Getting to Know Signature by After Eden – Review of “Sophia” and “Grace” in 32F

A couple of weeks back I wrote about the new After Eden sister-label which is created for fuller busted and also fuller figured girls. As I mentioned in my latest post about the brand, even though the range is targeted for girls with bigger band sizes as well, the brand does make their bands in 32 and even 30 in some styles. When the head of marketing for Signature and After Eden, Paul, contacted me and asked if I would like to try some of their lingerie, I jumped at the chance even though I knew I wouldn’t be in their size range exactly.

When the beautiful “Sophia” and “Grace” sets arrived at my door, I was so exacted I ripped the packaging open and was faced with two gorgeous bras accompanied with both briefs and thongs for both of them. I instantly tried on the bras with both fear and excitement – would they fit even though being a couple of cup sizes too small to begin with? I had indeed heard that Signature would run big so I was hopeful. Unfortunately, the bras came about two cup sizes too small for me, so I would have needed a 32G with them. Then something struck me – I had just bravangelized one very sweet and gorgeous young girl who would be perfect for both the brand and the size. Let me introduce to you: Miss E and Signature!

When it comes to Miss E’s regular bra size, she is usually something in the 30FF-G bra range and wears a 30G in Parfait “Charlotte”, for example. She is a very sporty young girl so she’s quite fit and small around her underbust area, meaning 30″ band is the best option for her in most bras. As Signature bras start usually at 32 (excluding their continuity style Anna which starts from 30) I was a bit hesitant if the bras would come up too big for her small frame, but luckily they fitted quite nicely. The Signature 32 bands seem to be quite snug, especially with the black flock print “Sophia” (49,99€), as it can be converted into a strapless. This particular bra also features some silicone strips going around the band, to keep the bra up when worn strapless.

The gorgeous snake-print “Grace” (44,99€) was a bit on the looser side compared to Sophia, so Miss E is wearing the bra in the second tightest set of hooks and eyes. Speaking of hooks and eyes, there is four sets of them on each bra which is absolutely amazing! The bands are pretty wide and thus supportive and they feature three hooks and eyes in each row. The metal parts of the Signature sets are done in such a beautiful way – they are gold in colour and look very expensive and luxurious taking into consideration how affordable these sets actually are.

The cup sizing is pretty similar to any other mainstream brands, if not a tiny bit more generous than eg with Freya or Curvy Kate. Signature uses EU-sizing as they are a Dutch brand, meaning the UK size 32F translates into 70G in their own size chart. As we know Miss E’s regular size is 30FF-G, the 32F is a sister size to 30FF, making me think these the cups are a bit bigger than a 30FF would normally be. This is great for E, as she is between FF and G in the first place.

As I tried these bras on myself, I noticed the cups are especially closed at top with Sophia – this happens quite often with strapless bras but it’s also a brand spesific thing; for example, Freya is great for full-on-bottom boobs, Cleo is great for full-on-top breasts. I would say E’s breasts are pretty full allover, meaning the fit of Signature is quite good for her (actually, most bras fit well with evenly-full breasts). There is no bulging or gaping and both of the bras fit smoothly.

When it comes to wiring, the underwires of Signature seem to be in line with most British brands – they are rather wide but not as much as with eg. Tutti Rouge. I would compare their wires to most Curvy Kate bras – great for people who need average to slightly wider wires. The Sophia and Grace are a bit different to each other in this sense as well – the Sophia is a bit wider when it comes to wires and also has a bit more widely-placed straps. E mentioned the straps right away went she put on the bra – they were chafing her armpits a bit. However, the bra is great for its strapless feature and is something that will probably be a good choice under a spagetti strap top which is something E wears from time to time. The straps are fully-adjustable with both bras which is always an asset for taller or more petite girls.

The centre gores are a bit wider as well with Signature, so if you are close-set, you might want to consider this. E seems to be pretty average-set with her breasts so there seems to be no issue with the gores and they are tacking her sternum pretty well. The Grace bra is a bit lower with its gore area and seems to be sporting a nice practical plunge balconette shape that is great for everyday, especially combined to the smooth t-shirt finish.

The materials and styling used with the Sophia and Grace sets feels and looks absolutely luxurious. The Grace set is finished with beautiful stretch lace that makes the panties so much more comfortable to wear – both the thong and the shorts leave a seamless finish and match the bra nicely. The bottoms are a bit higher than what E is used to but she seems pretty happy with them anyway – the rise is actually quite flattering and is something most women would find comfortable.

The Sophia is made of quite thick power mesh sorts of material which is adorned with a velvet-y like flock print. The basic black looks so amazing with the print and contrasting textures and is suitable under most clothing as the print is not too prominent, unless you are wearing something super thin.

All in all, we are both very impressed with Signature and I can safely say that it is a good option for young girls out there who are looking for their first full-bust bras. Signature is sold on their own website but unfortunately, they only ship to Netherlands at the moment. However, if you live somewhere else and want to give this brand a try, do let the brand know about it! I am sure they would be eager to hear enthusiasm from their international fans and let you know about any retailers near you 😉

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Watercolour Roses” in 30DD

I love working with Gossard as they have been so kind to 2COP from the very beginning and as Jo came along, I have loved how we could showcase the differences of Gossard’s two size ranges. Gossard also comes up with such a variety of lovely styles and prints that I can hardly keep up! This Watercolour Roses print was one of those pure diamonds Gossard came up with for the AW15 season and I was surprised to see how some other brands followed along with this pastel-y romantic autumn trend. As this particular styles goes only up to E-cup, it was Jo’s turn to take the place on the stage. *This set was kindly gifted to Jo by Gossard. All opinions are our own.*

Design: As I showed Jo the Gossard catalog to see what she liked, this was one of the first styles that caught her eye – “it’s so pretty!” And it truly is. The print is consists of what it’s called – watercolour roses – and its paint-like flowers are a mixture of both cool and warm tones which creates a lovely winter-garden-like impression. The printed satin is accompanied with a lovely quality embroidery which adorns the cup edges and and the bra band.

The shape of the bra is a true plunge with a three-part cup construction that gives the bust line a lot of uplift and pushes the boobs together just enough to create an alluring cleavage. The shape is rather rounded yet natural and the amount of coverage is just right for open/plunging necklines.

Fit: I asked for a 30DD for Jo as it is her best-fitting Gossard size so far. Even though the Gypsy bra (click for the review!) was a bit roomy on her allover, the Watercolour Roses felt like a pretty regular Gossard bra with a snug band and large-ish cups. However, it seems that Jo is a bit between with cup sizes right now as sometimes, her left boob tries to escape the cup a tiny bit and thus, we would very much like to put her in a 30DD 1/2 if we could! For the push-up effect though, this is a much better size than a 30E which would undoubtedly be left gaping.

The band is very narrow with Watercolour Roses so if you feel like one hook and eye won’t support you properly, this is probably not the bra for you. The fit is however very good on Jo, who usually wears a 28 band. However, with Gossard she seems to be between band sizes too and if we could put her in a half a size smaller band, the fit would be just a tiny bit better for her. As we know, tighter bands last for a longer period of time and will prevent you from tossing the bra too early for loss of support! The wires however are great on Jo and as with yours truly, they hit just the right spot at the root of the breast. The cup shape and depth are also perfect for Jo’s full-on-bottom boobs so I would definitely recommend this bra for you FOB ladies out there!

Comfort: When it comes to the materials and fit, Gossard always makes some of the most comfortable lingerie on the market. The cups are always lined with something soft and non-itchy and the wires are flexible enough to move with your body all-day-long – even after several hours, the bras are totally wearable and not pressing your ribcage like mad. What does not work with Jo’s body though, are the infamous Gossard straps – they are once again a bit too long but luckily, not as stretchy as with the Gypsy.

The bottoms Jo chose for her set were the thong as she rarely wears anything else – a complete opposite to me, that is! The fit of the XS looks prefect on her and the back part is made of stretchy mesh that makes up for the more rigid satin-y front panel. The construction of the thong is quite simple and frill-free which makes it a perfect option for everyday-wear under tighter clothes such as skinny jeans.

If you would like to get yourself a very own set of Watercolour Roses, do take a look at the Gossard online store. The plunge bra retails for a £34 and the thong for £14, so a reasonable price for such a lovely and comfy set of lingerie.

What do you think of the fall trend of pastel florals? Do you feel it’s more appropriate for spring or do you like the winter garden look? Let me know in the comments!

Moda Exhibition: Preview of Lepel & Charnos SS16 + Lepel London AW15 Collections

Ah, Lepel. You always manage to steal my heart somehow, whether it comes to new shapes, colours or prints, you are my one true love and this new SS16 season changes nothing. Yes, you did cheat me this time with not making my size in some of your most fabulous styles but I will forgive you as my love is unconditional.

Haha, that’s it for the love letter but strictly speaking, Lepel did up their anté again this season which always seems to surprise me as I definitely thought they could not have done better after this summer’s fabulous styles (such as the Minnie) – but they certainly did. I also feel like the summer season is always a bit stronger for Lepel – they do lovely summery prints on their core styles but also, their swim is the one that really impresses me time after time. This time, there was also one lovely surprise in store to make the new season a jackpot – a completely new range called Lepel London. To learn more about each of their range and my personal faves, keep reading! (All styles go up to G unless stated otherwise, also this is not the complete collection because that would have made a heck of a long post!)

LEPEL

  
Fiore Full-Cup, Fiore Plunge, Lilly Rosette, Daisy, Victoria Balconette, Victoria Moulded Plunge (up to F) & Matilda

The Lepel core collection consists of some of their oldies-but-goodies in new colourways but also some more recent additions to their basics such as Fiore. Personally I am always up for new cuts and shapes but this time, I was instantly smitten with the apple green shade of Fiore and will sure be giving this old lady (hehe) a try when the new colourways launch. Lepel had adopted lovingly the new orange/pink colour trend for SS16 which is actually one of my ultimate favourite combos of all time. The Victoria, another older style of Lepel, will be available in this candy-like combination next spring and I will be sure to get my hands on it!

The Lilly Rossette is a fun take on Lepel’s basic balconette bra and the fit is also revised this time, so I am intrigued to see how it does after some alterations. In fact, I am quite impressed with this specific style with Lepel, as it always comes in such vibrant and surprising prints for each season, this AW season including a fun strawberry print (a must-have for me!). When it comes to newer styles, the turquoise Daisy is a lovely plunge option for us fuller busted ladies as well and if the blue hue is not your thing, it will also be available in white. The lace of Daisy looks fresh and young and the style seems a good basic addition to accompany the older Fiore style.

CHARNOS

Violet (up to J), Sienna (up to J), Cherub & Bailey

As Steve (the very charming head of marketing at Lepel!) mentioned last time we went to Moda, Charnos and Lepel collections have started to become more alike, with some designs overlapping the collections a bit style-wise. This was even more clear with Charnos this time, with Sienna being the star of the show with it’s graphic jungle print and stunning colour combination of yellow, green and bluebell. I have personally never been a huge fan of Charnos but with the new younger prints and sexier shapes, I am definitely intrigued to try something from the collection. Also the materials seem very on point with this particular collection – I mean, who doesn’t love stretch lace? (We all know that I am a fan!)

Even though Charnos has now taken a bit younger approach to their collections, the shapes and styles remain mostly very classic and appropriate for a more mature taste. There are also some very popular trends shown in this SS16 collection, including what I call the “Marie Antoinette vibe” – think pale lace, ruffles and light-coloured wallpaper prints. The Bailey, which is a completely new style for Charnos, fits the bill exactly and is a lovely more romantic option for the Charnos fan, if the loud prints are not your cup of champagne. Also, who doesn’t love tassels?! Tassel panties, y’all, everyone should own a pair.

LEPEL SWIM
       
Sun Kiss, Riviera, Venice Beach, Surf Balconette & Bandeau (UK 8-16), Hawaii, Sunset (UK 8-18), Helena & Lagoon Bandeau (UK 8-18) + Swimsuit (UK 8-18)

With Lepel Swim, I always pretty much go “Come to Mama, all of you!” because DAMN these designs are awesome. I don’t even know where to start as there are literally so many favourites in this swim collection. There is something for everyone: sport luxe style, Tiki pinup style, fabulous prints and colours with some more solid & classic styles as well. What really hit me hard were the Surf and Venice Beach balconette bikini tops which were fantastically styled with some contrasting trims and summery colour combos. However, if I would pick something to suit my everyday style, I would go for the Hawaii bandeau bikini because OMG LITTLE TIKI PINUPS, can I just die??? This style could definitely do with a high-waisted bottom option as I can imagine many modern day pinup girls enjoying this print.

When talking about new shapes, Lepel Swim has now introduced a moulded triangle bikini top up to G which seems very promising from what I have seen of it. The specific style is called Riviera which comes in tankini and a mini-longline bikini top as well but the triangle top is a totally new innovation to me at least – or has anyone else heard of an unwired triangle bikini top up to G-cup? I don’t think so! Even though the style is quite basic to my taste as least, I would love to try out this little number just for the science – these tatas haven’t seen a triangle bikini in years! On the model though the style looked really nice and the shape was fairly rounded yet natural.

LEPEL LONDON
       
Claudia (up to DD), Paloma in Black and Red (up to D), Tiff in Orange and Baby Blue (up to D), Georgie longline & padded bra (up to D), Chelsea Diamond in Black and Turquoise and Tara (up to DD)

Now, if the Swim didn’t blow your mind, this certainly will. The Lepel London range is something that was created for this AW15 season in collaboration with ASOS to offer the Lepel customer something a bit more hip and young, trendy and sexy at the same time. The collection features a lot of key trends for the fall and upcoming spring season as well –  strappy styling, orange and blue tones, longline cuts and eyelash lace. Super-duper stunning, to say the least!

What really did put me off with the range was the cup sizes though – up to DD?! How dare you! I think I actually told Steve to fuck off at this point when I heard they wouldn’t be going up to G (yap, that professional I am…how awkward) BUT to my excitement, ASOS really pushed the brand with the size range and it will expand in the future. The SS16 collection of Lepel London will include F-cups and MAYBE, POSSIBLY the G-cups will be introduced later in AW16. I was kinda promised that. And team Lepel, I will literally murder you if that does not happen! (haha, JK…) Cause yes, that much of a fan I am of this collection.

What really stands out to me with this collection is how it takes all of the key trends and mixes them in with a great fit and affordable prices. These pieces are not supposed to be the “luxury” range of Lepel, but a more fun, on-trend version of their original style for the same price point. This makes it affordable to any uni student out there – even Jo, the goddess of saving herself, stated that she would buy some of the pieces from the collection in a heartbeat as with such a beautiful product and a low price – why not? If not for the necessity, then just for the fun.

How do you feel about the new Lepel collections? Are you as excited about Lepel London as me? I would love to hear your opinions, so let me know in the comments! xx

Introducing Scantilly: Curvy Kate’s Naughty Sister!

You may have bumped into Scantilly already – she is a frivolous little thing Curvy Kate came up with to satisfy their customers’ more specific needs, that is erotic full-bust lingerie. I did not include Scantilly in my Moda roundup post last time when they were first released to the crowd as I felt there were enough bloggers already raving about the new range. This time however, I am early in the Scantilly bandwagon and will show you all six styles at once. The first three sets, telling the stories of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, will be launched any day now and the next three sets will be launching in November – just in time for my birthday! Also, there is a lovely naughty little story/competition I will tell you all about in a minute… So tag along!

  
From top to bottom: Peek-A-Boo, Pounce, All Wrapped Up

First, I really need to address that traditionally ‘erotic’ lingerie has never really intrigued me – I am not sure why as it seems to be the thing for many women out there and has exploded massively after the 50 shades phenomenon came alive. To me, traditionally sexy lingerie has just felt a bit boring and sometimes even cheap – the materials are usually quite tacky and the fit is poor, which is not an option for someone who writes about lingerie on a weekly basis! However, I do like the idea of having something special when you just feel like a total babe and perhaps, it is this sweet spot that the Scantilly range touches in me. It does have the same sexy feel to it as some more mainstream erotic brands but the materials and the execution just seem a bit more sophisticated and interesting to me.

The Scantilly range will be released biannually just as with the regular Curvy Kate collection but each drop will include three styles to continue a certain story that can be read in the brochures (which are super limited, sorry Anna for stealing this one! I am a horrible person…) which will come together as a writing competition in the end. First six styles will come with a story about each weekday with the Sunday left to mystery – this is where you come in! All Scantilly fans have the opportunity to write a story ending of their own which makes it all more interesting and seems like a nice way to engage customers in a fun way. I certainly will be taking part and perhaps… publishing my story ending here on the blog as well 😉

The first three styles of the Scantilly range, called Peek-A-Boo, Pounce and All Wrapped Up are fantastic designs to start the collection with and I pretty impressed with the unique and fun ways that Scantilly embraces the whole erotic theme. Of course, I am a fan of suspenders which is why this collection makes me particularly happy (although I never seem to wear them really…)! Also, the Peek-A-Boo set features a lovely open-back bottom which I adore. Nothing is done in trashy way and I have to say, I would adopt any of these babes in my lingerie collection in a heart-beat!

  
Top to bottom: Peek-A-Boo, Invitation, Surrender

With the next three styles the Scantilly girl goes even a bit wilder with some lovely reds, straps and see-through materials. It is no secret or wonder which one of the new November styles is my favourite – the boneless Surrender-basque is definitely something different in the full-bust scene! However, the red Peek-a-Boo and Invitation are both stunning designs as well and again, both come with the infamous open back bottoms. To be honest, from the red and black Peek-A-Boo sets I would probably go for the red one as black is not really my thing. Also the pink shade of the Invitation hints of innocence when the half cup shape of the bra leaves a bit more on the show.

The Scantilly range has a bit narrower size range than Curvy Kate but still goes from DD to HH which is very impressive for such a new collection. Also, if the collection turns out to be a success, the cup sizes will definitely be extended in the future. How do you feel about Scantilly and which of the styles is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Moda Exhibition Favourites – Curvy Kate AW15 Collection!

I have always loved Curvy Kate and will always love them – and the simple reason is, not many full-bust brands attracted me that much when I first entered the industry. Curvy Kate was all I asked for – something a bit sexy, fun and flirty but also girly and well-fitting. It is a lot to ask from a single brand, but somehow they still managed to shoot straight into my heart with their fun styles that first and foremost came in my size. This AW15 season was no different for CK as they brought back the very style I started with a few years ago in addition to some great newbies on the block. Let’s see what they have on offer when the autumn winds reach us!

THE BASICS

When I was a few years younger, I was obsessed with the Curvy Kate Smoothie set and owned it in every colour. After that came the beloved Starlet and even though the fit wasn’t as good as with the Smoothie for me, I still loved the rounded shape and the fun styling of it. Who doesn’t love hints to mermaids?? This time, Curvy Kate has revisited their old Smoothie shape and come up with a new more romantic version of it – the Smoothie Prowl (D-J cups). It comes in a lovely autumn-appropriate colourway of crimson red and orange with some cute lace and animal print bows that keep the set simple yet detailed enough to be interesting. The bottoms that belong to the set are also amazing and would suit anyone who struggles to find something seamless yet pretty for their underwear.

The other renewed classic has to be the Daily Dream set. It is a revised version of Curvy Kate’s older Daily Boost and what seems to be different this time is definitely the shape of the bra. I think many gals out there will be very pleased to hear the new version offers a much more rounded look to it, meaning the fit will most likely be better for the most of us! The Daily Dream will still be going up to K which makes it an amazing everyday choice for the most full-busted of us.

  
Top to bottom: Ellace, Cascade, Dreamcatcher, Cherie and Portia. (All D-K cups)

EVERYDAY FASHION OPTIONS

As most of the styles mentioned and pictured above are already known to you, I am going to focus on the new interesting fashion offerings Curvy Kate has in store for us for the autumn season. These are the Ellace and Cherie, which both really appeal to me in different ways – the Ellace is such a great basic everyday style whereas the Cherie speaks loud and clear to my pinup style.

To be honest I have never really been into cherry prints but somehow, just somehow, Curvy Kate has managed to create such a lovely one that I don’t think I can resist it! The cups of the Cherie are lamented and it’s the same well-known and -loved balconette shape Curvy Kate started out with in the first place with the likes on Portia (which I love in the blue/orange colourway, btw!). The upper cup panel is made of dotted mesh which only adds up to the cuteness of the bra and makes it a bit more sexy with the sheerness.

The Ellace on the other hands would seem to be something that could steal many girls’ hearts with something we all love – and that is the stretch lace. I am hands down all for stretch lace and I think everyone especially with a-symmetry should try it out. It is such a comfortable choice of material which also suits many breast shapes so I am actually a bit surprised this is the first time Curvy Kate uses this fabulous material in their designs.

  
Dita, Tease, Jewel, Temptress and Bardot

NIGHTTIME NAUGHTIES

Even though Curvy Kate just launched their Scantilly range just for this purpose, I think their core collection has some great options for boudoir purposes too. If you don’t want anything too racy, these are the styles for you! What I loved the most about the more sexy “Showgirl”-like options was that the Red/Blush “Tease” was brought back. This was the style I bought a few years ago from Curvy Kate as one of my first well-fitting bras and was heartbroken when I grew out of it a couple of years back. Now the beauty will be back on the store shelves in two amazing options – the regular padded balconette bra and a flirty babydoll (pictured above). I am pretty sure I will want both of them so need to be quick when they come out!

My other favourites were the Temptress and Bardot in their new colourways as I am all for red and golden hues for autumn and especially Christmas time. Also, I am very tempted (haha) to know what the fairly recently revised padded plunge shape fits like in bigger cup sizes, which makes me want to try the Temptress real bad.

Here’s my roundup of Curvy Kate favourites for AW15 – how did you like them? Are you as excited as me about the comeback of the red Tease? Let me know in the comments! xx

The Best of the Best – Moda AW15 Lingerie Roundup

As we are already approaching Moda which is no more than a month away, I decided to put together a roundup post for you of my absolute favourite styles for this upcoming season, introduced last February at Moda. Me and luckily Jo as well are visiting Moda in August again and I want to share some of my faves before the new Moda posts start rolling again! I know I haven’t been as active with my new collection introductions lately but please forgive me, it has been a very busy spring with my new job and bachelor degree research (I am now finishing it up, it’s about body image & eating disorders). However, here are some brands and new AW15 styles that really impressed me a few months ago – I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Ambra Lingerie

Ambra is an Italian lingerie brand which still remains as a luxury-focused family business in the town of Alba (interestingly the home town of Nutella as well!). The silky garments are designed and produced by hand in Italy which makes Ambra an ethically-aware lingerie manufacturer and a supporter of local employment. Even though local production always takes the prices up a notch, I do believe the production process itself is something that needs to be considered when talking about real product value. Also, the Ambra lingerie is made mostly out of silk and high-end Italian lace which makes the garments look and feel gorgeous to the wearer. The size range is still rather small but they have introduced F-cups only recently and the way is up if the demand is there! I fell in love with the delicate style above, rocking a bold combo of gold and dark purple which is a rather unusual combination for next AW season.

Millesia

Millesia is a French brand founded in the 90’s and has since aimed to create feminine yet strong styles to please women’s luxury needs in the A-D category. Even though the brand is new to me personally, I was struck by its personality and strong sense of aesthetics. The new collection was a seducing combination of fine details, lace and bondage vibes which makes it look interesting even though we have seen the 50 shades style in lingerie for a couple of years now. The set above was one of the more clean-cut yet powerful styles of Millesia for next season and I sure would love to see it produced in bigger sizes as well.

Freya

The old Frey Frey and I were not the best of friends when I entered the full-bust world a few years back. Everyone else was raving about their fit but it turned out that my FOT boobs were not too happy in most of their bras so I left it to that and turned to the likes of Curvy Kate instead. However, recently the Freya designs have improved to the level that I am super intrigued to give them a go again, even just for the looks sake. This lovely little number is called Minx and it is available in various bra styles with a size range of D-G with plunge balconette and padded half-cup styles and GG-K in the balconette style. The pic above features the first-mentioned and I am in love with the key-hole detail at the gore!

Evollove

Evollove is a fairly new D-G brand with young-ish target market and reasonable prices. I have had the chance to try Evollove bras at the Mimi & You boutique I visited last time I was London and even though the brand goes “only” up to G, they are a great option for someone looking for fun everyday bras at budget. The style above is one of their amazing longlines which are a plenty compared to other British brands in the same size category. In addition to creating sassy youthful styles for women in their 20’s, it is also a great brand to look for age appropriate bras for young girls in their early teens – this brand knows how to do a good cute floral which is something that appeals to almost any tween + their moms 😉

Gossard

Oh mighty Gossard, you seem to seduce me every time and this time was no different. The good news is, they are also bringing back more up-to-G styles again! I am so smitten as last season of Gossard was a bit of disappointment for me size-wise. This time I will have a few lovely styles to choose from, including the Desire range pictured above. Longlines up to G? I’ll take it! Also, there seems to be a fair amount of high-waisted options and suspender belts on offer, which makes a true pinup gal like myself jump for joy. What seems to be the highlight of this upcoming season will however be the classic Gossard “Gypsy”-style, brought back from the 80’s to today and renewed. No doubt I will be trying that bad boy out!

Scantilly

As Curvy Kate’s new sub-label Scantilly has been splattered across the internet already, I settle with bringing you my favourite style from the collection: the Pounce. Even though the whole small collection was completely on-point and amazing, something in this leopard lover speaks to me with such volumes. Maybe it’s the suspender belt? I don’t know but heaven’s Lord this collection is something needed in the full-bust scene! It embraces the 50 shades trend so well with a sophisticated touch that I am only left swoon and hoping to get to try these beauties asap. The sizes go up to HH so small-ish compared to other CK styles but we can definitely expect bigger cups in the future!

Signature

Signature was first introduced on 2COP about a year ago when I encountered the brand at August 2014 Moda. The brand is a sub-label to After Eden which is already a rather well-known brand across Europe, including Finland where it is sold as a house-hold name in big department stores. As After Eden only goes up to DD, the brand has given birth to a new baby in both bigger band and cup sizes. The band sizes start at 32 and end at 44 which is a fair size range for such a new brand. Also, the cups are rumoured to run large which makes it a winner instantly! My fave from the collection was the snake-print “Grace” which comes in a lovely fashion-forward colour combo or petrol blue and black.

********

All in all the AW15 season looks promising! I still have a couple of brands I want to go more in-depth with so if you wondered about the absence of Curvy Kate and Lepel in my post, stay tuned as they are being previewed very soon 😉 Have a lovely upcoming week everyone and do let me know which style appealed to you the most from this roundup!

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Introducing Moontide & Piha Swimwear

When it comes to swimwear, I tend to be extremely picky – I hate triangle bikinis, can’t stand tacky 90’s patterns and a tankini is a definite no-no. I like my swimwear cute, comfy and retro-inspired which makes my hunt for the perfect swimwear a bit tricky. Not to mention my size – someone in the 30-32 G-H range ought not be too fussy, but what can you do! However, now and then I come across brands with exactly my kind of aesthetics and one of those brands were Moontide and their sub-label Piha at the Moda tradeshow. One thing that made the brand instantly more appealing to me was that the Moontide range actually goes up to G-cup with some styles. Let’s dive into this swimwear giant a bit more…

Tulip, Poppy & Bauhinia in their fantastic tropical floral prints (all from their SS14/15 collection)

Moontide was founded 35 years ago in Auckland, New Zealand and is now one of the leading fashion-forward swimwear-only brands in the world. When going through the Moontide website, it’s easy to see that in addition to fabulous fashion styles the brand is extremely confident about their fit. The passion towards well-fitting swim pieces is pretty obvious which makes me a new fan of the brand. The fuller-busted customers have been thought of too; there is a separate logo for the so called “cup fitting” pieces, which simply states “CF”. These pieces are either sized in bra sizes (with some styles going to up F/G) or offer a separate full-bust fit (this feature is mainly used with the one-piece swimsuits). Even though this kind of sizing cannot cover each and every bust size, it’s a good way to acknowledge that there is indeed a demand for more boob room among us gals with fuller busts. To be honest, I would be quite intrigued to see how well the full-bust version of the swimsuit would hold up my ~GG boobies!

When it comes to styling, I find the Moontide to be an instant winner – I mean, who can resist a good floral or juicy summer brights? Well I certainly can’t. My favourite of the new collection pieces (pictured above) would definitely be the yellow one with the black and white rose print as it’s such a lovely vintage-inspired style. These pics are however only my favourites, so if floral and super bright colours are not your thing there is also lots of black and white monochrome, stripes and abstract prints on offer. I have previously worked as a gardener and a florist which should explain my love for all sorts of floral prints 😉

Even though I have pictured above only Moontide swimsuits, they do offer also a wide array of other cuts to choose from. To be honest, I have never seen such a variety of different styles when it comes to a single design of swimwear! Most Moontide swim pieces come in an array of tops, bottoms and even a couple of different onepiece styles so everyone can make their pick and be happy with it. As a lover of onepieces I would love to try their “Twist”-style swimsuits with the fuller bust fit as the whole design seems very flattering allover.

Piha (which, funny enough, means ‘yard’ in Finnish) is a sub-label of the more mature Moontide brand. Even though Moontide’s designs could probably appeal to any age group depending on one’s personal style, Piha is clearly directed to a younger audience with a love for clashing colours and pop-art kind-of prints. The size range of Piha is much smaller, only accommodating up to D, but I am really hoping and wishing for a bigger size range in the future – these pieces would definitely rival the likes of Cleo and Freya in the full-bust swimwear market! However, I do understand the limits of making cup sized swimwear/lingerie as you do always need to make a profit. Just hoping Piha could someday make a profit of us bigger-busted gals as well 😉

If you are interested in the brands more, I suggest you visit their websites for more info. Also, the brands are sold world-wide so if you are still in a need of proper swimsuit for the upcoming summer, do check out the likes of Asos, House of Fraser and Simply Beach to find your favourite style. The Moontide and Piha websites have both a very impressive list of stockists and online retailers stocking their designs so you can pick one according to your own location!

How do you like the Moontide and Piha designs? Do you think Piha should extend their size range eg. up to G as well? Let me know in the comments!

Moda Lingerie Show: Cleo, Sculptresse & Sport by Panache AW15 Collections

When Panache is a great staple for anyone entering the full-bust world, there are plenty of different choices inside the brand for different tastes and sizes. Today I am going to talk about the Panache sub-labels Cleo, Sport and Sculptresse which all have a very distinct look to them. Let’s start with Cleo which is probably one of your favourite brands as well – this sub-label caters to young Panache customers with quirky prints and cute colours. The sizes with Cleo go up to J-cup and some styles start now from B-cup

CLEO BY PANACHE     

Breeze (C-H cups), Mimi (C-H cups), Kali (D-J cups), Kali Babydoll (D-J cups), Marcie in Burgundy & Nude (B-J cups), Minnie (B-J cups) and Lottie (D-J cups).

Prints have always been Cleo’s strength and they didn’t disappoint me this season either. The shades were a bit darker than with spring season (obviously) but I did like the way they were used and combined to brighter colours, like with the new Lottie balconette. The Aztec print was quite different, and got big thumbs up especially from my fellow blogger Anna from Bras and Body Image. When it comes to prints though I like a more subtle look, so the cutesy Navy/Yellow Minnie was definitely a winner for me! I also really liked the splash of yellow which seems to be my ultimate favourite colour at the moment (ok who am I kidding, it’s my fave colour EVERY spring).

Even though subtle and playful prints are more my things, I found myself falling in love particularly with the Breeze longline which comes in a colour-clashing floral print. A piece someone like Rihanna would quite possibly wear! Also, I am a sucker for longlines, so what can you do. I am always up for one in my size! The Marcies and Kalis were again absolutely adorable and I love how Cleo keeps making the Kali in such bright neons season after season. The tangerine orange is a great shade but I do have to admit that the babydoll is soooo cute I could not choose either one over another – have to have them both in my drawers!

PANACHE SPORT  

Panache Sport Non-Wired in Grey and Wired in Coral and Pink

Well now is time for the one of the biggest announcements I will make on blog this spring! The Panache Sport Wired will go up to J-cup starting from next autumn! I am so proud of Panache for taking the feedback and making this happen as it has been highly requested by their customers. However, the only band sizes with J-cups will be 32 and 34, so they are starting slowly but surely with the bigger cups. The 28 and 30 backs will still be going up to H which is a shame but the 36 band will go up HH. I so hope this will make some of your lives a lot easier and that Panache will start adding biggers sizes to their smallest band sizes as well, when the demand gets higher and the bigger cups start to sell! The new shades of coral and pink are super cute and and will add a dash of colour to your autumn workouts.

SCULPTRESSE BY PANACHE
Chi Chi (D-HH cups), Charisse (D-J cups), Bunny (D-H cups), Flirtini (D-H cups + 34) & Kitty (D-HH cups)

When it comes to the Panache Sculptresse line I’m always a bit jealous. I mean, I can’t have all those pretty bras because dang they don’t come in my size. The Sculptresse line has so far been a range from 36 bands and up but luckily Panache has decided to add some 34 bands as well (still not helpful to me but ya can’t have it all!) with the Flirtini and Kitty styles, pictured above. I so hope that these band sizes will do good as well and Sculptresse will make some more 34 backs in the future!

When it comes to styling, I am a sucker for this flirty and girly range that is kind of sister label to Cleo more than the regular Panache range. Sculptresse range plays with the same vivid colours and interesting prints but to be honest, I like it’s out-of-box perspective even more than Cleo’s. This might be due to the mermaid vibes this collection sports alongside the regular Panache range – the teals, petrols, stars and scallops are my thing and will win my heart over anytime. If I needed to pick a favourite, the Charisse would be a lovely number to see in my size as well. All of the news styles, Bunny, Charisse and Kitty were nice additions to the original collection though and any of them would have a place in my bradrobe!

How did you like the new Panache sub-label collections – any favourites? I would love to know! Also, if you have any particular questions about sizes or anything else, do let me know in the comments. Note that these styles were not all Panache will be offering next season, as there will be some basic styles on offer as well 😉

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Panache AW15 Collection

When I visit Moda, there is one brand I always need to book in advance because hell no I’m going to miss it – that brand being the giant lingerie power house Panache. Panache is very close to my heart as its Marcie bra was one of those sets that supported me through my late teens and still works its magic in my bradrobe, sadly being a bit small at the moment though. I was super excited to see what these bad boys would have in store for autumn 2015 season so we rushed off with Anna to our appointment quite eagerly. Sadly our rep was sick at the time but we got to chat to Panache’s intern Craig (hi Craig!!!) who was happy to guide us through the collection.

Floris & Jasmine in Abstract, Floral & Snake prints

When it comes to their main line Panache does not go over board with their prints and I think it’s cool that way – the target market is a little more mature than with their Cleo line so clean cuts and sophisticated details is the thing. The Jasmine and Floris are the exception to this rule though and I always look forward to seeing especially Jasmine in its new colourways. This time was no different and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! Jasmine comes out in three new prints this upcoming season and they are all clearly designed for different characters; there is the mysterious and bold snake print, the feminine and sultry floral (and not just any floral – I mean, VIOLETS!) and the playful and young abstract water colour print. All so different and at the same time, they speak to different sides of me as well.

The Floris is made in a Space-kind-of abstract print this time, and seems to be going along with the same colour theme as most of the Panache collection – blue with some berry tones to spice it up. Personally I haven’t tried the Floris yet but Jasmine is my old favourite which I can recommend basically to anyone with asymmetry or just a need for a regular supportive everyday bra. The construction is pretty much the same with all Panache balconettes but Jasmine sports a lovely stretch lace that seems to go well together with most breast shapes.

Clara, Hepburn, Olivia, Idina & Tango in their sea-themed colourways

Then onto the trend I am always fan of – mermaids! I am a red haired gal myself and basically I see myself as a new incarnation of Ariel so how could I resist all the petrol and royal blue lingerie? I could not. My absolute favourite was the new Clara which is now released in this amazing Navy/Jade colourway. Isn’t it perfect? I got way too excited about it at the Panache stand, I mean, embarrassingly excited. When Clara was first released a couple of season ago I fell in love with the Gold/Black colourway but I think the Jade version takes it up to another level with a very fresh yet autumn-appropriate touch. Another favourite of mine was the gorgeous Idina which has actually never caught my eye before this season. The Teal colourway however is absolutely stunning and would make a great fashion-forward everyday piece in anyone’s bradrobe.

Olivia and Hepburn are a bit less-known older Panache styles in new colourways with generous size range of 30-38 D-K. So something for you GG+ gals as well! I personally liked more of the young look of Olivia as the cups are not as full-coverage as with Hepburn. However, I do adore the colourway Hepburn and also the new Tango come in – cobalt blue is definitely one of the most flattering shades of blue on my skin. The styles though are a bit too mature for me so I would love to see some other style (perhaps Jasmine?) come in the same shade as well.

Georgia, Clara, Cari, Andorra, Brooke, Fontaine & Rhapsody in deep berry tones

It’s funny how clearly you can divide the AW15 Panache collection into two separate colour schemes: the mermaid and the berry shades. I am actually a fan of both so no complaints here! I especially liked how the Clara was made in both; the gorgeous Jade but also the beautiful Claret colourway. The use of lace overlay colours was also pretty interesting to me: rarely have I seen brands using charcoal grey instead of black which is a definite plus for me. I am all about sexy black but dang it gets boring sometimes!

Georgia, Brooke and Cari are all new styles with first two going up to K-cup and Cari going up to G. I am actually quite sad about the Cari size range as it’s such a pretty t-shirt bra in a fabulous colour. Red can be quite a predictable colour for autumn/winster season but I think Panache has managed to make it a bit more sophisticated and unique with a tad deeper tones, resembling cranberry. I am suspecting the Brooke to be a hit as it’s rather similar cut to Jasmine, which has already acquired a cult reputation among Panache lovers. My personal favourite (in addition to Clara, of course) would be the Fontaine though (going up to H-cup) with its French aesthetic and deep plunge shape.

I am so looking forward to this upcoming season and Panache will definitely be on my wishlist of brands to try when their new styles hit the stores. What do you gals think of the new collection? Any favourites? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Maison Lejaby AW15 Collection

Maison Lejaby is one of those brands that I have been eyeing for quite a few years; first in my teens when I had no money to even dream to buy a set, then in my early 20’s when I thought I had grown out of their size range. Take note in the word “thought” as when I first tried a set of their lingerie at a London lingerie boutique Mimi & You (that’s a whole another post for the future!) I was smacked in the face with a reality: I could literally, actually, REALLY fit my usually-30H bust into a Maison Lejaby 32F or FF. I stood in front of the fitting room mirror, my mouth in a round “o”-shape, that blown-away I was. A couple of days later I rushed to the Maison Lejaby stand at Moda and was ready to learn all about this wonderful brand I had been avoiding all those years for no reason.

The Full-bust line Elixir: Roxane, La Gourmande, Attrape Coeur & Theodora

Maison Lejaby consists of three collections: Premium (including core sizes A-D, with some exceptions going up to E), Elixir (including sizes C-G) and Couture (even more of a luxury line, sold exclusively in Maison Lejaby Couture Salons). I myself was jumping up and down when I saw their Elixir collection for AW15 as the designs were so pretty and sophisticated – to sum it up in one word, very “French”. The Elixir collection consists of seven different ranges which each offer a couple of different bra and bottom styles to choose from. There are also multiple colourways on offer; usually black, beige and/or white with changing fashion colourways each season. This upcoming autumn season was all about petrol and blue which seems to be a big trend among several brands in the lingerie industry.

Elixir includes sizes C-G but as I mentioned before, the cup sizes run quite big (bands are fairly true-to-size). This always makes me happy when I have prepared myself to cry for not being included in a certain size range (and this my dear readers, has happened with so many brands including Lepel and Gossard which are my current favourites!). The cups run at least two cup sizes big, so don’t throw your ax in the well (as we Finns say) if you think you are way out of the Lejaby size range. You might just fit into it!

  
Premium Collection (sizes up to D): Petra, Marani, Divine Guipure in White and Tan, Crystal & Passion

When it comes their A-D offering, I did find some absolutely gorgeous pieces as well – some made me want to me to swap my boobs to a D in a heart beat (haha, not really, just kidding)! What Lejaby seems to be doing exceptionally well is what I call the Marie Antoinette cut, more well-known as a bandeau balconette. I had the pleasure of trying their Attrape Coeur in both the full-cup and the balconette and it seems in both the construction is truly impeccable and well-fitting, even with the larger sizes (I fitted a 32F with the full-cup and 32FF with the balconette, which was also padded so it explains the size difference). The bandeau style was one of the strongest styles in the Premium collection as well and I absolutely adored it!

If I’d have to pick favourites from the collection, I would say Attrape Coeur really stole my heart and it was also the first style I ever tried from Maison Lejaby. The style is made in scarlet red for this spring season and in lovely Imperial Blue, Lily and Black for this upcoming autumn season. Another favourite was the Passion Red Theodora with its massive centre gore bow and fabulous cut (very similar to Ewa Michalak SM shape so fans, take note!). From the Premium collection Divine Guipure was definitely a stand-out piece and I would love to see it produced in bold fashion colours and bigger sizes as well.

All in all, I am super impressed with this huge power house and their attention to detail which absolutely blew me away. I hope to be sharing a lot more about Maison Lejaby this year so stay tuned for any future reviews and news regarding them! In meantime, do tell me what you think of the collection or their fit, if you have tried ML before! What is your favourite piece from them? Let me know in the comments! xx