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Bras » Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) » 30F 30:7

Measurement Cm
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Fits ribcage72.5
B. perimeter25.0
Stretched Band75.7
Band Length59.8
Cup width13.2
Cup depth24.7
Wire length24.6
Cup height15.9
Cup separation2.0
Gore height7.2
Wing height9.0
Strap width1.3
Hooks2

80 measurements - 123 bras

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  1. 9
    like

    Fits

    Oh I have so many feels for this bra, though not all good, and I don’t even know where to begin.

    In my recent growth spurt (aka weight gain), my current 30F Marcie in navy has been fitting in the cups way better than when I first got it. Not that it was a horrible fit then, but it was just the reality of a minor shape mismatch. It’s a bra with full on top breasts in mind, and mine are more even to full on bottom due to my soft deflated tissue. Because it’s one of the two bras that fit me well and I wasn’t spilling ... out of (mostly), I opted to get this one, which is the same size, but in black. The band looked like it was a little looser which was a plus, since my navy is actually a bit too tight still. The rest of the specs looked ok, with maybe the cup depth a smidge bigger, which I didn’t anticipate as a problem, especially as I’m prone to swelling after I ovulate. So, I made the deal and received the bra, despite my city being one of the early ones that Canada Post had a strike in (rotating strike).

    The bra actually came with a new tag! I didn’t expect that! I also didn’t expect the bra would fit differently from the navy one, but it does, and not necessarily in a good way. The whole thing is like a half inch taller all around, and the cups are a tad bigger too. This is not the worst thing though. Even though it is gapping on both breasts in a similar manner to how the navy one did when I first got it (although I think it is a bit worse with the black), the biggest problem is that the fabric between the wires and straps is also higher, and it is cutting into my armpits and tail of spence and uncomfortable in some positions. I actually don’t think that the half inch difference is that much of a problem with the gore - it’s already high on the navy, but I can deal with it so long as I don’t wear it again for a second day in a row. The wings/band being marginally higher is also not hugely problematic - I’m ok with it a smidge higher as it feels more supportive, but only as long as it is comfortable. I’ve marked it as fit, even though technically, with the gapping and straps placement, it technically doesn’t. But the lower half of the cup fits well, and I know that the gapping is shape mismatch. The straps bit may or may not be tolerable long term...it’s not my only one with similar issues.

    I have included pics of the navy one over top of the black one being reviewed - remember that they are both 30F. I did also include pics from today (technically yesterday now) where the fit is slightly better. My breasts and nipples have been sore for a few days and I think I just ovulated, or am about to, so I am starting to swell up. You might be able to see the difference in the fit, including the difference in the amount of gapping. You’ll also probably notice that I am actually in cup quadding some, where it’s less noticeable in my navy. I also included a few pics of an experiment that I did in which I folded a thin section of the lace at the top of the cup and then tucked it into the cup to hold (some - it doesn’t stay put for long) and you can see the shorter cup makes it fit loads better except for the in cup quadding. It’s actually kinda cute that way!

    There’s lots of lovely things about this black Marcie though. As solid black with no contrasting colours, it’s subtle and understated, I think, and maybe slightly more adult looking than the fun colours that Marcie comes in. You can see I kind of had fun with a tunic top of mine and it looks sophisticated. It’s got the trademark polka dots on the mesh cups, and the bow at the gore, though it is noticeably larger than the bow on the navy one. As usual, it’s a nice round fit with lightweight materials. Although I might be outnumbered, I do actually like the thinner straps, at least in my size range.

    I have yet to decide whether not to keep it or relist it. It sort of does the job that I got it for, but just not as well as I had hoped. I don’t really want to list this as a fit request, but I would love some basic feedback from those who have been following me for a while now.

    Also, 25 pics! I’m not sure if it’s a record or not, but holy doodle, I can’t stop, and I even cut some of the pics out of the upload...lol!

    Read more
    730 more words

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Nov 04, 2018 Flag this


    • Show all comments (34)
    • 1

      You have shifted size so much since I have first started talking to you!
      It looks really pretty on you.
      I see that it definitely is taller than the other blue one.
      Perhaps this is a newer or older model of the Marcie?
      If you can't see the looseness of the lace under shirts, I would mark it as a win as well.
      Have you thought about throwing a few stitches in the spot where you folded the lace under to keep it there?
      Although I do think this looks a bit tight.
      Since you know, Ewa and Comexim are the only brands in the world making their bands looser while every other brand it making there bands firmer (ofcourse cleo/panache is still doing the same thing they've always done, but I just wanted to throw that out there lol) now that the world is finally trying to hop on the "well fitting bra" train.

    • 1

      It looks great under a shirt! I'd say if the tall wings and wires are not a problem comfort wise, the issues can be overlooked cause the shape it gives you is very nice.

    • 1

      First, I *love* all the photos. Each and every one of them is helpful and holds value. More is always better IMO, as we can never predict what each person is looking for when they utilize them, as we each have our own unique set of fit issues and bra priorities, so great job with the photos!

      Second, excellent review! Very thorough and descriptive. Anyone researching this bra will be overjoyed with the plethora of information provide. Yay!

      Don't you get frustrated with inconsistency in manufacturing? Maybe this one was a slight second, not of full quality so distributed at discount stores or eBay discount sellers. Some advertise them as such but often they don't let you know. I've gotten several like that before I realized the "great deal" wasn't such a deal after all, haha.

    • 2

      I'd say it all comes down to your own comfort. Will you actually wear it, or will it sit in your drawer because you know that it's not comfortable? If the wings and/or gore and/or straps are cutting into you and chaffing, then maybe think about relisting and trying a different Marcie. If you're comfortable wearing it, and a little bit of gaping doesn't bother you, then keep it. It gives you a great shape (and I also always appreciate lots of pictures)! I personally have two Marcies that fit quite differently, but I kept both. I tend to reach for my purple one more than my aqua one because I find it more comfortable. These days, I only keep bras that I KNOW I'll reach for because they're comfortable.

    • 2

      opps. I accidently downvoted you because I hadn't realized I already upvoted your review. Sorry. I re-upvoted you!

    • 4

      lol Wilderness1 I do that ALL the time by accident. I basically upvote most things and forget then try to upvote again then I try to upvote again then downvote then upvote again, forget... you get the point.

    • 3

      Hi friends, sorry for the late response. It was cuckoo bananas at work today, plus I'm starting to get sick, and I'm beat. Zzzzz. Borscht, pierogi, and kielbasa are in my future. Probably more of the soup.

      I'm not terribly fussed about the gapping because it's not visible underneath my shirt, and I wear an under shirt under my uniform shirt to help it stay clean longer as I pay for my laundry. The taller sides is not itself a problem, just that they are part of the reason that it is digging into my armpits which is where my greatest hesitation is with this bra. I've had other bras that do this and it always bugged me, though at a point in the day, sometimes I just get used to it and forget about it. I wore this bra for a short while yesterday morning and ended up switching to a different one shortly after. I'm probably going to be mindful of that and try it again when at home, as I am not prepared to test it with an all day wear yet. I might just have been a bit temperamental...

      I'm glad that everyone is in agreement that it still looks good despite it not being the same fit as my navy Marcie, or as good. It's super frustrating when this happens. I mean, on one hand, if they are responding to customer complaints that the band is too tight or loose and they've adjusted the template for the future runs, I can't really blame them for trying to make it better. But it's the inconsistency that changes all the time that makes it super hard for the consumer who is buying with the expectation that it will be the same way that the others that they have are. I have no idea if this is older or newer than the navy. I got it from a user here, and it still has a tag on it, but that still doesn't mean it is recent. It could still be old stock that is simply new to the consumer but not necessarily a new release. But I think it's new still. I'm just not totally sure.

      I'm glad I am ok with pics. I always feel like I upload more than everyone else does...but I like to be thorough when I can. I see some who have like 5, maybe 10, and here I am with 25. But I have pics of the bra on me with different angles, bra off for details, bra under clothes... and it all adds up.

      As for the down vote/up vote, you're not alone. I've done this more than once. I think that it's partly because it's in colour when you do it, but when you come back to the comments, it is all grey and then you can't tell that you have already voted. Would love a pop up saying that you've already voted on this, would you like to change it or cancel it to leave it sort of like how now I get a message saying that I have already published the comment so as not to duplicate it.

      Anyway, I'll keep testing it out for a bit and then decide what to do. For now, it's find a tissue and then pass out on the couch for a bit, then heat the borscht.

      Love you all!!!

    • 2

      Feel better Calluna !

    • 1

      Thanks Wilderness1...and sorry for not responding individually and tagging in my comment above.

    • 2

      Hope you feel better!

      If I remember you said you're pre period and I know that I am more sensitive to what I wear during those days (and esp if I'm also coming down with something as well).

      So I say give the bra a test ride when it's all over and if it still bothers you, then don't torture yourself with it, definitely!

    • 1

      brasaremean, I’m just waiting on one more temp to confirm ovulation, though maybe two, because the initial rise temp from Saturday morning might be questionable and artificially high from less sleep. But it’s matching my other body signs so possibly legit still. But you’re right, I might have just been in a hormonal mood. I know my right shoulder had begun to throb with pain, which I attributed to the bra whether or not it was the cause or not. So I took it off.

      Borscht was delicious. Straight outta Poland, yo. ;)

    • 1

      Yay, glad it was delicious.

    • 1

      Update: I’ve worn this a few times now, including a full day at work (possibly more...I can’t recall now) and it’s been ok. I think it’s dependent on what I am wearing with it, but I also end up forgetting about it. I’m a few days into my period now and I never made the lace not gap at all, but I did fill it out a little bit better then. I’m going to keep it for now, though judging from the fit, I’m considering a Lucy in 28G (or 30FF Kali because the band seems tighter on Kali) which appears to have similar cup measurements to this Marcie, but as it’s for FOB breasts and potentially more closed off than Marcie, I’m wondering if it’s a possibility. Wow, could I say Marcie any more times?!

    • 1

      Here’s the comparison of 30F Marcie with 28FF and 28G Lucy. Note that my navy Marcie cup depth is 9.7” or 9.8”, whereas the black is 9.9” or 10” in depth, if that helps. Lucy looks like most of the bands are stretchy compared with the Kali.

      http://bra.pe/CBXr/

    • Comparisons are awesome! It helps paint the whole picture IMO. Thank you for adding the compare link!

    • 1

      Well, the comparison links are only partially helpful because the Marcie measurements for this black one is in between the 28FF and 28G Lucy and the 30F and 30FF Kali. I’m going to have to wait until the next bra arrives and factor its measurements and fit in order to determine whether or not I go up in the cup width those two styles.

    • LeProfessor you mentioned something looks tight in your comment above. What looks like it is tight? The folded over lace or something else?

    • No, I feel like the band looks to be a bit tighter than what i am used to seeing with you.

    • 1

      Ahh. The band actually feels great! I have to use an extender with the navy Marcie as it was 28.5” new when I got it. I’m just about ready to go without it now. My Ellace bras needs to have an extender too, just one extra row of hooks on the crimson, and one or two on the latté. I did actually wear my crimson without an extender recently though. Those were also 28.5” to start with too.

    • 1

      But to be fair, when you were helping me earlier this year with my shape and such LeProfessor, I was getting 29-29.5” snug and I have been at 28-28.5” snug for several months now. Might have been just me adjusting, though the fitter at the specialist shop that used to be here also got 28” snug for me which is why she tried to put me in 28s (but they were sooo tight, even if they did think that it was a better fit than 30s). So I don’t know what happened there. Maybe I wasn’t going snug enough or was measuring myself wrong. But anyway, it’s been 28” ish since spring.

    • 2

      It makes sense, many women have to make steps towards are "perfectly" firm band. They're just not used to how tight it can feel. My UB measurements have technically gotten smaller, but snug is most comfortable at about 27 now I would say, but my bust has also gotten larger by about an 1-2 in bust circumference and between 0.5"-1.5" in horizontal perimeter. I think what we are comfortable with just changes over time Calluna . ^.^

    • 1

      Thanks. Right now, I’m most comfortable with bands at least 29” and up to 30” stretched, but maybe a little more. My 60HH Comexim Victoria is 28.75” stretched and I can manage all day, but it is a bit tighter than I am most comfortable in. I was told that I should consider bands that have stretched measurements of a half to whole inch larger than the snug in measure. Seems to be mostly accurate. I find that anything between 28-29” I can consider snug, but closer to 29” it’s bordering on the loose measurement, and closer to 28” is tighter. But I feel my snug measurement can fluctuate slightly from day to day and sometimes the time of day. Sometimes it’s easy to get the 28” and sometimes it’s better at 28.5” or even in between.

    • 2

      I second the opinion that it if it is comfortable you should wear it, it looks great on you under your sweater, so that is good news :) Feel better soon!

    • 1

      Thanks veggiechic. I had a week of feeling off, but my neti pot really helped reduce my symptoms and how bad I might have been. I’m mostly ok now, with minor congestion.

    • Thank for the review.
      Looks great under that green shirt, btw. It's interesting that your runs larger. I also have a black Marcie (shame on me, still have to add picture) and it actually runs smaller that my other colorways. Maybe they got complaints about it and changed the pattern.

    • Thanks aboobaccount! It’s super odd, but yeah, since black dyes are known for causing tighter fits, maybe they are overcompensating and going bigger...but that still doesn’t explain the taller everything.

      I love that sweater. It’s a nice light one with the burnout design and loose/open knit. I generally do wear it with a grey or navy cami under it, but it’s interesting to see how it looks when I don’t. I have tried it with my latte Ellace and it disappeared under the sweater and blended with my skin. It’s certainly more breezy with only a bra under than if I am wearing a cami under.

      But I agree that the bra looks really good under it solo.

    • 1

      I’ve updated the gallery with new pics from today. I’m high tide and possibly still a little larger than when I got the bra. The bit on the sides and under arm area is still bothering me, but as one of the few better fitting bras I own, I am just dealing with it.

    • 1

      It looks like a wonderful fit now. Sorry it's still bothering you on the sides. :-(

    • 1

      Thanks MamaPagan. It’s definitely a better fit right now than when I got it. Small side does wrinkle a bit still, but super minimally. I’m not sure if I have more tissue than before or if it is just high tide. I have to see how it goes with low tide.

    • Keep us informed! :-)

    • 1

      Will do. I have a little bit of loose lace on my small side but it is not gaping as much as it is in my original pictures.

    • 1

      A bit of gaping on the small side is better than a lot of quadding on the larger side though!

    • 1

      True.

    • True.

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  2. 9
    like

    Fits

    I originally ordered this bra on Amazon US from The Lingerie Outlet in January with a few Freya bras to be sent to my friend in LA, where I was headed to in mid February. For whatever reason, it got cancelled and refunded and I never got it with my order. After I had been back for a month or so, I saw it was on sale in the Canadian Amazon store for a really good price, so I snapped it up and ordered again from The Lingerie Outlet. I had a few more communication mishaps with them because they kept confusing the previous US order that my ... husband had placed for me in January (which was returned for a refund) and the one that I had placed in the Canadian store, but I eventually got it. And I was happy.

    I have had this bra for 3-4 months now, but have only just gotten around to reviewing it. This is because my original pictures were meh because I took them at home when I got it, which was after work one night, and I was losing natural daylight pretty quickly. I got rid of the original pictures, but then I never got around to retake them again until today, while my husband was yakking away in the other room for a podcast he does. I *think* I might have overcompensated a little bit on the pics because I took a lot! I posted most of them too. Because it is such a dark navy colour, with monochromatic detail, it was still a bit challenging to get the best pics from the mirrored closet doors reflection with the light from the windows behind me and have the details show. So I propped my phone up against my copy of Goblet of Fire that's on my nightstand and used the 3 second timer delay timer for a few alternative pics with better lighting, only the camera is slightly tilted because it is leaning against the book to be hands free, meaning that I don't have completely accurate shots, or they look a little bit funny at the slight angle, but the better lighting highlights the bra better, I think. The wires are easier to see. Anyway, I'll move on to the fit portion now...

    A bit about my boobs first...

    I have deflated tallish so functionally short and narrowish roots that are center full and even to full on bottom. My tissue is pretty soft and malleable as well as pendulous. I need immediate projection, but only average apex projection or else I have a pointy shape because my soft tissue just sinks into cups like pudding. Wherever there’s space. Cue Envy and Jasmine on the pointy...

    Also, hooray for the small bit of a tan I have going on right now!

    When I got this bra, it was tight! I could do it up, but I knew from the experience with the Ellace that I would not be able to wear it that tight all day, or for more than an hour or so. I looked at it and it looked just like the 28 bands from the Jasmine and Envy bras I tried on at my local store with the hook end looking short and stubby. It actually only measured 28.5" stretched! So I was very thankful that I had an extender, and popped that puppy on asap! Here's the thing though. From a technical fit perspective, I think that the band tightness and tension are actually pretty good because I had a good fit in the cups and wires. As soon as I added a few rows of eyes from the extender, the cups began to wrinkle some, more on my small side than the larger side. However, under a shirt, this wasn't (isn't) noticeable, and the comfort from the additional columns of eyes was (is) worth it. I started out with the middle set of eyes, relaxing it to the loosest ones after work when I was reclining against the pillows in my bed or on my couch, since the posture changes affect how my band and gore fit. I'm now on the tightest hooks on the extender (one extra row) generally and, while it's snug, I am able to do a full day at work like this. Occasionally I have moved to the middle again, if my sternum is sore or I'm pre-period swollen. All pics are sans extender though...

    As I said above, the cups fit best with no extender. That said, I have a very small amount of room in the cup in the lace portion, but I don't think it's enough to size down. The lace does lay flat against my tissue when I am in a neutral position. As I am even to full on bottom, I am assuming that it is just a minor shape mismatch as this bra is more open on top for fuller tissue than I have. It just wants a little bit more boob than I can give it. I think that it's evident from the side view, as it's quite round on the lower 2/3 (3/4?) of the bra and then a little bit flat or sloped on top against my tissue under the lace bit. I don't think that this is a huge issue, and I seriously doubt that the average person I run into will have any idea or give a shit, you know? Especially under my work shirts (I wear one under the other as an under shirt to help keep the uniform shirts in better condition over time).

    My biggest problem with this bra is the gore. It's a little bit too tall for me. And it just presses into my sternum and hurts! I think that if it was not as high, I might have been able to tolerate the tighter band a bit better/sooner. It's also just a tiny bit too wide. My boobs want to push the wires together and it overlaps some, as I show in one of my pictures. It's not that huge of a problem, and the wires seem like they are not on breast tissue (barely). My gore bow twists a little bit because of my closeness, I think. Again, it's trivial and only an issue to me.

    All that said about the band tightness and gore, I really do love this bra in many other ways. I adore navy, and it's been somewhat easy finding underwear locally that matches well enough (sometimes it's hard finding the particular shade locally I'm looking for like the latte shade of my Ellace...it's equal is elusive locally!) I like that the straps are a little bit thinner. My bust is only minorly large (mediumish?), so I don't have a problem with the support from the thinner straps the way larger busts do/might have. I like the lighter mesh and lace of the cups, especially in the warmer weather (when it decides to show up here) and is forgettable under the uniform I wear for work. I also like how tall the sides are. I feel like I have a little bit more support. However, it's just shy of encroaching into my armpits...any higher and it would be uncomfortable. It's possible that it's also the mesh of the band that gives me the feeling of support and not entirely the height. And of course, it would probably not be as high if the gore was not as high, so a tradeoff from the evil high gore. The wires feel like they're a little bit too wide, but wire marks when I take it off do follow my roots pretty well. This is probably the widest cup width I can do though.

    The best thing about this bra for me is...

    wait for it...

    THE POLKA DOTS!!! AAAHHHHHH!!!!

    I freaking love polka dots (Cleo Mimi is on my wish list). I love the subtle polka dots on the lower mesh portion of the cups as well as on the contrasting red bow.

    I'm hugely torn about this bra, and also whether I want it in more colours (I just saw the khaki/olive green and dusty pink shades that are coming, and the current new cornflower blue shade...more love!!!). I mean, I know that I *want* it in more colours, but can I do the gore in multiple bras? I don't know...

    Anyway, sorry for the delay in getting the rest of the profile complete with the pictures and my usual novel of a review. Thanks to the troopers who made it to the end of the ramblings. Smoochies...you're the best! 😘


    Read more
    1327 more words

    Navy colorway

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Aug 04, 2018 Flag this


    • Show all comments (11)
    • 1

      I think you actually beat me in the amount of photos taken for a single bra, & I wouldn't have thought that was possible, haha! More photos are way better than not enough though, right? :D
      Same goes for the long reviews-you can never have too much info, as each tidbit is helpful to someone at some time in the future!
      So, great job all around! :-)

    • 2

      Great review. The bra is very pretty! It is so fun to find one that you really enjoy. I have had that feeling with a sternum on a particular bra before, and I wondered if it was because that band was pretty tight. Does the sternum feel better when you wear the extender?

    • 1

      MamaPagan lol! I usually like to have some on me, in clothes, and some details. It adds up. I actually cut some of the ones that I took, believe it or not. No one can ever tell me that I am not thorough. Right?

      veggiechic it is better with the extender but still a bit of a pain sometimes. I will eventually forget about it during the day. So right now it's all about balancing the band tension and comfort.

    • 1

      Great review. I saw this bra on your your profile and always wondered, how it fits you. Hope this doesn't sound creepy, haha.

      It looks good on you. Too bad it's not comfortable. Did you try to bend the gore away from your sternum? Also don't be afraid to test a 30E or 32DD as well. Especially in Cleo / Panache bras I always get that gore pain your describe if the cups are slightly too large. This is the main reason I wear the Marcie in a 28F even thought the cups are a little small. In the 28FF it feels like most of the tension from the band is used to press the wires against my chest, where the 28F distributes the tension across the cups which is more comfortable and gives me an even rounder shape.

      But to be honest, it's still really uncomfortable to slouch or recline in most of my Cleo / Panache bras. So I just switch to a loose wireless bra or no bra at home.

    • Thanks aboobaccount , and I don’t think that it’s creepy. When we follow others with similar sizes, it’s only natural to see what others have and how they feel about them.

      It’s mostly comfortable. At some point, I forget the wires and the snugness. As for other sizes, I actually first tried a Marcie in a Bravissimo store in London when we were there for our 20th anniversary trip. I’d asked for a 32DD as that’s what I was wearing then (but not swooping and scooping until that visit) but they didn’t have any, so I tried the 32E. I was told in a fit check earlier this year when I was reevaluating my size and shape that the 32 was the wrong band size because it was not pulling enough on the side at the wire from band tension. I was told that it also looked a little bit big, but I think that we determined that the loose fabric at the top was partly from not enough band tension at the wire, but also from my softer tissue leaning towards full on bottom. In person, I have had 2 fitters tell me that this is the right cup size, but just a slight shape mismatch. I have been told that the nude shade is a little bigger in the cup and band, so I might be able to take it in a 30E. I’m curious to whether or not the new colours will have stretchy bands. I’m not in a buying position yet, so for now, I’ll see if anyone reviews the new ones.

      As for trying to make the gore better, I tried the cotton ball but all it did was make it tighter. I lightly tried to bend the gore, but I didn’t really know what I was doing or if I was doing it right. I really don’t want to break one of my better fitting bras, you know? It’s also pretty flush in the channels, so not much wire to work with shifting it around.

    • 1

      Hey aboobaccount ... here are the only pics that I took of the Marcie in 32E when I tried on at Bravissimo in London. I wish I had taken more, but I didn't. I'd already picked up my Lepel Lilly at the Birmingham store, so this visit was to try on lots of styles and make notes for sizes for future reference. I specifically picked styles that I knew were core styles do that I know would fit if it was a different colourway or print (or so the intention was). I wanted to have some notes and ideas for when I was able to place an order from home. It was always on my mind to get this one when sometime later after I got home, but it just took a lot longer than I was thinking it was going to be. Probably for the best, because I had only the one bra in 30E and I was not really aware of breast shape or anything then anyway. And I had a year mixing in the 30E into my routine. I have considered a 32 Marcie for a more relaxed fit if it is cheap enough.

      https://imgur.com/a/nTKO43b

    • Ah, that's very interesting. I agree with their assessment regarding the loose fabric under your arms. A tighter band generally helps with this by pulling the wires wider and therefor stretching that fabric. You see the same effect in the Curvy Kate Ellace, where the elastic between the wire and the strap is actually too long by design (in my opinion): It get a lot of wrinkling on the sides in the 30F http://bra.pe/XYt0/ but not so much in the 28F http://bra.pe/XY3C/.Of course it's a different cup volume as well, but I'm sure you would also see less wrinkling in a 28FF. The big difference is that CK uses more flexible wires. So the 28 band actually pulls them too wide. Even though the band is relatively loose, stretching to 77cm http://bra.pe/IiGq/ compared to the Marcie's 74cm http://bra.pe/Ihc0/ where I can literally only get two fingers under the back but the wires are perfect for my wide roots: http://bra.pe/IkT1/ , http://bra.pe/IkT2/ . So I really need tons of band tension in the Marcie. A 30E is better in terms of breathing- and eating room but the tips of the wires dig into my boobs so much that it's less comfy overall and a 30F just gives me too much wrinkling.

      However that doesn't have to be the case for people with narrower roots or less wide set breasts. The wires of the 32E fit you pretty well, even with the loose band. I think more band tension will make them too wide. And you also say

      “This is probably the widest cup width I can do though. “

      about the 30F.

      Maybe you can get away with a 32DD because the cup elastic near the wires will be shorter. The cups also won't be as high. And they look slightly too high in the last imgur picture. But definitely also try the a 30E. The navy version is my second tightest colorway, after the black one. My Bluebell and Tangerine ones are stretchier and could be perfect in 30E.

    • EDIT:
      Somehow broke a link and can't edit my comment.

      28F Ellace http://bra.pe/XY3C/

    • I get the same fabric tension problem with my Ellaces and, when I had it, the Florence. The bands on all of them are/were really tight. So it's not a tension issue with those. I agree with you that it's a design flaw with the fabric.

      I will definitely consider a cheap 32DD or 30E in a colour that is known for being stretchier. I worry that the cups will be too small but it never hurts to try.

    • You could try sewing the gore together. It’s going to make the band just that might tighter. I really like Marcie and Lilly and another one with stretch lace I can’t remember the name of... but the gores are all a bit tall and wide for me and end up poking over time because the tissue tries to push the wires together. I have never gotten rid of my Lilly though. I don’t wear it every week any more, maybe not even once a month, but I still keep it lol

    • I could, yes, but as you say, it will be tighter in the band. And it’s already too tight. More than anything, I just need a shorter gore and less snug band.

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  3. 9
    like

    Fits

    It seems a bit crazy to me that I waited for so long in my bra fitting adventures before daring to try this bra and getting a good fit into it. A bit of backstory: I started wearing bras that truly fit me just after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I gained about 14lbs during my first two years with fibromyalgia, which impacted my bra fitting experiences and made it hard for me to find a truly good fit, as my shape and size would change every few months. I tried Cleo Marcie only once during that period, and at that point I was stuck between 30F ... and 30FF in this bra. Now after 9 months of training and counting calories, I am finally back at the weight I had before fibromyalgia, and (spoiler alert) Cleo Marcie now fits me in 30F!

    I am the textbook shape that works for Marcie: full on top, tall roots, narrow, projected. I also have some inner fullness and I'm rather close-set.

    This bra is giving my tall roots some love! It's very open on top so it doesn't cut in at all. It's also very comfortable and the gore is rather narrow compared to many other bras I've tried. My only complaint about this bra is how thin the straps are, especially compared to Freya Rio's wide 2cm straps.

    Not to mention: this red colour (I think it's F/W 2017?) is lovely and disappears completely under a white shirt, and the leopard bow is a nice touch.

    Read more
    144 more words

    Red colorway

    Updated on May 29, 2018 Flag this


    • This bra looks excellent on you. I have to size up to 30FF in Marcie because I have so much side tissue. You obviously don't have this problem. I love the fit of this bra.

    • Gorgeous! I have a 30F in the navy on right now. I love it.

    • Stunning on you!

    • Yay! How lovely this gorgeous red disappears under white because it is so much more beautiful than beige.

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  4. 3
    like

    Didn't fit

    The Cleo Marcie has become a favorite ever since I got my first one, a Scarlet Red 28FF from Bravissimo in London. Sadly this older model doesn't have the same proportions, as the cup edge is lower and doens't seem to have the same cup depth despite being a sister size. The cups seem too small in general.

    Quality wise it's excellent as I always expect from Panache. The band is firm, the cups are firm, nothing seems out of place and all the seams are where they should be.

    When it comes to looks the Cleo Marcie is adorable, and this pink one is no exception. I prefer ... the newer styles but this one is still nice. The button in the middle of the gore isn't my thing, it's cute but not as stylish as the slim leopard bow on my red Marcie.

    All in all, since this bra doesn't fit it's hard to give a very thorough review, but it's got all the Panache qualities I love. Which includes great quality, looks, design and feel. The fit isn't quite right but ah well.

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    Pink colorway

    Updated on Mar 01, 2021 Flag this


    • Show all comments (6)
    • 2

      Too bad they're so inconsistent with sizing though. I have two that fit differently too, and Calluna recently posted that her new Marcie fits differently than the other one she has too. When you get a good fitting one, it's totally worth it though for the shape it gives.

    • 1

      Do you prefer the taller and deeper cup then? I prefer the lower cup myself.

    • 1

      Wilderness1 Thanks for bringing that to my attention! I have now read the two posts, and I can see the difference. This older model is much shorter in cup height and seemingly depth too compared to my 28FF newer model, like I said. For some reason :P I have yet to completely understand the reasons why there's so many instances of differing fit in the same model. I know the colorway can be a contributing factor as certain fabrics in certain colors behave differently (as I have heard about bras, but I don't know for sure, in bras or otherwise).

      Calluna I do indeed! The taller and deeper the cup the better. My breasts are so incredibly round and even in vertical and horizontal perimeter that I need a high apex to contain the breast tissue. When my breasts are on the bigger side I sometimes quad a little in bras like the Cleo Lily and Erin, because of the cup style and height. Therefore, the Panache Jasmine, Freya Soiree high apex and the newer Marcie are my perfect matches. I have one 28G bra and it's the Panache Eclipse from the elusive Panache Black line, and it's got about the same idea of a Cleo Blake but more fabric and a taller cup edge. That's the only bra I have where I don't quad, even just a little bit, no quadding at all! That's when I'm on my bigger size though.

    • 1

      I'd happily swap my black one but the pink's stretched band measurement looks far too small for my 28" (ish) under bust. I need at least 29" stretched.

    • 1

      Although my black is fitting better at the moment a week before my period is due. And I did manage to wear it for a few hours the other night without wanting to rip it off...

    • Although my black is fitting better at the moment a week before my period is due. And I did manage to wear it for a few hours the other night without wanting to rip it off...

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  5. 3
    like

    Fits

    This bra is very comfortable (and super cute!). I'll be trying a 28 to see if the fit of the band would be better. This is currently my best fitting bra!

    Updated on Jan 17, 2018 Flag this


    • Show all comments (9)
    • 1

      So glad this is comfortable! Marcie creates an awesome shape.

    • 1

      I’m considering this in this same size. I’m concerned that I might still be a little bit too FOB for it though, but the 32E I tried wasn’t too bad, just too large of a band. What’s your shape like ?

    • 1

      Calluna Go for it! Seriously! I'm *very* FoB and while the top of the lace in mine is a smidge loose, the bottom fits extremely well!

    • 1

      Scarl3tt3 to me you look evenly full in this bra. I wouldn’t call you *very* FOB. Regardless, I made Marcie work for me as well and I am even with the shortest roots on the planet lol. So I tend to disagree with the widespread notion that Marcie only works for FOT shapes. I wore Marcie in a size down from my average size, until I got tired of its killer wires and elastics.

    • Scarl3tt3 thanks! I think that I am borderline evenly full but with the tendency to be more fob than fot, though as I have fairly soft and malleable tissue, sometimes my boobs act differently depending on the bra. They’re tricky little bastard boobs sometimes. Which makers me feel like I should go for it in the 30F instead of 30E. Agree with lcl0706 that perhaps it’s not quite the fob/fot diagnostic bra that it’s reputation says it is.

    • It looks very nice on you!
      Stupid question: is it the black version?
      I just order the black one in a band size larger since I was expecting it to fit tighter then the other colorways.

    • 1

      aboobaccount Not at all! This one was actually the navy color. The black doesn't have any color accents IIRC. :)

    • I'm actually looking at the navy one too. Though I love the bluebell.

    • My navy 30F is on the way!

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  6. 3
    like

    Didn't fit

    Long overdue review of a bra I've had for more than 3 months. Loved this colorway since it first came out and it's very classy in person! Shape is great, the Cleo-basketballs. Top section of the lace is empty and flopping in the wind, and it's only gotten worse since I took these pictures back in May. Oh well. Its band is slightly loose on me as it's more TTS than my 28-band yellow one, but because Cleo's elastics are so thin and high-tension yet the band's mesh fabric is... well, mesh... that 28-posing-as-a-26 yellow band is really uncomfortable. I still wear this bra to death despite very likely being able to size down to a 28F/30E at this point.

    Burgundy colorway

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Aug 02, 2016 Flag this


    • This color on your skin is gorgeous!! If you hadn't pulled the lace up, I wouldn't have known it was unfilled. Impressive. I'm accustomed to wrinkles there ;-)

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  7. 2
    like

    Fits

    This Cleo classic has become a go to bra for me as it achieves a round and smooth look totally without padding or moulding.
    I like to wear it with both revealing and more covered up tops.

    At first the Cleo Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) is always a bit on the snugger side. After breaking in it deals surprisingly well with light upward size fluctuations.

    This beautiful red colourway comes with a little leo print bow between the cups and white hardware.

    Scarlet colorway

    Updated on Jan 06, 2018 Flag this


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  8. 2
    like

    Fits

    As a self-confessed fan of the Cleo Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831) I had to try this nude version. I'm always on the lookout for non padded options to wear with lightweight and light coloured summer tops https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

    Sadly the shade is too pink and too cold for my yellow skin undertone. Otherwise the bra fitted as expected.

    Nude colorway

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Jan 06, 2018 Flag this


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  9. 2
    like

    Used to fit

    This review will be updated in the near future as this is my first time taking it out for a spin, and I've only had it on for about 5 minutes

    Impression: I actually REALLY wished this bra weren't red when I first saw it. And then I saw the colors they offered for SS '13 and AW '13 and decided I liked red best out of all of them. When I first opened the bag, I wasn't super in love with the red, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. I have mixed feelings about the lace at the top. I want to ... say I don't like it, but part of me is reminded somehow of Super Mario Bros. Especially in blue (and especially the briefs) remind me an awful lot of the water levels with Cheep Cheeps.

    Fit: The band isn't uncomfortable but it's tighter even than my Meg felt. I took a look at it in the mirror and the hooks are straining a bit, so I think I'm going to buy an extender. If you feel like you're typically on the higher side of your preferred band size, you might want to size up or go the extender route for a while. This is my first time doing this so I don't know how long it'll take for me to stretch it out so I don't need the extender anymore. Straps end in a good place for me, but they are awful hard to adjust. I had to take the bra back off to do it, haha. As everyone mentions, the profile is very round, which I like. The very top of the lace doesn't cut in, but the bottom of the top row (with the fake bows) digs a bit on the left if I squeeze my shoulder blades together. Little boob is gaping a bit, but not much, and sizing up would make that much more apparent. The gore is narrower than my other Cleo bras, which I think is better suited to me.

    Quality/buying experience: There are a few stray threads, which I don't recall seeing in either my Lucy or my Zia when I first got them, but they're darker so it's totally possible that I just didn't notice them. The major quality issue I have is that this bra was sent to me missing one of the hook closure things in the second row. I bought it from Breakout Bras at a discounted price through Amazon. Their return/exchange policy states that the purchaser has to cover return shipping, but since they sent me a defective product I emailed them asking if they would send me a prepaid label. However, they were out of my size (and the price had gone back up). They emailed me back and offered to refund me 35% of what I'd paid for the bra, which I decided was a good enough deal to keep. In total I paid about 50% of what the bra is listed for, so, not too bad.


    Read more
    402 more words

    Updated on Mar 22, 2013 Flag this


    • 1

      Haha you are so right on about the lace being reminiscent of Mario bros water levels!

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  10. 1
    like

    Used to fit

    This review is for the dark purple colourway in 30F. I usually wear 30F unlined, and this one fits just right depth and width wise. I am short and narrow rooted, soft, with some centre and bottom fullness. This bra fits really well, and I find the band fits just about right on my 29" snug ribs. It was pre-loved, so I'm sure it would have been a touch firmer if new, but it's still quite good. The purple-plum colour is pretty, and the shape lives up to my expectations - uplifted, round, and centered. Quite comfortable also - no sore spots after a day of wearing it, and no readjusting needed. It's a keeper!

    purple colorway

    Updated on Nov 24, 2017 Flag this


    • That’s great that this worked out for you! Looks good! I haven’t tried it yet because everyone says this is for FOT shapes?! Now I’m confused lol

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