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!"
I first came across Caprice Bourret's lingerie brand, 'By Caprice', last year and consequently reviewed the 'Audrey' set (click to read here). I was impressed with By Caprice's offerings and decided to keep an eye on the brand's development in the following months.
Sure enough, the Spring/Summer 2012 collection went to press with a bang, boasting a whole host of sultry new styles; such as the 'Morticia', 'Dianthus' and 'Greta'. The S/S12 collection exudes 'femme fatale', with its feminine embroidery and sexy cuts, but at the same time it retains its playfulness with floral motifs and dashes of colour.
The range, however, encompasses far more than basic bra sets. The collection includes the 'Greta' babydoll (a seductive red and black mesh number with an incorporated moulded bra) and the effortlessly glamorous 'Morticia' ruched thong back body, which comes in black/nude and ivory.
The set that caught my eye was the aptly named, 'Kitty' (which interestingly enough, is a bit of a side-step from the general feel of the collection)...
The 'Kitty' set features a moulded underwired padded bra with a chiffon overlay. The bra is covered in a leopard print pattern in blue tones, with contrasting cornflower blue straps and bow motifs. Matching leopard print chiffon ruffle briefs are also available to compliment the bra. Thanks to By Caprice, I was lucky enough to be sent my namesake 'Kitty' set to try for size...
As you can see, in real life, the 'Kitty' set differs noticeably from the promotional shot of Caprice wearing it. Firstly, the blue tones are more muted in real life and grey actually features quite dominantly in the colour palette. This was actually a pleasant surprise, as I was worried that the pattern would look a bit garish from the promotional picture! Additionally, the chiffon has a slight glittery sheen to it, which catches the light and gives the set a subtle sparkle...
By Caprice have managed to merge a leopard print pattern with a fashion-forward injection of colour, to keep the 'Kitty' looking edgy. The blue ruffled straps, dainty bow motifs and blue edging along the bottom of the band make the 'Kitty' an original take on a classic print, whilst keeping the look sophisticated!
As with the 'Audrey' set, I opted for the 30FF in the 'Kitty', rather than my "sister size" of 30F (the same volume as my usual 28FF bra size). Unfortunately, 28 backs are not available in By Caprice underwear, so the 30 back was the best option for me. The band was a little loose, but not by any means unwearable.
I am very glad that I went up a cup size, as I feel that the By Caprice bras that I have tried tended to run a bit small in the cups. This could also be partly due to the bra cups having inbuilt graduated padding...
Although padding is somewhat of a rarity in larger cup sizes, By Caprice recognise that some girls like a bit of a boost every now and again, regardless of their cup size! Luckily, the padding is foamy and quite light-weight, meaning that unlike many of the super-padded gel bras that are on the market at the moment, it does not feel uncomfortable or strange when worn. The boost is quite subtle, so you won't feel self-conscious or as if you have had an overnight boob job!
The shape that the 'Kitty' bra gives is nice and rounded and the plunge cut makes it flattering to your bust - ideal for wearing under 'V' cut tops. After prolonged wear, I found that the straps put a bit of pressure on my shoulders, but this could be easily rectified by wearing a 28 back (hint, hint!)..
I received the 'Kitty' chiffon briefs in a size medium (10-12), which match the bra with its blue leopard print design.
As you can see from the pictures, the 'Kitty' briefs are a more conventional 'knicker brief' cut. In comparison to the'Audrey' shortiesthat I own, their cut makes them comfier for everyday wear. (It is worth mentioning that youmayneed to size up in By Caprice briefs, as they have a skimpier cut and seem a little smaller than other brands that I have tried.)
Overall, I really liked the 'Kitty' knickers, which juxtapose the sexiness of semi-sheer chiffon with delicate and flirty ruffles and bow motifs...
It certainly isn't every day that you come across your 'bra namesake', so it can only be fate that I tried the 'Kitty'! Despite any initial hesitations that I had about owning a blue leopard print bra, the 'Kitty' surprised me and it looks so much more stylish in real life.
By Caprice have revolutionised leopard print for me, with their edgy mixture of print with an eye-catching blue and grey colour scheme. Even my other half (who isn't usually an animal print fan) said how much he liked the design!
The 'Kitty' set is available from 30-38 backs and from cup sizes A-G, meaning that a range of sizes can take a walk on the wild side with this leopard print number! What's more, the By Caprice 'Kitty' is very affordable at £26 for the bra and £14 for the briefs.
The 'Kitty' is definitely a set to make you feel like a fully fledged glamour puss, so get ready to take a walk on the wild side...
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.
