Shape: round, projected, even, close set, on the narrow end of average root width.

Oh, no. Ohhhhh no. Okay, so I got suckered into the $15 Encore sale and I did not heed your warnings, bra friends. I knew that the sizing seems utterly dependent on the colorway, so I thought I did my due diligence by ordering a couple sizes (30E and 30F) in this colorway off of Amazon. I figured I'd try 'em on, see what fits, return them, and buy it cheap on Encore. The first problem is that despite the 30E and 30F both being the same colorway and band size, the 30E was noticeably ... stretchier. How? How even? I also quadded like crazy out of the 30E, with the top part of the cup cutting into my tissue. At the time, the 30F looked, fit, and felt better, so I figured I'd go with that in the Encore sale. Unfortunately, I think I was too enticed by the $15 price tag, so I ignored a lot of fit issues in my Amazon trial which are so terribly evident now that I've purchased the non-returnable bra. Where shall we begin?

1) Not enough immediate projection. It's not super obvious until I take the bra off, but the underwires sit like 1 cm below my IMF.
2) The cups are way too wide. A solid quarter of the cup extends into my armpit where I have no breast tissue, so it's sort of a sad wrinkly mess in there.
3) The cups are also too big (the width issue is probably part of this). There's wrinkling towards the top and inner sides of the cup.

The single pro is that the 30F I got is actually tight in the band, which is great for me, as I'm on the narrower end of 30 bands. If you're a true 30 you might find it too tight.

In hindsight, the 30E was *probably* the correct size, but there's just a big ol' shape mismatch going on that was hidden by the larger cup size. I'd say if you have much upper and/or center fullness, or are very projected, you should probably avoid. Actually, the mysterious sizing inconsistencies should encourage everyone to avoid, ok?

Final notes: this bra sure *looks* cool, but if you don't 100% fill out the cups, there will be wrinkling, and the wrinkling doesn't do you any favors considering how sheer it is. The mesh is also not nearly as soft and comfortable as I would've liked. It's actually totally non-stretchy, stiff, and kind of scratchy. Boo. I cannot believe this is worth anything near what the MSRP is (like $50 or $60?), and I'm bummed I paid $15 for it https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />

p.s. Various reviewers indicated that the matching panties in this style ran super small. I took this advice and sized up. I have 38" hips and found that, at least in this colorway, the large brief and thong to both be too big; I should've gone with a medium. Double fail.
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Gothic Grape with New Wave colorway

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Updated on Sep 03, 2016 Flag this

I was hoping for this bra so much as my 32DD - Claudette » Paramour Underwire Bra (101015008) fits so good and is so comfy - I would even say that is more comfy than 70E - Comexim » Sharon (366) but the issue are too wide wires that ends almost in the middle of my armpits. I took a risk and unfortunately I can't wear it. Overal the bra is very pretty - navy with pink/coral elements, the band fits good on me and even the cup volume seems to be good. I need make some research and find which Dessous are narrow in wires as my pantera in 30e has 12cm width so there's a chance to find perfect Dessous !

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Updated on Mar 02, 2016 Flag this

Narrow wire heaven! Both the Paramour and Dessous have THE narrowest wires I've ever encountered! This is awesome for me since my roots are vv narrow and bras always seem to have far too wide wires, encasing my ribs and back. The fabric that makes up most of the cups is super silky and soft, and the stretch mesh is equally soft https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

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Updated on Apr 07, 2015 Flag this

I really wanted to love this bra. I like it but it doesn't have enough immediate projection. Looks lovely when I first put it on but over the course of a half hour or so the wires are pushed down approximately a little more than a finger's width of empty fabric and I go from bubbling in the inner quadrant to quadding on the top and the band riding up slightly in the back. Wearing it on the second set of hooks helps stabilize the band and keeps the wires from sliding down quite as far. Surprisingly the Garnett almost acts as a nude under ... a lot of my shirts. The black trim can be a give away though. I bought two recently since the shipping was the same from encore and I'd read so many good things about them. Dessous is a pretty decent fit for me too but I don't find them comfortable enough to wear all day. I get in cup bubbling and on top as quadding as the day goes on. I'm wondering if there is any difference in projection between the colors. I've found there to be with Dessous. I think going up a size might be enough to get me the extra depth I need, but I'm concerned it might be too big then.

Adding update: I finally got around to trying the black one I bought at the same time- the depth is slightly deeper and it's enough that it fits well without quadding and slips down out of the imf considerably and noticeably less. It's still about the same amount too wide- unscientifically 1-1.5 fingers' worth which is about 3/4 of an inch.... Based on these measurements I do best in a bra for width around 4.5" but that is almost impossible to come by. I found the straps pretty scratchy at first but now they've soften after a couple wears
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Updated on May 03, 2016 Flag this

I really like this bra. The colour is very nice and the shape is nice and round. The top of the cup is much stretchier than my Claudette Dessous. The satin fabric looks wrinkly but the wires are in my IMF so there's nothing to be done about it. More coverage than the Dessous as well.

Updated on Feb 06, 2016 Flag this

I originally didn't think this bra fit me, but I've now washed it and adjusted the strap length to be the same as my other Claudette and, lo and behold, the gore is tacking and the top is cutting in much less than before. I actually love this bra now. The shape is nice and round and much nicer than my pointier Freya mesh cups. I'm wearing this one today to be able to tell how comfortable it will be. I don't know if this is a Claudette thing, but both don't have inner tags showing the size. The band also feels more solid now and I'm wearing this on the largest set of hooks. I would be interested in finding more Claudette bras in possibly a 30FF. I know this bra won't fit leading up to shark week.

Updated on Feb 06, 2016 Flag this

Very cute bra, but I think the cup runs a little on the small side. I probably could have sized up one or even two cup sizes.

Updated on Nov 02, 2015 Flag this

Bought this bra via the Claudette Encore sale - it had been my number 1 bra on my 'Most Wanted' list for a long time. This colourway is soo swoonsome that when it appeared on the site I was so excited. I expected the bra to be very tight and possibly too shallow based on the reviews I'd read.

It is just as stunning in person, and made of great materials - very soft, matte cotton on the front of the cups, silky ribbon straps and powermesh back which makes it really comfortable to wear. The band is perfect for me, DEFINITELY not too tight, ... and three hooks - totes dreamy y'all! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" /> The straps are notably thick which I like.

The bra is quite shallow - think it's the first time you can actually see cleavage in my pics (for some reason cleavage seems really hard to photograph, sometimes I have it in real life and yet it never seems to translate to the pics I post here - but check oot my cakes on a plate in this bra!) as the bra is shallow at the top and bottom, meaning my boobs are pushed straight up. The cups are taller that I expected which is good - I think if they were much lower then there'd be too much quad-ing which would result in half my boob falling out the top! As it is, the cups are nicely tall so manage to contain the tissue mostly with just a bit of quad at the top - not too much to deal with (and to be honest it's quite a novelty to have this type of look!).

The wires - oh how I love you LONG LONG wires that contain all my boob tissue at the side, you are perfect. Your width is delightful, your length is fabulous. Love your work.

Gore is high but not problematic at all.

Verdict: better fit than expected. Wonderful wide band + angelic wires + soft materials + heavenly colours = good bra for me https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":-D" />.
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Swooooon! (seafoam/navy) colorway

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Updated on May 04, 2015 Flag this

Good lord. Has anyone ever had something shrink from hand washing and air drying before? I didn't think that was possible...
Anyway, I washed this one in my usual delicate manner to prepare it for selling and hung it to dry. then when I took a look at it the next day, I thought it looked strangely small, so I measured it, and sure enough, the band is now 21 inches and stretches to about 27. The cups remain the same size, 5.5 wide, 9 inch wire, 8.5 deep. So, for whoever needs a very small band, I've listed it and i'll be happy to send it your way https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

This bra's measurements have been altered

Altered band,

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Updated on Dec 27, 2014 Flag this

The Claudette Sophia Icon Balconette bra in 30F, Navy, fits well and is extremely comfortable. It has three hooks and eyes!!! The fabric is attractive and soft. Unfortunately the front view is a bit east-west, and the side view looks flattened just below and above the top edge of the cup. I expected to get cakes on a plate cleavage because of the vertical seaming. I expected, at worst, to have little to no centering, plus a center gore that's a little too high. Instead, everything fits and the center gore doesn't dig in, but it looks terrible! A good lesson for me. Thank goodness for Asos free shipping and returns!

This bra is not owned any more

Updated on Sep 06, 2013 Flag this

I wanted one of these bras so bad! Even knowing that the size chart is very very inconvenient and depends on the colorway. But I wanted it like a piece of beauty just to have it. And I have it and I'm fallen in love with this model. Now I want more and more!
The bra is made of very thin mesh. I mean VERY THIN mesh. It hides absolutely nothing in my color. I think that cup is rather true to size, and more FOB friendly as the upper edge is sewn with elastic, And I do always have problems with all kind of elastics on the upper edge ( they just cut into my breasts). The band is very stretchy. Even on the tightest hooks I don't feel enough support. the straps are fully ajustable.
I'm not sure if I have a perfect fit in this bra: loose band and not perfect cups. But it's so nice!

Seafoam/Khaki colorway

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Updated on Mar 27, 2018 Flag this

Love the color combo and I'm dissappinted it's too big. My experience would suggest that the cup runs a size too big. This would have been a good nude for me too https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />
This color combo is one of the narrower more projected ones. I know some of the color combos can run wide and shallow or small in the cup. This is for chinchilla / lipstick

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Updated on Nov 16, 2016 Flag this

Very short, projected, even, close set, center full, slightly narrow breasts....

The shape under a thin shirt is exactly what I like: rounded and equally distributed across my chest. I do not prefer how this bra looks unclothed, but with clothing it is my favorite of all the unlined bras I've tried. I feel surprisingly well-supported by the 2x3 fastener band. The band is firm. Despite the sheer mesh, my breasts are held comfortably close to my body.

The gore is too wide. I need to copy and paste this comment into every review. This bra would require an alteration.

I read that sheer bras make fit issues obvious. Aside ... from the gore width, I see no glaring issues. Great. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" /> So, if you have breasts with characteristics similar to mine (first line of review), this is likely a good fit for you, too.

Although I do prefer this shape under clothing, Curvy Kate Gia is more comfortable for me. And, because I practice minimalism and comfort is my number 1 priority, I will keep just one.
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Chinchilla colorway

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Updated on Aug 08, 2016 Flag this

This Dessous is in a lovely colorway. It does run bigger and wider in the cup than earlier models, such as the first season neon colors and American Tan, or the Dessous Sucre of the 2nd season. This bra, compared to those, runs 1.5 cup sizes bigger, I'd estimate. I cannot be sure I'd get the right size by sizing down, however, because the wire shape has also changed. The shoulder straps are wider, and the wires seem to follow a flatter-bottomed, wider type of infra-mammary fold. Overall lovely, however, I have never been able to wear it.

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Updated on Jul 09, 2016 Flag this

This bra is very stretchy in the band, straps and wires. I love the rounded uplifted shape this bra gives. It is extremely comfortable and I would wear it all the time but the seams do show through several of my garments and the American tan color with the black trim means it shows through lighter tops. I guess I need to buy more colors !

Updated on Jul 01, 2016 Flag this

On the larger side I have some wrinkling on the top nxt to the strap - probably the cup is just too tall on me or is more for person with fuller on top breasts. On the small side there is a lot of wrinkling around - on the bottom, on the top and sides are weird. Actually I could fix the cups but i think is better to keep tiny too small 30e rather than this one. Also, I love the narrow wires and their flexibility which makes the bra so comfy!

American Tan colorway

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Updated on Mar 18, 2016 Flag this

Navy blue&pink colour combo - 2015 spring/summer collection. Best for FOB shapes, I'd say.
I know there are many Claudette fans out there and I am just becoming one myself, however I would say that the quality of materials is not on a par with the ones used by Freya/Fantasie. I mean their mesh ones.
Update: I think the cup depth is adequate, but the wires too wide for me. Cups do not allow enough centre fullness for my shape, so its a shape mismatch I think. Not enough depth at the gore while wires too wide, so it's kinda too big and too small at the same time.

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Updated on Feb 15, 2016 Flag this

this was my first bra that fit well since ever maybe. these have their issues - lack of consistency in size (or at least there used to be this issue) and the underwire always starts pinching me on the sides by the end of the day.

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Updated on Feb 04, 2016 Flag this

Overall, I quite like this bra. The colour is really unique to begin with, and the mesh, while not the softest in the world, doesn't irritate my skin. The wires are also quite narrow in this size, which is a godsend! Being so petite I can almost never find wires narrow enough for my narrow boobs (still, they could be narrower). However, there are a couple of fit issues with this bra. For one, the gore doesn't tack due to the stretchiness of the band. I really could do with a 28 band, but they were unavailable on Claudette encore https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" /> Because of this, the cups can gap at he top sometimes. Despite that, this bra actually gives a really nice, round shape! I wear it under t-shirts a lot at work and I'm always pleased at how even my boobs look. If I can figure out how to tighten the band, then I'll be all set https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

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Updated on Aug 20, 2015 Flag this

Beautiful bra - I love the simplicity of the design combined with the subtle sexiness of the mesh. But this bra was too small. I found out too late that it's commonly advised to go up a cup size with Claudette, and it definitely holds true. The bra is well-made; I just have the wrong size.

I later ordered a 30FF, and while the fit is much better, it's still got problems. I will try a 30G when I can, but the 30FF does alright as long as I'm not wearing something too tight/thin (that's when the spillage is super-visible!).

Sandstone/Navy colorway

Updated on Aug 08, 2015 Flag this