Hello Everyone,

When I first saw the Diana from Anna Pardal, it was a sample sent to see the quality of the line, and much to my immediate chagrin, the size was too small for me.  However, I knew I would eventually need to own this bra because as much as I enjoy my padded Comexim and Anna Pardal bras, it’s nice to have an unpadded option too, especially one this gorgeous:

Sizing & Fit:  I discovered early on that my Anna Pardal and Comexim size was around a 32HH, essentially one band and one cup from my standard size, and with Diana, the size works fairly well.  At the time I received the bra and took the original photos, I was at the higher end of my weight gain and cup size, and I feel a J cup would have alleviated some of the overflow I experienced.  Because I was in the process of correcting my medication and loosing weight, I ultimately held onto the Diana with the hope it would fit better soon enough, and my patience was rewarded.  I’m down six pounds, and the bra fits significantly better.  (Note: For comparison, all of my bras were too small during the weight gain, and I was sporting the quadboob constantly.)  True to Anna Pardal’s standard, the band fits firm on the loosest set of hooks although not as tight as the Emmeline.  The bands used by Anna Pardal have less stretch and tend to last longer—a money saving feature I appreciate.

The shape of Diana could double as a template for the Anna Pardal padded bras, and I know the brand uses the Cappuccino as the basis for a padded variation called Stiff Cappuccino.  Both padded and unpadded styles utilize 3-section cups with a v-shaped neckline, but Diana feels more open toward the top of the cup.  The lack of padding and added height does create a little jiggle with heavy movement which may not appeal to some readers.  Furthermore,  the top of the cup features a stiffer fabric without much give, and while this ensures breast tissue stays anchored toward the center, I worry the restricted stretch of the fabric will not fit certain breast shapes.  For my even fullness, the fabric contours beautifully, and I have not encountered issues with special orders at the shop yet.  Nevertheless, when I review an item, I include observations for readers without my breast shape to help them make smarter purchasing decisions, and I thought it wise to include a caveat about the fabric.

Comexim and Anna Pardal both give me cleavage—or should I say, they enhance my natural cleavage?—but I was shocked to see how fabulous Diana made my breasts look, especially with the open neckline.  Instead of the amplified cleavage provided by some bras, Diana crafts a softer, subtler look that matches the sophisticated tone of the design.  As with other Anna Pardal and Comexim bras, the Diana sports a narrow center gore with deeper cups as well as narrow, low underwires—all of which is perfect for women with close set breasts.  If you need wider gores or underwires that wrap further around the side, skip this bra and consider unpadded options from UK-retailers.

Prior to my continued love affair with Comexim, I wore a lot of Cleo bras, and an area where both brands excel is the lifted, rounded, forward profile.  Diana does not disappoint here, despite being unpadded, and I find the profile flattering without the extra bulk.  Did I mention it may be one of the most comfortable bras I have ever put on my body?  Diana is so lightweight and supportive I don’t even feel like I am wearing a bra.  Sure, the jiggling makes it a no-no for long, tough days at the store, but for your average Thursday, it’s totally fine.  In the future, I would like to see them offer a style that channels Diana but offers a little more security, perhaps with a higher gore or taller cups.  I know some of my customers would love the support but find the control lacking, at least in higher cup sizes.

Materials & Design:  Part of why the bra feels like second skin is the high quality materials.  Per usual, the wings are composed of supportive fabric which anchors well to the body without stretching quickly over time, and the straps are thicker and fully-adjustable.  Mesh fabric cups provide support without feeling heavy or industrial, and they even offer the wearer the hint of transparency.  When I reviewed Sophia from Parfait and Colette from Panache, I mentioned the challenge in finding mesh bras in higher cup sizes, and Diana is certainly a worthy entry into the market.  The dark base with accents of silver, white, gray, and rose add to the luxurious, upscale aesthetic while over-sized bows, detailed embroidery, and iridescent threading lend cohesion and thoughtfulness to the design.

Overall Grade:  B+/A
**Update**  Diana is discontinued style for Anna Pardal as they ran out of fabric, but they will have new unpadded options available next year!

For more information, check out the video review below: