I am a shallow 30D with close set breasts, fuller on top than on bottom.
I knew getting this bra that the band was likely to be too wide for proper support, but this bra was reputed to run small in the cup and I couldn't find a 30DD cheaper than retail price, so I went for it anyway. It was pre-owned and showed it, so I had to bend the wires back into shape and cut off the destroyed center bow, but otherwise in good condition. The cup volume fits perfectly and the wing height is great, but unfortunately for me when I read all the ... reviews that said the gore was 1" wide, I didn't make note of the height of that gore. All of my other 1" width gores fit fine for my close breasts, but those are plunge bras. In a balconette with a high gore, I clearly need it even closer, because the wire sits on my breasts at the front and the center seam slides slightly to the left (although that much may also just be a small manufacturing error). For now, at least, the problem isn't irritating my skin and I don't have a lot of alternatives, so I'll keep it until I can get something better.
Positives: bra is soft, the lace disappears under clothes, and the shape and style is flattering.
Negatives: too much cup separation, straps a little too wide, band too stretchy for solid support.
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vanilla colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Oct 04, 2015 Flag this

Appearance: Gorgeous. The subtle colors make me feel like an ice princess.

Fit: Not bad, but I feel like it pulls my boobs a little too far apart -- longer band than my regular size means the cups are spaced too far apart for me. Not a bra with a ton of support or lift, definitely leaves your boobs exactly where they are -- I prefer Cleo's way of lifting up and to center. I put up with those aspects, though, because the colors and lace on this are so darn pretty and it's comfy enough for a day at work. Sister-sizing up to a 30D would be perfect.

Black/Beige, Gray/Blue colorway

Updated on Sep 27, 2015 Flag this

This bra is really aesthetically pleasing. While I prefer dark colors, I decided to get a pretty light color for special occasions. The color did not disappoint: it's a nice sort of rosy, creamy color with the white lace overlay, which makes for a very modest look for me. And the lace was not scratchy at all.

This bra fits really well, I would say an almost perfect fit, if it weren't for the straps that are far apart and slip off from my shoulders (but so do the straps of my other bras and spaghetti strapped dresses and blouses), and the very slight quadboobing that happens when scooping ... and swooping a lot. However, the quadboob isn't really bothersome for me, since it's not noticeable because of the lace and the smaller breast's cup lies flush against the top. Plus, it gives my breasts a very nice rounded shape.

Wearing it for a whole day, there was absolutely no gaping, pinching, poking, or painful marks, and there was no need to adjust the band at all. Usually comfortable with a 28 band, I was expecting this 30 band to move, but it didnt, even on the loosest hooks. The only adjusting was getting the straps to not slip from my shoulders.

Overall, it is a beautiful bra that gives me a very nice shape and fits comfortably after wearing it all day.
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Vanilla Ice colorway

Updated on Sep 02, 2015 Flag this

I've been looking online at the Ciao Bella in blue and really wanting to try it on. My local Dillard's had this in a few different colors but didn't have a 32DDD for me to try on in blue. I ended up trying on the Cappucino color which I'm not a fan of, but the fit was pretty good. The gore was a little high on this one, but everything felt fairly comfortable. This bra felt a little stiff in it's construction and the lace looked a little lumpy under clothing. I ended up deciding not to get this one, even though it fit well. It just didn't wow me.

The one positive from this was that, after trying on several bras that worked for shallow breasts I was able to finally narrow down my size. The 32DDD fits me much better than the 32DD in most styles.

Cappucino colorway

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Updated on Aug 29, 2015 Flag this

Love this bra. I measure as a 30DD but because I'm shallow I tried this bra in a 30C. Very comfortable and the best one I've found so far. Unfortunately it pushes some of my tissue out the side. I want to keep it but my quest for the perfect bra is going to keep me looking.

White lace with nude undertone colorway

Updated on Aug 04, 2015 Flag this

I have the version in white and received this black one as an exchange. It's pretty and I think it looks even better than the white one, but if you look in my pictures the band is definitely longer than the white one for some reason. I am currently wearing this on the second hook. I don't think it has been stretched out as it was still new with tags when I received it. Otherwise it's similar in fit to the white one and again the straps don't adjust all the way. On the shortest length it is just enough to stay on my shoulders so I'm wary of the day the straps start stretching out.

Updated on Jun 18, 2015 Flag this

The fit is... okay, but the cups are just a tad too small. It's not uncomfortable though. The apex of the bra is just a tad too low and the cup width is a tad too narrow. It's a better fit than the 30D but it's still not perfect. It's a fit I could live with. It makes me look like I actually have breast tissue. The top of the cup is quite forgiving of my tall roots, and I only get quadboob if I arch my back like crazy. The gore tacks, mostly, though it seem to lift when I squish my breasts together. Probably another indication ... that the cups are a bit too small.

The side of the bra between the boning and the cup is padded as well, which I think is mitigating any possible cup discomfort. The wire itself is also quite low- there's maybe half an inch of just wire padding with no wire. I'm fairly certain that I would have to wear the bra for a day to really determine whether the minor fit issues would be a problem or not. I've decided not to keep it though. I'm not that fond of the way it looks, and the lace, especially at the seaming, is rather bumpy. It's not perfectly smooth. I don't wear tight shirts, so that's not really a problem for me, but I feel like a well-fitting (and well made) bra shouldn't have fit-issue-esque bumps on it.

I really wanted to like this bra, but I appear to be in-between sizes in this particular bra. Also, the straps are still not short enough, which is another reason not to keep it.

I did kind of like the way that the underwires, cups, and sides all looked the same from the front. Yes, it hides fit issues, but it's kind of elegant and gives a smooth image.
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night colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 29, 2015 Flag this

This bra fit pretty well but I found that the seeming was extremely visible under shirts and that I did not like how it looked on me. The top of the gore started getting a little floaty as well, but not in a way that mattered (?).

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 20, 2015 Flag this

This didn't quite work for me. The band wasn't tight enough at the tightest hook and the straps were a bit too loose for my liking at the absolute shortest. And then there's the cups. It may be because it was stored in such a way that the seams were very angled, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't filling the cup all the way at the seams. I guess it was a bit too projected for me? I'm rather disappointed, but I have a 30C on the way, and hopefully the cups don't narrow too much.

It's not a bad looking bra. The apex of my breasts are rather low, too low for this bra, so I probably just need to size down in balconettes.

Night colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 19, 2015 Flag this

Very beautiful bra.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 22, 2015 Flag this