Lingerie: Avocado “Chloe Folie NF” in 70H

Even though autumn and winter are upon us, it is never a wrong time for basic coloured lingerie, something that most people call “nude” (which is a bit problematic as nude does not mean the same thing to everyone). Some work places require a white button-up as basic work attire, which is why you can never have too many skin-toned bras. When I first saw Avocado‘s Chloe Folie, I thought that this is a truly versatile yet pretty “nude bra” – it could probably work on multiple skin tones, from a fair skin like mine to deeper ashy tones. Avocado sent me this style in their NF style, which is a revised version of their old H-cut, where the straps attach to the bottom part of the cup. Here’s how I liked this delicate beauty…

The Design:  I loved the colour combination of this set right from the start – it was a great pairing of greige (greyish beige) and deep magenta. The lace is delicate and who does not like the little tassels at the front? As a lingerie blogger, you start to get tired of the old bows, which is why the tassels were a nice surprising touch to the design. Regardless of the centre gore adornments and the lace, the style of Chloe Folie is quite simple and thus work appropriate. The lace is very thin, meaning you can wear it under regular shirts without it showing through too much. However, it is not a seamless t-shirt bra so you won’t get a “braless” look with it, if that is what you require from your everyday work bras!

The shape is rather similar to the old H-cut, but it seems to be a bit less covering and pointy and thus for me at least, a lot more practical. There is also quite a bit of uplift, but the one thing I don’t like that much is how the balconette shape splays my breasts to the sides a bit. I like my boobs “at the front” as they make me appear bigger than I am anyways. Keeping them as compact as possible makes me feel more comfortable and look the size I actually am rather than looking wide and frumpy. The one definite upside of the bra is that Avocado seems to be working with much stretchier materials these days and even though the the upper panel of the cup is not exactly stretch lace, the cups seem quite stretchy overall.

The Fit: As I knew from my past experience with the Avocado NF-style, it would probably fit me nicely this time as well. I was right – my size still seems to be 70H with the NF style, but with the Chloe Folie, I would be wary of not picking a too tight band size. If you are between band sizes, definitely size up! This style is not as tight as the Lorca I reviewed recently, but it is still on the snugger side compared to my older Avocado bras.

The cups are still the perfect size for me, even on the roomier end of the H-cup which is excellent if you need deep cups. What kind of baffles me is the cup width-depth ratio; usually deep cups mean narrower wires whereas this Avocado style seems to be both quite deep AND wide. The underwires are a tad too wide for me personally, but I don’t find them pinching me in the armpit whatsoever.

When it comes to shape compatibility, my full-on-top breasts are definitely friends with Chloe Folie: the RV shape seems quite open at the top with this particular style and thus leaves me more room for my upper breast tissue, that sometimes can argue with a cup pattern like this. In general, I’d think this bra would suit many breast shapes if you are not bothered by the wideness of the cups.

I know they look like a different colour but they are not! The lighting is playing its tricks on me – the real colour is more of a mixture of both of the pics shown above.

Comfort: I like this set a lot but there is one fundamental problem with it and I actually mentioned it before already: the band is a bit too small for me unfortunately. Not as much to make me want to size up a whole size, but maybe half a band size too snug. I can close the bra no problem, but the rigid band does not conform to my body very easily, which is why I haven’t worn the bra a lot during long days at work. Otherwise there are no comfort issues with the bra really: the tacking centre gore loosens quite quickly after a few wears and I especially like the width of the straps which are too widely placed for me personally, but still manage to feel good without any chafing.

The bottoms on the other hand are fantastic! I love that Avocado has brought the option of high-waisted panties into their selection and they have nailed it right away. I have to say though that the Medium is a bit too large for me, so if you are between two sizes, I would advice to size down with these. The rise of the panty is divine: it reaches my belly button and covers my butt well. A covering comfortable style yet still very attractive in my opinion!

If you would like to test the Chloe Folie set, you can find on the Avocado online store for 66,92€ for the bra (60-95 C-L, Avocado sizes) and 33,96€ for the full brief (XS-XXL). If these are not the shapes and styles you prefer personally, you can find the Chloe Folie in other Avocado styles as well. What do you think of the Chloe Folie? Have you tried the new Avocado styles recently? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Curvy Kate “Cabaret” in 30H

After all these years, Curvy Kate still manages to be one of my favourite DD+ brands of all time. I am now leaning towards their more sultry styles, meaning the Scantilly collection, but I do love even their “everyday” sets for amazing comfort and cute styles. When team CK asked if I wanted to try something from their new SS16 collection, I was over the moon as I haven’t reviewed much from their core collection (ie non-Scantilly range) in a looooong while. I was offered the amazing Cabaret set, which is definitely one of my faves from their ss16 offering. Here’s how I liked the set!

The Design: I love how Curvy Kate is brave enough to do completely sheer styles even up to J-cup – not exactly what you can say of so many mainstream full-bust brands such as Freya! There is nothing more disappointing than to see a gorgeous see-through bra and then find out that all the sizes above G-cup are made with double-lining, which absolutely ruins the design. I would say CK is actually one of the first UK brands to toy with this design feature and they are absolutely rocking it! The style of Cabaret is otherwise quite simple and the black mesh is paired with scallop-y embroidery and a bright fuchsia-shade accents.

The shape of the bra is very similar to the Daisy Chain non-padded plunge I tried a couple of years back and liked a lot. Back then, I was super surprised to see CK doing such an uplifted shape but today I have come to expect it and was not disappointed – long gone are the days when Curvy Kate bras looked a bit downwards-pointing and frankly sad. To be completely honest, I think the shape of the bra would be better suited for someone with lower fullness but I think it works fairly well on my full-on-top boobs as well.

The Fit: I opted for sizes 30H and UK 10 with this set as they were the most recent sizes that have fitted me with Curvy Kate specifically. As I have stated in my previous blog posts, I am now right between two bands sizes, that is 30 and 32, but as CK bands tend to be a bit on the stretchier side, I can easily fit into the 30 band with them. The band is still snug so it’s definitely not a full band size big but is just quite stretchy and thus suits us girls who want more comfort when it comes to our bra bands. The band features three hooks and eyes so that makes it extra supportive and sit nicely on the torso without creating extra bulges that too-narrow bra bands can sometimes cause.

The cups fit very much true-to-size which is something I am used to with Curvy Kate bras. This is what makes the brand a solid choice for young women on a budget – CK prices are very affordable and it’s hard to go wrong with their sizing when you “find the one”. This is at least my experience with them! The shape and width of the cups is not the best for me personally as they are much too wide and a bit east-west for my liking but the cup depth is reasonably good, especially when comparing to the CK bras from a few years back. So if your breasts are both wide and full, Curvy Kate could be an excellent option for you!

Comfort: As always, the Cabaret is definitely a very comfortable set – nothing less than I expect from Curvy Kate! Both the straps and the bra band are nice and wide to keep the weight of my bust well-distributed and the wires are flexible enough to move comfortably with my my moving body. Even though the underwires are definitely too wide for my breast root, they do not poke me in the armpit uncomfortably. The bra straps are a bit too widely-placed for me personally but are sturdy enough to stay on my shoulders for most of the time – they are also fully-adjustable which is always a huge upside when it comes to making the bra suitable for women of many different heights!

The materials are a bit more stiff than with some of my other CK sets, meaning I would suggest sizing up with the bottoms if you are between sizes. I thought a 10 would be a good size for me as it is the one I wear with eg Carmen but apparently the mesh with this set is rigid enough to make me want to size up to 12. I can wear the 10 easily but I think a 12 would have been a more flattering look on me. As the size is a bit too small for me, I cannot really judge the co-ordinates (expect that they look gorgeous!) but usually CK underwear is some of the best out there and I have no doubts that these would feel amazing if they were just a smidge looser on me.

All in all I really love how sexy and yet still so practical the Cabaret set manages to be – not to mention its amazing size range of  28-38 D-J and the price point around £30 for the bra. If you would like to try it for yourself, Brastop has a decent selection of sizes left and a top price for the set. How do you like Cabaret? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Panache “Fontaine” from My Curves and Me

When I plan reviews with brands for my blog, I usually get to pick something I personally like from their selection, meaning I mostly go for something rather extravagant and pretty. Nothing too practical that is! You may not believe me but I actually don’t own that many everyday-practical bras that actually suit my purposes and body type. What I really need though is non-padded plunge bras, in every single colour and style. When My Curves and Me – a discount site for Panache and Panache sub-labels’ past-season lingerie – asked me if I would like to try something from their online store, I was happy to oblige and decided to get something I would actually be wearing a lot. This time I would steer clear from the super padded balconette bras. I decided to opt for the SS15 Panache “Fontaine” which is a modern version of the old Tango plunge shape. Let’s see how I liked this feisty little number!

I just noticed the other bra strap is twisted in these pics! Please, forgive me and try to ignore it 😀

Design: The reason I chose the Fontaine in Coral, was that I wear a lot of plunging necklines and prefer not to show my bra gore around, if possible. Also, most of my dresses are already a bit tight across my chest, which makes unpadded bras much easier and more comfortable to wear on a regular basis. I also like the light-weight feeling of unpadded bras and like the way a seamed bra makes my boobs look – uplifted and perky.

The Panache “Fontaine” is made with a three-part cup construction like many non-padded balconette bras – however, its gore is a lot lower than with a balconette and the seam placement is designed in such a way, that the uplift of this bra is perhaps not the best Panache has to offer. It is a great bra when you are looking for a rather natural (ie a bit pointy) and subtle shape and don’t want your boobs right up to your chin. The cups are double lined with the stiff and supportive cup material and keep your breasts pretty much in place, even when being active (not something you can say for all unlined bras!).

The Fit: To be totally honest, I haven’t worn or bought a Panache bra in quite a long time. The last time I wore one was about year and a half ago and it was the infamous Marcie in 30G. Nothing that fits me anymore so I sold my darling yellow friend to a fellow big-boobed lady. This time, I was pretty sure my Panache size would be 30H but I was still a bit hesitant as I had no experience with Panache plunge bras at all. As I read Becky’s review over at Becky’s Boudoir, I knew 30H would probably work so I decided to go for my gut instinct.

I was so glad I did since this is definitely the right size for me, at least with this particular bra! The band is a very snug one for 30 but stretches out to a comfy length after a couple of wears. I originally thought the whole ensemble felt very stiff to touch but when I have it on, it is quite comfortable! The cups are a right size for me as well, so I would say this bra runs pretty true to size despite the snug bra band. The underwires of Fontaine are quite a bit too wide for me as you can see in the pictures but luckily I have not had any chafing regardless. The cup depth is pretty average so suits me just perfectly! The shape of the bra is perhaps not the best for me as I am quite full all over but someone with more full-on-bottom boobs may find this better for her shape.

Comfort: Despite of being made from a rather stiff material, Fontaine turns out to be a very comfortable set after all. What gets special mention with this set are definitely the straps – they are fully-adjustable, just the right width and placed more inwards so they won’t fall off my shoulders all the time. I also like the way they are slightly padded for extra comfort and stability. Even though the underwires are not the best width for me, they are not too tall so no uncomfortable pinching in my armpits nor any chafing from the bra cup edge.

To complete the set, I got a couple of pairs of size 12 Fontaine briefs with the bra. I decided to go for size 12 instead of my usual UK 10 after reading Becky’s review – the panties do come up a bit on the smaller side and are not massively stretchy. However, I would not call them too rigid either even though that was my first impression when looking at the knickers. The cut is quite low so if you prefer higher waistlines, these might not be your cup of cocoa. The styling is very cute though and I am especially in love with the the big bows that adorn both the centre gore of the bra and the top edge of the briefs. Absolutely adorable!

Unfortunately, the coral Fontaine is currently sold out on My Curves and Me, but if you are interested in seeing what other goodies they might have from past Panache collections, take a look here. You are sure to grab a bargain! The Fontaine is also available in a new Rose colour, that was recently reviewed on the Sweet Nothings blog.

Lingerie Review: Kris Line “Manuela” in 65H

Over the time, the two Kris Line reviews and my introduction post to the brand have been some of the most popular posts I have ever written. It is quite clear why, too – Kris Line is one of those Polish brands that are widely accessible through the likes of Brastop and Zulily with very reasonable pricing, which makes it a good first choice for testing Polish lingerie. For me, Kris Line has always held a special place in my heart – their wires are not narrow enough to poke me in my breast tissue and the designs are breathtakingly beautiful. Today, I am reviewing something that will be a continuity range for Kris Line starting from last summer and continuing at least to the next summer season. Let me introduce you to the beautiful Manuela! *This set was kindly gifted to me by Kris Line. All opinions are my own.*

Design: I chose the non-padded balconette Manuela but in true Kris Line style, this design comes in several bra and bottom options. I also received the complementing briefs to match my bra. Why I decided to opt for the non-padded bra with this style was because of the realization of the fact that this is the most popular bra style in my bradrobe and thus, it is the most practical everyday style for me. The bra cups are constructed of three pieces, one seam going diagonally and one going vertically, to form a very traditional and natural bust line. The bottom half of the cups is double-lined but the top part remains completely sheer.

The colour and styling of Manuela are absolutely breathtaking and I first fell in love with the sky blue hue and the detailed embroidery of the set. I am fan of blue lingerie in general as it suits my skin tone, eyes and hair colour pretty bang-on, but I am also a sucker for trends and this autumn, it is all about the blues. I was very happy how the styling turned out in flesh as well and the shade of the set, which is truly stunning.

Fit: As I had tried Kris Line soft cups before and found them to run a bit on the bigger side, I decided to size down to 65H this time. Kris Line sizing is quite unique but if you want to learn more about it, I would highly recommend taking a look at my previous post on the brand. According to the size chart I would be a 70H which is the size I went for last time and it fitted me pretty well in both the Deco-shape and their soft cup style. However, I have found the bands become a bit loose after a good amount of wears and decided I would go for 65 this time, just to give my bras a little more time to live. Also, I lost some weight after I first acquired my Kris Line bras about a year ago and I think I have gone about half a cup size down after that. This is why I chose to go down with my cup size as well this time, resulting in 65H as my best size with their soft cup style.

The 65 band feels nice and snug but not restrictive in any way, which is sometimes the result when gambling with your band size. However, I did not notice a significant difference to the 70 band so if you are between band sizes, I would suggest taking the smaller one, even just for longevity. The cups encase my breast tissue nicely and again, the wires are perfect for me as always with Kris Line. The straps are only half adjustable but that has not been a problem for me with this bra, however, I am 5″6 so definitely not petite. If you quite petite though, I would consider getting yourself some Strap Savers or skipping this style all together. Overall, the fit of the bra on me is spot-on and I have no gripes with it whatsoever!

Comfort: I love how comfy Kris Line bras are! If I would have to pick two of the most comfortable brands I wear on day-to-day basis, those would definitely be Kris Line and Gossard. Of course, no brand makes everything perfect to the last detail but these two brands keep rotating in my everyday bradrobe from day to day. I guess it’s a lot due to wiring and comfy bands – if you are pretty average breast root -wise like me, I think you would love Kris Line as well! They are a happy medium between the usual wide British wires and very narrow Polish wires. If Ewa Michalak is not your thang, definitely try KL instead!

When it comes to the panties, I would recommend taking your regular Polish size which is a medium for me. I usually wear a Small with most British brands so especially, if you are between sizes, do size up. I must say the Small is absolutely tiny with KL panties and still, the Medium is smaller than eg my Freya briefs in Small.

If you would like to try some Kris Line for yourself, I would highly recommend checking out Zulily for American customers and Brastop for.. well, basically everyone else 😀 The prices are usually very reasonable on these sites and you are sure to score a bargain!

How do you like Manuela? Also, how do you like the blue colour trend for this autumn? Let me know in the comments below! xx

My First Bosom Galore Review! – “Amelia” in 30H

Let’s be fair – I absolutely love it when new full-bust brands burst into the scene and when I heard about Bosom Galore the first time, I was super excited to get interviewing the founder Katy about this new luxury brand designed for gals with small backs and big boobs. Also, I was intrigued to be looking at a new mid-market brand who had promised to use UK-only manufacturers and luxurious silks and laces to create a more luxurious feel to the garments. As we had seen the rise of All Undone just recently catering the same superb quality with a similar price tag, I was looking forward to see what Bosom Galore had in mind regarding their own aesthetics. Would it be something romantic or fashion-forward?

After seeing the first designs of Amelia and Classique styles and especially the first reviews from other bloggers, I was pleased to see them going for the young adult target market, meaning women in their late twenties and early thirties (or at least this is how I interpreted the brand image). However, the Bosom Galore styles are also very timeless and classic with a little bit of romantic and sultry vibes to spice them up, which I personally really like. Today, I am finally reviewing my first pieces from this lovely brand so if you are interested in the fit specifics of Amelia and Bosom Galore in general, hang in there! *Disclosure: This set was sent to me free of charge, however all opinions are my own as always!*

Design: The Amelia was definitely the set that got me to fall in love with Bosom Galore in the first place – it was very light rose pink with some delicate white lace over it which made it appeal to my more romantic side. I have always loved the combination of very fair pink and ginger hair, so I also thought it would suit my hair and skin colour really well. Also the plunge shape intrigued me – I am always looking for a good plunge that would go under my deepest and most open necklines.

The shape of Amelia is very rounded for a plunge bra – there is no clear point on sight even though the construction is pretty much the same three-part cup construction as eg with the Bravissimo “Satine”. However, Bosom Galore has managed to create a very rounded shape, not even using a moulded cup, which is actually pretty impressive. The gore of the bra is very low as with any regular plunge bra but it is so cleverly made, even a fuller bust can sport a good wide neckline without showing the bra peeking under the neckline. So very practical!

Fit: Well now we get to the fun part! As Bosom Galore is a very new brand with only a couple of bra styles out at the moment, it is vital for us bloggers to let you all on the other side of the screens to know, what the sizing and fit with this particular brand are like. When discussing the sizes throughout the design and manufacturing process, we came to the conclusion that a 30H would be the best size for me, as it is my regular British size at the moment, especially with plunge bras that tend to cut my upper breast tissue anyway. At first I was a bit hesitant as I had seen the reviews from other bloggers about the Classique bra which seemed to be very tight in the band and small-ish in the cups. However, Katy reassured me that the Amelia would be much truer-to-size so I took her word for it and stick with my usual 30H.

I was so glad I did as the 30H fitted me very well! As I guessed, I did need an H as opposed to GG as plunges usually fit me snugly over my upper breast tissue. This was no exception and to be honest, I would have liked to try even a cup size up to compare how it would have fitted! As my left boob is a bit bigger than the right one, I did have some spillage on the other side and needed to adjust the bra a bit now and then. This however, is more due to the cup shape than the bra being a bad fit in general. Also, I did have some empty space in the bottom of the cup which tells me the cups are still a tad shallow for me. However, I can still wear the Amelia for several hours and feel secure enough in it to wear it on a regular basis! The BG online store states that the Amelia shape is best for women with wide-set breasts and I would agree – any excess breast tissue on top and at front will have a very high risk of spilling over!

The 30 band is supposed to be a truer-to-size fit with Amelia than Classique, which is great and seems to be correct based on my experience. My underbust measurement is about 30″ right now and the 30″ fitted me comfortably – a bit snugger than Curvy Kate or Freya, so just comfy and a bit sturdy enough for me. The wires are rather regular for a British brand so I would say a bit wide for me but still not going down to my back! 

Comfort: Especially on the comfort front, Bosom Galore has done incredibly well in my opinion. The materials for example get full ten points! As someone suffering from a serious skin condition I could really appreciate the cotton lining inside the bra cups. To be honest, my skin has been itching like crazy recently so artificial materials are no good for me at the moment (last nigh I scratched myself so much I got bruises in addition to bleeding wounds – ouch!). Also the silk blend on top layer of the cups feels lovely to touch and the lace is one of the stretchiest and softest I have seen. So you truly get some great quality for your money! If you are worried about the wide wires, I would still like to assure you that they don’t come high up at all in the armpits – this means even if you are more on the narrow or petite side yourself, they won’t start rubbing your underarm area.

When talking about the panties I first need to mention the sizing – these suckers do run a bit small so I would advice everyone to size up with both Classique and Amelia bottoms. I am usually wearing a UK size 10 (US 6) when it comes to bottoms but with this particular brand I am wearing a size 12 briefs comfortably. To be frank, the 12 is very near to perfect and the fit is great for my muscular butt – the stretch lace accommodates even a curvier figure and leaves no lumps or bumps seen under your jeans/pencil skirts. I would actually be pretty keen on seeing a high-waisted version of these as well – it would be perfect for me under my tighter pencil dresses! The materials and the cut of the brief is very flattering and comfy so I would definitely vouch for getting the panties to match your bra – in one word, they feel amazing.

All in all I am very impressed with the fine details and the quality of my first Bosom Galore set and am looking forward to see how it translates to their other styles as well. For example, the strappy new style Louise is something I am definitely drooling over and would love assess the fit of it s it is one of the rare cage bras that come in my size!

If you are interested in getting your own Amelia set from Bosom Galore, the bra comes in sizes 26E-34H (£82) and the brief in sizes 6-16 (£38). Note the 26-bands as they are very welcomed addition to any full bust brand out there! At present, I think Bosom Galore is the only brand making them as a non-custom option so extra points for them because of that 😉 When it comes to the price, taking into account their ethical way of making the garments and the quality they are offering, Bosom Galore prices their lingerie very reasonably. The prices can be a shock to someone but if you are interested about the pricing of luxury lingerie, I would suggest you take a look at this The Lingerie Addict article – it explains why these sorts of garments cannot be priced too modestly!

What do you think of the Amelia or Bosom Galore in general? Also, would you be willing to pay more for a more local and ethical way of manufacturing lingerie plus a better quality materials? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know what my readers think of this matter! 🙂

Lingerie Review: Tutti Rouge “Tallulah Tattoo” in 30H

When it comes to printed lingerie I am quite picky – florals are usually pretty safe but anything that is too kitchy (in a bad way) is just, shall we say, too British for me. I mean, lets be honest here: the Brits are absolutely gaga over anything from shabby chic roses to Russian dolls (I’m looking at you, Freya!) and aztec prints. Cool for you but us Finns, we are a bit more boring on that front. However, when a unique cutesy print is done well I am truly and utterly impressed and of course, I have to have it in my collection of non-tacky print bras. This one was one of those occasions and I feel like I am not the only one drooling over this particular bra set – the Tallulah Tattoo was instantly a hit when the pics of it went live half a year ago. This beauty is made by one of my favourite brands of all time and definitely a strong newcomer in the market – Tutti Rouge. TR was so kind to sent me Tallulah Tattoo for review so here are my thoughts on the set… 

The Design: The Tallulah Tattoo is a Tutti-exclusive print which means it’s designed for Tutti Rouge and won’t be seen in any other collection than their own. The print is very detailed and features tiny little butterflies, birdies, pinup girls and roses which I love. Also the colours are really cute and make the whole set more approachable to people with different tastes; the cream undertone makes the print pop and doesn’t come up too distracting. The lipstick red bows are the icing on the cake and accentuate the pinup vibe of the set.

The TT style is based on the former style of Evelyn and Rosa, of which I have the latter one in 32G. The semi-padded bra style is still quite new to the British full-bust market and Tutti Rouge has been pretty brave as a rather new D+ brand to take on the challenge to make a well-fitting bra in this style. The style has been revised a few times to make the fit right and I must say it’s already a good one for certain kind of breast shapes. The cups are however, still quite shallow and wide and the look a bit “east-west” so if you prefer very forward-projected cups, this might not be your type of bra. The shape is quite natural yet fairly uplifted which makes the bra very wearable for everyday.

The Fit: Even though I love the look of most semi-padded bras, I have come to the conclusion that most of them just don’t fit me right. There is always something a bit wrong; either the whole style is too shallow or too deep, or the cup shape is just kind of wrong on my body. Sadly, this was one of those occasions when my boobs and the semi-padded style did not go well together – padded part of the bra was indeed deep enough but the upper lace panel was too rigid and closed at top to fit my upper fullness well enough. This does not keep me from wearing the bra anyway as it’s so pretty and the size seems to be somewhat right for me. If I could change something though, it would definitely be the lace as a stretch lace would have probably fixed a lot of fit issues for me with this bra.

When it comes to sizing, the Tallulah Tattoo seems to be running fairly regular and in line with other British full-bust brands. I opted for my regular 30H and the band seems to be a more regular 30 than it was with my SS14 Betty. However, I would say the band stretches only up to 30,5 max so be sure to size up if you are between band sizes! I measure 30″ underbust at the moment and the band was very snug on me. Also the cups were on the smaller side so size up in them as well if you are between sizes! I am still hanging on between GG and H and the H was definitely the right choice for me.

When it comes to wire width, the Tutti Rouge bras always feature a bit too wide wires for me. However, this does not bother me too much so I don’t see it as a proper fit flaw in the end. The main problem with the bra for me is that the top lace panel is so rigid and shallow at the centre that my breast tissue gets pushed a bit in the armpits which is not a pretty sight. All in all, the bra would be a great fit on someone with a bit shallower breasts with a wide breast root as mine don’t quite fit into that category.

Comfort: I am really glad Tutti Rouge has revised their fit a bit recently as this bra is much more comfy compared to the Rosa from SS14 season. This might be due to a better size too but I feel like the bands are now more in line with other British brands meaning I can comfortably wear my regular band size 30 instead of 32. Even though some brands have stated to favour the “old” system of +4 method and tight bands, I feel like it’s better to go with the crowd with this matter as it makes the purchase way easier for consumers. The band still feels very snug and supportive though and I am loving the three hooks and eyes which give us GG+ ladies a bit of extra support.

Even though I would prefer a nice stretch lace on the top half of the bra, the materials of Tallulah Tattoo are comfy yet again. I love how TR lines their bras with cotton as it makes the inside of the bra feel so much comfier on my easily irritated skin (which is very badly ruined by my claws right now, thanks to Finnish climate). Also the strap placement is much better than with Rosa which I’m very grateful about – this way my armpit area stays untouched and less irritated by the edge of the cup. The matching Brazilian knickers run a bit small so I would suggest to go up a size for a comfortable fit.

All in all, Tallulah Tattoo is a gorgeous piece of underwear to have in one’s SS15 bradrobe, even though the bra was not a perfect fit for me. However, if you are more shallow and have a wide breast root, I would definitely recommend this bra to try as something well-fitting and pretty at the same time! TR styles are always rather affordable and the bra sets you back at £35 and the Brazilian at £16 and you can find them both at the TR Big Cartel online store in sizes 28-38 DD-HH and XS-XXL.

Suomeksi: Tutti Rouge on jo pitkään ollut yksi meikäläisen lempparimerkeistä, joka on kuitenkin D+ markkinoilla melko uusi nimi. Sain merkiltä testiin uuden Tallulah Tattoo nimisen mallin, joka on merkin pitkään viilattu puolitopattu balconette. Malliltaan Tallulah Tattoo on hyvin saman tyyppinen kuin viime kevään Rosa, taikkapa syksyn Kitty. Puolitopattu balconette on suoraan sanottuna vaikea malli toteuttaa varsinkin uuden merkin toimesta, joten mielenkiinnolla odotin, miten TR oli uudistanut kyseistä mallia. 

Valitettavasti puolitopattu balconette ei kuitenkaan ole ihan meikäläisen juttu noin istuvuuden kannalta. Ulkomuodoltaan settihän on kuin karkki, joten mallin istuvuus oli todella harmi. Kokonaan susi setti ei kuitenkaan ollut – Tutti Rougen mallit vain tuppaavat olemaan minulle liian leveitä ja “ei-syviä” eli pinnallisia. Tämä on kuitenkin tyypillistä brittiläisille merkeille ja sopii todella hyvin rinnoille, joissa on leveämpi rintajuuri ja vähemmän volyymiä kuin meikäläisen varustuksessa.

Kooltaan Tallulah Tattoo alkaa olla jo melko perinteistä brittiläistä luokkaa. Valitsin itselleni kooksi 30H:n (eli 65H:n) sekä M-koon housut, sillä TR:n Katie ohjeisti minua valitsemaan koon isomman alaosan tässä mallissa. Omasta kokemuksestani pystyn myös sanomaan että TR on kooltaan melkko niukkaa mitoitusta niin ympäryksen, kuppien kuin alushousujenkin kohdalla. Nyt mitoitusta oli kuitenkin saatu enemmän jo kohdalleen ja koko 65H toimi meikäläisellä jo aika hyvin. Kupin yläosan pitsi on kuitenkin melko jäykkää, joten yläpainotteisille rinnoille tämä malli ei suoraan sanottuna käy. Jos kuitenkin brittiläiset leveät kaarituet ja söpöt printit ovat sinun juttusi, kannattaa Tallulah Tattoolle antaa mahdollisuus! Suomesta setin voi tilata Lumingerieltä, jossa rintsikat kustantavat edulliset 39 e ja postikulut ovat ilmaiset 🙂

Lingerie Review: Samanta “Mintaka” in 65K

I am sorry this review is a bit late but I had a very rough evening with Thai boxing and mixed martial arts yesterday and was not in my best shape to write a proper review. It still hurts when I laugh! But onto the review. The lovely Natalia from Samanta sent me this bra to get some feedback on the style but also so I could show it to you and report about the fit. I hope enjoy the post! (If you want to read more about Samanta, read my post here!)

The Design: Well, as you can clearly see, this is one of the MOST gorgeous pieces of lingerie I have ever owned. The colour and the detailing is so exquisite and I am especially big fan of the lace. I mean how stunning is it? I think the Slavic European vibes are clearly seen in the detailing and I do appreciate the design as a unique jewel among other ordinary plain everyday bras.

The construction is superb as well. The cut is called A925 which is a semi-padded almost full-coverage balconette style for large breasts and soft less firm breasts. Well, my breasts are pretty damn firm but I still found the style to be a great shape for my boobies. The cups construct of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam with the lower part of the cup padded and upper half non-padded. The bra gives me a lovely rounded yet very uplifted shape with a natural curve at top but it does boost my breast a lot so this may not be the most subtle bra shape, if that’s the look your are aiming for. Also, the cups come quite high up my torso so you might want to skip combining the style to a low-cut t-shirt.

The Fit: I opted for the size 65K with this style as it is the most accurate equivalent to my British size 30H. When I tried out the Samanta size chart I was given the size 70J but as I had heard Samanta fits their customers in looser bands for comfort reasons I decided to sistersize to 65K. This was the right size as the bands do run on the looser side. I just measured myself recently and my underbust measurement is 31″ currently (yay, back muscle!) so I am right between band sizes 30 and 32 according to British sizing. The band features two hooks and eyes but still feels supportive as the 65 band feels snug enough for me and hasn’t worn out easily after a bunch of wears.

The cups seem like a regular fit and I would count on the Samanta size calculator on that. I also skyped with Natalia and this was the size she suggested me through our video chat (very accurate estimation I might say!). The cups are the deepest Samanta makes and this can be seen easily – there’s a fair amount of room in the apex, even for someone with more projection than me. However, if you are even shallow-ish, don’t bother trying the style – Samanta has plenty of other lovely styles to offer for you! The wires are rather good on me but I tell you, they are not nearly as narrow as eg Ewa Michalak. I might even say they are the widest I have encountered among the Polish lingerie brands, but not as wide as most British brands.

The Comfort: As it appears to be, I forgot to measure my butt correctly before I opted for my panty size, so I went for my regular Small. The panties are Small indeed! However, not horribly so and if I lost my cookie pouch they would look much more flattering on me. The materials are very stretchy though so the butt part looks great and actually super sexy. The back is completely seamless so it’s a great choice to wear with eg tight jeans. But my rule of thumb would be to definitely size up if you are between sizes like me!

The bra is a pretty comfy number though there are couple of things you might want to consider. First of all, the wires are a bit wider than with other Polish bras I have tried but usually this is more of a plus when talking about comfort (unless the wires reach your back, cause that might be inconvenient). The straps are quite widely placed which is common for Polish bras, especially with small-band-big-cup combinations. The straps are half-adjustable but an average length so I had no problem with them.

All in all the well-selected materials and great construction make this bra good for everyday use though you can utilise it as a boudoir set too, as it’s such a sexy style after all (at least in my opinion). If you would like to order yourself the Mintaka, you can do so on the Samanta online store. They ship EU-wide but if you would like to order eg. from US, I suggest you contact them directly for more information. The A925 goes up to M-cup so it’s great for the big-boobed gals like me, but if you are a bit smaller, there is also a fair amount of choices for you from sheer balconettes to low-cut plunge styles. The A925 bra sets you back at 63€ and the tanga (or brazilian) at 26,30€.

How did you like the Mintaka? Any thoughts or questions on the sizing, construction or looks? Let me know in the comments! 🙂 xx

Suomeksi: Tänään blogissa olisi esittelyssä Samantan “Mintaka” setti, jonka merkin “alusvaate-stylisti” Natalia lähetti minulle ystävällisesti arvostelua varten. Samanta on puolalainen perheyritys, joka on perustettu vuonna 1992 elikkä brändi on täsmälleen samanikäinen kuin allekirjoittanut 😉 Samantan perusti Natalian ja Marzenan (Samantan pääsuunnittelija) äiti ja yritys on kehittynyt perheen naisten hellässä huomassa yhdeksi Puolan innovatiivisimmista alusvaatemerkeistä.

“Mintaka” on ihanan ylellinen violetti kaunotar, jonka materiaaleina on käytetty kaunista eurooppalaista pitsiä sekä sisämateiaalina pehmoista puuvillaa. Kuppien rakenne on myös mallillaan; ne on koottu kolmesta palasta, joita yhdistää yksi poikki- ja  pystysauma. Yleensä tämä kombo johtaa hieman surulliseen ja roikkuvaan ilmeeseen mutta Samantan liivissä muoto on todella kauniin ylöspäinsuuntaava ja pyöreähkö. Kupit ovat puoliksi topatut ja peittävyys on juuri suomalaiseen makuun – ne peittävät n. 90% rinnoista.

Mukavuudeltaan ja istuvuudeltaan malli A925 ja EU-koko 65K olivat minulle juuri passelit. Samantan mallit nimetään numeron ja kirjaimen yhdistelmillä, jotka kertovat mallin käyttötarkoituksen. A925 on tarkoitettu suurille, vähemmän-kiinteille rinnoille, mutta mielestäni malli toimii myös kiinteille rinnoille erittäin hyvin. Kupeissa on paljon syvyyttä, joten tissiä saa näihin rintsikoihin olla ihan reilusti! Mintakasta on kuitenkin olemassa myös muita versioita, esim ihan puolikuppinen ja plunge-malli, joita kannattaa kokeilla, mikäli omaa hieman pienemmät rinnat. 

Mikäli Samanta kiinnostaa enemmän, saa heidän nettikaupastaan tilattua setin myös Suomeen! Nettikauppa toimii englanninkielellä, joten tilaamisen pitäisi olla helppoa ja kätevää. Rintsikat veloittavat 63€, pöksyt puolestaan 23,30€. Ihan passeli hinta tällaiselle luksus-setille! 😉 Vai mitä mieltä itse olet?

Florals for Christmas – Review of Bravissimo “Satine In Bloom” in 30H

I have always been a huge Bravissimo fan – even before I actually popped into their store in Liverpool I knew they were famous for their fitting service and a lovely selection of the best brands for a fuller bust. When I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of living in UK, I knew I had to make a visit to my nearest store in Bold Street (the absolute best street in Liverpool btw!). The ladies at the store were very helpful and also gave me and my American fellow Leah a bra fitting that took my dear friend from being a 34C to her “real” size of 30F. Leah ended up walking out of the store with a classic Bravissimo in-house style “Satine” which looked so lovely on her.

Fast-forward to today, I finally got my chance to try this classic style myself when Bravissimo contacted me and asked if I wanted to try Satine for myself. Seeing it on Leah I knew it would be a great sexy addition to my lingerie collection, so of course I said yes! Here’s how I liked the new Satine In Bloom by Bravissimo’s house brand.

Excuse me for the headlessness, my straightener just resigned itself and I was wearing toilet paper rolls on my head 😀

Design: Satine is usually a quite simple yet sexy style – it always comes in a shiny satin-y material and a plunge shape – but this time I was thrilled to see it in such a pretty floral print. The print looks a bit Asian-inspired which made it feel a lot more unique and the colouring was just lovely – different tones of China red and pink splashed on the granite grey background. I was so pleased to see the vibrant shades come alive when I saw the bra in flesh; the pics on Bravissimo website or even mine don’t do the colours true justice.

The shape of the bra is a true plunge; the cups are made of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam. The look of the bra is very uplifted and also quite natural on me. The cups look a tad pointier than some of my other plunge bras but work well with most of my dresses. This is the exact kind of style that I am always looking for: something very low-cut that doesn’t show under plunging necklines. The cleavage is not super prominent so I see Satine as a great option for everyday wear as well.

Fit: As the Bravissimo team told me they would like me to try the Satine I was a bit hesitant at first. Not that I don’t love the style – it’s just that extreme plunge shapes like this tend to cut into my upper fullness. However the result was clearly not that bad when I tried the bra on – it was a little tight on my bigger breast but definitely not so much to doom it as a bad fit. I still think the bra would suit best someone with a little less upper fullness so you full-on-bottom ladies, do try the Satine! The cups were deep enough for me though and I really like how projected my boobs look in them. The cup on my bigger boob folds a tiny bit at the bottom which tells me it’s not quite deep enough there but that is very common with my other padded bras as well and doesn’t bother me at all.

The band of the bra is super comfortable and supportive! I have been having some issues with brands making their bands too narrow for my 30GG/H bust to feel supported and I am so happy Bravissimo makes their GG+ bras with three hooks and eyes. The band felt very snug at first but loosened up a bit as I wore it a few times.

When it comes to sizing, Bravissimo house-brand seems to running on the smaller side. I am still very solidly between GG and H and I decided to go for 30H based on the feedback I saw online. Many of my busty sisters have tried the Satine and reported its cups to run small-ish which is why I went for my bigger size. I am so glad I did as the bra fits me quite well even though the shape is rather closed on top! The band however seems to run true-to-size so a lovely snug 30 fits me really perfectly.

Comfort: From all aspects of the Satine set, the comfort takes the trophy home. I actually was stupid enough to do some intense dancing around our apartment yesterday without a sports bra on but I actually did quite well with Satine as it’s a sturdy little number with a comfy band and wide-enough straps. Even though I was shaking it to the Anaconda, like hardcore, my boobs didn’t fall out of the bra and or punch me in the face while jumping. Also the straps haven’t fallen off my shoulders a single time so that’s definitely a plus!

What I was very thrilled about this bra set was the thoughtfully picked out materials – the cups are lined with cotton (always a plus for me!) and the satin feels amazing to touch. I also adore the panties; they cover my butt really well and still manage to look sexy with the back being completely made out of mesh. The rise is perfect and my usual size UK 10 fitted me spot-on.

All in all, I am pretty impressed with the Bravissimo house brand and Satine in Bloom! From now on I won’t be hesitant to try other styles as well. If you are on a lookout for something cute and sexy for Christmas, do give Satine a chance; it comes in sizes 28-38 DD-J so the size range is amazing too. The bra retails for affordable £32 and the brief for £16.

Has anyone of you tried Satine and how did you like it? What about other Bravissimo styles? Let me know in the comments! xx

Suomeksi:

Bravissimo on Brittiläinen alusvaatteiden jälleenmyyjä, joka on niittänyt mainetta myös oman brändinsä sievillä alusvaateseteillä. Kun sain Bravissimolta pyynnön kokeilla heidän uutta kukkaista versiotaan “Satine”-klassikosta, olin tottakai iloinen saadessani kokeilla minulle ihan uutta merkkiä. Bravissimon liikkeessä olen toki käynyt asuessani Liverpoolissa, mutta heidän in-house merkkiään ei ollut tullut vielä kokeiltua.

Olin hieman epäileväinen Satinesta mallina, sillä olin melko varma ettei sen dramaattinen plunge-malli sopisi minulle ollenkaan – suurin osa rintakudoksestani kun on jakautunut rintojeni ylempään osioon ja tämän vuoksi alasdippaavat plunget ovat välillä hieman vaikeita. Otin kuitenkin haasteen vastaan ja olin positiivisesti yllättynyt kokeillessani Satinea – kuppien reuna painoi hieman rintojeni yläosaa muttei kuitenkaan saanut aikaiseksi jäätävää tuplatissiä! Koon puolesta voisin kuitenkin neuvoa ottamaan vaikkapa kuppikoon suuremman, sillä moni on kertonut Satinen olevan kupeiltaan hieman pienehkö. Tätä neuvoa kannattaa noudattaa varsinkin jos olet kahden kuppikoon välillä niin kuin minä! 

Kaiken kaikkiaan Satine on kuitenkin todella jämäkkä malli – olen tanssinut se päällä olohuoneessa ilman minkäänlaista vaaraa tissien karkaamisesta ulos rintsikoista. Jämäkyyden takaavat erityisesti leveä ympärysnauha sekä kauttaaltaan säädettävät olkaimet. Myös materiaalit ovat kohdallaan: kupit ovat vuorattu pehmoisella puuvillalla, joka ainakin meikäläisen kohdalla on suuri plussa! 

Jos oma Satine-setti kiinnostaa, voi sellaisen tilata suoraan Bravissimon omasta verkkokaupasta. Kokonainen setti kustantaa yhteensä 48 puntaa eli n. 61€ ja postikulut n. 7,5€ eli paljon vähemmän kuin suurimmassa osassa muita englantilaisia verkkokauppoja! Kokoja löytyy ympärysmitoista 60-85 ja kupeista UK-koot DD-J (EU-koot E-M) Tästäpä siis kaunis setti vaikkapa kuusen alle – vai mitä olette mieltä? 😉