Shape: Projected, even/center full, narrow/tall roots, soft tissue.

THE TAKEAWAY: A lightly-padded 3HC (three-part/two-seamed half cup). The shape and construction are definitely similar to the 32HH - Wellfitting » Liftsational Classic Demi (aka, a Comexim 3HC). One big difference is the lack of a top section, which probably makes this bra friendlier to true FOT shapes. Good for even or center fullness, and at least moderate projection. The outer material is soft to the touch, and the seams are nicely subtle, but unfortunately on me the lip of the bra is pretty noticeable under thinner t-shirts, which stops this from being a true t-shirt bra for me. ... One word of caution is that the straps are quite wide. This bra is a rare Cleo that's comfortable on me in a 30, so you may want to consider sizing down from your usual, especially if you're between bands.

Edited to add: My 32, at least, does not stretch to 36". It definitely only hard-stretches as far as 34". But without distorting the wires? 31.5 is about the limit. This is my problem -- bras that _hard-stretch_ to 31.5" are about my size, but bras aren't categorized by their hard-stretch...

THE DETAILS: I went ahead and tried the blue leopard print because that's what was on sale in my size on Amazon; my plan was definitely to buy the AW16 rose print if it worked for me. Unfortunately...

I don't think this bra provides enough projection for me. In the 32FF, I get pretty major quadding, but in the 30GG - Cleo » Mimi Padded Balconnet Bra (8091) (bought because of 100percentawesome's spot-on advice to size down) the bra shows its true colors, quickly sliding down out of my IMF when left unattended. (I'm wearing it right now, and I keep glancing down to see that it looks like the GG suddenly fits, only to tug it up back into my IMF and see the return of the gaping.) This makes me think that the 32FF is giving me orange-in-a-glass, which is well-disguised by the firm padded cups.

This bra would work better for me in 30GG if I were more FOT or had more outer-fullness (which would fill out the outer gaping in the 30GG; it looks pretty perfect in the center, but the rest of the bra casts a wide shadow on my tissue), but I think ideally I would also be less projected. Still, that this works on me at all makes me think it can definitely handle at least SOME projection. The gore is also a smidge wider than my ideal, but gores so rarely bother me that I didn't even notice until I _really_ started inspecting the fit.

But the biggest dealbreaker might actually be the strap wideness. When I wore a 34, I frequently had problems with straps being too wide, but on smaller bands it's usually less of an issue. Yet in the 30GG (and maybe even especially in the 30GG, versus the 32FF), the straps are basically in my armpits, and I think it would definitely get uncomfortable over time.
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Blue Animal colorway

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Nov 01, 2016 Flag this

I have owned this bra and worn it regularly for a couple of years. I have lost a little weight (minimal change in breast-related measurements), which has improved the fit slightly. It is a little too small and shallow at the wire, but the projection is decent overall. The wires are narrower than a lot of bras in this size, though not as narrow as my Ewa Michalak bras. The gore twists slightly, though not enough to really cause discomfort. The gore now tacks pretty well, it used to be more of a soft tack. The band and straps have stretched a bit, but the straps initially were ... barely long enough when fully extended, so a bit of stretching is not a big deal. Otherwise, Mimi has held up quite well. Still looks lovely.

I have softer tissue and am deflated/very shallow up top, so no matter how I shove my tissue around, I never really get the super mounded, almost implant-like look. Mimi manages to give me a "higher", subtly mounded look. Near my period, I quad and explode out of it, even after losing weight.

My biggest complaint was and is the thick edge at the top. It causes a noticeable line regardless of how well the cup fits, both in and out of clothes. This is a bigger problem than the seams. If you are quadding at all, it is accentuated by the edge. The edge can also give the illusion that there is gapping (when looking from an angle or the side), simply because the bra seems so thick (I do not think the foam is actually as thick as it appears with the bound edge).

I also tried the 32G, it fit fairly well, but the edge made it seem bigger than it was. Since I was still losing weight, I decided to go with the smaller size. I think that the 32G was technically a better fit in some ways (at the time), despite appearances.

Caveats: I am full on bottom, somewhat soft-tissued, projected, slightly pendulous, close-set, inner fullness, need a lot of immediate projection. I have narrower roots. I am long-waisted and tall for a woman (5'8"). I have a smaller frame, am a bit deflated on top and have some looser skin. It is not super obvious, but likely affects fit slightly.
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Rose print colorway

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 Flag this

I'm still looking for a bra that actually fits. Mimi worked better for me than any of Cleo's molded bras. It's a cute bra. The straps work when fully extended, but I know I'm unusually short in that area. I got quad boob on larger boob and an okay fit on smaller. I had a ton of side tissue I couldn't scoop in with creating extreme quadboob. I don't know what's migrated tissue from wearing bras that are too small for the last 20 years or if my roots are very wide or some combination of both. The band was fine on the loosest setting, but the overspill was bad under my arms and almost to my back. I'm exchanging it for a 32G to see if the larger cup works.

I'm fob and inner full. I didn't seem to have bad orange in a glass with this one. The apex of the cup was filled unlike all the molded Cleos I've tried.

32:8 32FF

quad boob galore and underarm spillage.

Cleo

Mimi Padded Balconnet Bra (8091)

3 suggestions

Updated on Nov 20, 2019 Flag this

Soft tissue problems.

I am wide rooted with tall thin tissue. Need immediate projection at the wire. Splayed roots with close set breasts at the top. Full on the outside and even verticalfullness. Very soft breast tissue.

Man I wanted this to work. This bra had a great narrow gore. And it gave me a nice rounded, lifted shape.

However I get quadboob at the top. With soft tissue it looks more like my breasts are trying to spill over the edge of the bra. Not a good look.

I kept having to readjust the bra to contain the sides of my breast. Not sure if the wires ... just weren't wide enough or the band was too loose. Or maybe soft tissue just needs higher wings/ side support.

I also have an issue with the lip of the bra. It's super obvious under shirts. I wish they had thinned out the material so it blended with the shape of your breast more.

I tried a cup size up but it had strap gap and still couldn't contain the sides of my breasts. I'm going to try a band size down and a cup size or two up and see what happens
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This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 29, 2019 Flag this

So pretty! I have the floral version. It is too shallow for me, but works pretty good. Gives a nice, rounded shape.

Floral pattern colorway

Updated on Feb 12, 2018 Flag this

I am normally not a fan of Cleo. I don't usually like the fabric, and I think the wires are too firm, and the shoulder straps never let out enough for me. Plus I just don't like unlined bras. Enter Mimi.

I get the rounded, slightly-enhanced shape I get in an Ewas, the shoulder straps let out enough, the wire isn't killing me...I LOVE this bra. I got the blue animal print because it was cheaper and I kind of hate it, but I couldn't afford the rose. It's definitely on my to-buy, list, though. This is a really great bra if you want a Polish look without ... going Polish. And it's soft, too!

If you fit into the Freya Lauren half-cups you'll probably fit into this fine, but I think it's a little deeper. The immediate projection is pretty impressive. All in all, a great shape and really comfortable. Reminds me of the shape I used to get from molded bras when I could find ones in my size.

Consider sizing down in the band if you're between sizes; I'm very comfy in a 32 on this and I'm usually between a 32 and 34.
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Updated on Oct 08, 2016 Flag this

This review is for the rose print color way.

I grabbed this bra after seeing stellar reviews on line. I wanted a padded balconnet bra and I was having issues with finding my correct fit/size in Polish bras.

I find this bra fits true to size in both band and cups. I don't consider this bra to be 'padded' though; there are no thick cutlets at the bottom of the cup. The cups have a layer of fabric that add shape and not bulk or size (at least, to my eyes). The cups lift and provide lovely 'cakes on a plate' cleavage.

Note - the straps are only partially adjustable. I am 5'3" and I am wearing the straps fully extended. People with longer torsos or whose breasts sit lower on the chest may encounter issues.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Oct 06, 2016 Flag this

SEE POST-ALTERATION EDITS BELOW. (Note, measurements are for un-altered bra.)

I hereby dub this bra "The Frankenhalfcup."

It (predictably) has the tall gore and ultra-stretchy band of the Juna.
It has the projection at the gore of a Juna or the deeper Freya/Fauves.
It has the apex projection and the seam pattern of a Comexim 3HC or a Ewa CHP.
It has the closed-on-top configuration of a Comexim 3HC.
It has the wide-set straps and cup height of a Ewa CHP.

And it...almost works for me. The "closed on top" part is the question mark.

If I give this a true and honest swoop and scoop, I am hella quadding near the gore. Well, yeah, fused ... breasts. A tall gore in a half cup, that's going to happen. Interestingly, if I narrow the bottom of the gore so that the top line of the cup becomes horizontal, the quadding disappears. So I'm seriously considering keeping and altering this one.

On the downside, I fear that this band is going to stretch out in about 10 seconds. (A 32 that stretches to 36"? And I always get pinged by Bratabase for UNDERMEASURING stretched band length.) Also, those straps. Ugh. Only half adjustable and halfway off my shoulders as it is.

I mean...what bra straps AREN'T halfway off my shoulders, but...

Needs more thought.

EDIT: So, I altered the gore, and while, as predicted, the center quadding disappeared, a host of other pesky issues popped up.

The gore went from "too tall/digs a little" to "actively floating."

My A-shaped ribcage was not fond of band having more tension on the bottom than the top.

The armpit spillage increased mightily--not sure if this was a cup problem or a band problem or both.

If I had purchased this bra on sale, I'd probably keep it (especially as I'm in love with this print). But since I paid full price, I will probably send it back.
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32:8 32FF

Cleo Mimi with Narrowed Gore

Cleo

Mimi Padded Balconnet Bra (8091)

5 suggestions

Updated on Sep 27, 2016 Flag this