My shape: centered even-fullness teardrop with super wide and tall roots that give me lots of shallow-breast fitting problems but with a lot more immediate projection, very close-set center tissue, flat-shaped root curve, and firm tissue that doesn't like to be smooshed around.

This review is for the "Blondie" colorway.

So this is a strange one on me, but after trying on both this one and the same model in Peacock, I can definitely say that everyone should try on sheer bras because all the fit problems are immediately obvious! There is no hiding squished tissue or sliding wires or whatever. I also think it would make a fantastic summer ... bra, especially in the southern US.

I think the cups are a little small and definitely shallower than I need across the bottom half. I can feel (and see!) the fabric pulling so much that the top of the gore is floating, even though it's one of the narrowest I've ever seen (the wire channels are touching!). The top half of the cup, however, is too projected for me, which is always frustrating but kind of the story of my bra-shopping life. The top edge cuts in all the way across and I quad a little even while slouching, although there is extra cup fabric bunching all along it.

The neckline is super wide and straight-across on me and the straps are definitely too far apart, but that is more because the cups are cut crazy wide - the angle of the top edge of the side cup panel comes up into my armpit, even though where the underwire and the wing join is perfectly fine.

The 28 band runs pretty tight. I tried it with an extender, but I don't think that would solve the other fit problems I'm having, because it didn't even affect the floating gore or the cups-in-my-armpits problem at all.

On the other hand, the side cup panel seems to be cut just right! I fill it out and the wire seems to run comfortably along the side fullness of my breast, even if the curve is too steep a shape for my Nike-swoosh roots. It certainly doesn't bother me, anyway.

One nit picky thing for me is that the tag creaks. Some bras creak, but not this one, only the tag, which is an odd slippery plastic or vinyl or something. If I kept this one, it would have to go.

I like this concept, though, so I think I will keep searching for a 30G or so.
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blondie colorway

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Updated on Oct 16, 2015 Flag this

The first thing I noticed about this bra is that the mesh is nowhere near as soft as Cleo's. It doesn't feel as nice on my skin, but it's not so rough that it's uncomfortable. Just something to be aware of if your skin is particularly sensitive. It's also much more sheer, by which I mean *completely* sheer. And shamelessly fluorescent green! I'm half surprised it doesn't glow in the dark.

The band is perfectly true to size. It stretches to exactly 75cm (30in) which is too loose for me, but close enough on the tightest hook. I may have to alter it after like a year, depending on ... how quickly it stretches, but it works for now.

The 30C cups are definitely too small. The 30D fits much better, I think mostly because the cups are taller, which cuts in less. It wrinkles a bit on my smaller breast, but looks like a decent fit otherwise. I'm also very happy about how narrow the cups are, about 11cm in both sizes https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":D" /> Perfect.

I appreciate the plain black straps, and the fact that the cups are fairly smooth under clothes, because it means I can match the bra with any black panties and wear it with most of my tops. Speaking of panties, I got the matching thong in both S and XS as well (why not?). I would NOT recommend it. The mesh fabric in the XS lies smooth on me, but the black elastic waistband digs in enough to be slightly uncomfortable. On the S, the elastic is just the right level of snug, but the mesh is visibly wrinkly, and the crotch is longer than it really needs to be. Weird. Honestly not worth the matchy-matchy happiness.

Either way, I'll definitely be keeping the 30D bra and probably the XS thong.
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Neon Green colorway

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Updated on Oct 05, 2015 Flag this

Initial impression of this bra was "wow, it's like I'm not wearing a bra but I'm wearing a bra." On my skin tone, it's a frosty nude colour that looks alright. I mostly loved it for the bright coral pink straps.

Now that's out of the way, let's discuss fit. The band is one of the most comfortably snug bras I've ever worn. The band is also very firm and doesn't stretch much. It's a 28 but measures less than that stretched. Sub 28 users should definitely give this model a shot. Unfortunately, I'll never know just how good of a fit the band would have been because the cups are about 2 sizes small and therefore too shallow. I have a feeling the fit of the band suffers for this. Fabric is a bit scratchy on the inner part of my arm :/

Updated on Sep 29, 2015 Flag this

(Camo with limeade trim colorway) - Despite everyone saying that the Dessous runs loose, I found this bra fairly tight (this being the beginning of my bra journey, I was very concerned at the time about my ability to wear 28 bands due to this generalization). I don't know if it is this specific colorway or all bras from that season (SS13, I think? maybe AW13) but the band was pretty tight. The gore was quite comfy, but the wires on the sides dug into my ribs, which is something my other bras don't do. The wire width, however, was fine, I think they are on the narrow side of average. The fabric seemed like very hard and scratchy mesh but it actually wasn't uncomfortable to wear. The construction of the bra seemed very solid.

As for the fit, there was a some room near the apex and in the sheer part of the cup, which was not super fun. Unfortunately, I returned the bra before I remembered to measure it https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />

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Updated on Sep 02, 2015 Flag this

Runs very very small in the cups and a bit tight in the band. Wires are quite narrow, but they appear to be flexible. This bra will not work for someone who is full on top. I'm reviewing the Seafoam/Khaki.

Claudette is a brand I've been meaning to try for forever, and the encore sale g

https://thepetitecollegiate.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/claudette-dessous-summer...

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Updated on Jul 25, 2015 Flag this

PetiteCollegiate

3149 reputation

112 bras

Runs VERY small in the cup and actually (surprisingly) tight in the band. Wires are quite narrow and straps are lovely and thin for summer tops. The edging will cut in to any upper fullness (I probably could have gotten away with it in a bigger size)

Claudette is a brand I've been meaning to try for forever, and the encore sale g

https://thepetitecollegiate.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/claudette-dessous-summer...

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 25, 2015 Flag this

PetiteCollegiate

3149 reputation

112 bras

Claudette, being a relatively young brand, has played a lot with fit from season to season. And while I'm not a huge fan of this colorway (Papaya/Olive) this season definitely has the *best* fit. One thing I have noticed is that Claudette bands tend to be stretchy and loosen a lot over time - I'm probably closer to a 30F-FF in this one. Such a chore, figuring out bra fit without trying it on! Let me just list out the pros/cons.

Pros: so, so comfortable. Love the Dessous in this season and earlier ones (beware the ones from spring 2015!). Love the natural, relaxed shape, the shear cups. And as with all Claudette bras, it's really well made and is lasting a lot of wear.

Cons: I don't like orange, and I'm on the tightest hooks. May have to bust out a Rixi clip if the band stretches any further. All the fluctuation between seasons make it difficult to pinpoint which bra in which season will fit best.

Updated on May 19, 2015 Flag this

Okay, so this is an example of Weird Bra Physics. I bought this bra in a 28D and 28DD as an experiment. This bra has a lot of wrinkling in both cups, and yet the larger size of the exact same bra (28DD - Claudette » Dessous Mesh Underwire Bra (CD2000)) has only slight wrinkling on my smaller side. It feels like this is mostly because of the height of the cups. The larger size better encloses me vertically and this somehow makes the whole fit a lot better. I used to think that wrinkling indicated that the cups were too large, but in this bra, ... that does not seem to be the case!

I am also wondering how much of this is due to the fact that the band is too tight on me. This is slightly less pronounced in the larger cup size. However, if I were to try this bra in a 30 band, I wonder if a C or D would fit me better.

For now, I think I'll keep the 28DD size and return this one.
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Caipirinha/Elsa Pink colorway

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Updated on May 12, 2015 Flag this

In comparison with a SS14 model, the SS15 Dessous is more shallow and the straps are wider. The band is less firm as well. The quality is still good. The straps are wider in the SS15, which is kind of odd and unnecessary at a 28E. For the first wear, the straps creaked in the rings, but that seems to have stopped now.

Periwinkle and Cream Soda colorway

Updated on Apr 16, 2015 Flag this

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."
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Turquoise colorway

Updated on Apr 01, 2015 Flag this