Hello Everyone,
Ages ago when I visited the Curves Expo in NYC, I saw the gorgeous Floris on a model and was intrigued by the shape and fit, and I had high hopes the style would suit the needs of some of our customers.
Sizing & Fit: Unfailingly, I wear a 30HH in Panache bras, and the Floris is no exception. The band feels comfortably snug and firm on the loosest set of hooks while the cup has no gaping or overflow. When I saw the Floris on the model, I was struck by the similarities in shape to the Jasmine/Envy without utilizing a stretch lace. As much as certain customers prefer the stretch and contouring of lace, I have others who want a firmer fabric at the top of the cup. Like the Jasmine/Envy lovers, these women still want a bra with side support and forward projection, and Floris appeared a good compromise.
Even though Floris lacks a side support panel like Jasmine, it does employ a stiff, shallow side cup which functions in the same way to pull breast tissue toward the front. On me, the shape was flattering albeit not as forward and rounded as Cleo or Comexim. Vertical seaming in the front provides significant lift and shaping too while the firm top cup keeps upper breast tissue contained. Nevertheless, because the inflexible top cup darts inward, women needing the stretch lace may be disappointed with fit, especially those with full-on-top breasts. I have a little space between the underwire and my breast tissue, but both Envy and Jasmine create the same problem for me without causing discomfort. As with most Panache bras, the underwires are wider than what I prefer but not nearly as wide as Tango or Rumeur, and they are also tall in the front and sides. Floris features more coverage than Jasmine but less than Tango, and to be fair, I specifically tested Floris to see if it would work for customers needing full coverage and added hold. It succeeds well here, and I would not criticize the bra because it does not suit my breast type or personal preference.
Materials & Design: The fabric on the lower cup is thick without much give, especially on the side, but the upper cup is lighter although equally inflexible. However, aside from needing to wash the heavy starch from the materials, the fabrics do not chafe or rub. In contrast, the wings are made from a smooth, softer fabric which anchors comfortably to the body. Panache always uses partially-adjustable, felted straps on higher cup sizes, and while the felted bottom feels soft on the shoulder, it also prevents women from tightening them as much as needed. Personally, I rarely encounter this issue, but many of my customers do need to adjust more than a Panache strap will allow.
The appeal of the Floris is a mystery to me because I’m so tired of floral prints and purple, but somehow, I really enjoy this print. The blooms range in size but tend toward larger, and the edges are blurred more like watercolor. A saturated mix of purples ranging from lavender to plum complement the deep green leaves intermixed in the pattern, and the crosshatch on the top of the cup as well as on the straps and back is a final thoughtful flourish. As a side note, because there are so many colors interwoven into the print, you can find a variety of faux-matching panties to avoid paying the heft $30 price tag for Panache’s version.
Overall Grade: B/B+
For more information, check out the video below:
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