Despite the band measurement reading loose it feels firm and doesn't easily want to stretch that big. It doesn't really feel loose.
The band is a double layer of black fabric that is kind of reminiscent of swimwear, but thinner. Change uses similar materials in their underwear but Change's are silkier. The bottom section of the cups consists of two layers, black stretch mesh/lace overlaid a non-stretchy cobalt base. The top section of the cups consists of a layer of stretch mesh overlaid with stretch lace. Elasticated top edge. The straps are partially adjustable with padding in the front half. Cobalt with black hardware. The only decoration is a hot pink bow on the top of center gore (easily removable).
This bra would be a great bra to wear under black clothing if not for the cobalt straps.
Very much a continuation of the Sasha/Alexa/Meg/Lily/Erin line. The stretch lace top section is a brilliant move. The shape is more reminiscent of Sasha/Alexa as it isn't as uplifted as Meg, Lily or Erin.
The Cleo Blake I received runs bigger than the bra it's based on, the Cleo Marcie. I've been a very consistent 28FF cup in Marcie and her clones, so this is something of a surprise. The measurements seem about the same, perhaps it's the cup height or maybe the fabric has more stretch? FWIW, I have short, narrow roots and inner fullness.
The bra itself is a blue toned pink/red. The cup is made from 2 layers of knit fabric, with a "pebbled" effect on the outer layer, and a smooth inner layer. Unlike Marcie, the upper part of the cup is made from the same fabric as the lower cup, which may be less "in-cup-quad" prone than the lace on most Marcie Clones. The top of the cup is sewn to a piece of pinkish beige elastic, which means that the top of the cup has a smidgen of stretch. YMMV if very FOT or tall rooted.
The band also seems biggish for Cleo.
I haven't yet decided whether I'll return or exchange it for a 28F.
I was extremely curious how the Blake would fit and I'm glad to see your review! So overall it seems like the Blake is like a slightly larger Marcie in the cup and band? Good to know!
Thank you for your review! :D I was hoping I could get away with the Blake as it's a three-part molded bra but if it runs big in the band...probably not since I'm a sub 28er. I wish Cleo offered it in a longline style too, since the bands usually run tighter on those. It'd be cute too in that look.
kerniss Thinking it over, I think that because the cup has more stretch than Marcie, it may allow more projection at the lower gore, where (in the fabric clones at least) I get OIGish wrinkling. Maybe I can just use more of the cup? wendybien would know.
Anyway, I've decided to return it for a 28F! For Science!! (On the VERY positive side, if the 28F cups fit, the overall smaller scale of the wires, etc, would be great for me.)
@littleology The Blake is not molded, it is a soft knit fabric. The band isn't huge, just biggish for Cleo. Part of the may have been that I didn't fill the cups.
The only longline I tried was a Freya Totally Tartan, the cups were too small and my back HATED it.
Hi acee thanks for your review! Like the others, I too have been hoping someone would talk about the Blake. It's so cute! My shape is sort of full all over, but more-so at the center and bottom. I get wrinking in Lily, and she doesn't stay in my IMF. Do you think Blake is more likely to work for me?
Also, any comments on the quality compared to the mesh Cleos?
janearmena I have a 28FF Parrot Lily which fits with wrinkling (OIG?) at 5 and 7 o'clock at the gore and minor quad at 1 o'clock on my larger breast, though it does stay in my IMF. My ideal wires would be 4.5-4.75, so I have a lot of unused space at the side of the cup. I'm full everywhere else, though.
I'd guess that due to the stretch, it will be more forgiving of projection, but I can't say for sure as it's too big for me. The only other 28FF Cleo I've experienced that with was a Swan Lily that I think was mislabelled (it reappeared with the vendor several times after I returned it.)
Regarding quality, the mesh is a softer, more open "cottonlike" fabric than any other Cleo I've seen. I'd guess it could snag. The finish along the interior of the cup edge doesn't look great, but may make that edge more forgiving. I've uploaded some detail pictures.
Wow, thanks! It's very different for Cleo. Seems like it would be nice for summer. Maybe I'll give it a go when it's on sale :-) Thanks!
Cheerful, vibrant print - a bit 'loud' and girly perhaps, but I like it.
As my Cleo Maya (sister cut) was kind of small in a 30GG, I decided to try this in 30H (found it for ยฃ9 on Ebay). Quite a couple of issues with this fit though.
Firstly, the straps are WAY too wide set. This is practically always an issue for me, but Nyla is a big offender. Next, the cups are too closed on top. They cut into my breast tissue, while the depth is fine. So that's a shape mismatch (a bigger size would probably be too deep). Also, there's wrinkling in the bottom of the cups ...- not sure if this is a projection issue, or connected with the shape mismatch / too closed cups forcing the bra downwards?
The wide set straps and too-closed cups seem worse than in 30GG Maya, which was in fact a better fit. Because this was cheap and I do love the print, this might end up being an alterations experiment..
In unlined bras it seems harder to lower / open up the cup height, something I've been wanting to try. Some tugging and pulling on Nyla seems to show that attaching the pink part to the straps (while also moving the straps inward) could greatly improve the fit of this bra.
I'll update when I ever have time to try this out ๐ Read more 122 more words
The bra was pretty and had great color. The wires were narrow but they could have been an .5-1 inch narrower, but still good fit. The cups fit up until the mesh for my larger boob. The mesh is not stretchy so if I size down it might create spillage what do you all think? I ordered a 32H and I kept having to pull the band down so I'm guessing 30 band, but what cups? 30HH would be the normal sister size, but the H was gapping at the top so 30H? I suppose I might just move on because the gore was too high, digging and sitting on my center tissue.
any chance you can do a fit request? that would make it a lot easier to give advice, because we'd have your measurements and pictures?
I mean, gapping on top could be fit or could be cut. Sometimes digging gore can be fixed by bending wires outward. Sometimes gapping is acceptable if it doesnt show through a shirt. and having to pull the band down could mean too loose, or could mean you have the straps adjusted too tight?
I'm not ready to fit check yet because I'm camera shy, I barely take pictures of my face let alone my body ๐ณ๐ฐ. It could be that I didn't size down to accommodate an unpadded bra. The straps weren't too tight and I could fit my whole hand underneath the band. I measure a 31 so I wear both a 30 and 32. I am still currently trying to find my right size but all the 32GG I've tried were too small in the cup.
No pressure MissAponii ! But rest assured that whenever you feel up for it; sharing pictures on here is one of the safest, friendliest, non-body snark places on the Internet <3
I am very shy about posting photos of my face but with boobs... you know, nobody knows who I am or anything about me except my bra-buying habits and advice. So I feel like it's very impersonal and anonymous posting pics here. The only time a photo gave me pause was when my daughter ran through the frame!
I tried this bra before in 32G, which was too big in the cup for me, but I got the sneaking suspicion that this would be a pretty great bra for me in the right size. It was difficult to find the right size anywhere, but I finally managed to track one down on Ebay.
And as I said before: Sweet lord! Sweet lift! Sweet projection! This seriously is the most lifted and front an centre I've ever seen my boobs, and I love it.
Even in 32FF, the tops of the cups still have a little bit of room left, So I'd say this bra is more FoT friendly that the Marcie or Minnie.
The fabric is slightly nylon-y and scratchy, but very firm and supportive, so I'll take it!
I'll be on the look out for more of these, so anyone who has a Lily in 32FF they want to part with: I'm your girl!
Lily is a fantastic bra, it's hands down my best fitting unlined bra. I beg to differ a bit with the open on top determination, as it is not more open on top than the Marcie I've tried and the general consensus is Marcie/even more so the Minnie is the go-to Cleo bra for FOT shapes. What print do you have of Lily? The swan print, and to a slightly lesser extent the parrot print, is known to run more open on top and generally bigger all around than the aqua color. But typically Lily demands even fullness and short roots. If you choose to upload pics, I'd be curious to see them because IIRC, you don't have extremely short roots. But maybe you do! If that's the case, you'd likely get along well with Curvy Kate Bardot or Madagascar. Bardot is getting tricker to find since the black/purple colorway is discontinued and selling out rapidly and the AW2015 black/red colorway is brand new and selling at $72 at the moment.
lcl0706 I have the swan print version, so that's probably why I find it FoT frienly. I'm not super FoT by the way, more even with some upper fullness. I certainly have short roots, though how short I can't say. My boobs are definitely shorter than they are wide.
I'll add some pictures later today.
Oh I see what you mean in the picture, but I don't see it in real life. I do get super round boobs in this one, which I also get in the Marcie. The Minnie and Kira bras give me a slightly more pointy profile instead, so I think those are more projected.
I like this bra, though maybe not as much as I like the regular Minnie. The padded cups are a bit bulky, especially with the trimming at the top of the cups, which shows through thin tops.
It gives a lovely round profile and is very supportive. The longline band is comfortably snug, and does not seem to bunch or fold much.
My one main concern is that the cups come up a bit higher than I would ideally like. I have short boobs, and I think the cups are just a tad too tall for me. Not sure if I'll keep this one.
A molded bra in an H Cup!? You know I had to try it. I've only tried on so far and I must say I'm impressed. Cups are deep enough to hold all of me in. It feels secure even though it's a plunge. I'm not sure how it will hold up with wear. I'm always nervous about plunges so I'm not sure yet if I want to risk keeping it. The band is firm. Doesn't even quite stretch to 34 inches but a 36 would probably loosen too quick. The gore is almost tacking but I think that's due to the gore being ...a little too wide for my close set boobs. Despite this the bra seems to be stable. Need a firm band in a Plunge like this. Makes my boobs look like they're not even real ( in a good way, no offense to those rocking implants. Takes a good bra to get these heavy girls looking perky). Wires are a tad wide so a little tight in the armpit area. Another con is the infamous 2 hooks on Cleo bras. Haven't they gotten the memo yet? Not sure if I'm going to keep it. Don't want to be stuck with another bra that seemed like a good idea at the time. I'll update the review. Update: I've decided to return it. I think the armpit area will be too uncomfortable and the band is really tight. I could probably fit a 36H cup too but that might cause even more armpit problems. I'll stick with my new Curvy Kates. Read more 171 more words
This is a very smartly designed bra. There's foam padding in the wings and under the front wires for comfort. The little Cleo slogan is inscribed in the wires in pink. There's silicone on the band to keep in in place. However, there are a couple things to note for the sizing/shape: -The band is small. Perhaps not a full size, but about an inch. If you're between sizes, go up. -made for very, very tall roots. my short rooted boob can't even get into the bottom of the cup, and the top of the cup goes above the crease of my armpit/above the neckline of most shirts. It's very broad, tall, and flat, and it flattens my profile significantly. For that reason, I'm returning, but if you have tall roots and not much projection, I highly recommend it for you.
Well, I wanted this bra as soon as I saw it on the Moda previews maybe at the end of last year as I love the bright and fresh pattern. It's been a long time since I tried any unpadded Cleos - at the beginning of my bra journey (approx. 2 years ago) I tried a far-too-deep Meg and learnt from that experience and from other's reviews that Cleo just are not an ideal partner for my wide rooted, shallowish, FOB boobs.
I did however try a cobalt Marcie in Bravissimo at the end of last year and this was a gloriously perfect fit (should have bought it ...really, tsk...) as I've filled out a fair bit (for me, ha!) on the top of my FOB boobs, to the point where I rarely get gaping in new bras I try any more. I did think post-Marcie success that maybe my shape could now be described more as even, hence why I was keen to give Kira a go despite knowing things might not work out.
Well, one quick try on of this knocked my poor FOB boobs back down to size - this bra is FAR TOO FOT for me - there is so much gaping on the pink lacy stuff that it makes me feel very flat and ski-slopey. It's as if the last few months of me feeling comparatively cleavagey and buxom have vanished in the blink of an eye! Sob.
As well as being designed for those with quite a lot up top, I think this bra is also fairly open. Wires were perfect on me so I know downsizing to a 30E would be a futile mission (I suspect it would very much feel too small in the lower cup). I fill the bottom of the cups perfectly and the band was surprisingly just right on me (I also ordered a 32E as I expected the band would be really tight, but it's actually not at all, a very standard 30 methinks). The pink colour is quite different in person from how it appears in pictures - in person it's pretty luminous - super bright and shocking. I'm actually not as in love with the look of it as I was previously, so not too devastated about the poor fit. This one is going straight back to Figleaves...
##Edit: Just added pics (unfort quantity rather than quality - my usual photographer is not about today so had to take pics on my phone) after a slightly more substantial trying on session - argh realised I could really love this bra if it fitted. The material is actually really soft (I know some Cleos have quite harsh thick fabrics) and quite lightweight so would be great for summer with the really bright straps on display. Looks almost ok in fit until I start wiggling around to show how much space there is in the top of the cups, bah... Read more 388 more words
The cut of these unpadded balconettes is based on the Marcie/George range, but it allows for a lot more upper fulness. If you don't have much upper fulness (like me; I'm neither FoT nor FoB), the top lace part won't lay flat on you. It's not really a sign of bad fit, and it's usually not visible under T-shirts.
Sizing down in the cup doesn't help in most cases, because it will likely give you a bra that's too small in the lower part of the cup, say: Narrow wires etc.
So - if you try any of these bras, you should either have a boob shape that is full on top, or be ready to tolerate some loose lace at the top.
Every time someone reviews something as a 'marcie clone' I get all excited and think I should try it - and then I see the colors lol. I seem to hate all marcie clones and most marcie colors as well
I have had a lot of bras come into my life this past month. The reining champion is currently 32FF - Cleo ยป Lily Balconnet Bra (7351) . In fact, I am wearing it right now (after taking off my Chantelle C Chic Sexy Plunge (3641) after it started annoying the heck out of my armpits - More on that in its own review. Lucy is my 2nd in command when Lily is taking a much need rest after hoisting my lovely lady lumps all day, Lucy is ready to step in and sub.
Now with any sub, they just don't do it ...quite like your first choice, but you are so very glad to have them around.
Here are my (very few) issues with Lucy: The very bottom of the cup does not have the same angle as Lily, so my soft breast tissue is more apt to slid down and push the cup with it even after scooping and swooping. I find that I have to adjust more often throughout the day to make sure my breasts are in the cups properly. Annoying, yes. Dealbreaker, no. It still does a better job than most of the bras I tried.
The other issue I have with Lucy is that the very bottom of the gore (the part that touches the top of my stomach) feels sharper than a razor as the day progresses. When I wore it the first time, I felt like I was being stabbed there. Its NOT the wire, its like the fabric is so thin and pulled so taut between the wires that it is less forgiving of my stomach area being slightly less than flat. I think its because its not a full banded bra like Lily. Maybe this will go away with time, and wear and washings, so I don't consider this a deal breaker either. For one thing, it does help remind me when my stomach is full. Read more 222 more words
I feel the same way about Lucy and Lily! I find that the top portion of Lucy's cups is too firm and can smush my boobs until they pop out the top. I also feel like I hang low and wide in it, whereas Lily pulls everything up and forward really well. You might want to try Panache Envy - it's my fave (in 32F, but I wear Lily and Lucy in 32FF) right now.
I'm really glad the purchase worked out for you! I sized down in both bras, got them in, and love them, too!
now that could explain why Envy wasn't good for me, Erin ( Lilys successor) is my best too but the Marcie cuts are my subs so maybe Envy wasn't full enough on top for me??? Am waiting for the next Floris to try that
vexingbet, what you say here sums it up perfectly for me "I also feel like I hang low and wide in it, whereas Lily pulls everything up and forward really well."
It must be the mesh on Lucy that is more flexible and allows that low-wideness, but again, it still works in a pinch.
Needless to say, I placed an order for Envy and Jasmine, Meg and others that are supposed to be cut similar to Lily. I never knew what immediate projection meant till now.
courtnelius , GIRL, I am beyond happy it worked for me. So glad to have been able to find something, and the bras are in great condition. Thank you!
I think you'll like Envy and Jasmine. Jasmine's cups are good -- firm on the bottom and stretchy on top -- but the wires are a bit too long/wide to be totally comfortable on me. Hoping to get my hands on Meg and the newest Meg/Lily "twin," Erin, and see how those two work for me.
Erin? Do tell! And I miss typed earlier, I am on the hunt for meg too, but I have Melissa coming. Basically, I am waiting (not so patiently) for the following to come in the mail. Cleo- Chloe, melissa, @Marcie (tried her before in 32F- Candy Pink colorway and it was a bit too small)@Freya Ellie & @Pollyanna (have her now but shes a 34E, and too big in the band) And then the Jasmine & Envy. Have you tried, @Cleo Ellis? I'm wearing her today, and I need a bit more cup, even though she is open on top.
I think Erin is new this season and replacing Lily, so they should be similar, like Meg and Lily are.
I haven't tried Ellis yet, or the others you've listed there. I keep looking at her and Panache Floris, but I haven't bought either yet.
Ellis reminds me of Lucy, except its more open on top than Lucy, and the cups are more firm in general. Then the lace is flexible and relaxed. I get lots of great cleavage in this bra, and boobs are right in your face. Makes my FOB breast look FOT. I'll be sure to tag you when I finally get my hands on and boobs into them. :)
Looking forward to it :) I'm already quite FOT, so Ellis sounds like it might give me a bit too much va-va-voom, haha. But I suppose you never know until you try.
I just got the Melissa, and it is perfect. If you like the Lily, I bet you will love the Melissa. The band runs a bit tighter than either Lily or Lucy, FYI. I have an Ellis and a Bella on order, but they could get cancelled; that's how this supplier is.
@Braphobic, dish on the Jasmine and Envy if you get them. I'm afraid of Panache (non-Cleo) ever since I got an Emily and it's way too closed on top.
Really want the Erin!
Did anyone find different fits in different colorways for the Lily? My Aqua runs tighter in the cup than my Parrot, and they were both from Zulily.
Jasmine seems very open on top to me -- super stretchy, even moreso than Envy.
As for Lily, I can't figure out exactly what the difference is, but I like the way the parrot looks better than the aqua. I'm positive there's a subtle difference in fit, but it's so subtle that I can't even tell what it is.
Well, this was my SECOND attempt at the Marcie, and my FOURTH attempt at Cleo....I think it's safe to say we will not be getting along. I'm so bummed, because I really wanted this bra to work. It's just so cute and feminine, and simple. It would make a perfect summer bra https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> The fabric is so light and airy, and the colors are fun and girly.
I first tried the Marcie in a 28FF, def too small in the cups. The top lace part of the cups were digging in and causing some quad boob (they're not very forgiving and stretchy, ...but much more so than the Lucy). So I thought the Marcie might work better with my even shape. Sadly, it did not. I decided to try a 28G next thinking the cups would fit much better and the top of the cups would lay perfectly against my boobs without digging in. It's not AS bad as the 28FF, but still digging in some. If I scoop n swoop it's even worse. It looks great from the front, but from the side/angle its a hot mess. It's such a horrible shape mismatch. Even worse when I put on a shirt!! Like a pointed, quad boob, squished mess. Lol. I'm not really sure, but it's just not gonna work.
The wires are def wider than I expected for being only one cup size up and came too far out under my arm. The gore digs into my sternum and the height is just too tall for my comfort. The straps don't seem to be placed right for my shape, too far apart. And the whole bra in general was just very uncomfortable to wear, and even put on. I had a heck of a time trying to loosen the straps and could barely get them to budge. It was way too difficult to adjust and actually hurt my hand.
I was thinking maybe if I tried a 28GG, or even a 30G I might get this to work, but I'd rather just concede at this point. It's just not gonna happen, Cleo and I are not meant to be https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Read more 265 more words
This is one of the cutest bras I've ever seen. I love the way it looks and from a distance I love the way it looks on. It feels good when I first put it on too. Really supportive feeling without looking like a grandma. I've attempted to wear it 2 times other than just trying it on. It hurts me REALLY badly right on either side of my breast bone on both sides. I mean to the point that I cut up a piece of really soft thick fabric and folded it there to try to make it bearable to go ...out with my husband wearing it. It didn't last a few hours and even with that cushion there, I took it off in the car on the way home and not for anything exciting lol. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> I even wonder if it is something that could be fixed by bending the wires at all if the bra fits otherwise. I do have a sort of prominent breast bone, so maybe this just won't work for me.
As for the cups, they feel like they fit. But when I look at them I'm just not so sure. The bottom of the cups look they fit to my untrained eye and so does the very top edge of the cup made of lace lays perfectly. So the part that is a problem is the seam right where the lace meets the rest of the cup almost seems like the lace should have been sewn a little tighter. I THINK that my breasts are "even" shaped but I could be wrong. I've thought about taking that part apart and sewing the lace more flat, but the gore pain has stopped me. I don't want to mess with it if it is just that the bra doesn't fit or work for me because then it wouldn't work for me or anyone else.
I bought this new from eBay, so no return.
Pros: Looks precious, playful, and flirty Sturdy and supportive. Straps are wide enough that they feel good on the shoulders.
Cons: Lace doesn't seem to match the rest of the cup in width. Maybe it is just poor craftsmanship on this particular bra that I got and usually it doesn't do that. Maybe there is nothing wrong with the seam and it just doesn't work for my breast shape or size. It just doesn't seem to look right in that spot.
Gore is really painful on my breast bone. It doesn't dig in anywhere else but it is significant and too painful to wear as-is.
The actual body of the cup has a sort of see through fine mesh material that overlays the cup the materials hate really is the cup and touches your breast. This material is loose and causes small wrinkles on mine when it is we worn and makes it look like the cup is wrinkled but it is only the lace on top. The cup itself under the lace is smoothe.
The wires MIGHT be a little too wide for me under the arm. It isn't uncomfortable and I didn't know until I took photos, but it looks like it is made for breasts that have more "meat" up under the arm than I do. It is weird because if I just touch my bare breast to see where it ends, I can feel it all the way to the middle of my armpit. Not in the pit, but in line with the middle of it if that makes sense.
This is one of the cutest bras I've ever seen.
I bought this new from eBay, so no return. I didn't feel like the fit was perfect when I tried it on, so since it was brand new I put it for sale on my local Craigslist for the price I paid total, hoping to avoid the hassle of shipping. It was the most bizarre experience of my bra life. The ad was flagged and removed and I asked why and was told that I was not really a woman selling a bra because a woman would know that a 28GG doesn't exist and that any bra would be measured using the metric system. AND this was a complaint by another woman. I finally convinced them I was a woman and it was a real bra so they stopped flagging it. That is when I got 2 different requests from men asking me to take photos in the bra and finishing the request off by saying, "I promis I'm not creepy." Um ok. Needless to say I decided to just try to make the bra work because trying to sell it drew out the crazies and I didn't want to go there anymore. Note to self: Never ever ever try to sell a bra on Craigslist again. Read more 781 more words
Oh, dear - how frustrating about the craigslist issue!
I would definitely try bending the wire. I kept looking at the picture and feeling like the gore is higher on me - it is! The 32HH has an inch-taller gore! I wonder if thats part of the problem, that its too low? and so doenst rest quite right? How frustrating
My marcie is probably my most comfortable bra right now, but (in raspberry and slightly tight on the cups) it does really bad in-cup quad where the seam is separating the top and bottom fabrics - so my breast tissue bulges above and below the seam. I'm ok wearing it under bulky sweaters.
I do think its a great bra, I hope bending helps some
I can't wear Cleo for this reason. Even after bending the wires they are unwearable. Extremely uncomfortable bras.
littlechichend, what did you try with the bending? Bending them out and away from the body? I'm not even sure how to bend it...out away from me? In toward the center? I was tempted to try but wasn't exactly sure what to do and was kind of afraid to screw up a perfectly good brand new bra. Granted if I can't wear it and that's the only reason it's pretty screwed up already, lol.
Actually, I wanted to edit my comment to littlechichend but don't see a way to. So I'd just add that I don't know if I can even bend in any way other than just away from my body because the wires are so close together. I don't know if you can tell in the pics or not, but you might be able to see it in the close ups looking up from the gore, it looks like it is digging into my breast especially on my one side, but that's not even where I'm feeling the pain. It's not the breast that hurts, just the actual breast bone.
I bent the wires outward using the edge of my dining room table (pressed down and pulled), if that makes sense.
You know Cleo runs really tight. I can see you doing well in a 28 band that runs average, but a tight-running 28 may be borderline too snug especially on your torso which looks to be almost without padding. Have you tried this with an extender? I don't normally have any sensitivity in the gore area but when a bra is just that bit too tight and the gore is kinda tall, sometimes it bears down painfully on my sternum (not boobs) until I pop on an extender.
An extra inch or two from the extender may also reveal that the cup is large on you and that only the supersnug band was pulling it taut over you. In this case (cup too big) that will immediately explain the sternum pain. When the boob isn't filling the cup completely it doesn't "push back" against the gore enough and you can often feel pain from it.
The photos of the slight bagginess in the cup reminded me of something I wanted to tell you after a post you made a month ago, about lace that similarly would not lie flat on one of the bras you got from that high end boutique? I have observed that sometimes a slightly too-large cup presents this appearance on people with super firm breasts (this includes the recently augmented crowd but also teens, breastfeeding moms in the first few months, and transwomen who just experienced tissue growth from hormone therapy). Softer boobs would just kind of puddle down into the cup more and the cup would gape at the top, but when you are super firm, sometimes it doesn't do that and you have to pay attention to the surface of the cup instead to see if there is volume there that your boobs are not using.
Ok. :) Since it's a Marcie Cleo, I think you should a band extender. I had to with the 28 band and my comfortable measurement 26" usually. I think band extenders are 1.75". I agree with wendybien . Also I really like Marcie because you can move the wires in the wire channels. Try that and see if it help with the pain. If it doesn't I would bend the wires so that they contour to you body. You can cut a panty-liner or mini pad into 1/3 and stick it on the part of the wire that is hurting you ribcage.
your not you. :)
Pink runs smaller but eventually it stretches out.
ใ @nayanya are you sure pink runs smaller???
Yeah but, the band stretches out and the cups will stretch if the bra is too small for you. It's a really stretchy bra once you break it in. :)
Red Marcies run big in the cups.
Then I must get red!
I can't find any red Marcies anywhere!!! The one I had was used. I know a new red one would fit me better. The cups were so stretched out, it fit like a 28FF, even though it was a 28F.
Not red, raspberry. The raspberry is big in cups and loose in band.
I also noticed that the wires looked like maybe they wer being pulled out a bit? stretched by the band? But i'm not experienced enough with this to know if that was actually what I was seeing
I had a 28F red Marcie. I could tell that whoever I bought it from stretched out the cups, but the band was tighter than the other Marcies
Ahhh!!! I had typed up a whole reply and it just disappeared, lol. I'll shorten it and just say, wendybien I have augmented boobs, and they used to be hard and do exactly like you described before I had to have them re-done. They are actually a little "too soft" now so my doctor made me stop doing breast massage for good. They make you do it to keep them from firming up on you and forming scar tissue capsules but he said my skin is so elastic I don't know if it's genetics or from nursing 4 kids or what but he was afraid they would soften up too much and be saggy. :/ So I don't "think" that's what it is, but it very well could be. Thankfully they feel pretty darn close to "normal" boobs after I had the saline taken out.
And whoever said that I could use a pantyliner to cushion where the wire is hurting me, that made me laugh out loud for real because that is what I looked like when I had a little piece of soft cloth folded up there.
I'll feel really stupid if I put this on the looser hook or get an extender and it doesn't hurt anymore. The wires look pretty wide even when not on, but maybe it is stretching them out. I know it sounds dumb but that didn't even occur to me. I carry all my body fat in my thighs, so especially on my rib cage I don't really have any fat there to cushion it so maybe I need to wear it looser than the measurements would indicate?
O MY GOSH! tkolady77 about the reply, that happens to me, that's why I'm laughing. If you had the saline taken out, then what was filling your boobs or chest?? I saw a video about cutting a panty liner in 2 pieces to help with wire pain if you are a busty gal. I can find the link if you want to watch it. It's funny, but I thought that was a good idea! You get a 28 band if you are 26"-28" comfortably tight. With Marcie though you should always wear an extender so that the band isn't too tight which causes the wires to stretch and the ribcage to hurt. :)
Isn't saline better than silicone? I know a lot of women who got boob job or breast implants. I'm not meaning to offend when I say boob jobs. I'm just so used to being around that. :D
Not offensive at all, Nayanya . Saline used to be the safer option to the more liquid/oily silicone implants of like 15 years or so I guess. I had the option to use the silicone gel (they call them gummy bear like implants) when I had mine done 12 years ago in Germany. We were living there for the Army so I was able to have a German surgeon. But the U.S. FDA had not approved them yet so I was a chicken. A couple years later they were approved and I was stuck with saline. :) Saline basically feels in the breast like you have a plastic shell filled with water. So when you squeeze it, you feel like a bubble at times. Well I didn't the whole time but after several years I did. So it is hard to describe but if you poked your finger into the edge of my breast before where you saw the implant under the skin and pulled your finger back you kind of saw and felt it pop back. Just a weird kind of feeling. And definitely not very natural looking or feeling. They do much better on women who naturally have more breast tissue and more body fat to cover the implant. So in those women you feel their breast tissue and it just happens to be pushed out from their chest more and you feel breast tissue and see larger boobs. The implant isn't seen or felt. Going behind the pectoral muscle can help to camouflage that, but if you are very thin skinned like I am or have little to no existing breast tissue, then even the muscle doesn't hide it enough. For women like me, for the most part, when you feel my breast all you will feel is the implant under the skin, covered by the muscles of the chest wall. Silicone is less likely to have ripples on the edges, although if you are very thin you can't prevent them completely.
I just noticed your first comment lol, I had the saline implants removed and silicone ones put in their place at the same time. :) I had to go much larger this time because I thought I was finished having children before I had them done the first time and then I remarried and had and nursed 2 more babies. I had the implants (350cc) in so when my milk came in and I nursed them, I really had a lot of stretching going on, so there was more space to fill. Not sure if that makes sense. So I had to have those replaced with 550cc to be able to fill the existing pocket. You can ask me any questions, I'm not shy or embarrassed. Just feel stupid that I don't know how to fit a bra lol. :D
So did you try loosening the band or wearing an extender? How does the cup fit and does the gore still hurt?
I'm home today studying so I haven't put a bra on at all yet. I don't have an extender so I'll have to just try it on the loosest strap and then buy an extender when I go out next time. :)
I'm cautiously going to proclaim this size a success! It gives me a much better look under clothes than the size 30D did -- so it appears that my theory about the cup depth was correct (see my review here: 30D - Cleo ยป Neve Plunge T-shirt Bra (7196) ). I definitely feel, based on personal experience, that this is the bra for ladies who cannot wear the Freya Deco Moulded Plunge Bra (4234) due to shape incompatibility.
I really like the extra coverage of this at the top too. After having kids it just feels better to keep everything held up and in, haha... even when you have a smaller chest like I do! Definitely recommend this bra but you have to be extra careful about the sizing. Remember to check the Bratabase measurements!!
My first purchase from the SS2014 collection! I'd say Panache has stepped up their game.
All the reviews I read indicated that this bra runs big, so I took their advice and got a cup size smaller than usual. I'm very glad I did; this feels just like a 28E from previous seasons. The band is definitely a firm 28.
Pixie looks the most similar to Bella from a previous season, but unfortunately I don't own a Bella to compare it to! I can say that the top mesh section of the cup allows for about the same volume as Marcie does. The top section is definitely not as loose/big ...as Ellis, but it is larger than Lily. It fits me very well, just like Marcie does, and I'm very full on top.
The straps have been updated this season and they're very comfortable. The material is thinner and the plastic adjustments are smaller. I don't think they dig in as much. In wonderful news, this is the MOST COMFORTABLE center gore yet on an unpadded Cleo! Normally I have to pad it to break it in, but I just wore this for a few hours without pain!
The only minor complaint I have about this bra is that it has the same short wires/low wings that the Lily does. I have a sizable Tail of Spence and get that armpit tissue spilling out the sides. However, it's invisible under clothing.
Also note that the sizing scheme got bizarre this season -- see the bra label. Read more 143 more words
My best-fitting bra so far! Very comfy, great round shape.
Band runs tight--I fit best in a 32G, but I think I measure more a 30GG.
The only thing that could make it better, IMO, would be a wider band with 3 columns of hooks instead of 2. This might actually allow me to comfortably wear a 30 band, since it would distribute the weight more evenly and not pinch.
Pros: Plush and comfortable material Cups conform to the tops of my breasts well. No gaping, unlike the Deco or many other popular plunges
Neutral: The band of the coral version is VERY firm; I almost couldn't wear it at first. Thankfully, it also stretched within the first week of wear. It's still a pretty firm 28. The black version is not quite as firm, though! The cups are wide and shallow, so you might consider going up a cup size.
Cons: The straps are typical Cleo, too wide-set and can irritate my armpits The cups are a little too tall
With good scooping & scooping, I can get some pretty impressive cleavage with this bra. My bigger left side quads a little, but a 28F would probably be too tall for my frame and in this case I'd rather have the cleavage https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
I first thought Marcie in 30E fit me perfectly (I measure 28" supertight and 30" loose), but a 32 band is actually much more comfortable. The wires don't get distorted and widened by the band (they were a smidge too wide in the 30E), so they match my breast root perfectly. Another big plus is that the wires don't dig into my sternum! This was a huge issue with the 30E and nothing seemed to help - cotton balls, bending the wires, 'wearing it in', I've had it all and nothing worked. I get enough support from the 32 band and there is no shifting throughout the day. The Marcie fits and looks great and gives a rounded and slightly uplifted shape.
Everyone should try sister-sizing up in unpadded Cleo bras if they don't fit comfortably! The fit is much better and more comfy if you try a wider band and the support is still great.
I measure 25" super tight, 26" comfortable and 27.5" loose. I find the 30 band Marcie is more comfortable than the 28 band. I could even wear a 32 band in Marcie and the band probably wouldn't ride up from being too big.
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I was extremely curious how the Blake would fit and I'm glad to see your review! So overall it seems like the Blake is like a slightly larger Marcie in the cup and band? Good to know!