Lumingerie-Exclusive: Lilah

*Disclosure: This set was provided me free of charge by Lumingerie. All opinions are my own.*

Edellisessä postauksessa Mervi vinkkasi haastattelussaan, että Lumingerie suunnitteli yhteistyössä Gorsenian kanssa 10-vuotisjuhlamallin, joka pohjautuu Gorsenian suosittuun Victoria-malliin. Gorsenia kutsuu mallia “kokokuppiseksi”, mutta itse miellän mallin toppaamattomaksi kolmipalaiseksi balconeteksi (oliko tuossa jo liikaa sanoja?). Sukelletaanpa siis arvostelun pariin pikimmiten!

In my previous post Mervi tipped us off that Lumingerie designed a 10 year anniversary bra style with the Polish bra manufacturer Gorsenia. This style is based on the rather full-coverage three-part cup balconette (what a word monster!) style Victoria. Let’s dive into the review!

The Design: Gorsenialta löytyy periaatteessa kolme “päämallia”: kokokuppisempi balconette (kuten Lilah!), puolikuppinen toppaamaton balconette ja topattu pystysaumainen balconette. Lilahin malliksi valittiin ensiksi mainittu, sillä siitä on saatavilla isoin kokovalikoima ja malli sopii monelle eri rinnan mallille. Väriksi valikoitui musta ja lila, sillä nämä värit näkyvät Lumingerien nettisivuilla vahvasti ja yhdistelmä on freesi mutta samalla hillitty.

Liivi on muuten jämäkkää kiiltävää neulosta, mutta kupin yläosa on läpinäkyvämpää pitsiä, jossa voi nähdä toistuvan sydänteeman. Keskellä komeilee ihastuttava lila bling-koriste. Lilahin muoto on todella kaunis ihan niin kuin muissakin Gorsenian malleissa – tämä toppaamaton kokokuppinen balconette kohottaa todella hyvin rintaa ja tekee sen kauniin pyöreäksi. Ulkonäössä ei siis mitään moitittavaa!

Gorsenia offers a selection of three types of bra shapes: more full-coverage balconette (just like Lilah here), a half-cup non-padded balconette and a padded “two-cakes-on-a-plate” style balconette. The first one mentioned was selected as the shape for Lilah as it is a rather universally well-fitting shape with a vast size range. The colours are black and violet as these are Lumingerie signature colours but also a great fresh yet subtle combination.

The bra is made of a sturdy material but it has a nice see-through upper panel with a repetitive heart-motif. The centre gore features a lovely violet fake gem. The shape of Lilah is just beautiful – this full-coverage balconette style lifts your tits up like no else and makes them nice and rounded!

The Fit / Istuvuus: Itse omistan kolme Gorsenian liiviä tällä hetkellä ja kaikki ovat oikeastaan eri kokoisia – jaiks! Koot ovat 65I, 70I ja 70J, joten lähimaastossa ollaan, mutta toki on hyvä tiedostaa, että aina ei heti ensimmäisellä tilauksella koko nappaa. Siksi tällaiset arvostelut ovatkin juuri niin käteviä! Tällä kertaa kooksi valikoitui 70J, joten voisin sanoa Lilahin olevan hieman niukkakuppisempi kuin joidenkin muiden Gorsenian mallien.

Koossa 70J on ihanan napakka mutta kuitenkin mukava ympärys ja kuppi istuu justiinsa eikä melkein. Kupin yläpaneelin pitsi jää hieman pystyyn kupin keskiosasta – tätä ei kuitenkaan pidä luulla liian ison kupin merkiksi, vaan se on ainoastaan kupin pitsin ominaisuus, joka katoaa kun liiviä sovitetaan paidan kanssa. Ei siis syytä huoleen 😉 Gorsenian kaarituet istuvat minulle kuin nakutettu, sillä ne ovat juuri sopivan kapoiset eivätkä ylety liian korkealle kainaloon. Kokomatkalta säädettävillä olkaimilla saa mukavasti säätövaraa liiviin niin pitemmille kuin lyhyemmillekin naisille.

I now own three Gorsenia bras and they are all different sizes – yikes! The sizes are 65I, 70I and 70J, so close to each other but it is good to acknowledge that sometimes you have to go a bit back and forth with the sizes to find the right one. That’s why these kind of reviews even exist! This time I went for a size 70J, so I would say Lilah is a bit snugger in the cup that some other Gorsenia styles.

The band in size 70J is lovely and snug, yet very comfortable. The cups fit me really well and the underwires are quite narrow, but not too much to pinch me in my breast tissue. There is something I need to say about the cups though – the lace on the upper panel sticks out a bit but this does not mean the cups are too loose, it’s just a feature of the lace and will be invisible under clothing. The straps are fully-adjustable which always solves a bunch of fit issues for taller and shorter girls alike.

Comfort / Mukavuus: Lilah on kokonaisuudessaan todella mukava setti – tähän vaikuttaa tietenkin Gorsenian hyvä istuvuus juuri minun vartalolleni, jolloin esim. hiertävistä kaarituista tai epämukavasti pyörivistä ympärysnauhoista ei ole vaaraa. Tein liiville ultimaattiseen “mukavuustestin” – eli otin siinä päikkärit! Oikeastihan kaarituellisissa liiveissä ei saisi nukkua, jotta kaarituet pysyvät uomissaan ehjinä, mutta pienet silmien lepuuttamiset sohvalla sallittakoon 😉 Siinä sohvalla pötkötellessä oikeastaan huomasin juuri sen mitä mukavien liivien kohdalla pitääkin hoksata: nämähän eivät tunnu päällä oikeastaan miltään.

Housujen kohdalla havainto oli sama, tosin liian pienenä nämäkin housut toki kuristaisivat jykeviä reisiä ja muhkua peppua. Tämän kerron siksi, että Gorsenian housuissa on todella niukka mitoitus ja minä valitsin näistä L-koon itselleni. Referenssinä tähän se, etten käytä mistään vaatekappaleesta kokoa L, vaan olen enemmänkin kokojen S ja M välillä riippuen merkistä. Housuissa on oikeassa koossa kuitenkin mukava korkeus (ei ihan lantiomalli siis!), vaikka tietenkään suosikkini eli korkeavyötäröiset mummopöksyt nämä eivät aivan ole 😉 Haarakiila on sopivan levyinen itselleni (eli leveähkö) ja housut ovat melkoisen joustavaa materiaalia.

Jos näillä puheilla Lilah alkoi kiinnostaa, kannattaa suunnata Lumingerien kauppaan laittamaan tilausta sisään! Lilah-liiviä (39€) saa koissa 70-100 D-M, ja pöksyjä (19€) M-4XL.

Mitä mieltä olet Lilah-setistä? Jos itse suunnittelisit uniikin setin, minkälainen se olisi? Laitappa kommenttilootaan viestiä ja kerro! 

As a whole, Lilah is a very comfortable set indeed – this is obviously partly because Gorsenia bras fit me so well, there is really no fear of  pinching underwires or a rolling bra band. I gave the bra the ultimate test – I took a nap in it! I know, I know; you really shouldn’t sleep in your bra as the wires might snap for all the tossing and turning, but a small nap on the couch wouldn’t hurt, right?!  As I was lying on the couch I noticed the one thing that really needs to be noticed when a bra is truly comfortable: it doesn’t actually feel like… anything at all!

With the panties, I can say the same thing, but in a size too small these panties would be uncomfortable on thick thighs and big booties. I say this because these suckers run SMALL! I picked a size Large for myself, and I can tell you I have literally no clothes in size Large in my wardrobe otherwise and I usually take a Small or a Medium when it comes to panties. So be sure to size up with these! In the right size, the panties have a nice rise even though they are not high-waisted, which is something I would personally prefer. The gusset of the panties is wide which is something I always like and the material is smooth and stretchy.

If this review inspired you to try the Lilah, you can find it in the Lumingerie webshop here. The bra (€39) comes in EU sizes 70-100 D-M and the panties in M-4XL (19€).

What do you think about Lilah? What would YOU do if you could design the perfect unique lingerie set? Shoot me with a comment in the comments section!

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

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Daria” B103

It has been a while since I tested Ewa Bien bras myself: they are actually visually one of my top favourite brands but unfortunately, most of their beautiful bras stopped at G- or H-cup in Polish sizes. As someone who wears 70J in their bras, this made the brand out of reach for me. When I reported this problem to Ewa Bien and though I understand the limitations when it comes to bra manufacturing and running a business successfully, Ewa Bien team took my advice and plea, and added a couple new full-bust appropriate styles to their collection! This is amazing, as making J-M cups is not always the easiest nor the most cost-effective thing to do. Today I am trying out their new B103 style in Black/Grey Daria. Here’s how it turned out for me! *This bra was sent to me by the lovely Ewa Bien team. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: The B103 is meant for the fuller bust as it goes up to Polish M-cup, equivalent to UK J-cup. This is an amazing size expansion for a family-lead brand, that doesn’t yet have the audience of Panache and other huge brands. In Poland however, businesses such as Ewa Bien are very popular and Polish women trust in their country-women’s knowledge on bra-making. No wonder – the shape you can get with a Polish bra is unrivaled and Ewa Bien is no exception.

The shape with the B103 is very uplifted and it has a great deal of immediate projection, which is something many women look for in their bras. The cups are constructed of four parts: it has the traditional three-part cup construction but for added support, there is a side sling to bring the breasts even more forward. This prevents the breasts from splaying towards my sides, which is something I can always appreciate.

The Daria style seems to be something that Ewa Bien is making as one of their core styles for bigger cup sizes. The style is also available in other cuts which doesn’t have the massive size range, but they do make it in one other full-bust style, the semi-soft B151. The Daria also comes in two colour combinations: Black/Cream and Black/Grey, of which I chose the latter one. Grey has recently become one of my favourite colours in both clothing and underwear and I love the sophisticated combination of black and grey a lot.The cups are completely see-through which is nice if you are looking for something a bit sexy for your everyday bradrobe.

The Fit: The B103 is quite a regular balconette style cut, with a 3/4 coverage. Personally, I would prefer something a bit more revealing like the styles I tried a couple of years back from Ewa Bien, but I have no issue wearing this bra either on a regular basis. The cut still suits a variety of necklines and is a great basic style for everyday wear.

I am wearing my regular Polish size 70J (UK 32GG) with this bra and I am very happy with the size – the band is stretchier than with many other Polish brands but this suits me fine as I like my bands comfortable. The fastening happens with three hooks and eyes and the band is wide enough to feel comfortable and supportive on someone with my body type (ie. small band, big cups). I would say the size runs very true-to-size if you have tried Polish or other European brands before. If you are between band sizes, I would advice to size up with most Ewa Bien styles.

My only gripe with the fit is the wires – however, wires are the one part that are highly personal when it comes to what fits your body the best and I prefer wires that are medium-to-narrow width. This style is a bit on the wider side for me, but not alarmingly so. If I could, I would have them just one cm narrower, that’s all. The depth is absolutely perfect for me, and I like how it contains me fully top, bottom and sides without any extra bulging.

Comfort: This set is made of very comfortable materials and it’s lightweight which makes it easy to wear almost under anything. The top part of the cups is a bit stretchy so it suits many breast shapes without being too restricting for a full-on-top girl like me. The band is comfortable and the whole ensemble is very sturdy if you need to be active and walk/move around a lot during the day.

The only thing I am having issues with, are once again the straps. Even though they are rather wide and comfortable themselves, they are placed a bit too widely for my body type. This makes the bra cup’s edge chafe my armpit just a little, which is not ideal if you want your bra to “feel like nothing”. Overall, I would say this bra style is meant for someone a bit wider than me, when it comes to breast tissue distribution, shoulders and rib cage.

The panties are, in a very Polish manner, quite snug in sizing. I went for the size Medium which does fit me okay, but I would perhaps prefer something a bit more covering. However, the C511 style is a classic Brazilian so it’s not even meant to cover a ton. Great for feeling a bit cheeky, quite literally!

If you would fancy giving this new full-bust style a go, you can find it on Ewa Bien’s own online store. The B103 bra (219 zl) comes in Polish sizes 65-100 B-M (enormous size range, right?!) and the C511 briefs (109 zl) come in sizes S-XXL. What do you think of size expansion and the Daria? Let me know in the comments!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday with Samanta: Zorza A330 in 65E

Technically, it will be Monday in 5 minutes or so but as it will be Sunday for a few more hours in States, I can still write my Sunday with Samanta post, right? 😉 It has been a long Easter Sunday and I just couldn’t bring myself to blog before midnight – so typical of me! However, today we are bringing you the Zorza in A33o by Samanta lingerie. For new readers, Samanta is a Polish brand that creates beautiful lingerie for many different sizes, shapes and budgets. Today, we see a style targeted for smaller/ average-sized breasts, that is the A330. *This set was generously gifted by Samanta. All opinions are our own.*

The Design: The A330 is a Samanta model that goes up to EU G-cup in the 65-band – thus it’s made for smaller and more average sized breasts to give them more volume and cleavage. The A330 was especially designed for softer breasts but is definitely suitable for firmer ones as well, which Jo absolutely proved while testing the bra. The bra features detachable push-up pads but even without them, it gives a subtle hint of sexy cleavage. The shape of the bra is very rounded and forward-projecting, just like with most Samanta bras I have encountered so far.

The Zorza is a style part of Samanta’s Pret-a-Porter collection which is a mid-priced core collection alongside of “Young” and “Glamour”. The collection offers beautiful styles with subtle yet luxurious detailing and quality materials – with a lower price point than the Glamour range and yet more “grown-up” sophisticated designs than the Young range. The Zorza style is definitely something you would wear for a Friday night out – it’s sophisticated, yet steaming hot and features some feminine embroidery to seal the deal. The embroidery on the cup edge resembles a lot of sunflowers which go perfectly with the beautiful roses and bows that adorn the set.

The Fit: Jo received the Zorza in the same size as the Anvers she reviewed last time, that is 65E (UK 30DD). She reported that the size was quite similar to the Anvers A475 bra but to be a bra nerd, I must say the cups seem a tiny bit smaller (or perhaps shallower?) and the band is a bit stretchier, not necessarily smaller than with Anvers. I would say that if you want to wear this bra with the push-up pads in the bra, do size up a cup size. The band stretches out a bit during a whole day of wear and thus Jo usually tightens it up a bit at the end of the day by hooking the bra to a tighter set of hooks. However, we need to keep in mind that Jo’s underbust measurement is around 26″ so the 65 band would be too big for her in the first place anyway.

Again, the length and height of the underwires is pretty much perfect for Jo but this time the cups seem a bit shallower than with other Samanta bras. This is quite usual for push-up bras so if you are fan of the shape, do give this beauty a try. The centre gore of the bra is very low and narrow so if you have smaller close-set breasts or find high centre gores painful, this style would be prefect for you.

Comfort: When comparing to Anvers, the A330 Zorza bra is definitely a lot skimpier and thus perhaps not as supportive and everyday-appropriate. Don’t get me wrong – it’s still one of the best push-up bras out there, but as it is targeted for smaller breasts, it is not meant to do any “heavy lifting”. The straps of the bra are a bit thinner and the whole ensemble is quite delicate – thus it is most appropriate for date-nights to look and feel sexy. However, the straps are fully-adjustable and the band features two hooks and eyes, so you can definitely wear it at work as well as it is not made out of strings only! The materials of the set are a bit scratchier compared to Anvers but still feel nice against skin and don’t itch even after a long day of wear.

Jo also received the M300 suspender thong in size Small and even though the tag says “thong” the style is definitely more of a Brazilian brief. This makes sense though – apparently actual thongs are not super popular anymore in Poland which is why Samanta offers their customers a more popular and fashionable choice, that is the Brazilian. The rise of M300 is a bit weird on Jo to be honest – not high or low enough to look the most flattering on her, but I do know some women would find this particular rise absolutely perfect. In my opinion though, these would need to be a bit lower to maintain the sexy look of them and also to not bunch up on Jo’s body, like they do now. However, the suspenders hold stockings really well and are a nice touch, if you want something a bit more special. They are also detachable which makes the set more versatile for everyday wear.

All in all, the Samanta “Zorza” is a lovely style up to EU G-cup (UK F-cup) which would be a perfect pairing with a festive little black dress or a v-neck top. If you are interested to order the Zorza for yourself (or why not for your partner?) take a look at the Samanta online store. The A330 bra sets you back at 59,70€ and comes in 65-85 A-G and the suspender brief is priced at 39,70 and comes in size S-XL. How do you like the Zorza? Have you tried Samanta bras yet? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Fago B150” in 70J

I know many of you have been super excited about the Polish lingerie reviews last year and as promised, I will keep up with them this year as well with some new brands and also oldies but goodies that I already love. This review belongs to the first category – today’s post is all about a lovely Polish brand called Ewa Bien. Ewa Bien has been in business for over 25 years but I only found out about them when I became familiar with Miss Underpinnings, who visited Poland to meet all the biggest manufacturers in the industry. I instantly fell in love with Ewa Bien’s amazing aesthetics and knew I got to try their lingerie one day. Lucky me, Ewa Bien was so generous to send me a few sets to try and review for you, so here we go!

The Design: There are not that many styles in my size in the current Ewa Bien collection as I am definitely in the larger end of their size range and only a few styles are made up to European K-cup. However, I do appreciate that the bras for the fullest of busts are breath-takingly beautiful as opposed to being too basic or frumpy. The colour black is accompanied by a lovely sparkle that adorns the embroidery and the scallop edge of the cup is a thoughtful little detail.

The B150 is a semi-soft style which seems to be a very popular one for Polish brands. I find myself wearing mostly unpadded bras on a day-to-day basis but I like to have the option as half-padded bras seem to fit me a bit better than completely padded ones (don’t get me wrong, I do own many well-fitting padded bras as well!) The Fago B150 seems to sport a bit wider wires than your regular Polish bra and the shape is also a bit different, meaning a lot more naturally shaped as opposed to what I can the “Polish orb”.

The Fit: Well this is what you all are itching to know, right? 😉 I went for the size 70J as that was the suggested size by the Ewa Bien team – and it was spot-on. I always feel like the semi-soft shape leaves a bit of room where the seam crosses my breast but it seems to be due to the construction rather than the bra being too big. I was also offered to try the size 65K so I could compare it to its sister size, so I promise you a size comparison in the next Ewa Bien review!

There has been a lot of talk about the bands being quite stretchy when it comes to Ewa Bien but their team has obviously been working hard to rectify this situation and it seems they have managed to improve the fit tremendously with some sturdier band materials. My 70 band fits me well without riding up or feeling too loose. It’s stretchy enough to be comfy but snug enough to support as it should. The band features two hooks and eyes but is still wide enough not to feel too flimsy.

When it comes to the cups I feel they are a rather regular depth and size. The size is similar to a UK 32GG with a bit snugger band and the cups seem to be a good equivalent to GG. As said, the wires are definitely a tad wider than eg Ewa Michalak or even Kris Line, so probably the widest Polish wires I have encountered so far. The wires don’t go all the way up to my armpit which is a definite upside as I loathe poking underwires! Overall, the fit seems to be a good one for me and the depth also spot-on at the bottom of the cups, which usually tend to fold a bit as most brands make their cups too shallow at the bottom.

Comfort: Most people complain that too wide wires can cause a lot of irritation and discomfort during the day but I would say this is usually due to too LONG wires, meaning the wires go too high up on the sides which cause them to poke the armpit area. Even though the Fago seems a bit too wide-wired to me, it doesn’t cause any discomfort during the day and I quite forget that I am wearing it in the first place.

The Fago B150 features stable straps meaning the straps are sewn onto the bra as opposed to being removable as with most Ewa Bien bras (you will see this feature on the other style I received) The stable straps make the bra a bit sturdier and reliable when it comes to those everyday situations when you run for a bus or do some other intense activity on a short notice. The straps are half-adjustable which is a pet peeve to some girls out there that are quite petite or tall but I would say there is still plenty of room to adjust, as I am wearing my adjusters in half way up the strap.

When it comes to the panties, I tried them in a size Medium which seems to be my most comfortable fit with most Polish brands. I do feel European brands make their bottoms a bit snug so I would definitely size up from your regular British size! This was a good choice with Ewa Bien too and I felt the short style was super flattering and comfy. The materials are dreamy too – especially the cotton lining of the bra and the velvet-y backside of the shorts. 10/10 for comfort it is then!

If you would like to try Ewa Bien, you can head over to their e-commerce shop and place an order that way. Ewa Bien shop does not take credit cards or Paypal payments from international customers but will contact you via email to sort the bank transfer and your shipping costs out. The Fago bra for example costs 188 Polish Zlotys which is about $50. Not too bad for such a luxe piece, huh? How do you like Ewa Bien lingerie? What about the Fago set? Let me know in the comments! xx

Suomeksi: Nyt olisi taas puolalaisia ihanuuksia luvassa, sillä esittelyssä on tänään upea luksusmerkki Ewa Bien. Vaikka rintsikkakokoni on Ewa Bienin kokovalikoimassa sieltä suuremmasta päästä,sain kokeiltavaksi heiltä kolme eri settiä, joita merkki valmistaa ihan EU K-kuppiin asti. Kookseni valkkasin 70J:n joka tuntuu melko hyvin vastaavan UK-kokoa 32GG.

Ewa Bien on yli 25 vuotta vanha yritys, joka toimii perheyrityksenä monen muun puolalaisen alusvaatemerkin tavoin. Mallistot koostuvat herkullisista väreistä, ihanista eurooppalaisista kirjailuista ja säntillisestä liivimallijärjestelmästä – taattuun puolalaiseen tapaan. Tänään testissä on Ewa Bienin B150, joka on tarkoitettu erityisesti suurille ja jo jonkin verran elinvoimansa menettäneille rinnoille. Tämä tuntuukin olevan yleinen kohderyhmä semi-soft mallisille rintsikoille, joiden topatun ja toppaamattoman osan yhdistelmä tarjoaa hyvän tuen myös ei-niin-elastisille rinnoille. Itse olen vielä nuori ja oikein rintsikoiden vuoksi rintani ovat suht hyvässä kuosissa edelleen (painovoimasta huolimatta), joten en välttämättä ole tätä ominaisuutta paras arvioimaan mutta kelpo rintsikoiltahan nämä muuten vaikuttavat!

Ympärykseltään Ewa Bien on melko samaa luokkaa muiden puolalaisten merkkien kanssa – voi siis olla että tarvitset kokoa suuremman ympäryksen, etenkin jos arvot kahden koon väliltä. Itse sijoitun nykyään juuri kokojen 65 ja 70 väliin ja puolalaisten merkkien kanssa 70 on melko varma valinta (poikkeuksena kuitenkin Kris Line ja Samanta, jotka ovat mielestäni hiukkasen löysempiä). Kupit puolestaan ovat melko normaalia kokoluokkaa, joten niissä kannattaa pysytellä siinä totutussa koossa. Istuvuus liiveissä on hieman erilainen verrattuna muihin puolalaisiin liiveihin: Ewa Bienin kaarituet ovat selkeästi leveämmät ja liivin muotokin on hieman luonnollisempi. 

Jos oma Ewa Bien setti miellyttää, voi heidän alusvaatteitaan ostaa joko heidän oman verkkokauppansa taikka sitten Funky Ladyn kautta. Funky Lady taitaa toimia pääasiallisesti Etelä-Suomessa, mutta jos sinnepäin on menoa, käykää ihmeessä piipahtamassa! Kokeilullahan sitä löytää aina parhaimman istuvuuden 😉 Rintsikat kustantaa euroissa vähän alle viisi kymppiä Ewa Bienin nettikaupassa, joten ei todellakaan paha hinta laatuliiveistä. Jos haluat kuitenkin jättää tilauksen tuota kautta, ei EB valitettavasti hyväksi Paypal- tai luottokorttimaksuja. Jos kuitenkin teet tilauksen, otetaan sinuun Ewa Bieniltä yhteyttä ja saat enemmän tietoa pankkisiirrosta ja postikuluista!

Review of Lepel “Alexandra” in 32G

I have been raving about Lepel’s collection for ages now and since seeing their AW14 collection last spring, I just new I would have to get my hands on some of their new stuff. Luckily Lepel offered to sent me a couple of sets to review and I was over the moon to get my hands on their Alexandra and Babushka sets. I received the bras in size 32G which was unfortunately a bit off with Babushka (too big with the band, too small with the cups) but the Alexandra was a good fit with the exact same size. This might be due to the difference in construction and materials. The Alexandra is a non-padded balconette shape with a rather generous cups and a firm mesh band whereas the Babushka is a padded balconette with a sleek and stretchy micro fibre fabric. Here’s a full review on the Alexandra, hope you enjoy it!

Wow my boobs look massive.

Design: Alexandra is a balconette bra featuring a three-part cup construction and a quite tall centre core. This balconette gives me almost full coverage and leaves no cleavage in sight. I would say the look is very appropriate for everyday and looks good under shirts that have a bit higher neckline. The cups give me a rather rounded forward-projected shape but not tons of uplift. The shape reminds me a lot of Marcie by Cleo, though I would say that Alexandra has a little lower profile and looks that way a bit more modest than some of the similar Cleo styles.

Although I do not own a lot of black lingerie, there is something about the look of Alexandra that intrigues me. I think the design is very simple, yet has a little bit of naughty maid-vibe to it. The upper part of the cup is see-though which looks lovely and gives the bra a bit of sexy edge to it. The centre bow keeps the look classic and cute and the black and white combo is always on trend.

The Fit: As I now wear a 30GG/H mostly with other British brands, I knew that the 32G would be a rather close call with Lepel. Lepel tends to make their bra bands a tad snugger than eg Panache and Curvy Kate so I opted to size up in the band. With the Alexandra style, this was the right move as the band is very rigid and stretches quite little. The 32 feels actually like a true-to-size 30″ band so I would definitely recommend sizing up even if you would measure 30 inches around your underbust. The band features two hooks and eyes but is wide enough to be comfortable and supportive.

The cups or Alexandra run large-ish so if you are between cup sizes, I would suggest sizing down. I am now exactly between 30GG and H so the 32G (same cup volume as 30GG) was a great fit for me with this bra. The cups are also very open at the top, meaning this is a great option for someone with full-on-top breasts and also a rather wide breast root. I find myself to be medium-to-narrow when it comes to the breast roots (the part where the breast meets the chest) so I would say the cups are a bit too wide for me, even though the depth was quite spot on. Usually breasts tend to be either shallow and wide or deep and narrow so this is something you should try if you are both deep and wide. The wires are a medium length so they fitted me pretty well.

Comfort: Alexandra is made of see-though mesh which is usually not the best material for someone with eczema. The set didn’t however feature any scratchy lace to irritate me so I felt I could wear it for a whole day without any skin irritation. The mesh feels a bit rigid to me, meaning the bra band was quite snug and also the thong didn’t stretch a lot. You might want to consider that when choosing the sizes if you have a bit of extra squish. For me the size 10 thong was spot-on and looks super flattering. Also the rise of the panties looks nice and the wide back part is something I adore when it comes to something as skimpy as thongs.

The bra straps are quite widely placed so you might want to take that into consideration if you are very petite or have slope-y shoulders. Also the wires come quite high so this can cause a bit of irritation in the armpit area. Otherwise the bra and the thong feel very comfortable on. Also I would like to give Lepel a bonus for the fully-adjustable straps that make the bra fit a lot better and also the straps a lot less slippery!

Lepel Alexandra is available in sizes 30-38 B-G and the panties (thong and short) in sizes 8-18. The best places to shop for them are Asos and Figleaves and the prices are very reasonable and student-friendly – only £24 for the bra and £12 for the bottoms! So what do you think of Alexandra? If you have any comments or questions, I will be more than happy to answer them! xx

Review of Tutti Rouge “Mae” in 30GG

I have been lusting over so many Tutti Rouge sets recently and lucky me, I have a tried a few of them too. Today I am reviewing a set I won through a TR competition on their Facebook page. I got to choose a set from their AW13 collection and went for the sexy yet cute style called Mae. Here’s how I liked it…

The Design: The cups are made of three parts with a mesh on top and leather-look satin on the bottom part of the bra. I personally love the risque materials that create a very sexy look without being too tacky or trashy. Many of you may think that Mae is very “french maid” but for me it represents more Snow White. The lovely red roses and lacy bows make the bra more cutesy and give it a girly edge. The black and white combo is very classic but looks great in a bra designed for the AW season.

I love the rounded shape this bra gives me – it’s actually almost minimizing. I think the shape is based on TR “Sophia” which had problems with the mesh coming up too loose but I feel like this model is highly improved as I don’t experience any loose fabric during normal use (the pics might show a little extra mesh on the sides but it smooths out when being in a normal position, not holding a camera and posing). 

The Fit: I went for my regular TR size meaning 30GG. I would say this style runs a bit tighter in the band than my TR Nichole, meaning it feels quite snug. It doesn’t cause any ugly bulges though and feels fairly comfortable on so I feel like it fit me well even though being a bit tighter than I prefer. However, I don’t think sizing up would be a good idea since the band will loosen up after a few wears. I have worn this bra only for a few times since I think it’s more appropriate for autumn but I’m positive I will be wearing it tons when the weather gets colder.

The cups run pretty true to size meaning I can easily wear my regular 30GG without any spillage or gaping. The wires are quite wide for me as I now need medium to narrow-ish wires. However, they feel quite comfy and don’t give me any pain while wearing the bra. As you can see the cups are on the shallower side especially on the bottom half of the bra meaning the cups fold a bit as they are not deep enough for me on the bottom. This does not bother me at all but it’s good to know if you are especially deep on the bottom half of your breasts. I think the bra would be quite great for someone with a bit more shallower breasts than mine.

 Comfort: I wore this bra during a long motorcycle ride and it felt comfortable on even with the band being quite snug. I love TR’s materials – they always feel really high-quality and well thought-out. The wires felt pretty flexible and the core tacked well and didn’t cause any pain at all.

When it comes to the mini-style thong, I wasn’t too pleased. To be honest, I haven’t worn it a single time since it’s not a flattering style on me. The cut is so low on the waist and so high on the crotch that I feel really uncomfortable showing that much flesh. I think the style would fit someone with a little less booty and a flatter stomach. Also, I feel like Tutti Rouge has definitely made their panties a little smaller in size – I got this in size Small and even though their Small has fitted me well in Nichole, Betty and Liliana, the Small in Mae feels quite tiny compared to the fore-mentioned styles. However, this could also be due to the mini style which is just not my cup of tea.

Otherwise, I feel like Mae is a gorgeous set and the bra is really pretty and looks great on. I would definitely recommend it to someone who loves balconettes and has a lot of upper fullness to fill the top part of the bra. You can get your Mae from TR’s BIG CARTEL ONLINE STORE. The bra (£22,40) comes in sizes 28-38 DD-HH and the bottoms in S-XL (£9,60). What do you think of Mae? Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments!