Hello Everyone,
After falling in love with Comexim and partner-in-crime Anna Pardal for their superbly narrow underwires and deep cups, I embarked on an alterations process to tweak the original shape and figure out which combination worked best for me. In the past, I have reviewed Beatrix and Felicity from Anna Pardal as well as the Hibiscus Longline—all of which sported some alterations combination, but today I am focusing on a double review of two gorgeous Comexim styles: Sweet Dottie and Sapphire! Both bras feature the original, lightly padded classic plunge shape with reduced cup, raised gore, and straps moved in 2cm.
Sizing & Fit: Since focusing on my fitness goals, I found my usual 32HH in Anna Pardal and Comexim (which is up one band and one cup size from Panache Superbra) no longer yields a surefire success. Certain Comexim bands feel too loose in a 32 prompting me to occasionally size down to a 30. Furthermore, any of my bras featuring both a reduced cup and either a standard or lowered gore now have spillage, mostly on my larger side. Almost all of my side breast tissue is completely gone, leaving me extremely heavy toward the center. Both Sapphire and Sweet Dottie are in the original 32HH size although I also own a 30J Brigitte with reduced cups, inset straps, and a lowered gore and an unaltered Butterfly in 30JJ too.
Sweet Dottie was perfectly snug on the loosest set of hooks in the 32 band and has continued to stay firm after wear. Sapphire, however, not only was larger around but also stretchier, leading me to wear it on the middle or tightest hooks. Thank the lingerie gods for Eucalan because it has helped keep the fibers tighter. For both bras the HH cup works well without any spillage issues or gaping. Reducing the cup takes less fabric from the center and more from the top of the cup, but it has recently become *just* enough to need either the higher gore or a bigger cup size.
While the higher gore helps contain center tissue, the underwires do not fully tack, particularly toward the top. The regular and lowered gore height offer me the best tacking, and in the future, I would love to see Comexim and Anna Pardal utilize a heavier or higher gauge wire to allow the gore to press back firmer against heavy center tissue.
Even knowing there would be soft tacking issues, I anticipated this combination would prove a favorite, which is why I ordered two bras with it. For me, a soft tack is not a problem provided the integrity of the support is not compromised, and I find the bra does a great job keeping my breasts contained in the cup as I move. Moving in the straps by 2cm seems to work for nearly everyone, myself included, and the lowered cup height prevents wrinkling or gaping near the top. As always, the lift and shape are phenomenal too.
Materials & Design: Sapphire has been on my wish list since a customer special ordered it over the summer because it initiated a craving for jewel tone color bras (Pretty please, let’s do an Emerald!). The opulent blue fabric with a touch of sheen contrasts lushly with black accents such as embellished straps and a simple lace upper cup. Between the color, texture of the fabric, and final finishing touches, Sapphire reads as a bra far more expensive than it is.
Sweet Dottie, on the other hand, is your basic fun, cute bra. With hot pink polka dots popping against a bright teal, Sweet Dottie could have been ripped right from Barbie’s wardrobe. I think I may have developed Multiple Lingerie Personalities Disorder because at the same time I saw the mature, sexy Sapphire, I also lusted after the aesthetically opposite Sweet Dottie. Finally, both bras utilize a smoother fabric for thinner tops. While the lace styles are not as textured as they appear, they can still create friction issues with certain fabrics or show through thin knits. The smooth fabrics here give you more flexibility while still being a fun fashion piece.
The Matching Panties: Fashion underwear for me is hit-or-miss with fit and comfort. Sometimes I absolutely love it, and then other cases, I tend to not wear it much. The Sweet Dottie channels a tap pant vibe with a flounced hem and elasticized waist. Because my hips are squishy, I prefer fabrics with stretch at the top to prevent visible lines, but these tend more toward flattering with less pronounced digging. The angled cut in the back succeeds, and the fabric itself is dreamily soft. With Sapphire, the design verges more on boy short with sheer black stretch on the back and solid panel in matching fabric on the front. I have to confess this is my theoretical favorite pair of matching underwear. Back in the days before owning a lingerie shop, my go-to sexy undies were these lace boy shorts which showed some cheek because they made my butt look amazing. However, it’s hard to find that exact profile in a comfortable everyday panty. Sapphire allows me to channel that shape for times I want to wear the matching set. The downside for both pairs is they creep upward on me. Sapphire does this to a lesser degree, but it makes them more uncomfortable as I wear them. I usually reserve them for slower days at the shop or for the weekends. For reference, both panties are a size Large.
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