I'm fuller on bottom, and somewhat even, but definitely not full-on-top. So please take with a grain of salt those who claim (usually due to hearsay) that this bra is the one you try to test if you're full-on-top, or that it would not work for full-on-bottom breasts. I wish I had tried it earlier.
This bra can work for you if you are bottom-heavy because of the forgiving upper lace section. If you want to test if you are full-on-top and more shallow than projected, try the Cleo Juna, with its wide upper and shallow lower section. This bra is not shallow at all, so if you ...are full-on-bottom and shallow, that's a whole different story.
These cups fit perfectly on me, and the mesh lace upper section lies nearly flat against even my smaller boob. The Marcie does not have the "speed bump" issue that Cleo Millie / Lily / "sister cuts" have. Specifically, the lace section on those other narrow, projected Cleos will bulge and be loose where the thinner mesh or lace meets the cup, unless you're definitely full-on-top. Also, unlike those "sister cuts," the Marcie is made from a solid color of soft mesh, whereas those have smooth, unstretchy fabric underneath a loose mesh top section.
Good immediate projection, relatively narrow wires/cup widths--one of the narrowest cups you can get in this size without going to a Polish brand (5.2"). However, the wires become wider at the top outsides of the cups, which is annoying because the edges of the cups are almost under the armpits.
The tops of the cups, and therefore the straps, are a bit too far apart for me. Straps are pretty thin (not strap width, but thickness of the strap when you pinch it), so they cut in a little.
The elastic of the band also cuts in, mostly because I am muscular--I wish Panache and Cleo used thicker, less stretchy materials on their unpadded bras, so that the elastic would not always be tighter than the band. I also wish the Marcie came in a longline style. That would solve the only discomfort issue I have with this thin band. Wires under stiffer fabric were also painful against the sternum and ribs initially, but bending them and washing the bra helped a lot.
The cups in 28F run very slightly small at first, but stretch out with wear. The band is extremely tight at first--I think the Marcie could work on someone who needs 26 bands, because I'm about 27".
This review was for the pink color after three wears and one wash. Read more 326 more words
Thank you so much for this review! This bra can work very well for bottom-heavy projected breasts and its nice to read such an in-depth fit analysis.
Thanks for this contribution, although I think this was added years ago its helpful now. I may give this one a try, I think it will work as long as I dont overestimate the size I need. I have tried a few Cleo bras such as MiMi and Juna. I use to be even with more topfullness now I am more full on bottom with a lot of innerfullness and need some projection, I thought the Juna kind of fit but the mimi fit me better.
Shape: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.
I'm going to try a slightly different review format moving forward that highlights what I think are the most important fit characteristics of a particular bra right up front, so those skimming reviews will see the most relevant info first. Here goes!
THE TAKEAWAY: This is the t-shirt bra of my dreams, folks: a smooth silhouette under figure-hugging clothes WITHOUT the limitations (read: lack of immediate depth) of a molded cup. Want cakes on plate cleavage without going Polish? The Mimi excels for even to FoT shapes. It handles center fullness nicely, and the gore is ...not excessively wide or high. Wires run about average width. Band is stretchy. Consider sister sizing down for best fit.
DETAILS: In previous seasons, this bra came in not-so-appealing (to me) animal prints and I entirely dismissed it. With the AW16 rose print, I was willing to give it a shot - and I'm so glad I did! All of my bras are unlined, with the exception of the full-cup 30DD - Parfait By Affinitas » Charlotte Padded Bra (6901) , so this 3 part padded half cup is a brand new shape and experience for me. Um, IT'S AWESOME. Don't get me wrong, you will pry my perfectly fitting 28F - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) from my cold, dead hands but having a nice, lightly padded bra to wear under t-shirts is a welcome change of pace. And did I mention the cakes on plate cleavage? I've yet to find a non-molded plunge that both fits AND gives me some cleavage (seems to be an either/or - I get NO cleavage with my unlined bras, and hella cleavage with my Cleo Neve, although it's wayyy too wide and shallow for me), but the Mimi fits the bill. It's not *crazy* cleavage, but it's there, and is a nice complement for v-neck tops.
This is a keeper. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that they're moving away from the animal prints moving forward - the blue polka dot print for SS17 is also cute and very wearable. If only they made this in a selection of nude tones, this could legitimately be a holy grail bra for a lot of people - I feel like it could sell like hotcakes, especially in the US, where unlined bras are not the first choice for most. Read more 303 more words
I finally found a bra that fits correctly! Its a glorious day! The cups are literally the perfect size for my boobs (no overboob, and very little gaping when I bend over). Its such a fun green color, and it gives my boobs an awesome shape (no torpedo boob) and my nipples are concealed! The 28 band is a little tight, but everything else fits so well that I'm not even mad.
On to the second review of four! When I was in Toronto, I also went to Secrets From Your Sister, where I was surprised to see that they brought in the Cleo Lyzy, and ended up purchasing it. I was unsure of whether I wanted it or not, but ended up going for it to see if I can wear it for work.
First of all, the appearance. I really like the lace, and I really like the thick band with its three eye settings, which sits a little lower than usual. The cups are the trendy high-apex style, which as you can see, does wrinkle vertically on ...me a little bit. This also means that the high apex of the cups can easily show over the top of tank tops, but I don't mind this. The cups are lined with beige mesh, and are slightly stretchy, but not by much. There is one diagonal seam on the cups. The straps are much more close-set than usual because the apex of the cups is more centred, and the straps attach very close to the middle of the back, unlike really any other style I've tried. There is another, side diagonal section of non-lined lace, which is essentially acting like the "wing", and attaches from the side of the cups, across the side, and down into the band at the back, next to the straps.
Fit wise, truthfully, I'm a little bit conflicted. When I first tried it on, I was surprised at how much uplift it gives (compared to the only other bra sized bralette I own, the Fortnight Luna, which is much more minimizing). I love the thick bottom band, which is true to Cleo size, so it fits very comfortably on me with either the loosest or the middle hooks. The cups allow for a lot of bottom and apex projection in the design, however, the inside cup edges (from the "gore" to the straps) are a bit closed off, and do cut into my inner/upper tissue a little bit. The inner cup sections also flatten me down a little bit when viewed from above and from the side. The bottom cup sections, like I said, do allow for a lot of bottom projection, which is super comfortable, but from some angles it creates almost a bullet bra-like, pointy shape. I really like how this bralette lifts my breasts up off my chest though, unlike my Fortnight Luna.
So, to recap, it's really comfortable and accommodates projected breasts really well and lifts my breasts up off my chest, but it does create a bit of a pointy appearance, which may not be as desirable under some clothing. I'm going to see how it works under my work clothes tonight, and hopefully the pointy appearance isn't as noticeable under some loose clothing. Read more 364 more words
Thanks so much for your photos, measurements, and review!!!
Oooooh! Thanks so much for this! I’ve been interested in it ever since I heard about it! I think it’s great on you!
Love4PollinatorsCalluna Thanks! I'm very happy to be able to spread information on this one since it's so new and there really isn't any other info on it yet on this site.
I so wish these manufacturers would pay people to measure and post reviews about the fit attributes for every model they offer. It is really difficult for me to spend $60 on something I know nothing about.
You have been so helpful to the manufacturer and all of us, sherrach898 !!!
Wow, what a great, detailed review! I wasn't even aware of this bra. I love the strap placement and wide band. Update us once you have a verdict on its appearance under work clothes. Thanks, sherrach898 !
Thank you learningaboutbras! I did wear it last night, and the verdict is probably similar to what an actual bullet bra's appearance would be: it actually looks pretty bad under loose clothing, cause all you see is pointy boobs, but under slightly more fitting clothing, you can actually see the contour better and not just the apex of projection. (I only need to wear something black for work, not a set uniform like scrubs or anything, so I had the choice of what to wear).
SHAPE: round, projected, even, close set, tall roots, on the narrow end of average root width.
THE TAKEAWAY: excellent for projected, even shapes with average to short roots. If you're very FoT or have tall roots, the top cup edge will cut in, wrinkle, or cause quadding. If the Blake fits you, this probably will too! Cup fabric is quite stiff with no stretch at all. Conversely, it has a stretchy band, so sister size down if you're in the bottom of your current band size.
DETAILS: Ugh, I love this print so much. And those matching high-waisted bottoms! This has been on my wishlist a looonng time, so I'm ...disappointed that the fit is not. quite. right.
As a heads up, I think the closest sister cut to this is the Blake, which also wasn't a perfect fit for me.
First, the good: - The print is gorgeous, and I love the little contrasting flat bow in the gore. I don't think I've seen a flat bow like this before: it's a bit more modern and less frilly/girly, which is right up my alley (I gushed endlessly about the modern lace print in the 30F - Fortnight » Ivy Longline (673-11)).
- The fabric is thicker than most unlined bras, so it has a nice smoothing effect - very little of the seams are visible under t-shirts. The thick fabric also minimizes prominent nipples (if that's something you're concerned about).
The not-so-good: - Stretchy band alert! I purchased this both in 30E - Cleo » Della Balconnet Bra (9111) (my usual size in Cleo/Panache) and 28F because I'd run into stretchy bands in previous new Cleo styles & colorways (30E - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) and 30E - Cleo » Blake Balconnet Bra (9151) ). Looks like the stretchy band issue is still a problem in this colorway, so if you're on the lower end of your regular band (my snug UB is ~29.5"), I encourage you to sister size down.
- The thick fabric doesn't feel particularly good. It's not like the Blake's fabric at all, which is SO SOFT and comfy. It's quite stiff. For some reason, it looks really stretchy and smooth in photos, but that's not the case in real life. There's no stretch in the cup fabric *at all* so if you find you're in between cup sizes, or if you have pronounced asymmetry, or if you're very FoT, you will get gapping, wrinkling, and/or quadding.
- I have an even shape, and I _can't quite_ fill the top of the cups out. It's not so bad on my larger side, but it's noticeable on my smaller side. My usual trick to deal with my slight asymmetry is to tighten the strap on the smaller side, but unfortunately that doesn't help with the gapping/wrinkling in this bra.
- And here's where I think the primary fit issues are: my roots are taller than this bra expects, so the top of the cup wrinkles where the edge tries to cut in, and I'm too close set and center full while this bra wants more tissue towards the sides. It took me awhile to sort this out because I inexplicably have wrinkling in the cup right at the wire near the gore, but I think that's the result of an overall shape mismatch. The fact that the usually narrow Cleo wires are further into my armpits than others that fit me well was a big clue, as was that I get a tiny bit quadding over the cup right above the gore. Read more 489 more words
So beautiful bra but when I see your photos I think it would be too close on top for me because I have tall roots.
AbracaBra I've revisited this review and updated it with a few notes advising against picking it up if you have tall roots. At the time of the original review, I didn't even notice that it was my tall roots that were causing the cup wrinkling at the top edge!
Thank you for this review. I'm trying to find a bra that works with my shape and I'm having a heck of a time. Your review helped me cross the Della off of my list.
I have been wearing Eleanor all day long! even under a tight shirt, what I have never done yet! All I'm going to say.. I didn't know I was wearing a bra anymore after some time! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
This was one of the worst bras, until I made some somewhat horrific modifications. I bent the wires to make the cups much more narrow, then I cut off the top lacy bit that was both gappy and cutting in. Now it's my favorite bra.
Cleo Skye runs large (and tall) in the cups and slightly on the larger side of True to Size in the band. They cups aren't as open as Marcie's, but they are taller. There's a lot of immediate projection and the wires are very narrow. The gore is also very narrow, so this makes the wires seem even narrower. Wide and shallow shapes should definitely avoid this one.
Full review on the blog! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />
Sad how tall the cups are, but it's so pretty! This was helpful.
The colors are definitely prettier in real life than in the promo images! I was initially disappointed by how tall it is, but it's so comfy and gives such a nice shape that I can't see myself giving it up, even with the wrinkling.
I just got the Blake and the Della and I find that they also have very tall cups. The gores in particular are quite high. It's not uncomfortable though. I probably would have gotten Skye, too, but three new bras all at once seemed a little overindulgent lol
PERFECT! Oh geez, this bra makes me want to re-check the fit of all my other bras. This is downright perfect in every single way.
Cups enclose all tissue, and ONLY tissue. This is my first bra in a new size that doesn't have extra fabric on the sides. That, and the depth is just enough. Not too little, not too much, it's perfect. This is the kind of bra I want to make: Narrower wires, enough depth, and a rounded out shape.
I got the Cleo Lucy from another user in 32E, and it fit good in the cups during shark week, but the band was obviously somewhat big. Not too ...bad though! This is 2 bands down-something I was super worried about, but it's perfect. You can feel that it's supportive, but it's not too tight at all. Even my Cleo Maya in 30F, the band was really tight and a tad uncomfortable. This was previously owned, so that might be why, but in any case it's just..perfect.
Wires are narrow enough for me, band is taut but doesn't feel like it's slowly killing me, material is nice and smooth, lift is amazing, and exactly the color I wanted. No quadding, no empty fabric, no awkward (mis)shaping. Straps adjust long enough. Cups are just close enough.
Beautiful detailing. I even like the red bow. I wouldn't normally think to pair red and purple unless they're both super dark, and used for something rather than clothes, but this works very nicely.
I was also worried that F would be too small, considering the 32E worked pretty well for me, but it's simply perfect (have I said that enough?).
If I had to get rid of all my bras and keep one that suited practicality, fit, comfort, and appearance, this would be it.
The balconnet style worked great without making me quad. The problem I find with padded balconettes is that they are almost always too shallow and have wide wires. I need projection, but just the right amount, and narrow wires.
I have tall roots and I've read that half cups and balconettes are good for that, but my problem is always too little room in cups/wires too wide. Some balconettes also have tight elastic that doesn't allow for more than a very fixed amount. Like an elastic band on the top cup. That cuts into my roots. This has no super stretch lace/mesh, fixed lace/mesh, or super tight top cup band. It's perfect.
I'm mostly even, and I think this bra works well for that shape. I think it could work for full on bottom, and slightly full on top. There's about equal amount of cup to be filled out all over though.
I would easily pay $100 for this bra now that I know it's my unicorn bra.
Edit: I wanted to note that I've seen other reviews saying this bra's wires are wide, and I know I said they're narrow. I find them to be pretty narrow on mine, and they are definitely more "U" shaped.I will add measurements tomorrow, but I think they're about 5" width. On my 32E however, the wires are very bowl-like(wide), but nothing like my Tutti Rouge, the Chantelle C Sexy Chic Plunge, and even Natori Feathers.
Maybe it's a size difference? I'm not sure. I just don't want to be giving incorrect info! As far as I've read, people say Cleos run wide and shallow, and I didn't experience that with this. Maybe a little, but not severe. I did experience wider wires a little with the Maya, but it seemed to me more average and projected.. I think 30E would have been closer to my tissue, so, not sure! I'm a little confused, but if others say they're wide and shallow then I'd assume I must be wrong or mine are somehow unique. I'm still figuring out my shape and realized I'm not AS narrow as I thought, so I may very well be wrong.
I'd just recommend reading multiple reviews for the Lucy because I'm still a noob. At the same time, I need narrow to average wires- I know for sure I don't need wide. And projected cups(not extremely so, but a decent amount), and this fits exactly on the sides of my breast roots, which has never, ever happened, and cups enclose me perfectly. On the other hand, I also have very malleable, soft tissue, which can be easily squished and redistributed elsewhere in cups. So irdk. D: Read more 626 more words
This is a good projected bra that will work for an even to slightly Fot/ FoB shape! I think this bra will work for many different shapes because its not heavily suited towards FoB or FoT shapes. It has good projection and some average immediate projection. I think the cups are a bit too tall for me (though I am not sure) because I have some gaping even though the bra isnt too big. The design is very cute pretty and the bra is overall very comfortable. The quality is fine- its not comparable to polish bras but its still good. The wires are relatively narrow for UK standards. Straps are a little wide imo.
Shape: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.
Yay! This is the bra that fits! As I mentioned in my 30E - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) review, the fit was excellent everywhere except the band, which was just crazy stretchy. I ordered a sister size down, to the 28F, and this fits like an absolute dream. Wearing this makes me feel embarrassed that I stuck with my terribly ill-fitting 32DD - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) for so long. I legitimately thought Marcies were out of reach for me, that it was too open ...on top, the gore was too wide, etc, but it's only because I was wearing the wrong size!
The 28F perfectly encapsulates my breast tissue with no quadding or gapping of the top lace, even on my smaller side. The gore, which ends up sitting at a slant in the 32DD, is firmly tacked and comfortably narrow for my close-set breasts. The band is nice and firm. Overall, I get a lovely uplifted round shape and I totally dig the pastel blue & neon coral accents. I don't own anything like it.
The only con I can think of, and this is totally unrelated to the bra, is that the matching panties are both a smidge too tight in a UK 10 (38" hips, I comfortably wear 10s in Panache briefs, but I think they run smaller in Cleo) and I simply cannot get over the frilly lace edging. Go look it up. I feel like a fluffy cupcake princess / pastel mermaid. This would DEFINITELY be a pro for others, but it's a tiny bit too fanciful for me. The fiance says I should just roll with it https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> Read more 195 more words
That fits you so well! I love that colour way but haven't convinced myself to spend the money yet. I think I might have to-lilac and coral are so cute together!
Love it!! Now I feel like I need to get this colour way even if I didn't like it before. Any chance you'd be selling your 32DD? :) I need 30e/f but 32dd would do good as well as bra to lounge around
martka00 the colorway definitely grew on me, at first I was a little skeptical since I tend towards darker colors, but I love it now! If you want the 32DD in Raspberry, you are welcome to it for the cost of shipping :) PM me!
*thinking about order from bravissimo* :D I might try it now! And other 10 bras that I put today in a basket :D
This is a very old discontinued style. You can still find it on ebay in a few (not so mainstream) sizes like 28J or 28D. But it was my first properly fitting bra so I still review it
The colors are fun. I like to let it peek out a little under a dark tank top with spaghetti straps. But it also works with a white shirt since the light orange doesn't shine through too much.
The cups make a very round shape. Their fabric is a bit thicker then the normal Cleo mesh which makes it looks very smooth under clothes and prevents my nipples from poking though ...even if they don't align perfectly with the seems. It felt a bit rough at first but became more comfortable washing it. The wires are incredibly firm, stiffer then all of my other bras. They don't distort at all and follow my IMF perfectly without digging in. They are also somewhat closed on top. Combined with the rigid fabric this gives excellent support without looking “full coverage”. The downside is that the is no room for size fluctuations. Sometimes I put this on with a bit of wrinkling in the morning and the cups are filled out perfectly by noon and even a bit too small after eating lunch. The band is very snug and narrow, which does horrible things to my back fat. But it feels good. It also didn't stretch significantly in the 6 month I have it now which is amazing considering that I wore it almost every day in the first couple weeks. Read more 157 more words
@Calluna, thanks for making me aware of it. That is so tempting but can't really justify getting more bra at the moment (I already have over 30 with like 10 brand new ones still in the package) and I only have one pair of boobs afterall.
I like the color combination. Not too boring, not too flashy and not super visible under clothes. They should really offer more styles like this. [rant on] I have enough colorful bras by now. Sometimes I feel like a 15 year old Disney princess when I open my undies drawer just from looking at all the crazy colors. [rant off]
Fit / Comfort
If fits similar to my Cleo Marcie (http://bra.pe/XYLq/) but with a little more space on top. The upper part of the cups is also stretchy so it doesn't cut in when my boobs decide to swell up a little during the day. But the stretchiness ...also makes it feel somewhat un-supportive when I bend forward. The lower portion of the cups is only a single layer of very smooth, almost silk like fabric. It's super comfy but it doesn't do much in terms of nipple control. The wires are exactly the same as the Marcie: very firm and narrow. While the band feels looser (almost like a 30) even though it has about the same measurements and is made of the same mesh fabric. But it's still snug enough to stay in place on the first hook. The straps are very long for a Cleo. I am about 173cm (5 feet 8 inch) and after about a month I had shorten them even more then in the pictures. I just hope they don't stretch any further since I hate it when the metal adjusters sit on my shoulders.
This looks gorgeous on you aside from the hooks struggling in the back! I wish they made in my size.....sooo tempting to try the 30D......
Thank you, Strange, why do they offer a 30D but no 28DD? Especially if the band is stretchy.
....yeah..... I'm not 100% sure on this one, but they may not even offer it in 28E. Some non-padded bras from Cleo start at 28E others start at 28F. They're more than happy to sell me a padded bra in 28D though. I'm not a huge fan of padded bras! My roommate said "go get implants then!" in response to my complaining, he was joking of course. Lol
I love the colorway of this bra, but I hate it when prints don't extend to the back of the band. Is it super comfortable or are you aware you're wearing it?
"Disney Princess"--giggle. This looks lovely on you!
Thank you!
LeProfessor you can find many discontinued Cleo Styles like the Meg, Zia, Minnie, Natasha in 28D/DD on ebay.uk:
Some are insanely cheap. (Maybe this explains why they don't offer these sizes anymore.)
gratiat I am aware of it. I mean, it's not like a super soft bralette that I can completely forget about but still very comfy even after a 16 hour work day.
Thank you aboobaccount ! I almost wish you didn't send it to me though, my wallet is empty but I NEEEEEED these bras, lol.
Sonya , I think your pictures well illustrate a more projected example in the 28F range. Thanks for the reviews. I hadn't realized there were so many 28F UK bras now that can accommodate that level of projection.
Yes, I am happy to find some of these. It seems that most UK bras in this size are better suited to shallower breasts. I have some Comexims and Ewa bras on order and am excited to try them. Should be here on Tuesday!! :)
After obsessively reading reviews, and referring to the fit of my Darcy in 30E, I decided that the 28F would be my dream size. It's pretty close! Great fit. Wires are maybe a hair too wide. The lace at the top does not lay flat, but this seems to be a common complaint. The cups are a good shape for me and are a good average between the two sizes of my boobs :-/
Band size is great.
For reference, I am: wide rooted, even to FoB, tall roots that have shallow boob issues, shallow-ish/average projection. 28E.
Update: may 4, 2016. I think the cups are a little more open on top (less closed) than my 30E Darcy. The Darcy is basically a perfect fit on me but this gapes a tiny bit on my smaller side. Maybe with a couple washings it'll soften up and mold to my body better
I am so behind in my reviews! Let's catch up shall we?
I originally purchased this bra in a 30E - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) at full price. I was so disappointed when it arrived and sent it back after trying it on. When this, my proper UK size, popped up on sale at a UK website (Pro Tip: buy UK bras from UK websites. This Cleo is $55 on Amazon, it is $34 at poinsettiastyle.co.uk and I got it on sale for $25 when it was new) I went ahead and bought it again praying that it wouldn't try to kill me like past 28 ...Marcies have.
It didn't! Sure, it's still not blue and it still had that horrible neon orange trim (which I removed right away) but it fit! And the shape it gives, A+. Marcie is super round, even though she expects a touch more upper fullness than what I have, it's still very globe-like.
The band is great and TTS. The straps are fully adjustable and comfortable. The wires are still a little wide at the top. The cups have even tension (no in-cup quad). The wire channels are much longer than the actual wires, there is a lot of empty space in them. The gore is too high and too separate for me, so I use that extra wire channel space and shove them down towards my underarm and sew the channels at the gore so they don't stab my sternum.
It is pretty, it is (mostly) comfortable, and it gives a great shape. It won't take the place of my beloved SM, but they can certainly live together in my drawer.
if the cohabitation becomes impossible, I would be happy to offer your SMs a new home, without any competition in the drawer ;)
Beautiful!!
This looks great on you! I just received mine yesterday in size 28GG. I've lost weight and have been replacing my 30GG bras with 28GGs. I also noticed that this bra has quite a bit of room for upper fullness. I can not quite fill out the top, but one can not see the slight wrinkling under tops. I'm glad yours worked out too!
The 28F Cleo Blake is my new best fitting bra. This bra gives the rounded Cleo shape (much like Marcie) with no trace of the "in cup quad" that Cleos are prone to, probably because the entire cup is made from the same fabric. (The seams are still visible under tight tee shirts, though). The fabric is understated and comfortable, with most of the support coming from the inside lining fabric. The outer fabric is quite stretchy, and the top of the cup is finished with a piece of beige elastic. I've uploaded closeup pictures from the 28FF I first tried.
I was able to size down in the cup relative to my usual Cleo size. My guess is that the stretch in the fabric allowed more projection and/or fullness at the gore which I need. I'd suggest that those who usually need larger cups than their measurements indicate may be able to go with their actual measured cup size in this bra.
The band is medium, sort of between Cleo and Freya in terms of firmness.
I bought this well-loved Marcie as a summer bra. It was getting hot, and my only acceptably fitting bras were lined. Based on what I had heard about the Marcie (that it's the bra to try to test if you're full on top) I was not expecting it to work for me and my even-to-FoB, short roots. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. Not only do I actually fill out the top, it looks amazing AND it's comfortable!
It's not perfect. The wires are too wide, and the inside seam at the lace cuts in a bit on my larger side. But the shape is where it really ...shines. My breasts look perfectly round in this thing. It's seriously amazing. And I don't even need to tighten the straps much at all! None of the fit issues cause me any discomfort, so I can easily ignore them. Maybe it's because it's already been broken in, but the wires don't even feel too hard like Panache wires usually do.
I admit when I first started looking for bras and saw this one getting recommended constantly, I didn't give it much thought at all. I didn't care that it would probably never fit because I wasn't the biggest fan of how it looked. I'm not sure what changed my opinion, but now I actually think it's pretty cute with the bow-patterned lace and little button ornament. And I love how many different colors there are. I have a red one on the way that I hope will be as much of a successs as this pink one. Read more 158 more words
Thank you to sincerity for this bra! I've owned and loved several Marcies over the years, and this will be no exception. I'm a little too big for the cups right now because of gaining a couple pounds due to lockdown (and moving in with my wonderful home cook of a boyfriend), but it will probably be perfect once I go back to work and shrink back to my regular size! I had bought this bra in black in a 28FF from someone recently and it seemed to run large, or at least I had a ton of space in the upper cup, which is never a problem for me lol. But in 28F it seems to run similarly to my other Marcies. I'd say the cup volume is slightly smaller than my burgundy Marcie in 28F, but slightly bigger than my Periwinkle Marcie in "30E" (altered to fit like 26FF/28F). Bottom line, I'm looking forward to wearing this eventually and I'm sure it will be a regular part of my rotation!
Yay, I'm glad the Marcie will work out well for you :) The 28FF - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) fits a little bigger in the cups than my previous 28FF Marcies but my larger side is thankful for it, so the swap was a double win!
Thank you so much for this review! This bra can work very well for bottom-heavy projected breasts and its nice to read such an in-depth fit analysis.