Hello Everyone,
Comexim has always been a brand I admired from afar because, and I’m not ashamed to admit it, I was a chicken about placing an international order for bras I had never tried with a sizing system that made my brain hurt. Instead, I contented myself with reading reviews from fellow bra bloggers and fantasizing about the day Comexim decided to export to the US. Well, in the middle of my trip to the Curves Expo in New York, the fantasy came true. Anna Pardal and their collaborator Comexim sent me an email saying they wanted to begin selling their products here in the US and asked if I would be interested in including them in my store. Spoiler Alert: I jumped at the chance! Comexim and Anna Pardal sent me two samples each which I will be reviewing eventually, but I want to start with the Anna Pardal Emmeline because that is what we ultimately ordered for the store. (Note: If you want more information on Anna Pardal, please read these posts: Comexim and Comexim Follow-Up.)
Sizing: Since I was reticent about ordering from Comexim directly, I have no idea how their sizing works. For the export process, all of the Comexim sizes are being converted to the standard UK sizing system employed by brands like Freya, Elomi, and Curvy Kate. As a result, I will be focusing my review on the UK size because I can speak to it with more confidence. If you have questions, you can email me, and I will pass them on to Anna.
Before I delve into my personal experiences with sizing, I want to note I support Comexim and Anna Pardal’s decision to covert the Polish/European sizing into the more common UK. I have just gotten many of my customers warmed up to UK sizing, smaller bands, and cups that go past a DD. If I had to explain they needed a 70 band and a K cup, there would be way more friction in the fitting room! With the US market still on a learning curve, I think converting to the UK system will make the lives of both fitters and customers easier.
After some experimentation, I discovered my Comexim size is a 32HH which fits beautifully. The band is comfortably snug on the loosest hooks, and I do not have any gaping or overflow with the cup. Ordinarily, I wear a 30H in Cleo or a 30HH in Panache and Curvy Kate, so the band does run quite firm. Most of my customers have needed to size up at least one band size, but if you find yourself between two, then you may want to size up from the larger. For example, a woman wearing between a 32 and a 34 should try a 36. The cup also runs about a size small from the Panache Superbra brand— my new base line for establishing which size to test in Comexim or Anna Pardal.
Fit: Before discovering Comexim, I was a diehard fan of Cleo, particularly the Marcie, because the overall design is narrower and deeper. The underwires did not extend far onto my sides and the cups near the center gore had enough depth for my close set breasts to fill. However, I still experienced extra space on the side, and I noticed by the end of the day I had red marks on the area where my breast tissue connects across the front of my chest. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t ideal either. With the Emmeline, I do not have either of these problems. The underwire actually ends where my breast tissue does on the side, and the center gore is both narrow enough and low enough to allow me the space I need.
Another issue I frequently experience is painful irritation from too tall underwires or cups, and many a gorgeous bra never made it into my lingerie wardrobe because of it. However, the Emmeline encapsulates the side breast tissue without coming up too high near the arm—a design feature which makes one of the biggest impacts on comfort. Furthermore, the profile is lifted, rounded, and high with no breast tissue gravitating to the side. If I do have one small fit quibble with the style, it’s that the center gore “soft tacks,” i.e., it presses against the sternum but does not have the same firmness as my Cleo bras. Given the lift and shaping, the soft tack does not bother me at all, and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from purchasing it because of this. In fact, some women may find the soft tack feature to work better for their body shape.
Materials & Design: The Anna Pardal line utilizes upscale fabrics like Spanish and Italian laces, and with the Emmeline, the quality shines. Plushly padded, the cups are neither thick nor heavy but manage to provide excellent support without any empty space near the underwire (also known as the “orange in the glass” problem). Moreover, the interior of the cup is lightly lined in a lush fabric which feels fantastic while the gorgeous lace on the exterior as well as the embroidery all feature a flat profile to prevent textural problems under knits. The sectional seamed cup is sewn together with tight, discreet stitching too, and I find the Emmeline makes for a perfect T-Shirt bra alternative. Fully-adjustable straps allow for maximum customization in fit but are also textured with embroidery for a thoughtful design. Speaking of the design, Emmeline reminds me of your classic black bra with a twist. The copper flowers provide a sophisticated contrast while still enabling the bra to “read” as black underneath your tops. Beautiful embroidery, rich satin bows, and carry-over lace on the wings add the final touches.
Overall Grade A+
For more information, check out my video review below!
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