Coledarling

i remeasured myself and to my great surprise, the measurements look like im possibly wearing too small of a band + too large of a cup, which is confusing to me. so, i ordered a few bras from amazon in different sizes to see if maybe thats true? generally ive been in a 34FF but measurements suggest id need more of a 36 band. i got this in a 34F, 36E, and have it coming in also a 34FF and a 36F because im dumb and forgot that this bra/cut might run small in general.

i cant tell exactly why, but this bra feels like it doesnt fit. im ... unsure of if im judging it right though, because new measurements have me second guessing myself. firstly and most obviously: the straps are freaking murder! holy cow. it feels like the left strap especially is dinging down so hard onto my shoulder, its painful to even wear it for a try on as i review it. i have it fully extended, so im not sure if its just too short on that side? do i need a larger cup or something or do these straps just suck and hurt? no idea. theyre wider set to because its a half cup, and very thin, but i dont feel the width as an issue. and my right side feels fine. **EDIT** it looks like the way it had adjusted was twisted a bit, so i dont notice it with a second try on. still, this is the max adjustment, and the narrow stiff fabric is not comfy.

as for the band, where i was most concerned because my my new measurements say that a 34 might be too small: if i try this on backwards, the band feels snug on the furthest hook, which is what i expect a Cleo 34 band to feel on me. they tend to be a bit stiff to start and then break in. its not uncomfortable, and not appearing to warp the wires, just normal bra snug. the same goes for when i wear it the right way. the band is made of a smooth material that feels like it would be comfortable and supportive. i would probably wear it with an extender until it broke in though, just to make extra sure im not wearing it to snug, and also to extend the life of it. with one hook on the extender i still feel comfortable and supported, and it will be less stress on the band.

the cups feel like they arent quite right. i feel like im on the edge of coming out the sides, and i dont know if its that they are too narrow or too low, or if theyre just too small in general. im guessing too low in the wings, because its not painful like its laying on breast tissue, it just doesnt feel super secure at the sides. plus in this model, the wire doesnt go all the way to the edge of the channel, so there is empty space in the underarm channel side which makes it even lower. the top of the cup lays flat and the cups are full, but as i cant wear this for an extended period of time (im returning them) i wont be able to tell if i would scoot out during wear. i think if the wires on thew side were taller, this might be a pretty close to perfect fit for me. so close! i have more sizes of this coming, so i can see if a larger cup would work better. **EDIT** i think the measurements get rounded up sometimes, so for the sake of accuracy, these are a bit more than 5 and 3/8ths inches wide from the actual wire, not the channel, to the wire. i didnt measure to the end of the channel because some of it is empty space. its juust under 5 1/2 inches.

appearance wise im eh about this bra. i just dont like animal print, but as this was a try on buy and not a personal buy, i dont care much. i do like that its a more muted/ 'tame' leopard print, dark navy on lighter blue.
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blue leopard colorway

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Updated on Apr 22, 2017 Flag this

i only tried this on briefly at Nordstrom's and took down measurements, so i have no pictures and my review is limited.

The band felt very stretchy to me, i could comfortably wear it on the middle hook. As someone who waffles between a 34 and 36 band (35ish ribcage) i would probably choose to size down to a 32 and get an extender, as wearing this on the second hook straight away wouldn't give me a long life for this bra and Ive heard Cleo's tend to stretch fast anyway.

I got some cutting in along the top of this cup, but it felt more like a shape issue than a size issue, as the under wire seemed at the right width. i get this often with balconette bras, i think it has something to do with having "tall" breast tissue, but i cant be sure as i'm still figuring my shape out.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 17, 2014 Flag this

This is the closest to ABTF that ive come so far- woop! it has some issues, but i would say its about 80-90% right. the fit system here has it marked as not fitting because of the cup width and straps, but i consider it close enough to wear. even with the issues i detail below, its still a pretty comfortable bra. i got it used off bratabase, so there's a chance the band has stretched slightly, but it seems in very good condition so i added the measurement anyway. ive only worn this about half a day so far, and will update if i notice changes ... in fit.

the colors are pretty average to me. its not awful or ugly, but its nothing that screams "pretty" either. it is however, nice and smooth under clothes, so who cares what it looks like! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" />

the band feels nice and snug on the loosest hook, confirming my suspicions that in freya i should be aiming for a 32FF instead of a 34F. the top of the cup doesn't cut into my tall breasts, which is something im finding really hard to get! theres a smooth line, aside from my Right side which is a little shallower and wider. the gore sits flush and isnt high enough to dig, yay!

the wires seem slightly too wide, mostly on my narrow Left side. im not sure it causes any issues aside from perhaps not giving me as rounded of a shape, and possibly contributing to the straps being too wide (see below). they are also quite low, which ive been told can be an issue for tall breasts like mine. honestly, i haven't had a bra close to fitting before this one, so im still in the process of seeing if that is something i will notice issues with.

also, judging from the bra marks, this may be a bit too shallow in the bottom. the marks are about a half an inch to an inch below the bottoms of my breasts. im pretty much expecting this with most bras, as im in that weird place where i have tall roots, so am a "large shallow" shape, but have more projection then shallow bras allow. again, i dont notice any discomfort with it yet.

the straps are the main issue for me that keeps this bra from fitting 100%. they are, of course, too wide. they only chafe slightly because the fabric of the straps isnt awful, but they do get caught in my underarms and thus cause gaping at the top corners of the cups, especially my Right side. crossing my arms over my center is a bit uncomfortable. im thinking about trying to bend the wires narrower and see if that helps, as im pretty awful with a needle and i dont think moving the straps is a possibility right now.

all in all, its the nearest ive gotten to ABTF, so i'll hopefully get sme good wear out of it until i find something that checks all my boes https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jun 16, 2014 Flag this

**EDIT** i know now this cup is definitely too wide. i still wear it on occasion, as it doesnt cause any major discomfort, but it doesnt technically fit, so ive updated the info to reflect that.

This is the first bra I've had that fits me in the cup and band almost perfectly, and is a size 34DD. I find it very comfortable, aside from one or two small things. Its a lined demi, so i don't get a ton of lift and no "push", but i wanted something easy to wear that i wouldn't need to adjust myself into all day. This is also the first non padded ... bra i bought for wear day to day, outside of work (its very physical, so usually a lined demi is what i use for that).

As looks go: This is a very light "nude" color, with a tiny white mesh/almost fishnet overlay that has rose scalloped lace on the bottom 3/4 of the cups and onto the band. The gore has criss-crossing strips of mesh covering it, like the way a boot laces. Attached is also a small white bow and VS charm logo. I LOVE the looks of this! Its very elegant and pretty, but also great for under t-shirts, since it matches my skin and the decorations are smooth. The downside is that the mesh snags very, very easily. it was a struggle finding one in store that didn't have a pull in it, so i had to have one shipped home, and I've already gotten them on the band and cup despite being very careful. Tiny hairs and fuzzies also get under the lace and are almost impossible to remove. this is definitely a hand wash bra!

Fit: Surprisingly, i like the shape i have in it. I feel rounded, and natural, and there is only a small amount of tissue escaping on the sides. This is partly because its a demi and the sides probably need to be higher, and partly because i am heading towards DDD, which wasn't available. The straps are pretty far set, but i dont experience slipping. They attach to the band in a slight "ballet back", which i love and tends to help keep them from slipping down. When i first wore it, i did have some strap rolling and cutting me in the armpits, but it seems to have stopped now that its been broken in. The straps adjust all the way. I have them almost fully lengthened, so for someone who needs longer straps this may not work.

The band is very stretchy but anchors better than most other VS bras ive tried. It is made of a band of the mesh lace with a thinner band of tighter elastic along the edges, which are really the only things that keep it anchored to you. For me, those tiny strips roll onto themselves after a while and cut into me, forcing a re adjust. This usually only happens if i have to tighten it past the first hook, or if i've been moving from sitting to standing a lot. I suspect the band needs to be tighter, but the material doesn't allow for that without instantly rolling. if the whole band were backed in the same stiffer elastic, this would be perfect. I am also on the small end of plus sized, so my softer back may be too much for it, and someone slimmer will probably not have this issue. The band does tighten back up nicely when washed, something most of my VS bras fail at. i get a mostly smooth back, until the rolling starts.

Overall i would recommend at least trying this bra if you aren't sized out, as its a pretty basic and very comfortable. It would probably work best for someone with a more slender back then myself.


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Updated on Jun 16, 2014 Flag this

*this is a bra i purchased in an order from Amazon that i intend to return, so i haven't worn it aside from trying it on for this review and measurements. i cant give an accurate idea of how it fares in real life.*

first off: though i bought this through amazon, I'm fairly certain it has been used. it arrived here with no hang tag, some small (cat maybe?) hairs in the mesh, and faint dark spots with piling on the gore and piling with white marks near the underarms. the tag also seems a bit faded. i didn't notice any of these things at first, but then ... i noticed the faded tag and investigated further. as such, im not entirely positive the band length hasn't been stretched out a little. fingers crossed amazon believes me and lets me return it!

Onto the bra: i like this cut, its all vertical seams so A+ for me. the design is pretty, its a neon melon-y sort of orange with a subtle check print mesh overlay on the cups and another different check print on the top edging. the straps are nice and thick, if a bit too wide set like most half cups, and fully adjustable. the gore juust slightly doesn't tack at the top edge, but if i shove the wires into the empty channel space near the underarms (which i prefer anyway) I'm fine. the gore doesn't seem to wide on this, though it measures as wide as bras that give me gore trouble. this partly might be because the wires are wider so my boobs are being pulled less to the center, and the gore also isn't laying flat. looking down, instead of a _ shape, its doing a \/ shape and bending with my boobs, so they dont fight and shove it around. honestly I'm confused about the wire width, as for a long while there it seemed anything over a 5.75 inch width had major space near the underarms. maybe this bra is shallower and I'm not getting empty space because my boobs are being shoved to the sides instead of in?

the band feels a little loose on the tightest hook, though measurements say that shouldn't be the case. for reference, i also ordered the 32G and liked the band on that much better. the cups feel pretty good, though I'm a little bulgy on the larger left side and a little gapey on the shallower right side. its not too severe or noticeable for either though, so i would consider it a good balance between the two. unfortunately the right cup edge curls out a fair bit, likely because of the previous wear, so for this reason i can see it under a shirt. all in all, i think the 32G could work out for me! fingers crossed https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" />
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Neon colorway

Updated on Jan 02, 2015 Flag this

In case there are fit differences between colorways, this review is for the powder blue version.

Going into this purchase i knew i was taking a risk that probably wouldn't pan out- but it was such a good deal on Brastop, and so cute! ive been trying to get my hands on this bra for a while, and im glad i at least know a little more about how it would fit.

Firstly, this bra is beautiful. The light blue is very flattering on my pale tone, and a very unexpected color for me in lingerie. The materials feel comfortable, and the detailing is very up my alley with ... the ribbons, bows, and fishnet lace sort of overlay. I'd really love a pink or red one too!

Fit wise, this is obviously very off for me. The band does feel veeerryy stretchy, i can see how most people size down in it! It does feel sturdy even though it stretches past 34, the same way the Tease Me does. Im not sure id want to size down to a 32 or not, as i measure 34/35 around and don't like to go much below that, but i'll probably try. the cups look probably one cup too small, maybe two, and it's most noticeable in the fact that my nipples are *just* contained. the wire also needs to be wider, i can see it sitting on some tissue. i like the half cup style because it eliminates the gaping i so often get with fuller cups. The top edge of the cup does sit away from my body slightly even though the cup is overfilled, and im thinking its from the lace detail. Im not bothered by it, as i wouldnt plan on wearing it with tight t shirts anyway.

Its too expensive to send this back to the uk, so i'll be looking to sell it along with the size 18 an 20 matching thongs i got in case it panned out. Hopefully next time is the charm!
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 16, 2014 Flag this

**UPDATE** ive taken to wearing this with an extender for an extra inch of band until it breaks in. this still keeps the band level, and also fixes the cups seeming too wide. they were being pulled too wide by the over tight band, and now i find their 5.5inch width pretty perfect! it still hasn't broken in a ton as far as fabric stiffness goes, and the material of the straps isnt very comfortable, but those are minor issues.

i picked this up NWT on ebay because i liked how the Rhianna in 32FF i have fits, and this seems to fit a little differently. the cups gape ... slightly and the straps arent as comfortable, so im guessing it needs to be broken in more (since the Rhianna i got was quite used). the material on the outside of the cups is very swimsuit like and smooth, which is nice. the color is a SUPER intense strawberry like the name implies, and i like the contrasting navy bow on the gore.

the band has already loosened slightly, and felt just a hair too snug on the first wear, so i would suggest giving it a wear or two as it relaxes quickly. the cups gape slightly, but i expected that given that its a molded cup. like all of the Juna cuts, the lace wont lay flat with a proper fit, but i haven't noticed it showing under clothing. the straps are a little too far apart, like the Rhianna, but not unbearable. i think if i moved them, i could get rid of much of the gaping.

like Rhianna, the wires on this are awesomely narrow! still a tiny bit too wide, and judging from the marks it leaves, it might be a it too shallow at the bottom because it scoots down my ribcage a hair. neither of those are a big issue for me, and i find it quite comfortable aside from the stiffness of the cups, which i hope will break in with time. im not into wearing such rigid cups, but it seems they may be my only option as unlined bras tend to be cut in a way that isnt good with my shape.
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Aug 17, 2014 Flag this

I bought this when i was still figuring out my "right size", and 34Ds seemed to be working better than 36 C. I really am a 34dd, at times DDD/E. This was the closest I had ever gotten to proper fit, or at least I thought so when i was in the fitting room. Unfortunately, this one failed sooo hard. Its a damn shame this doesnt fit, because its very cute. When i tried it on in store, it seemed to fit, and i didnt really do much other than raise and lower my arms to see if it moved at all. once i got it home, i ... had it on for less than a day (of course i took the tags off), and it was awful!

The straps, while topped in very soft material, are thicker and "no slip" on the front half and not stretchy, they only have give on the non decorated back part. so, they tend to pinch and cut into your shoulders if adjusted tight enough, and fall off if not. the cups are soft and the padding is very plush. when i first put myself in it, i love the way i look: great cleavage, almost smooth back, hides under t-shirts. but the band has the same issue that most VS bras have: its meant for comfort, not a snug fit to support your breasts (Although this band is better than the Very Sexy line). So, as i settled in, it rode up, my boobs went out the bottom, and it pinched me in the armpits and cut into my shoulders. if i tighten the band the all the way, it rolls onto itself, makes heinous back fat, and still isnt stiff or strong enough to support. it just feel like a strip of elastic. one of the fitters at VS said i might not be suited to the Body by Victoria line of bras because of my shape, so if they're right, perhaps this just isn't meant for full on bottom, wide breasts.

All that being said, i love the look. the pink and white striped fabric its covered in it smooth and silky, there are little rhinestones on the sides and lace, a tiny lace trim on the cups and straps, siiiigh. I know im never going to wear it, so in the drawer it sits until i can find a way to sell it! It may work better for someone firmer who needs less band support and is more close set- but thats a complete guess. good luck https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 28, 2014 Flag this

*EDIT* i kept it, so ive been able to wear it a ton. after a few hours, i have to readjust and scoop/swoop for the gaping that occurs. i feel like its a combo of a too loose band making the bra move around and the width of the gore shoving the cups back and forth. the straps slide of my shoulders occasionally, again probably because the band keeps moving. all in all a pretty comfortable bra, but my no means a perfect fit.

I'm torn on this bra. it seems to fit okay, aside from a few small things. the gore is a bit too wide, the straps ... being are a little too far apart, and the right cup is gaping (which i always face because that side is shallower/wider). but it doesn't feel quite right, and i cant pin what it is. the band seems like it could be tighter, but going by measurements that shouldn't be the case. the bottom of the cups on the outside also seem to want to roll outwards, and I'm not sure if that is happening because my stomach is meeting it, or if its something to do with the bra fit, maybe needing more projection? I'm not sure. I'm at a loss with bras lately! onto the nitty gritty:

the straps are fully adjustable, yay! the band is hooked on the tightest setting, but it still feels like it could be more snug. it might just be that Freya bands and their thin stretchy material is what i'm feeling, because my measurements match up with this bra pretty well. the gore probably needs to be narrowed, as i notice it fighting with my boobs and going side to side a lot. interestingly, there isn't nearly as much empty wire channel in the armpits of this bra as I'm used to, less than half an inch. the cup on the left (larger side) seems to fit well, and actually looks on the borderline overspill in the center of the bra, near the gore. the right (smaller) cup gapes along the whole top edge, most severely near the strap and most noticeably when my arm is forward at all (like while i type this...grrrr). i feel like there is a whole cup of difference between them, its so frustrating! i feel like taking in the gore would alleviate some of the extra space though, so one day i will have to try that.

appearance wise, this bra is really cute. the straps and top of the cup are white, purple, and pink stripes, with a little flat bow where the strap connects.the gore has two small white buttons, and the pattern is this really neat sort of ..teardrop geometric shape? they are ombre coral and set on a pale lilac background, and it all somehow works. the cups are constructed like the totally tartan, with two vertical seams and one horizontal. i dont notice problems with the horizontal seam cutting into my tall tissue.

im most likely sending this back. i love the looks, but my 34FF Totally Tartan has been giving me issues, and this bra will likely fare the same since they are the same cut.
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Chiffon colorway

Updated on Apr 25, 2015 Flag this

i think i picked this up on ebay, pretty sure as new without tags, but cant remember 100%. originally, i figured i would use it as a work bra, since it would likely be a bit too big in the band and the cut of this bra isn't the perfect fit for me. that way, i wouldn't mind getting it possibly stained from the black t shirts i wear. it fits better than i expected, and i can wear it comfortably as a day to day bra with only minor issues.

the first issue is that the band is too large. on the tightest hook, it stays pretty stable, ... but i do have to tug it now and then. i would do better in a 32G with some time for the band to break in. the material of this band is also an issue for be. its the type where there are two thicker strips of elastic that border a very thin stretchy piece, and those always curl under or over on me when they are snug enough to provide support. i prefer one uniform material that is sturdier, and am thinking about the possibility of adding that to this bra if it isnt too much of a project.

the straps are slightly too wide for me, and combined with a band that is a bit too lose, means they slide off my shoulders now and then. the gore is also too wide, so it sort of moves side to side a bit as it tries to find room to settle flat. this causes some gaping in the cups, and is just plain annoying. i think if i narrowed the gore, the straps might stay put better, and i wouldn't get the gaping either.

the pattern im not crazy about. i wish it came in something more white shirt friendly, but i wasn't picky when i got this. all in all, it gets the job done and didn't break the bank doing it. i can work all day and move around freely, and only have to adjust minimally.
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Denim colorway

Updated on Apr 19, 2015 Flag this