This is a beautiful bra, first of all. I'd wanted it for months but didn't want to shell out so much money for it at the time, especially since I don't seem to have much luck with unlined bras and knew it wouldn't quite fit perfectly. I ended up getting it on sale for a great price, but I'm happy that I waited because, of course, it doesn't quite fit perfectly.
This bra has a similar shape, fit, and construction as Cleo Minnie Balconnet Bra (7431) . The bottom half of the cup is a solid fabric with a mesh overlay, and the top half of the ...cup is stretch lace.
And there is where we run into problems.
There is simply too much lace, which makes the bra way more open at the top of the cup than it needs to be. There's so much extra lace that adding the stretch feature just seems like a cruel joke. It's looks great when you first put it on and get all your scooping and swooping and adjusting taken care of, but no dice if you plan on doing anything but standing still all day. As I sit here with posture my mother would probably be only slightly disappointed in, the lace is wrinkling, flopping, and sticking out about an inch for each cup. The solid/mesh part of the bra fits flawlessly, though. I'm going to go ahead and say that this bra, like Minnie, was likely designed for FOT girls, which is disappointing as I am FOB and Cleo's unlined bras are some of the cutest I've ever seen. I'm going to try altering this bra to make it more closed on top, so I'll have another review once that's done.
In terms of the rest of the bra, it's pretty standard for a Cleo. The 30 band fits like a 28 and does not offer much stretch--perhaps they should have made the band stretchier and the lace less so. The center gore sits down perfectly and is comfortable if not a little high (it pokes once in a while but for the most part I don't feel any discomfort while wearing the bra), the straps are a reasonable distance apart and fully adjustable, and the cups handle my wide-rooted breasts just fine without coming up too high under the armpits. It's a very lightweight and comfortable bra (which is great as summer just started and it is very hot). Actually, it feels about as light as or lighter than some of my bralettes, but there is still surprisingly good headlight coverage (as long as you keep them in the solid/mesh part of the bra).
This is easily one of the...This is the prettiest bra I own. The solid fabric, the straps, and the hardware are a gorgeous cobalt blue, and the blue part of the cup has a black mesh overlay with little dots cut out so the blue comes through like polka dots. The lace is black and very pretty and soft, the band is solid black, and there's a tiny hot pink bow in the center gore. It fits well under shirts and actually isn't visible, even under white (but if the shirt is sheer, you're on your own). On top of that, it makes the girls look fabulous! Not squished in the least, but also not pointy, and it seems like they even offer a little lift, though that might just be my imagination. Rest assured I'd be wearing this thing way more often if not for the issue with the lace. If you're looking into this, I would strongly recommend +1 band size and -1 cup size from whatever you were measured as. (For me, I'm measured as a 28G and got the 30FF.) Like Minnie, if the lace being too open is your only problem, I would strongly advise against sizing down to get the lace to fit, because then you'll just end up with a cup that is tragically small... and still too much lace. Read more 562 more words
This bra looks beautiful under shirts. I like that the straps are thin, so I can wear it under a tank top without looking like I am wearing a "saddle" bra. I like it more than most molded bras because it doesn't add a lot of bulkiness. Its very comfortable as well. I have read some reviews saying they felt like they would fall out the middle but I do NOT have that issue. Again, beautiful shape without having to wear additional layers to hide any bumps or lines.
This looks fantastic! It is encouraging to read your tissue doesn't fall to the center. How do the wires feel?
This bra looks great on you! It's giving you the kind of cleavage the Freya Deco is supposed to provide. I'm glad for you you found a more comfortable alternative to the Deco. Thanks for your reviews.
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. Read more 348 more words
I've seen some Cleo Jessies on eBay, your review convinced me to maybe buy it if my size pops up for a good price!
I like this much better in your photos. Super cute!!
I've always been interested in this bra - the pattern always reminds me of colorful champagne bubbles. Its adorable and suits you well - I may need to try to find this for myself!
What a strangely shaped little bra. The band is definitely tight for a 30 - for once it's a 30 band I ordered based on reviews saying it runs tight and I don't regret it - it most definitely runs very tight. I personally like having tight bands, and I do feel this is material that will stretch fairly easily. The other Cleos I've tried - Juna and Jude - were not this tight in the band, I needed 28 bands in those.
PROS: Coral color is pretty and the little bow detail on the gore is cute. Material is very soft, cups are ...molded but not overly stiff. Straps are fully adjustable.
CONS: The shape... is so weird... something about the top of the cups doesn't agree with me. It gaps on both sides but it's like they are too tall rather than too big. I feel like this bra is asking for fullness on top that I just don't have, and I'd do better with shorter cups. I could not have gone down a cup size though. If I really scoop & swoop I fill out the top briefly, but my boobs settle back down into the cups and the gapping returns. Also, there's a small bit of empty space down the inside edges of the cups, where it's like the bra material floats away from my breast. I believe I've stumbled upon a bra that has cups set too close together for my boobs. The wires are hella wide, and it's insanely shallow. Like, I had an inch of wrinkling in the bottoms of these cups.
I'd highly recommend this as THE t-shirt bra to try for those with wide roots, a shallow shape, even or FOT, and close set boobs. I can see why it's called the anti-Deco. Read more 207 more words
I have splayed-set shallow breasts and am bottom-heavy...but I don't get empty space in the bra. Of course, the bra could run differently in a 36 band than a 30? (I did not know Neve and Deco were archenemies! I wear them both.)
I can believe the Cleo Neve's cups are too tall for you. I find Cleo's cups in general to be higher coverage than I want. This has been my experience with most UK brands.
faustineli hey, if they work for you they work! They're just totally different shapes. To me the Deco is narrow & deep and the Neve is wide & shallow.
learningaboutbras it's so weird... I have about 1/2" of bra cup, from the top where the straps are attached all the way down the inside edge of the cup to the gore, that is not touching my skin. On either side. I'm gonna have to post a picture or something. I definitely fill out the bottom, sides, and middle of the cups, it's just the inside edge. But then I look on the outside edges and I don't think I'd want them any shorter or narrower - they don't rub my armpits like my Charlotte-from-armpit-hell did. This is not something my Jude does, and don't think my Juna does it but my Juna is a complete shape mismatch so there's that.
lcl0706 I keep hearing that Deco is narrow and deep, and I feel like it is a bit narrow. As for depth, I don't get the ZOMG cleavage some do, but I fill the cups fine- unlike most of Freya's other bras. Headscratcher. I recommend trying Neve on for almost anyone who's a 28 band even if it's a shoot-the-moon scenario because goshdarnit those bands are *tight*.
Yes, it is tight. My UB is 27.5" and I probably could have done a 28G, maybe even a 28FF, but I would have needed an extender for the first couple of wears. As it is, this 30 band stretches to 28.5" and I've got it comfortably hooked on the loosest hook and have worn it all day. The band should last me a while. I can see how a 28 band would be great for someone who has troubles with 28 bands being too loose.
Thank you for posting pics with the white tank top. I wondered if those little dots would show under clothing since they are a contrasting color. Why can't companies just make "nude" bras all one solid color? Don't they realize those cute little details in contrasting colors defeat the purpose of a truly invisible nude bra?
Thanks for your review, as always! :)
No problem! I do like the contrasting color as a general design choice, but I agree that it isn't ideal if you want the thing to disappear... and I would prefer that it did!
I have heard the marcie is more shallow in lower cup sizes. My issue is I get awful in-cup quadding - its a 32HH, tho, and I usually wear a J, so I am really curious if it would be better in a J. But I dont think, in your size, you'd have that problem.
dbmamaz You may get more feedback and reach a wider audience if you submit a fit request for your issue.
I am pretty sure I did a fit request, I'm not asking for help with my bra. I know its a tad small and has awful in-cup quadding and is comfortable.
I am LOOKING FOR information from ppl who own the new colorways (esp black and beige) to see if its likely I'll have less of the quadding problem with these colors now that whatever issues have been fixed
I was looking at other pictures of 30FFs and this one does look more similar to those than my 30G, so I guess it's just the shallow range cut off. It's a bit unfortunate, but it might work out OK in the end. As for in cup quadding, I had a little bit of that when my red one was like half a cup too small but it was negligible. Even though this one is a little off, there isn't any quadding, so I wonder if it's a red/respberry issue. I don't think I ever had that issue with my pink ones.
Yes, I've heard it suggested that the reddish ones are stretchier and that caused the problem. Idk, i might try a beige or black 32J some day
This bra is hard to review. Partly because I have wanted it for so long and partly because it’s not a great fit, despite the pictures. I’ve held off reviewing it for ages but I really want to get the pictures off my phone. Lol.
So this is one of the bras that I was always told that was narrow and projected like Polish bras. I must have a lemon. It’s 5.5” wide, which is not the end of the world, but I have a little bit of space between the wires and my roots. I could do with a 1/4” narrower. It’s also slipping out of my ...imf which is unusual. It does not look like it is shallow on me. Something about the fit is just weird.
My big breast fits fine but I’m getting empty space on the small side. I have not tried it with a top on to determine if it’s problematic or not yet, but I probably won’t, given the rest of the issues. Cup height seems ok but maybe a bit tall. But it’s got a bit of a closed edge, I think, so I don’t think I can go down a cup size. While I am comfortable with the loosest hooks, I get a better fit with the middle hooks. I’m not sure if I can get away with the 28 band. I think it’s dependent upon whether or not I am flaring or not.
So while the pictures look amazing, they are lying. I have tried the bra on several times, never removing the tags or putting clothes on overtop. I really love the look of this bra, and want so bad for it to work. I’m not sure if it’s worth trying a 30F in it. Read more 188 more words
Oh man. I’m bummed for you it didn’t work. I can see why you wanted it so badly. It’s gorgeous!! I know you say the pics are deceiving in fit, but the color and pattern looks really good on you. I hope you can find a size that works for you. :)
Thanks Happy2BraShop. I’m just not so confused about the fit. I love the colour and print. I want it to work so much. I’m not sure if I would fit a 30F. All the data shows that cup depth would be too small. So as far as I know, this is the right volume. Would a 28G actually be better than the 30FF?
Calluna How do you feel the back-band on the 28 would fit? If it runs stretchy and less tru to size, it could be worth a shot since proportions in the actual cup change even though they’re sister sizes and it might be in your favor. If the 28 band runs firm/short then you might risk having the wires distort and get pulled back, basically causing the same issue of wires feeling a tad too wide If it fits too tight. But you could also add an extender if it’s just a tad too short till it stretched out. If your bigger boob is fitting the cup now, sizing down in just the cup might not work. I’ve had this happen where I was literally in between sizes on back-band and in between sizes in a cup. At some point it comes down to how comfortable you feel in it when you’ve decided on a size and if you could live with a minor fit issue if it’s still there. Is it possible to order the other two sizes and choose best out of three?
Yeah it’s a stretchy band. But it might be too tight in a 28 still. Theoretically, it should stretch to 29” which is obviously a lot for a 28 band, and is the smallest I’m comfortable with. If I’m flaring, I need closer to 30” even though I’m a 28-28.5” snug.
I actually got this as a trade. So I might try other sizes if it’s a good price. The 30Fs look like they’re not even 9” deep. I need 9.5-10” usually, depending on the shape and material.
I also have one of this, and just in sister size 32F. It is too big, maybe also a little bit too wide. I guess a 30F can be a good fit for me.
I really had high hopes for this bra, considering I have had good luck with the cleo Maddie, and this was supposed to be an updated version. The cups are really small on this and much more enclosed than the Maddie. I'm not sure if a cup size up would fix this problem or if it's just the wrong cut for me. It did not feel similar to the Maddie, other than they are both molded balconet bras, but they are cut very differently to me.
I'm going to start off by mentioning that Breeze runs 1 size too big in the cup. I'm a 32H cup size wise in other bras from Cleo, but a 30H in Breeze. Ultimately, I tailor the band down to a 26-24. My review is based off the wear of Breeze with and without alterations.
The gore hugs my sternum tightly. 0% floating away. The cups are substantially firm and supportive. They have a nice round profile. No hint of cone whatsoever!
The material of the straps are comfortable and don't dig into my skin. *happy dance*
The fabric below the cups is quite stiff with no give, no stretch; ...which further provides ultimate support. The quality is immensely impressive, I'll tell you that. Admittedly, I've slept in Breeze for over a month and it still looks brand new! Overall, I find this bra supportive, cute, high quality and durable.
The straps aren't fully adjustable. I find the straps are too long for me even on the tightest setting.
With 6 hooks, Breeze is one hook too long for my short torso, as it awkwardly hits my ribs; causing discomfort when I bend a certain way. (I heard it's 5 hooks for smaller cups)
TL;DR -------- PROS: - Supportive - Durable - Comfortable straps - Firm Round cups - Back support
CONS: - Straps aren't fully adjustable - Slight east/west look - A bit too long for shorter torsos - Visible under tight clothing - Cup are a tad more separated than I prefer Read more 131 more words
Pine21 My breasts are fairly projected and it worked well for me. The cups are on the tall side which somewhat gives a bit of a minimizing effect, projection wise.
This bra had me excited for months and now I managed to get it for free with my Bravissimo reward points.
Pros: - bra looks awesome (the straps, the shape it gives, the way the flowers look like a galaxy) - bra is supportive and well built - band is snug and easy to do up - straps are adjustable enough for me - cups are the right distance apart for me
Cons: - it might be to narrow, projected and closed at the neckline for some. As I'm full on top, it just about works - at the sides, the boning at the bottom digs in, which I hope will stop happening but may just be ...because I am chubby! - there's slight digging in at my sternum which may be because of my somewhat splayed boobs. The bra comes up quite high at the centre. It is not a half cup but a balconette style with tall cups (which generally work for me)
I'm keeping this bra as it's beautiful. I don't think it's going to be an everyday bra, but my boyfriend already loves it as it looks kinda like flower nebulas. For a longline it is well worth the £29 that Bravissimo is selling it for! Read more 91 more words
Bought from another Bratabase user to take my first leap into the world of true bra sizes.
I took one look at the package and thought "Oh no there's no way I'm filling this out," and sure enough, the cups looked like they needed double the volume I had. I laughcried at my epic fail, threw the bra into the closet, and tried to forget that I spent money on it.
That was last week. This week I had the bright idea to tighten the straps so the cups would sit more flush with my body. It worked somewhat; now I just get normal gaping instead of hilariously towering walls. ...The tightened straps also caused the band to start creeping up, but I'm hoping that's just a natural symptom of stretchy Cleo bands because I already feel pretty snug in this 30. I probably could've accepted the fit had the cups been cut just an inch lower (I mean, this IS a halfcup bra yeah??). But sadly, I need to size down like the original owner did.
On the brighter side of things, this bra is amazing in every other respect! The main color is a very nice muted cerulean and the contrasting almost-neon coral isn't prominent enough to throw the whole balance off. It's more outgoing than my usual fare but still tame enough for my very vanilla taste. I have a narrow enough tacking gore for once in my life. Wires wrap comfortably, although tbf I've never found painful wires in any bra I've tried. The bottoms of the cups are filled out just fine. The straps don't dig in. But all of this just makes it more regretful that the bra doesn't fit lmao. Read more 176 more words
Sorry it didn't fit you. You could always re-list it here and on r/braswap (reddit). I'm sure someone will want it. You can list bras here on bratabase for exchange or sale, and if you find someone on bratabase that wants to exchange something with you then exchange shipping costs are covered by bratabase.
Since the seller listed it on Bratabase, I only thought it was appropriate to put it back here. :0 I thought I did my research but I guess it’s true that you’ll never get the perfect fit on the first try.
You can resell it anywhere. Some people cross list it.
Yeah Calluna's right, making a post on Reddit Braswap is also a good choice.
If you really like this bra, I found a smaller size of it selling on Poshmark that you can try. There’s a 30E UK, so two cup sizes down from this one. However, maybe it might be good to order from a store so you can return if it doesn’t fit and so you can nail down your size better. :) I agree that crosslisting is a good idea on r/braswap!
I....think I saw that same Poshmark listing. I try to buy from other users because I like the thought of giving those bras purpose again if they’re just sitting in drawers unworn. I am trying to watch stores for yummy sales though.
I did think about throwing this up on eBay a few days ago at least. I don’t like having my request Braswap post be just a few posts back from my sale Braswap post but I suppose I can just delete the old one......
Basic all black version of Cleos unpadded classic with the amazingly round shape.
I've grown a little bigger lately so I ordered this bra in both a 30FF and 30F - Cleo » Marcie Balconnet Bra (6831). When I tried the raspberry version of the 30FF three years ago it was definetely too big and the upper lace was gaping. This time around while the black 30F technically fits the 30FF does as well, even the upper lace is laying perfectly flat which can be a problem in the Marcie with FoB breast.
As this bra was a perfect match for my boobs on those bigger days, the uplift not compomised and the wire width perfectly wearable I decided to go with the 30FF and enjoy the extra comfort that goes along with the roomier cups.
Ooooooh myyyy goodness. I'm supposed to be doing a million other things right now but I just got this bra in the mail after spending the past few months trying to find a good strapless bra in time for summer in order to replace my Parfait By Affinitas Jeanie Strapless Contour Bra (4815) , which had always been uncomfortably tight and really mean to my rib cage. I was avoiding this one a little because the reviews were mixed and it was one of the more expensive options, but since my best fitting bras are all Cleo (especially 28G - Cleo » Maddie Moulded ...T-shirt Bra (7201) ) and I had a coupon, I decided to....take the plunge. (Sorry, I'll see myself out shortly.)
This bra is basically everything I was looking for in a strapless and more. Like, for a basic black bra, it is actually really cute! That plunge is no joke! My cleavage (of which I usually have relatively little without the help of padding) looks great, which has basically never happened with a strapless before! The removable straps have little black triangle dot things! And the bow at the center gore is black with gold polka dots! I typically have a strong aversion to the bows at the center gore, but this one...I can work with this one. Additionally, inside the cups, along the underwire, you'll find "Crafted for fit. Styled for fun." in gold lettering, and even though I'm the only one who'll really see it anyway, I think it's a nice touch. The bra itself feels really sturdy and well-made (no flimsy cups!), and the fabric doesn't irritate my skin in any way. It's got not one, but TWO silicone grips all the way along the top and bottom of the band (so 4 per band, total) to keep it in place, and let me tell you, those things are doing their job. I did a lot of jumping in this just to be sure.
In terms of fit, I thought it might be a little big, just looking at it out of the box, but it fits like a dream. I have wide roots of average height, even fullness, am self-supporting and somewhere between shallow and average projection, and these cups are perfect. I get the perfect amount of coverage and a nice, rounded-but-not-too-rounded shape, which is what I prefer. There's no squishing, no quadding at the top of the cups or near the center gore, no wrinkling at the bottom of the cup, no orange-in-a-glass, no cups coming up too high on my chest or extending up into my armpits or flopping around on the sides or not being able to contain the sides in the first place.With the band, I do feel like it could be just a tiny bit tighter, and while I'm curious to see how the 28G (my actual size) would fit, I don't think I'll take the chance. Even though my band size should be a 28 based on my measurements, 28 bands (and tighter 30 bands, even) tend to cause me A LOT of discomfort and sometimes even some bruising/soreness because my rib cage flares out a little, so I tend to stick to 30 bands when I can. Even so, I did try the bra on with just the loosest set of hooks and it stayed in place and is supremely comfortable (words I thought I'd never say), so I think the 30 is a safe bet for me. If you don't have the same rib cage issue I have, though, I'd say go with your measured size. In terms of cup volume/fit, this 30FF fits very similarly to my 28G Maddie and my 28G - Cleo » Koko Belle (9066) , so it seems to run pretty true to size. All in all, if you're looking for a good strapless that's not _too_ shallow and that also doesn't look closer to a utilitarian bandeau with the center gore going almost all the way to the top of the cups, I'd highly recommend this one, especially if you've had luck with Cleo before. Read more 584 more words
Some of the best projection I've found, but the straps are set too wide and rub my armpit fat way too much to be able to wear all day. Also, the gore is too tall and too wide for my close-set, firm tissue. I wore this bra for all of 2 minutes and had a big red spot at the gore. Otherwise, the fit is great (might size up the band for comfort), but just not for me.
This bra fits great. I love the rounded shape it gives. I think the mesh lace feels a little bit more flimsy than some of my other unlined cleo bras. Also the strap color is very very bright, which isn't my favorite. But I love how it fits.
When I finally came to terms with my 30F Swan print Lily being about a half cup too small, I swapped for a size up in blue, unsure how it would fit.
So, this is pretty much my perfect bra. I was afraid of that, as I have too damn many bras and can't part with any of them! But seriously, this is made for my shape. The only minor complaint I have is slight gapping on my smaller side, which happens in every single bra ever. The band on this one is tighter than my swan band, which is great - it actually only ...stretches to just over 28" whereas I was closing my swan print band on the middle or tightest hooks. If I wanted to nitpick I could say the wires are 0.2" or so too wide, but I like the overall shape so much I think I can forgive that.
I like the blue and pink colorway, but miss my swan print. Somebody please confirm - does the swan print run large? I thought I'd heard that, and this blue one would seem to confirm. It's tighter in the band and the cups are not what I would think a full size larger would be. If I accidentally-on-purpose stumbled across a 30FF swan print somewhere *cough* eBay *cough* would it possibly be too big? Read more 127 more words
Love it, the color really pops on your skin tone too. Very flattering and summery.
This looks great on you! :) You're going to make me end up spending my money on trying one.
Thanks! Petite it's a great bra really. Tons of lift, narrow wires (wider than Comexim though), gives a great shape for even boobies. I love it so much if they're still around on eBay when I get some more dollars, I'll probably get a swan print one again. I love that print, it's so quirky & not too girly.
I do really love the swan print as well, I think it's a bit shallower and wider in my size than in yours though. Also, I'm a bit worried about the gore being too high and wide. But it's so tempting!! Ugh life if difficult when you want all the bras.
Tell me about it. Lily is probably slightly wider/shallower in your size but I doubt by much. The gore is high-ish but it's narrow, the wires touch at the top of it. Higher gores don't tend to bother me even though my boobs are close set at their upper roots (the roots touch actually). This one sits at an angle, on my right breast tissue, unless I reach in & reverse scoop & force my boobs farther apart. But it doesn't hurt. YMMV.
Oh I didn't realize they were that narrow! I wish Lily was scaled less because it's 5.3 wide in a 28F and about 5 is my max. I'll probably try it anyways because it's so cute and I would die for a round shape like that.
You might get along with Lulu Tout's unlined bras. I am waiting on delivery from figleaves, it'll probably be next week. I found a purple one on sale for $20 - I've never had a purple bra and it's my favorite color! The downside to Lulu Tout is the smallest band they go is 30, but they run really tight like a 28. The last figleaves bra I had was a 30FF Just Peachy that measured 4.9" wide. LOVE that, but it's too deep for me. So I'm trying a Lulu Tout because the few measurements on BTB suggest the LT unlined bras run just as narrow. I freaking hope so, I'll report back once it gets here.
I don't have any swan print Lily, but I can tell you that the Aqua 30G is smaller in cup than Magenta 30G. I regretted buying my Magenta 30G on ebay because it is unwearably too big, so much extra fabric on top of cup leads to poor support, and the underwires feel wider, while the 30G aqua is a perfect fit on me (what gives?! frustrating). This is consistent with what I've read from others: the Aqua runs small in band and cup compared to other colors (I don't know if I read about compared to swan specifically, but that's the gist.)
Other than the bands, Freya unlined plunges work fairly well. They also show up cheap all the time because they work for so few people in my size. It's odd, I have fairly small (by full bust standards) breasts that act like large ones in all the fitting issues and heaviness I have.
Thank you Jane, that's what I thought I had read. So frustrating! The 30F swan Lily was just barely too small, just enough to be annoying. I'm afraid a 30FF will be too big, & no 28Gs seem to exist anywhere anymore to see if that would be any better, plus it seems like the 28 band is what I'd need in other colors. As much as I adore the swan print there's no point in having one if its too big. Grrr.
I am the EXACT same way with 30FF magenta Lily - just barely too small, looks fine but a vague sensation that my boobs are fighting the bra? hard to explain. Anyway, I feel your pain.
There's a 28G on Amazon right now at the very bottom. It's sort of expensive though.
PetiteCollegiate ouch, $55, and it's the aqua one which I already have. I know that fits well in a 30FF. A 28G in swan print is a mythical unicorn these days. Oh, bras that fit... why couldn't I find you earlier before Lily was discontinued.
I'll keep my eye out for you! I'm sure it exists somewhere!
Squeee! Eesh, even $45 seems like a lot right now. I'm going to have to have a chat with my wallet and conscience.
Maybe they have an extra promo? A lot of places will give an extra 10% just for getting on their email list. But yeah, that's the story of my life. My boobs have expensive taste.
I've noticed Panache bras are made wildly different from style-to-style as well as by season. So I got a 30g, a size I thought might work and one cup down and up from it to compare. I am happy to say the 30g works well. The 30ff band is nice but the cups cut into tissue giving a bit of quadraboob. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell if the "30GG" would have been more appropriate: I firmly ...believe it is actually about a 36GG just MISLABELED!!! https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_surprised.gif" alt=":O" /> If you look at the size measurements an average band can be about 7" or 16cm smaller than the "band size" to allow for stretch & support. If so, this bra is definitely far too large in both band & cup to be what it says. Sadly, this makes a comparison of all three an impossibility with what I ordered.
I'll keep an eye out for more colors of this style in the future.
Measured unstretched before wearing. Purchased early-April '12 from Freshpair. Read more 96 more words
Very pretty bra and well made, but probably not the best for my shape. I am even- and center-full, and the cup technically did fit, but the top cut in a little too much. I couldn't tell from the pictures/description when I bought this if it had any padding or not--it does not. And with the lack of padding, I end up with a more natural shape than what I'm comfortable with.
I really love this bra! It is the most comfortable panache/cleo bra I've tried. The Gore is not too high or wide for me which is often an issue I have with panache/cleo. I love the shape it gives too. Unfortunately this is a discontinued style. If anyone knows of they have a current version of this or something similar please let me know!
I do sometimes get a small gap near where the strap and cup meet depending on the position of my arms but it can't be seen through clothes and I have a dent in my breast tissue right there so this is sometimes unavoidable, so I'm not counting that as a fit issues, especially because this bra is so freaking comfortable.
The band is not as firm as many panache bands but it is tts.
Thanks! Gna go look. If I can find 1-2 more this bra will definitely become my daily driver.
Lexi had a similar shape and is also discontinued but there are still some available on ebay.
Thanks. I'm a little unsure if the lexi will work for me. I've heard it was more shallow than the maddie but when I compare the measurements they are almost identical. It does seem like the lexi is more closed on top though. So I worry that it'd cut in. Might be worth a try if I can find it from somewhere with easy returns or through ebay with a seller who accepts returns but eBay is always risky. I did buy another maddie on ebay though. In pink because why be reasonable and buy the nude that I really need when I can get bright pink! 😂
I found with my extra wide, & generally tall roots that Lexi is really good for short breasts and rather open on top with a little upepr shaping to keep one from spilling out, whereas Maddie has the right proportions for tall root but is just too tall for a short projected breast. For anyone who needs a lot of direct projection from the wire out rather than an extended depth only at the nips, it would have been perfect if there was something in between both of these styles. If you are in a normal to narrow root width the upper is less likely to curl inward as hard from pressure at the bottom of the cup straining to deal with a wide full root. if you are more Omega it could work really well in the right measureme nts.
I got a little lost in that comment. You're saying the lexi is better for tall and narrow roots?
Lexi is not narrow at all. I'd say that Maddie is the narrower and more full on top friendly between both styles- it has a smaller wire that's more U shaped and expects a front-facing & vertically deep breast that might be more self supporting. The upper cup on Maddie isn't as wide as Lexi, so I've found that it will also cut in if it's too small. It reminds me somewhat of the old VS dream angels but more supportive. I'd also venture Maddie's shape is closer to Cleo Mimi which I put up with till I got Comexims and abandoned all molded styles. Anyhow in all the sizes I've tried of both Maddie & Lexi, the Lexi has a longer wire that's short for it's size, and the cups look built for a shorter, wider breast; the upper hem on top flips back inward a little which seems like it is for someone whose immediately full with short or shallow roots; someone with a lot of apex projection that could benefit from having a little more containment on top. The foam felt more resistant than Maddie but I might have worn my Maddies to death and softened them up. Lexi is closer to the Panache Tango's shape. I'd only heard of Lexi in this last year so most of my experiences with it are during a long growth period where immediate depth and a very projected lower cup made all the difference in how the top of a style would fit, or not fit.
Thank you for your thoughtful review :-)