Lingerie Review: Cleo by Panache “Della” in 32GG + THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Hi everyone! So sorry for not posting for a while – life got in the way and I had a very exciting job interview, an exam (first one in three years!) and a dance performance to practice to. So I hope you will excuse me! As a little consolation, I have decided to announce the blogiversary giveaway winners today before the review. The winners have been informed by email already and asked to get back to me in a week’s time. If they fail to do so, another winner will be picked. Congrats to everyone and if you did’t win – well, there is always next year 😉

THE WINNERS ARE…… *drum roll*

For the Playful Promises “Cordelia” set… Amber

For the Signature lingerie set… Sian A., Kelsey, Cat J.

For the Curvy Kate lingerie set… Ruth H.

For Tutti Rouge lingerie set… Kimberley R.

For the Cleo lingerie set… Coline T.

I hope you will all enjoy your new lingerie sets ❤ Now, we need to get on with a review that I am actually super glad to write – I haven’t reviewed any Panache nor Cleo lingerie in a while even though they are definitely one of my favourite lingerie brands. When the lovely Tia from Panache asked me what I would like to review from the spring collection, the Della stood out to me as something a bit different. It was the most Barbie-like design I had seen in a while, and as a living Barbie princess (hehe!) I was instantly drawn to it. Let’s see how we got on with Della!

The Design: As said, the Della looks exactly like something a Barbie doll would wear under her clothes – pink, leopard and all around sweet with a sexy edge. The style is quite simplistic actually – there are no additional lace, bows or ruffles anywhere, just a combo of a killer print and contrasting black trimmings on the wiring, straps, cup edges and the bra band. This set does not need the ruffles – it’s girly and powerful at the same time without any extra touches. The Della bottoms also feature some badass suspenders which is always a plus when it comes to styling the set in a few a different ways.

The shape of the bra is pretty much what Cleo is known for – immaculate roundness that will look amazing under any dress or a shirt, unless you prefer something super natural of course. It is the same shape that made Cleo “Marcie” famous and will continue to win over hearts as something quite unique in the full bust world! The style of the Della is a balconette, meaning the cup edges form a rather straight horizontal line and the centre gore comes up quite high on my sternum. I have to be honest – this is not a bra to wear under low-cut shirts as the gore will show but I do love it with more covering necklines.

The Fit: I was super curious to try Cleo now that I haven’t tried on any of their bras in over a year. My last Cleo bra was a yellow Marcie in 30G which was already a bit tight and small in the cup – which resulted in me in trying a 32GG this time. I was a bit hesitant as I knew that sometimes Panache bras can run on the generous side with the cups but I decided to cross my fingers as this is one of my most common sizes to wear with British lingerie brands. Luckily, I got it perfectly right and the 32GG fitted like a dream! I actually didn’t even remember how well Cleo and Panache bras fit me in general so I was almost crying happy tears to discover my old love for Cleo’s rounded and amazingly deep cups.

What really sets Panache apart from other UK full-bust brands is especially their wire width and cup depth. Personally, I find most British bras too wide and shallow for my shape and thus I am always happy to find some brands taking their own route with this matter. Sure, even Cleo is not the most narrow and deep brand on the market but it is definitely a winner among its rivals in the British full-bust market. For me the cup depth and the wire width of this bra were quite perfect and I have no complaints whatsoever!

When it comes to sizing, I would advice to think carefully what your personal comfort preferences are regarding bra bands. I have found Cleo 30-bands a bit too tight for me so I have decided to take the 32 from now on, even though I can hook it into the tightest set of hooks after a few wears. I just prefer my bands a bit more comfy. However, even if you are between sizes, you can choose to take the smaller option if you like your bands tight – this is definitely a preference thing. The cups of the Della bra run true to size so I would advice to go with your regular UK size with them.

Comfort: In addition to superb fit, I have nothing bad to say about the comfort aspect of Della. The materials are sturdy enough to keep everything in place and even though the band only features two hooks and eyes, the strong power-mesh makes up for it very well. Even the high underwires haven’t caused any problems for me so I am a happy peanut! I do have one downside to report about the bra though – once again, like with most bras I own, the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me personally. However, they are made of a sturdy material, meaning they do not fall of my shoulders constantly, but only a couple of times a day. So not too bad, I would say! Sometimes brands make super cute and sexy bra straps with satin-y materials and those are just a nightmare to me.

The bottoms I opted in a size 12 as I know that Cleo runs on the smaller side with their panties – and I was again quite right! The 12 fits me spot-on but I do wish that these would come up a bit higher. They are meant to be a high-waisted briefs so I would like them to go up to my belly button, whereas now they only reach the middle way of my cookie pouch. Not the most flattering look for me I might say! Also, with this rise the panties do roll down my tummy a bit when sitting which is a pet-peeve of mine. The styling of the bottoms is stunning though and I am glad Cleo had included some suspenders to make the bottoms more sexy and versatile. If you are not a garter-kinda-girl, you have the ability to take the them off and just wear the bottoms as-is.

The Della comes in a whopping size range of 28-28 D-J so there are plenty of sizes to choose from! The bottoms come in sizes 8-18. This set is not very widely available online yet but you can already find it on Breakout Bras, if you would like to give it a try.

How do you like the new Cleo offering for ss16? Are you a fan of their rounded shape? Let me know in the comments below! xx

2COP Is Turning 3 -Cleo by Panache Giveaway

Another one of 2COP’s big supporter’s along these 3 years has been Panache. Panache is a massive British D+ (which actually now serves B-C -cup ladies as well!) brand that creates something for everyone – there is the classic mother line of Panache, then the sultry Panache Black, their gorgeous plus size range Sculptresse and last but definitely not least the hip and young Cleo by Panache. Cleo has always been a part of my bradrobe, usually in a form of the perfect-fitting cult bra Marcie. Today Cleo is gifting a set from their SS16 collection to one lucky 2COP reader!

The prize is subject to availability. All giveaways are international and the winners will be contacted by email after the giveaway closes on the leap day, 12:oo GMT. Please check your spam folder in case you won! If my email isn’t replied after one week from contacting you, a new winner will be drawn. The link to the Rafflecopter widget is down below – please follow the instructions to enter!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b13/?

Good luck! I have my fingers crossed for you. xx

A Very Pink and Red Valentine’s Day Lingerie Lust List!

And apparently a post with a very long headline, hehe. So, it’s that time of the year again – Valentine’s Day is around the corner. And guess what? I am actually spending it with my boo this year – what a shocker! I have been with Mr. M for 2 years and two months now and not once have we spent the Valentine’s Day together since I have spent my Valentine’s in UK for the last couple of years.

This time, I am visiting the Paris tradeshow which is held a couple of weeks before Moda, meaning I will finally get my cheesy date this year! I am also big on V-day gifts cause hell, who doesn’t like gifts? I certainly do and am looking forward to getting something for my Mr Right from my Paris trip. When it comes to gifts for myself on Valentine’s, I do love a bit of lingerie. Here are a few examples of cheesy V-day lingerie a pink princess like myself would enjoy!

Scantilly “Invitation”

I am in love with Scantilly and I suppose everyone around here knows about my big crush already. But the collection reeeeaaally screams Valentine’s Day (or night?) date and would be something most full-bust girls would dream of receiving on a romantic and sexy holiday like that. I have reviewed the Scantilly “Peek-a-boo” set before and already have my eyes on the Surrender basque and the lovely pink “Invitation” which is the perfect demi-cup pink/black bra under a low cut dress. I am also pretty damn sure any guy/girl would be lucky to see this worn after the hot date! Scantilly goes up to HH-cup at the moment and can be bought at Brastop and Figleaves.

x
Cleo by Panache “Kali” Babydoll

Cleo makes lovely options for young women with full-busts and just in time for Valentine’s Day, they have come out with an amazing shade with the Kali babydoll. The babydoll might be a cheesy option for V-day with its hearts embroidery but who said cheesy was a bad thing? I personally love the deep raspberry hue of the babydoll and the amazing thing about it is that it goes up to J-cup. You can get the babydoll and a matching low-cut brief at Bravissimo and the babydoll itself sets you back £37 – not bad, huh?

Comexim “Rita”

Ordering from Poland is always a bit of a hassle as the bras are usually made-to-order and thus take a bit more time to ship. Luckily, there is still time to make that order if you are in the mood to treat your girl with something a bit more special. Processing the order can take up to 10 days but after that, the set should arrive in no time, no matter if you live in Finland or USA. The Polish brands are also usually great value for the money – this particular Rita bra sets you back at 35$ which is not bad for something that has on-point construction and a stylish design.

Curvy Kate “Tease” babydoll and bra set

This is probably one of my ultimate lust-list sets as it was the first well-fitted set I got when I was 18. I am so glad CK brought this colourway back as it is definitely one of the most gorgeous ones ever seen – and for once the red is not paired with black. I am also loving how they turned the Tease into a ruffly sweet babydoll which will be perfect for this Valentine’s Day. As this colourway is already technically last season, you can now get it at a reduced price almost everywhere. Brastop has a pretty good selection of prices available, so I would check there first.

Samanta “Anvers” in A470

If you are buying for a basics-loving lady but still want to treat her for a little bit of pink goodness, why not try another Polish brand, Samanta. Samanta has been reviewed here on 2COP many times and this particular set is called “Anvers” will be the next one reviewed on the 31st of January. This set is breathtakingly pretty in flesh and features a lovely smooth finish which is perfect under sleek t-shirts and jersey dresses. To give your a spoiler on the fit of the bra in A475, Jo said that it might actually be her best-fitting bra ever. Quite a compliment, huh?

+ A MANDATORY SPLURGE

Vollers “Lusso” Waist-Training Corsets

Not every gentleman/lady has the money to splurge on a well-made waist-trainer but in my dream world, there would be such corsets to everyone! I have been lusting after a proper waist-trainer for months now but I am not sure which company to go to – I don’t want to get anything rubbish that will wear out right away and in the worst case scenario, would hurt my body some way. I have heard that Vollers is a very reputable corset company so what better brand to add on my lust list? The pink Lusso corset is a perfect option for long-torsoed gals like me and IF you would happen to have the dough to spend, it would be yours for £155.

Here’s my wishlist for this upcoming Valentine’s Day! What is on your list? Also, what are your plans for the V-day? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie Show: Cleo, Sculptresse & Sport by Panache AW15 Collections

When Panache is a great staple for anyone entering the full-bust world, there are plenty of different choices inside the brand for different tastes and sizes. Today I am going to talk about the Panache sub-labels Cleo, Sport and Sculptresse which all have a very distinct look to them. Let’s start with Cleo which is probably one of your favourite brands as well – this sub-label caters to young Panache customers with quirky prints and cute colours. The sizes with Cleo go up to J-cup and some styles start now from B-cup

CLEO BY PANACHE     

Breeze (C-H cups), Mimi (C-H cups), Kali (D-J cups), Kali Babydoll (D-J cups), Marcie in Burgundy & Nude (B-J cups), Minnie (B-J cups) and Lottie (D-J cups).

Prints have always been Cleo’s strength and they didn’t disappoint me this season either. The shades were a bit darker than with spring season (obviously) but I did like the way they were used and combined to brighter colours, like with the new Lottie balconette. The Aztec print was quite different, and got big thumbs up especially from my fellow blogger Anna from Bras and Body Image. When it comes to prints though I like a more subtle look, so the cutesy Navy/Yellow Minnie was definitely a winner for me! I also really liked the splash of yellow which seems to be my ultimate favourite colour at the moment (ok who am I kidding, it’s my fave colour EVERY spring).

Even though subtle and playful prints are more my things, I found myself falling in love particularly with the Breeze longline which comes in a colour-clashing floral print. A piece someone like Rihanna would quite possibly wear! Also, I am a sucker for longlines, so what can you do. I am always up for one in my size! The Marcies and Kalis were again absolutely adorable and I love how Cleo keeps making the Kali in such bright neons season after season. The tangerine orange is a great shade but I do have to admit that the babydoll is soooo cute I could not choose either one over another – have to have them both in my drawers!

PANACHE SPORT  

Panache Sport Non-Wired in Grey and Wired in Coral and Pink

Well now is time for the one of the biggest announcements I will make on blog this spring! The Panache Sport Wired will go up to J-cup starting from next autumn! I am so proud of Panache for taking the feedback and making this happen as it has been highly requested by their customers. However, the only band sizes with J-cups will be 32 and 34, so they are starting slowly but surely with the bigger cups. The 28 and 30 backs will still be going up to H which is a shame but the 36 band will go up HH. I so hope this will make some of your lives a lot easier and that Panache will start adding biggers sizes to their smallest band sizes as well, when the demand gets higher and the bigger cups start to sell! The new shades of coral and pink are super cute and and will add a dash of colour to your autumn workouts.

SCULPTRESSE BY PANACHE
Chi Chi (D-HH cups), Charisse (D-J cups), Bunny (D-H cups), Flirtini (D-H cups + 34) & Kitty (D-HH cups)

When it comes to the Panache Sculptresse line I’m always a bit jealous. I mean, I can’t have all those pretty bras because dang they don’t come in my size. The Sculptresse line has so far been a range from 36 bands and up but luckily Panache has decided to add some 34 bands as well (still not helpful to me but ya can’t have it all!) with the Flirtini and Kitty styles, pictured above. I so hope that these band sizes will do good as well and Sculptresse will make some more 34 backs in the future!

When it comes to styling, I am a sucker for this flirty and girly range that is kind of sister label to Cleo more than the regular Panache range. Sculptresse range plays with the same vivid colours and interesting prints but to be honest, I like it’s out-of-box perspective even more than Cleo’s. This might be due to the mermaid vibes this collection sports alongside the regular Panache range – the teals, petrols, stars and scallops are my thing and will win my heart over anytime. If I needed to pick a favourite, the Charisse would be a lovely number to see in my size as well. All of the news styles, Bunny, Charisse and Kitty were nice additions to the original collection though and any of them would have a place in my bradrobe!

How did you like the new Panache sub-label collections – any favourites? I would love to know! Also, if you have any particular questions about sizes or anything else, do let me know in the comments. Note that these styles were not all Panache will be offering next season, as there will be some basic styles on offer as well 😉

Blogger Night with 2COP x Lumingerie

Even after blogging for two years there are still some things that surprise me – one of them being the vibrant blogger scene in my hometown Oulu. It’s a small town so getting together is rather easy, there are not that many places to go or things to do. Luckily, bloggers are a creative sort of bunch and we have come up with multiple events during the past few months and as I see myself as a pretty active part of our little group, I decided to throw my gals a little lingerie party. After I had visited the storage of Lumingerie, a Finnish lingerie online store, we decided to team up for a proper fitting event to teach our blogger gals a bra tip or two.

Lumingerie and 2COP have worked together for a good year and a half now which I am super grateful for – this online store knows what it’s doing and is dedicated to educating women on good bra fit. They have a lovely selection of British, Polish and American brands which are probably rather familiar to you as well; Curvy Kate, Panache and Gorsenia are just some of the quality brands Lumingerie offers in their selection. We handpicked a few favourites with Mervi and decided to show our blogger guests some young fashion-forward styles for the upcoming spring season.

Pics by Elisa from Balanced 24/7

We started off the evening with some “bubbly” (which was more like lemonade) and then proceeded to tell about the key products we had picked for the night: the Panache Sports bra, Curvy Kate “Luxe Strapless” and Cleo “Jolie” which were modeled by my lovely sister Emma (the makeup and hair is done by yours truly). Emma usually wears a size 65D which, as you can see, is actually quite a small size as opposed to the dreaded porn star boobs that D’s are usually perceived as. I was glad to see so many of my fellow bloggers’ faces litting up: there were clearly some a-ha moments happening that night.

Pics by Anna from Secondary Life

At the end we started measuring the girls and what a big surprise, all of them were actually D+. Even the gals who warned me off right from the start that they weren’t too well-endowed ended up measuring 30D or similar with some girls jumping from A and B-cups to D and F. The most important lesson of the night? The band is related to the cup meaning if you are small all over, you are very likely to be a 28 or 30  D+. I don’t mean to say there aren’t girls that wear eg 28B/C but the average Finnish girl is likely to be a D+ gal, there’s no going around it.

The girls left with new bra sizes, some goodie bags from Lumingerie and a big smile on their faces which was the best reward for me from that particular night. I look forward to more blogger meet-ups in the future as I would love to get to know these girls better! Big thanks to everyone who attended, our lovely model and Lumingerie who all made this night such a special one 🙂 If you want to check out the other bloggers who attended, here are links to their (mostly Finnish) blogs…

Anna, Enni, Elisa , Jenna, Anni, Tiina, Mella, Reetta, Minttu, Jenni, Sarkku, Marjo & Laura.

Have a great rest of your Sunday and I’ll get back to you with *drumroll*…. blogiversary giveaways that will go up tomorrow! I wish you the best of luck with them 😉

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear SS15 Preview: Cleo & Cleo Swim by Panache

It’s quite a while since I posted the Panache Superbra preview for SS15 season and now it’s definitely time to move onto my favourite Panache sub-labels: Cleo and Cleo Swim. Cleo range is more targeted to younger women, I would say in their early 20’s or even in their late teen years, and this is why the brand appeals to me the most. Cleo collections are always full of colour and this season was no exception – there were plenty of candy floss and neon colours on show. The hottest shades for SS15 were definitely turquoise, neon orange, pink and electric blue. There were also a couple of nice basic options available – one being the awaited beige-toned Marcie. Let’s a dig a little deeper…

Marcie Nude, Marcie Magenta/Orange, Kali Coral, Kali Cobalt & Kira Floral Print

What I love most about Cleo is their lovely colours and of course, their unbeatable non-padded balconette bras. My love for Marcie goes way back to when I started wearing full-bust bras and I still have affectionate feelings for it. I loved what the Panache team did with Marcie this season; they took the design to a whole new level with an amazing colour-blocked version with a my favourite combo of pink and tangerine orange. The beige version of Marcie is also super pretty – it’s not an ugly shade of granny beige but more of light caramel tone with even lighter tones of beige making the embroidery pop out.

I also loved the new shades of the Kali, which is a brand new style for this AW14 season. I fell in love with the original Kali in Neon Yellow but these new shades of Cobal and Coral look equally as fabulous. Kali is supposed to be based on the previous Lucy style so if you love that bandless frame, keep your eyes out for this one!

Kali and Marcie are not the only Cleo balconettes in the collection, as there is an array of styles to look out for. For those who are especially interested in the new styles, there will be three of them – Kira, Phoebe and Erin. Erin is very close to the previous style Meg, meaning it’s a laminated style with the lovely rounded-shape cups. The set is a practical navy blue hue with a pop of pink and other colours in a form of a lovely water-colour print. Phoebe is another Lucy spin-off with a Barbie pink flower embroidery and a blush base. My favourite however, is the Kira (pictured above) that features a lovely painting-like floral print and a very spring-appropriate colour scheme of pink, mint green and blue.

    
Minnie Longline, Maddie Spot, Koko Mode & Koko Icon

Another strength of Cleo is their padded everyday styles. I bet many of you know Juna and Maddie including their spin-offs but there were a couple of styles I still want to introduce you to. First to mention, the amazing Minnie longline. Minnie started off as a regular laminated balconette bra but I am so glad Panache decided to add a cute little longline to the collection. This style will be available in this sky blue shade and up to H-cup so it’s definitely something that I look forward to trying (most of the longlines I’ve seen stop at DD or G)!

For those of you who prefer something a bit more basic styles, there’s a new line called Koko up for grabs. The Koko range introduces us to three different shapes – Mode, Icon and Flirty – which all have different characteristics and suit different purposes. The Koko Mode sports a fantastic neon orange shade with a saucy leopard lace overlay and a plunge shape. I would say the Mode is what it claims to be – the most fashion forward version of Koko. In addition to that the range features an everyday turquoise style Flirty and a strapless plunge Icon. The strapless especially looks intriguing, but unfortunately the style goes only up to G-cup. The other two go up to an H-cup.

The new Cleo Swim collection is super cute as well so excuse for not having enough pics of it! These styles pictured above are called Betty and Leena (a new style!) which I love because of all the yellowness. Also I adore the little cute hearts of Leena as they are nice twist to the classic polka dot print. In addition to yellow, there were a lot of pink and blue/navy tones this season, so can’t really complain here. I am super regretful about not taking a pic of the lovely Cassie which is a longline bikini! Longline bikini tops seem to be a big deal for SS15 so I can’t wait to try a few when they are launched.

Any favourites or any you didn’t like? I would love to know so leave me a comment below! Also you redditers there, you can leave me a comment directly to my comment box and I’ll be more likely to get back to you 😉 xx

Moda Trend Report: Autumn/Winter 2014

After I visited Moda lingerie exhibition last spring I decided to do a trend report such as Invest in Your Chest has done for a few times now. I actually met the girls at the show and I have to confess I indulged myself in a little fan girl moment but then tried to got my shit together. I am not usually the shyest kind of girl but when I meet people I really admire I still feel a bit starstruck. Good for me, both Cheryl and Becky are so much fun to be around and I’m kind of waiting to see if they will join me this August as well. 

I enjoyed Moda tremendously last time and saw a lot of upcoming lingerie trends so I think it’s time to share them with you now. Better later than never, right! Well, onto the trends of aw14…

Neon brights – Of course the best are first up! I really enjoyed the amount of neon colours for autumn. I think neons are often seen as spring or summer hues but I think they bring a bit of fun to gloomy autumn nights. I think the most outstanding colour was the neon pink/orange that reminded me of tropical flowers. I also liked neon turquoise and yellow a lot – I think Cleo hit the jackpot with their new Kali design (a must-have for this autumn!). After Moda I was drooling over so many daring designs just for the striking colours they came in.

 
Innocent whites – There was a lot of goodies in the show for some future brides: a whole section of the lingerie fashion show was dedicated to white romantic undercrackers. I am not a huge fan of white myself – I find it too restrictive and impractical but for special occasions it can be a very pretty choice. One of my ultimate favourite sets in white is Mimi Holliday “Coquette” which actually reminds me a bit of Snow White. Again, I felt like the trend was better suited for summer (even the styling featured butterflies, wtf??) so this was definitely not my favourite of all the trends shown on the catwalk.

Smoky & Edgy – This trend is something I love to wear personally and it fits really well the autumn/winter scenery. The smoky greys and blacks ooze sexiness and paint you the scenery of seduction. I am especially in love with the new styles Gossard has created for autumn and guess what? I GOTTA HAVE THAT BLUE/BLACK BRA in third picture. It’s so gorgeous. Also if the bra in second picture came in my size I would die to have it. Simply die. I have yet to try grey lingerie but with the sophisticated laces and trimmings these sets are offering, I am definitely willing to try that too in the future.

Girly vibes – I am not a girly girl myself – not too much at least. I have heard that I’m girly but not princess-y so getting all covered up in pinks and flowers is not my cup of tea. However, recently I’ve been finding myself in the middle of piles of pink lingerie so I guess I must throw that misconception of myself away. I am sometimes a princess – with a big P. I always love a good pink or red bra so I was quite happy to see such beautiful hues on the runway. But again, this style is more summery to me so I find it a bit unsuitable for winter. However, the bras were beautifully styled and as individuals so pretty I think I might indulge in some winter florals next season.

Mistress of Dracula – I love a good red and black combo and this part of the show definitely got it. Red is probably my ultimate favourite colour among pinks and other brights even thought it’s almost too classic and cliched. However, you can never fail with a good red lingerie set. I think especially Lepel did a great job with their reds, so did Curvy Kate. 

So this was it for this time, next time I will be introducing a couple of swimwear trends. Which lingerie trend did you like the best? 🙂 Let me know in the comments! xx

Review of Cleo by Panache “Carmen” swimsuit in 32G

As all ya British people know, the summer is almost here in UK and that means packing our swimsuits and heading to the seaside. Not that the climate is too warm here yet but there have been some pretty excitingly sunny days to at least dream about a cool swim and a day at the beach. America is a whole another story, I have literally seen people’s lakeside pictures from their spring break and I almost can’t take it – way too exciting for someone whose homeland is still in a winter-y state. However, when Panache contacted me and asked me to review one of their new Cleo Swim styles I was totally up for it as I had been longing for a proper swimsuit for months. When grilling myself on the beach I prefer bikinis but for swimming pool use I feel like onepiece is a more appropriate choice.

After weighing my options (and changing my mind for a few times as I am the queen of hesitation) I really wanted to try the amazing new Carmen swimsuit in 32G. This swimsuit goes up to G-cup and Cleo styles usually run a bit tight in the band which is why I felt that I needed to sistersize this time. Panache also sent me one of their new creations with the swimsuit – a lovely yellow kaftan in size M. The parcel also included a plastic little bag for the swimsuit and a beach bag to along with the whole “outfit”. Here are my thoughts about the Carmen swimsuit and the kaftan…

The design: Extremely attractive! I mean whoa this thing is a total beauty for a onepiece swimsuit. I was skyping with my boyfriend in the middle of shooting the pictures and he literally told me he couldn’t have ever believed how hot a swimsuit could be. ALSO, I got hit on by a random dude at the swimming pool today when wearing this so apparently this swimsuit appeals to both men and women. The print is absolutely lovely and the colour extremely flattering. I love the pineapples which makes the onepiece look a little retro. Also the cut is very 50’s-60’s looking which I absolutely love. It’s very flattering and covers everything that needs to be covered.

I love how this swimsuit features padded balconette cups with two-part cup construction which gives me extra security with no nipples showing through and my girls supported the best way when swimming. There is a bra band built in the swimsuit which adds a bit more security and holds the breasts up better than a regular swimsuit. The cups give me a pretty rounded look, just what I expect from Cleo. I also like how good the proportions are on my body – the swimsuit is not vertically too short or show too much of my butt or chest. However the cups of the swimsuit are not too high either so they keep the look very young and a bit sexy as well.

The fit: As I sized up in the band for comfort reasons I felt like the I could have tried the 30GG after all (if it existed). However the fit was overall really nice and I would say true-to-size. I now usually wear a 30GG when it comes to bras but with a swimsuit I am happy compromise the snugness of a band to make it look less tight and overall more flattering. I am also not the shortest person I know which means I always want to make sure everything fits me length-wise as well (for reference I’m almost 5″6). 32G was definitely a good fit length-wise but when stretching out a bit while getting wet the suit could have been slight tighter on my body. However this didn’t bother me and when doing any sort of sports I wanna feel comfy and not too restricted.

The cups were a good fit, not too small or big but just the right size. The wires were exactly the right width for me which I always appreciate. Because this is a strapless balconette style with optional halterneck straps attached to it I find it really attractive but was dubious about how it would hold itself up when swimming. This was not a problem though and I felt pretty secure in the suit without the fear of my boobs falling out of the cups. However the feeling of not having “proper” thick straps made me still yank up the suit now and then but this was more due to a psychological reason – I couldn’t believe I was wearing an actually working strapless swimsuit. However I would advice Panache to add some kind of silicone strings to the inside of the cups, just for extra security (but on the other hand, I have no idea how it would work together with chloride water – maybe the silicone would wear off easily?)

Comfort: Love it! So comfy when just chilling (tested in my room while skyping with my bf) and amazing when swimming. The materials feel very soft and the fabric is stretchy enough to allow any movement. The wires don’t dig into my armpits thanks to the perfect width and length. What I would hate would be wires going too high up in my armpits which would affect my comfort while swimming; however, this swimsuit is so perfectly planned to be functional, comfortable and pretty at the same time so I don’t really have any complaints. It also doesn’t dig into my butt or hips which creates a smooth look on my body. Gotta love it! The detachable straps of the suit are very thin which could cause a bit of strain on your neck but as it’s created for D-G busts it’s not meant to carry a huge amount of weight. Also the support comes from the built-in band which is always the most crucial part of a bra or a swimsuit.

The Kaftan: So adorable. And comfy! I love the soft fabric the kaftan is made from and how you can make it accommodate your figure by tightening the waist with the strings. The colour is so cute for the summer and I like how it matches with the Carmen swimsuit. Definitely will be wearing this A LOT in the summer since it’s so easy to throw on even when going shopping or having a drink at a terrace. For me it’s a prefect length too so quite short but I can see so many girls wearing this style with leggings as well.

The size M is a bit too large for me since I usually wear a size XS-S but as I said I can definitely make it work by tightening the waist. It’s also super-flattering for someone who has a big bust – definitely not ” the expecting mum look” here at all! Actually, I am so thrilled about this kaftan I can’t stop imagining myself in my city’s docks, eating ice cream and wearing my matching yellow RayBans. Oh summer, why can’t you be here already!

Overall I think Cleo Swim has put together a really amazing new collection and I’m really impressed by the look and fit of the Carmen swimsuit. This is exactly what I want all the full-bust brands to do and I am so grateful that I had the chance to try this new style out. The best and prettiest swimsuit I’ve ever tried! What do you think about the Carmen? Let me know in the comments!

The Carmen swimsuit is available in sizes 28-38 D-G. The Kaftan is available in sizes S-L and also in a lovely pink shade. Do check out the other Cleo Swim styles as well because, hello, there’s also a LONGLINE bikini available!

Disclosure: This swimsuit was gifted by Panache for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Moda Exhibition – Preview of Panache Superbra and Cleo by Panache AW14 collections

As I went to the Moda Exhibition to see the AW14 collection I was super excited to see what Panache and especially their sub-label Cleo had come up with for the next season. Panache is consisted of whopping seven different lines in total so be prepared for two posts regarding their lines! First up my ultimate favourite –  Cleo. 
Above: Juna Animal and Neve

First of all, Cleo makes great basics for young women and the target market is very clear – fun-loving women in their 20’s. As I talked to the Panache representative she told me that they wanted to make the distinction even clearer this season and to do this they had to keep certain aesthetics constantly in mind while designing the new collection. Even the price tags were renewed – in a very stylish sense I might add. The change in the collection is somehow notable – it’s now even more pure Cleo than what we are used to seeing in the past collections.

What stood out to me this season from the Cleo collection were the colours they used – very trendy yet very Cleo. I have always been a great fan of quirky colour combos which is one of the reasons I love Cleo so much. What other brand comes up with a working combination of neon green and orange? They also add a dash of neon or some other brights to basic colours such as navy and black which adds a bit of fun to everyday styles as well.

Above: Marcie, Kali, Lily and Minnie

So what does Cleo do best in addition to their great colours? Well, that would probably be the unbeatable shape of their unpadded cups. I have had lingerie store owners oohing over my Marcie while being fitted to another bra just because of how rounded and uplifting the cups make my breasts look. This season Cleo treats us with so many lovely and fun styles which I can’t wait to get to try on!

The biggest gem of the whole collection is the Kali – a neon yellow/green unpadded balconette style with a hint of orange and hearts adorning the fabric. I literally gasped of desire when I saw it. The Kali is based on the best-selling Lucy style but has renewed itself design wise. I can say that I like this new design 100 % more since the hearts are more unique than the previous flower embroidery and also a bit more fun. I cannot even express how happy I am with the design and how amazing I find the colour combo.. It’s just pure awesomeness. 

The Marcie has been re-invented for this season as well in a new colour, a one that’s very similar to the first Marcie that was released a few season back. Now the tone is more Raspberry-like and the line also features a babydoll which still makes my fingers itch when I think about it (tried the black one and band was super-tight btw!). I might give it a go in the new yellow SS14 style sometime soon. My other favourites were the Lily with its adorable swan print and neon trimmings and the Minnie which is a very cute everyday style.

Above: Idina, Envy Body, Clara and Jasmine

Panache Superbra is kind of a bigger sister to Cleo; it includes everyday basics and some evening styles with a more sophisticated grown-up way. This line is very approachable for so many women out there and there are some styles that have even reached a cult status. I myself own a very well-loved Jasmine in floral print and love the shape it gives me and how it accommodates some serious size fluctuations. The shape of Jasmine has apparently been adapted to a few other styles as well which is very smart regarding how well it fits so many women.

My absolute favourite from the collection was the luxurious Clara since it’s a breath-taking evening style which gives a great shape and support without compromising in the design. I think Clara with this golden colourway – so appropriate for autumn and Christmas btw – has hit the jackpot and appeals to my more grown-up side (yes, there is one, it just stays hidden most of the time). I would love to see this style evolve even more and maybe have a little sister in a Cleo collection in the future (perhaps a balconette style?). 

Next time I will be previewing Panache Masquerade and Sculptress lines so stay tuned for some pin-up and evening-time glamour! If you have any thoughts about the new styles and collections, please let me know in the comment box.

Guest post: CLEO Lucy – the work horse of your lingerie wardrobe

Hello gals! This is a guest post by one of my darling readers, Vesta, and I’m proud to present you a bra I have not yet tried on myself: Lucy by Cleo. Hope you enjoy the review! 🙂After studying the offerings and blogs, I really liked the way Cleo Lucy fit people, so I decided to get the black one and see how it works out for me before deciding on whether or not to get other colors. I must have somehow missed the fact that it is widely reported to fit small in the cup, and ordered my usual 30G to begin with.

As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be too small – wires too narrow, and the band looked really short. Sure enough, it was a really tight fit. Band was in fact about 2 inches shorter than the 30G Jasmine band, and painfully tight. I was spilling out of the cups on the sides and the top edge of cup was slashing my breast in half. Overall, I felt like a stuffed sausage in this bra and my ribs hurt after just a few minutes of wearing it. I measure 29 inches in the ribcage, usually choose a 30 band, and have never tried one quite that tight before.

Not to be thwarted,  I found a very good deal on the Navy/Pink colourway of this bra (my favourite one), and could not resist getting it in 30GG. After receiving it, I found a peculiar difference in construction and fit between black and navy/pink ones. It could be partially due to the fact that the black one was a G cup and navy was a GG cup, perhaps Cleo construct bras differently in bigger cup sizes. I am going to compare various parts of the bra in each of the sizes/colours that I tried:

Band:

Black 30G – very tight, in fact 2 inches shorter than 30GG in navy/pink. Even though both have two hooks and eyes, the 30GG Navy has a wider band with wider set hooks. However, it is also a stretchier band, and I feel like I could have done with a 28 in this color! Definitely glad I did not order the 32! A 28 band in black would have probably chopped me in half.

Cups: 30GG navy/pink cups appear quite a bit larger than the 30G black ones, I feel like there is more than a cup size difference between the two. The 30GG navy covers a lot more of my breast at the front. Wires may feel wide to some, but they work for my breasts. Wires on the 30G appear quite a bit narrower.

Now, the big difference I noticed between black and navy/pink is in the center gore. Black center gore is considerably wider than the navy center gore. There is maybe 5-6 mm of fabric between the wires in the black version, while the navy version’s wires are separated by about 2-3 mm of fabric. My breasts are not particularly close set, but they are pushed together by the bra and as a result, the center gore in the black version sort of folds in on itself, resulting in the wires overlapping at the top and the gore not sitting  flat against my sternum (though this might also be due to the cup being too small).  In the navy version, the wires are also pushed together, but they merely touch rather than overlap and the gore is flat against my body. Taking in the center gore could be an option, though I am not sure if I am willing to jump through the hoops to fit into this bra. Navy version does not require to be taken in, at least for me.

Straps: Straps are fully and easily adjustable on the go. 30GG straps are 2-3 mm wider that 30G straps. Also, there is an additional soft layer of felt like fabric on the underside of the 30GG straps, intended to ease the burden on the shoulders. While I like the soft layer, I wish they didn’t make the straps wider, but it is my personal peeve  – narrow straps J. Also, the lining definitely will make it harder to adjust the straps should you need to shorten them this much. Strap material is not very stretchy, so I didn’t need to adjust as much as I usually end up having to in other bras.

Fit, look and feel: I really like the way Lucy  makes my breasts look. It makes them look round and uplifted, and I like how the top section of the cup is not just there for mold to my shape, but to do the slight shaping itself. It does make a difference with my soft breast tissue that tends to spill out of cups that are too open on top. Lucy holds me in, stabilizes and prevents jiggle that is usually inevitable if I wear an open top bra.

The fit of the cups is a bit weird. While the top edge of the cup is on the verge of cutting into my tissue, there is definitely some space inside the cup that goes unfilled.  The top section is a tad loose other than at the very edge, though not noticeable when I stand up straight, so it does not necessarily bother me.

So, fit wise, I would say this bra is not a 100% perfect shape for me, but it comes very close.  The clothed look is pretty great in this bra. Overall it is a more compact, closer to the body, somewhat minimizing, uplifted shape.

I do feel that the bra looks rather plain in the basic colors, but I adore the navy/pink colourway. I am curious to try some other colourways now, but I am definitely going with a 28H next time.

 **********

Update a couple of months after the initial review:

Cleo Lucy is the bra that grows on you. I have gone from being merely ok with it to reaching for it every time I get dressed in the morning (and feeling disappointed if I can’t wear it for any reason that day).

It fails to stun as you first get it out of the mail order package. It lacks the finesse, elegance and intricate detail of Marcie and feels a bit flimsy. Flower embroidery is underwhelming/simplistic  in most colorways, with my personal favourite being the navy/pink  (whenever I wear this one, I can’t help stealing looks down my shirt just to catch a glimpse of those pink/purplish dots along the bra’s top edge).

Then you put it on and look in the mirror. Solid colors look a bit crude. The bra underwhelmes me personally when worn on its own. Then you turn a bit sideways and note the superior round shape. I would say, the shape is not just round – it is the slightly pushed up orb like shape that I have not seen from any other bra I have tried.

And then you put some clothes over the Lucy. You look down at your chest and realize that your boobs are brought up closer to your eyes than you have ever seen them before. You look in the mirror and see the apex of your boobs sitting higher than what you are normally used to. There is not a point in sight – perfectly rounded silouette. You try it with tshirts, button shirts – whatever the style of tops you like wearing and you realize that this bra works wonderfully with pretty much anything, making you look slimmer and slightly minimized, yet perky and not at all flattened. When you put on a clingy, thin top, you finally realize that you cannot have everything – embroidery shows through and makes your boobs look kinda pimply/spotty. I normally do not care about a seam or embroidery showing through, but this particular bra has tiny flowers all over the lower portion of the cup and an occasional spectator may decide that you have some suspicious rash going on under there, so I’d probably skip this bra when wearing  thin/clingy fabrics.

At this point, I own Lucy in navy/pink and in pink/white. I have failed to pinpoint my size in this model, as it is not quite consistent across colorways. I still don’t really like the way Lucy looks on me without clothes on, but as an undergarment it is hard to beat.

Sizes I have tried:

Black – 30G – way too small, both in band and cup – sent it back.

Navy/pink – 30GG – works very well, maybe a tiny bit roomy in the cup, but nothing to fret about, band feels loose.

Pink/white – 30GG – works well, feels a touch bigger in the cup than the navy/pink one, bland feels loose, same as the navy/pink

White – 28H – too much extra space in the cup, too much chest coverage, horisontal seam in the cup cuts into the breast and creates an in-cup quadraboob – sent it back

White 28GG – cuts into my tissue at the top, not big enough, so sent it back too.

28 band fits me better, but the H cup that comes with it is just too big for me, even though it is the sister size of 30GG. I wonder if it is due to the slight difference in sister sized cups, or are all white Lucys made slightly bigger?