This bra is the closest well-fitting bra I've tried yet. It is an unlined 30F, red polka dot balconette, with nice uplift. I never could have believed that an unlined bra could actually give me as much lift as my old push ups, but this one comes close. It brings my boobs forward and up to the centre. Not like basketballs, but pretty rounded. The cup width is a touch wide, only because the wires angle outward instead of straighter up on the side, but it doesn't affect comfort for me. The depth is great in this bra, and I only have very slight quad boob on my ...larger size. The straps adjust well and are comfortable, and the band fits how I'd expect a 30 band to fit, not too stretchy and not 'undersized', and considering I got it used, it's still pretty good. The pattern doesn't rock my boat, but that's just personal preference. The only fit issue for me is that the gore doesn't lay flat, but I don't find it uncomfortable. I think I can overlap this gore and it should be fine. Read more 79 more words
It looks great! One thing I noticed is that the straps look like they might be digging into your shoulders a little, but it might just be your pose. I know some of my bras look pretty rough in the shoulders but that's just #narrowshoulderslife. :)
triumphof, they were actually! Good eye. I didn't notice it yesterday (when I took the pictures), until I took it off last night and noticed red marks. I adjusted them today and they do feel better, and still a good fit.
narrowshoulders? bra-clips to hhok in those straps!
1zora216 , I actually am pretty broad (or I think so anyways)... but straps seems to love that one spot on my shoulders, and I also find the bottom of straps cut into my tail of spence too, so a bra-clip might actually be a good idea!
This bra was one of my first well fitting bras a long time ago. I wore it out and passed it on. I had it before in 30E and now I am trying it in 30E and 28F. So how does it stack up now?
Still pretty good! Its comfy and flattering. The gore is still a bit stabby, being neither too high or low but hitting me in a painful place. The cups are a bit wide, but it's ok for me. Where the lace used to gape more, it now tends to cut in ever so slightly. The cutting in is made worse by the tighter band on the 28F, so I prefer the 30E.
Some people say this bra suits more shallow shapes, but I would encourage ladies with other shapes to try it too. I believe I am more projected than shallow, but I find this bra very forgiving.
I've noticed this bra is often mentioned for shallow breasts, but I have it (and the Darcy), and I love them both. There seems to be enough depth at the wires for me.
I don't find Juna that shallow either, especially in the larger sizes it allows for room at the underwire - it's just waaaay too wide on me unfortunately. Otherwise I'd own it in every color because it's hands down the softest bra I've ever put on.
Looks beautiful on you!! I, too, found it satisfactory for my immediately projected breasts. The gore was just too wide.
It looks like for 30E people measure the cup width between 5.2" and 6" - it's crazy how much variation there can be.
If you dig into width measurements there's always a lot of variance with every bra though. Like I love the concept of this database, but honestly can't put much stock into the measurements because of user variation in methods. Despite the clear instructions. Whenever i receive a transfer, I never ever measure it as what the sender had listed. Sometimes it's not even close.
Sometimes things like bra width are affected by wear as well. I know Cleo wires in smaller sizes are not as firm and will warp. I had some Cleo wires from a new bra that measured 6.4 inches that I put into another bra I had. Later I measured the width and it had expanded to 7 inches because the wires distorted. I know all Elomi wires do that, and so do Comexim. So if you measure one of those bras new you are going to get a narrower measurement than measuring the bra after a few weeks or even a day of wear (happened to me after an hour of wearing a new Elomi once, and I was wearing the band too loose to try not to stretch it out).
Sometimes things like bra width are affected by wear as well. I know Cleo wires in smaller sizes are not as firm and will warp. I had some Cleo wires from a new bra that measured 6.4 inches that I put into another bra I had. Later I measured the width and it had expanded to 7 inches because the wires distorted. I know all Elomi wires do that, and so do Comexim. So if you measure one of those bras new you are going to get a narrower measurement than measuring the bra after a few weeks or even a day of wear (happened to me after an hour of wearing a new Elomi once, and I was wearing the band too loose to try not to stretch it out).
My first thought on trying this bra was, "Oh I'm glad I also ordered a sister size down (30G)." But while I'll know for sure when I measure it, I think that most of what caused it to feel too big is actually shape issue. (The 30G didn't feel too tight, exactly, but this bra is so uncomfortable that it's hard to be sure. Also, I'm a bit between band sizes, so needing a 30 wouldn't mean this bra runs big at all in the band.) (But the 30G did quad a bit when I swooped and scooped, so it might run a bit small in the cups.)
Me: ...Even/center fullness, tall and narrow roots, quite projected.
This bra: fully encapsulates my tissue, but is too dang shallow, resulting in a bra that feels like it's falling down on me as my tissue pushes the underwire down, out of my IMF, *immediately*.
Let me take a moment to stress that last part. With my shape, I have found a lot of American and British bras that give me mild to extreme "orange in a glass" effect: wrinkling around the wire, but overflowing up top. It's usually not uncomfortable, and indeed I have bought a bunch of bras that wrinkle at the wire without even noticing. The support isn't as good, but until you have your first really GOOD bra that can go unnoticed.
To date, the only bras that really make me miserable are Fantasie bras, and the one I've got the most experience with is the Rebecca Spacer. This bra will start out feeling fine, even good, only to be slowly pushed down over the course of the day until my stomach gets a fun pinched feeling from my bra band digging into the top of it. The process usually takes around an hour.
This bra does it to me almost instantly. New record! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Officially the Worst Bra for Me that technically fits!
It's a real shame because it's a pretty bra and Comexim has kindled a love of plunges in me, but boy oh boy does this ever just not work even a little. Read more 249 more words
It would fit me very similarly. Great for shallow breasts :-)
The whole Koko/Neve family is crazy shallow. I have a Cleo Neve that does the same thing - instantly slides out of the IMF - but I get HELLA cleavage from it so I haven't yet tossed it in the swap/sell pile. I really just need to get my hands on a properly fitted Comexim/EM plunge.
100percentawesome I get pretty good cleavage from my standard Comexim plunges (still looking for a good fit in EM, but I've also only tried the one!), but whether or not we get cleavage in bras that fit is a matter of how close set we are and how center full, I think. Expectations created by lingerie models sadly do need adjusting :(
A moulded plunge can be pretty tricky for projected busts, and Koko was no exception, but there's no denying that the cleavage it gives is outstanding!
Thanks for your reveiw. Eliminates another option :-)
I love the new heather gray / magenta colorway of this bra (so casual! so athleisure!), but know that it's WAY, way too shallow to work for me - I have a Cleo Neve that slides right out of my IMF, just like in your photos. It does, however, give me bombshell cleavage in my paltry cup size (30E), so I haul it out exclusively for the deep v / low cut tops.
I love the shallow cups of Neve Plunge, it helps me wear more clothes by pulling in and up thus lessening the projection.. but still with a nice shape.. so, I'm hoping this bra will do the same thing :)
It's official. I am no longer a 28E-F. In order to set my fit in this bra I needed to measure myself again. I've probably gained 10-15 lbs since last measuring and I'm finally to the point where I need new bras. I measured at 30F today; no wonder this beautiful teddy didn't fit at all. I really like the way the Marcie looks, and I've been eyeing the babydoll for a while. But now I know I just have to buy bigger sizes. Time to go through my bras and get new ones.
Short, projected, slightly narrow, close set, center full, even breasts....
Two tenths of an inch more cup width and a narrower gore, and I would keep this bra. This is a comfortable Cleo bra; a first for me. The fabric is lightweight, slightly stretchy, and soft. However, the cup width is .2" too narrow. Sigh. Strangely, when a cup is too narrow, not only do I feel discomfort under my arm, but also the pain radiates into the center of my breasts. This is not a sensation I can tolerate for more than a few minutes.
Please note: the band will stretch beyond 31". However, the wires distort at ...31". I have a 28" underbust and sized up to the 32" to eliminate wire distortion. If you don't require maximum immediate projection, the distortion may not bother you. I may have a slight omega shape to my breasts and need as much immediate projection as I can find.
This band is too big because I receive very little support. But, when supported by a band more appropriate for a 28" underbust, my breasts become very close-set from top to bottom. To date, I've found one wired bra that can both support my breasts and has a narrow enough gore. And, the support from a too-large-band is less than I receive from some wireless options. Wireless is my preference until I can find a gore narrow enough.
Despite my affection for Cleo's choice of fabric and the excellent immediate and center (near the gore) projection, this lovely will journey back to the vendor.
This is an excellent review. It doesn't come up too high in the pits? I might try it since the fabric is soft. Compared to other Cleos did you size down in the cup because of the stretch or is it scaled for that?
I sized down in the cup and up in the band compared to Curvy Kate. In this fabric configuration, it will be less supportive than CK Florence in your range. I hope they increase the fabric sturdiness for the upper range...it is delicate.
could you bend/stretch the wires a bit wider? its a shame they're too narrow, considering all the pluses of this bra. Also, I've always had to size up in curvy kate compared to my cleo/panache/fantasie size, too.
It may be possible, but the fraying at the ends of the wires makes it feel like it won't last long. And, for $50, I want a better bra. If I find it for less, I may try. :-)
And, I'm selling nearly all my underwired bras. I've finally accepted, I can't tolerate the wires sitting on my breasts anymore. The wires sitting on my breasts is causing swelling, heat, and pain. When I read about the signs of breast cancer, these are near the top. My breasts are happy (no heat, swelling, pain) in a bralette. It seems a clear message.... SIGH. If I have anything you'd like,...fire sale. ;-)
I'm sorry they aren't working for you! On the plus side we are in the era of cute cheap plentiful bralettes. I hope you find your ultimate wireless bra.
I am generally a 28e, and previously had this bra in a 30e. I thought that it gaped at the top so I swapped it away. Then I found this 30f from when I had bought both sizes before and forgot about it. For poops and giggles i tried it on. Surprisingly, it was a better fit. No gaping on top, all tissue is cradled in the cups. 30e must have just been too shallow, which lead to my boobs pushing out the top and causing gaping. Sadly, the wires are just a bit too long, which is a huge shame since i want another seamless bra.
This is my first Cleo bra, though I've owned many Panache and a few Sculptresse bras. The first thing I noticed was only two hooks per row! Obviously, this was listed on the product page and I just didn't pay attention. I'm not sure I've ever had a bra with just two hooks. I do think I prefer three hooks, but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would.
Second impression was how low quality the materials felt. I think it would soften after a few washes, but compared to the Sculptresse bra I got at ...the same time, this Cleo felt scratchy. The straps were padded with very soft fabric, however. The hearts in the mesh top of cup area are cute but not super omg! hearts!!!! And IMO, the burnt orange color is pretty freaking ugly but hey, it was on sale.
I am wearing it with an extender in these pictures so the band is riding up a bit. While this is normal for me in a Panache 36 band, I was really surprised that the band only measured at 28".
My smaller left breast was encased really nicely in the mesh top. It stayed in place even as I moved around the house. I normally prefer stretch lace as my boobs just defeat mesh, but Kali surprised me. After scooping and swooping my larger left breast spilled over in the center.
In the side shot you can see the wire will not lay flat against my sternum, so I think it's not quite projected enough. There's also a small amount of breast tissue outside the cup/wire in that area.
I think this would be a good bra for some a little smaller and less projected than me. Hopefully I did not get a mislabeled bra but at least in this colorway, I would consider sizing up a band. Read more 216 more words
I almost gave up on buying more Cleos after I got bored of my Lucy - as it is way too loose now on me and I stopped wearing it after I start buying Comexims and EM. However, when I saw Blake in the preview it made me to think that I could give a try as it looks very simple. It was great choice - better than my Hettie that I was in love but again is too loose on me - so im trying to sell it and get it in 32DD or 30E instead. Blake has so great materials! like a new better Cleo! Fabric feels ...so good quality and is very soft. Also, I love the combination with beige trim. The only think that I don't like is the bow with animal print. It gives obviously rounded shape, the wires are narrow enough and works well on me. The band is bit loose, I could close it on the second set hooks however the loosest set feels comfortable and supportive enough. The band unfortunately is made of 1 layer of mesh - so I think that it may stretch out with the time.. the straps are not too wide - feels like my EM BM Szmaragd, also are fuly adjustable. Overall Im very happy with the purchase and Ill be trying to get it in new blue version *_*
First, this bra is very cute, quite comfortable, but the shape is not the best for me.
I feel like a have good support from the brand and straps, but that the cups of this bra lacks «construction». For instance if the straps are not tight, my breast do not stay in place (see pictures). My breast are just hanging in the cups and jiggle whenever I move, even if I do not consider my breast to be very soft or pendulous. The cups give a very round and lifted shape. Maybe too liflted? Its like there is support from the bottom but not the sides of the ...top of the cups. This bra is true to size, both in the band and cup. The straps are too wide for me, but there is no chafing under my arm. The wires are a little bit wide, which is exactly what I need. The top of the cup is very open, and unfortunately not strechy, there is a gap on my smaller breast. I tought I was full on top but I am not sure anymore...
Overall I am a little disapointed at this bra. I will keep it becuse it is comfortable and pretty, but this one does not end my quest of perfection! Read more 103 more words
FINALLY a bra that actually fits me and doesn't give me a quad boob! I really love this bra, particularly because it brings my girls together and creates some cleavage as I have wide set boobs that never meet! It stays in place the whole day and doesn't move about! However, I still have the feeling of 'Oh, I'm wearing a bra!'. This is because the band is very very short and I'm only able to wear it on the last hook (I know its supposed to be like that but it's pretty uncomfortable). Due to the tight band, my back fat sticks out when I wear this bra sadly so I don't actually reach for it very often. The top of the bra shows through my t-shirts which is a boo because the whole world can see my bra no matter how much breast tissue I stuff into the cups to reduce the outline of the bra... Otherwise, it's great a GREAT bra and I recommend this to ladies with larger girls like me!
A bra band should only be as tight as needed (to prevent it from riding up or otherwise moving about), NOT as tight as possible. Also, unlike bra bands, ribcages do not come in fixed 5cm/2" increments. Not only that, but also the amount of "squish", as well as, for example, how much your ribcage expands with breathing, and how projected/heavy your breasts are (relatively) determine how tight you can COMFORTABLY wear your bras. Finally, if a bra has even slightly flexible wires, wearing it one set of hooks looser or tighter can make a lot of difference in terms of cup shape. Anyway, whatever your bra band feels like, it should not be uncomfortably tight. If it does, try an extender. It may be just a matter of breaking in, in which case you can move to the last set of hooks later on, or maybe this band really just is a tiny bit too tight for comfort :)
I will echo the band should be snug but not too uncomfortably tight. Imagine trying to wear that for 8-10 hours? It will be bothersome in no time. Go up in the band and the cups will fit better too. They distort on too tight bands.
I'm glad you like the Cleo Neve! It's a great bra.
MilkAndHoney It may be a matter of breaking in - I only got the bra a couple of months ago so I'll probably have to wear it more! Thanks so much for the helpful advice! :)
roxannelovesbras Thats really true - it's my first time buying Cleo by Panache bras so I went with my normal sizing... I'll probably get an extender or go up a band size for this particular brand! Thanks so much for the advice! ^_^
Ah, Jude. Everyone seems to hate you, but I'm very glad we met. Sure, we had a rough start... Your wires stabbed at me painfully, but I bent and played with them, and now you are comfortable. Yes, I quad slightly because your cup closes so abruptly and your straps aren't quite long enough to remedy the issue, and hiding inside your molded cups are some random gaps that sort of confuse me -- but none of it is visible through clothing and I still feel your support. You are my best t-shirt bra, despite not being a perfect fit. Thanks, Jude.
You might like to try the Cleo Jude in 28DD too. I usually wear 30D and 28DD and I found that in the Cleo Jude 28E fit better.
Saskia_C I hadn't actually considered that, because the wires on this one are just about as wide as I can go. But I was just checking out the individual measurements of each size, and 28DD on average is only about 0.1" wider than the bra I am wearing. Thanks for the tip!
Almost a perfect fit! My breasts have moderate projection, more or less even fullness, and slightly wide roots. If I completely scoop and swoop, I have a slight quad-boob, but my tissue is soft so I can adjust to fix the problem. I think a 30FF would be a better fit, but I'm still quite happy with this bra. I also think the projection is a little shallow for me, but in a t-shirt bra I'm willing to compromise.
This bra is in the black colorway. I sized down from my previous Marcie just because I needed to know. This Marcie fits and I have no gapping or quadding on my larger side. Apparently in Marcies I am an HH not a J. This Marcie is still too much bra for me however. The gore is too tall and my breasts push it out, the wings are pretty tall, the wires are too wide. The depth is great here and I do get the "Marcie shape": uber round. I could fasten this one fairly comfortably and usually I need an extender.
Still, I am not impressed with the quality and comfort. It's such a scratchy, uncomfortable, lumpy bra. I'm not sure why I bought another one. I'm sending them all back.
cupandahalf, I am just about ready to try 38 sizes now, and *dying* to try Marcie, but after looking over some of the other reviews, I will have to go up to H, I think. :\
I sized down because Marcie is really deep and open on top but if I had tall roots maybe I would not. I have heard the scratchiness gets better over time.
cupandahalf , I do not mind open on top -- tall roots up to my collarbone just about. :)
Gotcha. Then your normal size would probably be great! It has amazing depth at the wire and enough at the apex.
Lucy, kali, marcie, thin straps, thin bands, scratchy materials.... Cleo is NOT for me. I want to try a few new styles, but I recall the straps and bands. Permanently deterred.
I'm pretty excited about this bra, because it is the best fit I have encountered thus far in my bra search since discovering my proper size. Now, technically I am 26DD, but 28Ds have been sufficing. Maddie feels great compared to my old 34As (yeah...), but it is not without just a couple slight faults.
What I don't like:
The top edge of the cup, despite looking flush enough when my clothes are off, shows prominently through almost all of my clothes. I got the obnoxiously orange colorway for only two reasons: It was about $20 cheaper than the continuity colors; and the top edge seemed a lot smoother than ...the embroidered edge of the others. Well, I didn't avoid the issue I was most worried about, but I'm glad I could afford to try this bra on.
The band is very stretchy, and I have to wear this on the tightest hooks in order to not have (far) too much gapping at the top and some shifting around throughout the day. I measure 26 underbust, though.
What I love:
The gore and wires don't bother me!
The smooth surface makes it (almost) the perfect t-shirt bra.
It is the perfect width and depth for me! I -almost- quad out on my larger side, and there's a small gap on my smaller side (the best I can hope for, really), so I add a bit of padding to that small side and suddenly I feel fabulous! I know, I'm weird, but I couldn't stop staring at my boobs when I put this baby on. I've never looked like I had big or round ta-tas in my life, and Maddie did that for me. Honestly, I should return it because I probably won't wear it a ton (only because of the issues stated above), but... I can't. Not until I find something that better fits all of my requirements. I've invested too much time and effort into this journey to not own a single bra that is a perfect fit.
If you are shaped like I am (broad roots, full on bottom/outsides, wide-set, on the shallow end), definitely try this one out. Read more 245 more words
If you have a seam ripper you could (very carefully) take out the lace edging.
Saskia_C It actually isn't the lace at all, it's the edge of the cup itself that curls out just enough to show too much. Maybe it's the thickness of the material or that it hits my breast at just the wrong part of the curve. It's hard to say.
I had the same issue. It fits me but the edge of the cup shows through my clothing so I ended up returning it. I got it in black and I thought it was the thickness of the material and where it hits my breast that made it show. I had much better luck with B.tempt'd By Wacoal Ciao Bella Balconette (953144) though I am still trying to find the right fit with that one too, but it didn't show through my shirts as much even with all that lace.
One of my favorite bra! It fits nicely and doesn't make you look huge while provides the support that I need. Recommended for people who are full on top.
This is the 2nd of 3 of the same bras. This one has slightly misshaped cups from shipping, but I'm hoping that'll fix with wear. It's a touch too small, but I'm trying to lose weight and I think it'll be a great fit in a few pounds. Until then it's not uncomfortable and looks fine under a t shirt.
If I have three of the same bra, same size, same model, same color, how do I add them? Three times individually? Or once? Or once but mention that I have 3? Am I just over thinking it?
Yes, please add them all! Sometimes the measurements will vary slightly. The more data that has been added to Bratabase, the better! It'll help with the overall "average" measurements for that particular bra, plus it'll help your recommendations to be more accurate.
This bra will always make me think of the time I saw it in public. A girl working at a hip vegan restaurant in New Orleans was wearing it under a sheer shirt. Such a great way to show off such a unique bra https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
I found a good fit in a 30E Lily, and a good fit in the 30F pink Marcie (runs small?). I just happened to get to try this bra. Most of the fit issues were from at first having the straps too tight, but then the cups were still a too open on top for me. I think I'm truly more of a 30E though, and so a 30E would be better. The wires are also too wide on a 30F for me.
Very similar in fit to its sister cut, Cleo Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) . Marcie has lace at the top of the cup, which wrinkles a little on my smaller boob. Blake has a ribbon on top of the cups, which tacks a little better for me. This bra gives me a slightly better shape than Marcie, and I think its a little more supportive. My only complaint is that this bra is a little stabby! The spots where the strap is sewn onto the cup and the band chafe. I probably won't end up keeping it for this reason.
Love this strapless bra! It is a cup size smaller than my normal wear size, but it still works great with regular adjusting. I caught this half price, so I got the closest size I could get because I'm just not willing to pay $70. The band runs very tight. I am a loose 38, and I still need an extender. But for my FOT, projected, center-full, short-rooted breasts, this is the best fit I can find. The wires are quite narrow and keep me totally front and center, even making my boobs look much smaller. I could use more depth in the cup - A LOT MORE. ...Because of this and the too small cup size, this bra is constantly pushed down by my heavy breasts, quite annoying. The tops of the cups don't really dig in much, aside from the fact that this is too small as I said earlier! I definitely wouldn't say it is comfortable in the band, but no strapless bra ever really is so what can you expect. I really like the mesh overlay; the bra looks very high quality. It comes with two black straps that I won't need for my purposes. It's the closest fit I've found, but I would like something better - looking at you Comexim and Ewa Michalak. Read more 112 more words
Is this the bra that is like a burgundy color? I was going to get it from Zulily, but a lot of the reviews said it was wide.
Prettyncharmeuse No, it's hot pink, but there is a black mesh overlay and am orange bow in the center. All of the reviews that I saw on Bratabase and beyond said it was quite narrow and I definitely agree.
That's interesting. When I look at the measurements for 30dd, the width is 6.3 inches, which for that size is very wide. My TR Frankie (which is considered wide) measures at 5.25 inches, so the Neve is a full inch wider. That's why I didn't get it.
That's interesting. When I look at the measurements for 30dd, the width is 6.3 inches, which for that size is very wide. My TR Frankie (which is considered wide) measures at 5.25 inches, so the Neve is a full inch wider. That's why I didn't get it.
It's really wide in 30f too. Maybe they have better scaling in some of the other band sizes?
Prettyncharmeuse and revisa Hmmm, I'm sorry. Maybe I'm wrong. Well, if it is wide, I think it's the best fit on the market that I've been able to find in a strapless.
Just because it's wide in our sizes doesn't mean it's not narrow in yours! :)
It looks great! One thing I noticed is that the straps look like they might be digging into your shoulders a little, but it might just be your pose. I know some of my bras look pretty rough in the shoulders but that's just #narrowshoulderslife. :)