Tags
14UK, 30J, balconette, briefs, cleo, panache, review, undies review
So! I finally got my hands on the much coveted Alexa. It’s a bra from sub-brand named Cleo from Panache. It’s a beautiful bra and everyone that has worn it has made me so very jealous. The shape is so rounded and desirable and I knew I had to get my hands on it.
I had found a fairly cheap one on Bratabase(along with a Harmony) and had to snatch it right up. Unfortunately…you’ll see.
It’s an unpadded balconette three-part cup. The top part of the cup is trimmed with a pink lace that matches much of the design over the turquoise bra. It’s a fun and thrill-y bra and one that I’m sure I would have enjoyed very much if it had fit right. There are only two hook-and-eye closures and while it’s rare among G+ cups, It wasn’t so terrible. I’m sure that I would have felt the pressure of it eventually, but I hadn’t had that much time in it.
My bottom heavy breasts don’t like unpadded balconettes. I have tried many and as you can see, even if the cup is deep enough, there’s that inch at the top that I just can’t fill. It’s not that the cup is too large, it’s that it’s too tall. If I were to size down to a 28J, I assume that the issue would stay. But maybe I’ll find that out later. The cups are, fortunately, not that stretchy, which also means it would be unforgiving if one size too small or to full-on-top breasts.
So the band is quite large. It could easily be a 34 band comfortably. The band is comfortable. Despite only having two closures and too large, it didn’t feel bad.
The gore does go a bit high on my chest, but no more than most of my other bras. It’s something I’ve come to deal with and learn how to dress around if necessary. Thankfully, it’s not painfully high and so bearable if not unflattering.
There’s not much else to say about the bra. It’s…not going to work. I really wish it had, though.
Matching briefs – 14UK
In most brands, I wear a size 12UK, which is a size 8 in US sizing. In Freya, I’m a 12UK and in CK, I seem to be about a 12UK. And it seems that with this, I am a comfortable 14UK. Sizes don’t matter and I do like how flattering the undies look on me.
I’ve sucked it up and decided that you all can see my bum and cellulite. But you can also see how nicely they fit. Something I have to deal with often is the elastic of underwear cutting into my love handles and creating this muffing top that looks terrible under my form fitting clothes. These don’t do that!
They have the same design as the bra, of course, and are just as flattering. As a pair, the set is gorgeous and even alone, I’m sure I’d feel awesome.
The top elastic part measures 15″ when laid flat and the legs are 10″ laying flat. I’ve never bothered measuring undies before and I do believe that I’ll start, only so I can find sizes that work for me. The legs do fit around my awfully large thighs.
And for reference, my lower stomach part is 38.5″ and my bum measures 43″ with thighs of 23″.
Voluptuous and Beautiful 
This looks on you like the 30J Meg looked on me! Bottom part filled out pretty well, but the cups are too tall
shame too, as it also gives a really nice shape. The Lucy was much better on me, even though I’d consider my breasts even instead of full on bottom.
It’s terrible! I even considered cutting off an inch on the top, but it would interfere with how it’s connected to the cup and I’m not that good at altering. I did try a lucy in a too small cup and it did fit me a whole hell lot better, too!
What is your usual size in Panache? I just ordered 3 bras off asos.com in 30J. I have a Panache 32HH, that the band is a little large. (I’m full-on-bottom also) Just want to know for reference. Thanks.
I can’t seem to find my size. All Panache that I’ve tried have failed terribly. I have tried a 28HH Cleo Lucy and it was a cup or two too small so I could be about a 28JJ for Cleo, but a 30J Alexa doesn’t fit as you can see. It’s all so confusing!
Lucy is a hard fit for most people. You should try this bra in a 30H or so. The band on Cleo bras tends to be firmer than most, so the 30 band should work well for you. I have breasts that are more full on the bottom and have had tons of luck with cleo’s unpadded balconettes. How much are you adjusting the straps? I have a Cleo Chloe (based on the Alexa) and I had some gaping at the top part of the cup until I adjusted the straps.
It’s all so confusing. Looking over bratabase, it looked like a 28/30j would do the trick and it seems that’s not the case! I adjust the straps as much as I’m able to and to get it where I need it to be. I usually pull them up until the top of my breasts are even with the start of their root. I didn’t have any problem tightening these. I truly believe that the cups were just too tall.
I hope you can find this, or another Cleo in a smaller size. I think that they would look wonderful on you!
I agree! When I get the chance, I’ll definitely try more styles.