This is a really cute bra in nice bright colors that is great for the full on top lady - but not so great if you're a full on top lady with lower fullness also. Even-shaped ladies watch out because the lower cup depth is not on par with the upper cup looseness. HOWEVER, the immediately lower cup projection is to die for. Even if you can't quite fill out the upper cup in the size you need to accommodate your lower fullness, this could still be a great bra.

Depending on my cycle, posture, how well I swoop & scoop, I get varying amounts of "flop" in the ... upper cup lace. The great part about this bra is that the lace is so thin and smooth that even when it isn't filled it doesn't show under clothes. Moreover, if it did bother you, the lace upper panel is attached to the side sling and strap so it's possible to sew two stitches to tack the lack a little further in under the other fabric and tighten it up.

The wires are a touch narrow for me, but it's so slight that the only reason it is a problem is because they dig in both at the top of the gore and at the outer tips of the underwire. This has more to do with the underwire shape than width specifically, I think, and would be remedied if I simply bent them. I don't think I'll try that out for a while, if ever, and certainly not on this particular bra because I'm planning to sell it, but maybe on one of my older Marcies that I bought used...

The color and sheen on the fabric are gorgeous, as are the polka dot pattern in the lower mesh and wave pattern in the lace. I'm not a fan of pink, personally, but the hot pink bow at the gore really contrasts for some nice pop to the bra. Because it is all mesh and lace, the bra is quite breathable, and perfect for summer. No boob sweat ever https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

The band runs a touch loose, like in most Cleos in this size range, but it's not a huge deal https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> This bra has such a great range of cup sizes that most people will be able to sister size down with little consequence.
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Updated on Jun 04, 2013 Flag this

This is what a bra 4 sizes too big looks like.

black colorway

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Updated on Feb 25, 2022 Flag this

http://www.curvywordy.com/2015/11/panache-cleo-kali-purple-babydoll-34j.html

Updated on Nov 30, 2015 Flag this

CurvyWordy

2641 reputation

170 bras

I followed the advice from cupandahalf half and tried sizing down a cup. I also sized down a band and fastened it with an extender, as I seem to fall pretty consistently between a 34 and 36 band. I think cupandahalf is right - this is a better fit! There is much less loose material in the tops of the cups while still tacking at the gore. The shape has a smaller, tidier profile - I have gone from a kidney bean to a cannellini. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" /> The smaller cups still seem wide enough, and the wire so far ... only threatens to poke under the arms. I'll have to wear it a little longer to see if it actually makes good on it.

So this bra gave me a unique problem I have never contemplated before: my gore tacks, but my shirts do not. :/ Both the tank top and the shirt I tied on are stretched out away from my chest at the collar! This gives me some pause, as I am not keen to replace my wardrobe along with my bras.

I find this bra very cute, but a little scratchy. I think a few washes would help with that. It delivers more uplift than most other bras have managed and a nice rounded shape. I like the polka dots, but I wish they had some more colors to choose from in my size.

@cupandahalf, thank you for your good advice!
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"Nude" colorway

Updated on Jun 10, 2019 Flag this

Aww man, it's too big. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> I love the colour, and oh my golly, it's leaving my armpits alone!

Edit: It's poking into the side of my right breast. WHY?!

Edit: The gore is also poking into me like on my Jasmine. Is it because it's too narrow?

Edit: I seem to have grown into it.

This bra's measurements have been altered

Altered band,

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on May 31, 2015 Flag this

http://www.curvywordy.com/2013/04/panache-cleo-marcie-bra-in-red.html

Updated on Apr 14, 2013 Flag this

CurvyWordy

2641 reputation

170 bras

The only nice things that I can say about this bra are that it felt somewhat sturdy (with one exception) and that the cups weren't too wide. Everything else was incredibly uncomfortable and not right for me. I think balconette-style bras may just not work for my body; there was immediate and lingering pain from the moment I put it on to long after I took it off. The straps were way out as far as possible and dug into my shoulders uncomfortably, causing neck and shoulder pain even after I loosened them all the way. The band dug in and pinched and the underwire felt like it ... was bruising my ribs and yet slipping down my ribcage at the same time. I'll probably size the band up if I try this brand again. There was maybe half an inch of gap at the top of the cup, so it was definitely too big, but I did totally fill the sides and bottoms of the cups. The center gore did not sit flat. I think it might have been too wide.

Despite all of this, my breasts were hiked up practically to my neck. They felt unnaturally high and it was uncomfortable and looked bizarre on me. I think this might be a more comfortable bra for someone with less projection or just in a smaller size for someone with wider shoulders.

The aforementioned quality exception was one of the eyes in the clasp. It was loose and wiggling around when I took it out of the package. For a brand new bra, that seemed like a problem waiting to happen, especially for one meant to support so much weight. On a related note, two hooks is definitely not enough for this style. It needed at least three, but preferably four, and that probably contributed to the band discomfort.
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Black colorway

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Updated on Jan 06, 2021 Flag this

I just got this bra in the mail today and it fits reasonably well (much better than the Panache Jasmines that were my first foray into bras that were my correct size and I've stuck with them because I had a good source for them. I don't have the money or energy to try ordering from Poland). Immediate projection is better than I expected but still not quite enough for the gore to sit flat, and the straps are set basically under my arm in the front so they cut into my armpit a bit. Still keeping it though, because the wire width is perfect, even though I ... could use a smidge more projection or maybe a larger cup.

I bought two of them and one of them has smaller cups than the other, which seems to exacerbate the strap placement issue. I'm losing weight, though, so we'll see how it goes.

Edited later to add that after losing weight, the strap situation is indeed much better, but something about the nubs on the elastic on the straps and on the bottom of the band still does get irritating, especially after you've had it on for a few hours. I still love the way I look in it, though.
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Updated on Nov 08, 2018 Flag this

Whoah, I was NOT prepared for how wide the wires of this bra are! They're "only" 7.5" or so, but they feel wider than that, and wrap around toward my back. I'm even wearing the bra with an extender! If I hook the bra on its own, the wires take up most of the band space. On a smaller woman, it would truly wrap to their back! I can't imagine this bra on a true 34-band person. The east-west action is pretty pronounced, too. Because so much of the cup was on my sides, there wasn't a whole lot of projection. It did not fit me, and I had unacceptable levels of quadboob. I'm very disappointed, because a 34J ought to be just about the same as a 36HH, which I wear. Perhaps there was a major shape mismatch at play.

On the plus side, the heart embroidery was quite cute, the fabric felt sturdy but not rough, and the color ("coral") seemed like it wouldn't show badly under clothing. Such a shame it didn't fit.

Coral colorway

Updated on Dec 24, 2015 Flag this

This is a great shape bra for me. Fits quite perfect, and a good, lifted and projected effect.
It's too bad I don't like Cleo's very girly stuff + that there's always only 2 hooks.

It runs large all over - so I may want to adjust the band. I think I would ideally do with 32JJ's from Cleo, but oh well.

http://xlhourglass.blogspot.com/2013/05/hooray-massive-succes-in-cleo-meg.html

Updated on May 17, 2013 Flag this

XLhourglass

1002 reputation

83 bras

The band is really big.

It has good projection, but not quite enough immediate projection for me to be perfect.
The gore is very high, just like other Panache and Cleo.

The fabric is okay, but the overall feel of the bra I think only really works if you're a bit smaller. I don't like 2-hook bras and the straps are very narrow so it doesn't feel supportive enough for me.

On some days I can wear this, others I quad out of it, and some other days the top wrinkles on me. But the band rides up if I wear it and the fabric makes marks into my skin which is unpleasant and the bra is not very comfortable to wear.

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 Flag this

My 34J boobs are very soft, balanced/FOB, with lots of immediate projection and (I think) narrow roots. Hettie is one of only three bras I've tried that more or less stay in my IMF, and it's quite comfortable. For me, the Hettie gives a more natural shape rather than the very round shape Cleo is famous for, but not pointy.

In my size, the top half of the cup has a layer of mesh behind the lace. ( I think this is a feature in GG and up.) Smaller cup sizes just have one layer of stretch lace. Other folks with very soft breasts have reported in-cup quadding from the stretch-lace-only version. I don't have any in-cup quadding in the 34J, and my boobs are very prone to that. (I can't make Curvy Kate Ellace work at all for this reason.)

UPDATE: Sadly, I do have some quadding at the top of the cup after a few wears. Still serviceable, but not a good fit.

Violet Mix colorway

Updated on Sep 11, 2017 Flag this

Kayla has good projection and uplift, similar to but not as extreme as Jasmine. The band seemed very stretchy - I measure closer to a 36 than a 34 but was easily able to use the second row of hooks here.

I think the wires are slightly below my IMF, but acceptably so. Story of my life right there.

Biggest issues for me are the straps and in cup quadding. Straps were far too wide and kept flopping over. I have narrow shoulders but wear a lot of Panache so I knew what to expect, but I guess Kayla's straps are wider than typical for Panache/Cleo.

I'm slowly trying to understand what in cup quadding is and how to prevent it. So far I have noticed that I do not experience it on similar bras like Envy and Clara, which both have side slings. I DO get in cup quad from Pour Moi St. Tropez, which does not have a side sling but does have "side boning", whatever that is.

Any thoughts on in cup quadding, y'all? Thanks.

Graffiti colorway

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Updated on Nov 09, 2016 Flag this

I originally bought this bra because it is on the same pattern as the Cleo Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) . The Minnie also fits me very well, but is made of a less forgiving fabric, so it's best for wearing on my smaller days.

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Updated on Jun 04, 2016 Flag this

Bratabase calculator keeps insisting I must be at least a 34J UK whenever I update measurements, but the Lily suggests otherwise. The band is on the loose-ish side of comfortable on the widest hook and the cups are too big in every way. Wrinkling on top, empty space on bottom, and loose material on the sides. The shape feels like it would be accurate -- even fullness/full all over, somewhat wide roots -- if it just fit, so I'm going to try the same style in 34HH and see what happens.

Parrot colorway

Updated on Aug 20, 2015 Flag this

Panache and Cleo haven't yet failed me.

I bought this because of the parrot print, it's whimsical and I call it my "dead parrot" bra, in honor of the much memorized Monty Python sketch. Beautiful plumage, it has. (Really, I was not expecting the navy and coral to look so fetching together, But they do. And the little bright yellow bow on the gore is an adorable afterthought.)

The shape is great. The projection suits me well, and I'm certain Cleo uses dark and secret magics to have a two hook closure provide such support even at my larger back and cup size.

Now that I've got one, I'm quite upset that it's discontinued.

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Updated on Feb 04, 2015 Flag this

I'm giddy over this one. It works pretty well. I could use a touch more projection at the bottom (I think), but other than that this bra is the best fit yet.

In fact, I keep checking myself out in bathroom mirrors and am continually amazed at the consistency of the fit.

It's comfortable, too. I had read about some folks' experience about Lucy being scratchy and pokey, but I find this bra to be supremely comfortable.

And the UPLIFT....it's almost baffling considering the gossamer fabric the cups are made of.

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Updated on Jan 12, 2015 Flag this

The band fit. The wires did not poke my armpits. The cup fit the larger breast with no quadboob affect. The width of the cup was to large. The straps cut into my pit/shoulder. The straps did not stay on my shoulders. My opinion is that if the cup width was narrower then this would solve the cutting in the armpit, the straps staying on the shoulder and possibly the support. So I am sending this back.

Aqua/Pink colorway

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Updated on Dec 26, 2014 Flag this

This is so far the most comfortable and best fitting bra for me! I wish it came in more colors as I would want them all!! The shape is great too.. Now to figure out which other bras are very close to this one

Pros:
The straps have a soft lined underside
Cute bird pattern with coral mesh detail and coral color straps
All mesh (except straps) so is light and breathable
Gives nice round and uplifted shape


The only con for me is that there are only 2 hooks instead of the usual 3 in larger cup sizes but this bra is still so supportive and comfortable that it does't make that much of a difference.

Updated on Jun 28, 2014 Flag this

This one was, sadly, way too big for me. That was my fault, though, for assuming the fit of the padded Cleos would be similar to the unpadded ones.

Really lovely design on this bra, though. I'd definitely try it again in a proper size.

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Apr 10, 2014 Flag this