Try not to die of shock that I posted not once but TWICE in a single week. I have so many amazing products in my review queue that if I don’t get my butt in gear, I’ll never get to them all! With today’s post, we can all officially wave goodbye to the snow pictures, and I can take future photos more reflective of our current weather. Today also marks the last of my Panache freebies as well as my first Cleo review in quite some time. Back in the day, Cleo was my jam (that’s probably not what the kids are saying, but I don’t care). They had narrow underwires and deep cups and a great shape, and hey, did I mention I climbed a freakin’ mountain in the Marcie?

After I found Comexim, I eschewed most other brands and styles, but when my sales rep gave me a chance to revisit Cleo with Piper, I was ecstatic. Who says you can’t go home again? At the time, my weight placed me at an intersection of sizes, namely UK 32H, 32HH, 34GG, and 34H, and for the review, I received the 32H (US 32K). Longlines often fit firmer than standard bras on account of the wider bands and restricted stretch fabrics, and I must admit when I saw the size on the tag, my initial reaction was: I hope this fits. Surprisingly, the 32 band was comfortable on the loosest setting and ran comparable to the Cleo regular bras. The cup was a wee bit small, however. The H cup created overflow at the top, especially when fully scooped. Sizing up to the HH would have alleviated the problem and made the fit perfect.

Sporting four-section projected cups with a narrow center gore, Piper provides incredible lift with a forward, rounded shape. Notice this bra departs from the standard three-section design and adds a second vertical seam on the lower cup for improved support both at the center and toward the side. The wire weight on the side seems lower and less stabby than I remember, and the gore comfortably tacks at the center. Moderate coverage with an almost sweetheart neckline is flattering under clothes, and the added width on the wings from the longline shape anchors well to the body, supporting the full weight of the breasts and smoothing the sides. Flexible boning increases support and prevents the fabric from rolling although I did experience a little sliding. Most of my longlines are Comexim which do no have the added reinforcement, and while I appreciate the boning here, it does detract from the overall comfort. It’s more of a bra to wear when you know you will be standing more than sitting, especially if you’re a slouchy sitter (said while hunching over my laptop), and people with a higher tummy may want to avoid Piper entirely.

In their balcony bras, Cleo often uses two kinds of cup styles: open on the top like Marcie or Kayla and closed on the top like Blake or Hettie. Personally, I carry both in the shop because each style suits a different shape while still sharing overlapping customers. Piper falls firmly in the “closed on top” category with a sharp dart inward on the upper cup made even less forgiving by the 2-ply mesh fabric. The lower cups sport the same mesh on the interior with a study lace on the exterior. It ain’t the softest bra on the market, and I get the feeling this is a style which needs a strong washing to break in the fabric. It’s not uncomfortable for me, but I’m fairly tolerant of different fabrics. If you’re one of those “lace is itchy” people, avoid Piper like the skin plague it will be on you. On the flip side, the general lack of stretch offers added boost for lift and also extends the bra’s life span. With less elasticity in the cup, it’s harder to break them down over time, thus giving you continuous support. Full-on-top types may want to try sizing up in the cup or choose another style instead.

Aesthetically, I love this bra. In my old place, I literally painted my walls cobalt and lime green (even brighter than the green in the store because green is my favorite color and I hate beige), so the richness of the cobalt here with the neon green center bow offers a bitter sweet reminder. Lovely floral lace adorns the cups and extends from the cradle into a scalloped pattern on the skin, and I love how the bra manages to be translucent without being completely sheer. It’s funky and sophisticated with a color combo that pops! It also looks a bit like the Freya Fancies longline, but as we all know, no brand works for every person. If Cleo suits your shape better, definitely give Piper a try, and even if you aren’t looking for a Fancies-esque piece, Piper is still a fabulous longline entry.

Overall, it was refreshing to retry one of my favorite brands again, and it has convinced me to keep them on the table for future purchases. Kayla has been really popular, and I’m thinking it may be time to tack that onto my review schedule!

Erica

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