The Lily has been one of my go-to bras for a long time. It gives a rounded shape with a slight peak and it's smooth under most clothing. I really wish they had continued to make it, and made it in neutral colors! I don't understand the decision to discontinue when it seems so popular.

I think this would make a great first unlined bra for someone who's used to molded, since the fabric is so smooth. The design is also really cute, I love the blue and pink.

The comfort is okay; a little problematic for me with my sensitive skin and sensory issues because of two things that ... Panache/Cleo seems consistent with: high gore and elastic around the band. The gore I can bend outward but the elastic I can't fix. I wish they would switch to a more all-over stretch fabric to distribute the weight better because the elastic really cuts in/chafes.

The fit has become more tricky as my asymmetry has gotten more pronounced--my right side has a little wrinkle at the top and the larger left side is flattened a bit. For now it doesn't seem very noticeable through clothing so I'm not terribly bothered.

IMO the wires are average width and it's one of the more rounded, projected bras that aren't Polish. I just really wish it didn't have the Elastic of Death.
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Blue\pink colorway

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Updated on Dec 19, 2015 Flag this

This parrot print version seems significantly more open on top than my blue and pink version. It fits a lot more like I remember my 32FF - Cleo » Maya Balconnet Bra (7471) fitting, I can't fill the tops of the cups. For those who want one of these and need more room on top, choose the Parrot print one!

Parrot print colorway

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Updated on Dec 19, 2015 Flag this

Parrot colourway. Comparison of Cleo Lily Aqua 30G, Magenta 30FF, Parrot 32FF. Ask me anything.

This one does not quite fit right, which was to be expected (I do well in the 30 band). Someone wrote that the straps on 32FF were closer together than 30G, so I thought I'd try it. I found them to be the same, maybe a little wider apart in the 32FF actually. (Possible colourway difference, IDK.) Straps in this and the 30G are a couple mm wider apiece than the 30FF, which is nice, more supportive. Cups are wider than 30G Aqua, despite the uber tight aqua band stretching the cups wider than ... they are supposed to be.

I am getting some orange-in-a-glass effect here, with wrinkling all along sides of cup; it's shallower than my 30FF or 30G. Also, I finally understand what people mean by in-cup quadboob since I have it in this (soft tissue bubbles up above the horizontal seam). Since I never had in-cup quadboob in 30FF or 30G, those with this issue might want to try sizing down in the band, if that's a possibility. I don't know the physics of that as far as which has more cup volume where, etc. Just speaking from experience.

The biggest difference I find between this and the 30G and 30FF is that the 32 band is giant on me. (It's probably not that much bigger, but even small changes in band size can make a huge difference in support for us large cup ladies.) I knew it was going to be larger, but not too-loose-on-the-tightest-hooks-straight-out-of-the-box larger. While the 30FF and 30G bands are a little uncomfortably tight on the loosest hooks after washing, this 32 band is too loose on the tightest set of hooks. I thought I could get away with it (was cheap on Amazon), but turns out I can't. Returning!

My final note is a style point. The bow on this parrot colourway (an earlier rendition, I believe) is cheap-looking. My magenta and aqua have cute, delicate satin bows that match the cup detailing. The bow on this one is larger, roughly hewn, is a random-feeling shade of light green that doesn't quite match the light green of the parrots, and just looks stuck on as an afterthought. See pics on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cleo-Lily-Balconnet-Underwire-7351/dp/B00KDOQOQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432674871&sr=8-1&keywords=cleo+lily
I'd say they made the right choice with the switch in later styles: more sophisticated, more pretty-feeling. As for the parrot print, it's okay. Colors are cute for summer, and not overly-loud, but I wouldn't know they were parrots unless you told me. They don't have faces or anything. Most of them are on their sides, so they almost look dead? It's a little weird, and I'm a little disappointed TBH, since I've been lusting after this one for a while. I don't get this print or the swan print: not for me. I do think the swan print is great for punk girls, since it looks like a pirate flag. I think I'll just order another of the colors I have TBH.
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Updated on May 26, 2015 Flag this

I'm going to try a cup size down in this because I am assymetrical and my smaller side is gapping quite a bit at the top. But I love, love, love it! Round shape, firm band, good projection, sturdy wires. And adorable print!

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Updated on Jan 25, 2015 Flag this

UPDATE: After finally giving the Lily a test run, some thoughts:

• The band is a *wee* bit too loose, but I've also lost a few pounds, resulting in a 0.5" smaller snug under. Nothing tragic. But I am wondering, given the other fit issues, if a 30G + extender wouldn't be a better fit.

• The moment I sat at my desk this morning, TRANSFORMER BEWBS kicked in, and the top of these cups EMPTIED. A combo of bad posture, tissue softness, and that slight shape mismatch. I think the alteration is worth trying.

• The wire was kinda pokey in my left armpit--but only the left. Since.
lefty ... is the temperamental boob, I think it was me, not the bra.

• Wearing an unlined bra after 4 years of foam domes is WEIRD. I felt all jiggly. But know I'll appreciate the ventilation in the summer.

• Compared to the Ewa SM in the 75FF (which DOES fit, unlike the disastrous 70G), this gives me better bottom fullness but a less comfortable gore. The slight gape on top and wide-set straps are abut the same. Both keep my breasts nicely out of my armpits. Both put me between band sizes (sigh). I think, given my gore issues, the Ewa wins out by a hair. But I am giving a Panache Envy a whirl for comparison.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Well. Of all the unlined bras I've tried on since my brapiphany a little over 6 years ago, this is by far the best fit. Still, the gore is twisting because my breasts are fused at the top, and there's a wee bit of horizontal wrinkling at the top of the cup, which I think I could fix with a little sewing. (I believe I've seen this mod online.) I'm going to have to wear it around the house for a few hours to decide if I can stand the gore. If so, I'll sew.

I'm also getting a junior version of the mad ziggurat boob thing that the Ewa SM in 70G gave me, but it's barely noticeable--it only happens on a max inhale. This makes me think it was a distorted wires thing with the Ewa (those wires were 0.5 cm narrower than these, and the band was tighter). Overall, I think my soft, heavy boobs are just better off with lining, but come July and August, it'll be nice to have an option, ziggurat or no.
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Updated on Jan 14, 2015 Flag this

A couple weeks ago, this was gaping on me at the top of the cups. Now, I fit it, but the gore doesn't tack. Either this gore is just too tall for me, or I need to go up a cup.

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Updated on Nov 14, 2014 Flag this

- Wrinkles and gaps at the top edge of the cup
- Wrinkles and gaps at the outer tip of the cup, where my nipple is
- Wires are too wide
- Height and width of the gore combined tries to push my boobs too far apart

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Updated on Oct 23, 2014 Flag this

I can't quite fill out the tops of the cups except for during a specific part of my cycle. The fabric's comfortable, the straps are great, the gore lays perfectly flat. The wires are a good width. At the end of the day, there's some wrinkling at the bottom of the cups and the wires have slipped down a little. It's perfectly wearable, though.

Updated on Sep 11, 2014 Flag this

[Updated after two weeks and a half]

Even in fullness, projected, with narrow root, this bra is for me!!
The cup separation is okay though sometimes its wide for me, I needed a lot of adjustment to make it comfy.
The band was comfortably tight (at first 2 days, now it stretched to 32inches I personally recommend to order your band size and don't go a size up).
The Bra is very comfy, though when I sweat for a long time I have this teeny tiny feeling of itchiness but not that bothering. (NO LONGER HAPPENS . yaaay)
It gives a nice up lift and a lovely roundness beneath clothes.
The cups sections' lines are visible trough thin to average shirts.
Straps width is good, and their separation is good for my wide torso and shoulders.
The parrot pattern is adorable, the sweetheart cup line is lovely, I seriously look good in it *>*

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Updated on Jul 13, 2014 Flag this

This bra is amazing. It's absolutely adorable. I was expecting it to be padded, but it isn't. It's actually pretty sheer if you hold it up to the light, but because it is navy, it isn't entirely see through. The top of the cup is made of different fabric than the rest of the cup, and is a little bit looser, but that's okay. Despite not being a plunge, because of the cut of the bra, it looks great with a low cut shirt, much to my surprise. It is incredibly soft as well. The band is wide and firm, and the straps are wide. My one complaint is that the straps are a little bit too wide for my comfort, but I went from wearing Target compression sports bras to 36D convertibles to 30FF/Gs to 32FFs, so that is probably just me not being used to it.

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Updated on Oct 18, 2013 Flag this