This Cleo Hattie Balconnet Bikini Top is actually the same cut as the Cleo Lucille Balconette Bikini Top, which I already own in a 28DD. I didn’t know this when I ordered it, but this one looks much better on me than Lucille, which is a size too small. While it looks very cute on due to the cute ditsy floral print, it does have its issues.

Compared to my 28DD Lucille and my 28E Hattie Bandeau, the band on this top is even tighter. I can feel the wires more obviously than in the Lucille since this is a size larger, but thankfully they are not exactly painful, ... just noticeable. It might become an issue after extended wear, but I’m assuming that the band will also stretch out a bit after extended wear. Cleo Swim bands all have a plastic hook in the back, so the band length cannot be adjusted.

The cup size and volume is great for me (and the 28DD is ridiculously small in the cups now), but I have an issue with the horizontal upper cup. Many of Cleo’s balconnet styles give me the same problem, where the upper edge of the upper cup lays flat against my breast, but the bottom of the upper cup at the horizontal seam is bunchy, particularly as it gets close to the gore. The seam is also a bit higher than the natural fullest part of my breast, so these styles are cut for a shape that has more upper and inner fullness. I suspect that another contributing factor is my splayed roots, which cause me to have the least tissue at the upper center breast area. However, this is minor and obviously the cup size is correct, so I plan to hide the wrinkles by sewing some subtle gathers in the upper cup to make this look intentional.

I am pleased that on me, this top is very cute and doesn’t look too obviously like a bra. Sometimes bra swim tops can look a bit matronly, but this still looks youthful and fun due to the print and the size of the bra. Glad this worked out better for me than the Matilda Plunge, which just looks like it’s trying too hard to be a push up bra. I like the lifted and natural shape this top gives me, and I’m glad to finally have a bra top bikini in my collection!
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Floral Print colorway

Updated on Mar 30, 2020 Flag this