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

My First Bosom Galore Review! – “Amelia” in 30H

Let’s be fair – I absolutely love it when new full-bust brands burst into the scene and when I heard about Bosom Galore the first time, I was super excited to get interviewing the founder Katy about this new luxury brand designed for gals with small backs and big boobs. Also, I was intrigued to be looking at a new mid-market brand who had promised to use UK-only manufacturers and luxurious silks and laces to create a more luxurious feel to the garments. As we had seen the rise of All Undone just recently catering the same superb quality with a similar price tag, I was looking forward to see what Bosom Galore had in mind regarding their own aesthetics. Would it be something romantic or fashion-forward?

After seeing the first designs of Amelia and Classique styles and especially the first reviews from other bloggers, I was pleased to see them going for the young adult target market, meaning women in their late twenties and early thirties (or at least this is how I interpreted the brand image). However, the Bosom Galore styles are also very timeless and classic with a little bit of romantic and sultry vibes to spice them up, which I personally really like. Today, I am finally reviewing my first pieces from this lovely brand so if you are interested in the fit specifics of Amelia and Bosom Galore in general, hang in there! *Disclosure: This set was sent to me free of charge, however all opinions are my own as always!*

Design: The Amelia was definitely the set that got me to fall in love with Bosom Galore in the first place – it was very light rose pink with some delicate white lace over it which made it appeal to my more romantic side. I have always loved the combination of very fair pink and ginger hair, so I also thought it would suit my hair and skin colour really well. Also the plunge shape intrigued me – I am always looking for a good plunge that would go under my deepest and most open necklines.

The shape of Amelia is very rounded for a plunge bra – there is no clear point on sight even though the construction is pretty much the same three-part cup construction as eg with the Bravissimo “Satine”. However, Bosom Galore has managed to create a very rounded shape, not even using a moulded cup, which is actually pretty impressive. The gore of the bra is very low as with any regular plunge bra but it is so cleverly made, even a fuller bust can sport a good wide neckline without showing the bra peeking under the neckline. So very practical!

Fit: Well now we get to the fun part! As Bosom Galore is a very new brand with only a couple of bra styles out at the moment, it is vital for us bloggers to let you all on the other side of the screens to know, what the sizing and fit with this particular brand are like. When discussing the sizes throughout the design and manufacturing process, we came to the conclusion that a 30H would be the best size for me, as it is my regular British size at the moment, especially with plunge bras that tend to cut my upper breast tissue anyway. At first I was a bit hesitant as I had seen the reviews from other bloggers about the Classique bra which seemed to be very tight in the band and small-ish in the cups. However, Katy reassured me that the Amelia would be much truer-to-size so I took her word for it and stick with my usual 30H.

I was so glad I did as the 30H fitted me very well! As I guessed, I did need an H as opposed to GG as plunges usually fit me snugly over my upper breast tissue. This was no exception and to be honest, I would have liked to try even a cup size up to compare how it would have fitted! As my left boob is a bit bigger than the right one, I did have some spillage on the other side and needed to adjust the bra a bit now and then. This however, is more due to the cup shape than the bra being a bad fit in general. Also, I did have some empty space in the bottom of the cup which tells me the cups are still a tad shallow for me. However, I can still wear the Amelia for several hours and feel secure enough in it to wear it on a regular basis! The BG online store states that the Amelia shape is best for women with wide-set breasts and I would agree – any excess breast tissue on top and at front will have a very high risk of spilling over!

The 30 band is supposed to be a truer-to-size fit with Amelia than Classique, which is great and seems to be correct based on my experience. My underbust measurement is about 30″ right now and the 30″ fitted me comfortably – a bit snugger than Curvy Kate or Freya, so just comfy and a bit sturdy enough for me. The wires are rather regular for a British brand so I would say a bit wide for me but still not going down to my back! 

Comfort: Especially on the comfort front, Bosom Galore has done incredibly well in my opinion. The materials for example get full ten points! As someone suffering from a serious skin condition I could really appreciate the cotton lining inside the bra cups. To be honest, my skin has been itching like crazy recently so artificial materials are no good for me at the moment (last nigh I scratched myself so much I got bruises in addition to bleeding wounds – ouch!). Also the silk blend on top layer of the cups feels lovely to touch and the lace is one of the stretchiest and softest I have seen. So you truly get some great quality for your money! If you are worried about the wide wires, I would still like to assure you that they don’t come high up at all in the armpits – this means even if you are more on the narrow or petite side yourself, they won’t start rubbing your underarm area.

When talking about the panties I first need to mention the sizing – these suckers do run a bit small so I would advice everyone to size up with both Classique and Amelia bottoms. I am usually wearing a UK size 10 (US 6) when it comes to bottoms but with this particular brand I am wearing a size 12 briefs comfortably. To be frank, the 12 is very near to perfect and the fit is great for my muscular butt – the stretch lace accommodates even a curvier figure and leaves no lumps or bumps seen under your jeans/pencil skirts. I would actually be pretty keen on seeing a high-waisted version of these as well – it would be perfect for me under my tighter pencil dresses! The materials and the cut of the brief is very flattering and comfy so I would definitely vouch for getting the panties to match your bra – in one word, they feel amazing.

All in all I am very impressed with the fine details and the quality of my first Bosom Galore set and am looking forward to see how it translates to their other styles as well. For example, the strappy new style Louise is something I am definitely drooling over and would love assess the fit of it s it is one of the rare cage bras that come in my size!

If you are interested in getting your own Amelia set from Bosom Galore, the bra comes in sizes 26E-34H (£82) and the brief in sizes 6-16 (£38). Note the 26-bands as they are very welcomed addition to any full bust brand out there! At present, I think Bosom Galore is the only brand making them as a non-custom option so extra points for them because of that 😉 When it comes to the price, taking into account their ethical way of making the garments and the quality they are offering, Bosom Galore prices their lingerie very reasonably. The prices can be a shock to someone but if you are interested about the pricing of luxury lingerie, I would suggest you take a look at this The Lingerie Addict article – it explains why these sorts of garments cannot be priced too modestly!

What do you think of the Amelia or Bosom Galore in general? Also, would you be willing to pay more for a more local and ethical way of manufacturing lingerie plus a better quality materials? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know what my readers think of this matter! 🙂

Lingerie News 7/14 by 2COP

 

There has been some pretty interesting things going on in the lingerie world lately which is why I decided to put together a monthly “News” feature that would gather all the important happenings together. Hopefully this will keep you posted on things such as new D+ brands, sizing and fit corrections that brands make and events to come in the near future. Enjoy!


New lingerie brands in the scene

I have found a couple of brands you might be interested in which is why I wanted to share them here. I think many of you have heard of Bosom Galore by now but the stunning brand has now created another new style to be introduced next spring and also decided which styles they are launching first. Their first styles will include my personal favourite style Amelia which is a gorgeous pale pink plunge with a beautiful lace overlay (pictured above, image courtesy of Bosom Galore). Can’t wait to try the set on when it is launched! The launch will take place this autumn and if everything goes as planned, it will take place in September.

Another brand called Juliana London has mysteriously burst onto the scene and I say mysteriously cause to be honest, we know nothing about it except it’s targeted to women with small backs and big busts. I will be meeting the owner of the brand in London sometime soon so after that I will hopefully have new info. Juliana London is a luxury brand so if you have any wishes for their size range, materials, designs or pricing, let me know and I will discuss it with the founder!

 
Freya changes their sizing markings

Freya has made the decision to change how their sizes appear on the size tags. This might seem a lot smaller change to most of you but as I work for the lingerie retail I know it’s a massive one for online retailers. The sizes are changed into EU sizing meaning the chart will go as follow: D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L… etc. This means they will be differently displayed on websites and online stores and instead of picking your UK size, you need to convert it to your EU size, eg. GG -> J. Some of the online stores may not be changing this so be careful how the sizes are displayed on web. If there are no double sizes (FF,GG,HH..) they use the EU sizing instead of UK.

A Finnish lingerie online store goes international!

I have worked with a Finnish lingerie online retailer Lumingerie for quite a while now and have some awesome news for those looking for the best selection of British and Polish brands on the scene. Lumingerie has finally decided to go international and has started to prepare for translating their website and making it easier for international customers to approach them. The English version of the website and online store does not have a launch date yet, but as soon as I have more info, I will let you know!

The Moda Birmingham Exhibition is held again next month!

I decided not to take part in Moda this season but what happened? I accidentally booked flight tickets and now I am planning my trip to London and Birmingham. This will mean you will get to see the new ss15 collections fresh from the catwalk and I will report you with the latest trends and best picks! I am especially excited to see what my favourite brands Tutti Rouge, Panache and Gossard have to offer but will visit as many stands as I can during the Sunday. I will also be meeting another lingerie bloggers so you might see them costarring the blog soon 😉

Interview with the founder of Bosom Galore – a new brand for small backs and big busts

I KNOW, I’M A BAD GIRL. No, not really cause who actually has been pretty bad is my dear laptop. First I thought there was something horribly wrong with my internet access but this bastard had decided just be a d-bag and not to let me use connect to the internet. Well, that is that and now I can get to the point. Today I am introducing y’all to a brand new lingerie designer who caught my attention recently. I was lurking in the wonderful Twitterville and discovered a brand that caters classy sophisticated lingerie for small backs and big busts so what’s not to like? I decided to contact the founder and designer of Bosom Galore, Katy Payne, to interview her about the upcoming launch of her first collection and was happy to get a quick reply. This was great news since I warmly welcome a new brand with size range starting from 26″ backs and going up to HH-cup. Bosom Galore also manufactures their designs in UK which supports the local textile industry. Here is what Katy had to say about her brain child…

First of all, I find it very interesting that you have worked for mental health care previously (I study psychology myself). How did you end up in the lingerie business? Do you think there is something you can apply from your previous jobs to your new career as a designer?

There isn’t really an obvious link between my work in mental health and founding Bosom Galore. Psychology has been a passion of mine since I was about 8 years old and my degree, along with my certificate in counselling, suited a career in mental health perfectly and I look back on my experiences incredibly fondly. As many may find however, working in mental health can be intense and emotionally draining and after a few years, I decided to take a break to reflect on the impact it was having on my own mental health. During that time, to help out, I started working for my husband as a web developer; he would send me the designs and I would build them in HTML.

During this period, one afternoon, my husband and I were sitting outside talking. I was having another rant about how frustrating it was to find lingerie that I like; complaining that the few bras available in 28GG look frumpy and are in garish fabrics and colours. I started talking about what I would do if I designed lingerie, when my husband said ‘well why don’t you?’ And it was then that I thought ‘yeah, why don’t I?’. And that’s when I launched into founding Bosom Galore. 

My website development skills certainly come in handy when it comes to managing my website but I’m yet to learn about e-commerce (which I start doing next week). With regards to applying my skills from mental health, I’m naturally a very genuine person and this, along with transparency, are traits that were fostered in my counselling certificate and I think that they are beneficial both in business and life; it can help to establish healthy and positive working and customer relationships.

Tell us about the core values of your brand. What are the most important aspects when creating lingerie? 

A core value behind our brand is that women of any size should be able to wear beautiful, supportive and comfortable lingerie that boosts self-esteem and confidence. Wearing a correct fitting bra, that feels and looks sumptuous, can significantly improve posture and boost self-esteem. 

The most important aim with our brand is to provide lingerie and nightwear in small band and large cup sizes, although we do aim to expand our size range as we grow. Crucial qualities of this lingerie and nightwear are quality, shape, support, comfort and appearance. We are working incredibly hard to ensure that the bras are comfortable and create a lovely rounded shape. Our motivation behind this comes from my own experience of struggling to find lingerie with these qualities.

In addition to what we aim to produce, we support the UK textiles industry and so our lingerie is both designed and manufactured within the UK.

How would you describe your brand aesthetics and who is it essentially designed for? 

Aesthetically, I would describe our designs as classic, elegant and with a little vintage inspiration. Initially our size range is for women with small band and large cup sizes, however, we will expand this range as we grow. 

I would say that our lingerie is essentially designed for women who want satisfaction from their lingerie; to feel comfortable, supported and sexy. Our lingerie is designed by a consumer, for the consumer and so we have responded to, and resolved, the little things that can affect lingerie satisfaction. For example, we have designed our briefs to sit gently against the skin, to avoid any uncomfortable or unsightly indentations; an issue that we feel is all too frequently overlooked. And our labels are soft and positioned in a comfortable place to avoid any possible discomfort that they could cause. All of these little things can significantly affect our experience of our lingerie.

Your collections are designed and manufactured in UK. How did you come up with this decision?

We didn’t even consider importing. It seemed obvious to me to provide business within our country; supporting the UK textiles industry and the communities that it supports. I also feel that business and lingerie development is easier and more efficient when everyone involved lives in the same time zone, where mail delivery is swift and cheap and you can easily travel to meet in person if necessary; it was a wonderful experience to be able to pop over to our manufacturer a few weeks back to look around the factory and have a chat over a cup of tea. And working with a British designer has proven essential for ensuring regular lingerie fittings and efficient amendments to designs.

Where did you draw inspiration to your first collection?

Our first collection is our Classique balconette lingerie and the design is one that I’ve held in my mind for perhaps a decade. For years, all I wanted was a classic, elegant, day to day balconette bra made from silk and lace. The design is ideal for wearing under t-shirts, shirts and evening wear; I see it an essential lingerie set that can be worn for all occasions. 

The emotional motivation behind it comes from the impact that I feel day to day lingerie has on our self-esteem. Like many women, I’ve spent years starting my day putting on my trusty old and tired t-shirt bra and each time I’ve looked in the mirror to see a grey, tired bra with mismatched knickers; I’ve felt unattractive. It’s quite a sad way to start your day, every day. Starting my day in a matching set of beautiful silk and lace lingerie sets a completely different tone; I can feel proud of what I see in the mirror and I am sending myself the
message that I deserve to wear nice lingerie, every day. 

What has been the hardest part in setting up your own business and designing lingerie?

That’s a tough question to answer because whilst I’ve faced lots of challenges with Bosom Galore, I’ve enjoyed each and every one and have learnt so much about the industry, business and myself. I suppose the most difficult hurdle has been raising funds. Starting up a lingerie company requires significant investment prior to even having a product to sell, due to the expense of design and development. Managing impatience has also been a challenge. We’re incredibly eager to launch but must remain patient whilst we make the last few little tweaks to our designs to ensure good fit and shape.

You are one of the first lingerie companies to include 26 backs in their collection. Was it an easy decision for you and why did you eventually end up making it?

It was a very easy decision. For a decade I have been a 28 band size, which has been the source of my prolonged frustration with trying to find a bra that I like. I’m quite an average sized woman and so I know that there must be smaller framed women than me who need a 26 band size. Our model for our photo shoot for example, was a 26, which shows that there are women out there who need a 26 and so we feel that it’s important to cater for them.

If everything goes according to plans, your first collection will be launched next autumn. Any
plans, dreams or goals after that happens?

We have so much planned ahead. With regards to our future products, we aim to continue to expand our lingerie range to include different fabrics and styles and to resolve various wardrobe problems such as backless or strapless tops and dresses. We also want to significantly expand our nightwear range; at the moment our designs are more for special occasions and include an inbuilt, wired bra. However, we aim to offer more casual sleepwear with inbuilt, non-wired bras. In addition, we plan to offer maternity, nursing and mastectomy lingerie, to expand our size range significantly and to eventually offer swimwear… I’m yet to own a supportive and attractive bikini!

Many thanks to Katy who took the time to answer my questions! I am already in love with Bosom Galore and can’t wait to try their designs on when the autumn season comes 😉