Quantcast
Channel: Petite & Plentiful
Viewing all 95 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

[Review] Cleo Jecca Longline Padded Balconnet Bikini & Gathered Pant - 28E & UK8

May 17, 2014, 10:27 am
$
0
0
I've been looking forward to the Jecca ever since it popped up in SS14 previews, and I've eagerly waited to get my hands on it ever since it popped up in stores. Right now, the only store to sell the full size range of this top is Amazon UK. I bought it from there full price, and although I rarely buy lingerie and swimwear at full price, I simply had to have this one. The bottoms were purchased from Dutch online retailer My Own Lingerie, at the time the only one to offer the bottoms in size UK 8. The service was excellent, and the owner was very friendly in e-mails (the brief got delayed a bit thanks to Easter). This is one of the rare Dutch lingerie stores to sell Panache and Cleo in their full size range, so if you prefer to buy domestic, be sure to check it out.

The Bikini

General
The Jecca is part of Cleo by Panache's SS14 swim collection, their second swim collection after SS13. The line also includes a padded bandeau, and a high-waisted bottom. The Jecca is based on the Juna shape, which has also been used in the swim collection for the SS13 Pippa and the SS14 Rita.

Look
Blue base with all over Aztec print. No bows or other embellishments.

Band
Longline band with one clasp. It measures cm under the cups. It stretches to 68 cm/26.8", meaning it runs small in the band, in addition to feeling very firm when worn (as is common with longlines). The boning on the sides is reinforced, and does not flip up on me. The fabric in the middle however, bunches up a bit, but it does that even when not wearing the bikini top.

Cups
Padded cups with one vertical seam. The cups are very open, and quite shallow. They're sturdier than the Pippa's or the Juna's, but still not moulded like Maddie's. They do retain their shape when laid flat however. I find them to be true to size for a shallow 28E, but if you had to size up in the Juna or Maddie, you will have to size up in this one also.

Center Gore & Wires
Narrow, relatively high gore. The wires are wide, and come up quite low.

Straps
Fully adjustable straps. They're quite wide, and surprisingly narrow set for a Cleo bra. I usually wear my straps adjusted to shoulder level, but the Jecca's straps are so sturdy and tight, that I wear them almost all the way down.

Fit
An excellent fit. The shape is round and uplifted, the band is nice and tight, the straps great, and the cups fit me very well. As I'm conical, I had an issue with wrinkling at the side of the cup with the Juna (less so with the Pippa), but because of the cups more sturdy padding, I had no such problem with this bikini top. The only real problem I had when first wearing it was sternum stabbing, but that went away after wearing it several times and after bending the wires.

Comfort
I experienced discomfort with the wires and gore at first, but that went away after wearing the bikini a few times, and I've since bend the gore a bit outward. The wires are very harsh nonetheless, they seem to be encased in much less fabric than other Cleo bras and bikinis. The label, for some reason, causes my skin to irritate and itch, so I cut it off after one wear.

Verdict
This bikini is right up your alley if you get along well with the Cleo Juna,Cleo Maddie, or other similar cuts. The cups are well suited for shallow breasts, and the cups are open enough to accommodate all types of fullness. The band runs small, so size definitely up if you're in between band sizes or if you prefer a looser band. I couldn't be happier with this bikini - I adore longlines, and the Aztec print is right up my alley. I'm even thinking of buying the bandeau, although I'm unsure on what size to get - I'm thinking of a 28D, as the Panache Anna Bandeau I own in 28E is hilariously big on me.

The Gathered Pant


The matching bikini bottom to the Jecca features the same blue base with all over Aztec print. The sides are gathered, hence the name "gathered pant". It fits me very well, surprisingly well for a bikini bottom that is not a tie side brief. There's nearly no muffin top, there's enough room in the butt area, and the elastics used throughout are neither tight nor loose. I ordered this bottom in a size down (UK8/XS) from what I usually take (UK10/S mostly for the butt room), as Cleo briefs are said to run roomy. It's true for me in this case, so keep that in mind when ordering.

Conclusion

Cleo's swim collection has been outstanding this season, with the Jecca being an absolute highlight for me. If you're a fan of Cleo's half cups, unusual prints, longlines, and padded bikinis, this one is undeniably the one to get this swimwear season.
  • You can find Jecca's measurements over at Bratabase
  • Available in sizes 28-38 D-H, at Amazon UK, offers international shipping. Gathered pant available in UK8-UK18 at a.o. Asos. 
  • You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Bloglovin.
↧
Search

[Review] Gossard Glossies Padded Plunge Bra - 30DD

May 20, 2014, 1:42 pm
$
0
0
I ordered this bra the same time as I ordered its counterpart, the Glossies Sheer Moulded Bra from Zalando. Zalando's service was excellent as always (free shipping and returns), and they carry a few Gossard bras in 30 bands - if you're in the Netherlands or Germany and don't want to order from the UK, be sure to check out the site.

General
Part of Gossard's best selling range, the Glossies Padded Plunges are padded t-shirt bras. Continuity colourways available are Beige, White, Black, and Mocha. The current fashion colourway is Coral (SS14), upcoming AW14 fashion colourway will be Fuchsia. The range also includes a sheer moulded bra, a matching boyshort, high waisted brief, and thong. Unlike the sheer moulded bra, this bra caters to the smaller size range (A-E cups). This bra is quite commonly available - all the big retailers such as Asos, Brastop, and Figleaves carry it, and it's carried in store in the UK by Debenhams amongst others.

Look
Sheer black fabric is laid over a beige base. Black piping follows the edging of the cup. Embroidery lines the top of the band, and a gold Gossard tag sits next to the right cup.

Band
Relatively narrow band featuring two hooks and three eyes in this size. The band runs on the smaller side of a 30 band, stretching to roughly 29".  

Cups
Padded, seamless cups. I personally consider them moulded, as they retain their shape when laid out. The cups are very close together, but spread out when worn. They're not very tall, and quite shallow and open. I personally consider them true to size for a shallow 30DD, but (very) projected breasts may think of sizing up.

Center Gore & Wires
Practically no center gore, the cups spread out a bit when you wear it. The wires are narrow-medium width, and come up quite low on the side.

Straps
Fully adjustable straps. They're quite thin, and narrow-set.

Fit
An excellent fit, aside from the the too big band (expected, as it is a 30 band). The shape is very round and forward, the narrow set straps are an oasis in a desert of wide-set straps. The cups fit me great, and they're not too tall on me - tall enough to keep my tail of spence contained, but not tall enough to cause discomfort. The lack of gore causes no fit issues.

Comfort
The band is made of the same comfortable velvet like material as the other Glossies band and cup, and just like the other Glossies, the straps are scratchy. Perhaps that will lessen if you wash the bra multiple times. The lack of gore is very comfortable, and the wires cause no discomfort, although I hadn't worn the bra for an entire day.

Verdict
A great seamless t-shirt plunge bra, that's certainly worth checking out if you haven't had luck with the Freya Deco Plunge. I recommend this bra for those with tall-rooted shallow breasts, with an even or full on top shape. In the end, I sent it back as I simply didn't like the black colourway - I'm planning on getting the Coral colourway in the future (*cough*hurry up summer sale*cough*), as I absolutely adore it. 

↧
↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Dotty L'Amour Non-Padded Shoulder Bra & High Waisted Corset Knicker - 28E & S

May 22, 2014, 1:09 pm
$
0
0
I've been gushing over Mimi Holliday on my blog for quite a while, but I haven't had a single review up of any of the bras I('ve) own(ed). Blame my scatterbrain, dear readers. I'll be reviewing all my Mimi Holliday bras this month and the beginning of next month, so stay tuned!

I never buy Mimi Holliday at full price, and this set is no exception. I bought the bra of Net-A-Porter during their semi-annual sale, and I bought the matching High Waisted Corset Knicker through Ebay. Net-A-Porter usually carries all available sizes, and the sales are pretty good, so be sure to check it out if you're hunting for cheap Mimi bras.

The Bra

General
Part of Mimi Holliday's AW13 collection, the Dotty L'Amour line includes a non-padded shoulder bra, a padded balconette bra, a maternity bra, a corset boy short, a classic knicker, a bow back thong, a suspender, a camisole, shorties, a slip, and a lace body. It's counterpart line, the Dotty Nuit, has a navy colour scheme. I own the counterpart Non-padded Shoulder Bra in 30D.

This bra has the same cut as all the other non-padded shoulder bras from SS13 onward (see the note below), but differs from the SS14's Raspberry Ripple non-padded shoulder bra, which is an entirety different cut (despite carrying the same name as the other shoulder bras).
  • Important note: Mimi Holliday has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, a 28E from AW12 would be a 28F from SS13. In this case, my SS12 Kir Royale Non-Padded Shoulder bra in 28E is a size smaller than this AW13 Non-Padded Shoulder bra in 28E, despite having the same size on the label. I also own the AW12 Angelique Jet Shoulder bra in 28DD, which is one cup smaller than the Kir Royale, and two cups smaller than the Dotty L'Amour.
Look
 A white base with a white dot pattern. The underwires have a pink satin overlay in the front. A lace pattern is lined on the inside of the cups and on the side of the wings. Small fabric trims adorn the underside of the band, and little white bow sits on the gore.

Band
Narrow band with one hook and four columns in this size. The band stretches to roughly 28", making it fairly true to size.

Cups

Non-padded cups with one vertical seam. They're shallow, and tall (expected, as it is a shoulder bra). The cups do have some stretch to them, size down if you're in between cup sizes. The material is much more supportive than the lace used for the Bisou Bisou shoulder bras. The cups cut off near the center gore, where a small lower portion of the cup sits, with a diagonal seam.

Center Gore & Wires
Low, narrow gore. Low, narrow wires.

Straps
The front part is part of the cups, the adjustable part are regular white straps. They're half adjustable.

Fit
An excellent fit, except for one detail: the cups are slightly too big on me - they pucker just above the seam. This could be a result of my nipples not aligning with the seam, but despite the lack of gaping anywhere else in the cups, it's enough for me to warrant sizing down in this model.

The cups and wires are very narrow, which makes them ideal for narrow-shallow-conical me. Although I usually have problems with half adjustable straps, in this case the straps adjust short enough for me. The cups come up to my shoulders perfectly, but they will show up if you're not wearing a t-shirt, so beware if you don't like to show your bra. I personally like showing off my bra, so this model hits all my right buttons. The small cut off portion of the cup near the gore causes my breast tissue to flatten and spread out, creating a more clearly defined line between my breasts, and the barest hint of cleavage. 

The band feels snug enough to me on the second hook, although I do need to adjust it every so often. Luckily, this bra has four hooks, so wearing it on tighter hooks is no big deal.

Comfort
The materials used are very comfortable and high quality, especially the soft material used for the cups. I didn't experience much wire digging, although some may find the very narrow band uncomfortable.

Verdict
I highly recommend this bra for those who have tall roots, an even or full on top shape, shallow breasts, and are in need of a bra with narrow cups and wires. I have however, heard of this bra fitting those with full on bottom and short roots, like Lamb of Of Lambs & Laces (read her review of various Mimi Holliday shoulder bras in 30B-C here). The cups are stretchy and accommodating, so size down if you're in between cup sizes. If I had known about Mimi's change of sizing, I wouldn't have bought this bra. I certainly don't regret buying it, but I do feel disappointed that we were not meant to be.

The High Waist Corset Knicker

The matching high waisted corset knicker features the same white base with polka dot print. The high waisted part is entirely pink satin. The corset detail is lovely, but take care when pulling the knicker on - the corset is very tight, and does not give much room for pulling the knicker apart.

As for the fit, this model is simply not meant to be for me. It's too big in the waist department, where it simply sags. It's also slightly too small in the butt department, but nothing real bad - I've only worn it to try on, so there's a chance the elastic may become more flexible with wear. They're just not very flattering on me, despite being very gorgeous.

Conclusion

This set is absolutely gorgeous, and the bra is one of the best fitting models I tried so far. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep it due to sizing issues, and in the end, I passed on this set to my fellow blogger and Mimi Holliday lover Amy from Fussy Busty, who, as a size larger than me, will hopefully fit it much better.
↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Delicieux Silk and Lace Padded Balcony Bra - 30DD

May 25, 2014, 12:20 pm
$
0
0
General
Not much can be found on the Delicieux, except that it was an Asos exclusive from years ago. The cut is the same as all the other Mimi Holliday padded balcony bras.
  • Important note: Mimi has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, this 30DD balconette problem from pre-SS13 is the same size as a 30D balconette from post-SS13. 
Look

Beige cups with ruched base material at the bottom, and a coral coloured lace overlay on top. Little hot coral bows sit between the cups and at the point where the straps start to lessen in width. 

Band
Narrow band featuring 1 hook and 4 eyes. While this was described and labelled as a 30 bra, mine stretches to 34". This could be a result of the seller lying about the bra being BNWOT, as no other Mimi bra seems to stretch so much, according to bratabase. 

Cups
Padded cups with a horizontal seam on the inside. The cups are very wide, and very shallow. They're open, and come up quite low. 

Center Gore & Wires
Moderate height, very narrow center gore. The wires medium-wide width, and come up low. They're very bendable, which may be unique to this model. 

Straps
Half adjustable straps. The first part is made of silk, and is very thin. They're very wideset.

Fit
The cup run small, and are about a half a cup size too small for me, resulting in quadboob. This could also be the result of Mimi's old sizing scheme (see the import note above). The band is too big, which like I mentioned in the "band" section, could be a result of being lied to. The straps are too wide-set for me. The shape is very round and uplifted, but I unfortunately forgot to take picture of me wearing it before selling it, my apologies. Overall, this bra has the potential of being a wonderful fit, if it were the right size for me. 

Comfort 
The material of the cups and band are comfortable, as are the satin of the straps. The width of the straps sawed my arms off however, not very pleasant. The narrow band may feel uncomfortable to some.

Verdict
An excellent bra if you are in need of wide, shallow cups and wide wires. It's cups are open and accommodating, and should fit breasts of all types of fullness. If you're projected or very full on bottom, you way want to try a size up in the cups. In my case, I think it would be a great fit if I were to try a different size - I think I'll need a 28E in post-SS13 bras.
  • You can find Delicieux' measurements over at Bratabase
  • I'm unsure of the size range, and it has long been sold out on ASOS. Ebay's you're best bet if you want this one. 
  • You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Bloglovin.
↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Elferine Super Padded Plunge - 30E

May 25, 2014, 12:23 pm
$
0
0
General
The Elferine Lace & Silk Satin Super Plunge was released for AW12. The Elferince collections also includes at least a Non-Padded Comfort Bra, Knicker, a Hipster Thong, a Boyshort Thong, and a Body. This bra has the same cut as all the other Mimi Holldiday Super Padded Plunge Bras. It may be called a plunge, but it's definitely a half cup shape.
  • Important note: Mimi has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, a 28E from AW12 would be a 28F from SS13.

Look
Green satin base with blue-green  lace overlay. After the wings, the band is also blue green, as are the adjustable part of the straps. A little pink bow sits in the middle of the cups and at the point where they meet the straps.

Band
Narrow band with one hook and four columns. The band stretches to roughly 29", making it a bit on the small side of a 30 band. I've barely worn it however, so it may stretch out further.

Cups
Padded cups with one horizontal seam on the inside. The cups are very open, very shallow, and have a near horizontal top edge. They come up very low.

Center Gore & Wires
Moderate height, narrow width gore. Low, medium-wide wires.

Straps
Thin, half adjustable straps. They're very wide-set.

Fit
The cups fit my bigger breast well, but it gapes on my smaller breast. This is most likely a result of the very wide-set straps pushing the cups together at the gore. Other than that the cups fit me very well, although they are too wide on me (this caused no visible fit problem or any comfort issue however). The band rides up and shifts around, but that's expected as it is a 30 band and my underbust measures roughly 26". The straps are far too wide-set to me, and cause both fit and comfort issues. The shape is very round and uplifted from the side, and a bit wide in the front Overall, this bra has the potential of a great fit in the right size, and with more centered straps.

Comfort
The silk part of the straps is very comfortable, although the wide-set position of the straps sawed my arms of in a rather uncomfortable manner. The materials used for the cups and band are extremely comfortable.

Verdict
Highly recommend for shallow breasts with a wide root, and also tall root. The open cups should accommodate all different types of fullness. As this is a pre-SS13 Mimi bra, don't forget to size up one cup size from your regular bra size. If you're projected or very full on bottom, also consider sizing up in the cup for at least one cup size, as the bra is that shallow. I look forward to trying this model out again in the future - I reckon I need either a 28DD or a 28E in post-SS13 models.
  • You can find Elferine's measurements over at Bratabase
  • Available in sizes 28-30 B-FF, 32 A-F, 34 A-E, 36 A-DD, 38 B-D & 40 B-C. It's been discontinued, Ebay is your best bet if you want this particular bra. 
  • You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Bloglovin.
↧
↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Dotty Nuit Non-Padded Shoulder Bra - 30D

June 15, 2014, 11:15 am
$
0
0
I bought this bra back in April, when it was available in the Figleaves outlet. I bought it alongside the Strawberry Bomb Super Padded Shoulder Bra.

General
Dotty Nuit is part of Mimi Holliday's AW13 collection. The line also includes a padded super plunge bra, a maternity bra, a non-underwired triangle bra, a high waisted corset knicker, a corset boyshort, a classic knicker, a bow back thong, a suspender, a camisole, shorties, a body, and a slip. Its counterpart line is the Dotty L'Amour (I reviewed the shoulder bra here). Both are currently on sale in Mimi Holliday's semi-annual sale.
  • Important note: Mimi has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, a 28E from AW12 would be a 28F from SS13.
Look
 Navy base overlaid with darker navy polka dots. A little navy bow sits in the middle, and little navy fabric trims adorn the underside of the band.

Band
Narrow band with one hook and four columns. The band stretches to 29", making it run slightly small for a 30 band. This could be a result of the dark dye, darker coloured bras tend to run slightly smaller in the band than their lightly coloured counterparts.

Cups
Non-padded cups with one vertical seam. The lower part of the cup is double lined, but it's still not very thick. The cups are tall, and shallow. The cups cut off near the center gore, where a small lower portion of the cup sits, with a diagonal seam.

Center Gore & Wires
Low, narrow center gore. The gore is wider than the pre-SS13 shoulder bras I own. Low, narrow wires.

Straps
The front part is part of the cups, the adjustable part are regular navy straps, making them fully adjustable to the shoulders.

Fit
The 30D fits me much better than the Dotty L'Amour in 28E, cup wise. The 30 band is too big for me, but it's okay on the tightest setting. The cups are filled perfectly, and the width is perfect. It gives the same rounded shape as the Dotty L'Amour. 

Comfort
The materials used are very comfortable and high quality, especially the soft material used for the cups. I didn't experience much wire digging, although some may find the very narrow band uncomfortable.

Verdict
I'm certain now that I need a 28DD in post-SS13 non-padded shoulder bras, and I much prefer this lace option to the other shoulder bras I have, as it gives the most support and coverage. As with all the other shoulder bras, I recommend this bra for those with shallow breasts and narrow roots.

↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Kir Royale Non-Padded Shoulder Bra in 28E

June 15, 2014, 11:15 am
$
0
0
The bra was available during a UK only Zulily sale, and it was purchased and shipped to me by a kind r/abrathatfits user. Three cheers for the power of a community!

General
Part of Mimi Holliday's SS12 collection, the Kir Royale line featured at least a super padded plunge and a boyshort. It uses Mimi's signature Bisou Bisou lace, despite not carrying a "Bisou Bisou [Colour]" name.
  • Important note: Mimi has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, a 28E from AW12 would be a 28F from SS13.
Look
Peach coloured eyelash lace cups, laid over a black satin band in front. The rest of the band is peach coloured mesh. A little black bow sits in the middle, and peach coloured fabric trims adorn the underside of the band. 

Band
Narrow band with one hook and four columns. The band stretches to 28", making it true to size.

Cups
Non-padded cups with one vertical seam. The cups are tall, shallow, and open. The cups have much more give to them than the other shoulder bras I own, due to the eyelash lace. It's very stretchy, and dare I say it, flimsy. I don't see these as giving adequate support in the upper size range.

Center Gore & Wires
Low, very narrow center gore. The center gore is narrower than post-SS13 styles. Low, narrow wires.

Straps
The front part is part of the cups, the adjustable part are regular navy straps, making them fully adjustable to the shoulders.

Fit
The band fits me fine when first putting it on, but it does stretch out after wearing it for a few hours, The flimsy lace offers little covering, especially in the nipple area. This makes it pretty much unwearable underneath tight clothing, unfortunately. Other than that, the cups fit great, but the flimsiness are a problem for everyday wear. It gives the same rounded shape as the Dotty L'Amour. 

Comfort 
The materials used are wonderful, I didn't experience much wire digging, although some may find the very narrow band uncomfortable.

Verdict
It's an absolutely gorgeous bra, but for those who need a lot of support, I recommend skipping this bra (and all the other Bisou Bisou's), as the lace is quite flimsy. As with all the other shoulder bras, I recommend this bra for those with shallow breasts and narrow roots. It looks like the Bisou Bisou shoulder bras will return in AW14, with at least a purple colourway coming up. 

  • You can find Kir Royale's measurements over at Bratabase
  • Exact size range unknown, presumably around 28-38 B-F. It has been discontinued, and I don't think it's possible to find it anywhere, except for Ebay.
  • You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Bloglovin.
↧

[Review] Mimi Holliday Angelique Jet Non-Padded Shoulder Bra in 28DD

June 15, 2014, 11:15 am
$
0
0
I bought this bra of Ebay, back in March.

General
Part of Mimi Holliday's AW12 collection, the Angelique Jet line included at least a padded super plunge bra, a non-padded comfort bra, a maxi bra, a babydoll, a hipster thong, and a classic knicker.
  • Important note: Mimi has recently changed their sizing - all bras before SS13 are one cup size smaller then what the label size says. This was changed in SS13 onwards, and all models were made one cup size bigger (or more true to size, depending on who you ask). In other words, a 28DD from AW12 would be a 28D from SS13.
Look
Black floral lace band and cups, with satin detailing on the cups and a small black bow in the center gore.

Band
Narrow band with one hook and four columns. The band stretches to roughly 27", making it run slightly small in the band. I haven't worn it a lot though, and Mimi bands are rather stretchy - although black bras are often tighter due to the dye.

Cups
Non-padded cups with one vertical seam. The cups are tall, shallow, and open. It runs like a roomy 28D, thanks to the open cups and the stretchy lace. The lace used for this cup doesn't seem to be in use currently, judging from the photos.

Center Gore & Wires
Low, very narrow center gore. The center gore is narrower than post-SS13 styles. Low, narrow wires.

Straps
The front part is part of the cups, the adjustable part are regular navy straps, making them fully adjustable to the shoulders.

Fit
The tight band is great. The cups are too small (understandable, as it fits more like a 28D), but the open cups and the stretchy lace make up for it. It gives a slightly pointy shape, compared to the other shoulder bras, but this could be a result of the cups being too small - I loosen the straps a whole lot to avoid quadboob, and as my boobs are naturally pointy, I get a pointy shape when the bra is not doing much uplifting. 

Comfort
I found the lace used for the bra itchy, even after washing it ca. 3 times. I'm hoping the itchiness will go away with further washes, but beware if you have sensitive skin. I didn't experience much wire digging, although some may find the very narrow band uncomfortable.

Verdict
As with all the other shoulder bras, I recommend this bra for those with shallow breasts and narrow roots.

  • You can find Angelique Jet's measurements over at Bratabase
  • Exact size range unknown, presumably around 28-38 B-F. It has been discontinued, and I don't think it's possible to find it anywhere, except for Ebay.
  • You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Bloglovin.
↧
Search

The Week in Boobs - Week 24

June 15, 2014, 1:57 pm
$
0
0
Hello dear readers! After a bit of brain storming, I've decided to start a new weekly column called "The Week in Boobs". I originally thought of starting a "Undies I Wore This Week" column, as a way of encouring myself to not wear the same few pieces over and over. However, I also wanted to something like a news column, so I thought, why not both? And thus, "The Week in Boobs" was born. The section for now are "What I Wore", "Elsewhere in the Blogosphere" and "Lingerie Happenings", but there's a chance I'll add more sections in the future.

What I Wore

Monday
It was sunny, but I had to stay inside to work on a paper for one of my university courses. I wore one of my Tutti Rouge Liliana's while typing - while it doesn't give me an outstanding shape, it is extremely comfortable. 


Tuesday
I continued worked on perfecting my paper while sunbathing - I wore my Made in Preston Leopard Print Bikini Top, together with my Cleo Jecca bottom (they don't match, but god are the bottoms comfy).

Wednesday
I wore my Asos Mix and Match D+ Plunge Halter Fuller Bust Bikini Top together with the Cleo Jecca bottom while sunbathing. It works pretty well as a summer bra, although I do get neck pain after a while, no matter how tight or loose I wear the cups.

Thursday
I wore my Cleo by Panache Jecca set while sun bathing and running small errands (it's a great summer bra). After bending the center gore outwards, it doesn't stab me as much and I can wear it much more comfortably.

Friday
Another sunny day, another bikini set - this time I wore my Cleo by Panache Pippa set. I got the Gossard Superboost Lace in Orchid in this day, as an exchange for a yellow Cleo Marcie set I initially ordered from Figleaves. I wore it the entire evening, and my god is it a perfect bra! I'll be reviewing my remaining Gossard bras after I'm done reviewing my remaining Mimi Holliday bras, so expect a review soon.

Saturday
They day was still warm, but the sun kept itself hidden. I wore the Superboost Lace again for a short while, before realizing I should give it a rest instead of tiring out the band. I got the B'temp.d Ciao Bella in 30C in, which I bought of Marktplaats (a Ebay like Dutch selling platform) for only €11,28 incl. shipping. I wore it for the remainder of the day, and while it is too small in the cups (expected, as I'm usually a 28DD/E), it truly is an excellent bra for shallow breasts.

After we won the match from Spain, I felt an emptiness in my lingerie drawer, devoid of orange. As if William of Orange himself heard my prayer, I got an e-mail from Zalando, stating the Gossard Glossies Padded bra in Coral was back in stock (it sold out as soon as it went on sale. I nearly ran home from the grocery store in my haste to order it.

Sunday
I've been lounging in my Batman bathrobe all day, wearing my Mimi Holliday Kir Royale as I finished my leftover shoulder bra reviews (Kir Royale, Dotty Nuit& Angelique Jet). 

Elsewhere in the Lingerie Blogosphere


Lingerie Happenings

Gossard has been sharing previews of their SS15 swimwear and lingerie shoot with Elle Liberachi on instagram (for some reason, I can't get the photos to embed properly in a blog post):
 I especially love the black bodysuit and the black bra - It looks like it's based on the Femme Fatale. 

Hunkemöller took over the Amsterdam canals Friday as part of their #hunkemollerlovesoranje campaign. The Dutch comments on Facebook however, are not happy, calling it a tacky stunt, that perpetuates the rol of women as lust objects. As much as I love their World Cup Goal panties and Holland thong, I have to agree with the comments. It would've been much better if they had a mix of both male and female models, all in their underwear. As a side note, I really love the Hunkemöller❤Oranje t-shirt several models are wearing, I wish if were for sale.

Summer Sale Alert:

And last, but not least, check out this lovely Pretty in Pink - Made in Britain photoshoot featuring luxury British lingerie from the brands Dentelle Etc..., Raine & Bea, Betty Blues Loungerie, and Emma Harris.

L-R:
 Dentelle Etc... Opal Plunge and Highwaisted Brief, Raine & Bea Lili Gown and Nancy Teddy, Betty Blues Bridal Nell Robe and Slip, and Emma Harris Dusty Pink and Ivory Babydoll

L-R:
Betty Blues, Emma Harris, Dentelle Etc... , and Raine & Bea

↧
↧

The Week in Boobs - Week 25

June 22, 2014, 2:07 pm
$
0
0
Another week has passed, and another edition of "The Week in Boobs" has appeared! I started my internship this week, but I promise to not neglect my blog. I am suffering from a bit of writer's block, but I'll hopefully overcome it soon. I just need to kick myself in the ass to start writing more.

What I Wore

Monday
I wore my Curvy Kate Entice in 28E the entire day, and unfortunately, the gore is a lot more painful than I remember it being. I suppose this is the end of me and Curvy Kate half cups. I haven't tried their padded plunges yet, but I hope to try one in the near future, when they release a design I'm really into.

Tuesday
I wore the Mimi Holliday Dotty Nuit Shoulder bra in 30D underneath a sweater, as it was quite a cold day. While it is still very comfortable, I need to start figuring out how to tighten the band, as it's become quite stretchy the more I wear and wash it.

Wednesday

I wore an orange coral tank top with a racerback, so I opted for my Freya Deco Strapless bra in 28E. The bra was showing from the side, so I wore a Wonder Woman bandeau I bought from Primark over the Deco. I don't mind my bra showing at all, but beige is just too boring to show.

Thursday
The Gossard Glossies set in Coral I ordered from Zalado came in, and while it's not as orange as I'd like it to be, I still love it. I wore the bra in 30D the entire day (30DD reviewed here), and goodness is it comfortable. While it is borderline too small, the open cups (that spread out when worn, as it has no gore) assure me that there's no visible quadboob, although I am unable to wear it with the push up pads.

My recent success with plunges makes me wonder why the hell did I avoid plunges for so long?! I am seriously considering only buying plunges from now on. 

Friday
I wore my Cleo Maddie, in continuity colour Black. Now, I reviewed the red colourway a while back, but I haven't done a review on this one, as the fit is pretty much the same as the current Maddie seasonal colourways (i.e. the Strawberry I own, the SS14 Animal colourway). The Strawberry is higher than the black, but other than that, virtually the same.The old Maddie colourways, the Maddie in Blue Animal print and Karen, fit much wider and than the current Maddies.

As a side note, I have been unable to find the Animal Maddie in 28E in an European store and it's making me weep. I need my orange animal print lingerie fix! 

Saturday
I wore my Panache Sports bra in 28E, and while the dents are still in the cup, it makes for an excellent lounge bra.

Sunday
I'm wearing a classic in my bradrobe, one of the first well fitting bras I acquired: the Tutti Rouge Betty in 28E. The mesh on the band has small fabric run on it, but otherwise its still as perfect as the day I received it.


Elsewhere in the Lingerie Blogosphere


Lingerie Happenings





















Betty Blues, the old Hollywood inspired loungerie brand, recently launched their bridal collection. The range, called Betty Bridal, will make its debut in September. I absolutely adore the Teddy, and I normally don't go for white lingerie.

Pixel Panties has reached their funding, but the campaign is still going on. I'm planning on getting two panties, I absolutely love the 8-bit style!

A sneak peak for Curvy Kate's SS15 Lingerie& Swimwear collection is up on Lingerie Insight. I'm spying at least one new swimwear style, a strapless bandeau.

Summer Sale Alert:
  • The Net-A-Porter sale has begun, there's Mimi Holliday, Agent Provocateur, and designer brands like Dolce & Gabanna.
  • Pretty Polly has lingerie and sleepwear on sale, up to 55% off. Most bras are available in 30B-DD, for only £15.00. 
  • Sam Friday's semi-annual sale has begun, mostly bra matrix sizes, although they do offer 32-34 DD, which sadly enough, is quite an accomplishment for a Dutch brand. 
  • The Madame Supertrash sale is also in full swing, and just like Sam Friday, there's DD cups, this time in 32-38. Again, rare for a Dutch brand. 
  • Belle Lingerie's sale has been updated with new products. 

↧

The Week in Boobs - Week 26

June 29, 2014, 2:07 pm
$
0
0
This week will be a short entry with only the "What I Wore" section, as I'm struck with a bout of severe anemia (not harmful, but very annoying). Next week's entry will return with the usual other sections, my apologies.

What I Wore


Monday

I wore my Fantasie Rebecca Moulded Spacer Bra in 30D. The cups are perfect, but the band is too big and the gore to wide. Other than that, the narrowset straps are godsend, and this is one of the select few Fantasie bras I'd recommend for shallow breasts.

Tuesday

I'm very boring, as I wore my Cleo Maddie in 28E again. 

Wednesday
I wore my Tutti Rouge Mae bra in 28E. The loose top fabric didn't bother me at all, as I was wearing a thick t-shirt,

Thursday
I wore the Gossard Retrolution Staylo Plunge in 30DD. The cups are still too tall for me, meaning I have to re-adjust it every so often, but goodness is it still comfortable with an amazing shape.

Friday
I wore the Freya Deco Soft Cup in 28E (28DD reviewed here). I haven't reviewed it yet, as I'm not sure it's the right size for me. Back when I bought the 28DD I thought it fit fine, but after a while I realized the cups doubled over due to the cups being to shallow to me. After a while of wearing the 28E, same thing is happening albeit less. I'm contemplating buying a 28F, just to see if it'd be the right size.

Saturday

I wore a Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless that I bought through Ali Express, a Chinese wholesaler portal. The bra came with a tag, it was tagged as "La Isla", just like a Panache Sports knock-off I bought through Ali Express. I also have an actual Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless I got from my fellow small busted blogger Lamb in 32A. While it is slightly too small, the cups run big (it's the Versailles colourway), so it's very wearable. I'll review them both soon with a quality comparison.

Sunday
VIVA HOLLANDIA! I've been bumming around in my Panache Sports bra in 28E, and unfortunately the fabric defect has gotten worse. I'm planning on buying another one soon (a real one, not another Ali Express knock-off), in 28DD. 
↧

[Review] Gossard Super Smooth Moulded Wireless Plunge Bra - 30DD

July 2, 2014, 12:27 pm
$
0
0
I recently contacted Gossard when I first heard about the Super Smooth to their Facebook, to ask for more info about this very intriguing new bra. I've always had a weakness for wireless bras, as my ribs have very little padding and wires are often painful. To my joy and delight, Gossard offered me a Super Smooth to try!

General
The Super Smooth is an entirely new Gossard line, released for AW14 in May. It's currently available in Black and Beige, both continuity colours. The shape is based on Gossard's standard moulded plunge shape, as seen in Flower Rush and Botanical. The size range is 30 D-E, 32-38 A-E, but I'm hoping Gossard will expand the size range to include 30 A-C, as I feel this bra is the perfect opportunity to introduce these sizes to a padded Gossard bra (the non-padded Glossies is available in 30B-C).

Look
Smooth black base with no embellishments. A golden Gossard tag sits underneath the center gore.

Band
Relatively wide band, featuring two hooks and three columns in this size. The band has reinforced wings, and is made of reinforced material underneath the cups, which Gossard calls the "broadband" support. It's somewhat similar to the materials used by the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless, and it's very comfortable. The band stretches to roughly 29", making it small for a 30 band. Gossard bands usually run on the smaller side.

Cups
Moulded, padded, seamless, cups. I wouldn't consider the bra very shallow, as the bottom is moulded into a round shape that is not overtly shallow. It's still perfect for shallow breasts though. The top of the cups is very open and somewhat projected, beware if you lack upper fullness.

Center Gore & Wires
The center gore is made of a hardened material, the cups are apart by about cm. No wires.

Straps
Half adjustable straps, they're quite thin. They're neither narrow nor wide set, rather typical for Gossard.

Fit

The bra gives a wonderful round and uplifted shape, as I've come to expect from Gossard bras. I didn't get cleavage in this bra, but as I've mentioned before, I seem to be virtually unable to get cleavage in a well fitting bra, I assume because of my conical shape.

The band fits me reasonably well, as the band does run on the smaller side. I found the second column of hooks to be the most comfortable. The straps are ever so slightly too wide-set on me, but are certainly not wide enough to cause any discomfort. 

I experienced a bit of gaping at the top of the cups, especially with my smaller breast. I thought at first that the gaping was the result of the band being slightly too loose in combination with half adjustable straps, but after wearing the band on the tightest set and the straps adjusted as far as they can, yet I still experienced gaping. I'm somewhat even in fullness, so this was a bit surprising to me. The bottom of the cups were great however. 

Comfort
Extremely comfortable, the materials used are indeed super smooth and most pleasant on the skin. The lack of wires is a breath of fresh air in the comfort area.

Super Smooth vs. the Deco Moulded Soft Cup
As the Deco Moulded soft Cup is the most well known wireless bra for the so called full bust market, I decided to compare these two. I compared the 30DD Super Smooth with my Soft Cup in 28E. Both bras  couldn't be any more different: the Wireless Deco has the shape of a triangle bra with very little depth, while the Super Smooth is moulded into a certain shape. If I had to pick a winner, I'd pick the Super Smooth, as it's a much more friendly shape while the Deco's extreme shallowness often presents itself as a tricky fit.

Verdict
The Super Smooth lives up to it's name: it's incredibly comfortable, smooth underneath clothing, and I feel like a smooth criminal when wearing it. The unique wireless shape is truly god given, and has firmly cemented Gossard as one my favourite, if not my favourite, brand.

As detailed in the fit section, the bra was slightly too big for me in the cups, leading me to exchange it for a 30D. With regards to this, do note that you may have to size down in the cups if you have little to no upper fullness. If you generally size up in the band with Gossard, you'll find this bra to be no exception.

Regardless of the slight problem I had (which without a doubt fixable by sizing down), I can easily see this bra take the top spot in my lingerie collection as my go-to everyday bra. All in all, the Super Smooth is an exceptional offering for smaller busts, and I cannot recommend it enough. 

↧

The Week in Boobs - Week 27

July 6, 2014, 3:07 pm
$
0
0
Another week has passed, and boy does time fly. I'm still suffering with anemia, although it has gotten better. Although I can't say my general health is improving, because I have another ganglion cyst. They're generally harmless, and it's smaller than the last one I had, but my hand has been inflamed for the last two days. Not debilitating, but very annoying. Hopefully I won't need to have another surgery.

Well, enough with the doom and gloom, onward with my weekly rambling!

What I Wore

Monday
I wore my Clavin Klein Customized Lift Push Up Bra in 30DD that I got from my fellow lingerie blogger and sweetheart extraordinaire Amy from Fussybusty. The band's too big, and regardless of the push up pads it's actually a great fit. I love how narrow the straps are!

Tuesday
I wore one of my Curvy Kate's Starlet in 28DD, based on the Smoothie (reviewed in 28DD here). The more I wear the Starlet, the more I prefer the Smoothie, as the Starlet's more closed. Regardless, it's a good bra with. The Petrol I own also has a flared cup, which shows through tight shirts. Both the Scarlet and Petrol remind me too much of Autumn/Winter, and I do love my Spring/Summer colours. Maybe I'll buy the orange SS14 Tiger Lily colourway once it's on sale, as I've had my eyes on it for quite a while. Or better yet, I'll continue praying for an orange Smoothie colourway. 

Wednesday
I wore my Gossard Superboost Lace Plunge Bra in 30DD (review coming soon) today, and goodness do I love it. It's my first three-part padded plunge, and although the cups do curve inwards, they're still very open. The wires are very narrow, and the band is tight, despite having only one hook. Again I wonder to myself, why did I avoid plunges for so long?!

Thursday
I wore a bra that I hardly ever wear, the Masquerade Rhea in 28E. Why you ask? Those pesky goddamn straps, that why. They're immensely wide, to the point that I need to take them in by at least 5cm. I knew I had to do that, I even mentioned it in my review ages ago, but I was just hopefully optimistic that it wouldn't bother me after wearing it for a full day. Well, it did. Time to take up sewing lessons!

Friday
I wore a strapless top today, so on went my Freya Deco Strapless in 28E. I've bend the wires a bit since I last wore it, as I noticed the cups were folding down on itself. BIG. MISTAKE.

Not only did the bra hurt immensely at the end of the day, the cup were also visibly empty at the right side of my smaller breast, where there is basically no fullness due to me being conical. I've since bend the wires back, because I'd rather have a bit of folding down due to shallow cups than immense wire pain.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but one of the straps that came with this bra has broken, the seams have unraveled where the hook is. Very annoying.

Saturday
As my ribcage was still hurting from my the Deco Strapless, I wore an orange, wireless "yoga" bra with padding that I bought from a Chinese seller through AliExpress. I bought a 32C, although god knows what the actual size is, the size tag says "Size: F".

The padding is like the padding you'd find in these types of bras and not too thick. The bra is very comfortable, and the band is surprisingly tight, while the cups fit great.

And it's Holland orange too, so call me superstitious but I think that all my orange/red-white-blue lingerie buying and wearing is benefiting my country's team. Can't wait 'till Wednesday, Argentine better watch out for our lions!

Sunday
My ribcage still hurts, so I wore my orange yoga bra a little more. I went to my city today because of the summer sale, and spurred on by my fellow lingerie blogger extraordinaire Windie Gardie who has a love for wireless bras, I decided to buy a bralette.

I bought a very simple black cotton wireless bralette with crossed straps from Pieces, an European store that mostly sells accessories, although they also sell leggings. The sister stores ONLY and Vero Moda are more well known, and sell similar items. The top is an S/M, and it fits pretty well. The cups still have a lot of give to them, yet the band is surprisingly tight yet comfortable.

Elsewhere in the Lingerie Blogosphere

Lingerie Happenings

The Tata Top, a triangle bikini top with nipples on it (available in several skin tones), has been making the rounds as a protest against the view on women's nipples. I love the statement, and the fact that it's available in multiple shades of "nude". The lovely Denocte of Kurvendiskussionen did a post on nipples showing through clothing a year ago, but it's still very relevant and a great read.

The Parisian lingerie trade show, Salon de la Lingerie, has begun, and lots of brands have been sharing pictures on instagram:
Tutti Rouge shared this very interesting design, it looks like it's based on the Birds of a Feather/Evelyn/Rosa cut, and features an unusual print for a "full bust" brand. Very daring!

Gossard has captured my heart with this swimsuit on the right, modeled by Elle Liberachi. A different instagram shot of the swimsuit and the matching bikini (or bra?), was featured in Week 24.

The Cleo by Panache SS15 sneak peek is out over at Lingerie Insight, and it looks like they finally added Black and Blush as Marcie colourways. The Blush is surprisingly lovely. 

Summer Sale Alert:
  • Asos' summer sale is on, up to 50% off of Asos, Freya, Panache, Gossard, and on. 
  • Sexy Big Pants' sale has hit final reductions, 50% off of several models.
  • Gossard has added more items to their outlet, discounts up to 80% off.
  • Mimi Holliday is up to 50% off, their sale will end after Tuesday.  
  • Brastop has hit 70% off, with new styles added. 
  • Bras and Honey added more items to their sale. 
↧
↧

[Review] Freya Swim Cherish Underwired Banded Halter Bikini Top & RioBikini Brief - 28D & S

July 15, 2014, 1:42 pm
$
0
0
It's not often that I feel the need to review lingerie or swimwear the moment I get it in. This, however, is one of those moments.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Bras & Honey, and I was asked if I'd like to review one of their products. Bras & Honey is an online store based in the UK that specializes in the Eveden brands: Freya, Fantasie Fauve, and Elomi. They also carry Panache, Cleo by Panache, Wonderbra, Curvy Kate, Elle MacPherson, and Mey Underwear. They sell lingerie, swimwear, shapewear, sportswear and nightwear, and ship worldwide.

I decided to review the Freya Swim Cherish set in Orange, as I absolutely love orange. I often get headaches, so when I get something that only has a halterneck, I like to size down in the cup as much as possible so that the straps don't need to be tightened a lot. As such, I opted for a 28D. I usually take an S in bikini bottoms and knickers, so I went with an S for the Rio Bikini brief.

The Hatlerneck Bikini Top

General
The Cherish collection is part of the Freya Swim SS14 line. Cherish is available as Halter Bikini Top, a Bandeau, and a . Matching knickers for the Orange colourway include a Rio Bikini Brief and a classic brief.  a The Cherish collection is also available in Cobalt, a rich blue shade, and in Lime, a light green shade.

Look
Orange base with white pin  spots. Ruffles adorn the . Two buttons sit in the center. Cherish looks very orange in the pictures, but in darker lights it's more of an orange-red colour.

Band
Narrow band with one clasp, rather typical for a bikini. The band stretches to 28.7"/73 cm, making it a bit bigger than the 28 it's labeled. This is rather typical for Freya, but luckily enough the band doesn't feel looser when it gets wet. It's still a bit too big for me, but it's not as

Cups
Non-padded plunge cups with one vertical seam. The cups are based on the previous Freya Swim Halter Bikini Tops. The seam is quite close to the center gore, which is rather unusual - usually the vertical seam sits in the middle of the cup. The cup depth is around 5.9"/6 cm, which is rather typical for a 28D. The cups get slightly bigger when they get wet, but it's less than half a cup size.

Center Gore & Wires
The center gore is quite wide, and very low. The wires are of medium-wide with for a 28D, and come up quite low.

Straps
Halterneck straps that are more or less fully adjustable. They're neither narrow nor wide set, and they tie in the back.

Fit
This model gets along perfectly with my shallow-narrow-conical breasts. The cups fit me well: they don't give me quadboob, although they do cut in slightly, especially on my bigger breast. This is expected, as I usually take a 28DD/E in wired bras and bikinis. Still, they fit very well regardless of the slight sizing issues, and I'm more than happy with the fit.

I get a lovely natural yet uplifted shape, and I even get a hint of cleavage in the front. The bikini top really compliments my smaller bust, which I love. As a side note, I own the Kansas Halter Neck in 28DD, and the cups on that one get a bit too big for me when the cups get wet. I did not have this problem with the Cherish in 28D at all.

The band is on the bigger side for me, but the band didn't ride up a lot, even after wearing it for a few hours. The halterneck straps are perfectly set for me: they keep my tail of Spence in check, and tie narrow in the back.

The cups and wires are narrow enough for me, which is a great change of pace from the usual "cups are too wide and the wires are too wide" that you'll quite often see in my reviews. The center gore however, is too wide for me, and it sits on my breast tissue. It causes no visible fit issues, although it gets slightly painful after wearing it for a few hours.

Comfort 
I've worn it for a couple of hours, and no neck pain! The fabric is very soft as well, and the wires caused me very little pain, even after wearing it for such a long time. As I mentioned above, the center gore did hurt me a bit, as it sits on my breast tissue.

Verdict
I highly recommend this bikini top for those with shallow breasts. However, as the cup depth can be somewhat controlled by how tight the straps are tied, I'm certain it will work with all kinds of projection levels, and types of fullness. Despite slight sizing issues, it fits me very well, and I couldn't be happier with this lovely top.  I'm going to wear this halterneck bikini top as both a bikini top and a summer bra.

The Rio Bikini Brief

Orange base with white pin stripe spots, buttons in the middles, and ruffles at the side. The briefs are very flattering, and the size S is a perfect fit on me - no muffin top, with enough room for the junk in the trunk. If you usually take an S, you'll find this one perfect as well. The back gives an average amount of coverage on me.

Conclusion

The ruffles on the bikini top and the brief give this cute set a 1950's, one that I absolutely. This set combines both looks and fit, and I cannot recommend it enough. I'm planning on getting the matching bandeau in the future, as the look of this set has captured my heart. My orange lions may have lost the World Cup, but I still feel like a winner in this set.

    ↧

    Hiatus

    September 28, 2014, 1:04 pm
    $
    0
    0
    On hiatus until further notice. I simply haven't got the time or energy to blog, and on top of that I'm still being plagued by writer's block. Hopefully I'll be back soon, but I can't guarantee anything. Until then dear readers.
    ↧
    Search
    Viewing all 95 articles
    Browse latest View live
    Search