Lingerie Review: Panache “Clara” in 32GG

My most recent review was of a Cleo basic “Marcie” which is something that Panache has been carrying for years now. Another newer model from the Panache core range has struck to me as well during the past few season, that is the Clara. I fell head over heels in love with the style when it first launched but it seemed that every time we were talking about reviews with Panache, it was sadly sold out in my size completely. This tells something about the popularity of the style among stockists and consumers alike – it is a fantastic basic full-cup style bra with a pretty icing on top of it. This season I was lucky enough to receive my first Clara sample in time, so today I bring you this beautiful festive style in the shade Heather.

The Design: The Clara is based on the older Panache classic Jasmine, which is another cult favourite among full-busted ladies like myself. The Clara has the same three piece cup construction as the Jasmine, but I think the side sling of the cups extends a bit further up towards the strap with the Clara style. This is part of the aesthetic differences of the two bras but I would believe it also gives the Clara its extra lift to the cups. The shape of the bra is very rounded and forward-projecting, which is something that I would always expect of a Panache or Cleo bra.

The style of the Clara is much more luxurious than Jasmine which is something I really like. True, you can never go wrong with a cute print and sleek materials but if you don’t mind a bit of lace showing through or just happen to wear thicker materials with your shirts, this is the bra that can bring your everyday to a whole next level. Personally I have always loved each and every colourway of the Clara (especially the emerald one!) but this Heather shade is something rather refreshing alongside of deep jewel tones – it is more delicate than its sisters and thus goes under lighter coloured tops as well. The materials of the bra are rather thin and stretchy, meaning it accommodates perfectly to my breast shape instead of trying to mold it to something its not.

The Fit: I went for the same size as with the Marcie, that is 32GG. I find it is much more comfier to go with the 32 bands these days as I own so many bras, I don’t really wear out the bands that much anymore. I like them to be comfy from the very first moment I put them on to avoid the long breaking-in period – I know, I’m a bad lingerie blogger! If you don’t buy tens of bras every year, I would suggest though to go for the firmer bands if you are between sizes, especially with Panache and Cleo, as their bands will loosen up even after a couple of wears.

The 32GG Clara runs similar to the Marcie, meaning pretty true-to-size in the band and generous in the cup. If you are between cup sizes I would suggest sizing down. I think I could have definitely been happy with 32G with either of the styles. The wires are pretty good on me, maybe just a tad wider, but they still feel quite a lot better than with Marcie. I can’t really put my finger on it, but the shape of the wires feels slightly more U-like, but perhaps I’m just imagining.

Overall, I am starting to think the Clara does suit me better than the Marcie, at least in my current size. I like how the bra hugs every curve of my body but I wish it would be just a little bit… less covering? If I could take just an inch off the height of the cup, this just might the perfect bra.

Comfort: The Clara is one of my most comfortable bras at the moment – it seemed they all came at the same time, Tutti Rouge Betty and Jessica and then this beauty (and I haven’t even told you about my latest Ewa Michalak bras). I am in lingerie heaven at the moment! Then if I could only get a pair of high-waisted panties with each bra, I would probably be in Nirvana 😉

The best features of Clara are its soft materials and sturdy feel. The three hooks and eyes at the back, the tacking gore and sturdy wide fully-adjustable shoulder straps. Sturdiness is the key to comfort when it comes to full-bust bras, but the bra also needs to feel lightweight to pass as an everyday garment. What a task for a single bra! But the Clara just manages to do it. The panties are rather comfy too, for low cut ones that is. You know how I feel about my granny panties… I think the gorgeous lace detailing and satin overlay would look even more amazing on a bigger surface – just saying! The materials are however on point with the panties as well and I have no trouble getting my booty in these (UK) size 12 pretties.

If you would like to try the Clara (30-38 D-J, 8-20), you can find it at Bravissimo for £32 for the bra and £15 for the classic brief. Not a bad deal for such a stunner set!

Lingerie Review: Cleo by Panache “Marcie” in 32GG

Who remembers my endless love for Marcie? This bra has a distinct cult reputation in the world of lingerie blogging and full bust industry. It was launched a few years ago and still goes strong in the Cleo collection, changing its colour every season. For a couple of years Panache was asked to deliver their customers a Marcie in basic colours; black and nude. Again, nude is not the same for everyone but this time, the shade was so perfect for me personally I really wanted to try it – and who knows, maybe we will get a chocolate coloured Marcie sometime soon! Here are my thoughts on this old favourite in my most recent size, 32GG. *This set was generously provided by Panache. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: I have always been a big fan of Marcie – it’s a cutesy style that is perfect for everyday wear with its flat embroidery and thin materials. The scalloped upper cups look adorable and give me a mermaid-y vibe, which is always a good thing I reckon. It’s very girly so not everyone’s cup of rum but I don’t mind the bows and dots now and then, as I am quite a versatile person when it comes to my bradrobe (obviously, haha!). The shade of beige is absolutely spot on for me, that is very pale, and I just wish Panache would make some more dark-coloured options for people with tanned, brown or black skin tones. To me though, it is the closest I can probably ever get to a skin-coloured bra!

Marcie’s cups are constructed of three pieces each, with one vertical and one horizontal seam forming a very classic balconette shape. The shape that is creates is super forward-projecting and rounded: something most lingerie bloggers have come to love from the very launch of Marcie.

The Fit: So what has changed since I last wore Marcie? Well, I think my size has changed since a bit; my body has probably a bit less fluff and a bit more muscle and my boobs have got a cup size bigger. I am now wearing a size 32GG whereas two summers back I wore a 30G, which was probably a cup size too small to begin with. To say the least, the 32GG feels quite a bit different, mostly because even two cup sizes can change the fit specs of a bra. Mostly the difference seems to be the wires which are a tad wider than what they would need to be for me. There is also a bit more empty space at the top of the cups which makes me wonder whether I should have tried 32G as well.

The cups are as deep as with the 30G which is definitely a good thing. I would say that they even so deep that you may be able to go down a cup size with this style, especially if you are in the upper end of the size range! The 32 band still fits me fairly well, even though I still think I could wear a 31 band with Panache if it existed. The Cleo bands are a bit tighter than with the Panache main line, which is why I feel the 32 band is still a better choice than the 30.

Comfort: I still love Marcie even though I think there may be some slight fit issues with the bigger cup sizes, such as the too wide underwires (that is for me, I know there is always someone who these would fit perfectly!). My only real gripe with this bra is the placement of the straps; as you can see, I have pulled them up on my shoulders so that they sit diagonally on my body, which is not the best thing regarding comfort. However, I am surprised how little this feature affects me and how well the straps stay up regardless. Nothing about this bra rubs me or pokes me so even though the fit itself is not perfect, I love how comfy and lightweight it feels during a full day at work.

The pants are cute as ever but as a vintage gal myself, I really wish they would start making them in a higher waisted version as well. These are super low cut so not the most comfortable choice for me personally. I know however that some gals adore the cut of these and I used to love it too, but ya know, tastes change. They are still nice cute everyday panties and I never say no to ruffles!

If you are interested in the beige Marcie set, you can find at Bravissimo (£27 + £14) and Bare Necessities which both ship internationally. The bra comes in sizes 28-38 B-J and the bottoms in XXS-XXL.

Lingerie: Avocado “Chloe Folie NF” in 70H

Even though autumn and winter are upon us, it is never a wrong time for basic coloured lingerie, something that most people call “nude” (which is a bit problematic as nude does not mean the same thing to everyone). Some work places require a white button-up as basic work attire, which is why you can never have too many skin-toned bras. When I first saw Avocado‘s Chloe Folie, I thought that this is a truly versatile yet pretty “nude bra” – it could probably work on multiple skin tones, from a fair skin like mine to deeper ashy tones. Avocado sent me this style in their NF style, which is a revised version of their old H-cut, where the straps attach to the bottom part of the cup. Here’s how I liked this delicate beauty…

The Design:  I loved the colour combination of this set right from the start – it was a great pairing of greige (greyish beige) and deep magenta. The lace is delicate and who does not like the little tassels at the front? As a lingerie blogger, you start to get tired of the old bows, which is why the tassels were a nice surprising touch to the design. Regardless of the centre gore adornments and the lace, the style of Chloe Folie is quite simple and thus work appropriate. The lace is very thin, meaning you can wear it under regular shirts without it showing through too much. However, it is not a seamless t-shirt bra so you won’t get a “braless” look with it, if that is what you require from your everyday work bras!

The shape is rather similar to the old H-cut, but it seems to be a bit less covering and pointy and thus for me at least, a lot more practical. There is also quite a bit of uplift, but the one thing I don’t like that much is how the balconette shape splays my breasts to the sides a bit. I like my boobs “at the front” as they make me appear bigger than I am anyways. Keeping them as compact as possible makes me feel more comfortable and look the size I actually am rather than looking wide and frumpy. The one definite upside of the bra is that Avocado seems to be working with much stretchier materials these days and even though the the upper panel of the cup is not exactly stretch lace, the cups seem quite stretchy overall.

The Fit: As I knew from my past experience with the Avocado NF-style, it would probably fit me nicely this time as well. I was right – my size still seems to be 70H with the NF style, but with the Chloe Folie, I would be wary of not picking a too tight band size. If you are between band sizes, definitely size up! This style is not as tight as the Lorca I reviewed recently, but it is still on the snugger side compared to my older Avocado bras.

The cups are still the perfect size for me, even on the roomier end of the H-cup which is excellent if you need deep cups. What kind of baffles me is the cup width-depth ratio; usually deep cups mean narrower wires whereas this Avocado style seems to be both quite deep AND wide. The underwires are a tad too wide for me personally, but I don’t find them pinching me in the armpit whatsoever.

When it comes to shape compatibility, my full-on-top breasts are definitely friends with Chloe Folie: the RV shape seems quite open at the top with this particular style and thus leaves me more room for my upper breast tissue, that sometimes can argue with a cup pattern like this. In general, I’d think this bra would suit many breast shapes if you are not bothered by the wideness of the cups.

I know they look like a different colour but they are not! The lighting is playing its tricks on me – the real colour is more of a mixture of both of the pics shown above.

Comfort: I like this set a lot but there is one fundamental problem with it and I actually mentioned it before already: the band is a bit too small for me unfortunately. Not as much to make me want to size up a whole size, but maybe half a band size too snug. I can close the bra no problem, but the rigid band does not conform to my body very easily, which is why I haven’t worn the bra a lot during long days at work. Otherwise there are no comfort issues with the bra really: the tacking centre gore loosens quite quickly after a few wears and I especially like the width of the straps which are too widely placed for me personally, but still manage to feel good without any chafing.

The bottoms on the other hand are fantastic! I love that Avocado has brought the option of high-waisted panties into their selection and they have nailed it right away. I have to say though that the Medium is a bit too large for me, so if you are between two sizes, I would advice to size down with these. The rise of the panty is divine: it reaches my belly button and covers my butt well. A covering comfortable style yet still very attractive in my opinion!

If you would like to test the Chloe Folie set, you can find on the Avocado online store for 66,92€ for the bra (60-95 C-L, Avocado sizes) and 33,96€ for the full brief (XS-XXL). If these are not the shapes and styles you prefer personally, you can find the Chloe Folie in other Avocado styles as well. What do you think of the Chloe Folie? Have you tried the new Avocado styles recently? Let me know in the comments! xx

Late Summer Offerings from Signature by After Eden – Review of “Bilbao” & “Alicante” in 70G

Hi everyone! How are things on that side of the screen? I am all good just been extremely busy taking part in my first pinup pageant (which went decently, I was the 1st runner up!) and settling back to work. I must say, working with special needs kids can drain the life out of you at times. This is why I have been battling a lot with how to use my time between a full-time job, starting my uni work for this year, seeing friends and keeping up with my hobbies as well. Now everything is getting back to routine so I have more energy to blog again. Hope that makes you as happy as it makes me!

Today I will be bringing you a couple of lovely styles from the SS16 collection of Signature by After Eden, Bilbao and Alicante. The SS16 collection at Signature included two colour schemes, pink and blue which were kind of two different collections altogether. I wanted to introduce you to a set from both of these collections, so here goes! *These sets were generously provided by Signature. All opinions are our own.*

The Design: As per usual, Miss E will be assisting me with the review so be so kind to welcome her back to the blog! I picked out two sets that felt appropriate for her age and preferences (young, laid-back & fun!) and decided to go for Bilbao (the blue plunge bra) and Alicante (the pink strapless balconette). These styles are incredibly appropriate for summer – the first one being a great option under low cut tops and the other under strapless and spaghetti strap tops. The colours are light yet not too cutesy and pastel-y – the shades of pink and blue remain vibrant and look gorgeous against a tanned skin. These t-shirt bras are adorned with a moderate amount of lace and thus are perfect for everyday wear.

The profile of both of the bras is very rounded and looks a bit similar to most American bras, to be honest – American women are known to love rounded padded t-shirt bras which is why I am wondering whether Signature will be expanding their sales to other parts of the world in the future. These bras are also very appropriate for young girls in general – they are not overtly sexy or super-padded but have a lightly padded moulded cups that give you modesty and a nice shape under most of your clothes. The bra is also constructed to be supportive for a fuller bust as it includes both a wider band and sturdy fully-adjustable straps to give you a better overall fit.

The Fit: I asked for the samples in Miss E’s regular Signature bra size 70G (32F in UK sizes) but exchanged the bottom size from Medium to Small as she preferred a snugger fit. The Signature bras run a tiny bit large in the cup, which is why the bra cups are gaping a bit on E’s smaller boob. However, I would always advice to choose your bra size according to your bigger boob which is why I wouldn’t have gone smaller in the cup with these bras anyway. However, if there were an option of 65H, I would definitely give that one a try as Miss E is more of a 30 band than a 32. Signature makes very few 65/30 bands at the moment as they are targeting their full-figured customers more, which is a bit of shame on our behalf. Wearing the band on the second tightest set of hooks works pretty well for E though, so we are not complaining that much.

I would say Miss E is a full-allover shaped gal, which is why she would perhaps need a tad more space in the bottom part of the bra cups; this makes me think Signature would probably suit better someone who has more full-on-top boobs. However, the denting on the bottom of the cups (the so-called orange-in-a-glass phenomenon when your boobs can’t sit at the bottom of your cups as there is not enough space) is not super bad and in my opinion, isn’t even a crucial thing to note when talking about a fit of a bra. What does matter more, in my opinion, is how the wires sit on your body – as you can see, both of the bras tack Miss E’s sternum at the front and encase all her breast tissue, which is important when trying to avoid migrated breast tissue. With the Alicante the wires are significantly taller though, which is discussed more in the comfort section of this review.

Comfort: As with the very first review we ever did on Signature, there is significant difference in comfort level when it comes to these bras. Signature still has a challenge in front of them: how to make their balconette bras more comfortable and yet still supportive. The problem with Alicante is simple – the straps are placed way too widely on the shoulders and the underwires come too high up at the sides, which makes a non-working combination that rubs the heck out of your armpits. Personally, I think the strap placement could be fixed pretty easily, so maybe that could be something to consider in the design team. However, as a strapless, the Alicante works well and does its job without sliding down and rolling around.

The Bilbao on the other hand works well in all circumstances and stays comfortable during the day without the strap placement issue. Besides that, both of the bras are crafted lovingly from the softest materials, made with amazing supportive bands (with four sets of hooks and eyes I might add!) and easily adjusting straps. They work well for both plus size and more petite gals, as well as tall and short girls who benefit from the fully-adjustable straps. The panties are comfy and gorgeous as well and are great for everyday wear; even though they are not completely seamless, they are a nice basic pattern that gives them a flattering shape and a sturdy feel.

Both of these sets are ON SALE right now, so if you live in Netherlands, you can snatch the Alicante set up for a mere 31€ and the Bilbao set for 33,50€. If you live somewhere else, 4AllWomenLingerie ships worldwide and offers a wide selection of Signature! The sizes go from 70D to 100G, S-XXXL. How do you feel about molded t-shirt bras such as Alicante and Bilbao? Do you prefer non-padded bras like me? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Avocado “RV Lorca” in 70H + GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Avocado is one of those brands that if you like the kind of classic European style lingerie with great materials and high quality, you are destined to find THE bra from their collection. Their e-shop is also full of different bra shapes that can be matched to pretty much any breast shape out there, no matter if your boobs are more full on top or bottom. Today I am introducing you to a fairly new style, RV as in Round Versatile, developed in the massive revision of all the Avocado patterns that took place about a year or so ago. I got my hands on a prototype of the model back then, but as it wasn’t the final product, we decided not to review it on the blog. Now, I am happy to tell you all the details, so keep reading! *This bra was generously provided by Avocado, all opinions are my own!*

The Design: The RV is supposed to be the style replacing the old A-shape, which was quite rounded, yet a bit flattening (which was something I actually liked about it!). This style on the other hand is meant to give more forward projection, which is something most full-bust ladies can appreciate. The straps are attached to the top part of the three-part constructed cups and the shape of the bra is a true balconette. In my opinion, this style really challenges the good old Panache “Jasmine” which is a cult favourite among bra bloggers and full-bust customers alike. If you are looking for the same projected yet rounded shape in a more luxe wrapping, I would definitely recommend Lorca in RV!

The Lorca style is absolutely beautiful and even though we are not in Xmas season yet (though it’s definitely autumn in Finland already) this is a piece I could see succeeding especially well later in the autumn as a festive piece under the LBD. It’s lightweight and looks gorgeous under tight-fitting dresses but also works as a wow-piece to wear in the boudoir. The delicate stretch lace with the hues of bluish grey finish off the set beautifully and make the set fit far better than it would have with more rigid embroidery.

The Fit: I know it’s a big promise to say this bra fits similarly to Jasmine, but it is the truth. Except for sizing, as that is again quite unique to Avocado and I would always suggest consulting their size chart to find out your perfect fit with them. I am wearing my regular Avocado size 70H in the pics and again, it was a good choice for me. I do have to say though that the band with Lorca seems more like a 65 band so it runs almost a size smaller than my other Avocado bands (or perhaps half a size). Do size up if you are between band sizes!

The cups are absolutely perfect for me size and depth-wise. They contain all my breast tissue but are also a tiny bit too wide and the underwire ends up too far in my armpit with the RV-shape. I have noticed a slight difference with Avocado’s wire width since the revision, and to be honest, I would personally prefer the older wires as they were the perfect fit for me. However, you can’t always have it all. The cups would probably fit both FOB and FOT breasts as the top part is made completely out of stretch lace, which accommodates a plethora of breast shapes and even a-symmetry.

Comfort: As the bra band is a tiny bit too tight for me, I am not sure whether it is quite fair to even review the bra’s comfort level. I would love to say it is absolutely heaven on me but you know how it is with too-tight bands – they try to strangle you and with a bra this beautiful you stay in that abusive relationship and keep wearing the set for pretty’s sake. As a result, you get a stabby centre gore and nasty red marks on your body (which are btw not always painful but in this case, you bet they are). However, the materials are heavenly and I really appreciate the stretch lace which always adds up to the comfort level of a bra. Just remember to go up a band size with this and you will fine, as it is a well-designed bra with fully adjustable straps and all.

The Lorca bra came with a classic brief in size Medium which was a bit too large on me even though I was recommended a Medium or even a Large in Avocado back in the day when I asked them about the fit of their panties. However, I have come to the conclusion that Small is a far better option for me with their bottoms as these sag a tiny bit at the front when I wear them. Other than that, the Lorca classic briefs are a very flattering style with the perfect rise for me personally (not as low as Cleo yet not that unflattering mid cookie pouch style). They are also made of the same comfortable high quality materials as the bra and contour perfectly to my curvy backside without any muffin top or cutting into my butt.

The Lorca set can be bought at the Avocado online shop, here. The bra comes in sizes 60-95 C-K and retails for 64,12 €. The classic briefs come in XS-XXL and set you back with 22,12 €. Avocado ships internationally so even if you are not Polish, you will have no problem getting your hands on their beautiful lingerie!

Now for the fun part! I have yet to announce the Curvy giveaway winners, so here they are. *drum roll*

The Australian winner of a set of their choice is… Kath!

The international winner of a set of their choice is… Victoria T.!

Congrats for both of you! The winners have been emailed and you have exactly one week to get back to me to claim your prize. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the giveaway and may the odds be ever in your favour, so maybe next time 😉 To conclude this post, I would like to ask a small favour from everyone who have read this far: would you mind liking THIS picture on Facebook and thus voting me as the next Miss Midnight Sun Pinup? This is my first pinup pageant and I am super nervous yet excited. If you would be so kind to cast me a vote, I would be more than grateful ❤ TIA!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Styles at Avocado! – Review of “Chamade” S194HC in 70H

I know, you might be thinking “What, I have not heard of Avocado in a long while – what are they up to now?!” Exactly – this brand has apparently been hiding under the rock for a while or so it would seem. In reality, Avocado is buzzing with new styles and website revisions, so the truth is they have been working their butts off and there literally has been no time for blog reviews and such. I contacted Avocado recently on Instagram as I noticed they had been working on some new styles and for my happy surprise, Anna contacted me by email soon explaining what’s up with her brand and how things are proceeding. She also offered to send me some of their new shapes and designs, which I was of course super happy about. Today I shall start with my favourite of these three new styles, that is the Chamade in the new HC cut.

The Design: The new HC  cut stands for half-cup meaning this is a bra that covers about 50% of your bust – some brands call it a demi-cup bra. The Avocado’s HC at least in my size gives more of a 60% coverage in my opinion but this could be due to the fact that a true half-cup wouldn’t have enough fabric to contain a larger breast. The size range with this style goes up to K-cup (consult the Avocado size chart to find out your size with them!), meaning it is meant to suit us fuller busted ladies and thus be very supportive. I think it’s a great thing that Avocado has managed to create a half-cup style in bigger sizes in the first place as there are many brands who simply refuse to make this style past a G-cup. The cups are constructed of two pieces with one vertical seam that gives the cup its rounded and uplifted shape, which is a favourite to many full-busted women.

The Chamade as a design is very pretty and it oozes a Marie Antoinette -like rococo glamour. The colours are very subdued yet not boring – something anyone would love in their summer bradrobe to go under lighter coloured tops. I also like that Avocado does not always play with the most basic adornments such as frills and bows but tries to make their designs with more clean-cut solutions like the tiny silver pendant on the centre gore of Chamade. The neckline of the HC Chamade is very open and it goes amazingly well with so many of my dresses and tops (eg Pinup Girl Clothing Peasant Tops!) which would normally show some bra on the outer corners of the neckline.

The Fit: We decided to go for my regular Avocado size 70H as the newer styles ran deeper and more full-on-top friendly. As you may remember, I used to love the Avocado A-cut but it was meant for more FOB breasts and thus created a bit of bulge on the top part of my breasts at the times. These newer designs feature some stretchier materials and more space on the top part of the cups, which I am super happy about. The 70H ended up being just the right size for me and there is no bulging whatsoever – to be honest, there is actually a slight bit of gaping where the strap meets the cup but that is mainly due to how wide the cups are for me. My fullness is mainly at the top part of my breasts and I have an average-width breast root, meaning the cups are a tiny bit too wide for me and have some empty space on the sides.

Even though the wires are on the wider, this is actually my favourite of the lot that Anna sent me – the shape is perfect and there is overall enough space in the cups to contain my breast tissue fully. The centre gore is quite high so if you have close-set breasts, this may not be the style for you. Who would it suit the best then, you ask? Well, I would say someone with a wide breast root and overall full breasts. Also A-symmetrical boobies would enjoy this style – it has a fair amount of stretch to it at the top of the cups, meaning it can manage some size fluctuations and fit both breasts even with a slight size difference. The band of the HC Chamade is the loosest of the three bras I tried, but it also the most comfortable on me which is why I like it. I would say it is still on the snugger side of 70 so If you are between sizes, I would size up (for reference, I wear 70GG with Ewa Michalak and 65J with Samanta).

Comfort: As said above, I chose this set as my favourite since it ticks all my comfort boxes – the materials are spot-on, no itchy cheap ruffles, the wires don’t poke me and the gore tacks but doesn’t stab me in the sternum. The Chamade is a pleasure to wear anytime, even at home when you are lounging around. It is also one of the most practical bras I own, because of the fact that is non-padded and low-cut. The only “flaw” with the bra I bumped into is my usual nemesis – the straps. They are quite widely placed, which however DOES not cause any irritation on my armpits this time; I think this is due to the cup shape being so low. I would like most lingerie brands to consider their strap placement though, as it is so hard to find bras with straps that would sit on my shoulders without me pulling them in like crazy.

When it comes to the panties, I can report that they are equally as comfortable as the bra and I love how well they are made – such a pleasure to wear! For the record, I am super picky about my knickers so sometimes, I just find the bottoms that come with a bra too tiny (as in skimpy) for me and I toss them in the back of my drawer. However, all of my Avocado bottoms have been high quality and very flattering, which makes them some of my favourite panties to wear. These particular panties are in the Avocado classic brief cut, which is exactly what it claims to be – great basic underwear which is still very pretty. I got the size Medium with them which was a right choice with these ones. However, I would say with the panties you may want to consult Anna about any style you are looking to buy as all of the designs run a bit differently. I even have a pair of Small Avocado panties that are quite loose for me!

If you would like to give the Chamade a try, you can find the bra (66,92€) here and the classic briefs (27,72€) here. They come in a great size range of 60-95 C-K, XS-XXL, which is impressive for a smaller luxury brand! Also, the set is available in multiple bra and panty styles, so if the HC is not a great fit for you, you can find another shape that will fit your perfectly. What do you think of the new Avocado HC-cut? Would you be willing to splurge on a well-fitting half-cup bra? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Party-time Basics: Review of Curvy Kate “Luxe” Strapless in 30H

Are you by chance having a celebration this summer? I know it’s already July but I am sure there are still plenty of summer weddings and other festivities left for this summer season! In fact, I have a little celebration of my own tomorrow – I graduated as a Bachelor of Education with a masters in Educational Psychology and now I am throwing a BBQ for it! I am super excited and I got way better grades than I thought I would get. The Finnish uni grades go from 1 to 5, with 5 being best and I got 4 from my major and also from all my minors (gender studies, health science & fine arts) – so I am more than pleased as I just wanted to get through it all without losing my sanity. Well, enough of rambling, I am sure you are here for something else!

As we full-busted gals attend parties, especially in the summer, we may want to wear that cute strapless dress like any gal; but that my dearies, requires a strapless bra as you know. When I was a 30FF I actually still found it quite easy to find supportive strapless bras but after I crossed the dreaded G-cup barrier, there weren’t many options anymore. When Curvy Kate came out with their Luxe strapless, I was sure to get my hands on it as it promised great support in the biggest cup sizes as well. I got my first Luxe a year ago but unfortunately picked a wrong size for vanity reasons – yes that happens to us bra bloggers as well. This is why I was so pleased when Curvy, an Australian bra retailer, offered to send me the Luxe set alongside my Tease camisole. Here’s how I liked this convenient little friend…

The Design: Let’s face it – no beige strapless bra is ever going to be particularly pretty. It’s just the simple truth and there is no way around it. I think Curvy Kate did a pretty good job with the Luxe though; it’s not hideous and even though it is pretty plain (as a basic bra should be), there are some nice touches to it like the pinstripe pattern of the bra band and the fabric-coated buttons at the centre gore. The hue is not the best for me as I am much more “pink” thank the creamy butter-y shade of the Luxe “Biscotti” shade. But who am I to complain – I am pretty sure there are no D+ strapless bras for women of colour, so I am lucky to even get close to my own skin tone with this bra! I haven’t tried it with any white shirts or dresses so I cannot say whether it would show through but it’s not the most discreet of bras anyway.

The shape of the Luxe is absolutely amazing and I love how rounded CK managed to make it. Most D+ straplesses give a kind of deflated conical look which is less than ideal, meaning CK definitely set their product apart from other full-bust offerings in the market. The cups are made with a three part cup construction with two vertical seams, which unfortunately show through a bit if you are wearing eg a thinner jersey fabric over it. However, if I could choose between this and the Freya Deco, the Luxe would win 6-0 as it gives a better shape, fits me quite well and is comfortable to wear even for several hours.

The Fit: I went for my regular Curvy Kate size 30H with the Luxe this time and it’s definitely a right choice. I tell you: DO NOT compromise on fit if you are debating whether to get the bigger size that fits better or the smaller size that fits okay but looks nicer as it gives less coverage. IT WILL NOT WORK. I can’t stress this enough: The bigger cup size made all the difference to me as the smaller cups were pushed by my boobs downwards and I ended up tucking and adjusting the 30GG multiple times a day. Not a fun job to do on a night out! The 30H fits me very well and even though the band is a bit tighter than with your usual CK bra, I like it that way as I hate having a strapless falling down my body.

When it comes to wires and cup depth, I feel the Luxe is a bit different from what I am used to from CK: the wires actually hit me at the perfect spot, right at my breast root. Even though the cups are a bit deeper too, you can see some shallowness at the bottom of them, as the cup foam is collapsing a tiny bit. I am not bothered by this though and I am happy how much there is actually space for my boobs at the top of the cups – they are really nice on an evenly full shape but also suit full-on-top breast quite well!

Comfort: I had pretty darn high expectations for this bra when it released as so many bloggers and CK itself claimed it to be a life-changing miracle-worker – so when I bought my first Luxe in 30GG, you may have guessed it, I was a bit disappointed. I am so glad that I got to try the 30H now though as it has changed my opinion on the bra entirely – it truly is one of the best strapless bras I have tried in my life. The materials are very soft and feel nice on even during the hotter months of summer. The wires reach me just at my breast root, meaning they don’t poke me in the armpit causing irritation. The band is quite wide with four hooks and eyes, so it is definitely supportive enough for my H-cup boobies. My only gripe with the bra is that there is little piece of extra boning on the band that can get a bit poke-y during the day, but I am guessing it’s there so the wider band wouldn’t flip up or roll around.

I also received the Luxe thong in size 10 with the bra and I can report that it is a very comfy option for someone looking for a regular beige thong to wear under eg white trousers. I never ever wear a thong anymore so it’s not something I will reach for often, but it is a good thing to have in your lingerie wardrobe when the occasion comes. The materials of the thong are very sleek and stretchy so the size 10 was spot on for me. The rise is pretty regular but on the lower side so if you like a more hipster style with higher rise, you may want to skip this.

If you are getting married this summer, or attending summer party in a strapless dress, I would very much recommend the Luxe to any D+ bride / guest out there. The size range of the bra is a whopping 28-38 D-J which is incredible in my opinion! If you would like to get your very own Luxe, it retails for 94,99 AUD at Curvy and comes in both Black and Biscotti. You also have a chance of winning a set of your choice from Curvy, so take a look at the giveaway instructions here. Have you tried the Luxe yet? Which strapless bra do you like the best? Let me know in the comments! xx

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 😉

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Ratri B230” in 65F

Summertime requires some pretty light-coloured lingerie – at least if you go by the spring trends which include pastels every single year. Even if you are not a fan of pastels with your outerwear, it is refreshing to revise your lingerie collection every now and then with pieces that are a bit different from your regular wardrobe. Today we are reviewing the Ewa Bien “Ratri” in B230 which is beautiful summer-appropriate set for any fair gal out there. *Disclosure: This set was gifted to Jo by Ewa Bien. All opinions are our own!*

Design: The Ratri B230 is described as a push-up balconette, which I think is a Ewa Bien’s description for a regular padded balconette with one vertical seam right in the middle of the cup. This construction can be hard to get right, but it seems that Polish lingerie brands are masters of it. To be honest though, the one vertical seam does not help a lot when it comes to bigger sizes, so at least two seams are needed to form a better shape with say, FF-G+ sizes. However, Jo is wearing a Polish 65F which is a 30E in UK sizes, which looks great with even just one seam. The shape is very rounded, not rectangular at all like some bras with the same construction. The coverage is quite low, which is great for more open necklines – the true balconette style also creates a perfect Marie Antoinette cleavage which is the doing of the amazing uplift the bra offers.

The styling of the set is lovely – it’s a creamy yellowish beige that looks beautiful against the Finnish skin tone. However, it is not fully beige so under the whitest thinnest fabrics it might still show through! The embroidery is very delicate and has a nice rococo vibe to it. The bottoms are actually really cute too – even though they are made with a very practical Brazilian cut, they still manage to look very girly while the detailing is absolutely on-point, to say the least.

The Fit: As you may have already deducted from the pics above, the B230 was not the best fit for Jo’s breast shape. This is not the fault of the bra, it just wasn’t meant to be! The B230 is a rather shallow and wide balconette shape for a Polish brand, but then again, Polish are famous for trying to cater for multiple breast shapes, even within one brand. Jo likes her bras quite like me; moderately deep and with average-width wires. This balconette shape reminds me more of the regular “British” shape of bras – a bit too shallow and wide for most breast shapes. However, let’s not forget that there are people who definitely need these kinds of bras, so there is a market there.

The sizing with the B230 Ratri was pretty much on par with most Ewa Bien bras, if not a little on the smaller side with the cups. I would perhaps suggest sizing up in the cup if you are between sizes! The 65-band was quite loose for Jo, but that is understandable as her underbust measures around 26″ (so she is better off with a 28/ 60 band with most brands). She is wearing the bra in the middle set of hooks meaning a 60 band would have been a better choice with this bra. Unfortunately, Ewa Bien does not offer 60 bands quite yet, but let’s hope that is something they will consider in the future!

Comfort: As the fit of the bra is not the best for Jo, nor is the comfort aspect of it either. This is something that we like to preach here at 2COP – the right size AND the right style are crucial to one’s comfort when it comes to bras, so something that does not fit your body, will not likely be as comfortable as a bra with eg the right length and height of underwires. With the B230 Ratri it appeared to be exactly the wires that were the problem for Jo: they were cut too high and shaped wider, which meant they wouldn’t sit at the right spot for her. Jo is tiny, so she needs her cup height pretty low near the armpits to avoid chafing and with this particular style, the wires and the cup edge were just too high for her body.

If I could think of someone who the B230 would be perfect for, I would probably say someone who wears a bigger band size and small to average cup size, and someone who has shallower breast shape with a wide breast root. This someone could perhaps be one of our own guest bloggers, Miss T. Even though this is a balconette shape which are usually very open at the top, this particular style is actually quite closed at top, which is why it does not require a lot of fullness at the top part of the breasts. What I think suits everyone with this bra though are the straps – they are fully adjustable and detachable meaning you can make them work for a variety of body shapes and heights.

As said before, the true highlight of the set are the panties though. They are beautifully made and look amazing on Jo – they are also quite practical and have a seamless look at the back, if you don’t mind the little bow. The lace on the legs is placed well with just the right width and also with the softest stretch lace material that will adjust to your body, no matter its shape.

If you think this set could work for you, please check out Ewa Bien’s online store to make a purchase with them. The B230 Ratri goes up to H-cup with the smaller band sizes, so it’s actually quite full-bust friendly unless you have crossed the FF+ barrier like myself. The bra sets you back at 159 zl and the Brazilian briefs at 89 zl.  If you are based in USA, the easiest way to order would probably be through Luxury Goddess, who offer a great selection of Polish brands for US customers. What do you think of the B230 Ratri? Let me know in the comments!