Lingerie Review: Rochella “Tattoo Butterfly” in 32GG

I recently wrote about a new DD+ brand Rochella which is a British middle-market brand with a good cause and a unique, more mature yet quirky aesthetics. I remember back in the day Miss Underpinnings used to talk about the lack of full-bust brands catering for the 30-something customer and I personally feel Rochella is the answer to that plea. The designs are suitable for any age but I think they do have more grown-up styles than eg Cleo and Curvy Kate, yet the styles are not “old” but a bit whimsical to maintain a fresh look. When interviewing the founder of the brand, Karen, she asked if I wanted to review one of her sets and of course I said yes! Today I am bringing you one of the first (if not the very first?) Rochella blog reviews out there, with their beautiful “Tattoo Butterfly” set.

The Design: I was instantly drawn to the Tattoo Butterfly set as it was something rather unique to me: I had never had a bra with butterflies on it and even though the idea sounded a bit juvenile to me, there is nothing too young and cute about this bra. The design is, in one word, STUNNING. I have actually always loved butterflies, I hate bugs in general, but I find butterflies to be the miracles of nature and each time I see one, it makes me so happy. Even though butterflies are usually depicted as super colourful with the shades of orange and yellow, I really enjoyed the teal and black combination of the set which makes it so much more sophisticated. Also the completely sheer upper panel of the bra is amazing, something not many brands have been brave enough to do.

The shape of the bra is something between the new Curvy Kate balconettes and perhaps a slight bit of Freya G+ balconettes. There is a tiny bit of point to the apex but there is still much more room at the top of the cup than eg with Freya. For a new brand, the shape is very good right from the start with enough uplift to avoid the downwards-7 effect, which can sometimes occur with three-part cup construction + the balconette style. The style is a true balconette but not a completely full-coverage one – this bra is very suitable for everyday wear and goes under most tops and dresses beautifully. I wear it regularly with my Pinup Girl Clothing peasant tops and the butterflies on the cup edge peek beautifully from the low neckline of the top.

The Fit: This is always the most interesting part of reviewing a new brand for you. When looking at the Rochella size chart, you can see that there are no 30 bands in sight, meaning I resulted in opting for my second most worn size, 32GG. I thought it might be a close shot as I am now leaning more towards 32 bands these days – however, British brands are infamous for being looser in the band than their Polish sisters. This was the case with Rochella as well; the 32 band was a size too big for me, but luckily it had four (!) sets of hooks and eyes to tighten it a bit. I am usually wearing it in the tightest or second tightest set of hooks, which is unfortunate as it shortens the lifespan of the bra a bit for me. The fit of the band is definitely on par with the likes of Curvy Kate and Freya, so if you are between band sizes, do size down.

The cups are a bit deeper than your usual British full-bust bra which is a huge upside for me personally – I find most British bras too shallow for my full bust and the Tattoo Butterfly fits me beautifully without any wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. Compared to its Polish counterparts the bra is not super forward-projecting but not as wide and splayed as eg Curvy Kate either. Also the wires are quite average in my opinion, the perfect medium between Polish and most British bras. The straps of the bra are quite long so take that into consideration if you are on the petite side! However, they are also fully-adjustable so there’s a lot of leeway to make them fit you the way you want.

Comfort: Overall the Rochella Tattoo Butterfly set is very comfortable – the materials feel high-quality (though I would be careful with the see-through mesh, it’s super thin and delicate!) and soft to touch. The outer layer is made of stretch satin and the lining out of polyester; I personally prefer cotton lining with my bras but I do feel this is another great option as I don’t feel it’s the kind of scratchy cheap polyester. The lining is a pretty lavender shade to show the support to gynaecology cancer survivors and sufferers – this makes sense as some of the profits go to a gynaecology cancer charity, which is awesome when we are talking about such a new brand.

The only thing that takes a bit away from the comfort factor of this set is that the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me and the cup edge comes up high enough in the armpit to chafe me while being more active. This has not prevented me from wearing this bra A LOT though, so I would say all in all the Rochella sets are not just pretty to look at, they are also quite comfy and very well-fitting. Also the panties get an A+ from me: I went for the size UK 10-12 and they fit me beautifully, I would even say they are one of my most flattering bottoms I own. The back of the briefs is made of super stretchy mesh so these are very butt-friendly and sexy at the same time.

The price point of Rochella is a bit higher than with most UK full-bust brands but that is kind of what the founder of the brand went for – better quality and a big size range (32-42 D-J) are key features with Rochella and I personally feel that £59 for a bra and £30 for the bottoms is a fair price for the pieces. Heck, the hardware on the front part of the straps is 18 ct gold! If you would like to give Rochella lingerie a try, I would suggest taking a look at their web shop, which you find here. They are also adding 30 bands this upcoming autumn so stay tuned for that if you are outside their size range at the moment! I am personally looking forward to trying something from the AW16 collection in 30H, which will be a sligthly better fit for me size-wise. xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard Harmony in 32G + the Teddy

Hi everyone! Sorry about being less active this month here on the blog – I gotta confess that I haven’t been feeling my best and the job hunting + uni work has been fierce. I am kinda depressed that I still haven’t been able to find a summer job and it’s nearly May – meaning I have no idea how I’m going to pay my June’s rent. I have been in so many interviews but the problem seems to be that I am over-educated for the jobs I’m applying for, and then again, have no diploma to take on a job that would require a higher degree of education (it’s my fourth year in uni and I still have two more to go…). On the positive note, my beach vacation is drawing closer and closer which is a lovely thought in the midst of extreme anxiety.

However we are not here to talk about my anxiety today! I have a lovely new set of bra, panties and a teddy to show you from Gossard and I am guessing you can’t wait to read another review! So here we go… *This set was gifted to me by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: Gossard “Harmony” is one their new spring launches that oozes the fresh air of spring with a delicate almost toilé-like print. The colours are very subtle yet quite interesting – you can’t really see all the beautiful shades of grey, blue and purple from the pictures, but trust me, the colours are far more pretty in flesh! I also find the colour combo very interesting as it is not something we usually see from Gossard this time of the year. I really like the way they are mixing it up a bit and trying out some unusual lighter spring colours for this SS16 season. The styling is otherwise very simple and there is only some slight folding and stitching on the cup edges.

The shape of the Harmony plunge bra is very similar to other Gossard plunge styles this spring meaning there is quite a bit of bra to it (if you know what I mean?) and shape is quite uplifted and round, yet natural. To me, it feels again like a bit too much fabric, but what can I say, I do wear one of the largest sizes they offer. Compared to eg the Desire bra I tried a few months ago, this one feels a bit lighter though in construction can be worn without adding too much bulk under regular clothing.

The Fit: I went with my regular Gossard size 32G and size Small bottoms and wasn’t disappointed this time either. The size is definitely right for me, but to be honest the fit of the Gossard plunges is not the best for me anymore. I am not sure if it’s my shape that has changed but I do still have some older Gossard bras in my bradrobe and they fit me quite nicely, which brings me to the conclusion that there must have been some changes to the patterns as well. I think the new patterns would perhaps be better on someone with less fullness at the centre and also at the top, as I feel like the bra is cutting a bit into my upper breast tissue even though being the right size for me. As you can see, there is also slight gaping where the strap meets the cup which indicates that the bra is just the wrong shape for my boobs. Pity, but will be a great fit for someone with perhaps more fullness towards the armpit area and the lower half of their breasts.

It’s a bit hard to see where the wire goes in the pics with the busy print and all, but I assure you that wire-wise this bra is a much better fit for me than Desire. The wires hit me at the right spot and the cups are overall quite a nice depth for my boobs. There is only tiny bit of space left on the bottom part of the left cup (note that my left boobs is fuller meaning it requires more depth) meaning it is not quite deep enough but definitely not as shallow to deem it a bad fit. The band is the right size for me though I have come to the conclusion that Gossard must me making their bands a bit bigger nowadays, meaning it does not run a full band size small anymore. I would say this one is right between 30 and 32 bands.

Comfort: Great materials, simplistic styling and fully adjustable bra straps makes this set a winner for many gals out there looking for the perfect spring-appropriate everyday set. The material choices are very sleek and soft to the skin, meaning this is a set that can be worn for several hours without any discomfort. The straps are again placed a bit too far-apart for my body and liking, but for someone with a bit broader shoulders, it wouldn’t be an issue.However, the straps are also made of simple elastics that are sturdy enough to hold well no matter what.

The bottoms that come with the set are one of the most comfy I have tried this spring and thus they are on regular use even when I’m not wearing the matching bra. I like how “basic” they are – just regular short-style bottoms that go well under almost anything. The size is perfect for me with these, so I would say they run true-to-size compared to other Gossard knickers.

The Teddy: I received the Harmony teddy to go along with my lingerie set but unfortunately, with my curvy hourglass figure it was not the best match. I received the UK size 12 to make sure it fitted me in a relaxed way but again, my boobs, butt and long torso were a bit too much for it – it wasn’t too small but the waist hit me at an awkward spot. I would say the loungewear runs a bit smaller than eg their bottom sizes so do size up for a more comfortable fit. However, the biggest problem with me + the teddy seemed to be my super long torso, which made it too short for me to wear without the bottom part riding up my crack (hehe). With heavy heart, I gifted the teddy to my bestie Jo and she was happy to give it a test run. Turned out, it was quite lovely for her body shape regardless of the fact that she would have probably been better off with a size 10.

The thing with the teddy is that you have to loosen up the straps quite a lot to get a more comfy fit with it – at first, it was too short for Jo as well! When we noticed the straps needed to be loosened a lot, it fitted so much better and now it’s totally wearable. Take into account though that Jo’s torso is much shorter than mine and she is also a couple of cm’s shorter than me (I’m 5’6). After getting the fit right, Jo has been super happy with the teddy and has been wearing it on a regular basis as it is such a comfortable piece to lounge around in. The materials are the same as with the lingerie set; super soft satin that is light to wear even in the hot summer months.

If you are interested in getting a second opinion on the set, here’s a review of it on Comics Girls Need Bras! The set and the teddy is sold on Gossard online store for £34 for the bra (30-38 A-G), £16 for the shorts (XS-XL) and £39 for the teddy (UK 8-16). How do you like the Harmony set? Are you gravitating towards lighter colours now that it’s spring? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard Superboost Lace in 32G

Let’s face it – I am not a huge fan of t-shirt bras. They are usually too bulky for me, creating extra volume that I just don’t need. When Gossard suggested that I would give their Superboost Lace t-shirt bra a try, you can imagine I was a bit hesitant – would it be a super push-up bra that I would never use after reviewing it? I decided to give the set a go because it is such a classic in Gossard’s continuity selection and I actually really liked the new salmon red colour of the ensemble. Here’s how I liked one of my first t-shirt bras in so many months!

Design: As opposed to what I thought it would be, the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra is actually made of a rather thin moulded foam and it is great for anyone who feels that eg. the Freya Deco feels a bit too thick for everyday wear (or has too much cleavage, on the other hand). My mum, for example, loves spacer foam for its breathability and seamless finish, and the material of the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra comes very close to it. It is not quite as thin as spacer foam but definitely not thick or bulky in anyway.

Otherwise the Superboost Lace is something quite pretty for an everyday bra. It has some nice lace adornments on the bra band – however, take this into consideration if your skin is very sensitive and can’t take lace. The lace on Superboost is quite soft though so I personally did not have any gripes with it. The shape of the bra is quite natural so no boobs up to your chin or anything dramatic like that. There is subtle cleavage on show (depending on your breast tissue distribution/placement of course) but nothing epic that would not be suitable for jobs that have a fairly casual dress code. The gore is quite low meaning this bra can easily be worn with low-cut tops and open necklines.

Fit: I opted for my regular Gossard size of 32G and it certainly runs true to size for this particular brand – that is snug in the band and large in the cup compared to other British brands. The cups are quite a bit too wide and shallow for me, hence the empty space at the bottom of the cups. I am a bit surprised about this as usually Gossard bras fit me pretty much perfectly but apparently moulded cup bras and I are not meant to be. I know they have their place in so many peoples hearts but my boobs seem to just state “Nope. We are so not getting along with this.”

The band of the Superboost t-shirt bra is quite narrow compared to a regular Gossard 32G band, meaning it only features two hooks and eyes. I personally prefer three for extra support but some women actually like narrower bands and bra straps, even just for the looks. The bra straps are quite widely placed meaning not the best for my shoulders but they are fully-adjustable meaning it is a great bra for women with shorter torsos.

Comfort: This set is quite comfy when it comes to materials – they are definitely soft to touch even though I personally prefer cotton as cup lining. However, the whole set feels super soft to touch and even the lace feels silky and stretchy which makes it quite nice for even more sensitive skin types. As the straps of this bra are quite widely placed, I did have some trouble with the cup edges cutting into my armpits – luckily though the materials are smooth enough to make it up for the extra height near the armpits.

I also got to try the matching Brazilian brief in size Small and the silky soft feeling extends to the bottoms as well. To my taste, brazilian briefs are always a bit too skimpy – I prefer the good old high-waisted bottoms or hipsters as they feel more comfy under my dresses than any thong or brazilian I have ever tried. The back side of the bottoms is very stretchy though which is why it is great for those who fear the dreaded VPL.

If you would like to get the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra (£25) and brazilians (£14) as a nice everyday set, they can be purchased at the Gossard online store. The bra is available in sizes 30-38 A-G and the knickers in size XS to XL.

What is your favourite t-shirt bra? Have you tried the Superboost Lace and how do you like it? Let me know your opinion in the comments! I would be happy discover more great t-shirt options even just for my mum’s sake 😉 xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Watercolour Roses” in 30DD

I love working with Gossard as they have been so kind to 2COP from the very beginning and as Jo came along, I have loved how we could showcase the differences of Gossard’s two size ranges. Gossard also comes up with such a variety of lovely styles and prints that I can hardly keep up! This Watercolour Roses print was one of those pure diamonds Gossard came up with for the AW15 season and I was surprised to see how some other brands followed along with this pastel-y romantic autumn trend. As this particular styles goes only up to E-cup, it was Jo’s turn to take the place on the stage. *This set was kindly gifted to Jo by Gossard. All opinions are our own.*

Design: As I showed Jo the Gossard catalog to see what she liked, this was one of the first styles that caught her eye – “it’s so pretty!” And it truly is. The print is consists of what it’s called – watercolour roses – and its paint-like flowers are a mixture of both cool and warm tones which creates a lovely winter-garden-like impression. The printed satin is accompanied with a lovely quality embroidery which adorns the cup edges and and the bra band.

The shape of the bra is a true plunge with a three-part cup construction that gives the bust line a lot of uplift and pushes the boobs together just enough to create an alluring cleavage. The shape is rather rounded yet natural and the amount of coverage is just right for open/plunging necklines.

Fit: I asked for a 30DD for Jo as it is her best-fitting Gossard size so far. Even though the Gypsy bra (click for the review!) was a bit roomy on her allover, the Watercolour Roses felt like a pretty regular Gossard bra with a snug band and large-ish cups. However, it seems that Jo is a bit between with cup sizes right now as sometimes, her left boob tries to escape the cup a tiny bit and thus, we would very much like to put her in a 30DD 1/2 if we could! For the push-up effect though, this is a much better size than a 30E which would undoubtedly be left gaping.

The band is very narrow with Watercolour Roses so if you feel like one hook and eye won’t support you properly, this is probably not the bra for you. The fit is however very good on Jo, who usually wears a 28 band. However, with Gossard she seems to be between band sizes too and if we could put her in a half a size smaller band, the fit would be just a tiny bit better for her. As we know, tighter bands last for a longer period of time and will prevent you from tossing the bra too early for loss of support! The wires however are great on Jo and as with yours truly, they hit just the right spot at the root of the breast. The cup shape and depth are also perfect for Jo’s full-on-bottom boobs so I would definitely recommend this bra for you FOB ladies out there!

Comfort: When it comes to the materials and fit, Gossard always makes some of the most comfortable lingerie on the market. The cups are always lined with something soft and non-itchy and the wires are flexible enough to move with your body all-day-long – even after several hours, the bras are totally wearable and not pressing your ribcage like mad. What does not work with Jo’s body though, are the infamous Gossard straps – they are once again a bit too long but luckily, not as stretchy as with the Gypsy.

The bottoms Jo chose for her set were the thong as she rarely wears anything else – a complete opposite to me, that is! The fit of the XS looks prefect on her and the back part is made of stretchy mesh that makes up for the more rigid satin-y front panel. The construction of the thong is quite simple and frill-free which makes it a perfect option for everyday-wear under tighter clothes such as skinny jeans.

If you would like to get yourself a very own set of Watercolour Roses, do take a look at the Gossard online store. The plunge bra retails for a £34 and the thong for £14, so a reasonable price for such a lovely and comfy set of lingerie.

What do you think of the fall trend of pastel florals? Do you feel it’s more appropriate for spring or do you like the winter garden look? Let me know in the comments!

Sunday with Samanta: A345 Morganit in 65J

Hiya everyone! Are you having a fabulous Sunday? I hope so! However, if you have cleaned up the house and done your chores, I would suggest even more to take a nice break and read my September “Sunday with Samanta” post with a good cup of tea. Ready? Here we go!

Design: When I first saw Morganit, I knew I had to have it. Who doesn’t love pink underwear after all? I was smitten to see Samanta make such a vibrant colour and a gorgeous embroidery (once again) and as I asked to review the Morganit as my next SWS set, Marzena gladly agreed with a lovely suggestion of making one of their A345 shapes in my size. I obviously jumped for the chance – who wouldn’t want their bra especially made for them? The A345 usually stops at H-cup which is two cup sizes smaller than what I wear so Marzena asked their seamstress to make me one so I could try the style. To be clear, all of the Samanta styles can be made especially for you in bigger cup sizes as well, but the price will accordingly be double the normal. However, if you are a rather hard-to-find size and need something specific, I would happily recommend Samanta as your go-to-brand.

The A345 shape is meant for a larger and less firm bust as most of the other Samanta styles available in big cup sizes. The purpose of the almost half-cup-like balconette shape is to collect the bust to the front and enhance it to appear more rounded and also, kind-of in-your-face with the formed cleavage. The effect is pretty clear and great with eg my Collectif “Dolores Doll” dress which requires all-over low-cut bra. The shape of the A345 is very rounded so something a lot of you girls would enjoy!

Fit: I was so excited to get trying the A345 cut as it is something that is rarely made in bigger cup sizes – half cups and especially ones that give a good “two cakes on a a plate” cleavage are usually doomed as the small-cup bra even though it CAN work in bigger sizes as well. I love the pushed-up look of the bra and was excited to see a brand make it with deep cups and good, sturdy construction. The Samanta A345 is something that is widely copied in the lingerie world and especially other Polish brands have blatantly stolen the design as it has turned out to be a rather popular one.

I went for my regular Samanta size of 65J and as it is a deep style, the other cup remains a tiny bit empty as my right boob is smaller than my left one. This does not bother me though and I wear the bra with a removable padding in the other cup. Marzena mentioned to me that some of their bras with this shape come with the push-up pads to correct a-symmetry and give some extra oomph, but somehow my bra did not include the pads (which is totally understandable as it was especially made for me and not a ready-to-wear item). The shape of the bra is ideal for my full-on-top boobs and there is a lot of space at the top of the cups to accommodate fuller breast tissue.

The band is nice and snug so I would say this compares to a rather regular UK 30 band, maybe a tad tighter. The wires are an average width which suits my breast root very well and I happy to say nothing pokes me or irritates me with this bra. The bra straps are quite widely-set with this particular style and are obviously a consequence of the low-cut bra cups – less coverage means widely placed straps and I am not sure if there is even a way around it. The straps are also detachable so the bra could easily be worn as a multiway or even a strapless in an emergency situation 😉

Comfort: This bra is a great everyday bra but also suits many festive occasions when you need something low or perhaps a racerback bra. The bra is very comfy with its silky-soft materials and padded straps – these little touches really matter and set Samanta apart as a company who really thinks about their most sensitive customers. My only gripe with the bra is that apparently, my shoulders are quite narrow and the straps are not at the best spot for me. The edge of the bra cups tend to chafe me a bit when the straps are placed this widely but so far, I haven’t had a horribly bad problems with them – maybe it’s the super soft materials? Also the straps are half-adjustable so keep that in mind as well, if you happen to be on the petite side.

I also got to try the B300 regular briefs and they are very comfy. If I am being brutally honest, I am on my periods now and I am very picky about my panties that time of the month- However, I can safely say, these suckers are very comfy and great for everyday wear. Also, what better way to cheer you up on your period than a gorgeous pink set of underwear? As a set, this beauty is worth the price!

Speaking of the price, as always, you will get a nice 20% off your A345 Morganit with the code “Mette“. The bra will set you back at 37,04 € with the discount so not bad at all for such a comfy looker! The B300 briefs are sold for 23€ but there is also the option of the brazilian brief and the boxers, if the regular panties are not your thing. Do also let me know what do you think of the bra – is it something you would like to try and what is your opinion on the half-cup style in bigger cup sizes? xx

Lingerie Review: Kris Line “Manuela” in 65H

Over the time, the two Kris Line reviews and my introduction post to the brand have been some of the most popular posts I have ever written. It is quite clear why, too – Kris Line is one of those Polish brands that are widely accessible through the likes of Brastop and Zulily with very reasonable pricing, which makes it a good first choice for testing Polish lingerie. For me, Kris Line has always held a special place in my heart – their wires are not narrow enough to poke me in my breast tissue and the designs are breathtakingly beautiful. Today, I am reviewing something that will be a continuity range for Kris Line starting from last summer and continuing at least to the next summer season. Let me introduce you to the beautiful Manuela! *This set was kindly gifted to me by Kris Line. All opinions are my own.*

Design: I chose the non-padded balconette Manuela but in true Kris Line style, this design comes in several bra and bottom options. I also received the complementing briefs to match my bra. Why I decided to opt for the non-padded bra with this style was because of the realization of the fact that this is the most popular bra style in my bradrobe and thus, it is the most practical everyday style for me. The bra cups are constructed of three pieces, one seam going diagonally and one going vertically, to form a very traditional and natural bust line. The bottom half of the cups is double-lined but the top part remains completely sheer.

The colour and styling of Manuela are absolutely breathtaking and I first fell in love with the sky blue hue and the detailed embroidery of the set. I am fan of blue lingerie in general as it suits my skin tone, eyes and hair colour pretty bang-on, but I am also a sucker for trends and this autumn, it is all about the blues. I was very happy how the styling turned out in flesh as well and the shade of the set, which is truly stunning.

Fit: As I had tried Kris Line soft cups before and found them to run a bit on the bigger side, I decided to size down to 65H this time. Kris Line sizing is quite unique but if you want to learn more about it, I would highly recommend taking a look at my previous post on the brand. According to the size chart I would be a 70H which is the size I went for last time and it fitted me pretty well in both the Deco-shape and their soft cup style. However, I have found the bands become a bit loose after a good amount of wears and decided I would go for 65 this time, just to give my bras a little more time to live. Also, I lost some weight after I first acquired my Kris Line bras about a year ago and I think I have gone about half a cup size down after that. This is why I chose to go down with my cup size as well this time, resulting in 65H as my best size with their soft cup style.

The 65 band feels nice and snug but not restrictive in any way, which is sometimes the result when gambling with your band size. However, I did not notice a significant difference to the 70 band so if you are between band sizes, I would suggest taking the smaller one, even just for longevity. The cups encase my breast tissue nicely and again, the wires are perfect for me as always with Kris Line. The straps are only half adjustable but that has not been a problem for me with this bra, however, I am 5″6 so definitely not petite. If you quite petite though, I would consider getting yourself some Strap Savers or skipping this style all together. Overall, the fit of the bra on me is spot-on and I have no gripes with it whatsoever!

Comfort: I love how comfy Kris Line bras are! If I would have to pick two of the most comfortable brands I wear on day-to-day basis, those would definitely be Kris Line and Gossard. Of course, no brand makes everything perfect to the last detail but these two brands keep rotating in my everyday bradrobe from day to day. I guess it’s a lot due to wiring and comfy bands – if you are pretty average breast root -wise like me, I think you would love Kris Line as well! They are a happy medium between the usual wide British wires and very narrow Polish wires. If Ewa Michalak is not your thang, definitely try KL instead!

When it comes to the panties, I would recommend taking your regular Polish size which is a medium for me. I usually wear a Small with most British brands so especially, if you are between sizes, do size up. I must say the Small is absolutely tiny with KL panties and still, the Medium is smaller than eg my Freya briefs in Small.

If you would like to try some Kris Line for yourself, I would highly recommend checking out Zulily for American customers and Brastop for.. well, basically everyone else 😀 The prices are usually very reasonable on these sites and you are sure to score a bargain!

How do you like Manuela? Also, how do you like the blue colour trend for this autumn? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Gossard Celebrates the Re-Launch of Gypsy! – Our Review on the Collection

A fun little story – when we were on a plane to Helsinki before our flight to London we sat next to a previous lingerie shop owner. She was super interested about our blog so we brought up some brands Jo and I had worked with and when we mentioned Gossard, the lady went nuts and told all about how she had stocked them in a small town shop in the 80’s. That was the same reaction I got from my mom when I told I was collaborating with Gossard – she gushed about it like it was the biggest deal on earth (and it kinda still is to me!) and told how she used to have a co-worker in the 80-90’s who wore nothing but Gossard and was the most proud of it. I finally got it – this brand was a heck of a big deal in the 80’s and I was so proud to represent them as they were one of my favourite brands too, still making fabulous on-trend lingerie for sizes A-G.

Today, we are celebrating the relaunch of one of the most iconic Gossard sets and that is the Gypsy – the set that “made men faint”, as the 80’s Gossard commercial lead to believe. Obviously, I did not live in the 80’s but born over a decade after so it is impossible to compare the new revamped Gypsy to its original counterpart. However, we will do our best to review the new Gypsy to its very last detail – so here we go! 
Design: For a lingerie set designed in the 80’s the Gypsy seems like a fairly classic option for everyday use. As Jo put it – it is so comfy you wanna wear it everyday but still rather sexy so you kinda wanna keep it as a special occasion set. That is, the Gypsy is a perfect medium between the impractical boudoir bra (without the impracticality) and something you put on everyday when you go to work. The style is available in both non-padded full-cup style and a semi-padded demi-cup bra. Obviously, the full-cup goes up to G as it is crafted more for lthe fuller bust and the demi-cup goes up to E – now you can imagine it was a no-brainer who went with which style! The set is completed with a pair of knickers of your choice – I went with the delicious high-rise panties for my uber-vintage look whereas Jo wanted to stick with her everyday style that is the thong.

The Gypsy has definitely been revamped in some way but still has its original feel to it – just without the 80’s vibe. The colours have changed a bit too as instead of the creamy white colour this relaunch brings us a more versatile Caramel shade which is ideal for a pale skin tone like mine. The shape of the full-cup is pretty much the same but just a tiny bit more uplifted and rounded as 80’s full-cups tended to have a bit more toned-down yet pointy shape to them. The lace has a lovely little sheen to it which gives the set its glamorous feel and little something extra to the classic style.

The Fit: Now to the most interesting part as it always quite exciting to see how an “old” style works after revising it a bit. As I have not tried the original Gypsy, I cannot compare the sizing at all but I hope this bit still helps you to figure out your best size in the new version! I was sent my regular size of 32 G + size Small bottoms and Jo went with her regular 30DD + size XSmall bottoms.

To sum it all up, the Gypsy range runs overall a bit big which is why you can see my other cup wrinkling at the top. Jo and I noted the same thing with our Gypsy sets – the cups run a full size larger than any other Gossard bra we own and by the way, that is one large pool of Gossard bras. Also the bands were a tad looser than normal so I would say if you are between band sizes with Gossard bras, size down in this particular style. My 32 was a fairly good fit though so I wouldn’t change that necessarily, just the cup size is notably too big for me. The 30DD was on the other hand too big in the band for Jo and only a tad big in the cups, which was btw easily fixed with tightening the straps with some help from the Strap Saver (click link for the review!). Both the demi-cup and the full-cup bras included a layer of the softest stretch lace you can imagine – great for a-symmetrical boobs and comfort in general!

The wires of Gypsy felt particularly narrow for me compared to my other Gossard bras and you can see in the pictures how nicely the underwire curves right next to my armpit without going too far in it. Gossard wires are always absolutely perfect on me but I can see some girls with narrower breast root enjoying this style quite a bit – it definitely rivals any Polish brand with its wire-width! The straps are quite long with Gypsy so if you are petite like Jo, do give the Strap Saver a go as it can shorten any too-long straps to make the fit of the bra a lot better.

Comfort: Can everyone just praise Hallelujah as Gossard did it again?! As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, the Gypsy is exactly that lingerie set you want to take everywhere with you – to work, to a nightclub, to a summer holiday, you name it. It is such a lightweight set you barely notice it when being active but then again, it also looks good and you can feel confident it it without anything else on. Especially for me the high-waisted knickers sealed the deal with my love affair to this set – they are perfect under light-coloured pencil skirts and dresses and also feel so soft against my hyper-sensitive skin. Also the thong option is lovely and wide at the back with a seamless finish to avoid any bulges or VPL.

What could be improved with this set is the straps though – they are bit too long even for me who never really struggles with too-long straps. This is a common feature with Gossard bras but still something that could be addressed in the future. Otherwise though, everything was so spot-on with both of our sets comfort-wise and we cannot recommend them enough as great basics to any girls lingerie drawer.

Gypsy has launched TODAY and is now ready to be purchased on the Gossard online store! The non-padded full-cup bra retails for an affordable £30 and the padded demi-cup for £32. The bottoms come in sizes XS-XL and feature a regular brief (£16), the thong (£14) and the deep short (£22). Give this babe a try and you won’t be disappointed!

What do you think of the Gypsy? Have you tried the original version and how do you feel it compares to the new? Let me know in the comments, we are dying to know! xx

Nifty Little Worker in Your Bradrobe: “The Strap Saver” Review + GIVEAWAY!

We all know that sometimes we buy a bra that does not quite fit our body type perfectly but still, it feels impossible to part with a bra so beautiful just because it is not perfect fit- or comfort-wise. Also, sometimes you love a bra to death and it gets a bit tired – but again we face the problem whether to ditch it or try to bring it back to life. When I was contacted on the behalf of the so called “Strap Saver”, I was instantly intrigued about this nifty little helper that would make some of my favourite bras work a little better.

In a nutshell, Strap Saver is a metallic little tool to make your bra straps tighter – the product was invented for the purpose of bringing life back to worn-out straps but to me, this seemed like a perfect option to test out with some of my bras that have quite long shoulder straps and kept falling off for this very reason. I also knew this “mommy’s little helper” would be perfect for Jo as she is very petite and almost all of her bras have too long straps for her tiny figure – which is why I went all greedy and asked a pair of Strap Savers for both of us. The Strap Saver team was happy to oblige and sent us both a pair – one in the one inch width and another one in the 1/2 inch width. Here’s our review on this convenient little product!

The Strap Saver package comes with a cute pink pouch for your Savers, a set of two Savers with your preferred width (you can choose from 1/4″, 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ – so plenty of options there!) and two small leaflets which include the instructions of how to use the product. As we both got different widths, we have tried to showcase the size of these different options in the pictures, to give you a good idea what size would be a good one for you personally.

As I am big-busted gal myself, my bra straps usually come with quite wide straps which is why chose the widest Strap Saver for myself. In the pictures below you can see the Saver attached to my Comexim “Irish Coffee” which has extremely stretchy and slippery straps – something that the strap saver will be of help with! Jo went for the 1/2″ Savers as most of her bradrobe consists of Gossard who are notorious for making narrow bra straps. Her Savers are pictured on the to-be-reviewed Gossard “Gypsy” (which will btw be introduced tomorrow!).

When we tried to Savers for the first time, it was a bit off a hassle with the instructions – keep in mind that we are not native English-speakers and sometimes require a bit clearer instructions to actually understand how something works. This is something that the Strap Saver team could perhaps take into consideration – some people might need a bit more detailed pictures to figure out how to use the product! After a little while of chewing our finger nails, Jo finally figured out how the product works and off we went with the trial-and-error. Here’s how the thing works in all its glory!

1. Pull your bra adjuster to the point from which you want to start shortening the strap. After this, pull the loop which the adjuster creates and try to figure out an ideal length for your strap. The more you pull the loop, the shorter the straps get eventually. Then, press the loop against the top part of the strap (the part near to the bra cup edge).

2. Slide the Strap Saver through the loop, UNDERNEATH the strap with the bigger half of the Strap Saver grasping the strap first. The narrower half of the Saver is left underneath the strap at this point.

3. Slide the the strap that’s coming through the bigger half of the Strap Saver through the smaller half and pull a tiny bit. And voilà – you are done! Not tricky at all in the end but feels a bit daunting at first 😉

I know some other bloggers have come up with their own instructions as well, but we really wanted to explain it in the most simple way so that all of our international ladies as well can get a proper idea. Not at all hard to do, but you may find this How-To or the video clips on the strap saver site quite useful.

While at 2COP we believe that a worn-out bra is no longer worth your unconditional love and you probably should get a new one if your straps have worn out, there are a LOT of occasions in which the Strap Saver seems like a fantastic choice. Have you ever had problems with spaghetti straps on your dresses or tank tops? Strap Saver is a great way to shorten those up too but for this purpose, you need to sets of strap savers if the item in question does not have adjusters of its own. There is a separate instruction leaflet for that as well and this way, you can use the Saver on items that were not “supposed to be” adjusted in the first place. The materials of the Strap saver are quite “rough” so not the prettiest but this probably helps the little thingys to stay in place and be actually functional. If the metal colourway is not your thing, there is also black and beige on offer. The first pair in your order costs $15 but each additional pair is only $10 extra – how cool is that!

If there is a way to make non-slippery Strap Savers without making them look too rough (see, we don’t know cause engineering is not our thang!), we would love to see more rounded corners and prettier colours with this product – it is so extremely practical that I wouldn’t mind having it in gold or rose gold colour options as well! And indeed, when it comes to practicality, the Strap Saver is truly something every girl should own to make your bradrobe much more functional!

If you want to give the Strap Saver a proper try, you can now get it at the Strap Saver online store and the international shipping is just $2 regardless of how many Savers you decide to purchase! Standard US shipping is completely free which makes it all more accessible to domestic customers.

NOW, if you want to try your luck you can take part in the Strap Saver raffle to win a $50 VISA gift card! The raffle ends on 7th of September which gives you roughly a week to take part. It is very simple! Click the link below and follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget. The only compulsory task is to comment on this blog post with your worst strap malfunction story and you will gain an entry to the raffle! The other tasks are completely optional and will give you extra entries in the raffle. Good luck and do also let me know what you think of the product!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/aac0b1c51/

Sunday with Samanta: A225 “Hemaris” in 65J

Hello everyone and hope you are having a fabulous Sunday! Mine has been pretty good and I am now happily in bed ready to blog for you about my next Samanta venture – the Hemaris in A225. Hemaris is one of the Samanta best-sellers and belongs to the affordable “Young”-collection, which is – as the name suggests – targeted for young trendy women on budget. The Young -collection features more basic styles with simplistic yet hip lace and embroidery combined to an array of bright colours and fun prints. I received the Hemaris in the A225 cut which is specifically crafted for larger breasts and thus goes up to K-cup.

Design: When I first found out the lovely Marzena from Samanta had thought of Hemaris for me to try next, I wasn’t super excited about the set – however, the leopard print lace and the orange-y red turned out to be a fun combo for everyday wear and I did like the style when I saw it in flesh! The colour is a little warmer than your average red which makes it appropriate for this late summer we are now experiencing and also, looks nice on most skin tones, I think.

The A225 cut is a semi-soft style which is something Polish bra companies are famous for – and which really suits so many breast shapes especially if you are on the softer side! However, me and Marzena discussed some of the fit issues I encountered with the semi-soft construction, and we can both safely say this is not the best bra shape for me.The A225 Hemaris constructs of three cup pieces with a stretch lace on top to accommodate any a-symmetry and the style is overall a bit wider and deeper than most Samanta styles I have tried so far.

Fit: I got the Hemaris in my usual Samanta size which is 65J (translates roughly to UK 30GG). Usually Samanta has been very consistent with their sizing, but it seems that the semi-soft styles run a bit larger than their soft and padded bras which is why I could have easily done well in a 65I with the A225 shape. There is also something to my bust that does not co-operate with semi-soft styles at all (finally, a shape that does NOT work for me, haha!) – and when we discussed this with Marzena she instantly told me it is probably the density of my breasts. The A225 style is specifically designed for larger but also softer breasts and as mine are still very firm, the breast tissue does not conform to the semi-soft shape and fill it completely at the apex.

As you can see in the pictures, this style is also quite wide for me allover and thus is not the ideal look and fit I prefer. Even though I am not super narrow at my breast root, I do prefer bras that minimize the look of my boobs and makes them fit into tighter dresses when needed. However, I can imagine this bra shape being ideal for women who have lost some of their fullness and density and want to feel fuller and uplifted again! For example, if you have just breast-fed and are changing back to regular bras, this could be a great option for the fuller-busted lady.

Comfort: As fit and comfort usually go hand in hand, this was not the best of Samanta bras I have tried comfort-wise either. The materials were incredibly soft and well thought-out, but the construction with its wider cups and also, wider-placed straps did not suit me very well. I just recently found out that apparently, I am quite narrow at my shoulders and widely-placed straps are not the most comfortable for me and unfortunately, it seems that this particular bra is not very good match with my body shape. This is something many British and American women struggle as well when it comes to Polish bras – it seems Polish girls are a bit more broad-shouldered and want less coverage which leads for the bras to have wider strap-placement with Polish bras in general. I have given feedback about this particular matter to eg Avocado who are tackling the the issue at the very moment.

Usually though, Samanta bras have been nice and comfortable for me, so this time, is no doubt just one style that simply does not go well with my proportions and body type. However, if you are a bit wider than me all over (breast root- and shoulder-wise) you could find the A225 quite good for you needs. Also the size I take usually faces some problems as the small band and big cups are not the easiest combination to accommodate in every single bra style. However, for materials and overall feeling, Samanta always earns an A+ as they really make an effort to use the best quality laces and also the softest cotton lining in the bra cups. The M300 brazilian briefs are also a dream to wear as the stretch lace really accommodates your own body shape and leaves no bulges or seams on sight.

If you interested to try out the Hemaris, it is now on sale for a very good price of 32,30 e for the A225 bra and 13,70 e for the Brazilian brief. Do snatch them before they are completely gone!

What do you think of Hemaris in A225? Have any of you tried any semi-soft bras and how do you like the shape in general? Let me know in the comments!

Comparison of Ewa Michalak BM- and S-cuts: BM Landrynek + S Neonek

Hello peeps! I just got back from Finland, and boy does it feels good to be back home again! Even though I am currently on a sick leave for a sprained ankle and a flu (yap, UK was a bit rough on me) I am happy to get back to blogging. Somehow August kind of divides the year for me in a nice way and I feel like everything is fresh and new from the new minors I am starting at uni and a new makeup collection I just acquired on my trip. Also, I am happy to start this autumn season with some gorgeous bright neons from a favourite of many full-busted gals – Ewa Michalak. The EM team was so kind to send me a couple of their most recent shapes BM and S to try out and I was happy to get trying some new styles from them.

To get the styles straight, let me start with a introduction to the shapes. Ewa Michalak carries several different shapes in their collection, marked with a letter or a combination of letters attached to the name of the design. The styles I have reviewed before were the SM (a non-padded balconette for medium-large bust) and the PL (a padded plunge bra for all sizes, including detachable cookies inside the cups). As both of those shapes were a really nice fit on me, I was intrigued to see how the BM and S would do.

The S is a padded version of the SM cut, meaning a balconette designed for larger busts. However, the EM style guide mentions that the S-shape is also suitable for extra large busts meaning it does have a bit wider size range to it. The BM-cut on the other hand seems very similar to the S-cut as it is a non-padded balconette bra but as the EM site does not have a proper description on it, I am assuming it is designed for extra large busts as well, with the raised gore to bring more security and support. This way, the construction and the target market of the S and BM cuts are very similar, the only difference seems to be the padding which makes the S seem a bit bulkier to me personally.

When it comes to styling, I am huge fan of EM as they always come up with unique colour combinations and prints. This time, the focus on the Landrynek and Neonek are on the colours themselves, with some contrasting straps and trims which makes such everyday styles a bit more fun and hip. I can’t really pick which one of the combos I like more – the Neonek’s pink/banana yellow or Landrynek’s Neon Peach/Turquoise – they both are equally gorgeous. Also, both styles feature fully-adjustable straps and three hooks and eyes with the back band, which ensures the support of both styles.

Even though both of the bras are in line with each other in many ways, team EM suggested that I would try the BM in 70G and the S in 70GG as I mentioned I usually required a bigger size with padded bras. However, I am still a bit unsure if this was the right choice – it seems both of the styles run a bit bigger than for example the PL (which fits me well in 70H) and the SM (fits me in 70GG). This might be because the styles are designed with larger busts in mind meaning the sizes come a tad bigger in the first place. The BM fits me perfectly in size 70G but I think the S in 70GG is a bit on the larger side for me, so it would have been interesting to see how the 70G would have fitted in the S-cut as well. As my left boob a bit bigger than my right one, I have placed both of the cookies into the other cup, to balance out my a-symmetry and still, it seems the cups are gaping just a tiny bit. However, the bra is still totally wearable and great for those days when you want a bit of extra oomph.

In practice, I do tend to lean on the BM Landrynek more, just for the non-padded style of it. As I am a very busty gal, padded bras are not always the most practical option with most of my dresses, but the Landrynek does just the same job of uplifting and rounding as the S Neonek. Comfort-wise however, they are very similar with their super-soft materials and great supportive bands. As a rule of thumb, EM bras run very “Polish” in the brand so I would suggest sizing up for comfort. The wires are also typical for Polish brands, meaning they are rather narrow. However, I do feel like the BM and S cuts feel a lot better on me wire-wise, which could be due to tad wider wires than EM usually uses, or just the bigger cups that come with these shapes.

All in all, Ewa Michalak has once again impressed me a great deal. Also, if you would like to buy the matching panties for these sets, they are finally available! I have not tried them, at least yet, but usually EM panties are worth the money as they are extremely comfy and utterly cute! The BM Landrynek retails for 169 zlotys and the S Neonek 179 zl which translates to roughly 40-43 euros which is a very good price point for such excellent construction and fit. Do snatch these up before the sizes are gone as the AW styles start rolling very soon!

What do you think of the BM Landrynek and S Neonek? Which shapes are you favourites when it comes to EM bras? Let me know in the comments! xx