen up even after a couple of wears.

The 32GG Clara runs similar to the Marcie, meaning pretty true-to-size in the band and generous in the cup. If you are between cup sizes I would suggest sizing down. I think I could have definitely been happy with 32G with either of the styles. The wires are pretty good on me, maybe just a tad wider, but they still feel quite a lot better than with Marcie. I can’t really put my finger on it, but the shape of the wires feels slightly more U-like, but perhaps I’m just imagining.

Overall, I am starting to think the Clara does suit me better than the Marcie, at least in my current size. I like how the bra hugs every curve of my body but I wish it would be just a little bit… less covering? If I could take just an inch off the height of the cup, this just might the perfect bra.

Comfort: The Clara is one of my most comfortable bras at the moment – it seemed they all came at the same time, Tutti Rouge Betty and Jessica and then this beauty (and I haven’t even told you about my latest Ewa Michalak bras). I am in lingerie heaven at the moment! Then if I could only get a pair of high-waisted panties with each bra, I would probably be in Nirvana 😉

The best features of Clara are its soft materials and sturdy feel. The three hooks and eyes at the back, the tacking gore and sturdy wide fully-adjustable shoulder straps. Sturdiness is the key to comfort when it comes to full-bust bras, but the bra also needs to feel lightweight to pass as an everyday garment. What a task for a single bra! But the Clara just manages to do it. The panties are rather comfy too, for low cut ones that is. You know how I feel about my granny panties… I think the gorgeous lace detailing and satin overlay would look even more amazing on a bigger surface – just saying! The materials are however on point with the panties as well and I have no trouble getting my booty in these (UK) size 12 pretties.

If you would like to try the Clara (30-38 D-J, 8-20), you can find it at Bravissimo for £32 for the bra and £15 for the classic brief. Not a bad deal for such a stunner set!

Lingerie Review: Cleo by Panache “Marcie” in 32GG

Who remembers my endless love for Marcie? This bra has a distinct cult reputation in the world of lingerie blogging and full bust industry. It was launched a few years ago and still goes strong in the Cleo collection, changing its colour every season. For a couple of years Panache was asked to deliver their customers a Marcie in basic colours; black and nude. Again, nude is not the same for everyone but this time, the shade was so perfect for me personally I really wanted to try it – and who knows, maybe we will get a chocolate coloured Marcie sometime soon! Here are my thoughts on this old favourite in my most recent size, 32GG. *This set was generously provided by Panache. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: I have always been a big fan of Marcie – it’s a cutesy style that is perfect for everyday wear with its flat embroidery and thin materials. The scalloped upper cups look adorable and give me a mermaid-y vibe, which is always a good thing I reckon. It’s very girly so not everyone’s cup of rum but I don’t mind the bows and dots now and then, as I am quite a versatile person when it comes to my bradrobe (obviously, haha!). The shade of beige is absolutely spot on for me, that is very pale, and I just wish Panache would make some more dark-coloured options for people with tanned, brown or black skin tones. To me though, it is the closest I can probably ever get to a skin-coloured bra!

Marcie’s cups are constructed of three pieces each, with one vertical and one horizontal seam forming a very classic balconette shape. The shape that is creates is super forward-projecting and rounded: something most lingerie bloggers have come to love from the very launch of Marcie.

The Fit: So what has changed since I last wore Marcie? Well, I think my size has changed since a bit; my body has probably a bit less fluff and a bit more muscle and my boobs have got a cup size bigger. I am now wearing a size 32GG whereas two summers back I wore a 30G, which was probably a cup size too small to begin with. To say the least, the 32GG feels quite a bit different, mostly because even two cup sizes can change the fit specs of a bra. Mostly the difference seems to be the wires which are a tad wider than what they would need to be for me. There is also a bit more empty space at the top of the cups which makes me wonder whether I should have tried 32G as well.

The cups are as deep as with the 30G which is definitely a good thing. I would say that they even so deep that you may be able to go down a cup size with this style, especially if you are in the upper end of the size range! The 32 band still fits me fairly well, even though I still think I could wear a 31 band with Panache if it existed. The Cleo bands are a bit tighter than with the Panache main line, which is why I feel the 32 band is still a better choice than the 30.

Comfort: I still love Marcie even though I think there may be some slight fit issues with the bigger cup sizes, such as the too wide underwires (that is for me, I know there is always someone who these would fit perfectly!). My only real gripe with this bra is the placement of the straps; as you can see, I have pulled them up on my shoulders so that they sit diagonally on my body, which is not the best thing regarding comfort. However, I am surprised how little this feature affects me and how well the straps stay up regardless. Nothing about this bra rubs me or pokes me so even though the fit itself is not perfect, I love how comfy and lightweight it feels during a full day at work.

The pants are cute as ever but as a vintage gal myself, I really wish they would start making them in a higher waisted version as well. These are super low cut so not the most comfortable choice for me personally. I know however that some gals adore the cut of these and I used to love it too, but ya know, tastes change. They are still nice cute everyday panties and I never say no to ruffles!

If you are interested in the beige Marcie set, you can find at Bravissimo (£27 + £14) and Bare Necessities which both ship internationally. The bra comes in sizes 28-38 B-J and the bottoms in XXS-XXL.

Florals for Christmas – Review of Bravissimo “Satine In Bloom” in 30H

I have always been a huge Bravissimo fan – even before I actually popped into their store in Liverpool I knew they were famous for their fitting service and a lovely selection of the best brands for a fuller bust. When I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of living in UK, I knew I had to make a visit to my nearest store in Bold Street (the absolute best street in Liverpool btw!). The ladies at the store were very helpful and also gave me and my American fellow Leah a bra fitting that took my dear friend from being a 34C to her “real” size of 30F. Leah ended up walking out of the store with a classic Bravissimo in-house style “Satine” which looked so lovely on her.

Fast-forward to today, I finally got my chance to try this classic style myself when Bravissimo contacted me and asked if I wanted to try Satine for myself. Seeing it on Leah I knew it would be a great sexy addition to my lingerie collection, so of course I said yes! Here’s how I liked the new Satine In Bloom by Bravissimo’s house brand.

Excuse me for the headlessness, my straightener just resigned itself and I was wearing toilet paper rolls on my head 😀

Design: Satine is usually a quite simple yet sexy style – it always comes in a shiny satin-y material and a plunge shape – but this time I was thrilled to see it in such a pretty floral print. The print looks a bit Asian-inspired which made it feel a lot more unique and the colouring was just lovely – different tones of China red and pink splashed on the granite grey background. I was so pleased to see the vibrant shades come alive when I saw the bra in flesh; the pics on Bravissimo website or even mine don’t do the colours true justice.

The shape of the bra is a true plunge; the cups are made of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam. The look of the bra is very uplifted and also quite natural on me. The cups look a tad pointier than some of my other plunge bras but work well with most of my dresses. This is the exact kind of style that I am always looking for: something very low-cut that doesn’t show under plunging necklines. The cleavage is not super prominent so I see Satine as a great option for everyday wear as well.

Fit: As the Bravissimo team told me they would like me to try the Satine I was a bit hesitant at first. Not that I don’t love the style – it’s just that extreme plunge shapes like this tend to cut into my upper fullness. However the result was clearly not that bad when I tried the bra on – it was a little tight on my bigger breast but definitely not so much to doom it as a bad fit. I still think the bra would suit best someone with a little less upper fullness so you full-on-bottom ladies, do try the Satine! The cups were deep enough for me though and I really like how projected my boobs look in them. The cup on my bigger boob folds a tiny bit at the bottom which tells me it’s not quite deep enough there but that is very common with my other padded bras as well and doesn’t bother me at all.

The band of the bra is super comfortable and supportive! I have been having some issues with brands making their bands too narrow for my 30GG/H bust to feel supported and I am so happy Bravissimo makes their GG+ bras with three hooks and eyes. The band felt very snug at first but loosened up a bit as I wore it a few times.

When it comes to sizing, Bravissimo house-brand seems to running on the smaller side. I am still very solidly between GG and H and I decided to go for 30H based on the feedback I saw online. Many of my busty sisters have tried the Satine and reported its cups to run small-ish which is why I went for my bigger size. I am so glad I did as the bra fits me quite well even though the shape is rather closed on top! The band however seems to run true-to-size so a lovely snug 30 fits me really perfectly.

Comfort: From all aspects of the Satine set, the comfort takes the trophy home. I actually was stupid enough to do some intense dancing around our apartment yesterday without a sports bra on but I actually did quite well with Satine as it’s a sturdy little number with a comfy band and wide-enough straps. Even though I was shaking it to the Anaconda, like hardcore, my boobs didn’t fall out of the bra and or punch me in the face while jumping. Also the straps haven’t fallen off my shoulders a single time so that’s definitely a plus!

What I was very thrilled about this bra set was the thoughtfully picked out materials – the cups are lined with cotton (always a plus for me!) and the satin feels amazing to touch. I also adore the panties; they cover my butt really well and still manage to look sexy with the back being completely made out of mesh. The rise is perfect and my usual size UK 10 fitted me spot-on.

All in all, I am pretty impressed with the Bravissimo house brand and Satine in Bloom! From now on I won’t be hesitant to try other styles as well. If you are on a lookout for something cute and sexy for Christmas, do give Satine a chance; it comes in sizes 28-38 DD-J so the size range is amazing too. The bra retails for affordable £32 and the brief for £16.

Has anyone of you tried Satine and how did you like it? What about other Bravissimo styles? Let me know in the comments! xx

Suomeksi:

Bravissimo on Brittiläinen alusvaatteiden jälleenmyyjä, joka on niittänyt mainetta myös oman brändinsä sievillä alusvaateseteillä. Kun sain Bravissimolta pyynnön kokeilla heidän uutta kukkaista versiotaan “Satine”-klassikosta, olin tottakai iloinen saadessani kokeilla minulle ihan uutta merkkiä. Bravissimon liikkeessä olen toki käynyt asuessani Liverpoolissa, mutta heidän in-house merkkiään ei ollut tullut vielä kokeiltua.

Olin hieman epäileväinen Satinesta mallina, sillä olin melko varma ettei sen dramaattinen plunge-malli sopisi minulle ollenkaan – suurin osa rintakudoksestani kun on jakautunut rintojeni ylempään osioon ja tämän vuoksi alasdippaavat plunget ovat välillä hieman vaikeita. Otin kuitenkin haasteen vastaan ja olin positiivisesti yllättynyt kokeillessani Satinea – kuppien reuna painoi hieman rintojeni yläosaa muttei kuitenkaan saanut aikaiseksi jäätävää tuplatissiä! Koon puolesta voisin kuitenkin neuvoa ottamaan vaikkapa kuppikoon suuremman, sillä moni on kertonut Satinen olevan kupeiltaan hieman pienehkö. Tätä neuvoa kannattaa noudattaa varsinkin jos olet kahden kuppikoon välillä niin kuin minä! 

Kaiken kaikkiaan Satine on kuitenkin todella jämäkkä malli – olen tanssinut se päällä olohuoneessa ilman minkäänlaista vaaraa tissien karkaamisesta ulos rintsikoista. Jämäkyyden takaavat erityisesti leveä ympärysnauha sekä kauttaaltaan säädettävät olkaimet. Myös materiaalit ovat kohdallaan: kupit ovat vuorattu pehmoisella puuvillalla, joka ainakin meikäläisen kohdalla on suuri plussa! 

Jos oma Satine-setti kiinnostaa, voi sellaisen tilata suoraan Bravissimon omasta verkkokaupasta. Kokonainen setti kustantaa yhteensä 48 puntaa eli n. 61€ ja postikulut n. 7,5€ eli paljon vähemmän kuin suurimmassa osassa muita englantilaisia verkkokauppoja! Kokoja löytyy ympärysmitoista 60-85 ja kupeista UK-koot DD-J (EU-koot E-M) Tästäpä siis kaunis setti vaikkapa kuusen alle – vai mitä olette mieltä? 😉

2COP’s picks for V-Day adventures!

Hi there lovebirds, it’s finally time to be cheesy when Valentine’s Day arrives and fills us all with whole lotta love. I know there are some last-minute-shoppers out there so here is something you might get your hands on quite easily, especially if you’re living in UK or anywhere else with a decent lingerie shop. If not, promise to buy your loved-one something really special next time you hit a lingerie boutique and remember to buy at least some flowers! (And not those boring red roses, use your imagination.) And for you, sirens, it’s the last call to buy something a bit more sexy, daring or cute to impress your homeboy. And don’t you go calling me sexist, I’m a feminist but I believe in feeling amazing about yourself and for me that means sexy lingerie.

1. Curvy Kate Romance

The name tells it all! You don’t have to wear hot pink to be appropriately (un)dressed. This is a classy yet sexy set with a lot of different colourways to go for. My pick would probably be the black/purple or the black/red one. With a pair of stockings this will look great! (Psst, I’ll be reviewing this bra soon so stay tuned, gals!)

2. Freya Arabella

Now here’s the pink you’ve all been eagerly waiting for! Just kidding, I’m sure most of you’re not such Barbie girls as me. I have had this one in a black/pink colourway and I’d definitely say it’s affective. I think all the Arabella shades are amazing so give it try! There’s also a cute matching suspender belt to make the set extra sexy. 

3. Bravissimo Darling Heart 

Ahh, can’t wait to try this one on! I haven’t tried any of Bravissimo’s own bras yet so it’s time to lose my virginity on that matter (Any tips on sizing, anyone?). This colourway is superduper cute and I might say suprising as well. I have never been a big fan of purple but here it just works. Plus I have never seen such a unique styling, this is a great example of a pattern that could have gone horribly wrong with the all the cute colours and hearts in a same bra. Bravo Bravissimo!

4. Gossard Ooh la la Corselette

 

Please someone help me, I can’t breath! So now everyone knows where my next paycheck’s gonna go? This amazing corselette is available also in black/blush but I think this one just takes your breath away. I’m so gonna keep my fingers and toes crossed that this one looks great in my size too cause I’ve had bad experiences of DD+ corselettes and basques. They just don’t look the same as in the pictures. (Did you note the models lipstick hue? Just perfect!)

5. Cleo Marcie

Last but not the least, it’s my favourite girl Marcie! For a girl with upper fullness this is probably the best shape you can get. I know it’s not a “OMG, your cleavage is huge!” -bra but the style of Marcie speaks for itself. Plus the ruffle knickers are supercute. AND did I mention the new turquoise shade coming in stores this spring?! And the pink one in autumn?!! Nevertheless, just get your hands on this bra asap whether you’re going to wear it on Valentine’s or not. 

+ Something to wrap your gift in:

This can be something really cheap just to cover yourself up in a sexy way. I once bought a H&M robe for five euros and it has served me well. This is something that can make you feel luxurious without breaking the bank. Just buy an expensive-looking robe and a pair of stockings to match your old lingerie and tadah, you have brought your old set to another level. 

Have a great Valentine’s Day sweethearts and see you soon when my Figleaves order reaches our flat!