I’m a big fan of Panache’s brighter, bolder brand Cleo – I’ve actually been rocking Ellie today – and now they’ve transferred the same fun prints to Cleo Swimwear. Fun silhouettes (check out the ‘collar’ on the strapless one piece) and vibrant fabrics make for an eye catching collection. Wedding planning may be consuming most of my time right now, but in under two months it will be the first day of my honeymoon and for that I need some cracking swimwear…

To help out, the kind chaps at Bras & Honey sent me the Tilly balconnet from Cleo’s SS13 range. Print wise, she’s perfect for a summer holiday: the bright seaside print (with gulls!) is perfect for the beach, and she comes with good coverage for fun in the sun.

Unfortunately though, this Tilly won’t be accompanying me to Italy/Mexico/wherever-we-wash-up-possibly-the-North-Sea-at-this-rate. In a 30G, she is extremely tight in the back – so tight that it actually makes the underwires dig in at the front. Additionally, the back straps are much skinnier than I’ve seen on G+ swimwear, and combined with the tightness this creates mega back fat even where really there is none. I’d suggest sizing up in the back to get a comfortable fit.

It’s hard to gauge cup sizing because the back is so tight (so the wire was actually quite a distorted shape at the side of the bra), but she’s is a little big at the top too. My advice would be for women with less full-at-the-top breasts to size down in cup volume as well to find your perfect fit. In bra maths, that would make me a Cleo Tilly 32F.

Not the girl (or gull?) for me alas – but that does mean my suitcase is wide open for other options…

Cleo Tilly is available in sizes 28-38 DD-J.

Thanks Team Bras & Honey for letting me try her! They do international delivery of these beauts, btw…