Bluebella MORE Review: “Calypso” in 32G

Hi lingerie folks! Hope the spring has been treating you well. We are now less than two months away from the wedding and we are also moving on Easter, so needless to say I have been a busy woman. Everything seems to be happening at once, but I think I’m probably not alone – it’s just the way life works itself out. I haven’t forgot about you though! I have exciting reviews coming up, both clothing- and lingerie-wise, so do hang in there!

Today I am reviewing something from a very exciting new collection from Bluebella MORE range. The MORE by Bluebella is a collection for us fashion-forward full-busted ladies and it now starts with 30 bands as well! The range is still only up G-cup though, so I needed to cheat with  the sizing this time as well – don’t judge me! However, let’s keep buying and wearing MORE, and maybe in the future we’ll get those H-cups 😉 *Disclosure: This set was provided me free of charge by Bluebella. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: Picking something from the Bluebella MORE ss18 collection was a hard task – there were so many things I was intrigued by, I really wanted to have it all. This is rare these days, as I am a picky lingerie consumer and hardly find myself getting so excited over a whole collection.

I usually pick something non-padded as it is more wearable to me, but having tried some non-padded MORE lingerie already, I went for the padded half-cup shaped Calypso. Take note: this was never supposed to be even remotely everyday-wearable to me, but something more to wear in the boudoir or maybe on stage. Thus I was not too fussed about the fit or shape of this bra.

I like how low cut the bra is, as most bras in my size range tend to go higher up my chest. I like having options so thumbs up for the low-coverage, definitely! The one thing that really drew me in with this set was the harness-brief though and the beautiful thick lace decorations of the set. The adornments really make a statement and the aesthetics are both strong yet romantic at the same time. Also, I am always a sucker for the combo of cream and black.

Fit: As the MORE range goes up G-cup, I had little choice with the size of the bra – either I was going to compromise on the band being too loose or the cup being too small. I absolutely HATE too loose bands, so I decided that for a boudoir bra it wouldn’t hurt to wear it in a slightly too small cup size. BUT… As you can see, the cups are not slightly too small 😀 In theory the cups should be only a cup size too small for me, but as this bra runs both small and shallow in the cup, it seems like I would need two cup sizes more to have all my breast tissue lie nicely in the cups. Overall, I would advice to go up a cup size in this bra, if you can. The band is on the snug side, so if you find yourself between sizes, do go up a band as well.

Frankly me and the bra weren’t a great match shape-wise either as I need narrower wires and deeper cups. It’s really the same issue as with most Curvy Kate padded balconettes. However, this does not stop me from wearing such styles from time to time – it’s not meant to be the most practical bra so let’s not expect a perfect fit from it either. Also, the fact that it doesn’t suit me does not mean it won’t suit anyone. I can think of a number of people this would be pretty much perfect on (I am looking at you, Miss R!). Also the shape of the bra is quite nice – it’s not square-y like some half-cups in D+ sizes and I think in a better size the construction of the bra would be highlighted much better.

Comfort: As the bra is a wrong size for me, I haven’t worn it out much so it’s a bit hard to say whether it’s super comfy or not. Only time would tell that and I cannot really wear a bra two cup sizes too small several hours in public – anyone my size would know the experience is awkward and uncomfortable. Based on the feel of the garment and the materials I would say the bra is a rather comfy one – the elastic parts are sturdy and wide, the band has three hooks and eyes, and both the inner and the outer materials are nice to touch.

When it comes to the bottoms of the set, I tried a couple of sizes but unfortunately neither of them fitted me at all. I got a size 12 and 14, but for my body type (hourglass with a bit of tummy), this panty did not feel comfortable or flattering on. I reeeeally wanted it to work and was conflicted to whether review the panties at all, but I think you should be always aware of what you are buying so there won’t be any disappointments. What didn’t work for me were the strappy parts of the panties – they are not elastic at all and thus won’t conform to my body the way I would have liked them to.

I have seen bloggers wearing the panty successfully (here some pics on the lovely Charlie of Big Cup Lil Cup) but they have a slimmer body than mine with a flat tummy. I know some people don’t mind if their pants create more curves but at this point, I am not that comfortable with extra tummy rolls which the straps create by digging into my skin. This was not corrected by a bigger size as the size 14 was otherwise too big for me (the crotch area bunched up significantly) but the straps still dug in. What I think I’m going to do is to sew a loop on some other black knickers, so I can wear the beautiful harness with another panty (luckily the harness is detachable!).

Thank you for reading the review and let me know what you think of the new Bluebella MORE offering, which can be found here! The Calypso bra (UK 30-38 DD-G) costs an affordable £38 and the harness panty (UK 8-18) sets you back at £24.

Happy Easter everyone!

 

Lingerie Review: Katherine Hamilton Intimates “Louise” in 32GG

Many of you might remember me introducing you to Bosom Galore a couple of years back – Katy, the owner of the brand, has been super blogger-friendly from the get-go and thus the brand name spread through the lingerie blogosphere rapidly. Quite soon after the launch Katy decided to re-brand Bosom Galore and named it Katherine Hamilton Intimates, a brand with a stronger look and even more luxurious vibe to it. The relaunch of the brand took a while – but we all know that anything that’s good is worth the wait. A couple of months back Katy sent me a set from her new collection and I was delighted to see the brand had definitely grown into something bigger and better – the unsure teenager had become a strong independent woman. *Disclosure: This set was sent to me for review purposes by Katherine Hamilton Intimates. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: The first moment I saw Louise, I was sold. Who doesn’t like strappy designs? Well, I do! The idea behind the black strappy is not something particularly new, but I like how Louise does it is its own sophisticated simple way – there is only one strap going over the upper boobage and the magic of the bra is really the amazing shape and comfiness it provides.

The cups are constructed of three parts and they form a subtle plunge shape, even though the actual gore of the bra is on a balconette level. The centre gore doesn’t have any bows or ruffles on it which is why I don’t even mind it peeking from my shirt necklines. The cups are lightly padded but it is a cut-and-sew bra still, it provides a much better fit than most moulded padded bras. The shape with the Louise bra is also round and uplifted, which reminds me a bit of Ewa Michalak PL bras.

The Fit: I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to padded bras, for the reasons mentioned above; the padding usually tries to mold my breast tissue to the shape of the bra, not the other way around as it should be. With KH Intimates the road has been long and Katy has wanted to make everything on-point as her price tag is a bit higher than with some of the biggest full-bust brands. It’s definitely a luxury brand, so mishaps are a no-no.

The wait was long, but now it seems KH Intimates has got it right – the sizing seems pretty much on par with other UK brands with the exception that the Louise band seems to be running on the snugger side. I went for my second most used size 32GG and it is the perfect size for me. The cups run true-to-size and there is much more depth than with most other – especially new – British brands. The underwire reaches under my armpit so it’s a bit too wide for me, but this doesn’t cause me any discomfort. The centre gore tacks my sternum and the cups are deep enough at the bottom which prevent the cups from denting and collapsing under my breast tissue.

Comfort: When I first put the Louise on, the band was on the tighter side for 32 and reminded me more of a 30-band. However, it has since stretched out a bit and I can now comfortably wear the bra on the loosest set of hooks. I have even had this on for a whole night of dancing and partying and never once did I regret that choice! The materials are sleek on the outside but the lining inside the bra is 100% cotton as with the previous Bosom Galore bras – this is fantastic for us girls with skin conditions!  The straps are bit on the slippery side so I would perhaps think about the material choice on them, but otherwise the bra is pretty much spot-on when it comes to comfort.

I surprised myself with opting for the thong this time – as you know, I never ever wear thongs! However, the bra is a bit sexier so I figured it would be nice to have something skimpy as co-ordinates. I went for the size 12 and it fits me really well and I actually think it’s quite flattering too. You can never have too many strappy panties, I think!

The Louise set is available on the KH Intimates website – the bra retails for £78 and the thong costs £34. The size range is especially kind to those with a smaller band size – the band sizes start at UK 26! The whole size range with Louise bra is 26-36 D-HH and the panties UK 6-16. What do you think of KH Intimates and the Louise set? xx

Happy New Year with Playful Promises – Review of “Juliet” in 32G

Hi everyone and happy Three Kings’ Day! Christmas is finally over and I am finishing off my holidays as well – the uni is starting again on 11th so still a few more days to go. The reason I haven’t blogged for two weeks is because, obviously holiganza happened but also because I have been organizing things for my incoming exchange students. I am taking care of 11 students this spring term and it has already been a hassle so excuse me for lacking the time to engage with you! I am happy to say though that I am back and will start off the year with something super lovely – that is the Playful Promises full bust collection.

When Anna from Playful Promises contacted me this late autumn and told me about her upcoming DD-G collection, I was so excited – PP is a brand I have been loving and drooling over for a couple of years now and as they were out of reach for me because of the size range, they left my heart broken in million pieces. Imagine my joy when they announced the size expansion! Anna was kind to offer me a set from this new collection and as I had been lusting over the strappy lingerie trend for a while, I decided to go for the sexy and edgy Juliet. Here’s how I like the complete set!

Design: I had such a hard time picking a set from this fantastic collection as Playful Promises really nails it with every single design they do. And I am not kidding – you know when most brands come up with a couple of gems a season but this brand is something else. Each set is a carefully crafted piece of seduction that speaks to me personally on so many levels. When I saw the Portia on eg Becky from Becky’s Boudoir I went instantly nuts and was sad I couldn’t catch them all – but you mustn’t be greedy ya know 😉

I have loved the strappy Dom lingerie trend when it first came in fashion and even though some people are predicting it to finally see its end, I am really loving these sorts of designs still. I was happy to see Playful Promises translate the style to a full-bust collection and I think they hit jackpot with Juliet – the clean styling and black colour of set emphasize the carefully placed straps that adorn the bodice and upper bust area. The bra comes with a separate harness that goes over the bra and can be tossed if it does not suit your ensemble of the day. I personally haven’t found many dresses that would compliment this bra that much but I have a red little number on the way that just might be it.

The bra cups are constructed of three pieces with two vertical seams – which is actually pretty unusual for a G-cup bra. Most brands refuse to use this pattern as it is not seen as the most supportive one – which I beg to disagree on. I really like how PP uses this sorts of style to create half-cup like look but unfortunately, there is still some work that needs to be done on the shape. I personally feel it flattens and widens my bust a bit which is something that Anna and her design team could still look into. I prefer a very rounded look to my bust and this is why I would love to see this style tweaked just a bit.

Fit: With new full-bust collections it is always a bit of a hassle to find your perfect size and fit. As PP does not go above G yet, I decided to sister size down from 30GG (which I still sometimes wear in addition to 30H) to 32G. I was aware that PP might come a bit small in the band like most vintage inspired / reproduction lingerie brands which is why I was quite certain the band wouldn’t come up too loose. And I was right – the band is very tight and the 32 only stretches up to approximately 31″ which is my exact underbust measurement (I should probably cut down on my back weights at the gym, sigh…) at the moment. If you are between band sizes, I would definitely suggest sizing up. The band is a rather rigid sort of power mesh which is why I don’t see it stretching out too easily either.

The cups are pretty much true to size and fit the same way as with most British full-bust brands – quite wide and shallow that is. This does not personally suit my breast shape that well and I would love for PP to experiment with just a smidge deeper cups to achieve a better fit for so many girls like me. However, I know that there really are wide and shallow girls out there as well and this could be a great fit for them. I am just being greedy and wanting this brand to fit me amazingly so I can buy all the pretties, haha!

The wires are not super wide like some British underwires so I definitely don’t have a problem with them going too far in my armpits. The cups are also pretty low-cut meaning the wires are not chafing me anywhere. The centre gore of the bra floats a bit off my sternum but not horribly so and if the cups were just a teeny bit deeper, I am sure this would be fixed (though I am not too fussy about floating gores, I actually hate when they tack me too hard and pinch me in the sternum!)

Comfort: As I did mention before, the band is very tight on me which is why it’s perhaps not the most comfy on me yet. This is because I have not gotten much wear out of the bra for not getting my creative juices flowing and pairing it with enough outfits. I am sure however that after a few more wears the band will loosen up and feel more comfortable. In fact, it is better for the band to be a bit too snug at first, so it will still be supportive after you “break it in”. The materials are lovely on this set and I love how good quality they feel on – the metal parts are sturdy and the garters of the girdle are “real” garters which actually hold up your stockings.

The straps of the bra are quite wide and placed well so they won’t fall off my shoulders easily; they are also half-adjustable but still quite a good length so I could see this working on someone a bit taller or shorter than me (I am 5’6 for reference).The underwires of the bra are very flexible meaning they move nicely with my body while being active throughout the day.

The co-ordinates to this set are equally lovely as the bra itself – I love that the set comes with a high-waisted panty which is my preferred style of knickers but also with a lovely vintage-style girdle. Both of them have little peep-holes at the back which is a great design detail and suit the set well. I got both the panties and the girdle in a UK size 12 but I can see that there is a slight size difference between them – the girdle comes up a bit snugger than the knickers and I easily could have sized down to 10 with the panties. I think this might be because the girdle is a smoothing garment as well and needs to suck your tummy in a bit to create a desired silhouette. All in all, I love both of the co-ordinates and they are perfect for everyday wear for being simple in design and creating a clean line under pencil dresses and other sleek clothes.

If you would like to get some extravagant full-bust lingerie for yourself, do check out the Playful Promises full-bust collection on their online store. The prices are a bit higher than your average full-bust bras and everyday panties but then again – this is not your average lingerie. The Juliet harness bra (comes in sizes 28-36 DD-G) sets you back at £65, the high-waisted knickers (UK sizes 8-16) at £25 and the girdle (sizes 8-16) at £38.

How do you like the new Playful Promises full-bust collection? Do you think boudoir brands are in need in the full bust market? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Samanta “Mintaka” in 65K

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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