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

Redhead in Pale Pink – Review of Freya “Ooh La La” in 30GG

Hi world, I haven’t forgotten you! I just had a fantastic Christmas holiday with my family so I put aside my blog and the lingerie world for a moment, though I did receive five (!) new bras before the holidays. Today I will be introducing a set by a brand I have not bought or reviewed in a while, that is the mighty Freya. I was approached by the wonderful online boutique Clara Olivia and asked if I wanted to review something courtesy of them. I was so delighted of the chance and opted for something I had not tried in a while. The set reviewed today is the lovely “Ooh La La” which is one of the best sets Freya has released in a while. I have not worn unpadded Freya bras since my beloved 28FF Arabella so I figured it was time to give them another try…

The Design: As I opted for the Ooh La La I knew there would be something I did not like and it’s the way Freya double-lines the bottom half of their GG+ unpadded cups. I would prefer the bra to be completely see-through for a better look but obviously there is a reason why the double lining has been seen a necessity: Freya bras are designed with bottom-heavy breasts in mind, meaning they aim to support the lower part of breasts and give you superb uplift from the very root of the breast. As I am more top-heavy when it comes to my boobs, I don’t really need this but do understand the logic behind it.

The construction is pretty much the same as with the B-G sizes even though I do feel there’s a bit more coverage and the shape is more balconette as opposed to plunge. The idea behind revising the shape for the bigger sizes seems to be the extra support as well. The cups are constructed of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam. This can lead to a sad “upside-down seven” shape but luckily Freya is the master of ultimate uplift. The vertical seam goes high enough to create a curved, almost a pointy shape which actually goes great under most vintage reproduction clothing I own. The colour and looks are also pretty sweet and cutesy but also go great under light-coloured clothing. The geometrical embroidery is very Freya but not too kitchy to be a turn-off for me.

The Fit: I was a bit hesitant to order this style in 30GG as I am more of a solid 30H now with most brands. However, I had been fitted into Freya bras at Bravissimo a few months ago so I was aware that the unpadded plunge balconettes would run a bit larger than their padded balconettes. I also still wear a 30GG with my regular Deco bra and it fits well so I was pretty sure I would be fine with a GG. Luckily, I was right! The cups fit me really well though they are better for someone with a little less upper fullness, as the cups are rather closed at top.

The cups are quite deep for a British brand so if Polish bras are out of the question for you and you need deep cups/narrow wires, this is a brand for you. The shape is extremely projected and the uplift is heavenly, although I do prefer a little more subtle look under some clothing. The band features a three hooks and eyes and is one of the most comfortable 30 bands I own, meaning it’s nice and snug but has enough stretch to accommodate fair amount of movement.

Comfort: I am very well aware of how comfy Freya sets can be so my expectations were quite high. The underwires were definitely a bit on the stiffer side and I couldn’t wear the bra for multiple hours first but the wires loosened up a bit after a few wears and now they feel fine. The band and the straps are sturdy so they give me a good amount of support. The material is sturdy mesh that supports the breasts well and it’s not itchy either so I do feel the bra suits my sensitive skin. The straps are full-convertible which is always a plus for you petite and tall girls!

I opted for the panties in a size Small as my butt has grown a bit since last time I bought Freya knickers and it was a great choice size-wise. Freya bottoms usually run a bit large so as I am now between Small and Medium when it comes to panties, the Small fits me spot-on. The back part of the panties is made to prevent any VPL which is great for such a basic but pretty set as this.

All in all I really love my Freyas even though they are rarer goodies in my lingerie wardrobe. I am also ever so grateful for Clara Olivia for sending this set to be, it’s a good staple in my spring wardrobe. The bra costs an affordable £33 and the brief £16,50. The line also includes a thong, a short and a lovely suspender belt. The size range of the bra is incredible and suits both smaller and larger breasts with sizes 28-38 B-J! If you are as pale as me (see, I almost blend into the white wall!) this would be a great “nude” bra to go under those light-coloured spring clothes 🙂

What do you think of the set? Also, if you are GG+ would you like your mesh bras single or double-lined? Let me know in the comments!

Suomeksi: Moikka! Miten teidän joululoma on mennyt? Itse toivun vielä suklaista ja juustoista, mutta muuten olen nauttinut ihan alusvaatteiden täyteisestä ja rauhaisasta joulusta. Nyt arvostelupinoon on kertynyt jo aikamoinen määrä settejä, joten tässäpä olisi teille yksi uusi vaihtoehto esimerkiksi kevään vaaleita trendivärejä ajatellen! Freyan Ooh La La -setin minulle lähetti brittiläinen Evedenin merkkejä myyvä Clara Olivia mutta mielipiteeni ovat luonnolisesti omiani 😉

Minulle Freyan rintsikoista toppaamattomat plunge-mallit ovat tuttuja lähinnä vuosien takaa, sillä mieluisia malleja ei ole sattunut kohdalle sitten Arabellan. Tämä Ooh La La -setti on kuitenkin todella sievä ja mätsää hyvin kalpeaan ihooni, joten ajattelin, että miksipäs ei! Geometriset kuviot tuovat settiin mukavan lisän ja alushousujen saumaton takaosa lisäävät käytännöllisyysaspektia. Ainoa asia minkä ulkonäöstä muuttaisin, olisi kuppien vuoraus niiden alaosassa – tätä vuorausta kun ei ole koissa B-G ja minulle riittäisi vähempikin tuki kupin alaosaan.

Valitsin rintsikoista perinteisen Freya-kokoni eli 65GG:n, sillä olin pannut merkille, että Freyan toppaamattomat liivit ovat usein hieman isohkoja kupeistaan. Malli istuukin melko hyvin, huolimatta siitä että se on selkeästi tarkoitettu hieman alapainotteisemmille rinnoilla. Tämä tarkoittaa sitä, ettei rintojen yläosassa ole niin paljon täytettä kuin minulla 😉 Tuplatissiä ei silti ole näkyvissä, joten kaikki hyvin! Ympärys tuntuu kivan napakalta muttei läheskään niin tiukalta kuin monet muut 65:t. Olkaimet ovat koko matkaltaan säädettävät, joten sopivat monen pituiselle naiselle ongelmitta. Kupit puolestaan ovat melko syvät ja kaarituet kapeahkot, joten mikäli Puolasta tilaaminen tuntuu liian hurjalta, on Freya hyvä vaihtoehto puolalaisille sisaruksilleen.

Kaiken kaikkiaan setti on mukava ja tukeva ja hintakin on Clara Olivialla kohdallaan, 33 puntaa rintsikoista, 16,50 alushousuista. Postikulut Suomeen kustantavat reilun kympin, niinkuin suurimmassa osassa muissakin brittiläisissä nettikaupoissa. Kokojakin löytyy valtava määrä, 60-85 B-J! Tästä mallista löytyy siis myös vaikeasti löydettäviä kokoja kuten 65C ja 60B. Mitä mieltä te olette tästä setistä? 🙂 

Winter Flowers from Poland – Review of Kris Line “Sicilia” in 70H

Hi everyone! How is December going? Mine has a been a very busy and rather stressful one but gladly I had some time to take pictures today for you to put up this review. Today I’m talking about a Kris Line soft style bra called “Sicilia” which is part of their lovely AW14 collection. Kris Line kindly sent me this set for review, so I could compare it to the other padded style I have from them, the Marilou Deco (click for the review!). Here’s how I liked the soft bra and the matching bottoms…

The Design: I was so pleased to see Kris Line coming up with a lovely cherry blossom embroidery/print for winter as it’s usually regarded as a spring-appropriate print. I LOOOOVE cherry blossoms and actually haven’t seen them much on bras which makes this style rather unique. Also the colour combo is both sophisticated and cute at the same time but I could imagine it being made in eg a blush colour for spring season.

The shape is super rounded and it definitely rivals the likes on Cleo which expert in this kind of round in-your-face look. I have been a fan of the look for a long time and it looks fabulous under clothing. The cups are made of four parts with one horizontal and two vertical seams which give the cups their uplifted rounded look. The bra is most close to a balconette shape but has a quite a lot of coverage to it too – this would definitely be a good choice under a modest sweater.

Fit: I would say the fit of Sicilia is rather comparable to Marilou as I fit into the same size with both of them. I have actually noticed that the cups are so deep that I almost don’t fill them properly and my other cup on my smaller boob wrinkles a bit on the apex. However, I don’t feel like a different size would solve this as I am rather full on top and need the extra space there.

I opted for a size 70H with Sicilia but I am now pretty certain that band-wise, I could now go down to 65 (UK 30) as I have lost a bit of weight. The band seems to be running true-to-size but is maybe on the smaller side of 70, just like most Polish bras. The band features three hooks and eyes making it still sturdy and wearable regardless of it being a bit too big for me. The underwires of Sicilia are perfect again and I feel like Kris Line is better for me wire-wise than some other Polish brands, as the too-narrow wires are not good for breast tissue nor comfort in the long run.

Comfort: My first Kris Line bra Marilou was a success on the comfort level so my expectations were high when I waited for Sicilia. The soft micro fibre of Marilou is still my favourite but Sicilia comes close with it’s comfort. The sturdy mesh does not make my skin itch at all and the band is sturdy enough to feel good even when being a tiny bit loose. Also the band features four (!) sets of hooks and eyes, meaning I can tighten it a lot as I go. The straps are half-adjustable but I find them to be a good length for me anyway (for reference, I am 5’6 and have a long torso).

The knickers (or as the Polish say, Figi) looked tiny again but I found them to stretch as much as the Marilou bottoms. I opted for my regular size Small but am thinking of going for Medium next time as they are looking a bit tight and I want to see if the M would be a better choice. So overall, I would say the bottoms run a tad smaller than with UK brands. The materials are so comfy again and I am so glad the bottoms are made of the same micro fibre as my Marilou set.

All in all, I have fallen in love with another Kris Line set and can’t wait to get introducing their SS15 collection to you soon. I already have the brochure with me and there are so many styles especially in hues of blue and pink which I adore. The Kris Line Sleep collection is another winner for next season and I hope to get trying it sometime in the future – the designs look so comfy and steaming hot at the same time!

If you would like to buy Kris Line and are from USA, I would suggest Zulily. Kris Line pops up there quite regularly and the prices are great! Remeber to check out the size chart from my Marilou post to get the correct size from the start. However, if you’re European I would say your best bet is Brastop, they have a lovely selection of Kris Line with reduced prices.

Suomeksi: Moikka moi kaikille! Mulla ois tällä kertaa teille postausta puolalaisesta merkistä nimeltä Kris Line, jonka rintsikoita arvostelen nyt toista kertaa. Kris Linella on ihan valtava valikoima kokoja ja malleja, ja tällä kertaa esittelyssä olisi heidän pehmeäkuppinen Sicilia-malli, jonka Kris Line ystävällisesti lähetti minulle koossa 70H.

Sicilia on todella suloinen ja hyvinistuva ilmestys: pelkäsin hieman, että osuuko koko tällä kertaa kohdilleen, sillä olin kuullut juttua, kuinka Kris Linen rintsikat ovat välillä vaihdelleet koiltaan aika reippaastikin. Sain kuitenkin huokaista helpotuksesta, sillä tämä malli vastaa kooltaan aika hyvin aikaisemmin kokeilemaani Marilouta. Kupit ovat minulle kuitenkin todella syvät, mistä johtuukin tuon toisen kupin rypistyminen. Elikkä te jotka kaipaatte syviä kuppeja ja kapeita kaaritukia – tässä olisi aika potentiaalinen malli! Kris Linen kaarituet eivät kuitenkaan ole yhtä kapeat kuin monilla muilla puolalaisilla merkeillä, joka onkin allekirjoittaneen kannalta ihan hyvä juttu. Liian kapeat kaarituet kun pistävät ikävästi rintakudokseen ja painavat päivän mittaan kivuliaasti.

Ympärysmitaltaan Kris Linen rintsikat ovat melko normi-luokkaa eli tämä 70 jää minulle jo vähän löysäksi viimeaikaisen painon tippumisen vuoksi. Onneksi ympärysnauhassa on kuitenkin neljä riviä hakasenkiinnittimiä, joilla saa kiristettyä ympärystä aika kivasti! Olkaimet ovat vain puoliksisäädettävät mutta toimivat ihan hyvin tällaisella 167 senttisellä ilman mitään ongelmia.

Kokonaisuudessaan Sicilia on todella toimiva setti materiaaleineen ja pyöreine muotoineen ja sopii hyvin ihan peruspaitojen alle. Jos oma Kris Line setti kiinnostaa, niin paras paikka sitä lähteä metsästämään on brittiläinen verkkokauppa Brastop. Sieltä löytyy melko hyvä valikoima malleja ja hinnat sekä postituskulut ovat kohdillaan. Kokotaulukko kannattaa kuitenkin tsekata edellisestä Kris Line postauksestani, sillä kuppikoot menevät vähän eri lailla tässä merkissä!