OK, take two for Ciao Bella! If you've seen my original review on the Ciao Bella, I tried my normal size of 30D and found that while it was a decent fit, the cups were just a little off. It seemed like there was a bit of a shape mismatch issue, but I remembered reading a couple of reviews mentioning that the 30D and 30DD fit quite differently, so I decided to give the 30DD a shot and pick up another color via Nordstrom Rack (as well as another 30D in the same color to compare!)
And . . . this one fits! Super odd, since ... I am normally a 30D in department store brands, yet not a single B.tempt'd 30D bras has fit me (I've tried 3 styles and 5 bras). The B.Sultry gapped badly in the cups in 30D and I wear a 30C in that style. The B.tempt'd online fit calculator also puts me at a 30C, though I can't imagine how they got this calculation because I measure somewhere between 28DD and 28E, or 30D and 30DD based on the standard bra cup sizing calculation method, with nearly 6" difference between band and full bust measurements. Yet in Ciao Bella, 30DD is my perfect fit. How is this possible to have two full cup size difference in the same line and in the same lined balconnette silhouette?
Anyway, the band here is thankfully still TTS, and it fits me exactly the same as the 30D. The band is made from micromesh-lined open mesh, with decently firm elastic that goes under the cradle, giving it a much more secure fit than I am used to from American department store brands. The unstretched band measures TTS for 30D (I don't really have a lot of 30DD bras to compare to), and while it isn't as snug as the UK 30D bras I am used to, feels secure yet comfortable.
Now, one major reason the styling of the bra never appealed to me is that I thought it was one piece molded foam, which I absolutely hate. Instead, it is constructed as a normal bra with cups made from a seamed flexible foam lining. The construction of the bra is the same as Cleo Mimi, but has a lace overlay over the entire front panel. Since it is really just a normal balconnette with a bandeau-like appearance, it ends up looking more like a normal balconnette on me.
I was originally worried that the cup seams would be really visible, since I hated the ones on Cleo Juna, and several users' fit photos showed a pointy seam, but these are actually quite subdued on me. This is thanks to the flexible foam cups, which really do mold nicely to your shape. As long as you are full enough to fill out the cups completely, the seams won't be visible. The lace texture is also pretty subtle under clothing, and is no more noticeable than my normal unlined lace bras (currently the Auden unlined lace balconnette).
The fit issues I had in the 30D are all gone with this size up, and I am happy to report that there's no gapping or empty space in the cups either. I think that after years of wearing 30C/32B molded cups, I had trained my eye to think bras that are too small look like the right proportion on my body, while bras that have larger cups still look a little alien. The 30DD is definitely wider and taller, but it's what I need to enclose all the tissue as my shape is so wide. It's really hard to find bras that really fit wide, shallow, FOB shapes, and I am happy that this one is it! Thus, Ciao Bellas in all the colors are coming very soon in the mail, especially as it is a ridiculously affordable bra even at full price ($38), but can regularly be snagged for under $20 in discontinued fashion colors.
However, there are two things I really don't love about the bra. First, the adjustable portion of the strap is very short (most of it is a decorative twinned strap), and I have the straps fully shortened. I am 5'1" with a normal torso proportion, and I don't think this would work for someone who actually has a shorter torso. However, I saw another user who is also 5'1" write that the straps were too short, so I wonder if the style has been updated, or if there are just some inconsistencies in strap length. The second is that the lace, while decently soft, snags easily. In handling the bra for this review, it snagged on my gold bracelet and on a rough patch of skin on my finger. Hopefully this doesn't become an issue with regular wear, as I am planning to add this bra into my everyday rotation for cooler weather.
One word of warning: the seamed foam cup construction with lace overlay seems to be a tricky one for the seamstresses to get even, and is not very forgiving as the seam can stick out. I've found some noticeable fit differences between left and right cups just based on cutting and sewing quality. Also, as the lace is an overlay, there can be puckering issues if the two layers are slightly different sizes or shapes, or if they are just tacked together at the wrong point. If you feel this bra fits you but one side seems to fit a little weirdly, I'd recommend ordering another bra and seeing which one fits better. My Vanilla Ice and Surf the Web colorways in 30D measure identically in the cups but fit totally differently--one has a nice smooth curve, while the other one is lumpy with a visible seam! I wouldn't buy this bra final sale unless you are super comfortable with the fit and know how much variation to expect between individual bras.
Still, compared to the 30D, I felt that 30DD has more consistency between fits than the 30D. I have tried this size in 4 individual bras and they all fit the same, the only issue is the seaming described above. I didn't have any problems with the overall cup shape between bras. However, some of the bras have squeaky underwires, and I'm not sure if this comes from the wire coating, the foam, or the interior of the wire channel. This one did not have a squeaking problem but others have mentioned this in their reviews and I have experienced this in some of the bras I tried in this style.
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Updated on Oct 19, 2019 Flag this
