I have mixed feelings about this bra. I like the basic look of it, but I don't think it is working for me.
The band fits ok, but it feels like it will be too loose once it breaks in. This is a struggle I have with 34" bands (I think 33" would be perfect, but I obviously can only choose between 32 and 34.). The straps are set too wide for me. This causes two problems in this bra: 1) the strap/top of cup digs into my armpit uncomfortably, and 2) I think the wires go too far back for me - the underwire extends under my arm ...nearly to my back. However, the wire seems ok between my breasts (maybe tacks a touch hard) and the bra does have enough projection at the wire for me. I get some wrinkling in the lace over my smaller breast where the lace meats the fabric of the cup. The lace also gapes a bit when I move around. I was expecting it to move with me better, but it may do better for someone with more top fullness.
Finally, I feel like the cup gives me a slightly weird shape, but I can't put my finger on what I don't like about it. I think the set of the straps cause the bra to lift more from the sides which brings the tissue towards the front. That isn't necessarily a bad thing for some people, but it gives me a pointier shape than I want. Read more 145 more words
I don’t see the wires as too wide but I see the loose lace and the in cup quadding which is never flattering, though invisible under clothes. Sorry it’s not a love bra. I don’t think that it’s a size issue.
Like many seamed Cleos, the Hettie can sit rather oddly on the breast if the angle of the upper cup portion is not compatible with the slope of your breast from apex upwards, so i can't guarantee that it would work super well in any size. However one thing I do remember from other reviews is that this particular bra appears to run SUPER HUGE in the cups. I think at this size, it was probably a case of cups slightly too large masquerading as a bad cup shape. The excess room in cups can give the impression of a too-loose band too, and certainly this combo of fit issues would cause the straps to be too far apart for you, and the wires to end too far back on your sides. If you really loved this bra and wanted to try another size I would probably suggest trying a 34E since it is so atypically large in the cups.
Cleo Marcie is a great stepping stone for me in terms of finding a great fitting bra. It gives a nice lift and a rounded shape that I have been hoping for. I do have some slight issues with the gore and the sides of the bra. For the former, the gore does ride up a bit when I move around. It may be because I have a more narrower "boob valley"....but I also can't deny that I do get sweaty quite easily (especially since it's summer right now). You can say it's partially my fault too. For the latter, I do think I need a longer underwire ...to capture whatever escapes near my armpit. Maybe it's just an insecurity for me because it's a natural part of my body (since I'm quite pudgy at the moment). Anyway, Cleo Marcie is a great bra for me. No wrinkling seen anyway. And I have no issues with the straps falling down.
Some hindsight, I am even for my right breast but my left leans on the FoT-shape. I do have tall roots, which I think why this bra really works for me. I am quite pendulous and I have uneven sizes. My left is a bit bigger than the right. Also, what's great about the Marcie is that it truly lifts up my boobs. I have them quite low on the chest so the lift it gives me tears me up in happiness. I also love how it's giving me centred lift. I have my babies naturally pointing to east and west so it's another praise for this bra.
I do hope to fine a lined/panned version of this bra as I hope to have something a bit more substantial to wear while at work. The unlined nature of the bra does worry me in terms of stretching despite of its good structure.
edit: after years of unnotice, I am actually FoT-shaped on my left and that it is the bigger side. Duly corrected by Mar. 2019 Read more 226 more words
Okay well, I suppose this one is meant for people who are definitively FOT? Because even though I'm filling the bottoms okay, there's so much extra fabric it piles up under shirts, and I have to tug it flat. While the 36E - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) seems to work out alright and that is supposed to also be a FOT style, I believe I'm closer to even than truly FOT, which I'm sort of assuming is the problem here. In terms of look, I love how it looks. I tried a blue and orange colorway, which looked great with my skin tone, and I love the dot pattern on the mesh. I also actually like the stiffer fabric used for the bottoms of the cups compared to the all-mesh styles. It seemed a bit more comfortable to me. Though I did notice straight after a swoop-and-scoop, I'd sometimes find it to be very tight across the dot pattern and cut into the breast tissue a little.
From the reviews I've read I believe this is supposed to be for FoT shapes. I'm even to FoT myself, and I find the top of this cup exactly right for me. The Marcie is supposed to be the same cut, but I find it a bit less supportive although it does mould itself to my shape more than the stiffer Minnie. I do believe I've read that the Meg/Lily family of styles is more suited towards an even shape, so maybe that's what you're looking for?
Charlotteke, I actually tried the Lily and found I had a similar problem with it that I do with the Minnie, which is odd. I'm honestly not completely sure what my shape is, because I also tried the Lucy to test the FOB, and that was definitely ill-fitted to my shape. But thanks for the suggestions!
Another bra I wanted to love, another disappointment. Honestly, it fits great...everywhere...except that the way the straps are positioned, they cut into my armpits. This is the worst of all the bras I've tried on in this aspect. It's so drastic that you can see in my front-view picture that the straps are TWISTING into my flesh.
The color is fabulous though it doesn't photograph well. Even the stock photos don't do it justice. In person it is a BRIGHT neon stop-traffic yellow.
Wanted to love this bra, and it's so close, but not quite. My full-on-bottom breasts don't fill out the top of the cups enough, and the material where the straps meet the cups cuts into my armpits a little.
I really wanted to love this bra. It's SO fun. It fit fabulously, except the lacy part at the top of the cups. I am just too full-on-bottom to fill out the top of these cups unfortunately.
Very tight in the band, as noted elsewhere, and the cup may also run a bit large -- I seem to do best in a 32G in Freya/Fantasie/Fauve. It has lots of room on top but also quite a lot of projection/depth (not too shallow at bottom), and gives a very front and center, lifted, yet very round look. I'm very firm and dense, quite projected with both top and bottom fullness, moderately narrow root, splayed, and wideset; I'm always trying to avoid east-west as well as southerly drag. This is a very pleasing effect, available for a small fraction of the price of Empreinte.
(Note: Bratabase won't let me enter that it fits without doing the whole measurement rigmarole, but it does fit.)
It won't let you set fit information if you haven't added your profile(breast) measurements, this is because without them the fact that "it fits" is useless for the system as it cannot be used to compare with any other entry. When you add fit information it uses the profile measurements to know that this bra fits such numbers and that's what keeps the wheels rolling.
Oh, that totally makes sense. But I'm an ox with a measuring tape, I find it hard to get the same numbers twice in a row and it's crazymaking. I should make an effort though, I know.
I adore this bra. I got it a few months ago, when I was a 34F (I've gone down a band size, and seem to have gone up a cup size -- though I'm not sure, because different brands size differently) and when I wear it on the tightest row of eyes, it fits me perfectly still. I'm top-heavy, and unlike most models I've tried this one doesn't cut in at all, but I manage to fill it out entirely. The wires don't poke, it's super comfortable. It gives a very nice rounded shape, and there's loads of forwards projection - no east-west splaying happening here! After three months of ...fairly constant wear (I rotate it in every two or three days, to give the elastic time to rest) it's still in excellent condition (no pilling or signs of wear anywhere except the tag). Gives a lot of uplift, too, and because of the print and colours it's nice and cheerful to get ready in in the mornings https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" /> I wear it when I know I need to feel confident in how I look. This is easily my favourite bra, and I'm considering buying another - probably in my current size, though I might wait until it starts to go on sale. I'm probably going to cry when it wears out.
Pros: Great for fuller on top breasts, firmer breasts, and rounded breasts Funky pattern https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> After a few wears the seams smooth out so it's possible to wear this bra under a T-shirt and not have it be too noticeable (especially if it's darker or with a pattern on it). Very firm band Very high quality fabric Due to the lace section, a lot of the breast is encased, so it feels secure, but it doesn't feel stifling because it's a thinner material Cons: Visible under lighter shirts The seam where the lace attaches to the blue fabric can be a bit puckery (though it generally smooths out - I've only noticed this right after a wash, and it smooths out in an hour or two after putting it on) The yellow berries are more green in real life, if anyone is ordering this online. I was slightly surprised by that. The straps are tough to adjust - though this does mean they don't slip throughout the day, which is always a plus! Just difficult to get the strap to slide through the plastic bit. They are fully adjustable though. Read more 303 more words
Like at all my unpadded bras, there's too much fabric on the upper inner side of the cups (benath the center). I can't fill the top of the cup and the breasts are not formed that well. The shape is not that round as it could be. If I pull at the fabric, I get a nice, round shape. The wires sit perfectly under the breast, so a smaller cup size woudn't work.
Ordered it off of figleaves and sending it back, but I though I'd make the order useful and add the measurements anyways! Unfortunately, I can't say if it streches out or supports well, for obvious reasons.
It is absolutely gorgeous, cherry red but black dots on sheer material. The shape is a bit odd, quite pointy, and, above all, is way too small for me (hence sending it back). Back is big but not as much as the Panache I am sending back (adding this one soon) and could do on the tighest hook. Too bad they don't make it in GG. Padded, fabric is soft but synthetic-feeling (as in, not as soft as a cotton lace bra).
ORIGINAL REVIEW AND PICTURES (April 2019): I have a 33" snug underbust, so sometimes prefer a 32 and sometimes a 34. I wasn't able to find a 32FF in this bra, but I'm happy with the 34F. It fits well. The band is quite firm which allows the 34 to work for me.
Most excitingly, this is the best T-shirt bra I have found for my breast shape. While most T-shirt bras do not have enough projection at the wire, the Cleo Maddie actually does. In fact, it has a beautiful shape that complements my body nicely. I expected the lace at the top of the cup to show ...through shirts, but it doesn't seem to. I think the lace hides under shirts better than a smooth cup because there is a softer transition between bra and breast. Having said that, molded cups do not move with the body as well as sewed cups do. This bra is no exception to that, so it does gape a little when I move my arms around. That doesn't bother me, but it may bother someone else. I think this is exasperated by the wide set of the straps. If I let them go straight up, they would sit over my armpit. However, I haven't had any trouble pulling them into the correct place on my shoulder. The straps are pretty firm elastic, so they stay where you put them. The only downside is this makes the gaping where the strap meets the cup a little worse.
Anyway, I'm happy to have found this bra. I haven't had it long enough to know how it holds up over time, but it seems to be built well.
UPDATE (November 2021): This was absolutely my go-to bra for the past two years. It fit me well and held up to regular wear, so I am sad that it no longer fits. Why doesn't it fit? I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and have gained some breast tissue. My current measurements put me into a 34G or 34GG. My breasts no longer fit the shape of this bra well. Instead, they push the underwire down in an effort to get more space in the cup. This means the wire is ~1.5" below my IMF and creates a crease in the bottom of the cup. Additionally, there is significant quadding at the top of both cups. The gore floats about 1" off my sternum. Overall, the bra feels tight despite the band being the correct size (because there isn't enough space in the cups. The worst part for me is that the bra has been discontinued for a long time so I can't even try the correct size for my current measurements. I'll be very sad if I can never have my "holy grail" bra back. Read more 357 more words
- Band is snug and comfortable - Gore is comfortable - Cups are a tad too big - Straps are fine - Wire feels comfortable
## SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO NOW
Return (34:F), will probably try 34:E.
The bra fits really nicely but the lace top of the cup is just loose enough to cause a fold on my larger side which will show through clothes.
Wore a cookie on my smaller side in pics.
## MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION
- Backband is an ok softness poly performance knit (not a power mesh) - Two (2) piece bottom cup is lovely french dot mesh and lined with semi-sheer nylon, not a tricot mesh, which makes the cups really comfortable. - Top cup is a lightweight soft stretch lace - Frame and two-piece gore are lined with a mesh tricot - Hook & eye is standard felt-backed, not itchy
This bra was recommended to me because I like the Cleo Maddie (which I have in a 34F, but haven't tried in a 32FF). With a 33" snug underbust, I sometimes fit a 32FF and sometimes a 34F, so I tried the Juna in both sizes.
For the most part, I like this one. The Cleo Juna fits similarly to the Maddie in the cup. For me, the gore tacks well and the band is comfortable. The cups are a touch small, so I get a bit of quadding. I don't know how apparent that is in the pictures, but I can definitely see it through a tight shirt ...when I look down at my chest. I like the cups otherwise - they're lightly padded so they are smooth and don't let nipples show through. I was a little worried about the vertical seam showing through shirts, but it does not appear to. It does; however, help the cups move with me better than most molded cups do. I'm not sure if going up a cup size would help or just make the fit weird, but I'm not planning to try it because of the problem I'm having with the straps. Honestly, the main complaint I have about the bra is actually the straps. There is an o-ring between the soft, padded section of strap and the adjustable portion of the strap. Unfortunately, the bra fits me in a way that puts that o-ring at a weird spot on my shoulder that wouldn't be comfortable for all-day wear.
Ultimately, I'm not keeping this one. It was tempting because I got it for a good price and it is a close fit, but I have options that suit me better. Read more 179 more words
i remeasured myself and to my great surprise, the measurements look like im possibly wearing too small of a band + too large of a cup, which is confusing to me. so, i ordered a few bras from amazon in different sizes to see if maybe thats true? generally ive been in a 34FF but measurements suggest id need more of a 36 band. i got this in a 34F, 36E, and have it coming in also a 34FF and a 36F because im dumb and forgot that this bra/cut might run small in general.
i cant tell exactly why, but this bra feels like it doesnt fit. im ...unsure of if im judging it right though, because new measurements have me second guessing myself. firstly and most obviously: the straps are freaking murder! holy cow. it feels like the left strap especially is dinging down so hard onto my shoulder, its painful to even wear it for a try on as i review it. i have it fully extended, so im not sure if its just too short on that side? do i need a larger cup or something or do these straps just suck and hurt? no idea. theyre wider set to because its a half cup, and very thin, but i dont feel the width as an issue. and my right side feels fine. **EDIT** it looks like the way it had adjusted was twisted a bit, so i dont notice it with a second try on. still, this is the max adjustment, and the narrow stiff fabric is not comfy.
as for the band, where i was most concerned because my my new measurements say that a 34 might be too small: if i try this on backwards, the band feels snug on the furthest hook, which is what i expect a Cleo 34 band to feel on me. they tend to be a bit stiff to start and then break in. its not uncomfortable, and not appearing to warp the wires, just normal bra snug. the same goes for when i wear it the right way. the band is made of a smooth material that feels like it would be comfortable and supportive. i would probably wear it with an extender until it broke in though, just to make extra sure im not wearing it to snug, and also to extend the life of it. with one hook on the extender i still feel comfortable and supported, and it will be less stress on the band.
the cups feel like they arent quite right. i feel like im on the edge of coming out the sides, and i dont know if its that they are too narrow or too low, or if theyre just too small in general. im guessing too low in the wings, because its not painful like its laying on breast tissue, it just doesnt feel super secure at the sides. plus in this model, the wire doesnt go all the way to the edge of the channel, so there is empty space in the underarm channel side which makes it even lower. the top of the cup lays flat and the cups are full, but as i cant wear this for an extended period of time (im returning them) i wont be able to tell if i would scoot out during wear. i think if the wires on thew side were taller, this might be a pretty close to perfect fit for me. so close! i have more sizes of this coming, so i can see if a larger cup would work better. **EDIT** i think the measurements get rounded up sometimes, so for the sake of accuracy, these are a bit more than 5 and 3/8ths inches wide from the actual wire, not the channel, to the wire. i didnt measure to the end of the channel because some of it is empty space. its juust under 5 1/2 inches.
appearance wise im eh about this bra. i just dont like animal print, but as this was a try on buy and not a personal buy, i dont care much. i do like that its a more muted/ 'tame' leopard print, dark navy on lighter blue. Read more 595 more words
I'm borderline 32/34 and this is a used bra, so of course I'm on the 2nd set of hooks, but I am actually surprised that I don't have to fasten it on the 3rd set - perhaps the band runs small if it weren't used? But the truly surprising thing is how wide set the straps are! I do not have this problem with Ewa Michalaks like so many do, nor with Fauve half cups as some do. However, this bra! I have to move them almost to the falling-off edge of my shoulders to align the cups correctly. The print is a sweet 70's-reminiscnce, the hot-pink lace ...is not binding and there is zero stretch to the lightweight fabric. The straps have the same fabric all the way up to the back and are only partly adjustable. It doesn't pull or hold side tissue in very well, the wires don't go up very high on the sides and the central seam is way toward the center, but the gore is fairly tall. So better for center-full than side-full like me. I'll get good use from it in the summer due to the colors! Read more 86 more words
I have been wanting to try Kayla and when I saw it on sale at a terrific price, I finally grabbed one. I had a suspicion this bra wouldn't be a perfect fit for me and I was right - I am more even to full on bottom and I'd read this bra is more for the full on top.
Appearance - this bra is much cuter in person than the online images I've seen. The colors are more muted and the fabric is soft. The stretch lace on the cups is soft as well - nothing scratchy!
Onto the fit... The band is perfect, just what I expect from ...a 34. I can fill the bottom of the cups with no problem. My fit issues are with the lace top portion. When I sit with perfect posture, shoulders back, the fit is decent. The lace portion just sits there - it doesn't provide any support but it doesn't wrinkle either. Of course, once that perfect posture goes away or I move my arms forward, the lace bunches/gaps a bit.
I love the forward projection and shape this bra gives me so I've decided I will keep it. I figure a little bit of thread and I can easily tighten the upper lace portion to give me a perfect fit. Read more 111 more words
Edited to add: This review in on the pink/black color way.
I purchased this Cleo bra in a sister size as my prior experience with this brand indicated the bands ran snug. To get a good fit in this bra, I had to use the second hooks. Even then the size was odd on me -- almost too big and too small at the same time. My breasts completely filled out the lower portion of the cup. The stretchy lace at the top, however, was ever so slightly wrinkled at the top. With good posture the lace issue was not noticeable but with any movement the gaping was worse. I put on a T-shirt to see if the wrinkling was visible and to my surprise I noticed quad-boobage.
Edit #2 - With a few stitches I was able to get the lace to lie flat when I fasten the bra on the tightest hook! Fits perfectly now! Next time I will go with a 32 for sure.
This bra's measurements have been altered
Adjusted lace at the straps to stop the slight gaping/rippling. Perfect fit now.
I ordered this bra in a sister size of 34F as the other Cleo bras I have tried had a firmer band. The band on this bra is very VERY stretchy. In order for me to get a decent fit in the cups, I had to use the tightest hook settings straight away - which would leave no room for stretch from wear.
Other than that - very cute supportive bra. The material is somewhat see through but soft. The top edge of the cup did not cut in nor gape on me.
I will be sending this bra back and exchanging it for my regular size (32FF).
I don’t see the wires as too wide but I see the loose lace and the in cup quadding which is never flattering, though invisible under clothes. Sorry it’s not a love bra. I don’t think that it’s a size issue.