Cleo by PanacheWomen's Lucy Balconette Bra

So far, I dig it.First off, let me say that previously I had been going off of a very old measurement and had mostly been buying bras through guesswork. Per the recommendations I found on some reviews on this site, I visited the subreddit "A bra that fits" and used their beginner's guide to figure out my true size (36 E). I was wearing 36 DD, but the back of the bra always rode up and the center part on some of my bras (the "gore") would float instead of touching my skin. This was a sign that not only was my band size too large, but my cup size was too small. I also learned that whenever you go down a band size, you go up a cup size and whenever you go up a cup size, you go down a band size - which made sense, since 36 was too big for me in DD and seems to fit me in E. Anyway, on to the review...When I pulled it out of the package, my first reaction was dismay. The material was super thin, and the wire was super stiff feeling, which made me think, "uh-oh". However, once I tried it on, I really warmed up to it quickly. I've never owned a bra that fit me quite like this. This does not create cleavage - it definitely keeps them separate - but it does create projection and it seems to support them well. Having never had a bra quite like this (I've literally only ever worn $12 push-ups or sports bras, all from Walmart), it took me a day to figure out if I liked it or not - and I believe I do. I feel like it does a really great job at supporting them and it's super cute. The material, while thin, is quality and very breathable - again, unlike any other bra I've owned, as most seem to have thick, sweat-inducing fabric. Some reviewers said they felt it was uncomfortable, but I don't feel like it's more uncomfortable than any other one that I've worn. The band is tight, but I don't think it is tighter than it should be - it is doing most of the work, after all. The boning doesn't bother me, even though it's strong - I think I will hand wash and air dry, for sure, though, with the thin material and thick wire. If skinny straps give you problems, then you might re-consider this bra, as the straps are not the thickest (they're thicker than spaghetti straps - about the size of one of my fingers - but not as thick as "normal" tank-top straps), but they aren't biting into my shoulders or anything, so I'm content. I will include a pic, since no one else has. I know I hate buying anything without customer pictures! Nothing dirty is showing, I promise... Unless you count my bathroom lol. Although my body is not the best (166 lbs, 5'5", hour-glass-ish). I will update my review in a few months if anything changes. Anyway, hope I helped!

This is my first bra in my true size and while the unlined aspect took some getting used to, it is well-made and super cute. I wear it at least a few times a week.The band runs tight (most Cleo bras have this issue) so I had to use an extender for a while but after wearing a few times a week for a couple of months, it fits perfectly. The cups are TTS and I get no quadding in the cup or at the top of it. The gore tacks and I can wear this all day without any adjustments. The straps are wide set but are fine for my average shoulders however some with narrower shoulders might have issues with these. The cup material is a bit scratchy at first but it softens over time. For reference: I have even/slightly full on bottom breasts, average projection and average/wide-ish roots. The wires on this are just wide enough so I don't consider this to be a particularly narrow nor deep bra but rather about average in both. The shape I get is somewhat rounded and the support is great. It holds me up without digging into my shoulders.Overall this is one of my favorite bras that I own. I did take off one star because of the embroidery on the cups. These little round details are cute when the bra is off or if I am wearing it alone but once I put it on underneath knit or fitted shirts, it looks kinda like I have some sort of skin condition. Not happy about that at all.Btw, I got the one with the neon orange details and it looked white online but it is actually pale pink. It is cuter than expected but it is definitely not white. Just want to mention that to anyone who might be considering that color.

Cleo Lucys are my favorite bras (and, actually, the only bras I wear!). The reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because the stitching at the top isn't quite stretchy enough, and I've found the purple ones uncomfortable after a few hours.I have two purple ones--28E and 30DD--and a blue one (28E). I wear the blue one 90% of the time because in both of the purple ones, the center gore pushes in painfully. I never forget I'm wearing my blue bra (and have fallen asleep with it on on accident!), but with the purple ones I always want to throw them off at the end of the day. I thought this was just a problem with the band being too big on the 30DD one, but I have the same problem with the 28E.The other minor issue I have with the bras is the tight stitching across the top. Because there is some slight gaping at the top right now, I should probably size down to a 28DD (or, more likely, a 26E if that existed). I wouldn't want to, however, because I'd rather have a little extra fabric than my boobs cut off across the top! For that reason I put "somewhat small," though I don't think it would be right to size up. When I first got the 30DD (when I was heavier), I just took some scissors and cut two little, teeny openings in the fabric. It worked, they never ripped further, and no one ever noticed :).Overall, though, Lucys make my boobs look really round. I also think it makes them look smaller and perkier. The three-part construction works really well for me, too! I think if you have trouble with molded cups definitely give it a shot.

Edited 12/23/2015. I downgraded the stars on this review from 5 to 3 (and in truth it should probably be lower). To be honest, this thing basically just sits in my bra drawer unused. If it at all seems tight when you try it on, don't commit until you've tried it at the fullest part of your menstrual cycle.Edited after one day's wear to add: Wow, please be mindful of where you are in your cycle when you are bra shopping ladies. This bra (and the Cleo Women's Jude T-Shirt Bra) fit like a dream when I tried them on, and literally the next morning, they both showed signs of being too small. I made the mistake of wearing this 2 days after trying it on, and oh boy did it hurt. It was agony. I am somewhere right on the edge of a 34 and 36 band and had purchased this in the 34. I think it'd still be good during the first part of my cycle, but I will NOT be wearing it (in this size) during the latter half. If I can get a good deal on it, I may purchase this bra again in a 36FF (or even G), but I think it was mainly the band that was causing the issue. I am not deducting any stars because I think this is an issue with the size, not the bra.Original review:I was very happy to find this bra for under $20 in my size. It's a very cute demi with no padding that provides really great support, good separation, and pretty cleavage. (The cups do not cover as much on me as they do on the model in the photo.) It also does a great job controlling the top of my breasts (i.e. when leaning over), which makes me happy. You can see a little of the lace effect and horizontal seam under thin or fitted clothing, but I like the bra nonetheless. (For the price, it's definitely worth it.)

I have been on a bra hunt for about a month now since realizing my bras are ill fitting after losing weight and some menopausal changes. I am 46, 121# size 4 dress. Measurements: band 29, breasts 34.25.I used to be a 34DD. I could now fit another person between the band gap and me. I obviously needed to go down a size. I had a new Quad-Boob in my trust-worthy fav styles. Time for a change. I have been become besties with Amazon, Advice Sites, Fitting Sites, and my UPS carrier. I know my correct size, what works and what does not now. The trouble is FINDING it. The stores here do not have professional fitters nor carry my size. I am ready to start a new trend of letting the girls be freeee! I am finding out I am not alone. I blogged about this and many are in the same boat!!! Why won't any make bras that actually fit? The Cleo came highly recommended via many blogs. WELLLL, the 30DDD was huge in the cups: tons of extra material and gaping. The 30DDD in the Cleos are tinnny and armpit boob - gore does not lie flat????!!! The gore did lay flat in the 30DDD but a ton of extra material, so much gaping and the same armpit boob. Never had that before! Forget "Sister Sizing" - so not true - back to my extra person on my back.My measurements are 29 bottom, below breast band/ 34.25 cup. Yep, I am weird. I went up a band size to 30 which is perfect. One would think, by alll charts I could find, I would be a G Cup. Nope - every brand and style absolutely huge. I try DDD in Cleo Marcie and Lucy because it came highly recommended for FOB breasts. It was huge as I had stated. I re-ordered the same styles in DD and the look like and fit like my 15 yr old daughter's 30 AAA I actually tried on for comparison. And to top it off every color is a different size as well!!!Note: I made a typo in my Ellis review (same problems) - it should read the same as this. I've also tried the 32 band size in every bra and was big - so Freudian slip. lol My apologies.

I wish this bra came with an unpatterned fabric! I love this bra. It's the only unlined bra I've found that works with my somewhat full on top breasts. It takes a little bit of initial fussing. I have to bend the tips of the wires out at the gore and at the armpit area, and then bend the wires around my ribcage for a really good fit (otherwise I get really uncomfortable pressure points at the outside of my ribcage on the wires), but once that's done, it is perfect. Very comfortable, and breathes well. I own this in red and white. Unfortunately, if I'm wearing even a slightly sheer top, even if I go with the white, the pattern of the lace top is visible. If this came without the pattern, OR in a beigey color, it would be my go-to for anything other than deep cleavage. As is, I'm stuck with my Neve and Freya Deco in beige, which give me strangely round shaped boobs, but aren't visible under tops.

Band is tight but that's where most of the support comes from and it got more comfortable after a few days. I'm a projected, full on bottom 38F, three finger space between the girls. The gore tacked nicely but the underwire is a little wide and digs in under my arm and woe is me, I don't quite fill the cups on the top. The lace gaps but it isn't visible under a shirt. The projection and shape are really nice and I liked the way my girls looked. Comfort is a 3/10, fit is a 4/10, look is a 7/10. It's a quality bra, just not right for my shape. It's kind of dumb to rate down bras because they don't fit YOU, so I give it a 4. I'm a member of ABraThatFits.

This bra fits like most Panache soft-cup bras on me (I wear a 32 FF for reference) - a little pointy, and supportive but not a heavy-duty lifter. I have bottom-heavy, soft-tissue boobs, so Panache 3-part bras tend to give me a more pointy look with flat sides, but it's not terribly noticeable under shirts. People who want a lot of side support will like this bra. I don't get a rounded profile, but I get tons of uplift and forward projection. The band is nice and tight, but I'm still trying to get the straps just right so that the band sits correctly and doesn't cut in weirdly at the back. It's fine with looser shirts. I actually own three of these bras, and really like them!MAJOR heads up to anyone who buys the neon orange color - it's very neon, and not actually white and orange, but rather a soft pink with neon orange. Fine under solid knits and shirts, but definitely brighter than the stock photo.