This bra is *beautiful* and I so badly wanted it to fit. However, I find the band to be a tight for personal preference (I can fit two fingers under it, but, it feels like it's digging into my ribs) and there's quadboob going on with the bigger breast. I saw it mentioned that the band for 30DDD is tighter than the other 30 bands? https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> The straps are also pretty wide set. I like the shape of the cups, they're good for FOB, and the shape/length of the underwire is perfect. But there's too many other sizing issues. Though there's a line on the inside of the cups that's also a little bit irritation, if I get my hands on a 32DDD, I'll still try it. A shame there isn't a 30F option.

Updated on Sep 25, 2020 Flag this

Very tight band that stretches the cups East West. I need a cup size and a band size up. Great for people who need tighter than 28 bands.
I like that the gore is so small and low. It's just that the band is so tight, it stretches the cups sideways and makes the gore wider.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Feb 02, 2019 Flag this

Great bra, relatively comfortable with a nice fit despite the straps being too far apart for total comfort. It seems to stretch quickly after the first few wears, or at least conform to your body. Time will tell if that’s just an initial relaxation or if it will feel “stretched out” quickly. Seems true to size but some of the measurements vary a little between colors & individual bras.

Crimson colorway

Updated on Apr 18, 2022 Flag this

I love this bra! It’s beautiful and supportive and comes in a variety of really pretty colors. It fits pretty true to size and stays in place during the day without needing adjustment. It gives a lot of lift without extra padding. It’s listed as “padded push-up” but the padding is pretty thin. The lace or the center seam shows under thin, fitted tops. It’s best under a loose blouse or sweater. It’s not a perfect 10 in terms of comfort. My only real complaint is that the straps are too far apart and I feel them near my armpits when I move around, so there’s a time limit on how long I want to keep this on and what activities I want to do while wearing it. The triple satin straps are aesthetically pleasing but not as comfortable as a single strap would be.

Flint Stone colorway

Updated on Apr 18, 2022 Flag this

I've been a big fan of the Ciao Bella Balconette for a while, as I wore the 30DD last winter as my primary "sweater bra" under thicker clothing. The 30DD has been too small for me since the beginning of the year, so this year I started picking up the 30DDD instead, which now fits me very well at 28E/28F. This is one of the few styles where I find a 30 band very comfortable as it is snug but not tight.

When I first tried 30DDD back in March 2020, I was a smaller 28E, so while the cups were a close fit, they were still ... slightly too large and I experienced problems with the outer edge of the cup digging in to the underarm area. However, 30DD was clearly too small at this point, so I decided to switch to the larger size anyway. Now that I am a larger 28E/28F, this discomfort has pretty much gone away as I fill out the cup better.

Some people consider this bra shallow, but I disagree. I would say that this runs about a half cup small, so you should order a cup size larger unless you're on the small end of your range. I think the 2HC cut and sew construction is actually quite projected as long as you are in the right size! In the correct size, this should give you a very smooth and rounded shape, not a pointy shape, and the fullness of the cup will be correctly distributed vertically (if the cup is too small, the fullest point will seem to sit too low).

After wearing this bra for an entire season, I have been very happy with the quality and comfort of the bra. The cups have not lost their shape and the band hasn't stretched out. This is an easily accessible and very affordable bra that comes in many lovely colors, and I would recommend this to anyone who needs wider wires and isn't extremely projected, as long as you fall within the size range. It won't be suitable for anyone with very narrow roots or larger than a true F cup as you will be sized out (unless you can sister size up a band size).

After trying the sister size of 32DD, I can confirm that the cups do fit true to size in the sister size, and the band size increase is rather small, so sister sizing is a great option.

Marlin is a beautiful lilac-tinged grey-blue that looks great on my cool skintone. Certain shades of blue bras suit me well, and B. Tempt'd by Wacoal does blue quite well (they have many pinks and blues in the range). The center bow is a sheer cool pink that is similar in tone to the nude underlay of the foam cups.

I like this particular bra so much that I purchased 3, intending to keep the best-fitting one (sometimes these have sewing issues causing them to fit less than ideally), but I've decided to keep two out of the three! This will definitely be in my winter rotation this year.
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Marlin colorway

Updated on Nov 07, 2020 Flag this

The B. Tempt'd Ciao Bella has been one of my favorite bras over the last 6 months. It's relatively easy to find, very inexpensive, comes in lots of pretty colors, and has a snug 30 band that actually works for me. As I have progressed along my bra journey, I have been going up in cup size in this style. To date, I've tried 30D (never fit, too small), 30DD (fit well up until now), and 30DDD, my newest acquisition and current best fit.

The important thing I've realized about the Ciao Bella Balconette is that even though it is cut and sew, it functions very ... similarly to a molded cup bra. Not the shallow t-shirt bras you find on the racks at Target and major department stores, but a style that is relatively projected through the middle and closed at the top. While the foam cups do have some stretch, you are still essentially limited by the shape of the cup. This is not a flat, shallow cup that will just smush down extra tissue and minimize you--trying to squeeze yourself into a smaller cup size in this case will give you a lumpy and distorted shape.

I've heard this bra described as "shallow" in reviews, but I disagree. To me, a shallow bra is one where there is not a lot of difference between the fullest part of the cup and the area nearest the wire and the top of the cup, i.e. the shape is less convex than standard. I find this cup shape to be fairly standard but leaning towards FOB-friendly. It is not ideal for FOT or tall rooted shapes since the top edge is relatively closed. You still need to have enough projection to fill out the middle of the cup, so shallow shapes will end up with the orange-in-a-glass effect. The cup size runs about half a cup small.

The 30D has always been too small, but I have been wearing the 30DD for a while (and collecting more!). In 30DD, I consistently wear this style with the straps fully shortened, and I have complained that the straps don't get any shorter. After receiving my newest 30DD, I realized that this is because the cups are actually too small for me right now by at least half a size. The cups do stretch a bit over time to mold to your shape better, as the 30DD I have been wearing for the last 4 months still fits pretty well. However, in general the 30DD cups are too short for me, causing the seams to sometimes sit weirdly and look pointy on me. The fullest part of the cup also tends to sit too low on my body despite the straps being fully shortened.

Switching to the 30DDD made a huge difference in the shape of the cup. By sizing up to the correct cup size, the appearance of the seams has been eliminated, and the vertical distribution of fullness is now correctly proportioned to my body. I love the shape that this gives me as it's so much more flattering than in the smaller sizes.

The one caveat is that as the cups get deeper and taller, the outer edge of the cup also gets taller, and since my breast tissue goes up into the armpit, the cup now follows. I am petite and have no room between where my breasts end and where the armpit starts, so unfortunately this results in chafing up in that area that's very uncomfortable. In order to remedy the fit, I've released the straps from their fully-shortened position to give myself 1" of extra length compared to how I wear the 30DD. The 30DDD has a triple ribbon strap and wider strap elastic compared to the 30DD and smaller sizes, but I haven't noticed too much functional difference. I think ideally shortening the cup height by 1 cm would make this fit me better.

Like I've experienced with some other bras that correctly fit my larger side (Parfait Charlotte 28E), the 30DDD fits my larger side perfectly but gaps a bit on my smaller side, with this being pretty apparent when moving. I feel that right now I am right between 30DD and 30DDD in terms of the ideal cup size that would fit both sides, but it's good to have a few bras that run a bit larger for hormonal fluctuations.

As I wrote in my reviews for 30DD, the cut and sew foam is sometimes not sewn very neatly at the center seam, so it's best to try it on in person before purchasing, or order from a returnable source. Even if the measurements are the same, the seam shaping can make the bra look pointy rather than smooth depending on how well it is sewn. Other than this, I think this is an excellent, affordable bra that can suit a lot of people, but you may need to try a couple of sizes to find your best fit as there are pretty big differences in fit depending on which size you try.

Winsome Orchid is a lovely light pink that functions as a nude on my light skintone.
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Winsome Orchid colorway

Updated on Jul 29, 2020 Flag this

This is my absolute favorite bra, and I would buy three more in as many colors I could find if Wacoal/b.tempt'd chose to carry it again! I've had it for at least two years, possibly more than that. While it may have stretched out somewhat with time, it's still one of my favorite bras.
I think my favorite aspect of this bra is the mesh/netting that extends .5" to 1" above the cup. What I've found is that the mesh is incredibly forgiving. If I've gained a few pounds around Thanksgiving, the mesh prevents/disguises any instance of quadboob. It creates a smooth line under clothing, and I wear this bra under *everything*. I love that this is my most practical bra, but that it also looks sexy when the clothes come off.

Black colorway

Updated on Aug 30, 2016 Flag this

Finally a perfect fit! This bra is gorgeous and sexy - AND super comfortable! It doesn't press in at the top of the cup, causing spillage or overflow (which is usually a big problem for me). The lining is a pretty pink color and very soft. The first day I wore it, I worked a physically demanding job for 12 hours and never once adjusted or even thought about my bra! When I went to take it off, everything was in exactly the same place as it was when I put it on (I have a problem with migration in a lot of bras). The center gore tacks ... and the straps are not too wide and don't slip off. This bra gives a very pretty rounded shape and has great support. I do wish it came in a smooth t-shirt version (the seams will show under some tops). If it did, I would still want this version for the support the seamed cups provide (and also just how pretty it is), but I'd love it if I could have a smooth version to wear under tees. I am just thrilled to have finally found the perfect fit for me! I can't comment yet on the quality simply because I just bought it and I've only worn it one time so far - but it looks to be very well made.
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Night/Pink Mist colorway

Updated on May 15, 2016 Flag this

I got it for $5 and thankfully not a cent more I'm pretty Bummed that this didn't work out for me! I can't see this bra working for anyone. The wires are thick and awkward, as are the straps. I have to fold the cups to make i work!

Sad this didn't work out!

Updated on Nov 01, 2014 Flag this

Really nice and comfortable, the 30 band is just too big since I'm supposed to be 26/28. It's super cute, seems to give nice lift and shape, I'm really sad I can't keep it.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 28, 2013 Flag this

This bra fits me well except for the band. The straps are very adjustable. The band is pretty snug and should be more comfortable with an extender. The center gore sits flat but digs in a little, probably due to the tightness of the band

Sand colorway

Updated on Oct 28, 2024 Flag this

Fits nice everywhere but the band, it is a bit too tight compared to how the same bra but in black fits. I do not have an issue with the straps, but I am also 4'11 and the lack on length might be an issue for other people. Fabric isn't scratchy (to me) and it looks good. I am more a fan of black and wine red, this is a more Lightning McQueen red, which is not my favorite but it won't kill me.
It has 3 stringy straps that make up each strap, and makes it harder for them to really dig in, which is interesting. The seams in the bra make it have a little bit of a point, which isn't that noticeable, if at all under a not thin shirt.

watermelon colorway

Updated on Aug 09, 2024 Flag this

The bra i purchased was in "night" which is like a cream base with black lace overlay. I haveheard that black isn't the color to buy when trying to size a bra and it was so comfortable i am going to return this bra and purchase the same exact one in the same size( they do not offer 1 cup size larger in the band i need) and hope that the black dye rumor is true. I was nervous that this bra was going to irritate me bc i am very sensitive to seems especially that cut down the middle of bras, however i didn't even notice these seems. I was very impressed with this bra just wish the cup was just a little bigger to fit my larger breast

NIGHT colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Aug 17, 2023 Flag this

This is such a beautiful bra(color, shape) but it's definitely too small on me. Maybe a little too shallow but I definitely need to size up but unfortunately b.tempt'd doesn't make 30F :'( I measured as a 30E with ABTF calculator. I think I fall on the normal to slightly shallow side with tall roots and even to FOB shape. My left boob is slightly larger. With this bra I'm spilling out a ton on the left side with the gore sitting on my left boob tissue. Also this is the second bra I tried with part non-stretchy bra strap. Why are the straps on the 30 band bras all so short?? I had to adjust it to the longest and it still feels tight on my shoulders.

Blue Sapphire colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jan 20, 2023 Flag this

This bra wasn’t the right size but has extremely high gore and ends of wires poke.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 22, 2022 Flag this

I'm still figuring out my shape and I don't think I'm very suited to t-shirt bras but I still wanted to try. I believe I'm mostly FOB and center-full, fairly close-set with indenting/deflation near tail of spence, and pretty narrow-rooted with some height and some projection.

[Disclaimer - I have only tried it on]

PROS:
- Very comfortable
- Definitely "ultra soft"
- Liked the shape
- Band was a good size
- Supportive

CONS:
- Gore doesn't tack
- Gapping around the tail of spence
- Gapped near the underwire, especially with arm movement

I think this may be too shallow for me or generally conflicts with my shape. I really liked it otherwise though!

Black colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jun 26, 2021 Flag this

I am a 30DD or 30DDD depending on my cycle so this bra may fit me better later on in the month when I'm closer to a 30DDD, but unfortunately there were too many issues with it for me to want to try that out. I was excited because it was cheap on Amazon and I was super happy when the gore tacked but it was definitely wrong for my shape and just generally not my favorite. I'm mostly FOB and center-full, fairly close-set with indenting/deflation near tail of spence, and pretty narrow-rooted with some height and some projection.

[Disclaimer - I have only tried it on and wore ... it for around 20 mins]

PROS:
- Gore tacks
- Probably a nicely rounded shape if proper fit

CONS:
- Itchy fabric
- Gaps a little when my arms are by my side
- Gaps a lot when I bring my arms forward at all
- Too projected in the upper cup for me
- Outer edge of cups behind the strap cut into my tail of spence
- Gore too wide for me and created separation

NOTES:
- A lot more coverage than the stock pictures
- Straps fit me (5'4) but probably wouldn't for someone taller / with a much longer N2N distance
- Inner seams didn't cause issues for me (after a short amount of time) but may for those who are sensitive or wear it longer

Overall, I would have to remove about an inch of fabric from the upper cup in order to make it fit, along with some other alterations for comfort. I think it could work for those who are wide-set and short-rooted but even/FOT with a round shape.
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Night/Pink colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 31, 2021 Flag this

After trying on many 30 bands and some 32 bands in a local boutique, this was the only bra above a 28 band that didn't ride up significantly on my 26 inch underbust. Measuring it while it's new, it does stretch to an absolute maximum of around 30 inches, but no other 30 bands have worked for me so I'm not really sure what makes this one different if it measures true to size. I might have to alter it to be smaller as time goes on, but that's not unusual at my size.

The bra is soft and smooth all over. An interesting detail is that the outside of the cup goes over the underwire channel, so the bottoms of the cups have less of a lip sticking out and more of a smooth dome-like surface. The top edges of the cups are pretty thin as well, which is helpful for a seamless look under shirts. The amount of padding is just right, creating a smooth shape to hide nipples without feeling stuffy or enlarging the bust.

Dark gray heather colorway

Updated on Apr 30, 2021 Flag this

This bra has seen much better days. The band stretched out long ago, so I will address how it fit when I first got it. The band was tight enough to be supportive, the cups were too tall, and the wires on the side poked my armpits. The straps however are completely adjustable which I need not for the support but because I'm a short person. It did it's job. Now it deserves a Viking funeral for the service it has given me over the years.

Updated on Dec 08, 2020 Flag this

I purchased 3 of this colorway and size, intending to keep the best-fitting one (sometimes these have sewing issues causing them to fit less than ideally), but I've decided to keep two out of the three!

Please see my comments on the other two that I kept for a more in-depth review.

Marlin colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 07, 2020 Flag this