Say YES to Undress: Full-Bust Bridal Lingerie Finds at Moda SS17

I don’t know exactly how to start this post but by the title you may have guessed it – I got engaged over the weekend! We have been together with my Mr for over three years and have been talking about getting married for a while now. It has been kind of a joke for me to say “Oh marry me already” when he has been particularly lovely and on Friday, it was his turn to actually, seriously ask the same question. So, I am wearing the most beautiful engagement/wedding ring on my finger now and I still cannot believe it’s real life – it still feels like playing some kind of weird dress-up!

If I wasn’t living in a smaller city, I would actually probably be a wedding planner and now that I have finally the permission to plan my own wedding, I am so ecstatic. I will start this happy engagement period of a little over a year with bringing you (and me!) the most delicious bridal lingerieof this spring 2017 season. However, there will be many more round-ups to come in the future, so try to stay patient for my sake!

Disclosure: These pics were taken at the Moda catwalk in August 2016. I am very aware of the gross cultural appropriation in the form of Native American dream catchers and head that were sadly worn as accessories on the runway. This is not cool in any way, but the purpose of the photos is to deliver the latest bridal trends to you and these were the only pics available. I am sorry and do not support wearing someone’s culture as an accessory.

The white on white trend has been floating around in the lingerie business forever – mainly because bridal lingerie is never out of fashion and always needed, but statistically white has also been on the top three when it comes to men’s lingerie colour preferences. Even though lingerie should, in my opinion, be bought first and foremost for oneself, there is nothing wrong with wanting to wear something that pleases your partner as well.

On a wedding night white historically symbolizes purity and virginity – which to me, is a bit disgusting as I am not a lamb to be sacrificed in some weird ritual. Or, that’s what I’d like to think (even though marriage has been exactly that, not even long ago)! However these days, we still wear white a LOT when it comes to our wedding attire and that is the chosen colour of my wedding dress and the lingerie I will be wearing as well. Maybe I’ll break the “pure and innocent” look with some red or gold, who knows! Anyway, here are a few examples of what you or I could be wearing on our big day, when it finally comes.

ADINA REAY

Adina Reay is one of the newer more luxurious options for us fuller busted brides. The prices are a bit up there for a bride on a budget, but the materials are pure heaven and the quality is breathtaking. I haven’t had the chance to try this brand for myself yet, but I’m super interested in their fit so if anyone has got any experience with them, please let me know! Even though I haven’t tried the pieces on, I have seen and touched them at the Moda show last August and have so much faith in this brand.

The two styles shown above are Pen in Champagne and Jess in Swan which are both part of the continuity line at Adina Reay. The prices are around £90-130 for a bra £50-80 co-ordinates which definitely put them into the luxury category, but I think full-busted brides need to have options. I also like the fact that the brand offers multiple different co-ordinate options, so you can choose whether to go for skimpy thong or an elegant high-waisted panty. The size range with Adina Reay is 30-36 DD-G, and S-L, which can unfortunately be a bit limiting.

FREYA

If you are D+ girl on a budget, Freya might be a better option for you. This beautiful ensemble is called Sassy and goes up to GG-cup with the longline and up to H-cup with the padded balconette bra. The white on beige combination seems to be becoming more and more popular and I personally like the look a lot.

The one confusing thing is that the sample I was shown was a lot more beige than the stock picture above. I personally like the beige one a bit more, but maybe they tried to make it look a tiny bit more bridal? Who knows! This style isn’t available until March, but if history is to be trusted it will retail around £40-50 which is pretty good for a well-fitting strapless full-bust bra.

PARFAIT BY AFFINITAS

Parfait is another great option if you are looking for something comfortable in the D-G size range and like something traditionally feminine and sweet. The brand offers many beautiful options both in their continuity line but also in their fashion range. These are the two styles that caught my attention in this ss17 collection: let me introduce you to the pale rose Sandrene and white Irene. These styles are great for plus size brides as well, as they go up to 44 band and 4XL in the panties! They are perhaps not the most practical under your actual wedding dress but would be nice options for a romantic wedding night.

HARLOW & FOX

If I could choose absolutely anything for my wedding night, one of the strongest options would be Harlow & Fox. They are the essence of bridal glamour and actually carry a decent size range of 30-38 DD-G, XS-XL on their site. The Serena range in Ivory is utter perfection: it is made of the most beautiful embroideries, tulles and ostrich feathers – everything a vintage girl could want! The only limit for me buying this range is the price – even though Harlow & Fox may be well worth it, I cannot afford to drop 142€ on a bra, let alone 999 € on the kimono robe! A girl can dream though, right? Maybe I’ll get rich before 2018, hehe!

Here are some of my picks from the Moda show bridal offering – what do you think? What is your dream bridal lingerie ensemble like? Let me know in the comments!

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: Parfait “Elissa” Longline in 32G

Spring and summer are time for romance and weddings – shoutout to a fellow lingerie blogger Becky who married her boo a couple of weeks back! As I have probably never worn white lingerie since primary school and never really introduced you to bridal options in DD+ here on 2COP, maybe it was time I reviewed something plain white for your curvy bride-to-bes. When Parfait asked if I wanted to try something from their SS16 collection, I decided to give their Elissa range a try. Here’s how I liked the set…

The Design: On the Parfait website the Elissa longline is named as an unlined wired bralette; to me, bralette indicates a wireless bra which is why I’d rather call the piece a longline bra. This particular longline features six rows of hooks and eyes and four bones on the band; two at the front and two on the sides. This keeps the longline from flipping up and moving around and also gives the piece a bit of structure. The cups are constructed of three parts, one vertical and one horizontal seam. The shape of the bra is quite natural, so a bit pointy and goes very well under my vintage dresses.

The style of the bra is very pretty even though I am not a big fan of white lingerie. I chose this set so I could break my own boundaries and I do actually like it a lot – there is nothing too juvenile or basic about this set, it is sophisticated enough for bridal wear but also smooth enough to be worn on regular everyday basis. The lace on the band and the upper part of the cups is very beautiful and a tiny bit stretchy to maintain a pretty good fit.

The Fit: As most Parfait bras only go up to G-cup, I decided to opt for size 32G with Elissa and see how it goes. Usually 32G has been a pretty good success with Parfait and I was right again – the cups are a teeny tiny bit too small as my boobies are bulging just a bit over the cup edges. However, I would say this bra suits more full-on-bottom breast anyway, so maybe we were just not meant to be. You can also see a bit of wrinkling on the bottom part of the cups which I have no clear idea of where they came from. Maybe it’s a shape incompatibility issue? If you have ideas, please let me know in the comments! If I had the chance, I would have loved to try a 32GG with this bra to see if it would solve some of the fit problems.

The longline band of this bra is quite tight for a 32. I would say it stretches up to exactly 32″ so if you measure 32″ or 33″ I would suggest sizing up to 34. I can just about do this up but not on my own so that is definitely something to consider when opting for your size! The underwires are quite wide for me so if you are more wide-rooted this may be the bridal bra for you! However, I am not too bothered by the wires as they don’t rub me or chafe my armpits at all.

Comfort: My history with longlines is not the most smooth one – the ones that have been here from the start remember that infamous Fauve “Bronte” review where I complained about the bones on the bodice that rubbed and stabbed me all over my torso and armpits. Not a pleasant experience! Since then I have been hesitant to try longlines. I needn’t have worried this time though – the Elissa is a pretty comfy little number even with the four bones on the band. Sure, it will never be a comfortable as a bra without extra wiring but the bones don’t poke me all around like with Bronte. The materials are also quite soft and the lace does not cause any itching even when being so close to bare skin on the bottom half of the band. The straps are fully-adjustable so they suit many body types with ease.

I got the bikini brief bottoms with the set in size Small and I would say Parfait really knows how to make comfy panties. These run quite true-to-size but they have some give at the back because of the stretch lace. If I could suggest something to Parfait, I would ask them to make a deep suspender belt to match this set or perhaps a high-waisted panty with garters.

All in all I think this would be a fantastic set for any full-busted bride out there, if you don’t need a strapless bra under your dress. Longlines are usually a pretty good choice under a party dress anyway, as many women like the smoothing ability they have – I am looking at you ladies who are neurotic about back fat! If you would like to get yourself an Elissa set of your own it comes in sizes 30-40 D-G and S-2XL and you can find it on Kohl’s and Classic Shapewear . The longline bra retails for $54 and the bikini briefs for $25. What kind of lingerie did you wear/ are you planning to wear on your wedding day? Let me know in the comments! xx

SIL Tradeshow: Lepel, Charnos & Lepel London AW16 Collections

When I am visiting tradeshows, there are always a few must-see brands that me and Anna are set our minds to visit first. Tradeshows can be intimidatingly big and thus you need to make a game plan about what your priority brands are and to mention a few, our list consists of the big full-bust names such as Panache, Gossard, Tutti Rouge, Curvy Kate and Lepel. Lepel is one of my favourite stands to see not only because of the gorgeous lingerie but also the warm welcome we get each time. This time we were greeted by the lovely Peter who showed us through all of the LF Intimates collections – Lepel, Charnos and the new-comer Lepel London.

LEPEL

Hues of pink and blue, top to bottom: Fiore (up to G-cup) in Fuchsia/Brilliant Blue, Roxy in Blue Multiprint (up to G-cup with the longline and F-cup with the plunge) & Victoria in Deep Purple/Brilliant Blue (up to F-cup with the plunge and G-cup with the balconette)

I was so excited to see Lepel doing more pink this season – I know it’s a rather cliched lingerie colour but to be honest, I haven’t really seen it done over the past few seasons and there is a Barbie inside of me screaming for some pink! With the Lepel collection the bright jewel-tone pink or Fucshia was combined to another jewel, that is the Brilliant Blue. I became an instant fan of this colour combo, almost as much as with the pink-orange trend combo for this SS16 season. The blue is a vibrant shade that brings out the fuchsia in a lovely way and I love how playful it looks in a floral print. I know florals are “in” almost every season but I think this AW16 season brings them to another level – my personal favourite from the Lepel collection was the Roxy, which I can’t wait to try in the longline version pictured above!

Cute basics, top to bottom: Daisy in Black/Fuchsia (up to G), Lyla Push-up in Black (up to E) & Lilly in Leopard print (up to G)

Lepel seems to be doing quite a lot of plunge bras this season which is something I always personally vouch for – I wear a lot of low necklines which require a plunge bra, and preferable a non-padded one. Their basic Lyla range (which will be reviewed on 2COP next week!) gains a new member from a plunge push-up bra that will accompany the range of t-shirt balconettes. This style will only go up to E-cup but is a great addition to their basic collection. The new plunge Lyla will be available in basic colours of beige, white and black. Also the Lilly gets a revamp with another exciting young print – an orange/pink leopard print. This is one of my favourite prints with this range so far as I’m starting to warm up to animal prints for the first time in my life.

CHARNOS

Sultry berry-tones, top to bottom: Violet in Raspberry & Sienna in Deep Purple (both up to J-cup)

The Charnos collection goes this time more luxe with some beautiful European-style lace and sultry colours such as purple, fuchsia and gold. I love how they have differentiated the range from Lepel with a more grown-up aesthetics but still not in a boring way. The Charnos range has improved looks-wise tremendously in my opinion and there are definitely some styles that I am really looking forward to trying on myself! I am also super happy that they cater up to J-cup and offer some stretch-lace options such as the Violet (pictured above) which are crucial to women with A-symmetry.

Luxurious materials, top to bottom: Bailey in Ivory (up to G), Bridgette Full-Cup (up to J) and chemise in Black/Gold & Suzette in Black (up to J)

My personal favourites from the whole Charnos collection were the new bridal colour of Bailey and the Black/Gold Bridgette range. I am so happy to see Charnos making a bridal version of their new Bailey bra as I really love the plunge shape and and the gorgeous styling with the little tassel on the front. This style will also be available in a strapless style and is an affordable option for any bride out there. I am sure that I would consider this style as my very own choice for the big day, if it fits me well 😉 The Bridgette on the other hand is a lovely non-padded full-cup which is accompanied by the chic chemise that sports the same luxurious lace and gold underlay as the bra set. I am sure this colourway will be a hit for Christmas and make it to my personal wishlist as well!

LEPEL LONDON

Top to bottom (all up to D-cup unless otherwise specified): Paloma in Pink, Sophia body & bralette in Black (UK 6-14), Tamara Velvet (up to F), Tamara (up to F), Chelsea Geo body & bralette set in Black and Sky Blue/Blush (UK 6-14)

From all of the three collections, I was most excited to see the Lepel London range grow. This is a collection designed specifically for Asos and their target market is young fashion-forward women who want cute and edgy lingerie at affordable prices. The average price of a bra for Lepel London is about £20 so definitely something a student could invest in! This season the brand is branching out to F-cups with their Tamara and Tamara Velvet styles, which is a big improvement to last season. I am still waiting for my G-cups impatiently but I am sure they will become reality someday soon. In meantime, I am determined to get my hands on that Sophia body, as it does have my name on it 😉

How do you like the LF-Intimates offering for AW16 season? Any favourites? Let me know in the comments below! I would also love to hear would you wear Lepel London if it came in your size! Our opinions matter as it tells the brands that these designs are coveted in bigger cup sizes as well.

The new Fraulein Annie lines coming next year!

As promised, here is the picture of the new Fraulein Annie lines to come. The lines “How To Marry” and “Sei Lieb Zu Mir” will be released next year and I myself am particularly fond of the new pale pink version of the last-mentioned. 

Here is what the designer has to say about the lines:

Sei Lieb Zu Mir (Be Nice To Me) is an alluring, sensual range and another homage to a song by Marlene Dietrich. Its almost transparent, fine and light embroidery featuring an art-deco-arch design is combined with satin details and a statement grosgrain bow.

It comes in a seductive jet black and an enticing rose colourway. Styles include an unpadded balcony bra for smaller busts, an unpadded fuller bust bra up to a G cup, a short and a thong with keyhole detail in the back. Both can be worn with the shaping suspender belt. For ultimate support, there is the waist-cinching panty that flattens the tummy, waist, hips and lifts the bum.

 

• 2COP’s comments: SLZM (a short version of the name, pain in the ass to write it over and over again!) is an elegant everyday set with a sophisticated touch. The materials are well thought-out and the colours classic as always with Fraulein Annie designs. I love the blush which will suit pale skin tones as a “nude” bra and will be most likely invisible under light coloured clothing and thin materials. I am particularly fond of the suspender belt which is a guilty pleasure of mine each time I see one.

How To Marry is designed for the vintage bride and made of a romantic jacquard satin with a floral bow pattern and a shimmering, light mesh that is ruched in places. The range comes in a mother-of-pearl shade and has padded, strapless bandeau bras from A to F cup, a short and a thong with an arched keyhole in the back. The tummy flattening waist cincher with removable suspenders, a garter and a flirty suspender belt complete the range.

 

• 2COP’s comments: I love how this range features an elegant version of a bandeau bra – a shape that is often overlooked but very practical for weddings. So many wedding dresses feature a strapless neckline these days which requires a balconette or a a bandeau shaped bra under it. I think this set is a lovely option for those with a little less padding on the bust area though Frauke has mentioned extending the size range if the demand meets the supply nicely when the line launches next year. Hopefully, by the time that I get married (which will probably not be in the next couple of years) this style will be available up to G or GG!

How do you like the new Fraulein Annie lines? Which one would you like to snatch up? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie adventures in London part I: Fraulein Annie Lingerie

Hiya lovelies and thank God it’s Sunday! I have started with a new job this week which is super fun, lingerie-related but also requires a lot of hours in a bus and standing on my feet. So no wonder I slept almost 12 hours last night. I have started to miss blogging more frequently so this month I’ll be having a goal of writing at least two posts a week. Literally, I have to since my review pile is getting pretty big and I don’t wanna be all late with them! Also I still have so many awesome things planned for you guys and I hope to have them black and white this month. So fingers crossed!

Today I wanna tell you about a little trip I made to London about couple of months ago where I met two amazing ladies – Eva from All Undone Lingerie and Frauke from Fraulein Annie. They were both so lovely and I learned a lot about making bras, indie brand marketing and also the difficulties of producing and selling bras. This was all very interesting and today I want to share the best bits with you.

First I met up with Frauke at a lovely small restaurant called The Secret Tea Room. The place was like from my dreams – charming old furniture with a delicious menu and amazingly pretty waitresses. We decided to go for a tomato and mozzarella pie which turned out to be great. The whole place is completely vegetarian which scared me a bit as a devoted meat-eater but the food was so good I actually started thinking I could try out some more veggies in my own diet.

In addition to the food I absolutely adored Frauke. As a Finn my journey with English and American people hadn’t been too uncomplicated which meant me being very at ease with a fellow Europian (Frauke is originally from Germany but now lives in London and travels a lot to China as well). I have a general feeling that us Finns and German people do get along really well so the afternoon was definitely a blast, a laid back moment of excellent lunch and fun company. 

When it comes to lingerie Frauke definitely knows her stuff and is very passionate about the industry. She talked a lot about the quality and the accessibility of her lingerie and also the question of supply and demand. Lingerie industry is not the most easiest to break into, to say the least. 

Fraulein Annie Lingerie seems like something pretty special – the kind of thing you put on a special date or even your wedding day. It’s classic and beautiful and speaks to a variety of age groups and tastes. Also the tag luxury has been attached to Fraulein Annie in so many cases. But what does the designer herself think about this? She would respectfully like to disagree.

Fraulein Annie is first foremost designed for every woman. Beautiful lingerie should be a necessity – not a luxury. Frauke and I talked a lot about the luxury tag and the price point of quality lingerie which raised a lot of problems when it comes to smaller indie brands. FA’s price point is a little higher than your average Panache but many of us have no idea what is put behind it. There are years of working with the patterns, re-doing the models and trying to find the right fit. The fit does not come out of thin air; it’s lovingly crafted over years (full-bust bra can take up to two years to get ready for the market!) to make the best bra for all women out there. This is the philosophy behind Fraulein Annie – quality lingerie should be something for everyone to enjoy without compromising the fit or comfort.

I cannot bear to tell you that I don’t have anything new to show you from FA’s collection but I do have something to tell you! Fraulein Annie is a brand that doesn’t follow the traditional industry seasons but tries to put together a timeless collection which is now and then revised with new equally classic pieces. I was eager to ask Frauke to tell me about the new lines she has come up with and boy there is some pretty exciting things on our way.

First of all there is a new line called “Sei Lieb Zu Mir” which features amazing embroidery and also a new bridal range up F-cup. I have seen pictures of both and promise to post them here when I have my hands on them! At this point you just need to trust me on them being absolutely breathtaking. There is also other winds of change blowing when it comes to Fraulein Annie – there is a very possible chance of their size range getting bigger sometime in the future. This however happens most likely first to the smaller end of the size spectrum including AA-cups. The first smaller sized unpadded cups are in a design process now but also the other end of size spectrum is taken into consideration – as growing bigger Frauke has planned to possibly include HH-cups someday which is great news for us full-busted gals. 

This was it for today but as I told you also met up with the lovely Eva from All Undone and will share my discussions with her some day soon! Have a lovely weekend and hope life is giving sunshine to you all 🙂 xx