I was expecting this to fit me fairly poorly, but as a pleasant surprise, I really like it. Okay, the color helps bias my assessment (Turquoise!!!!), but really, this is a brand I think I can actually put on my radar.

The cups are fairly shallow near the gore, which for my center heavy boobs is a bummer, and it is somewhat minimizing (I miiiiight be able to go up a cup). I do get a bit of in-cup quadding. However, the wires are comfortable and fairly narrow, and the band is stretchy but not limp like some materials I've encountered. It measures a fair 32" stretched instead of 30", which for me is more comfortable anyway. Two major plus points for this size/model: decently wide straps, and a 3-hook closure.

Will be updating the review once I've field tested the bra for a full day.

Update: Due to the rough nature of the lace, my skin can't tolerate this bra for regular wear (I have obnoxiously sensitive skin). The wires were heavenly to start with, far less stiff than other bras that I own, and I hardly noticed them until the end of the day. They do come out about a half an inch too far on me due to stretching with the band, though, and by the end of the day one wire had "bitten" me on my larger side. Ouch. Also, for some reason (probably the itchy nature of the lace) to top of the cup didn't bother my arms at the start of the day but by the end I was majorly chafed. I'm glad to have tried the brand and am somewhat interested in future offerings since I've heard they have more depth, but this particular bra may need to find a new home.

Update 2: A white residue showed up on the bra after I washed it. I queried Claudette about this, and here is their response:

"When Dessous originally launched the double layer portion of the cup was laminated for strength. This lamination is a substance that is layered onto the fabric to make it stronger and to keep the double ply together. It’s a very common practice and you may see it more regularly in specially treated denim or ready to wear pieces that have special finishes on them for effect.

In a couple of colors of Dessous, mostly violet, a “shedding” of the lamination occurred. It doesn’t happen all the time and it’s the natural process of the finish washing away, however in this circumstance, it is a rapid breakdown of the laminate. We were told it was a possible reaction between the fabric dye of the specific color and lamination in conjunction with certain types of detergents but after selling thousands of these bras, in the neon colors, it was an extremely small percentage that had this issue and there was no clear answer as to why it happened. In every case, the lamination did break down and dissolve no matter what. We just saw a slightly different reaction in only a selection of Dessous like the reaction you are describing.

In the following seasons we chose not to laminate any of our product and this should not be an issue going forward.

Please note that it will all wash away. I suggest you soak the bra in lingerie soap over night which will further break down the reminisce of the lamination and it my take a few washes but it will all disappear. This does not at all effect the function or wear ability of the bra, and you will notice after a handful of washes it will all be gone."

Turquoise colorway

Updated on Apr 01, 2015 Flag this

• Show all comments (7)
• Ok I was just looking at purchasing this bra in this size, so this was helpful! Questions: 1) Did you get any bottoms? If so, how do they fit? 2) what are the shipping charges like? (I'm in the U.S.) 3) Which size fits you best in the Cleo Lily, for comparison's sake?

• 1

  I just ordered from their sale as well, great pricing! I have had this bra (peony color) before in a 32E and tried on a 32F and can offer some fit advice.

  The earlier seasons of Claudette (called Love Claudette at the time) were known for having bands that were just slightly loose at first but they stretched out very quickly. I went through all three hooks and had to do an alteration on mine after about 3.5 months of moderate wear. The dessous bras that they are selling on the encore site are definitely from earlier seasons, so I sized down in the band to compensate for the stretching. I am not sure if this issue exists in other models or in current colorways.

  The general fit is sort of a petite version of a full cup. The cut is definitely full cup, but a but lower rise/ less coverage than a Fantasie or Panache full cup. The armpits are not too high and the straps are more center pull, which is very nice for petites or those with narrow or sloped shoulders. The depth of the cup was moderate, with the depth spread across the cup and centered on the apex. Best fit would be for even to slightly FOB, without focused center depth. If you need more center depth, or have pendulous breasts, both of which apply to me, than you may want to also size up in the cup. I don't think this bra would work for FOT breasts because the top piece of the cup would likely cut in.

  I am in the US, bought 2 bras and was charged $5.99 for shipping. There is also a promo code (LAUNCHPROMO) that subtracts $5 per item on top of the sales price for many but not all (was not working for Dentelle) of the items.

  I have never tried the underwear.

• 1

  I wasn't able to get the underwear in anything close to my size (still bummed about that), so can't help there.

  My best fit in the Cleo Lily would be a 32F, if the wires were not just a smidge too wide (I have a rib that disagrees with anything sitting on it). 32E is my go-to for that bra, though slightly too small. I prefer the larger band than my usual 30 for comfort.

  Sizing up in the cup for me would prove disastrous in this particular model (likely too wide), but I'm very curious about the newer seasons now. I honestly wish that the wings came up higher, but I'm not petite.

• black_cardigan -- what's the problem with their underwear sizing, if it isn't too rude of me to ask? I ask because I am 30FF/32F, but my hips are 38.5 and I was wondering about whether their smalls to larges would correspond more closely with US or UK sizing. Sorry if this is somewhat off topic.

• They were out of Medium and Large in the Turquoise I was looking at when I ordered. I'm about 40-41 at the hips, so I figured there was no way a small would work. I have no idea which sizing schema they would be closer to because I haven't tried any.

• http://www.sweetnothingsnyc.com/2013/03/06/curveny-preview-claudette/

  In the above-linked blog, the Claudette thongs are described as running a size smaller than Freya, but with a higher rise than Cleo.

• Ordered. Thanks for your review, black_cardigan.

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