Last November, I was delighted to get the opportunity to attend the Panache Spring/Summer 2012 press day held at the Sanctum Hotel. As a lover of sumptuous lingerie and beautiful patterns, it comes as no surprise that 'Masquerade' by Panache had me head over heels at first sight and the press day only served to confirm this!
I viewed the Spring/Summer 2012 collections of Panache Superbra, Cleo, Panache Swimwear and Masquerade and although all of the ranges had pieces that I loved, it was Masquerade that stood out by a mile!
Discovering the Masquerade range was akin to entering an Aladdin's cave of lingerie and the pieces had strong influences from Arabian antiquities and Persian exoticism - something reflected both in the patterns used and the rich fabric choices.
With my taste for luxury, it was only to be expected that the Masquerade 'Capella' caught my eye, with its soft champagne satin sheen and exquisite contrasting black lace print! Since the Press day, I knew that the 'Capella' had to be mine, so when New Year came around and I saw this beauty discounted at Debenhams, I snapped this bra up quicker than you could say "2012"!
(The 'Capella' bra comes in sizes 28-38 back and cup sizes D-G, whilst the short and thong come in sizes 8-18.)
The 'Capella' is a stunning underwired and moulded bra that is crossed between a balconette and plunge bra, with a 'sweetheart' shaped neckline. It is an extremely stylish and sophisticated bra and its champagne colour would suit a range of complexions, whilst appealing to a diverse age range. The rich satin and lace combination makes this bra very luxurious and opulent looking, without the extortionate designer price tag.
The 'Capella' features all over satin in a breathtaking champagne gold colour. The rich satin cups are set off by a delicately embossed intricate black floral lace pattern, which adds to the decadent vintage feel of this bra. To top it off, the 'Capella' boasts quite narrow satin wrapped straps and a pretty little black lace bow which adorns the centre of the bra.
(Close up showing the lace print detail, with the champagne satin peeking through from underneath)
The 'Capella' is very cleverly designed, with its soft satin fabric and unusual printed lace cups, which give the bra a smooth finish. As a result, the 'Capella' remains fairly seamless under tight clothing, which is quite rare for such a pretty and ornate bra!
I was very impressed with the fit of the 'Capella' and my usual 28FF size was spot on. The back band felt snug and supportive (characteristic of Masquerade by Panache bras) and the shape it gave me was uplifted, rounded and with a nice cleavage to boot! My one criticism of the 'Capella' is that the straps are only partially adjustable, meaning that the strap 'lifespan' of this bra is greatly reduced.
I was amazed at just how comfortable the 'Capella' was and I could happily wear it as an everyday bra, without feeling any digging in or discomfort at the end of a day at work. When it comes to comfortable everyday bras, I am usually a Freya 'Deco' girl, but the 'Capella' and its moulded cups, supportive fit and beautiful design would definitely encourage me to wear this bra everyday, as well as for 'special occasions'.
At £39, the 'Capella' is not cheap, but it is very good value for money given its rich, quality fabrics and fantastic support. What's more, if you're tight for cash, you can snap up the 'Capella' for £27.30 on Figleaves at the moment. The 'Capella' also comes with the choice of an elegant satin and lace print short or thong (depending on your preference!)
The 'Capella' has quickly become one of my 'go to' bras of the moment and I love how silky soft the satin of this bra feels against my skin. This bra definitely makes me want to crack out the champagne and propose a toast..
"To Masquerade's 'Capella', for delivering comfort, support and style in equal measure!"
As you can guess, being a lingerie-a-holic is not always an easy job. There are so many bras that I fall in love with, that lingerie discount sites are now my 'holy grail'! My recent find is the website, notnaked, which I blogged about briefly in an earlier post...
Run by dedicated duo, Simon and Michele, notnaked was created with a view to providing quality brands at discounted prices. Notnaked buys directly from UK manufacturers to ensure great value, meaning that you won't have to think twice about snapping up that pretty bra set!
I was delighted to find a wide range of well-loved names on notnaked's website, such as Wonderbra, Triumph, Lepel, Charnos, Sloggi, Panache, Curvy Kate, Royce, Berlei, Gossard and Playtex. Most exciting of all, is that notnaked offer sizes from a 28 band up to a 46 band and cup sizes from AA-KK. It is even possible to order in your size if it is not available!
The notnaked site is very easy to use and well organised into categories, so that you can pick the lingerie that best suits your shape and requirements. Notnaked also have the option to browse by your favourite bra or brief style or choose from different lingerie styles (such as basques, bridal wear and shapewear). There are also categories for nightwear and swimwear...or you can simply shop by your favourite brand. From balcony to push up, post-surgery, nursing, strapless, sport or soft cup, notnaked has you covered!
A great advantage with notnaked, is that they sell both new stock and old season products. I am often frustrated when products that I love sell out in my size before I have time to snap them up, so it is great to find old favourites that I want to repurchase and styles that I have missed out on!
One of the bra sets that I have been after for a long time, is the Masquerade (by Panache) 'Anise' set. I was thrilled to find my size on notnaked at £18.95 for the bra and £9.95 for the matching thong. Reduced from an RRP of £33 and £14, notnaked's price is a steal!
Notnaked sent me the 'Anise' bra in a 28FF and a size 10 thong, which both arrived just a day later. Notnaked continue to impress me with their speedy postage - a real plus if you need something quickly! Additionally, my goodies came nicely wrapped up like a present...perfect for Christmas, or for a cheeky gift to yourself!
The Masquerade 'Anise' bra is a stunning, lightly padded underwired balconette that oozes vintage glamour. With its eye-catching coral hue, the 'Anise' is transformed into a modern classic that stands out from the crowd. The moulded cups are almost flesh-tone, making the floral-patterned coral eyelash lace overlay 'pop' - a really interesting take on the nude and lace trend that has been all over the catwalks recently!
The stand-out feature of this bra is undoubtedly the sexy triangle cut-out at the centre of the cups. It gives a little peek of skin, whilst enhancing the bra's boudoir appeal. The 'Anise' also features contrasting satin along the back panel and bra straps, which adds a high-end, sophisticated touch. I love the intricate flower and bow motif at the centre of the cups, which boasts a tiny pearl bead too - just gorgeous!
I found my usual 28FF size in the 'Anise' to be a great fit in the cups, but surprisingly tight at the back. I ended up exchanging the 28FF for a 30F, to give me a little extra room to breathe! The underband elastic and straps feel quite rigid compared to some of my other Panache bras, but the tight back band is great news for those that are sub or towards the smaller end of a 28 inch back!
Thanks to its moulded cup style, the 'Anise' gives fantastic uplift and shape to your bust, giving you a real 'Marie-Antoinette' cleavage. True to Panache as a whole, the Masquerade 'Anise' delivers no less than fabulous support, which is so important for ladies with a larger bust.
The matching thong is also beautifully detailed, with its luxurious coral satin and lace panel. The eyelash lace makes this thong look delicate, but oh so sexy...
Back detailing:
In terms of fit, I felt that the thong was slightly towards the generous side and I probably could have got away with an 8. It is worth noting that the lace is quite sheer and with only a thin layer of pale mesh underneath, this thong leaves little to the imagination. This is great for those that are partial to saucy smalls, but not for those that prefer more coverage!
Like the 'Anise' bra, the matching thong also has a pretty bow and pearl detail:
All in all, the 'Anise' would make a perfect Christmas present for the glamour puss that loves a bit of elegance and luxury in her life.Seductive bras for the larger bust are hard to come by, but the Masquerade 'Anise' delivers sumptuous fabrics and exquisite detailing in abundance. The bright coral colour sets the 'Anise' apart from other bras on the market and would look great against a range of skin tones (even on a very pale lady, such as myself!). What's more, for £28.90, you can get a whole lingerie set, with money left over to go towards your Xmas turkey!!
Thanks to notnaked's super-quick delivery (a real testament to their brilliant customer service), you can be sure to get your goodies in ample time. It is worth snapping things up quick though, as items don't stay around for long! With new stock added weekly, there is always something that I have got my eye on at notnaked and with Christmas approaching, I might have to start dropping some not-so-subtle hints...!
One of the first brands for larger busts that I fell in love with was Panache and their 'Cleo' range. Cleo made its debut in 2009 and since then, it has attracted a loyal customer base of lingerie-loving fashionistas. Cleo is rather like Panache Superbra's trend-conscious younger sister, providing great support in colourful and pretty designs, from a 28 band and up to a J cup!
As I'm sure many lingeristas will agree, it is always exciting to come across your favourite brands at discounted prices, so I was really happy to find the gorgeous and girly Cleo 'Lucy' bra on sale for £16.95 on notnaked!
I ordered my usual 28FF size and was amazed to receive confirmation that my item had been dispatched the very same day. The package arrived a matter of a day later too!
As you can see from the picture, the Cleo 'Lucy' is a non-padded underwired balconette with a three sectioned cup and fully adjustable shoulder straps. This pink beauty is primarily made of doubled-lined mesh, with single mesh panels along the top of the cups. The benefit of having two layers of mesh on the cups, is the added support and superior shape that it gives. Unlike some mesh bras (which can give a slightly pointy look), the 'Lucy' lends to a lovely rounded, yet natural shape.
Having semi-sheer cups stops you from feeling too exposed, but at the same time, gives a tantalising hint of what is underneath! The sheer mesh panels along the top of the cups feature a white embroidered Picot trim, alongside openwork floral embroidery - detailing which is complimented by small floral motifs, scattered intermittently across the cups. This girly and feminine bra is finished off by a vibrant pink and white bow at the centre gore. Despite the shocking pink colour of this bra, it works well under most tops and the embroidery does not show through either.
(Detail of the 'Lucy', showing intricate embroidery detailing and sheer panels.)
Size-wise, the 'Lucy' fits well and feels very comfortable - the under-band feels very snug, which is something that I love about Panache bras and the centre gore sits flush against the chest without digging in. An unpadded bra that gives a nice rounded and uplifted shape is hard to come by, so I was impressed with the shape that the 'Lucy' gives.
The only issue that I had with the 'Lucy' bra, was the slight wrinkling that I got along the sheer mesh panels at the top, despite the cup size being correct. Ladies who are 'fuller on top' will probably not experience this, but it is worth mentioning for those who find this a common occurrence in unpadded styles.
The Cleo 'Lucy' is a great everyday bra and its vibrant pink shade and floral detailing are sure to make you feel every bit the girly girl! Above all, I am pleased with the firmness of the band and the lovely shape and support that the 'Lucy' provides. Thanks to Panache, this bra will definitely have you feeling pretty in pink!
Since its creation by Anthony Power in 1982, British brand, Panache, has grown from a small business into one of the leading names of the D+ lingerie market. Fit, support, comfort and quality are paramount to Panache's ideals - a philosophy that remains key to its global success.
Panache offer great fit from AA-KK across five different collections, each geared towards a slightly different customer base:
Panache Superbra - The brand's core collection that focuses on providing classic, pretty and well-fitting staples.
Cleo by Panache - Aimed at a younger audience, Cleo is fun and edgy, providing a great fit and fashionable designs.
Masquerade - Panache's higher-end collection that features dramatic and glamorous lingerie and bedroom wear in luxurious designs and fabrics.
Atlantis - A collection from AA-E that focuses on creating uplift and the appearance of a bigger bust with cleavage-boosting padded bras.
Panache Swimwear - An extension of Panache Superbra, providing well-fitting, supportive and fashionable swimwear for the bigger busted woman.
I have worn Panache for a while now and am a big fan of Cleo and Masquerade in particular, so I was naturally very excited to be invited to Panache's Spring/Summer 2012 press launch, hosted by Instinct PR. The event was held at the Sanctum Hotel in Soho and took place in one of the suites, giving the launch a glamorous boudoir atmosphere.
On arriving, the Instinct PR team welcomed me with an overview of the brand and invited me to be fitted into their best-selling 'Tango' bra, which currently goes up to a K cup. The 'Tango' is a staple from the Superbra collection and comes in both a plunge and balconette. It is completely unpadded and follows the natural shape of the breasts, whilst the Austrian leaf embroidery design on the cups keeps the bra from looking plain. The fitter was fantastic and fitted me as a 28FF in a matter of a minute!
The exciting news is that this year the 'Tango' celebrates its 10th anniversary and to honour the occasion, Panache has brought out two stunning, limited edition styles...
The gorgeous, peachy-coral toned 'Tutti Frutti', with raspberry, purple and pink tinged leaf embroidery:
This brings me to talk about the Panache Superbra collection as a whole...
PANACHE SUPERBRA
The Panache Superbra Spring/Summer 2012 collection builds on classic Panache shapes, seeing updates to their best selling styles, as well as the introduction of an array of vibrant new colours and patterns. The Superbra collection is awash with rich blues, burnt yellows and oranges, berry, aqua, peach, violet and fuchsia hues, whilst designs range from plain delicate lace to leaf and floral embroidery, through to graphic print feather and mosaic patterning. This collection combines superb fit and ultimate comfort with sophisticated, yet fashionable styling.
The 'Carmel' is a gorgeous new addition to the collection - the rich blue is set off beautifully by the burnt yellow-orange hibiscus detailing, which really gives this piece an exotic feel:
I loved the 'Ariza' - an intense violet hue complimented by pops of aqua and orange floral detailing:
The moulded 'Porcelain Viva' bra comes in bright fuchsia for S/S12 - an eye-catching fashion colour that provides variation to the standard black, white and nude basic shades:
The 'Fern' balconette channels Gaudi-esque geometric mosaic patterning, with a quirky colour palette of pinks, oranges and greys:
The 'Paloma' boasts an eye-catching graphic feather print pattern in burnt orange, black, white and grey:
The lacey 'Andorra' is the epitome of simple sophistication, whilst its berry hue gives it a feel of luxury..
whilst the 'Eden' adds a tropical vibe with flashes of orange and floral motifs against a berry backdrop:
The girly new 'Lorna' bra drew many a gasp when it was revealed that this red, pink, grey and white floral and lace number was a maternity bra!
I also thought that the current 'Sophie' maternity bra was really boudoir and sexy - Good on Panache for providing such lovely maternity bras for yummy mummys!
Panache Superbra new season styles alongside old favourites:
THE NEW PANACHE SPORTS BRA
After much anticipation, the new Panache Sports bra has arrived! The new sports bra is the brainchild of Panache's head designer, Clare Fallon and is the product of 3 years of careful development and extensive testing by Progressive Sports Technologies in Loughborough. During this period, 3D motion and biomechanical tracking techniques were used to measure the effects of the sports bra on breast bounce. Panache are delighted with their new sports bra offering and say that it reduces bounce by 83%, compared to 65% by its competitors. The Panache sports bra works by encapsulating rather than compressing the breasts, providing superior comfort and support to the wearer. Catering to sizes from D-H and at a very reasonable £35, this bra is perfect for larger busted ladies who want to exercise and banish the bounce! I was very excited to finally see the new Panache Sports bra in the flesh:
What is also amazing about this sports bra, is that Panache have even introduced some fashion colours into the range - the purple, pink and grey version looks great, as well as providing the support you need for exercising! The Panache sports bra definitely deserves a blog review in future...
PANACHE SWIMWEAR
Panache also offer cup-sized swimwear up to a K cup, for ultimate support and comfort by the pool and on the beach. Panache's Spring/Summer 2012 swimwear collection takes its inspiration from Africa and Tahiti and boasts a fabulous mix of eye-catching shades (from purple to orange to scarlet to turquoise), alongside fabulous geometric, tribal, nautical and vintage patterning.
One of my swimwear favourites was the Panache 'Sophia' - an innovative one shouldered vivid purple bandeau bikini. The knot details give this bikini a real sense of glamour and sophistication!
The Panache 'Veronica' comes in a sexy bandeau bikini and in an elegant strappy swimsuit, which has lovely ruching detail at the sides to flatter your curves. The scarlet red of the 'Veronica' just screams vintage pin-up!
Moving away from block colour, the Panache 'Suzette' has an eye-catching tribal leaf print that mixes rich purples with striking violet and coral-orange:
The Panache 'Natalie' bikini continues the use of geometric tribal print, but adds a quirky colour combination of turquoise, purple, aqua and scarlet:
The Panache 'Claudette' features a tropical flower and palm print, with two-toned combinations of black and white or red and white. This simple but dramatic graphic look will work for just about anyone:
Because no swimwear collection would be complete without a bit of nautical print, the 'Lucille' makes a come-back for S/S12 in navy and white with red detailing..fabulous!
Last but not least, one of the stand-out pieces of the collection was the Panache 'Page' halterneck bikini and retro swimsuit. The quirky nautical wave print, scarlet panels and white buttons give a real nod to 50s pin-up style!
CLEO BY PANACHE
'Cleo' by Panache is a range that I am very familiar with, owning quite a few styles myself! I really liked the Spring/Summer collection, which delivers young, colourful and fashionable lingerie in eye-catching prints and bold colours. Cleo S/S12 is a real burst of paintbox brights - with hot pink, turquoise, orange, inky blue, violet, canary yellow, lime, red and baby blue. Along with the graphic prints, paisley patterning, zig-zag embroidery and lace trims, this range has something for a diverse range of tastes!
Continuing with Cleo's long-standing love for poppy print, the Cleo 'Chloe' bra is very feminine and pretty with its ditsy floral poppy and lavender print:
A modern twist on paisley print, the turquoise Cleo 'Alexa' bra is a real 'look at me' bra. The flashes of orange, lime, white and purple against the vivid turquoise base make it a knock-out piece. The delicate pink lace trim and bow at the centre of the cups add to its girly charm!
I love the Cleo 'Ellie' bra, which is a really playful and fun balconette that looks rather like a piece of abstract art! The multi-coloured watercolour pattern of inky blue, aqua and purple splotches looks fantastic with the hot pink lace trim. This beauty is bound to add some life to your underwear drawer!
The Cleo 'Rihanna' abstract design again has a very painterly quality to its print. The combination of white, red, black, peach and turquoise is very unusual, yet striking:
A new take on Cleo's popular 'Lucy' bra, this vibrant canary yellow version with pink ribbon motif just screams summer fun and would put a smile on anyone's face no matter what the weather!
The Cleo 'Ariana' bra in 'samba' has a really exotic carnival feel, with its rainbow-coloured zig-zag embroidery:
Cleo's popular 'Jude' bra is updated in hot red with baby blue detailing for S/S12.. a great alternative to moulded t-shirt bras in basic colours:
As a fan of the Cleo 'Poppy' bra from last season, I was pleased to see that the Cleo 'Juna' bra is identical in design. Coming out in useful basic colours of black, nude and ivory, the 'Juna' will be great as an everyday bra, but will keep you feeling pretty with its decorative broderie anglaise trims!
MASQUERADE
If you are looking for luxury, Masquerade simply oozes glamour and sophistication, with its sumptuous fabrics, rich colours and exquisite detailing. Masquerade looks to combine a beautiful fit with a high-end feel, without the designer price tag! Masquerade Spring/Summer 2012 is heavily influenced by the arabian antiquities of Persia, Morocco and Egypt. The collection features ornate embroidery, floral lace overlay, satin jacquard, tassel and jewel motifs, alongside a colour palette of ivory, nude, antique golds, powder green, dusky lilac, raspberry and black.
The 'Rhea' bra in 'powder' was one of the first Masquerade bras that I ever tried on and I remain a fan to this day. The 'Rhea' has proved very popular with Masquerade fans, due to its vintage look and 'Marie-Antoinette' balconette design, which gives fantastic shape and uplift to a larger bust. For Spring/Summer, the 'Rhea' comes in an elegant dusky pink tone:
and classic black (guaranteed to look fantastic on everyone!):
The 'Rhea' features intricate lace embroidery and a ribbon and heart-shaped jewel at the centre of the cups, for added elegance!
One of my favourite styles was the stunning 'Amira' in 'Elderberry' - a dusky lilac-toned Boselli satin plunge bra, adorned with delicate ivory Guipure lace at the cups, centre gore and along the straps:
The 'Medina' continues the dusky lilac theme, but instead is contrasted with a rose print pattern of red, pink and green - truly exotic!
The other plunge style from the collection is the powder green 'Illsa' in 'Waterlilly', which boasts an embroidered mosaic tile pattern on the cups:
For S/S12, the 'Delphi' is updated in champagne nude satin, with white embroidered floral overlay and raspberry notes. Check out the gorgeous mesh-embroidered panels on the knickers too!
Another of my favourites has to be the 'Persia' in 'Damson'. Nude with lace overlay is a big trend for the coming seasons, so the 'Persia' is really on the mark.The 'Persia' bra has a Moroccan influence, with its nude base, overlaid with rich maroon lace. The combination of the satin band and straps with the intricate floral mosaic patterned lace is exquisite and the little tassel motif shows real attention to detail. This is one set that I absolutely must try!
Another favourite is the satin, champagne coloured 'Capella' with black jacquard lace effect. Not only does this sweetheart moulded bra look divine, but the fit is also spot on! I recently tried this bra on in Bravissimo and fell in love with its beautiful fit and support. This set is sure to make you feel a million dollars!
The gold-nude 'Harem' is a really luxurious twist on the nude trend. With satin and lace panels, this set would be perfect for special occasion wear, as well as for every day luxury. The high-waisted lace panelled knickers are also a nod to the vintage style that is making a come back:
As a bride-to-be, I was immensely excited by the luxurious ivory satin 'Deity' range (the body and plunge bra are pictured below). It is so hard to come by beautiful bridal lingerie that is available in a 28 back, so I really struck gold with the 'Deity'. The body and high-waisted knickers look very vintage-inspired and the art-deco esque embroidery and zig zag stitching make the 'Deity' very classic and understated, yet still very seductive:
All in all, I thought that the Panache Spring/Summer 2012 collections were incredibly strong and there really is something for everyone. Customers love to see their favourite bra styles reinvented in different colours and prints, so Panache really deliver from season to season, updating classics, whilst equally introducing exciting new styles.
My absolute favourite collection was Masquerade. There was not a single piece that I did not adore and with its indulgent fabrics and exotic colours, its lingerie seems too good to save for a special occasion! The difficulty will be choosing which to buy, as everything is so stunning!
I also think that Panache should be commended for really pushing the boat out with the quirky colour combinations and prints of their Cleo range, which presents variation to typically floral-driven summer collections.
Panache definitely spoil ladies with a larger bust for Spring/Summer 2012 and every collection embodies the chic style that their brand name suggests. Above all, what remains a constant, is Panache's flair for providing lingerie and swimwear that is pretty, supportive, well-fitting and comfortable.
