For reference, I am petite (5'1"), with some asymmetry due to mildly tuberous breasts, east-west, and somewhat shallow breast tissue.
I got this particular color bra as my "nude" color. I have very cool, rosy pink undertones and I find that even nude colored bras made for Caucasian women always have a warm undertone to them. This pale pink color does not show through under any light or pastel colored outfits that I wear.
But oh wow, this bra makes me so pointy looking. I wear this bra with looser fitting outfits vs. a bodycon dress.
I'm full on bottom and center, with wide and tall roots, and fairly projected. However my tissue is super soft and although moldable, it tends to pool in the bottom of the cups some. So the top of the cup isn't as full as I'd like, but this is the best combination of fit, appearance, and comfort I have found of 40+ bras I've tried.
The bra is smooth, soft, and gives a nice rounded shape. When I spotted it on sale for $11 on Amazon (11 is not a typo!), I bought 3 more!
This was the first "bigger" bra that I got. The cups are definitely too small for me, and too shallow too. Not a good fit for me, gives a horizontal squished look. Lace is also a little scratchy.
Ugh! I loved this bra. I am a 30DD so I ordered the 30DD. Felt sooo comfortable. Has a wider band so it stays put. No issues with my shoulders rubbing against the top of the cups or straps which is an issue with 90% of the bras I wear. I got the lilac with cheetah print on the inside and it was so freaking cute. Here's the heartbreaking part, the 30DD I ordered looked like I was wearing a C cup when I first put it on. It settles down and fits pretty well as the day goes on though at the sacrifice of cleavage. They stop making this at 30DD! I can't even order a bigger size if a wanted to. Order a cup size up, if you can!!
This bra is surprisingly nice! I am wearing a size that is not my true size (I am around 28e/f) but a pretty close sister size. I really like this brand. If they made 30E I would buy those but they don't seem to have them often. 30dd is good enough for me. The cups are nice and smooth so they won't show under clothes. The material is very comfortable and soft. There is no underwire, which is nice once in a while. The shape under clothes is still pretty rounded like a normal bra shape which is important to me. There is mild push-up padding. I need ...that or else I will fold the cups forward and they will collapse under my tissue but this is padded enough to hold its shape and not wrinkle. I'm very impressed! Straps are very adjustable. Low and basically non-existent gore is great for my close-set and center heavy breasts. Overall seems supportive enough for a bra with only two hooks and little straps. I think it would best fit a 28E person as I quadboob a bit when properly fitted in, but, honestly, if I don't swoop and scoop, this covers up everything perfectly and lies smooth. Comfortable enough to wear to bed as well. Read more 105 more words
This is a sturdy, comfortable bra. It's technically not padded, and the lining is not too thick. It looks smooth under clothing. My problem with it is the cups pull apart my already very separated breasts, and lets them try to hide in my armpits. The last thing they need is a bra that encourages this behavior. I wear this bra occasionally, but it's definitely not a favorite. Its structure (and its flaw, for me) is very similar to Aerie Sunny bras, in that it pulls my breasts even further apart. (All the other Aerie models do do this, fortunately!) Wireless bras with this structure are a disaster on me.
This Ciao Bella fits as expected compared to my other 30DDs. Unlike the Fairy Tale colorway I picked up around the same time, this one fits me as expected with no obvious fit problems. However, right now I am between 30DD and 30DDD, and I would say that 30DDD is more of a correct technical fit for my larger side while 30DD fits my smaller side.
This Ciao Bella fits as expected compared to my other 30DDs, with the exception that the band runs a little more snug. In practice, I don't notice much difference between this band and other bands. Unlike the Fairy Tale colorway I picked up around the same time, this one fits me as expected with no obvious fit problems. However, right now I am between 30DD and 30DDD, and I would say that 30DDD is more of a correct technical fit for my larger side while 30DD fits my smaller side.
This particular bra, unlike my other 30DD Ciao Bellas, is most obviously too small on my body although there isn't much of a difference in measurements. I believe the shape of the cups is more closed off than the others I own, as I get a pretty distorted breast shape in this bra with the fullest portion of the cup sitting too low, the top digging in to my tall roots, and major spillage. Although so far my Ciao Bellas have fit quite consistently with the only exception being varying degrees of seam visibility dependent on sewing, this one actually fits differently from the rest. A good example of how cup shape affects fit even if measurements don't show obvious deviation.
I've now worn the Ciao Bella all winter as my "sweater bra," and have enjoyed this style thoroughly. Since it comes in so many lovely colors and the price is affordable, I've picked up another one, and am excited to add more to my collection!
I've been wearing this size when I measure 28DD/30D and now at 28E/30DD, and I'm pleased that the bra still fits me despite an increase in cup size. The band seems pretty solid and hasn't stretched out due to wear, and I've found it to be TTS though not all B. Tempt'd bras are TTS in the band. I originally had ...concerns about the straps since they are only partially adjustable and I have them shortened all the way, but so far they haven't been a problem either. The twinned satin portion of the strap is very rigid and has no stretch, so overall the straps have not stretched out at all. Shortening the straps is a fairly simple procedure, but this really should be designed with more flexibility in the adjustable length.
The only flaws I see in this bra are due to the materials. As noted in my previous version of this review, the lace can snag rather easily. Because the style is a lace overlay over foam cups and the foam cups have a center seam, it doesn't give a totally smooth look under clothing. This is why I am only wearing it under thicker items like sweaters and do not wear it under lightweight tees. There has also been a lot of inconsistencies in sewing and some bras give an odd or pointy lumpy appearance due to the sewing. I'd recommend ordering from a source that accepts returns so you can try multiples and not get stuck with a badly sewn bra.
Overall, a great bra that suits me and is comfortable and easy to wear. It worked for me at my smaller size with more of a FOB/shallow shape, and it works for me now with a fuller, more rounded shape. The top of the bra is open enough not to cut into my roots but doesn't cause any gapping. The underwires for me are comfortable and never dig into my bony ribs, which is a problem I have often when it comes to properly fitting bands. So glad I finally gave this bra a try, and glad that I tried multiple sizes (30D and 30DD) in order to get the right fit! Read more 316 more words
I've now worn the Ciao Bella all winter as my "sweater bra," and have enjoyed this style thoroughly. Since it comes in so many lovely colors and the price is affordable, I've picked up another one, and am excited to add more to my collection!
I've been wearing this size when I measure 28DD/30D and now at 28E/30DD, and I'm pleased that the bra still fits me despite an increase in cup size. The band seems pretty solid and hasn't stretched out due to wear, and I've found it to be TTS though not all B. Tempt'd bras are TTS in the band. I originally had ...concerns about the straps since they are only partially adjustable and I have them shortened all the way, but so far they haven't been a problem either. The twinned satin portion of the strap is very rigid and has no stretch, so overall the straps have not stretched out at all. Shortening the straps is a fairly simple procedure, but this really should be designed with more flexibility in the adjustable length.
The only flaws I see in this bra are due to the materials. As noted in my previous version of this review, the lace can snag rather easily. Because the style is a lace overlay over foam cups and the foam cups have a center seam, it doesn't give a totally smooth look under clothing. This is why I am only wearing it under thicker items like sweaters and do not wear it under lightweight tees. There has also been a lot of inconsistencies in sewing and some bras give an odd or pointy lumpy appearance due to the sewing. I'd recommend ordering from a source that accepts returns so you can try multiples and not get stuck with a badly sewn bra.
Overall, a great bra that suits me and is comfortable and easy to wear. It worked for me at my smaller size with more of a FOB/shallow shape, and it works for me now with a fuller, more rounded shape. The top of the bra is open enough not to cut into my roots but doesn't cause any gapping. The underwires for me are comfortable and never dig into my bony ribs, which is a problem I have often when it comes to properly fitting bands. So glad I finally gave this bra a try, and glad that I tried multiple sizes (30D and 30DD) in order to get the right fit! Read more 316 more words
I've now worn the Ciao Bella all winter as my "sweater bra," and have enjoyed this style thoroughly. Since it comes in so many lovely colors and the price is affordable, I've picked up another one, and am excited to add more to my collection!
I've been wearing this size when I measure 28DD/30D and now at 28E/30DD, and I'm pleased that the bra still fits me despite an increase in cup size. The band seems pretty solid and hasn't stretched out due to wear, and I've found it to be TTS though not all B. Tempt'd bras are TTS in the band. I originally had ...concerns about the straps since they are only partially adjustable and I have them shortened all the way, but so far they haven't been a problem either. The twinned satin portion of the strap is very rigid and has no stretch, so overall the straps have not stretched out at all. Shortening the straps is a fairly simple procedure, but this really should be designed with more flexibility in the adjustable length.
The only flaws I see in this bra are due to the materials. As noted in my previous version of this review, the lace can snag rather easily. Because the style is a lace overlay over foam cups and the foam cups have a center seam, it doesn't give a totally smooth look under clothing. This is why I am only wearing it under thicker items like sweaters and do not wear it under lightweight tees. There has also been a lot of inconsistencies in sewing and some bras give an odd or pointy lumpy appearance due to the sewing. I'd recommend ordering from a source that accepts returns so you can try multiples and not get stuck with a badly sewn bra.
Overall, a great bra that suits me and is comfortable and easy to wear. It worked for me at my smaller size with more of a FOB/shallow shape, and it works for me now with a fuller, more rounded shape. The top of the bra is open enough not to cut into my roots but doesn't cause any gapping. The underwires for me are comfortable and never dig into my bony ribs, which is a problem I have often when it comes to properly fitting bands. So glad I finally gave this bra a try, and glad that I tried multiple sizes (30D and 30DD) in order to get the right fit! Read more 316 more words
I've now worn the Ciao Bella all winter as my "sweater bra," and have enjoyed this style thoroughly. Since it comes in so many lovely colors and the price is affordable, I've picked up another one, and am excited to add more to my collection!
I've been wearing this size when I measure 28DD/30D and now at 28E/30DD, and I'm pleased that the bra still fits me despite an increase in cup size. The band seems pretty solid and hasn't stretched out due to wear, and I've found it to be TTS though not all B. Tempt'd bras are TTS in the band. I originally had ...concerns about the straps since they are only partially adjustable and I have them shortened all the way, but so far they haven't been a problem either. The twinned satin portion of the strap is very rigid and has no stretch, so overall the straps have not stretched out at all. Shortening the straps is a fairly simple procedure, but this really should be designed with more flexibility in the adjustable length.
The only flaws I see in this bra are due to the materials. As noted in my previous version of this review, the lace can snag rather easily. Because the style is a lace overlay over foam cups and the foam cups have a center seam, it doesn't give a totally smooth look under clothing. This is why I am only wearing it under thicker items like sweaters and do not wear it under lightweight tees. There has also been a lot of inconsistencies in sewing and some bras give an odd or pointy lumpy appearance due to the sewing. I'd recommend ordering from a source that accepts returns so you can try multiples and not get stuck with a badly sewn bra.
Overall, a great bra that suits me and is comfortable and easy to wear. It worked for me at my smaller size with more of a FOB/shallow shape, and it works for me now with a fuller, more rounded shape. The top of the bra is open enough not to cut into my roots but doesn't cause any gapping. The underwires for me are comfortable and never dig into my bony ribs, which is a problem I have often when it comes to properly fitting bands. So glad I finally gave this bra a try, and glad that I tried multiple sizes (30D and 30DD) in order to get the right fit! Read more 316 more words
I've now worn the Ciao Bella all winter as my "sweater bra," and have enjoyed this style thoroughly. Since it comes in so many lovely colors and the price is affordable, I've picked up another one, and am excited to add more to my collection!
I've been wearing this size when I measure 28DD/30D and now at 28E/30DD, and I'm pleased that the bra still fits me despite an increase in cup size. The band seems pretty solid and hasn't stretched out due to wear, and I've found it to be TTS though not all B. Tempt'd bras are TTS in the band. I originally had ...concerns about the straps since they are only partially adjustable and I have them shortened all the way, but so far they haven't been a problem either. The twinned satin portion of the strap is very rigid and has no stretch, so overall the straps have not stretched out at all. Shortening the straps is a fairly simple procedure, but this really should be designed with more flexibility in the adjustable length.
The only flaws I see in this bra are due to the materials. As noted in my previous version of this review, the lace can snag rather easily. Because the style is a lace overlay over foam cups and the foam cups have a center seam, it doesn't give a totally smooth look under clothing. This is why I am only wearing it under thicker items like sweaters and do not wear it under lightweight tees. There has also been a lot of inconsistencies in sewing and some bras give an odd or pointy lumpy appearance due to the sewing. I'd recommend ordering from a source that accepts returns so you can try multiples and not get stuck with a badly sewn bra.
Overall, a great bra that suits me and is comfortable and easy to wear. It worked for me at my smaller size with more of a FOB/shallow shape, and it works for me now with a fuller, more rounded shape. The top of the bra is open enough not to cut into my roots but doesn't cause any gapping. The underwires for me are comfortable and never dig into my bony ribs, which is a problem I have often when it comes to properly fitting bands. So glad I finally gave this bra a try, and glad that I tried multiple sizes (30D and 30DD) in order to get the right fit! Read more 316 more words
This summer, I tried a number of different strapless bra options. Since I have developed a strong aversion to padded bras, it's been tough to find a strapless bra that fits my comfort criteria. Plus, it's already pretty tough to find a strapless bra that fits a 30 band or smaller. The B. Enticing is one of the styles I decided to try after Bratabase recommended it for me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a perfect fit in this style and ultimately ended up not keeping it.
As I discovered through my extensive exploration of the B. Tempt'd Ciao Bella, I am kind of ...between sizes in their molded bras, between 30D and 30DD depending on the style. While in Ciao Bella the 30DD is a perfect fit, I felt that I am squarely between sizes in this style. The 30D was a bit too small in the cups, so the profile it gave me wasn't very flattering. It had a flattening effect and didn't give me the boosted shape I expect from a molded bra. The 30DD looked ridiculously large and felt just a tiny bit big, but the shape was much more flattering. However, the cups were a little taller than what I am used to, and I found this to be a bit uncomfortable since I like a more open top and have problems with tall cups chafing under the arms.
This is one of the few strapless bra I've come across that has molded cups and no padding, and in general, I found the cups to be really comfortable. They have a light lace overlay that is pretty subtle. I didn't notice visible lace texture under clothing. However, the shape of the cups is more like a bandeau, so there is no plunge effect at all. This means the style didn't work under some clothing where I would normally want to wear a strapless bra.
The main issue for me was the construction of the band. This was my first encounter with a side-closure bra, which I hear some people prefer. I've heard some people don't hook their band behind them but somehow put the bra on and twist the band around. This is the only way to close this bra, since there's no real way to hold the band in place at your side while simultaneously hooking it. I found the feeling of hooking it in front and twisting it to be excruciatingly uncomfortable. There is no way to describe how awful this feeling was or why it affected me so much, but I couldn't imagine repeating this intentionally to wear this bra.
This is really too bad, because the super wide band made this the most secure feeling strapless bra I've ever tried, and as I mentioned, the unpadded molded cups were also pretty comfortable. I didn't feel like I would have to worry about this sliding down throughout the day. However, due to some practical considerations and the closure issue, I felt I couldn't keep this bra. I think it's a great option for people who prefer unpadded strapless bras and wide bands, and I would encourage you to give this style a try. Read more 441 more words
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. Read more 1018 more words
