First unlined bra that I've tried, I'm amazed at the uplift and the weightlessness (this coming from someone who was basically keeping the push-up bra industry alive with how many I own/owned). I'm definitely not going back. However, this bra isn't perfect, the cups wrinkle a bit on the upper lace section on me (still trying to figure out my shape/ideal bras for said shape), though it's not visible under clothing. After all those push-up bras, too, the shape surprised me—it's nowhere near those perfectly rounded, padded cups, in a good way. My breasts look like... breasts. My skin is extraordinarily sensitive to material, and so far the lace/mesh has not created any abrasion/irritation, but some portion of the band/closure periodically stabs—I believe it's the "seam" around the end edge of the band with the eyes on it, not the hook side. Not sure whether I'll keep yet, but still a game-changer of a bra.

28:6 28E

Lace wrinkles in cups; too big or incompatible shape?

Cleo

Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831)

3 suggestions

Tangerine colorway

Updated on Mar 05, 2017 Flag this

My first Cleo Marcie. I have a couple of fit questions, so I'm posting this as an adventure. But first, the pros and cons.

Pros: a shade of orange I like! It isn't too loose on the side between the band and shoulder strap, like my default Freyas. No foam, yay! Bare Necessities sale ftw!

Cons: lace on the smaller boob is gaping, which is inevitable but drives me crazy.

How I'm shaped: I'm super-petite. My breasts are proportionately short but also have wide roots that extend under my armpits, very splayed east-west, projected, kind of close together (one finger, not two), FOB, kind of empty on top, with broad ... shoulders and a bony chest. My default bra of the last several months is a Freya Ooh La La in 28DD. So comfy, but it gaps slightly on the sides between band and shoulder strap and I tend to quad over the gore.

Questions:
1. Okay, first, the gore was not lying flat at first. It was laying against one breast or the other, as you can see in the cleavage shot. Then after a few minutes of wear, the gore folded evenly into my cleavage, with one wire on each side of the vertical fold. I guess the good thing is I'm not quadding over the gore in this bra? Should I be looking for low-gore bras? And are there any that meet my other shape needs?

2. As you can see in the angle and side view, there's a ton of mammary tissue on the sides of my breasts, but only up high, above the line of the nipple. Where should I be putting the tape measure in the cup depth/sternum-across-the-nip-to-ribs measurement? At nipple-level, I hit ribs an inch or more before I do if I'm measuring higher up. Any advice? I've noticed I get wildly different Bratabase recommendations depending on where I measure, but basically I just don't know how to match my shape.

Thanks!


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Tangerine colorway

Updated on Mar 01, 2017 Flag this

This bra fits me surprisingly well considering that I'm FOB with short roots. The lace is a tiny bit loose on top, but nothing major. The band runs a little tight, unlike the bluebell colorway. The gore is a bit wide because of the wide wire channels and it tends to sit on my breast tissue, but I'm not too bothered by that.

Tangerine colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 04, 2016 Flag this

I pretty much like this style of bra. I read that the cups ran small so instead of the 28F I was going to order, I went went the 28E instead and I think the cups are too small. So I'm thinking of going to a 28F. Love the color and style, very pretty bra. I do wish the straps very wider. I feel busty women need wider straps.

28:6 28E

Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) Go Up a Size?

Cleo

Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831)

4 suggestions

Tangerine colorway

Updated on Aug 29, 2016 Flag this

I had expected that this bra wouldn't fit me very well, since I'm FOB with short roots. But I was just so obsessed with this colorway that I had to try. Surprisingly, the cups fit a lot better than I was expecting. A bit loose on top, but nothing major. I might do some minor alterations to the cups, but not too much. I didn't even have to size down. (Wouldn't have been able to, since Marcie is no longer manufactured any smaller than 28E.)

The band was pretty stretchy compared to other Cleos I've tried. I'll have to alter it since I'm really a 26.

Bluebell colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Jul 28, 2016 Flag this

Finally the stars aligned and I had Amazon credit when a 28e black Marcie was actually available. Hurrah! Except not hurrah! It's actually bigger and/or cut differently than the pink 28f I have. The band is looser, the apex seems to be a lot higher (or deeper?) and maybe the cup is less open on top? It did not dig into my sternum for once, which was nice, but the rest was a mess. The pink Marcie is not perfect (a little big, but not terrible). I'm not sure where it all fell apart, but this was kind of the issue I had with the raspberry one as ... well.

I think maybe the Marcie really doesn't fit me, but the earlier styles are more forgiving. The yellow 28dd is incredibly tight and too shallow for me, but the shape is roughly good for me and my high roots, close setness, etc., like the pink one. This could also be a short person problem, since I am 4'10", but I did think the Marcie is low cut. Sad, so sad. Returning this one. Back to the drawing board, and one bra forever.
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Black colorway

Updated on Jan 10, 2016 Flag this

I am full on top with average projection, and I often use this bra's cup structure as a baseline to determine if cups will cut into my top-half tissue.
The 28 band is nice and snug, which I love because my underbust measures below 28 inches.
The lace is not itchy. It is also smooth enough (if filled out) to be worn under some of my tightest shirts.
My only complaint is that it feels heavy duty but doesn't do as much heavy-duty lifting as my padded bras.

Updated on Dec 26, 2015 Flag this

November 2015 Update: I don't know why I never posted pictures of me wearing this, it fit me perfectly with an extender (except the short wire problem), but I've definitely outgrown it a long time ago.


Original 2014 Review: This bra fits really well in the cups and makes me think that my Cleo: George is too small. The color is bright and awesome and the fabric is very comfortable.

The minor problem? I need an extender. I never thought I would say this, but the band is actually painfully tight and just barely stretches to my comfortable full-breath circumference.

The major problem? The underwires are almost an inch shorter ... than the channels. Combined with the tight band, OUCH!!! They dig in to my ribs on my sides and leave very deep, bright red dents in my skin! Because the wires stop short on the sides, the fabric directly above stands away from my skin due to the tension and allows some tissue to escape out the sides.

The good thing is that this bra definitely works for full-on-top shapes, which I am, so yay! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> I will buy an extender and hopefully it will fit perfectly in no time!
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Updated on Nov 12, 2015 Flag this

This review is for the Candy Pink Cleo Marcie. I originally bought it in a 28F which almost fit so I tried the 28E instead. The 28E is much smaller than my other 28E Cleo bras (Raspberry Cleo Marcie, Cleo Lucy, Cleo Kali, Cleo Nyla, Cleo Lily and Cleo Ellis). Everything about this bra is smaller, it seems like it should be a 28DD but is labeled a 28E. I kept it thinking it would stretch but don't wear it often enough. The under wires are the same width as the 28E bras I mentioned and narrower than the 28F Pink Marcie so I'm thinking it's meant to be a 28E. I should have returned this bra but it was my first experience with 28E's
Surprisingly, the Raspberry Cleo Marcie fits well.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Mar 12, 2015 Flag this

(candy pink colorway)
My unicorn bra!

Firm band. I am told the candy pink colorway runs smaller in cups and band than other colorways do. Regardless, it fits my even breasts pretty much perfectly. Gives a nice shape.

Updated on Jan 04, 2015 Flag this