I'm always on the hunt for bras that come in designs that don't resemble traditional bras. This solid black bra with mesh overlay and a colourful pattern definitely looks like it could be a not-bra. It is devoid of lace and bows and the seams don't scream HI NICE TO MEET YOU I AM GEMMY'S UNDERWEAR. Don't get me wrong, my favourite bras come in pastel colours and have bows on them, but sometimes a girl just needs some variety in her bra drawer. I first spotted Cleo Jessie Padded Balconnet Bra (7241) when stock levels were incredibly low. When I finally spotted a size within ... my acceptable range, I went for it. When I received the bra, I can say that I was satisfied with the look of it. I would be comfortable wearing this under a black semi-sheer top or one that let a bit of the design peek through since, you know, I like to live life on the wild side (no, I don't).

Onto the fit: the coverage is acceptable as is the fit of the wires and the overall feel of the bra. A 30G might have provided better cup volume and prevented the slight quadding that occurs after a couple hours of wear, but it doesn't bother me much. The band is fine but I would say I prefer the firmness of something like a Freya Deco Vibe Moulded Plunge Bra (1704). I don't wear my bands as tight as number might recommend as a personal preference (and my boobs say they are okay with that), but in exchange, I would want a band that is lower in elasticity. I don't want to wear a rubber band on around my torso. It's just not flattering https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" /> The straps are thinner than my Decos but I don't have a preference either way. The cups are foam and prevent the pokies from emerging in the winter time while at the same time easily compressed to fit under my winter coats (Yes. The threat of cold weather is a looming reality already for me where I live).

Bonus: the colourful pattern on the bra is really fun to look at. I like admiring all the circular stitches and try to imagine how they got a machine to stitch all those circles. I like to imagine they had a bunch of little sewing machines doing tiny circle stitches and birds were singing and woodland creatures were dancing. Most of my bra designs are in print and I know how that comes about, but as someone with nearly zero experience in sewing or clothing manufacturing (obvious), I'm both intrigued and in awe over technology. Much wow.
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Updated on Oct 21, 2016 Flag this

I tried my usual cleo size, and this was slightly too big.
The cups were gaping near the center gore.
This might be because a) the cups have too much overall projection that I cannot fill, or b) the cups are too big.
I'm not completely sure whether it's a size or shape issue, since I didn't try the 30DD for comparison.

Some observations:
(1) The band is on the snugger side of the Cleos. It's sturdier than in the Cleo Juna (6461) and similar to the unpadded Cleos (Marcie, Lucy, etc.).

(2) The cups offer a decent amount of projection and wide wires. They run large-ish.

(3) The cups have one vertical ... seam in the middle (halfcup-style). But,

(4) cup height is 3/4 or balconette style like and provides more coverage than the Juna or Cleo Maddie Moulded Balconette T-shirt Bra (7201).

(5) The cups are neither too closed nor very open - just somewhere inbetween.

(6) The material is stiff, making the bra a little more pointy from the top. It looked good under a T-shirt, even though it didn't fit quite right. The shape is very rounded. Stiffness may disappear with wash and wear. I cannot test this since I'm not keeping the bra.
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Updated on Feb 13, 2014 Flag this

This Cleo Jessie Padded Balconnet Bra is such a pretty bra that I scored from a seller elsewhere at a prettt decent price. It came to me in the very good previously used condition it was promised to be in and I was happy with the fast smooth transaction that took place to obtain it The bra is pretty! As soon as I had it in hand I realized it reminded me of my black Cleo Padded Juna Bra of the same 30FF size, which isn't a perfect fit but I was wearing it right before I decided to try this one on. The cups had a ... similarly placed seam, are both Padded balconetts from Cleo, and look very similar inside, with a similar gore and band width. (The Jessie has the colorful lace outside though instead of just black) I did notice the cups of the Jessie looked a little taller which worried me, I had a little space with the Jessie (I think with my short stature and possibly short roots and where my fullness is means I need shorter cups. The Jesse looked a little more projected and slightly more narrow. I have lost weight So I can technically tolerate the Gore on my Juna. But I prefer shorter gore's on plunged or would prefer both with overlapping wires in the middle, I may debate learning how to to that because even when I lose weight I am still center full and close set when supported and gores can pinch my tissue and cause discomfort. I love that cleo bras are more narrow, Cleo bras are my go to when I can't access Polish Bras. This bra would have fit better when I was a couple lbs heavier. I think because I am petite and narrow (I am 4 ft 8 and have a round rib cage with projected ribs that have a lot of depth and less width, and I have very narrow shoulders) I Think my overall size is different than the bodies bras are expected to be made for, so I think it might cause more gaping at the top of bras based on where the straps are sitting and my short roots/torso can cause that wrinkling. I Lost upper fullness with my weight loss, and may be functionally FOB and center full, but its hard to tell with my nipple placement. I am fairly projected although less so than when I was a bit heavier/Fuller. The strap placement is okay especially for a Balconett bra, I think this would fit better In. 28FF (I can only wear firm 30s on the smallest from the get go) after scooping and swooping and a few minutes of wear, I filled it better with less gaping, but there was a little more space with my smaller breast. 6 is okay for straight across width usually, my breasts have different roots so it's kind of hard to find the perfect wire width. I wish the wires overlapped because it makes this fit so much better having almost an inch between kind of pushes my boobs weird or risks pinching tissue. I Have some comexim bras coming in from other users, and want some ewas with reduced cups and overlapping wires and straps moved in whcih I have seen on here in various sizes. This bra isn't a push up, the cookie inserts in an Ewa could possibly help with my assymetry too. I may offer this to my sister wirh an extender (her 32 UB) but think the Gore may be problematic for her as well so I may eventually post on here to trade. Overall it'd a great bra and I really like it, not a perfect fit but not terrible either. Maybe it will grow on me.
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Updated on May 05, 2022 Flag this

This bra is super cute! It gives a nice rounded shape, although with the one seam it can be slightly pointy depending on the angle you look at it. The top is slightly gape-y on me, so it could probably fit full on top boobs fairly well. The straps are somewhat short in my opinion, they fit me fine as long as I loosen them almost all the way, so if you are tall or have low set boobs that could be an issue. The band is nice and snug which I love!

Updated on Nov 11, 2015 Flag this

This bra is very comfy and it fits well. It gives a good shape without being too pointy or too round. I feel like the top of the cups are a bit wider than they should be, which causes slight gaping, but not enough to be a problem.

There are no visible seams but I don't like how far back the straps are and you can see the bumpy texture of the design through thin shirts.

black/multi colorway

Updated on Oct 20, 2015 Flag this

Nice bra and fits me well. It gives me very lifted and rounded boobs. I walked into the living room wearing it under a T-shirt and my husband said "your boobs look perky". I am 49 years old and have been married 25 years. I call that a win. Thank you Jessie. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

Updated on Mar 08, 2015 Flag this

This is probably the best Cleo fitting bra I have tried on so far for the shape of my breasts. I haven't had much luck with any of the unpadded models apparently such as Lucy or Marcie, and the Juna was unfortunately too big in volume. The Maddie was too tall and required me to be more fuller on top, causing some gapping in the top. I measure 27.5 underbust, 31.5-32 overbust standing and/or laying down.

This bra is very similar to the fit of the Maddie but less...taller, very very slightly more projected (but still shallow) and very slightly more closed in on the top seam. The ... cup is lightly padded with some decent structure, but soft and loose enough that it caters to the shape of breasts if needed. The padding gives my small shallow and soft breasts some good shape. There is a lace mesh overlay with embroidered blue, red & pink circle confetti that doesn't seem as bulky as it looks, but has the slight potential to show up under thin shirts. I am a tiny disappointed that only after a couple weeks, some of the embroidered confetti is starting to pill and show its' loose threads so I'll have to be a little more gentle with the cups.

The cup fits my larger breast perfectly although with my smaller breast there is a paper-thin bubble of extra space all evenly throughout the cup but it's alleviated if I put in a loose padded cutlet.

This bra's cups are definitely on the smaller end of 28D which is why it fits me...if you're shallow and about even in terms of fullness on top or bottom give this a shot.
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Updated on Oct 14, 2013 Flag this

This is the third bra in this cut I own. Again, good for my FOB breasts, not good for low cut tops, the shape is nice. The band is tighter than Christinas but less tight than Jolies. I am still not sure why this design absolutely got me, knowing that the pattern would look like a really bad skin irritation (reality check: it really does) and I dislike pink and light blue. Anyhow, I like the bra and I am still sad, that this cut is discontinued. I wear it mainly in winter when the pattern is no problem with pullovers.

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Updated on Mar 13, 2016 Flag this

Great bra, 30E fit me perfectly.

Updated on Apr 12, 2015 Flag this

A very pretty bra in person! I like the downward pitch of the band, the location of the straps and the overall construction of the bra. I don't like the narrow width of the band near the cup or the side height of the cup (it could be higher). I have very slight quad-boob with this bra, but I think after I settle in during the day it won't be in issue. I haven't had a chance to wear the bra for a more than an hour, so I will update once the bra gets broken in.

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Updated on Mar 08, 2014 Flag this

figure8

12 reputation

3 bras