My Retro Closet Experience: Made-to-Order Retro Nighties

I rarely buy lingerie anymore (for obvious reasons, I have no more room in our two-room flat!) but when I do, it’s those pieces that I have considered long and hard. I am actually pretty considerate when it comes to buying pretties: I usually wonder and weigh on my purchases for months and really think hard if I want and need the item in question. I don’t have tons of spare coins and I like good quality clothing that is ethically made, so I save my pennies to buy something absolutely gorgeous or adorable.

So, I decided to make my first lingerie purchase in probably years and invested in a My Retro Closet “Jayne” nightie in red – I just couldn’t resist the ruffles, the adorable shoulder-ties and the way it spoke Xmas to me. Regardless of it being a Christmas season treat to myself, I decided to review it here now as I truly think this piece of heaven deserves a special mention here on my blog.

I have admired My Retro Closet’s pieces for a while and they struck me as something we could have seen on the actresses of Mad Men or in the sleepover scene in Grease – perfect 50’s-60’s style boudoir glamour that look both effortless and sexy. I was first wary about the fit and the look this nightie would give me – I wasn’t sure if it was going to sit nicely on my larger-than-average bust and I was afraid of looking frumpy and shapeless in it. There were also not specific sizes when it came to the Jayne babydoll, which is not usually good for busty ladies like myself. However, the website said it would fit UK sizes 8-16, so I decided to give it a try.

My fears were not in the right at all, as the cut is very generous and would probably fit a plethora of body shapes and sizes. The tie-shoulders help with adjusting the neckline to a height that suits my body (and my mood!) the best. I find the shape rather flattering in its unique way – it’s rather innocent while being so flowy but also a bit naughty as it is a see-through fabric. The see-through aspect of it is not the most obvious which is something I like – I want just a hint of my skin showing through.

My Retro Closet’s own house brand is usually made-to-order, with the exception of some special sale events when the owner (a lovely lady, if I may say so!) sews a few of the most popular styles ready-to-ship. I ordered my Jayne babydoll during a 20% flash sale but yet it was made-to-order – however, I told the owner that I needed the item by a certain date for a special occasion and she made sure to sew and ship it in time, so it arrived in Finland several days before the D-day. I was ecstatic and can only say good things about the customer service! She is also a doll on social media and always replying to her customers questions on there as well.

When the parcel arrived in just a few days after shipping, I was happy to discover a lovely neatly wrapped babydoll in it – and it was even more gorgeous than I had hoped it to be! The quality was impeccable and you could see it was made with love. Some of the best lingerie money I have seriously ever spent (and I have spent quite some…)! The colour was a perfect true red which suits perfectly Christmas, Valentine’s Day and pretty much any day you want to feel sassy and retro.

I am very much of home-type of person – I do like my nights out and going to gym and strolling in the city centre etc, but my bed is literally the best place I know. Preferable with my loved one (don’t you think dirty there!). Even though I got the Jayne nightie for a special occasion, I do find it rather practical as well. Sure, I would never give up my Bambi onesie I got from Disneyland – after all I got proposed in it! – but I also sometimes like to feel a bit feminine without giving up my comfort either. This is where the Jayne comes in – it makes me feel so sexy yet not exposed nor uncomfortable at all.

Depending on the time you order, the made-to-order items at My Retro Closet take about 2-6 weeks to sew and ship. So if you have a day you need them on, please make sure to order in time and leave the owner a note! The Jayne range also features a bralette and panty set I very much have my eyes on – I am just hesitant to make a purchase because of my bust size. However, I have ordered some other items from them and they have always been beautiful and great quality. This store and it’s lovely owner get a huge thumbs up from me! If you are interested in your very own Jayne, it costs £75. However, they do have regular sales for a few % off if you are on a budget! And even on regular price, I can tell the products are totally worth it 😉

SIL Tradeshow: Preview of Curvy Kate AW16 Collection

The whole full bust world loves Curvy Kate: it’s one of those brands that seems to cater to so many different tastes and breast shapes, and they also carry a tremendously big size range from D all the way up to K-cup (all styles below are up to K unless otherwise specified). As one of the biggest full-bust brands in the market, we made sure to visit the CK stand at the Salon International de la Lingerie. If you are intrigued to know what’s up with their AW16 collection, keep reading! (From tomorrow, I will be on a vacation for a week so I won’t be posting for a little while. So sorry for that!)

Princess in Blueberry, Ellace in Crimson, Dreamcatcher in Magenta, Atomic in Plum (up to J), Florence in Bowder Blue (up to J)

REVAMPED CLASSICS

The styles above are good old favourites that have been revised with new colour combinations – these styles include both the classic Curvy Kate non-padded balconettes as well as non-padded plunges such as the Atomic. I actually love Atomic: it reminds me a lot of the atomic prints that were popular in the 50’s. The plum shade is not a favourite for me unfortunately, but I do like the SS16 orange/pink version of it a lot! Another favourite from this lot is the new CK basic Ellace; it’s a balconette bra with lovely thin cup material and soft stretch lace to ensure the best fit for many different breast shapes.

Wild Cat in Leopard, Daydreamer in Floral Print & Daily Dream in Blueberry Mix

WHIMSICAL PRINTS

Curvy Kate loves their cutesy and wild prints and it’s no different this season! Both the Daily Dream and the Daydreamer are older styles with new young prints – to be honest, something a bit too juvenile for me personally. But I do see the potential with these prints as they would both be excellent choices for pre-teen and teen girls who want cute age-appropriate D+ bras. The Wild Cat on the other hand is a great everyday option for any fun and flirty gal out there – the print is very ‘Curvy Kate’ and the colour combo absolutely appropriate for autumn season.

Ellace in Latte, Smoothie Deluxe in Rose (up to J) & Smoothie Spirit in Latte (up to J)

NEW BASICS

I love how Curvy Kate has made their Smoothie bra range blossom: it reminds me a bit of Freya’s Deco range but still, the CK Smoothie styles seem to differ a bit more from each other, instead of just being different colourways. The Smoothie Deluxe is a nice more luxe, grown-up version of the original Smoothie; there is no leopard print but a beautiful soft lace on the bra band and completely smooth print-less cups that cater for a classic taste. The new Smoothie Spirit on the other hand is a new beige bra targeted for the younger CK customers who want less coverage and a cute everyday bra. Both of the styles feature a J-hook on straps to convert the bra to a racerback.

Vixen in Black/Almond (up to J), Belle in Blush/Black, Cabaret in Black/Blush (up to J) & Kitty in Merlot (up to J)

THE BOUDOIR PRINCESS

From the more sexy “Showgirl” (an old term but I still use it!) offering from Curvy Kate, I would say my personal favourites are the Belle and Kitty. Kitty is an older style that has been revamped with the Merlot colourway, which to me is absolutely gorgeous. I love that we see some more shades of burgundy this autumn as it is a bit neglected shade among all the Xmas reds and plums. This particular shade would go perfectly with ginger hair, which makes me even more eager to get my hands on it. The Belle is a completely new style with cute “tuxedo bows” at the centre gore and a beautiful colour combination of grey and blush pink, which makes this sexy style a tad more romantic.

How do you like the upcoming Curvy Kate collection? Which ones are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below! xx

A Very Pink and Red Valentine’s Day Lingerie Lust List!

And apparently a post with a very long headline, hehe. So, it’s that time of the year again – Valentine’s Day is around the corner. And guess what? I am actually spending it with my boo this year – what a shocker! I have been with Mr. M for 2 years and two months now and not once have we spent the Valentine’s Day together since I have spent my Valentine’s in UK for the last couple of years.

This time, I am visiting the Paris tradeshow which is held a couple of weeks before Moda, meaning I will finally get my cheesy date this year! I am also big on V-day gifts cause hell, who doesn’t like gifts? I certainly do and am looking forward to getting something for my Mr Right from my Paris trip. When it comes to gifts for myself on Valentine’s, I do love a bit of lingerie. Here are a few examples of cheesy V-day lingerie a pink princess like myself would enjoy!

Scantilly “Invitation”

I am in love with Scantilly and I suppose everyone around here knows about my big crush already. But the collection reeeeaaally screams Valentine’s Day (or night?) date and would be something most full-bust girls would dream of receiving on a romantic and sexy holiday like that. I have reviewed the Scantilly “Peek-a-boo” set before and already have my eyes on the Surrender basque and the lovely pink “Invitation” which is the perfect demi-cup pink/black bra under a low cut dress. I am also pretty damn sure any guy/girl would be lucky to see this worn after the hot date! Scantilly goes up to HH-cup at the moment and can be bought at Brastop and Figleaves.

x
Cleo by Panache “Kali” Babydoll

Cleo makes lovely options for young women with full-busts and just in time for Valentine’s Day, they have come out with an amazing shade with the Kali babydoll. The babydoll might be a cheesy option for V-day with its hearts embroidery but who said cheesy was a bad thing? I personally love the deep raspberry hue of the babydoll and the amazing thing about it is that it goes up to J-cup. You can get the babydoll and a matching low-cut brief at Bravissimo and the babydoll itself sets you back £37 – not bad, huh?

Comexim “Rita”

Ordering from Poland is always a bit of a hassle as the bras are usually made-to-order and thus take a bit more time to ship. Luckily, there is still time to make that order if you are in the mood to treat your girl with something a bit more special. Processing the order can take up to 10 days but after that, the set should arrive in no time, no matter if you live in Finland or USA. The Polish brands are also usually great value for the money – this particular Rita bra sets you back at 35$ which is not bad for something that has on-point construction and a stylish design.

Curvy Kate “Tease” babydoll and bra set

This is probably one of my ultimate lust-list sets as it was the first well-fitted set I got when I was 18. I am so glad CK brought this colourway back as it is definitely one of the most gorgeous ones ever seen – and for once the red is not paired with black. I am also loving how they turned the Tease into a ruffly sweet babydoll which will be perfect for this Valentine’s Day. As this colourway is already technically last season, you can now get it at a reduced price almost everywhere. Brastop has a pretty good selection of prices available, so I would check there first.

Samanta “Anvers” in A470

If you are buying for a basics-loving lady but still want to treat her for a little bit of pink goodness, why not try another Polish brand, Samanta. Samanta has been reviewed here on 2COP many times and this particular set is called “Anvers” will be the next one reviewed on the 31st of January. This set is breathtakingly pretty in flesh and features a lovely smooth finish which is perfect under sleek t-shirts and jersey dresses. To give your a spoiler on the fit of the bra in A475, Jo said that it might actually be her best-fitting bra ever. Quite a compliment, huh?

+ A MANDATORY SPLURGE

Vollers “Lusso” Waist-Training Corsets

Not every gentleman/lady has the money to splurge on a well-made waist-trainer but in my dream world, there would be such corsets to everyone! I have been lusting after a proper waist-trainer for months now but I am not sure which company to go to – I don’t want to get anything rubbish that will wear out right away and in the worst case scenario, would hurt my body some way. I have heard that Vollers is a very reputable corset company so what better brand to add on my lust list? The pink Lusso corset is a perfect option for long-torsoed gals like me and IF you would happen to have the dough to spend, it would be yours for £155.

Here’s my wishlist for this upcoming Valentine’s Day! What is on your list? Also, what are your plans for the V-day? Let me know in the comments! xx

What to Pick for a Loved-One for Valentine’s? – 2COP’s Lingerie Gift Guide

As Valentine’s day is two weeks away, there’s still a lot of time to pick something for either yourself (cause, duh, that is a love affair of a lifetime) but maybe something for your partner as well. Also, if you want to buy your bff something cute, why not try some comfy sleepwear? Here are my picks for bra-size free lingerie picks for this Valentine’s Day!

Gossard “Elegance” cami & french knicker set

As Gossard has been one of my go-to lingerie brands since last year, the first place I checked for proper cute sleepwear was their very own online store. Sadly Gossard does not make that many bras in my size anymore, but I do have a bit of experience with their sleepwear as well and it’s so comfy I cannot recommend it enough. The cuts are also so flattering and sexy, why not snatch up this cute Elegant set in Rose for yourself or someone you love? I promise they won’t be disappointed. Valentine’s may seem like a day to buy something extra daring for you girl, but let me assure you, better safe than sorry when it comes to undergarments, right? The set is sold separately and is moderately priced at £28 for the cami and £21 for the french knicker.

Mimi Holliday “Golden Helicon” Teddy

This teddy by the lovely Mimi Holliday is a bit on the pricier side but looks like a million bucks while actually costing £145. If you have some dough to splurge, a good-quality teddy is a lovely luxury gift for any gal out there. No matter if she sleeps butt-naked – this will get her lounging around in something pretty instead of his dad’s old t-shirts (oopsie, caught me right there!). The pale pink chiffon and golden dots make a more subtle nod to Valentine’s instead of being all goo-y and cliched.

Dottie’s Delights “Love Letters” Babydoll

If you are a vintage-loving gal as myself, you will love love love this “Love Letters” babydoll by the ever-so-lovely Dotties Delights! This gift would be perfect for anyone with a little pinup inside them so if your girl seems to be working that 50’s look, she will most likely be swooned over this piece of underwear artistry. The babydoll costs $79 so it’s maybe not for the tightest student budget but I bet still worth every penny.

Playful Promises “Penelope” Teddy from Hepburn & Leigh

If you or your girl is not all about the pink cuteness and/or you would like to buy a lovely luxury piece on budget, try Playful Promises for some affordable vintage-glam! The detailing on this chocolate shade beauty is in the colour of luxurious gold and it’s guaranteed to be a hit regardless of the modest £45 price tag. I sure would love one for those lazy Sundays!

Freya “Eden” Chemise from Bravissimo

If you are worried that your busty lady is not gonna fit into anything above, you might want to try this little sleeping beauty from Freya. Though the chemise comes in sizes Small to Large, the chemise has been designed with a well-endowed woman in mind. Th print is absolutely adorable without being tacky, so what’s not to like! This is again one of those spot-on choices for a tight student budget, with a price of just £36. Bravissimo also has excellent customer service and speedy delivery so I highly recommend checking them out whether you are looking for a lovely gift or something practical for yourself.

These were my picks for this Valentine’s, hope you like them! Also, let me know what you have planned for your Valentine’s and what are you planning to wear? I would love to know! My Valentine’s will spend in UK so unfortunately we can’t spend it together with my boyfriend but luckily, I have some great company with Anna from Bras and Body Image and we are heading out to Birmingham to see a burlesque show. Have a great week lovelies and I wish to see you entering my blogiversary giveaways as they will start rolling VERY SOON 😉

Review of Curvy Kate “Ritzy” babydoll in 30GG

AW13 season brought something quite new for us full-bust girls – babydolls. Various brands took up the challenge to create a full-bust friendly bra sized babydoll and so many of them were instant hits on the lingerie blogosphere. There was also a lot of variety when it came to styles as well; some plunges (Curvy Kate ”Lola”), padded balconettes (Curvy Kate ”Ritzy”) and also a very nice unpadded option from Cleo in their best selling ”Marcie” style. Babydolls continued their revolution for the next season as well, there is eg a very sexy little number by Parfait still yet to come.

When I won the Bras and Body Image blogiversary competition and got to choose one set of Curvy Kate lingerie. As I already own a bunch of really practical everyday sets I decided to go for something more boudoir and opted for the lovely Ritzy babydoll and shorts. I already knew Ritzy would be a great match with my full-on-top breasts since it’s a very traditional CK balconette so I was so excited when it arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago.

Design: As said, Ritzy features balconette style cups with a mesh-y bottom part. The materials are pretty smooth and feel good quality. It also has very versatile colour combo; black pinstripe-kind of fabric with a creamy undertone peaking through the stripes. This is quite a traditional combination for a boudoir piece which is not really my thing since black is sometimes too overrated when creating ”sexy” lingerie. This is why I really loved what Curvy Kate did with their AW14 version of Ritzy as it’s a very lovely shade of red, a colour that I prefer when opting for something sexy. However, if they continue recreating the Ritzy I would go even further and make this beauty probably electric blue, magenta or something even more funky.

The cups feature two-part cup construction with a very horizontal line on the top of the cups. This makes the cups quite open at the top and give more space for upper fullness. The babydoll gives my breasts a pretty rounded shape but there is no cleavage in sight, which is kind of sad regarding that babydolls are usually pretty much just for bedroom purposes. This is how ever just incompatibility with my breasts since I know this bra gives tons of cleavage to some of my blogger friends, eg. Bras and Body Image’s Anna.

The fit: When I first saw the pictures of Ritzy I thought it would be a perfect match with my boobs – a balconette shape very similar to the likes of “Tease Me” and “Entice”, both great for full-on-top shapes. The style IS indeed a great match with FOT breasts but somehow the fit on me is not perfect like with other similar styles. Somehow, it almost feels like Ritzy is too shallow for me – the cups fold ever-so-slightly in the bottom which is usually a sign of too little cup-depth.

The sizing is very consistent yet again and I would advise you to go for your regular Curvy Kate size with this one (comparing to other recent styles, the older collections’ sizing is a bit more inconsistent). My 30GG feels perfectly secure and comfortable in the band and the cups fit pretty well despite the depth-issue. Wires are in an excellent spot for me and this is why I always applause Curvy Kate. The gore is quite high due to the balconette shape and sits flush on my sternum. The dress part of the babydoll is a very good size for me but the keyhole detail in the back sits a bit weirdly so I would maybe require a bit more fabric to that part of the dress. More booty-room that is! Other wise I think the style is very flattering and gives nicely some coverage without being too clingy or long etc.

Comfort: Usually Curvy Kate bras are my most comfortable ones but with Ritzy the comfort aspects were not as perfect as ever. I felt like there’s a one very fixable detail that would improve this style tremendously – the straps. I love how the straps are made fully-adjustable but the placing is just a bit off for me. For someone with wider shoulders this can work perfectly fine but for me the straps were just a bit too far away from each other which ended up in some chaffing around my armpits.

Otherwise the Ritzy babydoll is quite comfy and made of very soft fabrics great for more sensitive skin types. I loved how the dress part felt on my skin and also the band and wires were comfort-wise very spot-on as ever. The shorts going with the set feel nice against my skin since they are made of the same fabrics as the babydoll. Also the size 8 was pretty good me even though I always feel like being a bit between sizes 8 and 10 when it comes to Curvy Kate.

This babydoll comes in sizes 28-38 D-J, shorts in sizes 8-20. You can get it at Figleaves, Mio Destino and Bare Necessities.

Have a lovely weekend y’all and if you have any questions or comments about Ritzy, just let me know in the comment box! xx