Lingerie Review: Ewa Michalak “BM Bordeaux” in 70G + A SALE!!!

Ewa Michalak has been one of my favourite full-bust lingerie brands and continues to be so – it is just a bit of gamble whether their wires are too narrow for me at times. This depends on greatly the particular EM bra and style of the bra which is why I was happy to receive some of the newest Ewa Michalak styles a few months ago. I had the privilege to try multiple styles at once and I am grateful for it, as I found true gems. Today I will the reviewing the BM Bordeaux, which is a brand new style at Ewa Michalak in a full-bust appropriate shape “BM”. *This set was kindly sent to me by the Ewa Michalak team. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: The BM Bordeaux is a non-padded balconette shape and similar to the older SM shape that also includes smaller cup sizes. If I know correctly, the BM is a bit deeper in the cup to accommodate a fuller bust, and thus many can buy a cup size smaller with it. The style is very similar in looks compared to SM but seems to have a bit more support on the sides to bring the fuller breast tissue up and front. Ewa bras are very well-known for their exquisite uplift and forward-projection, and the BM Bordeaux does not fail us either – the shape is very round yet not unnaturally so and the profile is great under any shirts and dresses.

The style of the Bordeaux range is very sexy as the bra’s upper panel is quite sheer and the whole bra is covered in beautiful black/burgundy lace. The glimpses of burgundy are not easily shown on camera, so trust me that they are more visible in flesh! I like the colour combination and the classic look of the bra and I think it’s great for someone who wants something traditionally feminine yet a bit daring.

The Fit: As I mentioned above, the BM style runs a bit deeper in the cup which usually results some people to buying a smaller cup size than usual. My most common size with EM is 70GG at the moment, but I do think the 70G is just enough for me in the BM. The upper panel of the bra is stretch lace, which is great for me personally because of my upper fullness, and thus the bra conforms beautifully to both of my boobs, even though they are not exactly the same size. As you can see, there is no bulging on my bigger side either (the one facing camera in the pic above)!

The band of the BM Bordeaux is on the tighter side of 70, but I can still close it and it has stretched over the many times I’ve worn it already. However, I have tried a couple of BM bras in my bra blogging career, and both of them have been tighter in the band than my SM and the new SF styles. This is something you need to consider if you are between sizes! The width of the BM wires seems to be better for me though, so I would say they are maybe a smidge wider than with the SM bras. This is perfect for me, as the SM bras I’ve tried have stabbed me in my breast tissue after a few hours of wear – not something anyone enjoys!

Comfort: As I was sent four different sets in total – with one BM bra, two SF’s and one PL – it is easy to compare each one when it comes to comfort. There was one set that I would set apart particularly but it has not been released yet so this is why I can’t tell you yet which one it is! The Bordeaux however is not a bad one either – my only gripe with it is really is that the band is a bit a rigid at first and needs a bit of breaking in. But I do like it, and have worn it on an everyday basis, so there is really nothing else I can say about this bra. It’s not the most heavenly on your body but not the worst either! Besides, I would say this is something many women would reserve for boudoir use only.

The panties are very comfortable for me in UK size 10 and I am glad I got to try them this time, as the last time EM sent me samples, they did not include panties at all. However, I have always been a big fan of both of their briefs and EVEN… dun, dun, duuuun! THONGS. I know, who am I even? But yes, even their thongs get an A+ from me. These regular Bordeaux briefs were not any different; they are cute, sexy and yet so very comfortable I can wear them even though they are not high-waisted. The lace on the back is quite stretchy, they are a flattering rise and have a super cute key-hole detail on the back. If you get the bra, please invest in the panties as well – they are absolutely amazing!

For your luck, Ewa Michalak is running a sale TODAY. You heard it, today only! There are plenty of stuff even 50% off, so go and grab some goodies while you can. The Bordeaux is one sale as well, so I would heavily suggest to snatch it up – and maybe something else as well? My other golden tip is to get your hands on their new SF bras, they are pure gold. The Bordeaux bra (132 zl) comes in EM sizes (a bit different than most full-bust brands, so check the size chart!) 30-38 E-JJ and the panties (55 zl) in UK 8-16. The prices are now down but the EM products are always great quality even for the full price and I cannot recommend them more for girls who need deep cups and narrow wires, and still want to look cute in their lingerie.

Lingerie Review: Curvy Kate “Tease” Cami in 30H + GIVEAWAY

There are certain styles in the full-bust bra market that will always hold their place in my heart and one of them is the infamous Curvy Kate “Tease” ie the former Showgirl range style Tease Me. Tease Me in cherry/blush was my first extremely well-fitting bra and it made me feel fabulous as well – I had never felt so sexy as I felt in that set. All the ruffles and the delicious colour combo that was actually recently brought back by Curvy Kate, last season to be exact. With the Tease bra set, they also launched the Tease Cami which is lovely ruffly version of the classic romantic balconette style bra. Today I am teaming up with the folks of Curvy, an Australian D+ online retailer, who offered me to try the new Tease Cami in Berry/Black and have also promised to gift two of my lovely readers a set of their choice from the Curvy store selection. Here’s how I liked my old, renewed favourite!

Design: As always, the Tease design is absolutely beautiful and I love all the beautiful ruffles, embroidery and jewel-tone colour combos it comes in. The new cami version is cut open at the front in a way some Disney princesses have their skirts (hehe) and the edge of the hem is adorned with a flowy ruffle. I would perhaps prefer this style in a longer babydoll cut but I do like this one as well. Also the hem part could be a be a bit more voluminous to create more creases and thus be more covering. The colour combo of the new season Tease is quite dark for a summer season but it is created for “bedroom purposes”, so it fits the bill.

The style of the cups is a true padded balconette which is constructed of three pieces and two vertical seams. I have always liked this cup construction and it gives me the perfect Marie Antoinette sort of cleavage. The former Tease bras have been very open at the top making them perfect for FOT breasts but I can see a slight change in the pattern with this particular colourway – it’s a bit more closed at top, meaning it will suit more full-on-bottom shaped breasts now (with me, it seems to create a slight quadboob on my bigger breast).

Fit: I opted for size 30H with the Tease Cami as it is my regular Curvy Kate size – however, I do still have a ss14 Tease in my bradrobe which still fits me at 30GG. I have to report a few differences with these two products, so you can make the right choice with the Cami, if you are thinking of buying one! First of all, the band of the Cami is significantly smaller than the regular CK bands I have tried in the past. Even the Scantilly Peek-a-Boo which is a newer model from the CK sister range fits like all of my previous CK bras – so this is not something they have changed with all of their bras, I think it’s more of a one-off style that happens to run smaller ie more true-to-size in the band. Curvy Kate has been infamous for making quite stretchy bands so far, so all of you petite girls go and buy this beauty right now if you are a CK fan!

The cups are also quite a bit smaller than with most of my CK bras – which I own a plenty! Most of my Curvy Kate bras fit me perfectly in either 30GG or 30H, I would even go and say they are quite generous in cups these days. However, this time the cups proved to be quite small! I would even say they run a full cup size small, so definitely size up with these. If I had tried these in store, I would have loved to have tried a 30HH or a 32H, as I prefer my bands comfortable when lounging (as let’s be honest, this is not a bra for everyday wear at work). Also, as said above, the cups are quite a bit closed at top and the centre of cups is rather shallow, so people with less fullness on top and the centre might enjoy this style more than my boobs. The wires of the Tease are actually pretty decent on me and don’t reach far in my armpit like most of my non-padded CK bras.

Comfort: I believe I have said before here on 2COP that CK Tease has always been my go-to bra for comfort – its soft padding and stretchy band make it easy to wear even around house or being a bit more active than usual. As the Tease Cami provides a firmer bra band than usual, it’s not as comfortable as my Tease bra but still feels good on to wear for lounging purposes. I like this style more than the classic Ritzy babydoll as its wires sit on a better spot for me personally and thus they don’t poke me in the armpits.

What I really like about Curvy Kate is that they make their boudoir style pieces with the same comfort level as their regular everyday bras – who says you can’t be comfy when lounging around or getting frisky in the bedroom?! I refuse to compromise with my comfort level no matter the scenario, so I appreciate CK’s dedication to make all of their sets both beautiful and extremely comfortable.

If you would like to try the Curvy Kate Tease Cami (up to J-cup!) for yourself, the Curvy online store has it on sale for 72 AUD which is a great price. I also really appreciate Australian full-bust shops as they are working in an incredibly demanding field in their country – so show Curvy some love, will you! Curvy would also like to show their love to you and gift two lingerie sets for a raffle! Here comes the important rule: there is one raffle for international readers ie all of you and another for my Australian 2COP readers. 

Here’s a link to the international raffle: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b17/?

And here to the Australian one: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b18/?

The raffle is open from now on to 15th of July 0:00 GMT and the prize is subject to availability. If you win, you can choose any two piece lingerie set you wish, excluding Primadonna and Scantilly sets. Please complete the tasks in the Rafflecopter widget to gain as many entries as you can! There will be two mandatory entries: commenting on this blog post by answering a question stated in the widget (which set would you choose from Curvy’s selection?) and also by subscribing to Two Cakes on a Plate. Other entries are optional but will increase your chance to win! The winners will be contacted by me soon after the raffle and if the winner(s) fail to reply to my email after a week’s time, another winner will be drawn. Good luck everyone – get entering 😉

Introducing Gorsenia Lingerie – Review of “Evita” in 65I

Have you ever heard about Gorsenia? Polish lingerie scene is a world of its own and even though I have been privileged enough to try some of the most well-fitting gorgeous designs from many Polish brands, there are still some I am sure I have not heard of and definitely haven’t tried personally (if you are working for a Polish brand I have not yet featured on 2COP, please feel free to email me and introduce yourself!). Gorsenia is one of the brands that have not yet received a ton of exposure in the lingerie blogosphere which is why I thought it would be important to feature them as soon as I got the chance.

Well, that chance occurred a small while back when I went to the Lumingerie storage to say hello to old friends. As per usual, I test-ran a few new styles and also, wanted to try some of the strappy styles that I knew Gorsenia was offering for us full-busted gals. I had tried a few of their half-cup balconettes before and really liked the styles and construction, which is why it was no surprise I ended up falling in love with their non-padded bras as well. Finally Mervi dug out an older Gorsenia style for me to try and as they only had a few left-over sizes left, she gifted me the Evita set without even asking for a review. I was super happy but still thought to myself: well, I might as well report something about the fit, as there are not that many Gorsenia reviews out there. Here’s how I liked the sultry Marlies Dekkers-inspired Evita-set.

The Design: The Evita set and especially the bra takes a lot of inspiration from the original Marlies Dekkers two-strap style that was quite popular a few years ago. When Dekkers claimed bankruptcy (and has recently started to heal and rise again) other brands were swift to take on the challenge of creating something similar to fill the gap in the market. The trend was also highly influenced by the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon which raged in the market for a couple of years and has since left a permanent mark in the strappy bondage-style lingerie styles, that are still very popular. I am still personally a big fan of the strappy styling and think that its a whimsical take on the lingerie-as-outerwear trend that makes a simple outfit instantly less boring.

The two straps above the cups are paired with simple mesh and satin fabrics which make the bra perfect for everyday-wear. the place where the strap meets the cup and also the centre gore are adorned with cute little embellishments which give the bra a more sophisticated look to it. The shape of the bra is very rounded and very similar to Cleo non-padded balconette bras which are infamous for their orb-like look. The bottom half of the cups is lined with a light satin-y fabric but the upper panel remains totally sheer to keep the bra sexy and sultry.

Can you notice that Mr. 2COP takes my pics these days? Thus the cheesy smile ❤ 

The Fit: Well now onto the most interesting part! First of all, Gorsenia is one of those brands who are unfortunately quite inconsistent with their sizing and depending on the style, I can be anything from 65-70 I-K with them. This is why I would try to search for a specific bra review online to find out what the sizing is like with each individual style. The bands run usually similar to eg Curvy Kate so a little on the looser side, especially for a Polish brand. I usually take a 70-band with almost every single Polish brand except for Samanta, but Gorsenia bands are quite stretchy, meaning you should go down a band size from your usual Polish band size. Their bands start usually at 65 which is a bit of a bummer for the more petite girls out there. The 65 ie 30 band fits me really well though and I love how snug and comfy it is at the same time, even though it only features two hooks and eyes.

The bra cups on the other hand run quite large with Evita. So large indeed, that I went down two whole cup sizes and there was no bulging whatsoever. This bra is size 65I which translates roughly to UK 30G but definitely feels more like a Curvy Kate 30H or perhaps a 32GG with another British brand. However, the Gorsenia padded half-cup balconettes do NOT run this big, so I would probably stick with your regular size with them or perhaps size down just one cup size. The cups are rather average when it comes to depth and width which is why I would again recommend to try this bra if you are a fan of Cleo. The fit is especially good for us full-on-top ladies as the bra has quite a bit of room in the upper cup section and also, the straps lay nicely if you have more breast tissue for them to sit on.

Comfort: Despite of the inconsistent sizing, I think Gorsenia is worth trying for the comfort factor only and of course, the stunning styling. The materials are very lightweight, maybe not the best quality, but still nice on even a more sensitive skin. For the price (39 € for the bra and 19€ for the panties) it is a great everyday set which goes under regular t-shirts and jeans like a dream and also looks gorgeous. I have really no complaints when it comes to the comfort aspect of this set: the wiring is spot-on, the straps placed well and they are also fully-adjustable.

The bottoms are high-waisted but not as much as I would like – on the other hand, Mervi told me that on her, they are super high because she has shorter torso than me. So each to their own and not everything fits the same way, even when it’s something as simple as panties. The Gorsenia bottoms run quite small and I am wearing a Medium with these – so these are pretty much in line with every other Polish brand! I would have loved to have seen a bit of strappy styling on the bottoms as well but I am sure some gals prefer them like this: pretty but yet simple enough to not show through tighter jeans or pencil skirts.

If you are interested in Gorsenia, do check out the Lumingerie online store for some of their most gorgeous styles. They do have some Evita sets left as well, so take a look if they still carry your size (the sizes are 65-90 D-L)! Delivery is FREE to all EU-countries! Have you ever tried Gorsenia bras? If so, how have you found their fit? Let me know in the comments below! xx

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: Curvy Kate “Cabaret” in 30H

After all these years, Curvy Kate still manages to be one of my favourite DD+ brands of all time. I am now leaning towards their more sultry styles, meaning the Scantilly collection, but I do love even their “everyday” sets for amazing comfort and cute styles. When team CK asked if I wanted to try something from their new SS16 collection, I was over the moon as I haven’t reviewed much from their core collection (ie non-Scantilly range) in a looooong while. I was offered the amazing Cabaret set, which is definitely one of my faves from their ss16 offering. Here’s how I liked the set!

The Design: I love how Curvy Kate is brave enough to do completely sheer styles even up to J-cup – not exactly what you can say of so many mainstream full-bust brands such as Freya! There is nothing more disappointing than to see a gorgeous see-through bra and then find out that all the sizes above G-cup are made with double-lining, which absolutely ruins the design. I would say CK is actually one of the first UK brands to toy with this design feature and they are absolutely rocking it! The style of Cabaret is otherwise quite simple and the black mesh is paired with scallop-y embroidery and a bright fuchsia-shade accents.

The shape of the bra is very similar to the Daisy Chain non-padded plunge I tried a couple of years back and liked a lot. Back then, I was super surprised to see CK doing such an uplifted shape but today I have come to expect it and was not disappointed – long gone are the days when Curvy Kate bras looked a bit downwards-pointing and frankly sad. To be completely honest, I think the shape of the bra would be better suited for someone with lower fullness but I think it works fairly well on my full-on-top boobs as well.

The Fit: I opted for sizes 30H and UK 10 with this set as they were the most recent sizes that have fitted me with Curvy Kate specifically. As I have stated in my previous blog posts, I am now right between two bands sizes, that is 30 and 32, but as CK bands tend to be a bit on the stretchier side, I can easily fit into the 30 band with them. The band is still snug so it’s definitely not a full band size big but is just quite stretchy and thus suits us girls who want more comfort when it comes to our bra bands. The band features three hooks and eyes so that makes it extra supportive and sit nicely on the torso without creating extra bulges that too-narrow bra bands can sometimes cause.

The cups fit very much true-to-size which is something I am used to with Curvy Kate bras. This is what makes the brand a solid choice for young women on a budget – CK prices are very affordable and it’s hard to go wrong with their sizing when you “find the one”. This is at least my experience with them! The shape and width of the cups is not the best for me personally as they are much too wide and a bit east-west for my liking but the cup depth is reasonably good, especially when comparing to the CK bras from a few years back. So if your breasts are both wide and full, Curvy Kate could be an excellent option for you!

Comfort: As always, the Cabaret is definitely a very comfortable set – nothing less than I expect from Curvy Kate! Both the straps and the bra band are nice and wide to keep the weight of my bust well-distributed and the wires are flexible enough to move comfortably with my my moving body. Even though the underwires are definitely too wide for my breast root, they do not poke me in the armpit uncomfortably. The bra straps are a bit too widely-placed for me personally but are sturdy enough to stay on my shoulders for most of the time – they are also fully-adjustable which is always a huge upside when it comes to making the bra suitable for women of many different heights!

The materials are a bit more stiff than with some of my other CK sets, meaning I would suggest sizing up with the bottoms if you are between sizes. I thought a 10 would be a good size for me as it is the one I wear with eg Carmen but apparently the mesh with this set is rigid enough to make me want to size up to 12. I can wear the 10 easily but I think a 12 would have been a more flattering look on me. As the size is a bit too small for me, I cannot really judge the co-ordinates (expect that they look gorgeous!) but usually CK underwear is some of the best out there and I have no doubts that these would feel amazing if they were just a smidge looser on me.

All in all I really love how sexy and yet still so practical the Cabaret set manages to be – not to mention its amazing size range of  28-38 D-J and the price point around £30 for the bra. If you would like to try it for yourself, Brastop has a decent selection of sizes left and a top price for the set. How do you like Cabaret? Let me know in the comments! xx

Introducing Bluebella More DD+ Range – Review of “Asteria” in 32G

If you are a lingerie lover like myself, there is a chance you have heard of Bluebella. They are a woman-lead lingerie business in UK who sell mostly their own house brand and offer a fantastic selection of contemporary and boudoir-inspired lingerie pieces. I was over the moon when I first found out that they were coming out with a DD+ collection called “MORE” and in no time, there it was on their website. I was lusting after the strappy pieces that so many full-bust brands are still lacking in their collections and after a couple of days of scribbling a wishlist for myself, the lovely people at Bluebella contacted me and asked if I wanted to try a set from the new collection – and of course I did! I opted for the Asteria set in 32G and size 12 bottoms and here’s how I liked them…

Editor’s note: These pics are in black and white as the whole set is completely black and I liked the femme fatale look of it! Hope you don’t mind, my dear readers 😉

The Design: The Asteria bra is made completely out of black mesh, golden metal parts and black elastic strapping to finish off the look. The bra is double lined (as opposed to the bottoms which are completely sheer) but still remains a bit sheer – the materials feel very supportive and I love the sleek styling choices with the strappy bra strap/ back design. The whole set looks and feels much more expensive than it actually is – the bra costs an affordable £36 and the panties £18. The bra band features three hooks and eyes and the bra straps are attached to each other at the back with a small hook closure. This can be a bit tricky when getting the bra on and off (I usually ask my bf to help!) but it looks stunning when closed!

The shape of the bra is phenomenal for such a new DD+ brand – I have never seen a new full-bust brand making such rounded yet naturally curving bra cups so I am truly astonished. The shape of the bra reminds me a bit of the SM shape by Ewa Michalak but not as much in-your-face and forward-projecting. Even with the extravagant strappy styling this bra is a great everyday option as the shape of it is natural and the cup design so simple it goes really well even under a thinner jersey material.

Fit: I went for the 32G with the bra as Bluebella did not offer any 30 bands and the cups stop at UK G-cup – I am glad I didn’t have the option to choose otherwise though! This size is absolutely perfect on me and I wouldn’t change it even if I had the choice. The thing is, my underbust measurement has recently ballooned closer to 32 (probably due to both BodyPump and some pizza-loving, hehe) and the Asteria bra band only stretches up to 32″ or so. So I would advice to size up with the band if you are between sizes! The cups seem to run a full cup size big, so I would suggest going a cup size down with them. This is great news to any GG-ladies out there!

The cups are very well constructed and quite deep and narrow for a British brand design. I would say they are actually a perfect fit for me! The wires encase my breast tissue fully without being too high, wide or rigid, meaning the bra stays comfy throughout the day. The centre gore tacks me well and comes just high enough to keep my boobs from falling out of the bra but also low enough to go well under most of my shirts and dresses.The straps are half-adjustable but I haven’t really even done any adjusting on them as they were the perfect length for me straight outta box.

Comfort: Ever since I got the bra set (which is not that long ago) I have been wearing this set A LOT. It is very comfortable and stays that way for so many hours, I don’t even want to take it off when I get home. It makes me feel both physically and mentally amazing! The materials are high-quality and the straps stay up really well due to the hook-closure design on the back. My only real gripe with the bra is that the cups are a bit high on the sides which makes the edge near my armpit chafe against my skin a tiny bit when lying on my side (you should never sleep in your bras anyway but I took a nap the other day in this bra – oopsie!). However, in regular use (ie standing up) the bra does not irritate my skin at all.

I got the Asteria bottoms in size 12 and it was definitely the right choice for me. If you consult the size chart, you will probably get the bottoms size right as it pointed me at the right direction. My hip measurement is 40″ and the size 12 is meant for 39″ hips – even stretching it with an inch the bottoms fit me well and I love how they compliment the set with the strappy side design. The rise is also a good one for me – it’s a bit higher than eg with Cleo which is ideal in my opinion.

If you would like to get to know MORE yourself, please check out Bluebella’s online store for that. The shipping options at Bluebella are extremely cheap – only £3,95 to US and free if you spend over £30 – so I would definitely take the plunge and order something to try out! I am quite sure you won’t be disappointed 😉 The size range is 32-38 DD-G and the panties come in UK sizes 8-16.

Salon International de la Lingerie: Preview of Scantilly AW16 Collection

I am back from Paris! So happy to be back even though it was a great trip – I got to meet not one but three lingerie bloggers this time (hi Astrid, Anna and Cora!) and see so many brands that cannot really be seen anywhere in the UK or Finland. Exciting times! This roundup of SS16 collections is going to kick-start with the oh-so-alluring Scantilly by Curvy Kate, which was one of my personal favourites for this upcoming autumn.

Peek-a-boo in lime green & Invitation in royal blue (Editors note: the ever-so-stunning Laura is NOT wearing the right size in these pictures, but a cup size too small for her – this is because the samples were crafted for another CK model, Lottie! The size range all across the collection is 30-38 DD-HH, S-XL.)

I love Curvy Kate as in my opinion, it is one of the most comfortable lingerie brands out there (this is only a personal preference though). But what really excites me is their naughtier sub-label Scantilly – I have been raving about the aesthetics of this brand for half a year now and I have even written a review of their core style Peek-a-boo (click for the review!). This AW16 season there will be three previous styles (including the breath-taking “Surrender”-basque, YAY!) continuing their journey in the Scantilly storyline, but also four new styles to take the collection a bit further.

The Peek-a-boo is introduced in a lovely new colourway for the autumn season; an amazing lime green which is a lovely unique shade to the full-bust lingerie industry. Not much green has been seen for the past couple of years but this spring it’s actually making its way into the collections of some mainstream brands. The black version of this set will still be included in the collection as a core style but to be honest, I am way more excited about such a unique colour than any sexy black bra out there! “The Invitation” is another style introduced already a couple of months ago – this time however, it will be launched in a more sumptuous royal blue colour which takes the set up a notch with a more luxurious feel to it.

Fixate & Showtime, both in black/cream

The Fixate and Showtime sets are both new-comers in the Scantilly family – they are lovely feminine ensembles with contrasting classic colourways and luxurious feeling texture to them. I am not usually the biggest fan of polka dots but I do like it at times when it comes to cute lingerie. And that’s what Showtime really is – something über cute with some seriously sexy + strappy detailing and a suspender belt to top it all of. The set comes with a more covering short-style brief but also a skimpy thong for those more daring.

The Fixate features a lovely scale-reminiscing embroidery that adorns the lacy non-padded cups but also the matching ouvert-back knickers and the teeny-weeny thong. The style of the Fixate bra is something quite new to both CK and Scantilly – it is a bandless shape which is always quite intriguing fit-wise.

Ignite in copper/black and Unleash in black faux leather

These last two sets are the ones that really stood out for me in this collection – the gorgeous metallic ensemble Ignite and the leather-y show stopper Unleash. Both collections are on the naughtier side of Scantilly – there is nothing sweet or girly about these sets anymore, they are pretty much oozing of sexiness that nobody can deny. Copper is still not very widely used as a contrasting colour in lingerie (at least not in the full-bust market) but what really is not for the shyest about the Ignite, are the open-crotch knickers. Yap, you heard me. Open. Crotch.

My absolute favourite set in the collection is the Unleash though – who is not in for a bit of faux-leather goodness?! The bra is a classic half-cup shape with an amazing rose-gold buckle and there are two sexy options for the bottoms; a strappy thong or a key-hole detail featuring high-waisted knickers. The range also features two novelty pieces to it which include a sheer black smock top and a breath-takingly innovative Tuxedo harness. I am pretty sure the Tuxedo will be a hit product as soon as it launches in late autumn!

What are your favourites from this Scantilly AW16? Also, what are your thoughts on faux-leather lingerie and open crotch knickers? I am itching to know so drop me a comment below, will you!

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

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Desire” in 32G

I am a big fan of longline bras/ bustiers in theory – they are lovely to look at but in practice, they usually kill my sensitive skin and prominent rib cage. When I first saw the Gossard’s new “Desire” longline that went up to G-cup, I could not resist though! I had to get my hands on the piece right away when it released and luckily, I am in pretty friendly terms with Gossard after blogging for them for two years now. The lovely Laura from Gossard was happy to send me this new V.I.P.-range set to review, so let’s enjoy the beauty of it! *This set was sent to me free of charge by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

Design: The Desire is a beautiful classic VIP range style with lovely eyelash lace adorning the cup and the band edge. The colour combo is very stylish and sultry – the black lace and mesh are sewn onto a blush beige/pink underlay which makes the set a perfect romantic gift to your beloved one (if romantic lingerie happens to be her thing)!

The style of the longline is a pretty traditional plunge shape with no additional push-up padding to enhance the cleavage – the shape of the cups does all the work on its own! The cups go quite high up near my shoulders compared to my other Gossard plunges which makes it a great style to combine to v-neck tops and dresses. The cups are moulded so there is no seams on sight and some great roundness to the bust line.

Fit: When it comes to moulded cups and longlines it gets a bit tricky with my breast shape. Even though I do have quite “easy” boobs (meaning most bras fit me better than most other girls in my size range) but moulded cups are still something that don’t quite like my bust – but I am pretty sure they are not a great match with anyone’s boobs unless you can get the cup depth and wire width exactly right (molded cups don’t mold into your own breast shape but try to make your boobs mold into the shape of the bra). As you can see, there is some space at the bottom of the cups which tells us that the Desire bra is just a bit too shallow for me to fit perfectly.

I chose my regular Gossard size 32G with the Desire and think the decision was quite good. However, if I could try a 30GG, I would as the band is a bit looser than with most other Gossard bras I have tried (except for Gypsy). I think this is because longlines are pretty supportive even without a super snug band though, so I am definitely not complaining. However, I can comfortably fasten the band to the tightest set of hooks, which is not the ideal situation if you want to get the most life out of your bra. Conclusion: definitely go with your regular British band size and a cup size down with this bra! The band features whopping seven hooks and eyes which is great though and adds so much support to the whole ensemble. Also, the wide back band smooths any back fat rolls you might encounter with regular bras, so I know a lot of girls will enjoy this asset 😉

Comfort: I was a bit worried about the boning aspect of the longline but I needn’t have worried! I love how the boning (there are six additional bones in the band) is flexible enough to move with my body but also sturdy enough to keep the band in place. Sometimes longlines tend  to roll at the band if not reinforced with heavy boning but I think we have a pretty happy medium here! The underwires of the bra are a bit wide and high for my taste but but not horribly so to make me not to wear it. To be honest with you folks – this bra is mostly for boudoir and special events so I don’t need it to be that most practical working horse type of bra anyway!

What I like about this bra especially are the straps this time. Gossard has moved Desire’s bra straps inwards a bit more than with most of their bras, which is a huge improvement for girls like me who sometimes experience bra straps slipping off the shoulders. The straps are also fully-adjustable which is great for both more petite and tall girls alike!

What I really loved about this set are the panties (got them in my regular Gossard size Small) – holy cow these bottoms are sexy, comfy and practical at the same time! I know they don’t look like that but they really do good a job in my wardrobe at least. As you know, I wear a lot of pinup style dresses and with them, petticoats are essential. With petticoats though comes the problem of seams itching my tummy which is why I love high-waisted knickers! These particular ones are just high enough to please me but also feel sturdy on my tummy and look sexy even when not being the skimpiest panties on earth. I also love the detachable garter straps as they seem like good quality to me – something I will love when the weather gets warmer in the spring (no stockings for me at the moment, hrrrrr!).

If you would like to give Desire a try, you can get the set on Gossard online store for £42 for the bra (available in sizes 30-38 A-G) and £34 for the deep short (sizes XS-XL). The set comes with brazilian suspender brief as well, if high-waisted knickers are not your cup of tea. 

How do you like the Desire? Have you found a full bust longline in your size that works? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know! xx

PS. If you would like to read my article about how to buy lingerie/bras for a sensitive skin, head over to The Lingerie Addict blog! Definitely a good read for someone with eczema or psoriasis.