Hello Ladies,

After reviewing the Nancy balcony bikini top as well as the fold-over bottom on Wednesday, I’m back today to discuss the tankini.  When I first decided what to pre-order, I knew I wanted both a bikini and tankini because my confidence level with my body varies from day to day.  Not to mention, attending cookouts often leads to a burger, hot dog, and potato salad binge which can make a tankini swimsuit an attractive option!

Sizing & Fit:  As with the bikini top, I ordered my usual Panache Superbra size (30HH), and the fit was perfect.  A firm band provided excellent side support and anchorage, and the cups completely encased my breast tissue.  Because the fabric is more flexible, there is leeway in choosing a cup size, and women who are between sizes can certainly size down here.

With a higher center gore and slightly wider wires, I would liken the Nancy tankini to the Panache Loretta in terms of shape and fit.  The more traditional bra design works for the tankini because the underwires and cups are completely concealed whereas in the bikini, the design would seem too much like a regular bra.  As a result, you receive added support and lift, and the silhouette looks rounded and natural.

The lower part of the tankini is also rather fitted.  In the past, tankinis which covered my chest often flared away from the stomach or were too baggy, thus making my tummy seem larger than it is.  Because the Nancy is shaped through the waist, you have a streamlined silhouette, and the stretchy fabric is surprisingly forgiving of any lumps or bumps.

Materials:  Unlike the balcony bikini which is a single piece, the tankini actually sports two distinct components:  an exterior shell and an interior bra.  The bra has a different fabric composition as well as secret wings which hook in the back using three hook-and-eye closures.  While the exterior of the tankini features a soft, stretchy swimwear fabric the bra portion utilizes a fine, breathable mesh.  On the cups, the mesh is loosely woven to allow water to pass through without getting trapped against the breasts while the wings feel similar to the standard powernet.  As with the balcony bikini, the underwires in the Nancy tankini are a little firmer, so they stay anchored against the body even with movement.  Fully-adjustable straps help contour the bra to your shape and provide some extra support.

Design:  As I mentioned in the first part of the review, the nautical print with a classic red, white, and blue color palette invokes the fresh, fun spirit of summer.  In the future, I would love to see Panache mix prints (stripes with lifesavers, polka dots and flowers, etc.) for an edgier look, but for now, the design is wonderful.  Aesthetics aside, I love how Panache did not fall into the trap of sticking underwire into a swimsuit without anchoring it to the body.  By providing powernet wings detached from the exterior shell as well as specialized mesh cups, the Nancy tankini marries the support of a bra with the practicality and functionality of swimwear.  Furthermore, the mesh at the top of the swimsuit provides maximum coverage when you bend over or move so nothing is exposed.  When I visit the lake or pool, I love to do things (play catch, go hiking, etc.), and having a swimsuit which can keep up with my activities is so refreshing.

The Quibble:  Getting this bad boy on can be a bit of a fight.  The underwire constantly wants to stab me in the neck or upper chest region, meaning I need to wiggle in while carefully controlling the underwire.  Once I get the underwire in place, it’s easy to snap the band in the back and adjust as necessary.  Since the tankini stays in place no matter what you do, the only time you have to struggle with it is during the on/off process!

If you want more information about the swimsuit, check out the video below:

Overall Grade:  A+