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Bras » Cleo » Natasha Balconnet (6841)

Natasha Balconnet (6841)

AW2012 - Unpadded balconette with a purple camoflauge print More...
This bra is discontinued.

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I have one of these

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28

28D

28:4

0 bras

28DD

28:5

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28E

28:6

4 bras

28F

28:7

2 bras

28FF

28:8

3 bras

28G

28:9

4 bras

28GG

28:10

2 bras

28H

28:11

3 bras

28HH

28:12

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28J

28:13

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30

30D

30:4

4 bras

30DD

30:5

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30E

30:6

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30F

30:7

3 bras

30FF

30:8

3 bras

30G

30:9

6 bras

30GG

30:10

5 bras

30H

30:11

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30HH

30:12

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30J

30:13

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32

32D

32:4

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32DD

32:5

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32E

32:6

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32F

32:7

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32FF

32:8

9 bras

32G

32:9

7 bras

32GG

32:10

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32H

32:11

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32HH

32:12

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32J

32:13

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34

34D

34:4

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34DD

34:5

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34E

34:6

2 bras

34F

34:7

1 bra

34FF

34:8

4 bras

34G

34:9

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34GG

34:10

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34H

34:11

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34HH

34:12

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34J

34:13

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36

36D

36:4

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36DD

36:5

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36E

36:6

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36F

36:7

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36FF

36:8

4 bras

36G

36:9

1 bra

36GG

36:10

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36H

36:11

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36HH

36:12

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36J

36:13

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38

38D

38:4

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38DD

38:5

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38E

38:6

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38F

38:7

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38FF

38:8

2 bras

38G

38:9

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38GG

38:10

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38H

38:11

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38HH

38:12

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38J

38:13

0 bras

  1. 28 D-J ... (28 :4-:13)
  2. 30 D-J ... (30 :4-:13)
  3. 32 D-J ... (32 :4-:13)
  4. 34 D-J ... (34 :4-:13)
  5. 36 D-J ... (36 :4-:13)
  6. 38 D-J ... (38 :4-:13)

Read reviews

  1. 2
    like

    28GG

    Fits

    The Natasha Balconnet is one of my favorite unpadded bras so far. It did not engulf my boobs in a sea of fabric up to my clavicle, nor did the gore try to stab me in the heart. It manages to bring my wide set breasts a little more front and center, and uplifted, instead of making them more spread apart or minimized. Under a shirt, my boobs look pretty great.

    I was a little worried that a 28GG would be too tight, especially since the Zia Balconnet is cut so small, but I had nothing to worry about. It was like a middle ... ground between the Meg Balconnet and the notoriously firm Zia. My underbust is 29 inches, and I can fasten the Natasha comfortably on the last hooks.

    I love the pattern and the color scheme. The lace at the top of the cups is soft and doesn't cut into my breast tissue. The cup material is somewhat stiff, but that helps to provide support, and it softened up anyway after a wash.

    The cups are also just the right height under my armpits. I find this to be the case in general with Cleo bras. I didn't have much luck with some of Curvy Kate 's Showgirls line and Freya is dancing on the edge of being too armpitty, especially once you get up to a G cup.

    The Natasha is definitely proving to be one of my "go to" bras for when I want an unpadded bra under darker fabric tops or dresses, as long as the neckline isn't too low.

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    Updated on Apr 02, 2013 Flag this


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  2. 1
    like

    28E

    Fits

    Very tight band (typical of Cleo lol). I think I lack the upper fullness to fill out the top of the cups, and there is a strange bulge, especially where the lace part connects to the rest of the cup.

    The detailing/embroidery on the lace is actually really cute and I didn't notice as much in pictures! It definitely adds to my opinion of the bra.

    I think this could be more of a FoT bra (I'm pretty even), or maybe I just need to try a size down, I'm not sure! My tall roots are definitely affecting the fit at the top, but even if my ... breast tissue were concentrated lower I don't think I would have enough tissue to fill out the top. I will update review later.

    Edit: removed the following because it was simply due to the underwires being pushed to the other end of the wire channels:
    "I think the gore was bent outward and is the reason why it doesn't sit perfectly flush on my skin, but it's also migrating sideways as if it were too wide. I've never had a problem with wide gores, so I think that it may just be because the gore is bent too far. I will try to bend it back some and see if it helps."

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    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Aug 21, 2017 Flag this


    • Show all comments (11)
    • Sorry this is not entirely relevant to your entry, buuuuut since you said that very tight bands are typical of cleo bras, I was wondering if you think that they are just very tight or perhaps just very uncomfortable (fabric etc). I ask because I literally just (like 10 mins ago hah) made my own extender for my Cleo Maddie 28D. When I first got it I thought that the band fit well, like pretty tight but maybe that was how it was supposed to be, but when I went to put it on the next day it immediately hurt. So I just made the extender thinking that that would help with the underwire pain. Seemed to at first, but after 10 mins I'm already uncomfortable again!!! And making the band any looser would be ridiculous (can already fit a whole hand).

      Is it Cleo? Is it the Maddie in particular? Or is it just me?

    • betty2 Thats totally fine! This is for the Cleo Natasha. Some people do find Cleo bands uncomfortable because of the fabric (kind of scratchy, I guess), and others are uncomfortable from the tightness of the band. I don't mind the tightness, as I prefer really firm bras, but it definitely was tighter than I expected lol.

      Where is your discomfort coming from? Maybe the wires need to be more padded to suit your ribcage? Are the cups staying in place or are they moving out of your inframmary fold? I had a bra that refused to stay in my inframmary fold, which made the underwires

    • (cont.) hurt pretty badly. betty2

    • It's beautiful, and it does look like it's fitting you properly from your photos.
      Try bending the gore and report back to see how it feels!

    • KariNicole Interestingly, it does look like it fits better in pictures than I think it does irl. The top lace part really does some crazy stuff in reality!! I will let you know my new opinion of the bra next time I wear it, haha

    • tiggaren haha okay!
      I hope it fits Better next time you wear it!

    • It looks 100% better on you than it did on me!
      wow! :) I don't remember bending the gores wires but if I did, it's because I was getting stabbed probably. :)

    • or it might be because I moved the wires to the outside of the wire channels. :)

    • It looks gorgeous on you!!

    • Thanks for responding tiggaren ! You know, I think it's both (the tightness and the fabric). Before using the extender (after one day of wear) the underwires were really hurting me at the gore and my back was kind of itchy, and I assumed that both were due to it being too tight. After using the extender, I noticed that the underwires felt slightly better but still kind of hurt, and the itchiness was still there. I think maybe the lining on the underwires isn't thick enough for me and the fabric is just uncomfortable. Both would make sense since I have kind of a bony rib cage and sensitive skin.

      Loosening the band definitely did help a little though. I actually read that women with smaller busts (me compared to you) often prefer a slightly looser band. The logic being that a tight band's purpose is to offset the weight of the breasts and distribute it more evenly around the band. So if there's less weight, the band isn't counterbalanced in the same way and just digs into the wearer. This made a lot of sense to me when I read it and I think I've decided to stick with 30 bands since they provide adequate support for my smaller breasts and are far more comfortable for me to wear.

    • Haha thanks Nayanya!! I will check on the wire channels, that didn't even cross my mind. The weird lace gapping at the top didn't show under the shirt I wore yesterday, so I think it will be part of my daily rotation :D

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  3. 1
    like

    30E

    Fits

    Perfect fit. The material is sturdy enough to prevent headlights, the wires are excellent, and the material isn't scratchy. Also, there is enough lower projection, and the top is unprojected enough to not gap. I couldn't be happier, just wish they made this bra in more colors!

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Jun 25, 2015 Flag this


    • It's wonderful to hear when someone finds a great fit! Thanks for the review. Please update as you continue to wear it.

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  4. 1
    like

    32DD

    Fits

    I am generally finding 30E to be my usual size with an occasional 28F, and Cleo unpadded in 30E does fit, but on the advice of bracrastination I tried the 32 sister size in this bra. The fit is perfection. Great advice and I very much appreciate it! 32DD is definitely my Cleo unpadded size (UB 27.5 in. and OB 34.5).

    As with all Cleo unpadded I have tried so far this gives fantastic lift and support. Very comfortable and flattering.

    Updated on Mar 15, 2015 Flag this

    1. Link to this bra
    2. Fit information
    3. Other bras that fit her
    Quality
    Excellent!
    Comfort
    Excellent!
    Bra appearance
    Excellent!

    Subscribe to updates on this entry

    • Isn't the band to loose?

    • It actually isn't bad. I think in some of these a 30E is best for me, but some of them seem to have extra tight bands (I found this with Ellis and Minnie) and a 32DD is a very good fit, even on the loosest hook. For this Natasha I think a 30E might be slightly better, but I wasn't able to find one. The 32 band is ok on loosest hook, perfect on the middle hook. I do have a 27 inch UB, but I have very little body fat around my rib cage and I find 28 bands to be painful by the end of the day, so 30 usually works best with 32 in a few cases when bands are extra firm, It seems to have a lot to do with stretchiness of the fabric.

    • 2

      Also, the cup sometimes fits better when pressure is taken off the band. So, even though snug bands are great on one hand, they can sometimes distort cup fit. The trade off suggests trying sister sizes and see which works best in the end. I think that is what I really learned when I tried these on in 32DD (even if I preferred the 30E in the end).

    • 2

      > I do have a 27 inch UB, but I have very little body fat around my rib cage and I find 28 bands to be painful by the end of the day, so 30 usually works best with 32 in a few cases when bands are extra firm

      Same for me - I have a 27" ribcage as well and I rarely find 28 bands that fit (see my bra list).
      When I put on a 32 band which is as tight as this one (band stretches to only 29"!) and I jump around in it a little, and the band stays in place, it's perfectly fine and gives me all the stability I need.
      I tried several 30 band Marcies but all of them gave me distorted cups, a digging center gore, major discomfort and red marks that lasted for days :|

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  5. I got this in the mail yesterday and was super excited. Even more exciting was that it was SO CLOSE to fitting. It's definitely not perfect, but it's the closest yet.

    What's good about the bra: The material is fantastic. It's unlined, so I was sort of worried it would be thin and flimsy (as that has been my experience with other unlined bras) but it's not. It's strong. What's awesome about that is that it's still really soft, comfortable, and light feeling. It's also gorgeous! I'm not a huge fan of camo or camo-like prints, but this is beautiful. The purple is so rich. Love it!

    The negatives: The ... gore poked me a little cause it's so tall. That very well may be a sizing issue, as it's about a cup size too big. I also had some renegade flesh falling over the wings under my arms, so I think the wings are a bit short and/or unsupportive. I solved that by scooting the underwire over (there's a good centimetre or more of spare space for it) under the armpit a bit, but that made it unbearably uncomfortable, so I immediately put it back. I also think that I prefer to have 3-4 columns of hooks and this beauty only has two.

    Overall, it's a super bra. I love it so much I'm debating whether or not to re-list it. (It's pretty close, right? https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" />)

    Read more
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    Updated on Nov 03, 2014 Flag this


    • yetanotherthing, I am *very* interested in what people say about this bra and how it fits you. I have very similar fit issues, at least in this specific instance.

      I'm wondering, actually, if the cup size isn't a little small, or at least the cup width is a little too small. I say that because it looks like the band is too tight, which could be spreading the underwires a little, distorting them, which in turn could be causing the wrinkling in the cup bottom. It also looks like there's some slight lifting of the band away from your chest in photos #9 and #12, although that might be because you have your arm(s) lifted.

      The upper cup seems to fit perfectly as seen in the side shots and the overhead shot.

      I'm really surprised the back band is so narrow. I'm totally with you on the 3-4 columns of hooks.

      If it were me, I would keep this bra. It looks very good on you.

      --Kristine

    • MmeKristine

      I've put it on the fit check ( http://www.bratabase.com/troubleshoot/dlpbl/ ) and gotten a couple of responses, which is where the cup size too big theory comes from. The responses were very helpful for sure.

      My snug underbust measurement is 35.5", and this stretches to 38"+, so I'm not sure that the band is too tight. Then again, this is my second or third attempt, so I could very well not have any idea what I'm talking about :)

      I was wondering if the bottom wrinkles paired with the top smoothness was an indicator of shape at all, since I'm still really lost in that area. I keep getting referred to the tutorials and explanations on it, but I just don't understand how to relate that back to my own boobs.

    • Well, that's that! I completely trust wendybien when it comes to *all* my issues.

      --Kristine

    • 3

      The band tightness issue is tricky in some brands because the length you can stretch it to with your hands is not the same as the length it will comfortably reach once it's hooked on a human torso... does that make sense? So, I would go by whether it feels too tight, or comfortable. If you're comfortable in a range of normal everyday situations (walking briskly, taking a deep breath, lounging on couch, etc.) then it is likely a good length for you. If on the other hand it starts to feel really uncomfortable then it's likely too small!

      There are several reasons that a cup can wrinkle so I'm hesitant to make any pronouncements about what it means here. One possibility is the band being too tight, as Kristine says--it pulls everything out of whack and the distortion makes the fabric ripple/wrinkle. Another possibility is simply the "orange in a glass" effect: the bottom section of the cup is not deep enough for the breast to settle into it fully, so the boob rests a little higher in the cup than it's supposed to. This can make a cup look like it fits even when it's too big, because since the breast is sitting higher than it is supposed to, it nestles nicely against the upper part of the cup, which then sits smoothly.

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  6. Cleo Natasha does run tight in the band. So maybe you want to size up in this.
    Also the cup size does run more “true to size” compared to past Cleo styles like the Alexa, Chloe or Meg which did run a bit big in the cup. It gives the very uplifted & round “Cleo-shape”.

    The colours are more bright than on the pictures. Actually I did not like the print of this bra. I first thought it would be hideous but when I got it I changed my mind about it. It’s quite cute.

    Too bad it was always a bit small on me (as some here call it: a “BrasIhate-fit”)
    And now it’s just too small. Also I really think I might could even size up 1 band size because the band is really tight.

    4/5 hearts (usual Cleo quality – good shape – good uplift, I can’t say something negative about it)

    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on Jan 07, 2013 Flag this


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  7. I bought this bra from a fellow user of this site and I simply loves it. The material is sturdy and made of good quality. This bra works perfect for my FOT boobs.

    Updated on Jun 04, 2022 Flag this


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  8. 0
    like

    32E

    Didn't fit

    32E is my normal size but I definitely should have gone with a 34 band. Something else about this doesn't fit right. Well, the straps feel too short. But I can't tell if the bottom of the wire is in the right place and somehow the cups feel small. But something feels like it is the wrong shape. Can't quite identify it. Quality seems good, though. The cups feel too short maybe?

    Updated on May 18, 2021 Flag this


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  9. 0
    like

    36FF

    Didn't fit

    The cup depth on this bra is wonderful -- one of the best I have ever had, and the fabric is super firm without being thick. When I had one that fit it held the shape of my breast wonderfully at the bottom too. It's a beautiful bra in person, great fabric and really pretty embroidery detail. This bra has a very firm band and runs a bit tight... it was on the line for me at first but it did stretch out some. This is one where if I tuck and adjust, it can be pretty and smooth for a bit but the compression is not so ... comfortable, and soon quad boob will start showing up. The wires cut into breast tissue under my arms too. The cups are at least one size too small, maybe more, and I think it shows in the outer/underarm area as well as on top (I am quite FOT). Maybe going up a band size would have helped too. I so loved this bra in a 34F when I was smaller, but it's discontinued and the 36FF is just not working.
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    This bra is not owned any more

    Updated on May 16, 2017 Flag this


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  10. 0
    like

    32G

    Hasn't set fit

    Tight-ish band that was wearable for my 29.5"-31.5" underbust, but fits better both in the band and in the cup with an extender. For that, I rated it lower in comfort, although it's not bad and actually really great with the help of the extender. I suspect the tight band is stretching the underwires wider for some folks, which was happening to me. Still could be a tad narrower, but not bad. Teeniest tiniest bit of in-cup quadding but barely perceptible, and it still fits fine on my less-full smaller days, and has a nice rounded look. Softens up very nicely with washing, and the top lace is lined with soft mesh to block textural friction, but someone with extreme sensory issues may still have a problem. I don't even like camo prints but this has got to be one of my favorite bras, designwise.

    Updated on Aug 16, 2016 Flag this


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