Panache Medium-Control Wire-Free Sports Bra Review

Price: $40.80 to $68
Where to buy: Bare Necessities
Size range: 28 to 40 band, B to J cups
Style: Combination
Adjustable straps: Yes
Adjustable band: Yes
Strap style: Convertible
Other features: Wide variety of size combinations

This is the least sporty and most lingerie-looking bra we tried, which makes sense: Panache is primarily a lingerie brand, not a sportswear brand. But we didn’t like the way it looked: like a purely functional, extremely supportive bra, which it is. It does, however, have exceptional construction from a company that understands breasts better than your typical sportswear brand. As someone with a bra size that’s typically left out of the bra shopping experience entirely, I appreciate this and recommend it highly for this reason. Other folks who often can’t find a bra in their size are likely to find one here because this brand has bands from 28 to 40 and cups from B to J. It’s not entirely inclusive, though; one evaluator, a 32A, was unable to try this bra because it didn’t come in her size. 

However, I felt a bit overly constricted in my Panache bra. The band in my typical size (30) felt a smidgen too tight, and if I were to order another, I’d size up to a 32 and hope that would feel more comfortable. I felt fully supported during a wide variety of workouts, however, and experienced no spillage during inverted yoga poses, like downward dog or standing forward fold. Another evaluator, a 36D, similarly remarked that this full-coverage bra kept her in place during her workout. 

Because this bra looks more like lingerie than sportswear, it might not be the one you want to show off in at your local Pilates studio. One evaluator noted that it has a “pointy” look, likely due to the supportive stitching up the center, so it will be obvious beneath T-shirts. And while I’m immensely appreciative of the support offered by this bra, other evaluators found it to be a bit unnecessary for their usual forms of exercise, which include light jogging, weightlifting, spin, and HIIT. Those with busts bigger than a DD may be the real winners with this bra because so many other sports bras don’t offer the support that larger busts need, if the brand even offers their size at all. Consider ordering multiple sizes of this bra, if you can, to ensure proper fit. Like much lingerie, this bra conforms closely to the breast (instead of stretching to accommodate fit, like many sports bras), so you may fit better in a different size than you’re used to.