This review will be updated in the near future as this is my first time taking it out for a spin, and I've only had it on for about 5 minutes
Impression: I actually REALLY wished this bra weren't red when I first saw it. And then I saw the colors they offered for SS '13 and AW '13 and decided I liked red best out of all of them. When I first opened the bag, I wasn't super in love with the red, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. I have mixed feelings about the lace at the top. I want to ...say I don't like it, but part of me is reminded somehow of Super Mario Bros. Especially in blue (and especially the briefs) remind me an awful lot of the water levels with Cheep Cheeps.
Fit: The band isn't uncomfortable but it's tighter even than my Meg felt. I took a look at it in the mirror and the hooks are straining a bit, so I think I'm going to buy an extender. If you feel like you're typically on the higher side of your preferred band size, you might want to size up or go the extender route for a while. This is my first time doing this so I don't know how long it'll take for me to stretch it out so I don't need the extender anymore. Straps end in a good place for me, but they are awful hard to adjust. I had to take the bra back off to do it, haha. As everyone mentions, the profile is very round, which I like. The very top of the lace doesn't cut in, but the bottom of the top row (with the fake bows) digs a bit on the left if I squeeze my shoulder blades together. Little boob is gaping a bit, but not much, and sizing up would make that much more apparent. The gore is narrower than my other Cleo bras, which I think is better suited to me.
Quality/buying experience: There are a few stray threads, which I don't recall seeing in either my Lucy or my Zia when I first got them, but they're darker so it's totally possible that I just didn't notice them. The major quality issue I have is that this bra was sent to me missing one of the hook closure things in the second row. I bought it from Breakout Bras at a discounted price through Amazon. Their return/exchange policy states that the purchaser has to cover return shipping, but since they sent me a defective product I emailed them asking if they would send me a prepaid label. However, they were out of my size (and the price had gone back up). They emailed me back and offered to refund me 35% of what I'd paid for the bra, which I decided was a good enough deal to keep. In total I paid about 50% of what the bra is listed for, so, not too bad.
Really cute design, and technically it mostly fits, but it gives me the oddest shape. The outer halves of the cups are shallow and quite strong, flattening the sides of my breasts and shoving everything toward the center in an unnaturally streamlined sort of way. Near the center gore, the cups are a bit too close together for me and are much deeper than the outer sides of the cups. Most of my breast tissue ends up there, making me look as if the outer halves of my breasts don't exist. I look down and it's like the bra is trying to push my whole bosom almost into a V-shape. Not at all a natural or attractive look when viewed from the front, although it looks fine in profile.
Band is quite firm. I tried a 32E first, but it was painfully tight.
I just received this bra in the mail, and I'm rather pleased so far. I have boobs that are too soft for the Juna, and other fully moulded bras around my size just aren't the right shape for me. On the Fantasie t-shirt bra, the apex for each breast was moulded about one inch too far to the sides for me, making me look rather projected east-west. This bra, however, is as close to perfect as I think I'll ever find. The wires aren't too wide if you're in the right band size. The full-band style seems to keep the cup width more stable than say, in the ...Lucy.
This bra has reasonable front armpit coverage, but it doesn't feel as if it's cutting into the armpit crease. I will warn that the band is a firm 36; I measure 34.5" at the underbust and I would not take a 34 in this bra. The band fastens with two hooks and three columns, and overall it is a thin band of a traditional style (no leotard back). It is low under the lats, and if you like taller bands for more support there, this probably isn't the bra for you. My monster lats are happy to have the freedom though.
As for the shape it gives, I find that it's a close to the body, compacted Cleo look that's quite round with a slight point at the cup apex, giving it a lighter look than you'd expect in a padded bra. It's not at all pointy though. I take the same size in this as I do in Cleo Lucy, which is a cup size up from what I need in a Marcie or Meg. Read more 175 more words
This is my first bra after properly measuring myself. Prior to this, I had been wearing 34As and was thinking about moving up in band size. After reading reddit.com/r/abrathatfits, I went to Nordstrom Rack and tried on a bunch of 30 bands. This was one of the few that didn't gape at the top when I hunched my shoulders forward. I am not used to wearing unlined bras and was surprised at how nicely this shapes and lifts me. I have generally worn padded and molded bras in the past to shape my breasts. I'm also surprised at how the 30 band feels. It is quite ...snug but not uncomfortable. I can easily fit a couple of fingers under the band while wearing it on the loosest hook.
I have this in white. The fabric is a sheer, lacy nylon. It's quite pretty and fairly comfortable, though I have a feeling it might feel itchier in hot, humid weather. I'm hoping a wash will soften it up. The lace detailing across the top is fine on me, but makes this a bad choice for anyone with breasts that are fuller on top. This bra is not good for nipple control and the seams and wires show through thin shirts, so I would only wear it under thicker tops.
My biggest problem with the Lucy is that the straps are set slightly too wide. The outer edges of the bra straps dig into a bit of armpit chub and chafe the skin there. I have to angle the bra straps in toward my neck to ensure they won't slip off my shoulders. If the straps are straight, they feel like they're about to slide off. The proportions of the bra are OK on me, but I'm on the taller side of petite. A smaller woman than me would probably not like how high the wires come up on the sides and in the gore.
I will update this review after I've laundered the bra a few times. Read more 229 more words
I love this bra! It gives me a fantastic rounded shape and has wires that are the perfect width for me. The wires seem a little wider than Freya wires but not so wide as Curvy Kate. The bra gives a good bit of lift without cutting in.
I bought this bra for two main reasons: I needed a bra that fit (duh!) and I LOVE the color. It looks great on and the slightly blue-ish red suits me very well.
I first tried Marcie in a 28H but the cup was definitely too small and caused quad-boobs. The 28HH is much better even though I have teensy little bit of gaping at the top and the wires are a little wide. It isn't very noticeable and doesn't bother me, I just wanted to mention it because of sizing: My shape is rather balanced but for those with more bottom-heavy breasts I suggest you try a smaller size, too. ...I think the cup is rather open at the top.
The underwires don't come up too high and don't poke me in the armpits (I'm short and this happens a lot to me). The centre gore is okay, I really prefer lower centre gores because of my close-set breasts but it is completely wearable. The wires are comfortable enough given that they are not very padded. What I do to make underwires more comfortable is that I bend them to suit my body shape better. I can easily wear this bra the whole day without discomfort. Concerning the band, there are both pros and cons. It is a typical Cleo band, which means it has only two rows of hooks and eyes. Seriously, in a HH?! Bad Cleo! A 3 hook-and-eye band would not only be much more comfortable and supporting but also look better because it would cut in less. Still, the band is tight enough for my 27.5 inches back. I've worn this bra for a few months now and I can still use the loosest setting.
The straps are fully adjustable (yay!) but the embroidery on the straps make it a little hard to adjust them. Marcie gives a great round shape and a lot of lift from the root of the breasts. In terms of shape, I think Cleo makes the best unpadded bras on the market.
I experienced some weird quadraboob IN the cup but that has thankfully disappeared with wear. The seams and embroidery of the cup aren't very noticeable under clothes, even wearing tight t-shirts works for me.
Even though it may sound like I'm just ranting about the Marcie, I actually love her and I'm even thinking of getting another one. There is room for improvement but that is mostly the underband. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a really beautiful bra https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 311 more words
This is a fun and sexy bra that will give you wonderful uplifted, round and centered shape. It has two flaws - only two hooks in any sizes and the straps that connect to the cup basically near your armpit (can be too far apart for some). If you want more coverage this won't be your everyday bra, other than that it's comfy enough to be one. The fabric has NO STRETCH and there is a lot of volume on top, so if you don't get this in the right size, there will be gapping and will look baggy on top or it may cut in if its too small. But flaws aside - this bra is worth it just for the shape - it doesn't get much better than that.
I loved the prints that came into fashion this spring/summer. Some of my favorites were the bird prints, and of these my number one print was the swallows. I know that my dove-print dress and my swallow-print shirt are going to seem dated by the time next spring rolls around, so the idea of a swallows-print garment that I could go on wearing without looking off-trend was appealing.
This is my first Cleo (first Panache of any kind, actually), and I knew from reviews that the fit was going to be tricky. All in all I'm pleased with it, but I have some notes.
Size wise, I suspect I could ...probably have gone down a cup. I've got some slight wrinkling at both the bottom and the top. However, the top of the bra is a bit weirdly constructed, and it's possible a smaller cup would have squished the tops of my breasts into a deformed shape. As it is, the side silhouette I get is the strangest of any of my bras- they slope up very nicely from the bottom, but then flatten out at the top, at a 90 degree angle to my chest bone. Fortunately this isn't noticeable at all under clothes, not even tight fitting clothes- not that I'd wear Meg with anything tight, because the seams at the top show through. The shape from the front, on the other hand, is great.
The bra isn't very supportive, my breasts bounce a bit more than I'd like (possibly a smaller cup would have partially alleviated this?). But the lift I get is incredible: my breasts have never felt so high! If the top angled/sloped up rather than flattening out like a table they might even be too high. Nevertheless it's a great feeling.
Others have mentioned the marvelous attention to details on the Meg, and I must concur. My favourite detail is the red metal clasps on the straps, to match the red in the bird print.
Best of all, this bra is immensely comfortable- at the end of a long day I don't want to take it off.
Update- I've discovered this is my perfect PMS bra. For one week a month I swell up to fill Meg's cups perfectly. Read more 262 more words
I have this also in a 30FF, but the band is too loose for me on that one although the cups fit better. The band on this is true to size, nice and snug on me. But while the cups on the 30FF were a perfect fit, these are a bit big. The center gore doesn't lay flat either, I think because it's slightly wider than the 30 FF. The pink colorway is very pretty and I love the white embroidery on it. I do find the wires start to dig after several hours. I would've been better off staying with the ...larger band and altering it I think...I will see if it feels any better after a few more wears. It does give me slightly more lift than the other and the shape is just as round.
Edit: After breaking in this bra is comfortable to wear. I am going to try taking in the center gore a little and hopefully solve the fit issues with it. It's still quite big / wrinkly in the cup but a 28FF dug in...I guess I'm just between sizes. Read more 88 more words
The good things about this bra: Love the color (yellow with a pink center bow), and the fabric is extremely soft mesh, probably the best I've felt in a bra so far. The embroidery detail at the top of the cups is very cute, yet doesn't show through clothes. I love the 3-part construction in the cups, it gives support without adding any extra layers. I find this bra very comfortable, no poking or pinching anywhere.
The not so-good things: I have the wrong size. I'm on the smallest hook at this point, and the back rides up constantly. I wore it on the ...second hook when it was new, so I probably should go down a band size. More annoying though, is the quad-boob effect. The lacey top part of the cup has no stretch, so it cuts in and looks not cute. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> While I still wear this bra (almost everyday), I should definitely go up a cup size (technically two if I go down a bandsize as well)
I've had this bra about 6 months, and it's stood up to a lot of wear and tear thus far. The band has stretched out a little bit, but all other parts have retained their quality. I'd buy it again, obviously in a different size. Read more 123 more words
A very patient fitter found this one for me. I'd thought an 30G would be a size I should be trying, but it wasn't quite right like the 32F's I'd found a little off. The fitter did say that the Cleo range do run quite snug in the band, and I definitely found this 32FF tight, but not uncomfortable. I'll see how it goes over time. Definitely the shift to an FF cup made a very comfortable difference. Nicely supported without my breasts trying to escape out the sides. The lace at the top does become a little loose with movement, but I suspect a lot of that is due to migrated breast tissue that keeps trying to go back to its old spot.
Appearance-wise it's a very pretty bra. A nice bright red with lace that doesn't scratch and it gives my breasts a very nice, separated and round appearance without trying to shove them into an unnatural position.
Thanks so much! I've bought a Freya Deco, in 28F, and my boobs are too bottom-heavy for it (aka I have a bit of bra where there is no breast right at the top) and I was looking at the Jude because it seems like my breast shape...
It fits me alright, maybe sometimes (depending on my cycle) the cups are a bit too small. I would really like this bra, if the wires wouldn't hurt on my sternum after a few hours of wearing. One thing I really love are the very thin and softly padded cups, it's really really light padding which feels so good and soft on the skin! The straps are fully adjustable, which is also a pro for me, since I'm very petite and often straps are too long for me. I own this bra about 1,5 years now and also often wore it, it still didn't stretch out. The only thing is that the fabric gained a shade of grey meanwhile...
Have you tried to bend the tips of the wires slightly outwards? Depending on the ribcage shape wires can poke terrible, I have that issue all the time, but by just bending them a bit there will be less pressure and a lot less pain. :)
I've bended it so often, but it's still digging in :(
This bra has a two part sewn cup made of a very light foam material covered with a soft microfiber like material. There is a strip of lace that runs along the cup that is about ¾ of an inch tall. The straps are made of stiffer material for about the first 7 inches of the strap and then the rest is made of adjustable smooth elastic. The band is rather stretchy with two hooks with three columns in the back.
I love how this bra feels. It is very comfortable and the nude color on my skin tone is undetectable under a white shirt. However where the ...vertical seam is up the front of the cup it is slightly noticeable under a tight shirt. This bra was clearly too small in the cup and I will need to reorder it in a cup size bigger. I think this has to do with the fact that I have very round breast (I have implants). This style really puts your breast out in front and up. I also found that this band was very stretchy and I had to fasten it on the tightest set of hooks right at the start, so I would have to take this bra band in since I am unable to go down a band size.
Band length: 59.9cm Cup width: 14.4cm Cup depth: 28.6cm Wire length: 29.5cm Cup separation: 2.2cm Strap width: 1.6cm
Quality: 5/5 Comfort: 4/5 (a firm material, snug and needs some "breaking-in") Appearance: 4/5 (has some outer material wrinkling)
Having fallen in love with Sasha and Alexa I knew I had to have Olivia the second I spotted her on Bravissimo. My only question was a matter of "in what size?" ...I knew the current SS12 Alexa ran a bit bigger in the cup than her predecessor AW11's Sasha. When I contacted Bravissimo the response was she fit exactly the same as Alexa. However after trying on the 28GG several times I found the same hesitance I remembered with Sasha last Autumn. It was a dilemma between cup sizes. I finally received a 28H and although the 28GG and 28H both fit I am much more comfortable in the H-cup because I'm more confident I'm safely covered from any potential spillage which may lead to readjusting throughout a day's wear.
I wish I'd originally took Alexa in a 28GG because her band is not as tight but at the time I would never have thought I could be a 28-band so I never considered ordering.
30G fit well while 28GG is much more snug. These fit me exactly the same in the cup the only difference is in the band. 30G also fits nice although I would anticipate it to stretch out like my original 30G Alexa which has pretty quickly and only snaps back from washing (after one or two wears in a row). The 28H is the best for me as it fits just like my original 30GG Sasha and now a 28H as well.
Also, I'd be happy to have a drawer full of non-pink bras. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />
Measured immediately before wearing. Purchased mid-June 2012 from Bravissimo. Read more 239 more words
This bra is really, really cute and lacy, something that's hard to find in this size. It's hard to find unlined, unpadded bras - everything in small sizes seems to be push-up and padded. Those are fine, but sometimes I just want something sheer and lacy.
Now, first of all, the band and underwire fit perfectly. The band is just right for me, possibly a little bit loose, but not so much that it doesn't fit. I really appreciate that this bra runs wide in the wire - it comes up much further under my arms than a lot of bras, which makes it great ...for gathering up "extra" boob. And I am wide-set, so really, I need these wide underwires. This is great.
I fill out the bottom of the cup really well, but the top wrinkles very, very slightly on my left (bigger) boob, and more noticeably on my right (smaller) boob. If I push all the boob in carefully, I can fill the top of the cup on my left. But no amount of pushing and prodding can fill the top on the right.
It isn't that visible under clothing, so it's something I'll live with to have such a cute, lacy, comfortable bra with nice wide underwires that doesn't poke into my sides and sternum. The gore tacks perfectly on me.
It doesn't give any cleavage - it gives a very natural look, with a good amount of support. Nipples can show through if they aren't perfectly placed on the seam. But it is what it is, very cute and feminine. It's not going to be my everyday bra (I wish it could be!), but definitely a nice bra for those times when I want to feel pretty under my clothes and just want a natural appearance outside, without a bunch of pushup and padding. Read more 209 more words
Band length: 59.7cm Cup width: 14.7cm Cup depth: 29.5cm Wire length: 31.1cm Cup separation: 1.7cm Strap width: 1.9cm
Quality: 5/5 Comfort: 5/5 Appearance: 5/5
This is the only print to come along since the plaids that has really caught my attention. I had to try it on! Purchased 28GG/28H for comparison. Once upon a time I almost bought AW10's Sadie 30G in Purple Plaid (see review here: http://bra.pe/RGu/). Those cups were just a bit too small and now that I ...think of it they were quite similar to Freya's Padded Half Cups. Except there is this bit of loose lace trim on these Juna-style Cleo bras. Well, the 30G Sadie felt just a bit too small in the cup and here the 28GG Rihanna feels just like that but firmer in the band. The 28H (tighter band equivalent of a 30GG and one-cup bigger than the original Purple Plaid Sadie was made, she stopped at a G-cup!) This is my ideal fit: firm in the back, nice little lift and all-rounded shape. The lace does stick up a bit on my smaller breast but flattens underneath a t-shirt. And in a gorgeous 80's video-game type print to boot! Reds, blues, greys and white glory. I will keep an eye out for more wonderful patterns in the future now that I know my Juna-size. Next, I'm ready to try an actual Juna from the core line! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Measured immediately before wearing. Purchased late-June 2012. Read more 167 more words
I've noticed Panache bras are made wildly different from style-to-style as well as by season. So I got a 30g, a size I thought might work and one cup down and up from it to compare. I am happy to say the 30g works well. The 30ff band is nice but the cups cut into tissue giving a bit of quadraboob. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell if the "30GG" would have been more appropriate: I firmly ...believe it is actually about a 36GG just MISLABELED!!! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_surprised.gif" alt=":O" /> If you look at the size measurements an average band can be about 7" or 16cm smaller than the "band size" to allow for stretch & support. If so, this bra is definitely far too large in both band & cup to be what it says. Sadly, this makes a comparison of all three an impossibility with what I ordered.
I'll keep an eye out for more colors of this style in the future.
Measured unstretched before wearing. Purchased early-April '12 from Freshpair. Read more 96 more words
I've noticed Panache bras are made wildly different from style-to-style as well as by season. So I got a 30g, a size I thought might work and one cup down and up from it to compare. I am happy to say the 30g works well. The 30ff band is nice but the cups cut into tissue giving a bit of quadraboob. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell if the "30GG" would have been more appropriate: I ...firmly believe it is actually about a 36GG just MISLABELED!!! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_surprised.gif" alt=":O" /> If you look at the size measurements an average band can be about 7" or 16cm smaller than the "band size" to allow for stretch & support. If so, this bra is definitely far too large in both band & cup to be what it says. Sadly, this makes a comparison of all three an impossibility with what I ordered.
This if the first time I bought the Lucy style because I fell in love with the idea of a bright yellow bra! The material could be more supportive and I will not consider even the lightest jog for the train in this bra. It gives me a beautiful round shape where Freya's do not. The underarm wire is just right and although I can fit my pinky finger into the gore I am still pleased with the overall fit of the 30G.
I'll keep an eye out for more colors of this style in the future.
Measured unstretched before wearing. Purchased early-April '12 from Freshpair. Read more 179 more words
This review is for the color “Lime”, purchased from Bravissimo. First off this color is more than Lime, it is NEON LIME!!!! Whoooo boy! It almost looks like it could glow in the dark. Not for the color shy that’s for sure. LOL. Now on to the review. This bra has a three part cup that provides good lift and a gives a rounded natural shape. The straps are spaced apart nicely and don’t fall off my shoulders. The straps are lined with a felt like material for the first six inches of the strap from the front of the cup. The fabric is nice with embroidered flowers ...and a hot pink bow on the center gore. The bottom two sections of the cup have lining to give more structure to the cup. The band is sturdy, but on the stretchy side, I find with this style I start off on the middle hooks but will eventually need to take the band in.
The following is taken directly from the Bravissimo website. -Underwired balconette -2 hook fastening -Polyamide polyester elastane -Fully adjustable shoulder straps -Lime is exclusive to Bravissimo
I also reviewed this bra in the fashion color “Yellow”. I have found that this style of bra is now one of my favorite bras and can’t wait to collect all the colors
Haha you are so right on about the lace being reminiscent of Mario bros water levels!