Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien B132 “Fantasi” in 65E

In the full-bust industry you rarely bump into anything truly different – the last time that happened to me was when Playful Promises launched their D+ collection last winter. When Ewa Bien sent me their new SS16 catalog I was super excited for one style in particular – the Fantasi. Even though I could not wear any of their bras as I am just outside the size range, I knew I needed to see this beauty on someone – so I practically told Jo this is a set she needed to review, no discussion of it. Luckily, she agreed with me that this was something super unique and the whole thing was settled! Here’s how we liked the B132 Fantasi in Black… *Diclosure: This bra was generously provided by Ewa Bien. All opinions are our own!*

The Design: The B132 Fantasi is a soft non-padded balconette bra which is made out of a thin embroided fabric with a touch of heavy black strapping and piping. This cage-style bra shows under almost any top or a dress, so it is definitely not for the faint-hearted! The cups are also completely see-through which may be a downside for some – but then again, if you minded see-through cups, you probably wouldn’t be opting for this set anyways!

The cups of the soft balconette are constructed of two parts that connect with one vertical seam. This is very common structure in smaller sizes when it comes to balconette constructions but can also be made in bigger cups, like with this Avocado bra I recently reviewed. This style of balconette gives two cakes on a plate -style cleavage and leaves room for fuller breast tissue at the top. This style is a bit too open at the top for Jo, but it still looks fantastic, especially as a boudoir piece.

The Fit: We first requested the Fantasi in 65F just like with the other Ewa Bien bras we have reviewed so far. However, this one ran a whole cup size large, so we ended up swapping it for 65E which is a rough equivalent to 30DD in UK sizes. This is a size Jo wears with Gossard, so it’s safe to say you need to size down in the cups with this particular style. The shape of the cups is very open at the top too, which is not ideal for Jo’s full-on-bottom breasts and still leaves the cups gaping a bit. This bra is meant for more “night-out”  purposes, so this was not a huge issue, but if you are more FOB and looking for an everyday bra, you might want to skip the B132 shape altogether.

The bra band of the B132 Fantasi on the other hand was a bit firmer than with the previous Ewa Bien styles Jo tried. This was a positive surprise, as Jo is very petite and usually would require a 28-band instead of 30. However, it is still a bit loose on her and if there were an option of 28/60 band, she would definitely want to go for that. The wires of the B132 were quite perfect for Jo though, which makes this bra a better fit for her that it otherwise would be. There is also just the right amount of space at the bottom of the cups, so I would say this bra is perfect for those with a narrow-to-average breast root and breasts that are evenly full allover.

Comfort: As the B132 Fantasi is a completely see-through style with a thin yet sturdy cup material, it is an ideal bra for the hottest of summer months. The elastics that form the caging on the decolletage are very stretchy and move around easily with the body and the metal parts are high quality, so no itchiness there at all either. The straps are fully adjustable, which is always an upside especially if you have a longer or shorter than average torso length. As said before, the wires are also just the right length for Jo, which is always a big factor when it comes to your bra’s comfort level.

The bottoms are very innovative with a strappy kind of styling and a higher rise that reaches the middle of what we call the “cookie pouch”. I would have personally preferred them a bit higher if I was wearing them, but Jo really enjoyed them this way as well. All of the Ewa Bien panties we both have tried have come up quite small so that is something I would consider hard when opting for you panty size – especially with a style like this, which may create some bulges on the hips if you are wearing a too-small size. Jo is wearing a size Small in the pics and she usually goes for XS with most brands, so go at least a size up with the bottoms, if not two (especially with more rigid materials, such as rigid mesh). Overall the set is a comfortable and beautiful ensemble, which may not be your most practical for work etc, but suits perfectly your date nights, girls-nights-out and boudoir occasions.

The Fantasi set can be bought on Ewa Bien online store and the bra (sizes 65-80 B-G) will set you back at 199 pzl, the strappy bottoms (S-XL) retail for 105 pzl. In total it makes about 70€ which is a reasonable price for such a gorgeous set! What do you think of risque styles like this – see-through cups and all? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Fit for a Burlesque Star: Louise Ferdinand “Uma” in 32G

I have been admiring Louise Ferdinand lingerie  from a far since a couple of years back. I first became familiar with them through a Fuller Figure Fuller Bust review and was smitten with the vintage styling and the craftsmanship put into the designs. Also what really struck me was the way they used and still use models of all sizes and ethnicities – not many lingerie brands are that inclusive, even in 2016.

Only a couple of weeks back Sandra, the wonder woman behind the brand, contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a sample from them and of course, I couldn’t say no. This brand is still something very unique to the full-bust market – it’s all about innovative styles and nods to the past, with a styling that would woo even the pickiest burlesque queens. Let’s see what Sandra surprised me with!

The Design: I had literally no idea what was coming to me in the mail so when I opened the parcel I was pleasently surprised with the Uma set, which I had already been eyeing at – however, there is probably nothing I don’t like in Louise Ferdinand’s current selection, so I think I would have been happy with probably any of her designs.  The Uma is a rather classic shape for LF meaning it’s a vintage-style plunge balconette, with a rather pointy shape. The bustline is not what a modern western woman usually wants – smooth, super uplifted and round – but I really enjoy this shape, especially under my 40’s style dresses.

The styling itself is so stunning and I am impressed with the combination of girly lace and bow and the black sturdy mesh that gives the bra a more edgier look. I also like that the bow at the centre gore is not red like the trimming at cup edge but a contrasting purple colour. The coverage this bra gives is pretty much perfect for me but I am wondering if it’s because this is a cup size too small for me. In any case, I have worn it a lot with my more low-cut dresses and it works really well with them.

Fit: As I mentioned above, the 32G was about a cup size too small for me so this is definitely not my best size with Louise Ferdinand. I would love to try a 30H someday with this brand as it seems to be running along the lines of other British DD+ brands and thus, I feel that my regular size would have been better for me. Also, the band is a tiny bit loose on me, which is understandable as I measure 31″ under my bust.  I am a bit of a tricky size right now when it comes to bands so I can never know whether to go for 30 or 32, especially if it’s a brand that I am not yet familiar with. The band is quite wide though so it is supportive in the 32 as well, but I prefer to wear it in the tightest set of hooks.

The underwires of this bra are also quite regular for a British brand, so a wee bit too wide for me. However, I did not experience any discomfort with them and they do not bother me at all. The cups are an average depth but designed more for a full-on-bottom shape breasts – my boobs are full-on-top so I am pretty sure that is one of the reasons I’m bulging a bit at the top. The cup edge trimming is quite rigid so I would definitely even recommend sizing up in the cup if you have a bit more breast tissue on the top half of your boobs.

Comfort: I really liked how this set manages to feel quite nice against my skin even when being a quite rigid mesh material. The materials feel like good quality and don’t rub my skin anywhere, not even around the usually-very-itchy armpit area. Also the band and the wires feel really flexible, meaning I can move around in the bra without any discomfort. My only real gripe with the bra are the straps – unfortunately they are too widely placed and stretchy for my body and tend to slip off my shoulders now and then. They are fully-adjustable however, so even when being petite or tall, you can make them work length-wise.

I also got the Uma briefs in size Medium, which is probably around 12 in UK sizes – I found that this runs pretty true-to-size as my butt has grown an inch again (!!! those squats though…) and I am becoming more of a true 12 on the bottom half of my body (which is so annoying cause my waist is still a size 10). The bottoms are quite low but not as much as with eg Cleo – which is good, because Cleo bottoms and I don’t really mesh well together! The briefs is styled with the same cute lace as the bra and cover my bum nicely – I am not a huge fan of the brazilian trend that’s going strong at the moment! Overall the set is a comfy and surprisingly practical little number, but also manages to be sexy enough to wear in the boudoir. Love it!

If you would like to get your hands on some Louise Ferdinand set yourself, do check out their online store here. The Uma set comes in a whopping size range of 28-38 A-J + bottom sizes S-XL, and set you back at £60 for the bra and £34 for the briefs.

Have you tried Louise Ferdinand lingerie yet? Do you like the vintage styling on a modern bra? Let me know in the comments! xx

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

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

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

Scantilly “Invitation”

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

x
Cleo by Panache “Kali” Babydoll

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

Comexim “Rita”

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

Curvy Kate “Tease” babydoll and bra set

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

Samanta “Anvers” in A470

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

+ A MANDATORY SPLURGE

Vollers “Lusso” Waist-Training Corsets

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

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

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

Sleepwear Worth of Sleeping Beauty – Review of Gossard “Elegance”

When it comes to sleepwear, there are occasions when I see something really pretty, get my hopes up but unfortunately my boobies turn out to be a bit too big for the beauties I have laid my eyes on. This is exactly what happened with the “Elegance” sleepwear range that Gossard sent me a few weeks ago – what pretty pink shades, what a lovely rose petal print! And when the parcel arrived at my door and the skivvies were on, I huffed and puffed for a moment because the garments just didn’t fit my 30GG/H bust. What a bummer! In these occasions I usually always do the same thing – I ring my friend Jo to “help” me (aka release me from the agony of owning too small pretty things) and there again she was, turning something that didn’t work on me into pure magic. Here are a few notes and pics of the lovely Gossard “Elegance” slip, cami and the french knicker which are part of the Gossard SS15 collection.

  
To start off we perhaps need to mention Jo’s bra size which is usually something around 28F or 30E (with the expception of Gossard bras fitting in 30DD). She is quite tiny all over and wears a UK size 8 (EU 34, US 4) with underbust measurement of roughly around 28″. The Elegance comes in UK sizing, sizes 8-16 which translates roughly to 34-42 in EU sizes (excluding France, Spain and Italy). Even though I am usually a size 10 and Jo a size 8, I did feel the Elegance sleep range does run a bit small so the 10 fitted Jo quite comfortably without much extra looseness. The fabric (which is mostly polyester and elastane) is rather stretchy so you might get away with your regular UK size but just be aware that this way it will be quite clingy!

The bust area of the Cami and the Slip feature lovely stretch lace which is very soft and forgiving for different bust sizes but with size 10, I wouldn’t recommend anyone with above 30F wearing this, unless you don’t mind a very odd shape to your bust line. Even with the stretch lace, the top part squishes a bigger bust to very sad droopy boobs and this is definitely not ideal for support nor aesthetics! This however, is not the fault of the product but something that us GG+ have to get used to now and then. Up to F though, the slip and the cami should do their job fine and the bust area certainly looks great with Jo’s 28F full-on-bottom breasts.

The colour scheme of the set is very pale but even with our Finnish practically white skin tones, it does work pretty anyways. Some people are convinced that pink and red/ginger hair don’t go well together but I disagree on that too – I think the pale pink is a marvelous companion to Jo’s light ginger bob! The print is very unique and on-trend considering that water-colour and painting-like prints have been really “in” for a couple of years or so. Nevertheless, the print is by no means restless and seems like a pretty suitable option for someone wanting either pretty bedroom or loungewear.

When it comes to practicality, the Elegance range does seem to suit boudoir or lounge purposes better than actually sleeping in. Both of us sleep pretty much butt naked or in old longjohn’s (yap, I said it) so for actually sleeping in, these wouldn’t be neither of us’ first choice. However, if you are in a mood of looking/feeling a bit prettier in the morning/evening and feel like slipping into something luxurious, Elegance is a very good quality choice for an affordable price. The slip retails for £32, the cami for £28 and the french knicker for £21. As opposed to some other high-end or even pricier high street brands, this is a fair price for something a bit more special for your loungewear. However, the range does include a lovely plunge bra up to E-cup and some skimpier bottom choices as well, so if you love the print but are not a big fan of sleep/loungewear, you can invest in something a bit more practical as well 😉

What do you think of the Elegance range? Do you wear pretty sleepwear on regular or is it just an occasion-kinda-thing? Let me know in the comments!