When Panache offered us bra-sized swimsuits to review (all opinions are my own; this post contains affiliate links), the Anya Cruise was at the top of my wish list. Frankly, it seemed kind of gimmicky, and I wondered if the straps could really pull their weight through those loops that Leah showed you in her Curve Panache roundup in February.

A closeup of Anya Cruise’s back loops.

Yes, they can. Even more, I love the LOOK of this suit. Originally it seemed kind of plain–the Panache rep had to highlight the straps before I paid any attention to it at Curve– but once on, it felt really sophisticated.

You’re not going to see any photos of this suit on me in Belize. The fold-over bottoms didn’t arrive in time, and the padded cups took up a LOT of room in my suitcase, so I decided to leave it behind. Fortunately, the bottoms were waiting for me when we returned, or I was going to pair the top with the Milano bottoms that I’ll write about next week. Instead, having a matching set really elevated the look.

I currently measure 33″ at the waist and 41″ at the bust. I requested a 34FF and 34G to try along with M and L bottoms. The 34G was waaaay too much top on me, and even the 34FF is a bit much for me to fill completely at the outer edges, as you can see in the photo below. I also went with the size medium in the bottoms and am very happy with the choice, both dry and wet. (A quick preview: I went with large Milano bottoms, and the 34G Milano tankini wasn’t as roomy in the cups as the Anya Cruise.)

It turns out that there are THREE ways to wear the Anya Cruise straps.

Originally Leah helped me, but when I changed back into this bust-friendly suit to swim later, it was super easy for me to put the straps through the loops by myself and to pull them taut enough to feel secure.

I had also thought the bow at the bottom might look fussy, but in practice, it’s barely eye-catching. Do you agree?

This is easily my favorite-looking suit for busty women of the three that I am going to review this month. And since it’s called “cruise” and looks so sophisticated, of course I had to pose in the hot tub.

As far as function goes, the straps felt completely secure in all three arrangements, and this suit was easy to swim in.

As far as comfort goes, that’s a different story, and it has nothing to do with the halter around my neck, which I tend not to notice, especially which such nice wide straps. I actually preferred the straps both as a halter and cross-back because they continue in the trajectory of their initial angle. There was a little rubbing under the arm, but pulling the straps across my back at an angle helped alleviate it.

What’s uncomfortable for me in both the Anya Cruise and the Milano tankini is the tacking center gore. At first I thought it was magical how perfectly the underwires encased my large breasts, and wait till you see the lift I get in the Milano tankini! But it seems like the underwires come up too high in the bridge for me, and the pressure against my sternum actually caused slight bruising. I can’t shift the underwire higher along the outer edge of the cups because there is a seam that stops them from moving. I tried bending the wires out from my sternum, but so far I haven’t had any luck. I’ll try again before I publish my Milano review, so stay posted.

Even if I stay completely sedentary in this suit, the underwires eventually cause pain. However, Leah hasn’t had this issue at all with her latest Panache suit or any others, so I’m willing to bet this is not an issue for all women everywhere . . . just some of us who need lower underwires in the center.