Where Full-Figure Meets High Fashion
A Bold Sub-Brand (2013)
Sculptresse launched in 2013 as Panache's dedicated full-figure sub-brand, designed specifically for women who wore larger band sizes and fuller cup sizes. Where Panache's main line focused on full-bust engineering across standard band sizes, Sculptresse extended the philosophy to plus-size bodies — acknowledging that a 38GG and a 46GG present fundamentally different engineering and design challenges.
The brand emerged from Panache's recognition that plus-size women were being underserved not just in sizing availability but in design ambition. Most brands that offered extended band sizes defaulted to conservative, minimizing aesthetics. Sculptresse rejected this approach entirely.
Design Philosophy
Sculptresse's design language was deliberately bold. The brand used graphic prints, rich colors, and contemporary silhouettes that made a statement rather than an apology. Fashion elements like geometric embroidery, modern colorways, and trend-responsive design were standard across the range.
The engineering underpinning these fashionable exteriors was formidable. Sculptresse's construction techniques managed significant support requirements through multi-part cup architectures, reinforced side panels, and carefully calibrated underwire shapes. Band constructions used wider, more stable platforms to distribute support effectively across larger frames.
Challenging Industry Assumptions
Sculptresse challenged the industry assumption that extended-size lingerie should be invisible — designed to disappear under clothing rather than to be seen or enjoyed. The brand's pieces were designed to be beautiful in their own right, creating a wardrobe of intimates that fuller-figured women could feel genuinely excited about.
Community Impact
The brand built a loyal community of women who had previously been marginalized by the lingerie industry's narrow size offerings. Sculptresse's campaigns featured plus-size models photographed with the same production values and creative ambition as any fashion campaign, normalizing beautiful lingerie on bodies that the industry had long overlooked.