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: Avocado “RV Lorca” in 70H + GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Avocado is one of those brands that if you like the kind of classic European style lingerie with great materials and high quality, you are destined to find THE bra from their collection. Their e-shop is also full of different bra shapes that can be matched to pretty much any breast shape out there, no matter if your boobs are more full on top or bottom. Today I am introducing you to a fairly new style, RV as in Round Versatile, developed in the massive revision of all the Avocado patterns that took place about a year or so ago. I got my hands on a prototype of the model back then, but as it wasn’t the final product, we decided not to review it on the blog. Now, I am happy to tell you all the details, so keep reading! *This bra was generously provided by Avocado, all opinions are my own!*

The Design: The RV is supposed to be the style replacing the old A-shape, which was quite rounded, yet a bit flattening (which was something I actually liked about it!). This style on the other hand is meant to give more forward projection, which is something most full-bust ladies can appreciate. The straps are attached to the top part of the three-part constructed cups and the shape of the bra is a true balconette. In my opinion, this style really challenges the good old Panache “Jasmine” which is a cult favourite among bra bloggers and full-bust customers alike. If you are looking for the same projected yet rounded shape in a more luxe wrapping, I would definitely recommend Lorca in RV!

The Lorca style is absolutely beautiful and even though we are not in Xmas season yet (though it’s definitely autumn in Finland already) this is a piece I could see succeeding especially well later in the autumn as a festive piece under the LBD. It’s lightweight and looks gorgeous under tight-fitting dresses but also works as a wow-piece to wear in the boudoir. The delicate stretch lace with the hues of bluish grey finish off the set beautifully and make the set fit far better than it would have with more rigid embroidery.

The Fit: I know it’s a big promise to say this bra fits similarly to Jasmine, but it is the truth. Except for sizing, as that is again quite unique to Avocado and I would always suggest consulting their size chart to find out your perfect fit with them. I am wearing my regular Avocado size 70H in the pics and again, it was a good choice for me. I do have to say though that the band with Lorca seems more like a 65 band so it runs almost a size smaller than my other Avocado bands (or perhaps half a size). Do size up if you are between band sizes!

The cups are absolutely perfect for me size and depth-wise. They contain all my breast tissue but are also a tiny bit too wide and the underwire ends up too far in my armpit with the RV-shape. I have noticed a slight difference with Avocado’s wire width since the revision, and to be honest, I would personally prefer the older wires as they were the perfect fit for me. However, you can’t always have it all. The cups would probably fit both FOB and FOT breasts as the top part is made completely out of stretch lace, which accommodates a plethora of breast shapes and even a-symmetry.

Comfort: As the bra band is a tiny bit too tight for me, I am not sure whether it is quite fair to even review the bra’s comfort level. I would love to say it is absolutely heaven on me but you know how it is with too-tight bands – they try to strangle you and with a bra this beautiful you stay in that abusive relationship and keep wearing the set for pretty’s sake. As a result, you get a stabby centre gore and nasty red marks on your body (which are btw not always painful but in this case, you bet they are). However, the materials are heavenly and I really appreciate the stretch lace which always adds up to the comfort level of a bra. Just remember to go up a band size with this and you will fine, as it is a well-designed bra with fully adjustable straps and all.

The Lorca bra came with a classic brief in size Medium which was a bit too large on me even though I was recommended a Medium or even a Large in Avocado back in the day when I asked them about the fit of their panties. However, I have come to the conclusion that Small is a far better option for me with their bottoms as these sag a tiny bit at the front when I wear them. Other than that, the Lorca classic briefs are a very flattering style with the perfect rise for me personally (not as low as Cleo yet not that unflattering mid cookie pouch style). They are also made of the same comfortable high quality materials as the bra and contour perfectly to my curvy backside without any muffin top or cutting into my butt.

The Lorca set can be bought at the Avocado online shop, here. The bra comes in sizes 60-95 C-K and retails for 64,12 €. The classic briefs come in XS-XXL and set you back with 22,12 €. Avocado ships internationally so even if you are not Polish, you will have no problem getting your hands on their beautiful lingerie!

Now for the fun part! I have yet to announce the Curvy giveaway winners, so here they are. *drum roll*

The Australian winner of a set of their choice is… Kath!

The international winner of a set of their choice is… Victoria T.!

Congrats for both of you! The winners have been emailed and you have exactly one week to get back to me to claim your prize. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the giveaway and may the odds be ever in your favour, so maybe next time 😉 To conclude this post, I would like to ask a small favour from everyone who have read this far: would you mind liking THIS picture on Facebook and thus voting me as the next Miss Midnight Sun Pinup? This is my first pinup pageant and I am super nervous yet excited. If you would be so kind to cast me a vote, I would be more than grateful ❤ TIA!

New Styles at Avocado! – Review of “Chamade” S194HC in 70H

I know, you might be thinking “What, I have not heard of Avocado in a long while – what are they up to now?!” Exactly – this brand has apparently been hiding under the rock for a while or so it would seem. In reality, Avocado is buzzing with new styles and website revisions, so the truth is they have been working their butts off and there literally has been no time for blog reviews and such. I contacted Avocado recently on Instagram as I noticed they had been working on some new styles and for my happy surprise, Anna contacted me by email soon explaining what’s up with her brand and how things are proceeding. She also offered to send me some of their new shapes and designs, which I was of course super happy about. Today I shall start with my favourite of these three new styles, that is the Chamade in the new HC cut.

The Design: The new HC  cut stands for half-cup meaning this is a bra that covers about 50% of your bust – some brands call it a demi-cup bra. The Avocado’s HC at least in my size gives more of a 60% coverage in my opinion but this could be due to the fact that a true half-cup wouldn’t have enough fabric to contain a larger breast. The size range with this style goes up to K-cup (consult the Avocado size chart to find out your size with them!), meaning it is meant to suit us fuller busted ladies and thus be very supportive. I think it’s a great thing that Avocado has managed to create a half-cup style in bigger sizes in the first place as there are many brands who simply refuse to make this style past a G-cup. The cups are constructed of two pieces with one vertical seam that gives the cup its rounded and uplifted shape, which is a favourite to many full-busted women.

The Chamade as a design is very pretty and it oozes a Marie Antoinette -like rococo glamour. The colours are very subdued yet not boring – something anyone would love in their summer bradrobe to go under lighter coloured tops. I also like that Avocado does not always play with the most basic adornments such as frills and bows but tries to make their designs with more clean-cut solutions like the tiny silver pendant on the centre gore of Chamade. The neckline of the HC Chamade is very open and it goes amazingly well with so many of my dresses and tops (eg Pinup Girl Clothing Peasant Tops!) which would normally show some bra on the outer corners of the neckline.

The Fit: We decided to go for my regular Avocado size 70H as the newer styles ran deeper and more full-on-top friendly. As you may remember, I used to love the Avocado A-cut but it was meant for more FOB breasts and thus created a bit of bulge on the top part of my breasts at the times. These newer designs feature some stretchier materials and more space on the top part of the cups, which I am super happy about. The 70H ended up being just the right size for me and there is no bulging whatsoever – to be honest, there is actually a slight bit of gaping where the strap meets the cup but that is mainly due to how wide the cups are for me. My fullness is mainly at the top part of my breasts and I have an average-width breast root, meaning the cups are a tiny bit too wide for me and have some empty space on the sides.

Even though the wires are on the wider, this is actually my favourite of the lot that Anna sent me – the shape is perfect and there is overall enough space in the cups to contain my breast tissue fully. The centre gore is quite high so if you have close-set breasts, this may not be the style for you. Who would it suit the best then, you ask? Well, I would say someone with a wide breast root and overall full breasts. Also A-symmetrical boobies would enjoy this style – it has a fair amount of stretch to it at the top of the cups, meaning it can manage some size fluctuations and fit both breasts even with a slight size difference. The band of the HC Chamade is the loosest of the three bras I tried, but it also the most comfortable on me which is why I like it. I would say it is still on the snugger side of 70 so If you are between sizes, I would size up (for reference, I wear 70GG with Ewa Michalak and 65J with Samanta).

Comfort: As said above, I chose this set as my favourite since it ticks all my comfort boxes – the materials are spot-on, no itchy cheap ruffles, the wires don’t poke me and the gore tacks but doesn’t stab me in the sternum. The Chamade is a pleasure to wear anytime, even at home when you are lounging around. It is also one of the most practical bras I own, because of the fact that is non-padded and low-cut. The only “flaw” with the bra I bumped into is my usual nemesis – the straps. They are quite widely placed, which however DOES not cause any irritation on my armpits this time; I think this is due to the cup shape being so low. I would like most lingerie brands to consider their strap placement though, as it is so hard to find bras with straps that would sit on my shoulders without me pulling them in like crazy.

When it comes to the panties, I can report that they are equally as comfortable as the bra and I love how well they are made – such a pleasure to wear! For the record, I am super picky about my knickers so sometimes, I just find the bottoms that come with a bra too tiny (as in skimpy) for me and I toss them in the back of my drawer. However, all of my Avocado bottoms have been high quality and very flattering, which makes them some of my favourite panties to wear. These particular panties are in the Avocado classic brief cut, which is exactly what it claims to be – great basic underwear which is still very pretty. I got the size Medium with them which was a right choice with these ones. However, I would say with the panties you may want to consult Anna about any style you are looking to buy as all of the designs run a bit differently. I even have a pair of Small Avocado panties that are quite loose for me!

If you would like to give the Chamade a try, you can find the bra (66,92€) here and the classic briefs (27,72€) here. They come in a great size range of 60-95 C-K, XS-XXL, which is impressive for a smaller luxury brand! Also, the set is available in multiple bra and panty styles, so if the HC is not a great fit for you, you can find another shape that will fit your perfectly. What do you think of the new Avocado HC-cut? Would you be willing to splurge on a well-fitting half-cup bra? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Avocado Bra Review: Calypso in the new NF-cut!

As regular readers of my blog know, Avocado has been a very near and dear brand to me for some time now. I have reviewed several of their bras now and as the time has flown, it is now time to open the final Pandora’s box and stick my claws into the H-cut, which has been requested to be reviewed for a long time since we all got to know Avocado about a year ago. I was always intrigued by this style as you know, the grass is greener on the other side and I had not had the chance to try it on yet.  However, it turned out Calypso is no longer available in the old H-cut which lead Avocado to send me its new improved version, the NF-shape. Here’s how I liked their revised fit! *This bra was gifted to me by Avocado. This however, does not affect my opinions or thoughts on it in anyway.*

The Design: The NF-cut (with the lower part of the cup attaching to the straps) is something Avocado calls their more “natural” pointed shape and it is fairly obvious when putting on the bra for the first time. Before I started to wear the pinup and vintage-style clothes regularly on a day to day basis, the pointed shape was definitely not my cup of tea but something I tried to avoid like plague. However, as the women in 40’sand 50’s did wear a lot pointier bras than women today, I have come to embrace the shape and wear it with my more authentic looking vintage repro pieces (as I don’t own any genuine vintage yet). The NF-cut is perhaps not something I would like under all my clothes, but it does have a place in my bradrobe for those full-on pinup days.

The Calypso style was something that definitely caught my eye when I first came across it on Facebook. I just knew I had to have it! Fortunately, the ladies at Avocado had noticed my admiration and were so kind to send me the gorgeous green little number. Although green is not one of my favourite colours in any way, I do love a good emerald or jade green. I actually have a trench coat in the same colour as well (great combo for some flashing, huh? JK!)! Also the accent colour of taupe is very chic, however the combo makes it very hard to match this set with anything else than the actual bottoms created for the set. As a matching set kinda gal it does not make this the most practical bra but it sure is pretty, to say the least!

The Fit: As the NF-cut is supposedly a much deeper cut than the A and K which I had tried before, I decided to stick with my regular size 70H. This was the right choice even though I am bulging over my 70H in A- and K-cuts. As a conclusion, I would advise to size down with the NF-cut, especially if you are between sizes! The band fits about the same as every other Avocado band I have tried, even though I am now contemplating on trying the 65 sometime in the future. I think might be between 65 and 70 as the bands stretch quite a bit after a few wears so it would be good to know if I could manage to close the 65 and then stretch it to be more comfortable.

The wires are again perfect with the Calypso and in addition to Kris Line and Ewa Bien, they are the best the Polish brands can offer me. Take note, everyone who don’t cope with the narrower wires of EM and Comexim, this is the brand for you! The cups are nice and deep but also pretty closed at the top. This however, is no problem to be even though my boobs are more full-on-top – the cups are pretty full-coverage meaning the edge of the cup doesn’t cut into my breast tissue.

Comfort: I sometimes have problems with a non-tacking gores and even though some bra fitters claims it’s not the most important fit factor, I do like my gores tacking even moderately as it makes the bra feel a bit more sturdy and shows how well the cup depth fits me. Well, this sucker definitely tacks to my sternum! The downside? It can me a be stabbing at first to be honest. However, usually people who report their gores stabbing them have not tried to bend the gore, which is sometimes essential when breaking in the bra. I had the same thing with Tutti Rouge “Nichole” and the issue was easily fixed with some bending, wearing and washing.The same thing applies with Calypso – just be patient.

Another thing that bothered me a bit was the far-apart straps which did chafe my armpit a bit. To be honest, I haven’t had this problem with any of the other Avocado bras I have received so it might be just a small downside to this particular cut. Otherwise, the materials, straps and band are super comfortable as always and I am especially happy about how wide and comfy the bra band is with all Avocado styles.

If you are interested to snatch up the Calypso in the new NF-cut (Natural Firm) for 72,15€, you can do so at the Avocado online store.

Have you tried the NF-cut yet and how did you like it? Let me know in the comments! xx

EDIT: As we had a slight communication problem with Avocado, this style was indeed the new NF-cut instead of the H. As I only got this info now, I have changed the review a bit to avoid any confusion!

Sunday with Samanta: A333 “Kerk” in 65J

Let’s be honest – there is rarely a red bra I would not like. When Marzena, the head designer of Samanta, suggested that I would try their Kerk in A333 cut as my next Samanta bra, I was very happy! I am all for pinks and red which are very classic and cliched lingerie colours but what can you do – I am a Barbie girl by heart. Also, the style intrigued me – I had not tried any of the less covering Samanta bras yet so A333 was a nice change as something that would cover about 80% of my bust. Here’s what I thought of the Kerk and A333 cut in general!

Design: The A333 cut is a padded balconette style bra with a slightly reduced gore for a more comfortable fit for women who want the sturdiness of the balconette shape but the cleavage of the plunge. I was very happy to be trying something a bit more revealing as most of my necklines are pretty low and full-cups are usually a no-no. I am also a big fan of balconettes and they are behind my blog’s name in the first place, which was why I knew the cut would probably be a good fit too. The padded cups are constructed of three pieces which gives the bra its uplifted and very rounded shape. Sometimes three-part cups end up looking a bit droopy or conical but the A333 was absolutely perfect! I could not praise the shape of the bra enough, it is so well constructed.

When it comes to the design of Kerk, I am super glad I got to try this bra – the red colour is a lovely warm shade of red (which would actually be perfect for Christmas) which suits even paler skin tones like mine. Also the guipure lace is stunning in flesh and looks much more luxurious in real life than in pictures. If I would have a bra for special occasions only, Kerk would definitely be on top of my list!

 
Fit: The fit of A333 cut is probably the best I have encountered with Samanta bras after trying four different models so far. With the A925, A922 and A470 the full-coverage style was a bit hard to fill in perfectly and get to fit just right but the A333 fitted like a dream because of the ample room at the top of the cups. As my boobs are quite full-on-top meaning there is a lot of breast tissue at the top part of my breasts, the more open cups and less coverage give them more space to “roam free” (haha) and thus fit better in the cups without any wrinkling or cutting in at the top. The 65J was a perfect size once again and the rather deep cups lets my breast tissue to settle in the cups very well without any sorts of folding at the bottom, which is what usually happens when my boobs and shallow + padded bra cups encounter. Also the band is nice and snug and compares to a regular British size 30, or perhaps a bit snugger one when you compare to the likes of Eveden brands and Curvy Kate.

The size A333 Kerk is very in line with other Samanta bras I have tried so I would say the sizing is very consistent among different cuts. Still, I haven’t tried any of the shallower cups yet so I have some more research to do 😉 All of their underwires seem to be the same size with my 65J’s so that is definitely an upside as well! Speaking of the wires, they truly are one of the best widths and lengths I have worn during these past three years of wearing a proper bra size. It seems that in addition to Kris Line, Samanta makes their wires a bit wider than eg. Ewa Michalak whose wires do feel a bit too narrow for me at least. So, if you find yourself average when it comes to breast root width, Samanta is definitely a brand to check out!

If I could perhaps suggest Samanta to consider something to improve their bras even more, I would really appreciate the chance of using removable pads inside the cups – especially with styles like A333 which are padded with a three-part cup construction. These sorts of styles could easily feature some nice pockets for push-up pads as sometimes us bigger busted ladies suffer from asymmetry that shows a bit with padded bras and could be fixed with a little help from a pad inside the other cup. Also, who knows if you want a little more oomph to your cleavage – it’s good to have the option!

 
Comfort: The A333 cut is especially crafted for comfort and it clearly shows when you wear the style for a while. The materials and the cut give me a rather natural feeling throughout the day keeping me feeling sturdy yet not like in a bra armor or anything too heavy. The wires are a bit stiff at first but there is really nothing than a few wears and washes can’t soften! The straps are half adjustable but a very good length so I am sure people of many heights could wear it with no trouble at all.

What could irritate some is the upper edge of the cup near the armpit – it does come up a bit high which can rub your armpit a bit at first. As I have only had the chance of wearing this bra for a few days (they had a post office strike here in Finland, sigh…) I cannot tell if it is something that will get better over time. However, it is not constant and super irritating on me to prevent me from wearing the bra but something I noticed to happen now and then when moving around a lot (I have a pretty active job).

When it comes to the panties, I was sent the D300 boxer briefs in size Medium which delighted me with their more covering style and comfortable materials. I have become VERY picky when it comes to bottoms so I was glad to notice that these were gems like the ones I tried last time with Beryl. Even though some of the stiffer materials with Samanta panties are not particularly my thing, they do make some really soft and stretchy knickers as well to suit my curvier body type (aka the ghetto booty). Again, I would suggest to size up with the panties from your regular British size as they are quite snug and yet not SUPER stretchy.

All in all I am in love with A333 and Kerk and they have fast become one of my favourite sets from the all of the 45 sets I own (lol, I know, a lot of sets!). If you would fancy an A333 Kerk of your own, you can now get it at a discounted price for a week! To get your 20% off use the code “Mette” at the checkout. The price of the bra will this way be an affordable 47,76 €  + 29,70 € for the boxer briefs. Also, if you are a US customer, please contact Samanta via email to claim your discount and set up an order. Do ask their customer service about different options for shipping as well!

What do you think of the Kerk and A333 cut? Has anyone else tried it? Also, do you prefer less coverage with your bras like yours truly? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know 🙂

Mini Bra Review: Avocado “Mirabelle” in 70H

When it comes to Avocado, I actually rarely know what their team has in store for me. The first time I got a parcel from them, it was like a blind date: no idea who you are going to meet and if you are even going to like him. The surprise has always been a good one though and this time when Paulina sent me an email that a girl named Mirabelle was on her way to me, I was already at ease. How bad could it be? And it could not, I must tell you. I have already done a couple review’s on Avocado’s A-cut so this will be a mini review instead of a full one. Let’s see what post man Pat delivered me the other day…

The Design: The Avocado A-cut is what I call a plunge balconette – a style that dips in at the gore a bit but doesn’t go all the way down to be a true plunge. The cups are made of three parts which is a rather conventional bra cut and a favourite of many women with full-bust as it offers a decent shape (when done well) and good support. I have had the chance to try this style with Avocado’s Jewel and Caprice styles so click for the links if you want to learn more! The shape is overall a very good one for a three-piece cup construction as it is lifted and supported with the right proportions. The shape is quite natural so nothing too pointy nor super round!

The style of Mirabelle is absolutely adorable and sophisticated at the same time; I am completely in love with the Charcoal background and the hot pink accents (perfect to combine to my new Barry M lipstick!). Black and pink are a very traditional pairing but I loved that Avocado mixed it up a bit and went for charcoal instead – this gives the set a modern fresh touch to it. The cups are almost sheer with the exception of double lining at the bottom of the cup. The cups remain quite see-through even with the lining so be prepared for that! The overall aesthetics of the bra is very young and speaking to the “middle-market” woman who is tired of too cutesy prints but still wants something pretty in her bradrobe.

Fit & Comfort: I have noticed that the Avocado A-cut isn’t probably my best match from the brand’s selection of cuts – the K-shape is still my absolute favourite and I am actually waiting to get a chance to try their H-cut which is a more true balconette and might fit my boobs a bit better than this plunge balconette hybrid. Plunge shapes, even subtle ones, tend to cut into my upper fullness which is not obvious from the pictures but can occur during a day of wear. The cut is very flattering through clothes though and it minimizes the bust nicely (a feature I need now and then to get my clothes fit a bit better!). I am also contemplating on choosing a bigger size with the A-cut next time, to see if it’s just the shape that’s not the best for me or if the fit has something to do with too-small cups. We’ll see!

As usual, the A-cut is a sturdy little number and I love how comfortable it is after a little bit of breaking in. The 70 band feels snug as ever and the three hooks and eyes keep me supported for a long time and multiple wears. The wires are spot-on as well – great length and width for me to feel comfy all day long.

If you would fancy getting yourself the Mirabelle, do check out the Avocado online store. The bra retails for 72,52€ but if you are a returning Avocado customer, you get automatically 10% off. The shipping rates are pretty good to US as well – only 12€! What do you think? Would you have room for Mirabelle in your bradrobe? Let me know in the comments! xx

Suomeksi: Sain pari viikkoa sitten Avocadolta sähköpostin, jossa ilmoitettiin uuden paketin olevan jo matkalla minulle. Usein pääsen valitsemaan itse haluamani setin tehdessäni yhteistyötä brändien kanssa mutta Avocadon linja on aina ollut lähettää bloggaajille yllätyksiä – sinänsä hauskaa vaihtelua! Ikinä en kuitenkaan ole joutunut paketin sisältöön pettymään, päin vastoin. Brändi tarjoaakin ihania malleja moneen makuun – on pitsiä, perus nude-värisiä liivejä, kirjailuja ja upeita väriyhdistelmiä. 

Tällä kertaa sain testiin Avocadon Mirabelle-liivin, minulle jo tutussa A-mallissa. A-malli on hieman keskeltä alaspäin sukeltava liviimalli, joka on kuitenkin oikein sopiva jokapäiväiseen käyttöön ja tukee hyvin myös isompia rintoja. Kupit muodostuvat kolmesta palasesta yhden vaaka- ja pystysauman avulla, joka muodostaa hyvin perinteisen kolmipalaisen liivimallin. Kuppien muoto on melko luonnollinen: ei hirvittävän terävä muttei myöskään perinteiseen puolalaiseen tapaan yltiö-pyöreä!

Mirabelle on nyt aivan uusi versio A-mallista ja ainakin meikätyttöön tämä tyyli iskee ihan kympillä – pohjan hiilenharmaa sävy sopii loistavasti yhteen kauniin kirkkaan pinkin kanssa ja kirjailutkin ovat ihanan hienostuneita. Varmasti suosittu tyyli esim. niiden naisten parissa, joille perinteisen englantilaiset printit ja värit ovat vähän liikaa mutta haluavat kuitenkin jotain nuorekasta ja sievää alusvaatteiltaan. Kokotaulukkoa kannattaa kuitenkin vilkaista ennen ostopäätöstä – Avocadolla kun on ihan omanlaisensa käytössä! 

Mikäli oma Mirabelle kiinnostaa, voi sellaisen tilata Avocadon omasta nettikaupasta. Liivi kustantaa 72,52€ ja postikulut Suomeen ovat kymmenisen euroa. Vaikka hinta voi ensin kirpaista, voin sanoa, että Avocadon liivit on tehty todella laadukkaista materiaaleista ja ne todella kestävät hyvin käyttöä – ensimmäiset Avocadoni ovat viime keväältä ja edelleen tukevat löysimmissä hakasissa!

My 2nd Blogiversary: Avocado Lingerie Giveaway

Another Polish brand I really enjoyed in 2014 was the beautiful luxury brand Avocado. Avocado is great for those who want sophistication and great quality in one package. Avocado has been kind enough to gift 2COP readers a 50€ gift voucher to their online store.  They offer a size range of C-K and the prize is subject to availability.

To enter the giveaway, just follow the link below and the instructions on Rafflecopter. The only mandatory task to enter is commenting on this blog post by answering the question I have set up on the Rafflecopter widget. Other tasks will gain you more entries and increase your chance of winning 😉

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b7/?

When it comes to the rules of the raffle, all of our giveaways will run until 22nd of February 2015, 12 am (GMT). The winners will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter and announced on my blog soon after the raffle closes. If a winner fails to claim their prize within a week’s time of announcement, there will be another winner drawn. Now, get entering and good luck! xx

Lingerie Review: Avocado “Jewel” Bra in 70H

I started off the year with a proper Avocado extravaganza by introducing you to their basic range Essentia. I was so happy with the range and when Avocado told me that they were sending me another style to try you must guess I was over the moon. When Essentia was a simple style for everyday wear, the Jewel in A-cut was a whole another story. Here’s how I liked this decorative little number…

  
The Design: After trying out something rather simplistic I was pretty smitten to get testing something really exquisitely designed and unique. Though the colouring may feel a bit autumnal to some, I find it rather lovely combo for spring as well. I am not a huge fan or brown but as the hue turned out to be a lovely dark caramel with red accents, I was actually rather pleased with the result. The styling is very European with stunning large embroidery and I am glad to see it done by the Polish brands as well as I’m used to seeing such styles with French lingerie in particular.

The shape is same as with my A-cut Caprice bra (click for the review!) so rather rounded yet natural. The breasts hang on a rather natural level so you won’t get that pushed up look with this bra! For me, this makes the bra a great option for everyday wear even though the design looks more night-appropriate. The bra cups are constructed of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam and the straps are attached to the top panel of the cups. The coverage is medium level and I would say it suits well under most regular t-shirts, even with a plunging neckline.

The Fit: I have always felt that Avocado makes great options for every breast shape and I still think that to be pretty accurate. I am lucky enough to suit both their A- and K-cuts pretty well so again, I have no real complaints about the fit. I went for the size 70H with the Jewel as well and have been pretty happy with it, even though the cut seems a bit shallower near the centre core. If you are very full all over then do take that into consideration! The cup edge feels a tad tight across my larger breast but doesn’t cut in so it’s not a real downside for me. However, the cup construction makes my boobs look a bit smaller than they actually are so I actually dig the style the most for that feature! It’s a true heaven on earth as you try to cram your tits into a dress that’s suitable for a 36″ bust when your actually 41″ (and I do that a lot).

The band is lovely and snug for a 70 and even though I am 65 (UK 30) with most brands, the Avocado 70 fits me very well. The wires are again pretty much perfect and the cups seem to have enough depth to them even though I do get a teeny tiny bit of wrinkling at the bottom.

Comfort: As the wire width and length is spot-on for me, the whole bra seems to be a very comfortable piece to wear throughout the day. I can easily wear the bra at home too, just lounging around, without feeling that I have something super restrictive on. The band features three hooks and eyes so it feels supportive and comfy even after loosening up a bit. The straps are half-adjustable so this may be something that you want to take into consideration if you are very tall or petite.

Avocado makes all their lingerie Poland with a love to details and quality, so I suggest you take a good look at their English website, here (click!). The prices are rather similar to other European luxury brands but do guarantee a good quality bra and a superb fit, alongside the massive size range Avocado offers (EU 60-95 C-L). They have a sizing system of their own so do check out the size chart on their website before ordering!

The lovely team at Avocado has also asked me to deliver an important message to you. They will be raising their prices a bit very soon for wholesale related reasons but they would like to offer a little discount to their returning customers. If you are a returning customer you will get a 10% off your future orders so basically the prices will stay pretty much the same 😉 The Jewel bra will still cost 72,25€ for a while so snatch it up real quick if you are new to Avocado!

What do you think of the bra? Do you like the colours for spring or do they suit autumn better? Let me know your thoughts in the comment box!

Suomeksi: Moikka kaikille! Tänään mulla olisi arvostelussa vähän koristeellisempi Avocadon rintaliivimalli nimeltä Jewel. Avocado on yksi lempparimerkeistäni laadun ja mukavuuden puolesta, ja tässä tyylissä riittää lisäksi vielä ihasteltavaa kriittisemmällekin silmälle. Vaikka karamellin ruskea ja punaisen eri sävyt tuntuivat aluksi melko syksyisiltä, on stailaus kuitenkin todella sievä myös kevättä ajatellen. Erityisen kauniilta värit saattavatkin näyttää juuri hieman ruskettuneella iholla!

Tästä A-mallista minulla on aikaisemmin ollut testissä merkin Caprice-liivit (linkki arvosteluun!), jotka ovat edelleen tuolla laatikossa hyvänä vaatekaapin peruspilarina. A-malli on hieman plungen ja balconeten välimaastoa muistuttava hybridi, jossa olkaimet kiinnittyvät rintsikoiden kuppien yläpaneeliin. Peittävyydeltään rintsikat ovat keskiluokkaa eli sopivat hyvin esim. ihan perus t-paidan alle.

Malliltaan ja istuvuudeltaan Jewel on minulle melko lähellä täydellistä, sillä sen ympärys on napakka ja kupit melko lailla oikeaa kokoa. Liivien keskiosan läheisyydessä ei ole ehkä niin paljon tilaa kuin sietäisi, mutta tuplatissi loistaa onneksi edelleen vain poissaolollaan. Kooksi valitsin tässä mallissa oman perinteisin Avocado-kokoni eli 70H, joka piti kutinsa jälleen kerran (kokotaulukkoa kannattaa kuitenkin vilkaista, sillä mitoitus on aika lailla omaa luokkaansa). Kaarituetkin olivat todella soppelin mittaiset ja levyiset, joten kokonaisuudessaan ei valittamista!

Jos mielit kokeilla Avocadoa, vielä lopuksi pari vinkkiä tilaamiseen. Avocadon hinnat nousevat aivan lähitulevaisuudessa, joten tämäkin kaunokainen kannattaa ostaa heti pois kuleksimasta! Jos kuitenkin olet jo vanha asiakas, ei huolta. Avocado on luvannut palaaville asiakkaille 10% alennuksen myös myöhemmistä tilauksista, joten jälleen kerran kanta-asiakkaat palkitaan 😉 Suomeen postikulut ovat n. 10€ luokkaa ja paketti saapuu yleensä perille noin viikossa.

Mitäpä mieltä sinä olet tästä ihanuudesta? Sopiiko väriyhdistelmä mielestäsi myös kevääseen? Jätähän alle kommenttia!

The Best Of 2014 – My Year in Bras

Hi everyone! So sorry I have not posted in while again, Finland is reeeeeally dark right now so taking pictures is almost impossible. Not to worry though! The sun came out to play first time in forever today so tomorrow will hopefully be a good day to shoot. Tomorrow is also first day of school (well, my first uni lecture of the year) so I am sure to take some proper pictures in the morning in my fresh makeup and hair.

Before we go into the real topic of this post, I will make announcement about February. I had decided not to enter Moda Lingerie Exhibition this time but as it turns out, I have been asked to take part in a discussion panel on Tuesday so of course I couldn’t say no. If I get any video footage I will post it up here as well! Also, this means I will be posting about the new collections for AW15 and I am so excited. So February will most definitely be my month of very prolific blogging, I promise you that.

Well, onto my real topic, I will be discussing the best bras of 2014 and where you can still find them if you’d like to take advantage of the final sales. Let’s see what I’ve picked!

The Looker of the Year

As I am very looks-obsessed person I shall start with the one I loved the most looks-wise this year. The Ewa Michalak “PL Slowianki” (click for the review!) made my summer and it was killer combination with my red Urkye dress. The red comes up so vibrant and I love the print, the lace and cut all so much I can’t really compare it to any other plunge bras I have tried. I also really liked the detachable padding as my boobs are a-symmetrical. EM online store still has some of these left in stock so if you have your size listed, give this one a try! If not, why not check out their other gorgeous PL styles? 😉

The Most Comfortable of the Year

I have to say the Lepel “Iris” (click for the review!) was not on my comfy list at first but after a few wears the wires loosened up and now, the bra is my go to choice for a comfortable evening at home. The materials feel so soft against my skin and the cups are made of amazing stretch lace that accommodates any size fluctuations I might go through. I tell you, this bra is pure perfection and it’s super affordable too – it’s only under £16 at Brastop and a tenner at Figleaves! Both have only a few sizes left but if you are willing to pay the full 25 quid, you have an array of colours to choose from.

The Boudoir Bra of the Year

It was hard to choose only one from Gossard as they deserve a title of Boudoir Brand of the Year but as I am singling out bras here, I decided the Temptation set (click for the review!) is definitely a winner. The bra construction is very unusual for a bra going up to G-cup and the lace, the print and the demi-cup shape form a combination that whispers pure seduction. The set also includes a lovely waspie waist-cincher which makes this set a friend of any pinup gal in the bedroom. If you fancy buying this set for a little Valentine’s Day surprise for yourself or/and your OH, you can snatch it up on the Gossard online store for a reduced price for £25 for the bra and £32 for the waspie!

The Most Unique of the Year

I love Tutti Rouge for making the cutest sets ever but last year they upped their game a bit by creating a print of their own for their cute girly style called Rosa (click for the review!). The tradition goes on this spring as the same cut comes in “Tallulah Tattoo” print, another Tutti exclusive design that draws inspiration from Sailor Jerry tattoo artist. As a true pinup, roses, pastel colours and tattoo prints are right up my street and this way, Tutti shoots an arrow to my heart each season. The Rosa is still available on the Tutti Rouge online shop and she sets you back at £35 so not bad for this unique looker! If you are interested in the Tallulah Tattoo, I will be reviewing it later on this spring.

The Cleavage of the Year

My girls are not particularly close together so I would say that a good cleavage-enhancing bra is a true friend of mine. Not that it’s for everyday wear but when you head out for a night out in town, this totally boosts my ego a bit. The bra in question is the Kris Line “Marilou Deco” (click for the review!) and in addition to being a total babe, the bra is also made with lovely materials and great construction. This particular bra is pretty hard to find unless you’re Polish but there’s a few options for it on the Brastop online store. If you’re based in USA, Kris Line pops on Zulily quite regularly as well.

The Best Construction of the Year + The Best Basics of the Year

Though I did review the Avocado Essentia only about a week ago, I did receive it in December so it still makes the list! I would say the K-shape of Avocado is one of the best I have encountered in addition to Ewa Michalak bras. Also the whole construction is uplifted and well-thought out, so I’m happy to hand this particular award to Avocado. If you would like your very own Essentia, head out to the Avocado website to get yours for 49,75 €.

The Innovation of the Year

As an active sports gal I could not leave this off the list as it’s one of the best sports bras I have ever tried. Panache Sport Non-Wired (click for the review) offers me exactly the same support as the wired one and I really believe it will be a favourite among those who do not like wired sports bras. This new season will bring out this badass bra in a vibrant purple shade and I absolutely adore it! I got mine from Lumingerie which delivers EU-wide and offers free shipping on all orders. If you live in the USA, you can get yours easily from Figleaves.

Here are my bra favourites from 2014 and tomorrow we’ll get back to the reviews. I will be reviewing the Gossard Retrolution set and I am sure you will love it! Which bras did you wear the most in 2014? Or did you regret buying a particular bra? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!

Bradrobe Essentials for 2015 – Review of Avocado “Essentia” in 70H

Have you met Avocado yet? Well, I reviewed their “Annick in Love” and “Caprice” bras a while ago and fell in love with their luxurious lingerie instantly. The aesthetics are great for someone looking for sophisticated elegance combined to great materials and superior construction. The new Essentia range is a simple yet pretty style that offers two basic colours; black, and beige. The people at Avocado were so kind to send me not one but two Essentias to try out – just the basic colours I always need in my bradrobe. Here’s how I liked my gorgeous essentials…

The Design: The pictures on the Avocado website don’t do justice for the looks of Essentia as the materials are truly gorgeous and there is actually a lovely little pattern to the mesh-kind-of overlay of the bra. I opted the Essentia in the K-shape since I had figured it would be the best Avocado shape for me, based on my Annick in Love trial in the past. The shape is great for my boobs and the bra gives me a great deal of uplift. I would say Avocado is the master of great construction when it comes to bras and I never see them do any weird shapes that would make my boobs look sad and droopy – this however is something I always expect from Polish brands as they do have a long history of making bras.

The Fit: I was weighing on whether I should go for my regular 70H with Avocado or go up a cup size to a 70J. Luckily, I followed their size chart and decided I was still more an H-cup with them as the J would require a 106 cm bust and mine is 103-104 at the moment. The Essentia is a great fit like it’s counterpart Annick in Love and I adore how well it suits its purpose as an everyday essential.

The band is really firm at first so don’t chicken out if you get a bit of back bulge! Mine disappeared in a few days as the band loosened up. This needs to be taken into consideration when choosing the band size though: when you measure according to the website you extract 5 cm from your underbust measurement when measuring in cm’s. If you fall between band sizes, I would suggest you take the smaller one. I am 75 under my bust and that gives me an accurate band size of 70 so I am wearing the exact right size at the moment.

The cups are deep and the wires narrow-ish but not to the extent that they would hurt me. I have had trouble with some Polish brands making a bit too narrow wires for my breast root leading to pinching and aching after a few hours of wear. Even though the K-shape is said to be one of the narrowest shapes of Avocado, it’s still reasonable for me (for reference, I need medium to narrow width wires). It seems I would need a little more depth to the cups at the bottom but as I have stated many times before, this happens to me a lot and does not bother me unless it’s super obvious.

Btw, the hue of beige is a bit darker than in the pics so take that into account 😉

Comfort: Even though Essentia does not feature my favourite material cotton, it is made of high-quality materials that prevent the bra from irritating my sensitive skin. The bra is double-lined both at the top and bottom to give me extra support but also comfort: the upper layer of mesh could be too scratchy on itself so I do like the softer materials on the inside.

The band of Essentia is very comfortable even though it is quite firm before breaking the bra in. The band features three hooks and eyes which is always a plus for me as a large bust like mine needs all that extra support. The style has clearly been made to please all your everyday preferences as it has been crafted to be as simple and as comfortable as it can be. The straps are fully-adjustable but take note that they are quite short to begin with. So some great news for you petite girls 😉

All in all I am in love with my two new bradrobe staples and they have already got a ton of wear as they go well under all my clothes. If you fancy an Essentia of your own, the Avocado website offers international delivery. The bra sets you back at 49,79 € which is a rather good price for a well-fitting piece of luxury lingerie. The size range is generous: you can find the bra in EU sizes 60-95 C-K and in multiple different shapes. Remember to check the size chart as the brand has a rather unique way of sizing!

I hope you enjoyed the review and I also wish you the best year of 2015! Thank you for everyone who took part in my year of blogging once again and I welcome any new readers that want to come along this year. Also a big thank you to all my lovely sponsors who have worked with me regarding my reviews! If you are a brand or a company who are interested to work with me this year, you can find my email address on the sidebar. There is a bunch of things that I have already planned for the upcoming year, including some blogiversary giveaways in February, so make sure to click those follow buttons 😉

Suomeksi: Moikka kaikille ja hyvää uutta vuotta! Kuten viime postauksessa mainitsin, mun joulu lähti käyntiin kasallisella uusia rintsikoita, joiden arvostelemisella onkin mukava aloittaa tämä uusi vuosi. Tällä kertaa vuorossa on puolalainen laatumerkki Avocado ja heidän uutusmallistonsa Essentia. Avocado lähetti ystävällisesti minulle Essentia-liivejä kaksin kappalein, joten tässäpä olisi teille pieni arvostelu niistä!

Avocado on minulle jo ennestään tuttu merkki, joten koon ja mallin valitseminen tuntui melko helpolta. Vaikka kokotaulukon mukaan kuuluisin johonkin 70H ja J väliin, päätin luottaa vielä 70H:hon tällä kertaa. Onneksi tein näin, sillä koko oli jälleen kerran todella hyvä! Avocadon ympärykset ovat aikalailla linjassa muiden puolalaisten merkkien kanssa, joten 70 on minulle oikein passeli ympärys. Kuppikoiden kanssa saa kuitenkin olla tarkkana, sillä ne eivät noudata ihan perinteistä eurooppalaista mitoitusta.

Avocadon rintsikoissa ympärys voi tuntua aluksi melko tiukalta, mutta sitä ei kuitenkaan kannata säikähtää: ympärys kun venähtää melko nopeasti löyhempiin mittoihin, jolloin ylimääräiset selkämakkaratkin tasoittuvat sopivasti. Kupit ovat minulle tässä mallissa oikein sopivat, vaikka tilaa voisi kuppien alaosassa olla hieman lisää kuvista päätellen. Valitsinkin Essentia K-mallisena, joka on Avocadon malleista syvin kupeiltaan ja matalin peittävyydeltään. Muita malleja merkiltä löytyy A, H ja F, joihin voi tutustua heidän nettisivuillaan.

Kokonaisuudessaan Essentia tuntuu oikein hyvältä mallilta, joka sopii varmasti myös jokaisen simppeliyttä rakastavan suomalaisnaisen alusvaatelaatikkoon. Liivit maksavat vajaan 50 € ja Suomeen postikuluja kertyy n. 10 €, joten laatuliiveistä tuo summa ei ole todellakaan paha! Linkit nettisivuille löydät tuolta englanninkielisestä tekstiosuudesta 😉

Lopuksi haluaisin kiittää kaikkia lukijoita edeltävästä vuodesta ja toivon, että moni teistä innostuu lukemaan blogiani myös tänä vuonna! Muistakaapa myös seurailla blogiani noitten “Follow”-painikkeiden kautta, niin saatte ensimmäisenä tietoonne esim. helmikuussa järjestettävät synttäriarvonnat 😉 Kiitos myös kaikille yhteistyökumppaneille, ilman teitä blogiani olisi todella vaikeaa pyörittää. Jos löysit blogini kuitenkin vasta nyt – tervetuloa! Toivotan sinut tervetulleeksi mukaan alusvaatteiden täyteiseen vuoteen 2015.