My shape: Projected, narrow, shorter roots, even/functionally full on bottom, soft tissue. Cleo Lily fits me best.

Oof this Navy colorway has a tight band. I was able to stretch it to 30", but it's definitely a tight fit for me. Cups are true to size.

I've tried Marcie's in the past, and I always had an issue with the straps not being long enough. I wanted to revisit the Marcie since I really like the Navy colorway, and I was hoping they'd made the straps longer in newer colorways.
Unfortunately, the straps are still too short. I have them ... as long as they will go, and they're still painfully short. Why, Cleo?? I don't have this problem with any other Cleo's (that I can remember). It's so frustrating. Please keep in mind that I am low set, and often have to adjust the straps as long as they will go. But still, I don't usually have the problem of straps being too short. I guess Marcie and I aren't meant to be. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" />

The other issue I have with this bra is the back rings where the straps attach squeak. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but still annoying.
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Navy colorway

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Updated on Jun 03, 2017 Flag this

My breast are full-on-bottom, close-set and I have short-ish roots.
I have this bra in the floral print, so pretty! The bra is very elegant looking with the floral print, the blue 'bow' at the gore and the thin black straps. The band is sheer black at the back.

The wires of this bra are quite long and strong, like most Panache and Cleo bras. The wires are average to narrow width. The gore is a little high, but relatively narrow, which makes it comfortable even for close-set breast.

The cups are deep and made of a very strong, thick and non-stretch mesh. It migh need a couple more ... washes to soften and become more comfortable. Because of the thick mesh, the seams are a little bit visible. The shape of the cup fit well for full on bottom breast, or even with short roots. The top of the cup will definetly cut for FOT boobs or tall roots. This bra is not the best for asymetrical breast. For me there is a hint of wrinkles on the left side, and a hint of quad-boob on the right. However this is not visible under clothing. In my opinion this bra compares to Cleo Lily Balconnet Bra (7351)](model:9865) in terms of depth and room at the gore.

This bra has a full band, which is a bit tight for a 30. It fits me well, but the elastic at the bottom of the band curls inwards and digs in my skin. I guess it will soften with wearing and washing it.

This bra gives me a very rounded shape. Not as round as Cleo Lily, but not as pointy as Cleo Hettie Balconnet Bra (9011) . The structure of the cup brings the breast in front.
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Updated on Jan 11, 2017 Flag this

The cups do beautiful things for my breasts, and because of that I would LOVE to keep this bra. However, it might get sent back because its wide strap placement doesn't play nice with my narrow shoulders. For me, that caused puckering in the tops of the cups and digging in the armpits-- and it wasn't the underwire, it was the sides of the cups that were digging.

Also, as seems to be the tendency for Cleo, you might want to order up a band from your normal size. For instance, my snug underbust is 29", my tight underbust is 27.5", and I still could have done with either a 32 band or an extender in this bra.

Cobalt colorway

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Updated on Aug 19, 2015 Flag this

I love, love, love the Melissa. It's a perfect fit. It's the most perfect fit in all of my brardrobe. My boobs fit neatly into the cups, it has exactly the right amount of projection, immediately at the wires and at the centre gore, where I need it, there's no tissue escaping anywhere and the top edge lace lies flat on both of my breasts, even on the smaller one. I don't even get angular boob like I do in Marcie in the same size. The band is a perfect length on the loosest hooks and doesn't slip down, ride up or cut in at all. It's also ... unbelieveably comfortable - if it weren't for the support and uplift I wouldn't even know I was wearing a bra. I also did the ultimate test by wearing it to a very rowdy punk rock show and jumped around like there was no tomorrow. And guess what - everything was right in its place at the end of the night, without ever readjusting! It's possible they hired unicorns and fairies to make this bra. It's seriously that good. I also adore the blueberry print and the gorgeous lace at the top of the cups. I'm in bra heaven.
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Updated on Jun 08, 2014 Flag this

Ordered online from Nordstrom, sized up in the cup as per reviews (I *think* my size is 30FF, so far my best fitting bras are in that size from Parfait by Affinitas).

This is hilariously too small in the cup -- quadraboob everywhere, gore floating above my chest, everything smushed and squashed and popping out all over. The band was very stretchy and flimsy, snug on my 29" ribcage but I could definitely see it stretching out over time.

This bra doesn't even come in a larger cup size and it's not available on Nordstrom's website any more so I'm going to return it and see if they have anything better in store. Even if this bra did come in a bigger cup size, I still don't think it's a good bra for me because the band does not seem to be supportive.

Updated on Apr 12, 2013 Flag this

Updated August 14, 2012. Originally Reviewed Jun 26, 2012.

SS12 Bravissimo Exclusive in "Aqua" polka dots. (Bra tag labelled Alexa "Samba Spot" print)

Ordered 28GG (http://bra.pe/Rdz/), 28H (http://bra.pe/RlL/), 30G for comparison. Other bras mentioned in this review: Sasha 30GG (http://bra.pe/RSU/), Sasha 28H (http://bra.pe/RlM/).

Band length: 59.9cm
Cup width: 14.4cm
Cup depth: 28.6cm
Wire length: 29.5cm
Cup separation: 2.2cm
Strap width: 1.6cm

Quality: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5 (a firm material, snug and needs some "breaking-in")
Appearance: 4/5 (has some outer material wrinkling)

Having fallen in love with Sasha and Alexa I knew I had to have Olivia the second I spotted her on Bravissimo. My only question was a matter of "in what size?" ... I knew the current SS12 Alexa ran a bit bigger in the cup than her predecessor AW11's Sasha. When I contacted Bravissimo the response was she fit exactly the same as Alexa. However after trying on the 28GG several times I found the same hesitance I remembered with Sasha last Autumn. It was a dilemma between cup sizes. I finally received a 28H and although the 28GG and 28H both fit I am much more comfortable in the H-cup because I'm more confident I'm safely covered from any potential spillage which may lead to readjusting throughout a day's wear.

I wish I'd originally took Alexa in a 28GG because her band is not as tight but at the time I would never have thought I could be a 28-band so I never considered ordering.

30G fit well while 28GG is much more snug. These fit me exactly the same in the cup the only difference is in the band. 30G also fits nice although I would anticipate it to stretch out like my original 30G Alexa which has pretty quickly and only snaps back from washing (after one or two wears in a row). The 28H is the best for me as it fits just like my original 30GG Sasha and now a 28H as well.

Also, I'd be happy to have a drawer full of non-pink bras. https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" />

Measured immediately before wearing.
Purchased mid-June 2012 from Bravissimo.
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Updated on Aug 14, 2012 Flag this

BustsOfGotham

1334 reputation

182 bras

SS12 Yellow "fashion color" version.

Band length: 59.2cm
Cup width: 14.3cm
Cup depth: 29.4cm
Wire length: 28.3cm
Cup separation: 2.5cm
Strap width: 1.5cm

Quality: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5

Other sizes in this review found here: 30FF (http://bra.pe/R4C/) & 30GG (http://bra.pe/R4E/).

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.

This if the first time I bought the Lucy style because I fell in love with the idea of a bright yellow bra! The material could be more supportive and I will not consider even the lightest jog for the train in this bra. It gives me a beautiful round shape where Freya's do not. The underarm wire is just right and although I can fit my pinky finger into the gore I am still pleased with the overall fit of the 30G.

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.
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Updated on Jul 10, 2012 Flag this

BustsOfGotham

1334 reputation

182 bras

Bought this bra on a whim because it is very pretty, but turned out to be my best-fitting bra to date! Other models that i've tried that fit me include Cleo Asher in 30G and Gossard Glossies (less support).

This bra rests perfectly against my sternum and i more or less forget I'm wearing it over the course of the day, it doesn't budge from my IMF at all unlike the 183647382 other popular FOB styles i have tried... looking at you panache envy sigh

Only downside to this bra would probably be the weird foamish strap texture (though personally it doesn't really bother me that much) and the fact that this bra isn't so readily available... wish it was easier to buy more of them and in more colours too.

Bluebell colorway

Updated on Sep 01, 2022 Flag this

great wire/band/straps, but logs of gaping, mild jiggle control. Might try a cup size or two down.

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Updated on Mar 24, 2021 Flag this

Moulded cup support and high gore are a big plus for me! Appreciate that about this bra. However, the wires also go just as high under the arms, and the straps sit too far apart which leads to pinching and restricted arm movement. Also makes the cups gape when i pull my arms forward, since it pulls the whole cup with it. Two hook closure, but held up fine for a try on.
It doesn't make a triangle when laid flat with hooks closed, unlike many bras in this size range. So close to a good fit, but so far away.

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Updated on Mar 24, 2021 Flag this

This is a bra that is basically a 3 part balconette with an overlay. The inside cups are all firm mesh, no stretch at all. The overlay is a cheetah print, all stretch "lace". I found it to be deep and projected in the cups. So much so that I could not fill it out. Because of the overlay I had a hard time diagnosing where the fit issue was since I could not see. I think it would be best for projected, even breasts. I think it could be too closed on top for those who are FOT, as it does have an elastic band across the ... top. Likewise, if you are FOB, this may not be compatible since it does have quite a bit of fabric and coverage on top. It seems to have decent projection and fairly narrow wires. It reminded me of the Lily in terms of projection and shape, but that top elastic could pose an issue for some. The straps are only halfway adjustable, and I was unable to make them tight enough to have any support or a decent fit there. The wires were typical Cleo wires. Band was firm, as typical Cleos are.
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Black colorway

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Updated on Sep 21, 2019 Flag this

28GG-H/30G-GG, projected, pendulous, bottom and center full.

I got the Cleo Piper bra in Soft Turquois a few months back in summer.
I immediatly fell in love with how pretty it is, I absolutely love the color and the little yellow detail, I love how it
looks on me, the matching panty is just as pretty. Sadly I don't wear it anymore. Mainly because I gained weight and spill out of it,
but it also diggs into my sides like crazy, I'm pretty sure this is my first and last longline bra.
Every time I decided to wear this bra for a day, my ribcage would literally hurt after a ... few hours and I'd have
bright red indentations on the side of my ribcage. The band is definitally not too tight, it's the way it's constructed.

I really really like the material tho, it's nothing special but exactlly what I'm looking for in a basic everyday bra, it's quite soft.
I'm pretty sure the digging issue is different for different body types, I might just have too much squishy fat on me.
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Soft Turquois colorway

Updated on Apr 02, 2019 Flag this

I am petite (5'2"/157 cm) with narrow-rooted, projected, evenly full and close-set breasts. My most common problems with bras are wires that are too wide, gores that are too high and wide and stab me in the chest and sit on my breast tissue, and cups without enough projection.

I tried on the white colorway in 30F, which gave me quadboob, the white in 30FF, which was a bit big, the black colorway in 30FF, which seemed a little small, and the black colorway in 30G, which was a bit big. At the time I tried these on, the Panache Jasmine in 30F and Curvy Kate Lifestyle Plunge in ... 30F fit me well, and I would say I was on the larger side of a 30F so would occasionally size up to 30FF.

I believe my problems with this bra were simply a shape mismatch. The wires were quite wide on the white 30FF, which can indicate a cup size that's too large, however, the 30F cut into my breast tissue at the top while giving me an "orange in a glass" effect at the bottom, leading me to believe that this bra didn't have enough projection and top fullness for me.

The gore was a good height and width though. It did sit on my breast tissue slightly, but since it wasn't high, it didn't cause me too much discomfort and didn't stab me.

The black colorway runs small, but not a full cup size small, as the black 30G is too large. I'd say it fits like a 30FF 1/2, so if you're a bit larger than a 30FF but not quite a true 30G, the black colorway in 30G might work for you.
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Black colorway

Updated on Mar 26, 2019 Flag this

Sister sized up to 30G because it was not available at the deeply discounted price in my usual size in a Cleo 28GG
Short roots, functionally full on bottom , although probably in my more perky days even. Very center full and require a lot of immediate projection.
Pleasantly surprised how well this bra fits, great on immediate projection and center full accommodation. Gore actually sits perfectly flat which never happens with me. One of my best fits.
Lace is very soft and so bra provides okay lift now, but not as front and center as so many Cleos

Shape is a natural shape and make me look a little smaller. Band width in 30 is okay now.
This bra doesn't seem quite up to the quality of most Cleos. Okay though because I got it at a bargain price.

Updated on Jul 09, 2018 Flag this

The Cleo Kayla is a really, really pretty bra, and for the most part, I really like to wear it. The stretch lace does a great job of encapsulating my soft tissue, full on top breasts, which is always a plus. The underwires are too wide, but that's something I've found is consistent with bras from British companies. In terms of quality, Kayla is decent, but I wouldn't say that it's a bra that'll last for an exceptionally long time. I'd say that I take pretty good care of my bras (hand washing them, not wearing them back to back), and I've just now reached the last set ... of hooks after a little over a year and a half of owning the Kayla; I have some bras that I've had for longer and worn about as much that are only on the first or middle set of hooks. Also, the bad does feel a bit flimsy, even when it's tight. The straps are very thin compared to most bras I have and are incredibly flimsy. Luckily, this doesn't bother me too much, but I could see how it could.

In terms of shape, the Kayla is very round for a non padded bra, which is exceptionally important to me as I love having boobs to the sky cleavage and a round, round, round profile (both not quite there for Kayla but are acceptable for my high standards) and basically live in Freya Deco Vibes. The Kayla is comparable to the Cleo Lily in this regard, in my opinion.

Mostly, I like the fit of my Kayla. One thing that I notice with it, though, is that my boobs tend to move away from the center after I've worn it, which is strange because in bras with lower gores like the Freya Deco Vibe, for instance, they move towards the center. I've attached some pictures of this.
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Updated on Jan 09, 2018 Flag this

About me: size 30FF/G or 32F/FF but most comfortable in 30G. Very projected, close set breasts with short and narrow roots. Even vertical fullness and center full. Best fitting bra is Cleo Lily in 30G.

After I got my 30G - Panache » Floris Balconnet Bra (7311) , another Marcie sister cut that ended up fitting pretty poorly, I was very worried about how the Pixie would fit. However, I can say that the Pixie is VERY different from Floris. My biggest problems with Floris were in cup quadding, the very stiff band, and the very long wire length. Pixie solves all of these problems, ... perhaps even a little too well!

Pixie has a very comfortable band that is snug but not to the extent where I need an extender. The wires are low and narrow, so while the gore goes into my tissue slightly on one side (like all non plunge bras) it actually lays flat. The wires are also short enough that I have no armpit poking. I have no quadding, but I actually have some slight wrinkling of the top mesh. I believe that this is caused by the straps being too wide for me, but I have very narrow shoulders so I have this problem with many bras, especially Cleo ones. The projection seems good, and this bra has very high lift.

It's not the perfect fit, but it's close and very comfortable. I also love the design and color of this bra, so in my eyes it's a keeper!

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Updated on Jun 20, 2017 Flag this

About me: size 30FF/G or 32F/FF but most comfortable in 30G. Very projected, close set breasts with short and narrow roots. Even vertical fullness and center full. Best fitting bra is Cleo Hettie in 30G.

I think that this is the one! I'm so sad that this bra is discontinued because it is my best fit yet! The gore is low enough that it actually tacks and only digs into my breast a little (I have this happen with pretty much anything that isn't a plunge, and my tissue is too soft and center full for plunges to really work on me). I don't have any quadding, ... and the cups give me a completely round and uplifted shape that reminds me of a grapefruit.

The only thing that I dislike about this bra is the color. The blue and pink are a just too cotton candy/bubblegum for me, so I'd like to dye this to a darker color if possible. I'm pretty young, but I've never been super girly (I prefer things that are more delicate and feminine) so this is just my preference.
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dyed purple

Updated on Jun 20, 2017 Flag this

My shape: Projected, short rooted, even/functionally full on bottom, somewhat narrow, soft tissue.

I can't quite fill the tops of the cups, but I think a cup size down would be too small. The wires are too wide, and there doesn't seem to be enough immediate depth at the wire (or the emptiness there may be because the wires are too wide). Will be returning.

Floral Print colorway

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Updated on May 13, 2017 Flag this

My shape: Projected, short rooted, even/functionally full on bottom, somewhat narrow, soft tissue.

I've been on a hunt for a Lily replacement (without stretch lace), and I've been curious about the Blake for a while.
Unfortunately, because of the thinner/less rigid fabric, combined with my very soft tissue, I get in cup quad. If I had firmer tissue with a little more upper fullness, I think this bra would work better. Will be returning.

Turquoise colorway

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Updated on May 13, 2017 Flag this

If you have close set breasts, the wires may bother you as they bother me. The first Kali I ordered was a 32DD and it felt like my breasts were being forced into my ribs. After putting my bra on backward and upside down, I learned I did not require a 32" band, and the cups were significantly small. Next, I tried the 30G after learning a boob twin had decent results with the Kali 30G. Of the four sizes (32DD, 30F, 30FF, 30G) this is the only band that doesn't feel too small. I assume my short roots finally have space to exist and don't ... require the band for "real estate." Additionally, this is only bra of the four in which the wires don't painfully push down on my ribs. Although the bottom and apex are filled, my short roots don't fill the top. The straps in this size are too wide set. And, the sides of the cup cut into my arm pit. However, despite these detractions, this is, by far, the most comfortable of the four. I have been thoroughly spoiled by Comexim, Anna Pardal, and Ewa Michalak: Cleo is not remotely comfortable, to me, compared to the aforementioned brands. I will wait for the made to order Comexim/Anna Pardal bras. Sigh.
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Purple colorway

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Updated on Aug 01, 2016 Flag this