Tiggaren

[I bought this bra in both 28E and 30D, because I saw a review saying it was too big so I thought I would try two volumes, though I normally wear a 28E/30DD. The 28E mostly fit while the 30D was too small in the cup. Ordering my usual size would have been no problem; I do not recommend going down a cup size.]

I know there are a lot of people interested in this bra and how it compares to the Marcie so I will try to make this thorough. Happy to answer any questions OR even provide more pictures. I can even retake old pictures of my ... pink Cleo Marcie being worn, just to rule out the possibility of breast shape changes on my end over the past 6 years when comparing how they fit lol

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PREFACE: MY BREAST SHAPE
I have even breasts, with average roots (I never have an issue with wires being too wide or narrow; the ~5" wire widths in most Cleo bras generally work for me) but slightly tall roots. The slope of my tall roots on top is almost always the deciding factor on in a bra will fit or not, as it extends up somewhat high. Cup tops will either match the slope there or they will cut into it.

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PRODUCT PICTURE VS IN-PERSON
First off--I think this bra is very different than what I expected based on pictures. As another reviewer said, the color in person is a darker tan than I thought it would be. It is a bit too dark to be a good match for my pale skin tone, but this is probably good news for some people who find most "nude" bras a couple shades too light.

(edit: I uploaded a picture to compare the color of the latte Cleo Asher with the beige Panache Emily: https://www.bratabase.com/picture/dpqbk/. The Emily works great with my skin tone under white shirts, while the Asher is much notably darker. Based on product photos I expected a bra that was more the color of the Emily)

There's also a weird extra piece of fabric where the cup connects to the band, almost like a piping, that's darker than the rest of the cup... I am sure it is just decorative but I do not think it does anything for the bra so I wish it had been excluded!

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FIT VS. THE CLEO MARCIE
This is probably the important info a lot of y'all will want!

Preface: Since I am somewhat small-chested, FoT vs FoB vs even matters less in my range than in larger size ranges, and I managed to find a great fit in both the pink Cleo Marcie and Cleo Lily in multiple colorways, even though people say the Lily is usually even while Marcie is THE FoT bra, just as an example.

My first thought was that it fit very differently than the Marcie, but I went to my (6 year old!) review of the pink Marcie (https://www.bratabase.com/picture/did9t/) and the raspberry Marcie babydoll (https://www.bratabase.com/bra/dlylt/), and rediscovered that the pink colorway of the Marcie actually runs a hair small in the cup. The pink Marcie fit me and the slope of my tall roots perfectly, while the raspberry Marcie babydoll gapped slightly on top as I don't quite have enough upper fullness to fill it out. I don't have the raspberry babydoll with me at the moment to be able to see if it still fits the same after all these years, but the Asher does not gap on me. However, it doesn't QUITE fit the slope of my roots, causing me to not quiiiiite fill out the upper half of the cup as well as I would like, and causing some wrinkles under shirts that I am not super satisfied with.

It's hard to compare the fit of each, especially years apart and with variances in colorways, but I definitely don't think they fit quite the same. Some people have had success with both while some people have only had success with one, it's definitely hard to say. For whatever it is worth, I find the pink Cleo Marcie, the raspberry Marcie babydoll, and the latte Cleo Asher to each fit distinctly different from each other, even though they are all "the same."

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SHAPE
Gives a beautiful rounded shape--I love 3 part cups with side support panels!!

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UNDER CLOTHES
As mentioned in the beginning, the color isn't what I expected and as such does not quite work for my skin tone for white shirts.

I was worried about the upper cup design showing through shirts, but it is not as textured as I worried and I don't think that it would pose too much of an issue.

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CONCLUDING STATEMENTS
I would be interested to try this bra in black if it goes on sale, to see if it fits like the pink (specifically!) Cleo Marcie does. Overall it fits differently than my two different versions of the Cleo Marcie; I wouldn't be afraid to give this a try regardless of how the Marcie specifically fit you, especially if you have had success with this style of 3 part cup in other models. In general, I would order your regular size, I think it is true to size.
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LATTE colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 29, 2020 Flag this

I usually wear 30DD/28E. I have fairly even breasts with average-wide roots and tallish roots where the tissue thins out over a larger slope on top.

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I thought this was a molded cup bra, but it is actually just a seamless bra and the cups are a stretch fabric.

It honestly fits alright, but I am not interested in keeping it since it is neither molded nor seamed. I much prefer the support and feel of a seamed bra if it isn't molded, and obviously this doesn't match my skin tone (it was on sale when I was placing other orders so I gave it a try).

The shape/height of the ... cups works well with my tall roots, and I like the wing height on the sides.

If you want more of a wired "comfort" bra that's seamless under shirts, but prefer the feel and fit of unlined bras, I would give this a try. Only notable con in this way is that I feel the nipple show is worse than in traditional seamed bras.

The fabric is a nice microfiber-y fabric.
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caramel colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Dec 08, 2020 Flag this

I have even breasts with wide and tall roots.

I love this top. I feel pretty confident about it staying up without the removable halter strap attached, but it also adds a nice amount of support.

The cups are tall enough to not dig into my roots or create fit issues like some other bras do.

The back plastic clasp admittedly is somewhat hard to close on my own; maybe it's just me and maybe I'll get better with time. I definitely cannot fasten it behind my back like I do with normal bras, and unfortunately have had to gently twist it around after fastening on the ... front/side. It may be helpful to have help in putting it on!

The bandeau twist is very cute. This is a VERY cute top and I have no regrets in buying it! I'm waiting on the longline, that in theory I liked more, but who knows! I have certainly fallen in love with this one.

I feel pretty secure in the 30 band even though I prefer 28s (since this was discontinued, it was impossible to find in 28E so I had to settle for a 30DD!).

This bra (and something I noticed with the Lucille--I don't own the Lucille but I have one coming!) looks like it's sitting below the inframmary fold, as if it slid down due to lack of projection. HOWEVER, it is not! It just appears that way because of the extra fabric below the wire.

I will update after swimming with it!
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geo tribal colorway

Updated on Feb 04, 2015 Flag this

I have vertical even fullness, wide roots, and tallish roots where the tissue thins out a lot on top over a tall area.

Colorway: Teal/Gold

Purchased: NWT but secondhand

This bra doesn't work great with my root height; can't quite fill the apex and top of the cup because of the tall slope of my tissue on top. Also ends up looking pointy on me because of this.

The wires are... something. My first thought before I even fastened the bra was that I thought the cups would be way too narrow; not that they are particularly narrow in actuality, but the wires are just SO dang hard and thin I could ... feel them before I even put the bra on! I've never felt wires quite like this in a bra and I do not like them at all. It also digs into my sternum but I'm not sure if that is a gore height or wire issue; I usually prefer tall gores so I may just not be used to them coming up so low. Might try bending them out.

All that said though, even though it isn't a great fit for me, I LOVE the look of this bra and intend to keep it lol. I love the design and the color--this is my favorite shade of teal!

I think I might try swapping the wires out if I end up having some around that match the length and see if it is more comfortable.

The details on this bra are so cute, definitely seems well made. I never try Curvy Kate bras so I can't speak for how it compares to others.
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teal/gold colorway

Updated on Jan 01, 2021 Flag this

I have wide, even breasts with tall roots.

I think there is actually empty space within the cups, but it's not enough affect the fit significantly. It doesn't cut in badly.

The band is too large for me as a 28 (I think it runs TTS), but on the tightest hooks it is okay. I wore it to lunch and then ran up 5 flights of stairs, and it did not move around too much.

I love that it is seamed. It fits better than my 30DD - Fit Fully Yours » Smooth Strapless (B1003) because of the seams, though it is padded and therefore thicker.

It ... has a high gore which I like, but may not work for a lot of people who need low gores for strapless bras.

I worry that the straps would not stay on if used--the hooks don't seem to fit as securely as seen in many other bras. However, the loops where it hooks onto the bra are much closer to the center than in many strapless bras, which is awesome! This prevents the straps from being too wideset. That was a great move on Panache's part, as many companies put them too far to the side.
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beige/"nude" colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 11, 2015 Flag this

I have average-width, even breasts with tallish roots.

This bra cuts in slightly at the top of my breasts due to an incompatibility with the slope of my breasts/them being slightly tall. I got this lingerie set not as an everyday set, so I cannot comment on how well it goes underneath shirts. Might work for tops that are cut slightly lower than other bras will allow, as there is a slight plunge style shape to the bra.

Seems fairly true to size. Very stylish!

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 Flag this

I have fairly even breasts, with wide and somewhat tall roots.

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Aesthetically, of course, this bra is one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

First things first, I ordered from Bravissimo and the description said that the cups ran small, so to order one cup size up. I did this and ordered the 30E while I normally wear 28E/30DD. I do think it runs small because it fits me pretty well, however I would be curious to see how the 30DD fit on me, especially with the way the upper cup fits.

The fit is a bit strange; I don't quite have enough upper fullness to get a super great ... fit in the top of the cup, even though it fits "okay." I didn't realize until it arrived that there is a small piece of elastic along the top of the cup which I'm sure is to help the bra give a more fitted illusion for those it doesn't quite fit. It does help with that I think.

The shape the bra itself gives on me is kind of pointy. I never intended on getting this for an every day bra, but it is still something to consider.

Even though the 30 band stretched to ~31.5, it genuinely feels snug and firm (even as someone used to Cleo bands lol), so I may have overstreched it a bit in measuring. I definitely think your normal band measurement will be fine.

The underwires seem.... significantly softer than what I'm used to? The gore always seems at risk of floating/bending away from my body which is not something I ever experience in other bras.

My primary concern with this bra is snagging!!! There was already a frayed bit of lace on one of the cups that I trimmed off after removing it from the box, but I feel like some rough spots on my hands are catching slightly on the lace which makes me nervous for sure! I will try to be very careful and gentle with this set.
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Updated on Dec 08, 2020 Flag this

I have average-width, even breasts with tallish roots.

There is a very flexible plastic boning in each side seam of the band to help it stay in place and not scrunch up. Seems to work well because I do not recall any problems with the band riding up on my first wear!

Interestingly, the underwires are softer and more flexible than virtually all other underwire bras I have tried. Might replace them with firmer wires one day, if nothing else to see how the fit changes.

For some reason, the left cup gapes at the top while I have no trouble filling the right cup. I have never had fit issues with one breast being larger than the other, nor have I ever noticed that one might be larger, so I wonder if the cups weren't sewn evenly/some other manufacturing error. It drives me insane but this bra is too cute to give up, I love it so much!

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 Flag this

I got this bra from another user. I have wide, even breasts with tall roots.

This bra is quite similar to the Panache Sport, so if the Panache Sport fits, there is a good chance this will, too!

The accent blue thread against the black bra is super cute. There is an optional j-hook in the back to convert to racerback. The main difference between this and Panache Sport I have is that half of the outer cup is a matte mesh (like the gore section) rather than the soft/sleek mesh. Even the gore height and the height of the underwires in the gore are the ... same. The cups maybe feel ever so slightly less firm? The Chantelle bra seems to be ever so slightly more projected in the bottom of the cup.

Following is the end of my review of the Lime Panache Sport, as they are very similar:

The underwires are strange--they feel much more flexible than normal wires. It is hard to feel them at all. I didn't realize that the bra was actually sitting well below my inframammary fold at first. I tried adjusting it upward but I find it more comfortable a bit below--however, it's hard to tell where the wires even are due to their strangeness, and I'm not sure the wire placement matters as much for a sports bra.

It gives a nice round, and uplifted-but-slightly-minimized shape. I would definitely wear this as a normal bra on some days.

EDIT: I have worn it several times for sports, alternating with my Panache Sport. I do think there is a little more space in the top of the cup than in my Panache Sport, and I wonder if a 30D would be too small or if it would fix the issue. The extra space bothers me a bit! If I can get my hands on another Panache Sport, I would love to resell this bra. It is not a favourite any longer.

Also, the plastic rings (I presume) are SUPER squeaky! I always notice it every time I put on the bra. I'm not sure how it hasn't gone away yet! I don't notice it after exercising, but I'm not sure if that is just from not noticing, or it actually going away!
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 31, 2015 Flag this

I have wide, even breasts with tallish roots.

Interesting bra! I got it as a giveaway--it is 70's vintage (and maybe Polish? unsure). I got it with the intent to alter it to a fun crop-top!

It does not have underwires, but it has separate cups. The cups are REALLY stiff! I think I have empty space in the apex of the cup, but it is hard to tell due to the nature of the cups.

The cups are definitely too narrow, or at least seem to be since I cannot S&S into them (due to both the too-loose band and the lack of underwires). I ... think with a tighter band, this won't be an issue.

The cups really are something. I have no idea what they are made of. They are super hard, but will dent/flip in if you apply enough pressure. If someone smacked you in the breasts in this bra, they would think they hit hard plastic at first!

Anyway, I am super happy to have gotten this bra and I think it has some AWESOME potential!! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> It's also a nice piece to lounge around in.
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Updated on Apr 10, 2015 Flag this