This bra is just bad for me. I can't really explain why in technical terms, but I'll explain what I can. First, I bought 30FF instead of my actual size, 30F, because of the measurements I saw on here. I think the cups might be too big, but because of the shape or something, a 30F would not have worked. It cuts into my boobs a little bit, but not on the top, like on the sides...the inside sides. I think my boobs are too close together for this bra? The cups go way too high into my armpits, it's so uncomfortable. Also, I think there's some empty ...space on the outer sides of the cups. And the wires sit way too low and the cups wrinkle up. And as far as the tightness of the strap, I wear it on the tightest hooks, but that could possibly be because I should be wearing a 28 band. I don't know yet. So in conclusion, this bra is wrong in every way possible for me. What do I wish someone had told me about this bra? Don't buy it! Read more 78 more words
Oh Zia. I wanted to love you. Your print is so adorable!
I tried this bra in both a 30FF and a 30F. Neither one fit, but this one was definitely too big. That being said, Zia had got plenty of projection and even immediate projection compared to other Cleos. Despite it not fitting, I found Zia to have more projection than the Lily, Meg, Marcie or Kali. The wires are very firm and the band runs very tight.
I also think Zia is more FOB friendly, and I'm more even.The top edge cuts in quickly, even more so than the Cleo Meg, (but despite a lot ...of quadding in the 30F, I couldn't fill out the lace part on the top). As the 30FF was definitely too big, I got weird wrinkles across the top portion and diagonal seam.
I was very tempted to hold on to this bra and alter the cup slightly (If I took in the bra along the diagonal seam from the upper edge of the cup towards the apex, it would have been a perfect fit(taking in a good chunk of the lace top), but I got lazy and just decided to sell it. Read more 94 more words
I had such high expectations for this bra, and maybe I shouldn't have. This definitely seems like it'd work better for someone taller or at least with taller roots. I get a significant amount of diagonal wrinkling, especially on my smaller breast. The strap attachment rubs horribly on my arm--I had to take it off after just a couple hours, I couldn't deal with it anymore. This band fits me quite well, stretches to 31" so it runs about a half-size large. I'm not sure if the cups run large or if they're just too tall for me. The cup width is typical Cleo at 5.5" for this cup volume.
This fits me quite well! For the first bit of wearing it, it dug into my underarm, but after a few days it is comfortable. There is a bit of a lip on the top, so it shows through tight shirts, but it will be good for deep-V shirts.
Band is TTS with other Cleos. Cup was a shape mismatch. It's more open on top than the Lily, more like Marcie. Great review with true-to-color pictures by: http://beckysboudoir.com/exotic-prismatic-cleo-maya/
The bra is svery comfortable to me. The band is snug but not too thight. The wires do not rub against my ribs as I experienced it with other bras. The wires do not go up high at the armpit and do not poke. The support is good but there is still much movement since the upper half of the cup is lace.
Fit is perfect on larger breast. Little big on smaller. Large is about a half cup bigger. Having to adjust the strap on smaller side makes underwrite pke into armpit. Only mild discomfort. Band a bit tight but only when trying to twist around after fastening in front. Pattern is gorgeous and we'll worth the little bit of irritation from the underwrite.
I tried Cleo Erin in 30G and 30FF. I started with 30G, but it was too big all over. The lace was completely gaping at the top and there were wrinkles everywhere in the fabric. I expected to have to size down in unlined, so nbd. The 30FF was a different story. The major problem areas are all concentrated at the top part of the cup. I got what I have seen referred to on bratabase as inner-cup quadboob. This is where the lace and ribbon detailing meet the top of the cup. The lace part was cutting into my tissue where the ribbon runs through it. The ...loose top of the lace, however, was sticking up and gaping. It felt loose against my skin. The in-cup quadboob was worse on my larger side (obviously), and made for a hideous silhouette under a shirt.
Basically, the G was too big, but the FF too small. Or maybe just a shape mismatch because there was also wrinkling of the cup at the outer edge below where the strap meets the cup. The band was the right length and the wires seemed narrow enough, but since the wires slant backwards as they go up, this was awkward for me and didn't prevent armpit poking. The width is okay, but the wires are too tall? The gore was extremely stabby at the top even though I liked how narrow it was.
Apart from the ribbon cutting into my tissue, I was surprised at the shape of the bra after all the raves about how perfect it is for pendulous breasts and how lifted and rounded the shape is. On me, it seemed to not give any balanced shape, just a narrow, projected, somewhat pointy shape from the top, almost bullety. It wasn't terrible, but not really round enough. On my frame it made me look very strangely narrow across the chest. I felt like I had a breast reduction and the width of my boobs was greatly reduced, making my shoulders and chest look broad, which is so weird since I'm really short.
In the end, I think the cups are too deep in the middle (maybe better to say too projected) and too closed on top. Lastly, I didn't like the thinness of the material. The bottom half of the cup, while stiff, could have been stiffer and I would have preferred the same material throughout so I got less of a jiggly feel on top. Still, the material was so thin I could tell I wouldn't be able to wear it long and be comfortable. I have trouble explaining this, but when I put my t-shirt on, I could feel my shirt material through the bra material every time I moved and that's bothersome for me. I know that's weird, but unlined bras and I just don't get along. Plus side is that it's a pretty bra. I actually adore the appearance of it. Read more 383 more words
While I was at Bravissimo, I saw Cleo Minnie hanging around and against the advice of the fitter who said "that bra is such an awkward fit; I've never seen it fit anyone right", I tried it - in 30G and 30FF. The 30FF felt better on and way more supportive than Cleo Erin Balconnet Bra (7911) . Unfortunately there was a lot of quadding at the top; I was really busting out of it. I tried 30G and it was way too big and floppy on top. Compared with Erin, there was less wrinkling at the side of the cup where the strap meets the cup. Not sure what that means. Even though it felt generally supportive, the shape was not very pleasant, probably more due to the severe overflow stretching the lace part. I simply cannot do unlined cups. I don't like the minimize feeling or thinness of the material; perhaps due to sensory issues. Under a shirt, they just look terrible.
I love the feminine look of pure white bras, and this one is no exception. The shape is quite ideal, typically Cleo-round but held a little lower than Lily or Alexa. I got this one as a diagnostic bra when just starting my correctly-fitting bra journey, and though I still love it I've just discovered over time that my shape and projection is better suited to Marcie.
The wires dig very much at the gore and the bottom of the cups. Though out the day it shifts to lower on my chest so the wires dig in less. I trying to bend the wire to make it more comfortable or maybe with more wear it will be come more comfortable. I think I might need to alter the gore and make the wires overlap so it not sitting on breast tissue. It also sits a little be low my IMF and not sure if its because the gore or not enough immediate projection. It gives my breast nice shape and the pattern is nice.
I have the same issue with the wires on every Cleo bra I've tried! It feels like the wires are stabbing me in the rib cage within seconds of having put it on. I've tried bending the wires out, but haven't had any success. At this point, I've given up on Cleo bras.
A plunge bra style might work better, as the gore should be lower and hopefully not so stabby.
I only wear Polish bras now. Six on their way to my home now. Too much pain from the others. Comexim will happily overlap wires at the gore for free: marvelous :-) Hope you find a more comfortable bra soon :-)
If you have close set breasts, the wires may bother you as they bother me. The first Kali I ordered was a 32DD and it felt like my breasts were being forced into my ribs. After putting my bra on backward and upside down, I learned I did not require a 32" band, and the cups were significantly small. Before wearing this 30FF backward and upside down, I thought its band was too small. Just the cups were too small. Although this bra "looks" like a better fit than the 30G I ordered, the wires painfully push down on my ribs and my breasts still feel ...compressed. Additionally, this size creates a flattened area on the outside of each breast. Frankly, I prefer my naturally round shape to the flattened sides this bra creates. It seems, however, this flattened section of breast is not necessarily a characteristic of this design but is more strongly correlated with the shape of my breasts (short roots, round) in this design. The 30FF Cleo Lily also creates the same flattened area. I have been thoroughly spoiled by Comexim, Anna Pardal, and Ewa Michalak: Cleo is not remotely comfortable, to me, compared to the aforementioned brands. I will wait for the made to order Comexim/Anna Pardal bras. Sigh. Read more 107 more words
This bra is a great bra, I really love Cleo brand, particularly Marcie-esque bras. The only thing about this bra that didn't work for me is the band size, I'm just not a 30 in Cleo.
The best immediate projection in an unlined bra I've experienced to date. I would benefit from slightly longer wires as not all of my side tissue is captured. My smaller breast appears to fit better than my larger breast. And, I may have shorter roots than the breasts for which this bra was created. For summer, however, this bra will rise to the top of my lists because of its quick dry nature and breathable fabric.
This is my first unpadded bra. I was worried if the bp being seen on clothes, but it wasn't, which was very pleasing.
The fabric is very smooth. The band is very tight at first but it stretches really well, so there was no problem putting it on. And the soft fabric of straps is also one thing that I love about this bra.
It's been a couple of months wearing this bra. And it's too small now. Quadboob when I scoop-and-swoop. And the band is riding up in the back. But it's all because my size has been changed into 28H, I guess. Before, it fitted quite nice!
Typical Lily. It fits better sometimes than my 30 F but just depends on the time of month. I don't find the cups to be a while size bigger though. I'd suggest anyone who has issue with the armpit budge that Cleo often can create to try sizing up one cup. I find that to have completely gone away. I don't get quite as much lift however still plenty, being an unlined Cleo. The magenta does not readily show through most of my shirts. Sometimes the orange stripe does however. My original Lily I've had close to two years and wore multiple times a year for the first, and I've only had to adjust the band back one set of hooks. These are real work horse bras
Oh my! The girls have room to breathe (insert happy dance). I tried the 30F Lucy first and was prepared to make a permanent departure from all Panache wires; perhaps all bras. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" /> Seriously, I was typing and deleting expletives during my review of the 30F. However, a little more room for the twins has made a world of difference. Sadly, despite the remarkable improvement over the 30F, I still must reject this bra. I see now that when supported and not squished, I have close set breasts. The Lucy wires sit like Shel Silverstein's "babysitter"--on the twins. The cups fully accommodate my tissue, but the cups bite into my arm near the strap, and the wires are easily .5"+ too wide. Until two weeks ago, I was ignorant about immediate projection: it is the difference between constant pain and endless comfort for my previously labeled wide, shallow breasts. Thank you lcl0706 for your sage appraisal!!
This bra *almost* fits. It definitely works for my FOT/Even shape busts. - I have the straps loosened all the way. - The cups could work if the lace had more structure or was attached differently. The lace does not sit right even if the cup fits. - I find the wings too low for comfort/appearance. - I have soft fat that gets compressed and squished in a unpleasant way from Cleo bras. The bands on Cleo bras are too stretchy for my tastes. I get lumps and cutting in on the back and sides from Cleo bands.
For these reasons I don't personally wear Cleo bras. Their swimsuits are a different story.
Runs quite a bit bigger in the cups than the other colorway. This bra honestly could probably fit a 30G. I adore this print, but have since acquired a 28FF that fits me better.
The Marcie is my best-fitting and favorite everyday Cleo unlined bra... I absolutely love the high, perfectly round, ideal shape it gives without any extra padding... it seems to help make your waist look smaller and the general silhouette of your body somewhat slimmer from the front. All the aspects of good fit are there, and in addition, it's super comfortable and one of those bras you forget you're wearing. I have both the beige, a beautiful and practical toffee color, and the burgundy, which is more of an eggplant-wine shade with a color contrast bow.
Update: After several wears, I have noticed that I do get slight in-cup quadding in both the beige and burgundy colorways. While not visible beneath clothes, it is something to note and a similar problem I've experienced with other Cleo bras like the Lily.
I have the same issue with the wires on every Cleo bra I've tried! It feels like the wires are stabbing me in the rib cage within seconds of having put it on. I've tried bending the wires out, but haven't had any success. At this point, I've given up on Cleo bras.
A plunge bra style might work better, as the gore should be lower and hopefully not so stabby.