Hello Everyone,

As Panache revitalizes their brand with so many new styles this year, I have enjoyed testing each new silhouette and marveling at the improvements to the fuller-cup designs.  Colette did not immediately catch my eye as the catalog shot never did the design justice, but seeing the ice blue color at Curves struck me with lingerie lust.  I have never owned a bra in this color before, and I was excited by the prospect of a flesh-tone alternative for my extremely pale skin.

Sizing and Fit:  In most Panache bras, a 30HH fits perfectly; however, in Colette, the band was too loose and the cups too big on my larger side.  Immediately, I needed to use the tightest set of hooks for the best support, leading me to believe a 28 band, which they do not make in this style, would be better.  On my larger side, the cup is absolutely perfect with no gaping or overflow, but on the smaller side, the top is very loose although it does not show under clothes.  I would have loved to try this style in a 28HH to see if it corrected some of the issues I faced with fit, but I would be open to revisiting it in new colorways to see if the band is firmer.

Featuring a three-section cup design, Colette provides an incredibly lifted, rounded shape reminiscent of Jasmine/Envy, and the narrower center gore tacks well without digging painfully into my sternum.  The underwires still feel wide to me but are more comfortable than my recent foray with Rumeur.  I still have extra space on the side where there is more cup than breast tissue as well as space above the underwire.  The underwires maintain the standard Panache height though, and if you find Panache bras often hit too high under the arm or dig, Colette will not provide relief.  Because of my long torso, the underwires feel comfortable, and the height of the cup is not rubbing or chafing.  Petite or short-waisted women may disagree.  After wearing Comexim for months, it’s hard not to be spoiled by the narrowness and lowness of their underwires, but Colette still tempts me with the shape and moderate coverage.  Finally, the top of the cup seems more open than other Panache bras, making it better for women with balanced fullness or full-on-top breasts.  I actually feel like Colette may be te Superbra version of the Cleo Marcie.  They both have a three-section cup with a narrow center gore and deeper cups toward the center for better forward projection, but the Colette does have wider and taller underwires on the side.  I really like the idea of the bra, but I do wish I would have been able to experiment with another size. 

Materials & Design:  Colette provides the fuller-bust woman with a lingerie rarity:  a tastefully sheer bra.  Most of the sheer or semi-sheer styles become more opaque and thick once you cross the G-Cup barrier, but Colette is refreshingly lightweight and delicate.  The all-over mesh is incredibly soft and feels like air against the skin.  Flat-laying embroidery along the entirety of the cup provides some visual interest without distracting from mesh fabric and helps reinforce the icy quality of the design.  Sweet Nothings said this bra reminded her of Elsa from Frozen, and I have to agree.  On the straps, little dots channel snow falling down onto the cups for a beautiful wintery mix.

The color is also one of my favorite for pastels.  I’m not a huge fan when a pastel is muted because it washes out so many skin tones, but when there is an undercurrent of saturation and even edge, then a pastel really shines.  Colette succeeds perfectly here, and I can’t say enough how much I love the look.  With that in mind, the straps are still only partially-adjustable, which doesn’t work for a lot of women, and the wings are stretch considerably—a materials decision which may factor into why I need to size down in the band.  Still, this is one of my favorite new Panache styles, and I hope they continue to tweak the fit with each new season.

Overall Grade:  B/B+

For more information, check out the video below:

Erica

P.S.  I know I have reviewed a lot of Panache styles lately.  Earlier this summer, I shot multiple videos and pictures for Panache’s spring collection, but then I became so busy, I never had a chance to write the actual blogs.  I have a Fantasie Jana and a Parfait Sophia review, and then I’m back to posting newer stuff!