I knew I needed to "break it in" and get used to this style as my first quality-moulded.
Initial wearing all-day it felt great and at day's end I realized the left strap had worn or rubbed down some skin on my back shoulder blade which took a couple days to heal. Right side underarm the end of the under-wire really poked quite a bit. This style isn't really made for my shape. It would be better on someone who finds side wires stop too short under their arms. Gave it a rest for a couple days off but then tried it again.
Not perfect but cute colorful options given my size.
Feb 7, 2012 - I am happy to report that I personally fitted a friend into 3 of my bras, that went unworn by me for well over a year each! They have now found a happy home. :) She fit:
** She reports the Freya to be her best overall fit. Although the other bras tried out were Freya's Leona 30FF Balcony, Cleo's Alex 30G Plunge, they did not work for her.
Gorgeous violet tartan print. Only gripe about the cups: the molded cup is a bit smaller/lower than my other Panache/Masquerade/Harlequin/Cleo molded bras and so there's ever so slight double-boob effect on my bigger breast. (I've sized for the larger and tightened the straps for the smaller breast). My boobs are very soft so my conclusion is this style isn't built for them but instead a firmer bust. The lace trimming atop the cups doesn't hide the tiny bit of spillage. If I could go one size up from this G to GG or even an H I would. :-/
Purchased & Returned early-March 2011 from Barenecessities. Just couldn't justify it.
I know it's hard to tell because you wear a different size than I do, but I'm trying to decide between the 28DD and 28E cup size in this bra. I currently have a Marie Jo Avero bra in 30D and it fits me well, but I want to try a 28" band. Based on how this bra fits you, can you suggest whether I should consider the DD or an E?
*Remember to EXHALE when you take the underbust measurement, they don't state it there but I think it can help differentiate between two band size possibilities, should you be between two like you say you think you might be!
Please tell me what size you get and I will happily make a suggestion afterward. :)
Wow! Thanks so much for offering to help. If I exhale completely, my underbust measurement is 26" My bust measurement is 33 measured loosely.
Based on this, I get 30C (3" difference) and 28DD(E) (5" difference) and for grins and giggles, 26G (7" difference) - my understanding once you go down to a 26 band size you're pretty much out of luck with a lot of manufacturers.
So if that is correct, the 30D that fits me well should be too large in the cups, but it is not. (My bust measures 32.5 while wearing that bra)
I hope this is helpful - I'm really curious what you think.
Shell, Sounds like you're def 28 band if not smaller. Since I'm not familiar with Marie Jo I'm going to base my advice on your measurements and my experience with this bra. My shape made it hard to consider this style (even though I am totally in love with the style). If monetarily possible (since you're btw sizes) I'd say order both sizes and plan on returning the ill-fit one. If not feasible take a look at how it fits a mannequin on HerRoom (http://www.herroom.com/Panache-5891-Cleo-Sadie-Bra.shtml) They have a measuring system which is SO helpful! Unfortunately, they don't carry everything.. if only! ;) Look at the 4th image from above the center-line. There is about 2" of balcony cup there, but only about 1.5" is actual cup, the other .5" is just lace. If you feel you can fit in there I would say go with DD. If you're concerned, go with E. Have you tried on any Freya/Fantasie? I am FF in those brands but G in Panache/Cleo/Harlequin/Masquerade brands. Hope this helps and Good luck!!! :)
Cleo Brooke fits similarly well as the Cleo George Bra - but this one has also a bit much lace on the upper half of the cups, but that's not a big problem. The band fits tight, but it's comfortable.
A typical unpadded Cleo - nice shape, cute design and good quality. I don't wear it as often as I used to though, as the band has gotten a bit too tight for me. Muscles from push-ups are not as squishy as fat https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
My breasts are a bit too close set compared to the cups. Only noticeable visually (i.e. I cannot feel it). The gore is tacking and it fits comfortably—it just separates the breasts a bit which is not really a problem imo. If my breasts would increase or decrease a bit in size (depending on whether or not I have my period. temperature, etc) the cups might fit a little differently since it's moulded. As of now the cups fit very well.
I came about the bra because I was perusing what other 32FF Panache Sport wearers were wearing that fit. The measurements looked like they might work for me, so I went for it.
Unfortunately, not a good fit by ANY means. Notably, the wires are too narrow for the amount of depth. It pushes me up and in. I guess if I were looking to create cleavage, this bra would be a winner in that aspect. The band is also very snug and only measured barely over 30” stretched. Being a black bra, that’s to be expected.
The bra itself seems well made, but also kind of cheap? The material is scratchy and not appealing in the least. I believe it’s made out of mesh? The top part of the cup is not stretchy and is also uncomfortable. I’m definitely not a fan!
Wires are too narrow and cup was just slightly too big. The straps were wide, making the top outside edge of the bra cut right into my armpits. The color (jade) was beautiful and it felt well made. The band only had 2 rows of hooks, I really prefer 3.
I am close set, center and top full, projected, wide roots.
I fiddled with this forever and could not get it to sit right on my center full, FoT girls. Individually the cups were fine BUT Lefty is bigger than Righty and this bra highlighted their differences. I know they're not twins but they didn't even look like sisters! It was very apparent even with a shirt on.
On a positive note the top edge of the cups didn't really cut in. It's a beautiful bra but alas it is not meant for me and will be returned.
Nice fabric and cute bra, felt like high quality. Typically I can scoop and swoop after Ive hooked the bra but this one was too tight to do that, I think maybe my other bras have been too wide for me so they've been easier to put on. Once on and scoop and swooped I was overflowing a bit on top and in the middle and the wire felt a bit low under my boob.
Summary: Valentina is a delicate-looking bra in intense pink, with an uncommon shape that may not work well on many bodies. Possibly better in concept than in execution.
Appearance/Materials: This bra is extremely pink. Intensely, darker-than-highlighter-markers neon pink. The fabrics are a sheer, non-stretch mesh, lined with a layer of soft powernet in the lower part of the cup and most of the band. The band seems to run about one size large (38 stretches to 40+ inches), as is normal for Cleo.
The upper cup is more of the non-stretch mesh, embroidered with a floral-and-geometric pattern. The straps are plush-bached elastic, and adjust all the way. There are gold-tone ...buckles and rings on the straps, and a small dangling charm at the center front. The wires are quite firm and splay outwards, but are relatively low in the center.
All of this is very standard Cleo, but this is one of their cheaper-feeling efforts. The fabrics are some of this brand's flimsier and scratchier choices: much less comfortable than my Cleo Hettie Balconnet Bra (9011) or even Marcie.
Shape/Construction: Shapewise, this is an extremely strange bra. It has a fairly standard 3 part cup, with a higher apex than most Cleos. However, it is very shallow at the wire, especially at the bottom and on the outside. There is much more immediate depth near the gore. The Valentina then gets much deeper in the upper section, which is relatively open at the top. The resulting shape is similar to the "cakes on a plate" style of balconette, but with none of the structure.
This bra seems to be made for someone who is full-on-top and center-full, but who needs a wide wire -- or someone whose tissue is soft enough to become that shape without much difficulty. On anyone else, this bra produces a large flattened area along the wire, with a lot of room in the upper cup. This bra's owner has a shallow, full-on-bottom shape, and is wide-set, so she found the overall effect disappointing at best.
(I am submitting this bra on behalf of the owner - it is not mine) Read more 246 more words
A great fit for me (apart from the too-big band). Deep cups + narrow underwires = very upfront / forward-projecting boobs.
My complaints: The straps are rather wide (comes with the territory with balconettes, I suppose). The band is huge (I don't know if I received a defective bra--will have to see once more measurements are added--but this fits me best on the tightest hook, which is deeply annoying and why I marked it as 'didn't fit'). And I don't like this color; it looks sickly on my skin.
Not perfect but good enough, plus the color is lovely. The gore is a little wide but doesn't seem uncomfortable. I wish I could get reduced cups like Comexim. The depth is more like the Panache Ana than the Jasmine/Envy. I could maybe use a smidge more depth on my larger side, but it's fine because of the stretch lace. There's minimal wrinkling on my smaller side so it seems pretty wearable. I thought this would be more balconnet-y but it's a little tall and leaning more towards full coverage on me.
For context, I measured myself a while ago at a 28G but lean towards 30FF for comfort because my ribs are prone to getting sore. I'm in this weird place right now where I'm right between a 28/30 and right between a G/GG, so not a big enough difference to officially re-measure, but enough that my bras are fitting a little differently than they used to--I'm getting a bit of quadding in bras that did not quad before, and some of my 28/30 bands are perfectly fine, while others have gotten a bit uncomfortable.
I actually ordered this bra 3 separate times in order to try it on in ...3 different sizes. Why? Because while it's rare for me to find a bra in my size that's a good shape match, is reasonably comfortable, and fits my preferences for projection, cleavage-assist, etc, it's *extremely* rare for me to find a bra that covers all those bases AND where the cup isn't too full/tall/wide for me, so when I discovered that this one worked under even my lowest V-necks and did not extend into my underarms, I was determined to make it work.
I recently donated an older Cleo bra that had started to feel too tight in the band. That one was a 28G, so I went for the 30FF as my first size for Koko. It was waaaaay too small in the cups, and the band felt tighter than the 28 I had donated. I also had an issue where I was quadding a lot on top but the cups had empty space at the bottom. Next, I tried the 30G, hoping that the bigger cups would solve all of that. It did not. The band was still uncomfortably tight, and while I wasn't really quadding anymore, I still had empty space at the bottom of the cup. I also couldn't get the underwires to sit in the correct spot--they'd always slide down, leading to even more empty cup space. Overall, the cups for the 30FF fit better than the cups for the 30G, so I reordered again in the 32F. Bingo.
The band for the 32F fits about the same as my 30 bands, maybe just slightly tighter--it's not a very stretchy band at all, so it generally feels a little more restricting even though it technically fits the same. With the cups, I do quad when I first put the bra on and adjust, but when everything gets settled, the top of the cup forms a smooth line (undetectable under my t-shirts!), and there's no empty space at the bottom of the cups anymore. Finding the right strap length was a little tricky, and they dug into my shoulders for the first half hour or so until I'd figured it out, but they're fine now. My only issue was with the underwires. They were pressing really hard against my ribs, but all I did was bend them outward very slightly, and they're a lot better now. To test out the fit, I wore it for 11 hours straight yesterday and experienced minimal discomfort.
In terms of looks, I mean, it's a plain black bra. There isn't anything special or fancy about it, because that's not what I needed. I needed a plain, everyday, black bra to replace a different plain, everyday, black bra that's showing major signs of wear. It does have a cute ribbon with polka dots at the center gore, but that's it.
Fit is great, as mentioned above. Cleavage is something I tend to have to work for; I have issues with lack of cleavage in many bras, especially ones in my size, because they do not usually include any padding and the cups are usually a little too wide-set or separated for my needs, so I was worried I'd have the same issue with this bra. Not so. My cleavage looks amazing. And my cleavage looks amazing without the bra flattening me out and without me worrying that I'm going to fall out of it, which is always a plus. I've had no strap slippage (usually a problem) and no lines across the tops of my breasts after taking it off despite the cup being a little bit closed on top (also usually a problem). Comfort is between good and great. Because of my inability to find stuff in my size that suits me, I'd defaulted to a US 32DDD as it was cheap, padded, and the biggest-smallest size that was readily available, so I'm pretty used to wearing looser bands and thought this would feel too tight since it fits like a 30. It's honestly fine, it feels secure, occasionally a bit restricting, but not like it's cutting into me anywhere. It stays put all day, too, even when reaching for stuff on unfairly high shelves. I think once I wear it more and get used to a band that's actually the right size, I'll feel better in it.
Construction is pretty sturdy. The cups feel just a bit stiff, which was why I'd been concerned about it flattening me, but, again, not an issue. The underwire channels seem like they'll hold up well, and the band and straps feel like they'll be able to go a long time without getting stretched out. As a bonus, this bra has a J-Hook, which is fantastic because I wear a lot of racerback shirts as well and have no racerback bras in my actual size. As a bonus to the bonus, it's a *sliding* J-Hook, so I (or you) can adjust the straps as much as you need to when the hook is not in use, and when you do need the hook, you can clip it wherever makes sense for the clothing that's going on over it.
Overall, I'm super happy with this bra! I must have tried on at least 50-60 bras since resizing myself, including a bunch from Cleo, and this is the first one that I feel truly fits, is a great shape match, is not too tall, and does what I need it to do. Would happily repurchase in different colorways if I managed to find any available. Read more 915 more words
Wow I haven't reviewed anything in awhile! I'm going to try to get caught up by the end of the year.
My stats: 26H/HH according to the ABTF calculator, firm tissue, slightly FOT, tall and narrow roots, center full, close set and functionally high set.
The look: I adore longlines, especially true longlines, not 4 hook monstrosities. This bra has 6 hooks and hits right at my waist which is extremely flattering on my body shape. The pattern is so fun and bright! All hardware is white.
The fit: This bra fit (quadded) when I was a 28H but it's a little bit big in the overall volume, ...the depth is fine and it's a tolerable fit because the cups are so wide and the cups are a bit closed on top. The band is way too big in the rib area and waist area, this wasn't designed for a big difference between waist and UB (which I don't even bave a big difference, my loose underbust is 27" and my waist is 25"). The gore is also wide and tall and gets uncomfortable after a few hours of wear. However the weight of my boobs is supported by my hips and waist rather than my back and shoulders so that's a nice change of pace.
Overall impression and rating: 3.5/5 stars, The quality is pretty good, it's a true longline with 6 hooks and the print is gorgeous but it's not meant for my shape or size and can get uncomfortable because of the gore. I've detached the straps and it works pretty well as a strapless bra though. Read more 162 more words
ORIGINAL REVIEW AND PICTURES (April 2019): For background, I have a 33" loose underbust/32" snug underbust, so I sometimes fit into a 32FF and sometimes in a 34F depending on the bra. I couldn't find the Cleo Skye in 34F, so I only tried it in 32FF.
I picked up the Cleo Skye fully expecting it not to work for me because I see it recommended for full-on-top shapes and I thought I was full-on-bottom, but I was surprised. It fits me quite well. The band stretches enough to be comfortable for me. The gore tacks slightly harder than I'd prefer, but I have definitely experienced worse. The ...cups fit me well and give me a slightly rounded, natural shape. The seams don't appear to show through my shirt, but nipples may because they don't fall behind a seam and the fabric is thin. I think the light fabric will be especially nice for staying cool in the heat of summer. Finally, I often have trouble with Cleo and Panache bras digging into my armpit area, but this bra doesn't seem to do that. Again, I think the fabric helps here - it does come up into the area that often gets irritated, but the fabric is soft and doesn't feel like it is digging in. Overall, the Cleo Skye was definitely a pleasant surprise.
I have mixed feelings about the color combo. I don't hate it, but it feels a bit tweeny and I think the bright pink straps may show through lighter fabrics. However, I like the fit enough that I'm keeping the bra anyway.
Update: After wearing this bra consistently for a while, the gore feels much better. It seems to have softened up and become more comfortable. This is definitely my go-to bra now.
UPDATE (November 2021): This bra got a lot of use over the last two years. It fit well and gave me a shape that I liked. However, I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and my bra size has changed. I now measure at a 34G or 34GG. I can still wear this bra but it feels tight and no longer fits as well. On the last hook, the band feels very tight and restrictive which makes sense given that it is ~2" too small. The cups are more forgiving than most bras and my tissue actually does almost fit but it does quad if I swoop/scoop properly. My tissue pushes the underwire down out of my IMF and it settles ~1.5" too low a few minutes after putting it on. This is another bra that I'm very sad to no longer be able to wear, especially because it is a discontinued model that I won't be able to buy again when my size stabilizes. Read more 350 more words
If the gore feels super firm you can use just one row of an extender to make the band more comfy until you break it in. I find a painful gore is caused by either a too tight band or a too wide gore and the extender generally helps a lot.
This is a pretty looking and mostly comfortable bra. This Cleo by Panache Della Balconnet reminds me of one of my 34DD Unlined Victoria Secret Balconnet, only this has a smaller band and slightly less wide cups because it is smaller in size. The wires also feel a little less harsh/firm. That bra was black and see through fine "mesh" This bras material feels similar only it's a (Navy?) With a nice floral print. It feels feminine but not too youthfully girly. I liked the Victoria Secret bra, and I do like this though neither fit me perfectly.
The bra cups are a little small on me, especially ...on my larger breast. I wish it were an F or FF cup. I do like the 28 band, it originally measured firm but this feels like it has a good amount of stretch to it, which could be good or bad depending. It really brings my breast forward, but still seems to cause them to be lifted weirdly. Like they are supported but without giving me that cleavage boost look that I like. The wires are not too wide and for once the wires go under my IMF enough on both breasts and do not have a lot of (if any) empty space outside of the cups, which is surprising and probably in part due to sizing down in the cups. They arent too narrow but if they were any more narrow or if my breasts were much fuller they would maybe be too narrow and not enclose all my breast tissue. Most of my bra cups are usually 6 to 8 inches wide, fitting better on the smaller end of that range. The bra straps are almost too far away, probably just because it is a balconnet bra, but they not rubbing in and are fine. I am just glad they arent farther apart. They are thinner than my preference, as is the band because it only has 2 hooks per row. The band being supportive and firm enough makes up for it though. The material is mostly comfortable and not itchy but the cups feel a little tight on my nipples which may be because they are lifted to where a seam exists. I prefer bras that give me a better cleavage boost sometimes unlined bras that are a little small do kind of give me that look but something about this bra doesn't. Maybe it's the gore not being overlapping wires, or the cups somehow being kind of closed at the top for a Balconnet bra. I do like my Cleo bras, the wires seem to be on the more narrow side, which I think I need. 28F or 28FF would have fit better, my padded cleo fits in a size 28FF. My boyfriend thinks this one looks quite small on me, and when I scoop and swoop I can get a lot of boob popping out on my larger side. My breasts are now smaller and less full than they were before. They seem to be functionally FOB and usually have a lot of inner fullness and are close set when supported. They use to be much larger and rounder and more full everywhere. They are softer on top now and a bit more pointy instead of round and my nipples are slightly east west when not supported. I am short and petite so compared to some my shoulders are more narrow and I need more narrow wires. One breast is larger then the other and they have different root origins so it can be hard to get it right. I plan to trade and unload some bras and get some more Polish bras soon. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 517 more words
This bra did not fit but I kind of figured it wouldn't. I got it bundled with some other bras and got it for a good price and it is a model I wanted to try, so I purchased it anyways. It looks like a basic moulded plunge with a little black bow, but unfortunately this bra will not be replacing my old stretched out black moulded plunge bra.
This is a Black 30G Cleo by Panache Koko Moulded Plunge with a J hook, and it seems like an alright basic plunge bra. It kind of reminds me of the fit of my Freya Deco, I believe they ...are both moulded plunge bras with similar cup height and similar strap separation that kind of felt similar on my shoulders and back. It feels very similar on my body as far as fit and comfort, except the center gore area feels softer and a little more comfortable on the Cleo koko. The Cleo band is firm enough that a 30 is fine for me even though I usually wear a 28. The cup height is a little too tall for me and uncomfortable. The straps are thinner than I like and seem maybe a little too far apart but I cant really make the J hook improve the strap situation. If the cups were not as tall and wide and an appropriate size the strap separation may feel okay though. The cups are too big and there is empty space at the top outer edge, and arent totally filled at the bottom. One breast is smaller than the other the cup almost fits the larger breast but there is a lot more room on the smaller side. The wires are a little too long/wide on my larger breast and definitely too wide on my smaller breast. Actually as I am wearing it the cup size itself isnt too bad on the larger breast, the cups would fit me better with more narrow wires and maybe a little more depth. There isnt an annoying hard gore, but the cups still feel a bit too far apart and the bra kind of squishes my breasts and makes them go a bit far apart instead of close together. I cant comfortably wear this bra because of the discomfort at my tail of Spence due to the cup height. Moulded plunge bras arent ideal for me either. This does not have additional push up padding. Its a simple bra, I just need bras that have wires that are more narrow with shorter cup heights, like some of the Polish bras. I wear about a 28FF currently after I lost a little weight. I am very short and petite, and my breasts are narrow functionally FOB with a lot of inner fullness when supported. I have softer tissue on top that was more full when I weighed a little more. I am still trying to figure out my root heights but they are different on each breast. My breasts are fairly close set when supported. I wanted to try some Cleo bras but want to try to Ewa Michalak bras. I plan to list all my Ill fitting bras on here to sell/trade/give away because having tbe right bra can make a huge difference
I am taking the bra off now and have marks near my tail of Spence from the cup height. Ouch. Read more 461 more words
I tried this bra on in a store and it was so shallow I couldn't get the underwire anywhere near where it should be. Cleo bras are so pretty and colorful and I've tried so many and none of them fit me right. From your photos it looks like it should be several inches higher so the wire is up under the breast tissue, but if you tried to bring it any higher the cup would be at your neck! Maybe it's best for tall people? Seems like odd construction.
First of all, I really like the design on this model! I do love most of my bras but this is one I've come to really like over time. I have 1 30E and 1 30F, for low tide and high tide, so I can wear the Erin regardless of my breast size. The 30F is really comfortable, when fastened on the middle hook the band always stays in place and is comfortable throughout the day. The band is nice and snug and even though I received this bra used it's in excellent condition.
As for design it's similar to the Cleo Lily and the Marcie in ...cup shape, but the cup is not as tall as the newer Marcie. It resembles the Lily more closely with the pink diagonal band across the cups and the ruffled edge. The Lily was my first ever fitting bra and while it is too small for me now, the Erin fills its place just as well. The cloudy dark blue actually goes well with the hot pink straps and accents, and the little white blotches with pink and green centers make for some decent flowers. I usually prefer my bras to have a more "sophisticated" or eye catching pattern, but this is cute and definitely not bad. I really like the little blue charm in the gore, gore charms are probably my favorite thing!
Structure wise this is a fairly standard 3-part balconette from Panache with underwires, 3 rows of 2 hooks and fully adjustable straps. The fabric on the inside of the cups is the same cloudy dark blue as the outside, but lacks the flower patterns. The fabric continues up for about 13 cm until the top cup seam that stitches the outer cup fabric together with the inner fabric. 5 mm from that seam, the stitching for the pink diagonal band has been done. Above that is the cup edge with the ruffles. Ruffles and lace seem to be sort of a trademark for the Cleo styles of bras, and as far as I've gathered this is because Cleo is marketed towards younger women.
This bra is overall a really good fit. The gore is on the wider side for me so it doesn't tack, but this doesn't make any sort of significant impact on the fit. The ruffles in the cup edge don't actually really touch my breasts unless I push the gore in so it tacks, but ruffles always point outwards anyway. Read more 308 more words
Bottom was too shallow (I’m too immediately projected). Very uncomfortable and painful. Cups were too wide and large, straps too far apart, gore too high and dug painfully into my sternum.
Narrow cups and great immediate projection. Lovely round shape. Very good for those of us with upper fullness.
Odd thing to note, though: the band on the 28H I have comes up tight yet the band on this 30H comes up loose.
I would call this Cleo Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831)‘s cousin rather than her replacement. Noticeably to me, Marcie has a narrower gore and overall feels more ‘dainty’.
Feb 7, 2012 - I am happy to report that I personally fitted a friend into 3 of my bras, that went unworn by me for well over a year each! They have now found a happy home. :) She fit:
Dimity So - Pepper Dream Stretch Lace 32G - http://bra.pe/Mfa/
Freya - Phoebe 30FF** - http://bra.pe/MDE/
Cleo - Jude 30G (this bra!)
** She reports the Freya to be her best overall fit. Although the other bras tried out were Freya's Leona 30FF Balcony, Cleo's Alex 30G Plunge, they did not work for her.