Aboobaccount

I tried this model in a 28F (http://bra.pe/XY3C/) already and the cups felt really small and didn't fit properly. But thanks to Calluna and lcl0706 I gave it another try in 30F and this is so much better. Thanks for convincing me! The color looks better then expected. I originally wanted to get a blue one but this was on sale on bravissimo.com. It's a mix between purple and Bordeaux red and it looks even more intense in person then on the photos. I also like the shiny straps and the band at the bottom.

The cups are filled out perfectly, ... the gore finally tacks and there is enough space at the top in front. I also don't get that weird pressure on the outside of my breasts anymore. The wires are still a bit too wide but they are soft so I don't feel them. The elastic in front of my armpits wrinkles and there is some empty space. It gets worse, when I lift my arms and better when I move the straps towards my neck. But it's completely invisible under clothes. I guess it would fit even better on someone with wider, and possibly taller roots since the sides are quite high. Surprisingly the shape is also more projected then in the 28F probably the cups were indeed pulled flat by the band due to the soft wires.

Comfort is amazing. I have this for over two month now and wear it quite often. At first it felt way too loose but wearing it to work I noticed that it doesn't shift around and my boobs don't move much. Only when I bend over the gore lifts of my sternum slightly and the stretch lace feels like it could allow my breast to move forward making it feel less secure. Overall it doesn't quite match the support and shape of my super tight 28Fs but in return it is more comfortable toward the end of the day. Also the larger portion of stretch lace provides some room for swelling which makes it a great period bra.
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Mulberry colorway

Updated on Apr 29, 2018 Flag this

This was absolute bargain and it's totally underrated! I got it from ebay for about 7€ (last one) and managed to find 2 more for about 20€. The baby blue looks super cute and what appears to be white in the pictures is actually a very light cream or blush (hard to tell). It is almost invisible under a fitted white shirt. My only complaint is that the lace part on top tends to fold over so it looks like it is wrinkling even though the cups are perfectly filled, but you can probably fix this with a few stitches. The shape is very round but a bit ... taller and more projected then my Cleo Marcie (http://bra.pe/XYLq/).

The support is amazing. The whole design is probably overkill for smaller cup sizes. But I can imagine that it works very well for a pair of large, heavy boobs. Mine aren't very big but quite dense and heavy so it feels really nice to get this level of support. The gore is very high: It measures 7.5cm which is about as high as my Cleo Kayla (http://bra.pe/XYLt/). But considering the gap at the bottom of the band it is more like 10cm.
It tack very firmly and anchors the upper part of the cups to my sternum so there is no jiggling even when I run or jump. But it also pokes me a little when I try to slouch. The lower elastic of the band is also crossed over in front and attached to the wire channels which makes the center part more rigid.

The cups are almost completely closed on top. It actually feels more like a full cup bra with wide set straps. They are made of two layers with the outer, blue layer for decoration. The lower ¾ of the inner layer are made of a thick mesh that could probably stop bullets. The upper ¼ section is a little stretchy but still firm enough for me to do a handstand without having to adjust my boobs afterward. The wires are firm and quite tall at the sides. But they are narrow enough to follow my IMF without digging in. The band fits incredibly tight (more like a 27) but not in a pinchy or uncomfortable way. It kinda adds to the overall supportive feeling. I'm sure a 30F would be firm enough as well but on some super busy days I actually like having my bra as tight as possible. Quality is also great. I got my oldest one about 5 month ago and it still feels and looks like new.

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Updated on Feb 16, 2018 Flag this

I have this for at least a year but didn't wear it very often so I somehow forgot to review it. But it proved to be really light and comfortable during the last extremely warm summer months.

The design is unobtrusive but very pretty. I like the transparent lace, the shiny straps and the lack of big colorful bows. The cup fabric reminds me of old wallpapers. But it's blue and I'm a sucker for blue so that's fine.

Like others have said, the fabric in front is very scratchy on the outside and mildly scratchy on the inside and it doesn't get better with washing. I don't mind that ... but it could be a problem if it's chafing or if you have very sensitive skin. The lace is made of the same soft and stretchy material used on the Panache Andorra and Cleo Kayla and the band consists of a thin breathable mesh.

The fit is different from my other Cleo / Panache bras that tend to push all my breast tissue to the center. It's supportive but my boobs just keep their natural wide and projected shape. I didn't like this at first but it is a welcome change now that I own so many bra that make a super round shape. Also because my boobs get really achy when I only wear ball shaped bras like my Cleo Meg ( http://bra.pe/XYNg/ ) or Marcie ( http://bra.pe/XYLq/ ) for several days. Maybe they want to express their personality and don't like to be forced into an artificial geometric shape all the time https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />

The wires have the same narrow shape as in my Panache Andorra ( http://bra.pe/XYit/ ). But they are more flexible, so they fit a bit too wide ending about 1.5 cm behind by breast tissue. But they don't poke me and I even find it more comfortable to have the wires sit in a slightly different spot from time to time. The band fits pretty snug but has enough give to remain comfortable during a 12 hour workday.

Quality is great: The color is still really intense and nothing has stretched out after at least 15 washes.
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Updated on Aug 17, 2018 Flag this

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.
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Updated on Mar 29, 2018 Flag this

Styling

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.

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White colorway

Updated on Feb 04, 2018 Flag this

The colors are weird: It's a pink and brown animal print on a beige background. The beige looks a lot brighter on the pictures but it doesn’t look too bad in person. The cups them self are not too visible under a bright shirt but you do notice the black seams and straps.

The fit is OK. The cups feel somewhat large one me but I am sure the black trim on top would be cutting in if they were any smaller. It probably works better for a full on bottom shape. Unlike most other Cleos this does not make my breasts super round. It is more of a ... natural very projected shape. In fact it only lifts my boobs a little without really changing their shape. The fabric is thin and the seams don't align with my nipples so they can easily poke though.

The band is very loose and stretchy. It feels like a loose 30 (like Freya) or a snug 32. It is still OK on my 73.5cm ribcage but not very supportive. I mostly wear this one at home or when I just don't feel like wearing one of my tigher bras. The straps are also long and stretchy. I am tempted to shorten them even more but that just makes the band ride up. The wires are firm and a little too wide on me but they don't poke my anywhere.

Quality is also good. I have it for almost 6 month now and it didn't stretch much and still looks like new. I also like that the wire channels are exactly the right length. On some of my other bras I have over 1 cm of empty wire channel at the sides which looks a bit strange.

Overall it's a really nice and comfy bra but if you have a smaller ribcage then I you should go down at least one band size in order to get any support.
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Updated on Feb 10, 2018 Flag this

This has been returned before I could measure it.

It has the same issues as the Marguerite http://bra.pe/XZ3t/ but worse, making it unwearable. The cups are too low and too closed on top. The edge somehow gapes and cuts in at the same time. The band is quite a bit tighter, pulling the wires out of shape and making the cups too wide (and I already have wide set boobs). There is also some empty space and wrinkling at the sides even though the cups feel too small in front it also doesn't give any lift even when the straps are really tight.

Cobalt blue colorway

Updated on Jul 28, 2018 Flag this

This is one of my favorites and I just ordered two more in case they discontinue it.

The pink / red color is super intense. It looks weird and bikini like under anything bright and see through but works really well under a black top especially if you show some cleavage and the lace peeks out a little.

Sizing was difficult. I'm between a 28F and 28FF / 30F and the stretch lace felt very snug at first although it loosened up nicely after a few washes. But I was also missing a bit of space at the sides. The band is very tight, which made me try it in ... a 30F and 30E (it was in a shop so no pictures, sorry). In the 30F the cups were wrinkling which made the stretch lace super itchy. And I got the dreaded torpedo shape, poking nipples and a painful gore on top. In the 30E the gore felt good but the cups still looked pointy and the wires were too narrow, hurting my sides. So I decided to stick with the 28F as the tight band seems to stretch the wires enough for my wide roots and it somehow creates a rounder, perkier shape.

Quality is great. The straps are very smooth and comfortable the elastic is firm but not pinchy and the band didn't stretch in over 6 month.

The design is very interesting. Like with to my Panache Georgia (http://bra.pe/XYON/) the elastic is crossed over below the gore making the front part more rigid and supportive. I also like the side support slings attached to the straps which really push my wide set boobs to the center. When I shorten the straps a bit more, like in the pictures the slings also provide tonnes of support by stopping any east west movement. I even wore this thing during a kickbox sparing without adjusting it even once. (All my sports bras were dirty, don't try this). My only minor complaint is that the wires sometimes make a strange creaking noises when I lift my arms or twist my torso.
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Updated on Jul 09, 2018 Flag this

This was my first try on bravissimo bras. It was on sale for 15 Pounds so I just added it to reach the 100 Pound threshold required for free shipping when I ordered 3 more Cleo Marcies (now I just need 5 more colorways for my collection, yay).

The cobalt blue is really intense. Too bad it's a bit darker around the band making the front part look slightly washed out. I also love the bright flowers but the 5 bows on this thing are a bit too much.

The fit is quite bad but for some reason insanely comfortable so I “forgot” to return it and still wear it ... at home or to sleep. The wires are super flexible: I can easily pinch both ends together without any lasting deformation and they go from wide to very wide when I stretch the band a few centimeters. Interestingly they don't fit too wide when wearing it. There is about 1 cm between the tip of the wires and my breast tissue. Maybe my boobs pull them back to the center because the cups are a little small? However the front part feels a little unsupportive and the gore doesn’t tack. It effectively looks and feels like a wireless bra.

The cups feel deep and projected with little space on top. They are complete rigid with a firm ribbon on top that cuts in when I lean forward but it doesn't feel to tight. Overall they give me a projected cone like look. I guess this could work better on someone with a more full on bottom shape.

The straps feel wide set even on my very wide shoulders but they don't slip. The band feels true to size but with a lot of stretch which is super nice when slouching on the couch. Quality also looks great. The fabric in front feels very smooth and soft, there are no loose threads and the clasps are properly sewn in, not threatening to come out like on some of my Cleos.
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Blue Floral colorway

Updated on Jul 28, 2018 Flag this

So this is my first EM bra. Found it on a street market in Prague for 5€! There were not tags on it but it's unworn according to the seller. Unfortunately it was the only bra she had close to my size. It must be a very old style. The label just says “Effuniak” but no model. I googled for the most obvious “Effuniak ZeBra” but couldn’t find any matching images. Also tried a reverse image search. But google just says it's a bra. Well, thanks google!

I think for the price its a total win. The design is so elegant. No crazy colors that shine though everything, no ... ridiculous bows that make me feel like a 12 year old. Just black and white in a nice simplistic pattern.

I got lucky with the fit. The cups are a bit small on the sides but the volume is still OK (more like a 28F Cleo/Panache). The wires are narrow but flexible so they fit slightly too wide. The band is very short (48cm!) but also very stretchy. I can pull it to 70cm without much effort. Then there is a bit of resistance around 73 cm and it suddenly stops at 76cm. In fact I'm almost stretching it to the limit with my 74 cm ribcage. But it still feels loose due to the soft fabric. Most of my other 28Fs are around 54cm unstretched but feel like a corset compared to this one. The cups are very lightly padded (like 2mm thick) and extremely soft, which must be due to the little bunnies on the inside https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" /> . They even have a bit of stretch and lots of space on top. I don't get a much lift and shape though. My boobs sit quite a bit lower compared to other bras. But I think it still gives a nice and natural looking shape especially because the padding is completely invisible under clothes. And it's extremely comfortable. The center feels jiggly and unsupportive. So I cannot wear it to work. But it's perfect for going out or slouching around at home. Plus it gives my sternum a break from all these high, firmly tacking gores.

I can't say much about the quality yet but it feels very delicate. Just hope it won't stretch out too soon.

Now I want to try more EM bras. My boyfriend is also a fan and even offered to get me a one for free. I like the CHP and SM models but don't know where to start:

-Are the current models less stretchy? The unstreched band length seems to average around 53cm in a size 60. And they only start at 65 on their site. Are all the 60 bands added here custom made or is there a different source?

-Assuming that this one runs large in the cups. Would a 60F be fine for me? (I'm between 28F and 28FF in Cleo / Panache / Freya)

-Do they still come with such flexible wires or can you custom order firmer ones? Definitely need stronger wires if I'm going to wear it to work.

Sorry for asking so many questions. This was supposed to become a review.
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Updated on Sep 29, 2018 Flag this