Rago Shapewear Review: Styles 6207 & 821

Let’s face it: most of us women have worn or will wear shapewear at some point of our lives. Whether it’s what makes you more comfortable in a slinky dress for a night out or perhaps a more formal occasion, most of us like to keep our figures smooth when wearing something body-contouring. I don’t wear a ton of shapewear but when I do, I have quite a few demands for it: it has to be rather comfy, suck my tummy in a bit and keep things smooth while covering VPLs and VBOs. I had been looking for something for my special occasions to wear under my most tight-fitting pinup dresses and BAM, I stumbled upon Rago Shaperwear at Salon International de la Lingerie. We chatted with their chairman Justin and he instantly asked us whether we would like to write about Rago. After a while I was holding my first Rago pieces in my hands and trying to squeeze myself into the tiniest pieces of shapewear I had ever seen!

This is how the garments actually look like. Not the prettiest of underwear but then again, they are supposed to be functional rather than pretty!

For some general information on Rago, I must tell you that they are an old company, founded just after the WW II in 1945. The designs are still quite similar to what they used to be in the 50’s so I would almost call Rago a vintage shapewear reproduction brand. They do have some more modern pieces as well, but I think the styles they are known for are the good old-fashioned girdles that suck the tummy in and give you curves for days. The sizing is a bit ‘vintage’ as well, with the garments being a bit on the smaller side (waist size 28″ is a Medium like with most reproduction brands like PUG) and the is fit very curvy indeed. Rago recommends that you go up a size if your waist-hip difference is more than 10″. The size range is amazing, going up to 8X with some of their garments.

As a rebel, I simply could not obey the 10″ sizing rule, of course. My waist is 28-29 and my hips 39-40 which means there is a good 11″ between them. This did not cause any trouble however, so I could after all squeeze myself into the garments. However, if you prefer lighter shaping and a more comfortable feeling, I would recommend going up a size if you are between waist sizes. As Justin told me, most first-time Rago customers may go up a size at first but when they return, they may even prefer a size down as they are used to the tight grip of the garments.

Rago prides itself in being one of the few brands on the market that claim to make you look slimmer by a whole dress size – this is up to debate of course and depends entirely on how much squish you have on your body. With mine, there’s not a ton of it (I do definitely have some but not loads and loads) meaning the reduction is not super obvious but the garments still give me a nice curve and do some smoothing, depending on which style I go for.

This is what the 821 Waist Cincher looks like under clothing. The Serena gown is by Collectif and a size UK 10.

The one that I have been wearing a lot is the 821 Waist Cincher. By waist cincher I do NOT mean a true corset cincher nor a waist trainer, but a a sturdy shapewear garment that has some boning and a lot of stretch to it. The 821 has a ton of hook and eye closures at the front which can be quite a task to close at first – it takes a bit of practice and some sweat to get the thing closed but if I can do it, anyone can. For me the 821 was a tiny bit too short as I am long-torsoed (for reference, 12-13″ from under bust to the end of lower belly)  but I still don’t think it looks bad under my clothing. I would prefer it to be a bit longer though, so I would avoid any possible back bulges and a leaner look on the lower belly area.

To say the least, the 821 cincher really works – I have not seen anything like it before and for creating killer curves it’s the best non-real-corset waist cincher I have found so far. However, you need to remember that shapewear NEVER reduces your size really – it just pushes the fat to different places, meaning with the 821 it pushed my squish from my waist upwards and downwards. If you already have some softness to your belly like I do, it may create a small bump on your belly, meaning it will not give you the flattest tummy on earth. It’s not meant to do so either – waist cinchers are by definition shapewear that is supposed to make your waist appear smaller and hips wider. If you have a significant amount of fluff on your tummy and prefer to have it smoothed out, I would suggest the 6207 for this purpose.

Me wearing the Rago 6207 High-Waist Leg Shaper with my Pinup Girl Clothing “Niagara” dress in size Medium.

The 6207 offers even more firm shaping than the 821 – the name of the product is a High-Waist Leg Shaper. The product features garters, an open gusset and is meant for intense butt and thigh shaping. For me, this is not really my so called “problem area” as I don’t gain weight on my thighs and hips but they are quite firm already. However, I do like a flattening effect on my tummy when it comes to skin-tight dresses so for that purpose, the 6207 is a great product. This is probably the most shaping you will ever get out of a shapewear product unless you are willing to go for items that have zippers – those suckers are even firmer!

The 6207 is quite hard to get on and it’s not a pretty sight when you try to do so – it’s a whole lot of wiggling and sweating. However, when you get it on, it looks quite nice under pencil dresses and skirts! It does not offer the same curvy appearance but almost flattens me out a bit from all angles, but for a tummy flattening effect and an overall smooth silhouette it’s the best shapewear you can find, I assure you.

I have to note though that my body has changed a tiny between the pics above. The first ones with the cincher have been taken in April and the ones with the 6207 were taken yesterday – with a body that hasn’t hit the gym in two weeks because I have been ill. Technically I have been sick with flu for three weeks now and was stupid enough to go to the gym after the first week and hence, the whole thing got even worse. This means there may have been some minor changes to my figure as I haven’t been able to train my muscles and have tried to been as non-active as possible to regain my health.

When it comes to comfort, the Rago pieces are not something I would wear for a whole day and night, not at least now. I suspect though that they might need some getting used to, as I haven’t worn super firm shapewear before. The waist cincher is something I prefer for the comfort of my skin: it doesn’t have any silicone on it, which makes it much more comfortable to wear than the 6207. The silicone strips of the 6207 make my thighs itch after a while, which is not something I can stand for a whole night of partying. However, I do have a dry sensitive skin with the occasional open wound here and there, so please bare that in mind when considering if this would be a suitable product for you.

So does Rago hold its promise of making me look a dress size smaller? I would say not for me, but it’s not what I aim for with my shapewear. I want something that will smooth me out, make me sit straight at a formal event and make my dresses look the best they can on me. This is definitely something that can be achieved with both of these pieces, although they are different in function and purpose. If you are a bigger lady than me, I would imagine they might even reduce your dress size! If you would like to get your hands on Rago, some of the best places to buy them would probably be Secrets in Lace, American Shapewear and Classic Shapewear. The 821 waist cincher sets you back at around $40 and the 2607 Leg Shaper at around $60 and they come with an amazing size range of S-8X.

2COP’s X-Mas Picks – Five Curve-Friendly Pinup-Style Party Dresses for Christmas

Y’all, it’s December already! How in the earth did the year pass along again? Well, anyhow, what is for sure that now that many of you have recovered from Thanksgiving meals, it’s time to slip into those lovely glittery frocks again and rock those curves you’ve got. I wanted to put up a list of my own personal favourites that look curve-friendly enough to flatter your boobs and butts and look sophisticated at the same time. So here’s my list of pinup-style curve-appropriate Christmas dresses for different types of occasions!

For a night out with friends…

Most of us probably agree that it is not the same dress you wear to all your Christmas parties (cause let’s face it, of course you’re gonna be attending many 😉 ). This quirky number by Voodoo Vixen is the perfect option for a night out with your girlfriends: it’s fun, it’s bright red and looks still laid-back enough for a night at a pub or a bar. The Connie dress (£49) is also a practical choice for later wear – it can be dressed up or down whether you want it to be more festive or everyday-appropriate. Pair it with glittery pumps and some red lipgloss and you have the ultimate girls-night-out outfit!

For a Family Dinner…

We have a little tradition with my family to get together on Christmas Eve, eat amazing food together and unwrap the gifts while eating chocolate and watching children’s movies. It might be a no-brainer to some but my parents are divorced and I always admire their ability to still get together for a Christmas meal even though they sometimes want to chop each other’s heads off. Even though the evening usually proceeds to pajamas and no makeup, me and my sister usually start off the day with some nice dresses. I picked this lovely “Ophelia” dress (£34,99) by Lindy Bop as my choice for the Xmas mealtime as it’s practical cotton material but still manages to look festive. I actually own the dress in another shade of red and it’s great for anyone with a fuller bust! I would pair it with some chunky cream-toned wool tights and a matching hair scarf tied to a lovely bow.

For a party with the co-workers…

This dress is like straight out of Mad Men! The office Christmas party requires something sexy but not too sexy – it’s important to show that you have power and feel confident about yourself but if you get too ranchy, it might tell your boss you’re not being professional. I would go for something a with figure-enhancing shape like this “Ava” dress ($114) by Pinup Couture. The colour is excellent if you don’t want to be too flashy with red. The shape of the dress flatters your curves but doesn’t reveal too much while being knee-length and sporting little sleeves to cover up your shoulders. I would pair Ava with some silvery or black pumps and a statement cuff.

For a date night out…

You know those times when you head out to with your boo for drinks, just for fun? Well, as it’s Christmas, you might as well spice up you date attire a bit. I would go for something formfitting and sexy, such as this “Penny” dress (£55) by Collectif. I am actually planning on getting this for myself as my boyfriend is crazy about wiggle dresses and well, I do want it myself as well. (Thank Georgina for that!) I would pair this gorgeous piece with some hair flowers and Minna Parikka “Cornelia” shoes. (Check them out, they’re lovely!)

For a dinner with your In-Laws…

There’s two types of In-Laws – the ones that drive you crazy and the ones you love almost like your own family. Mine belong luckily to the latter category so basically anything I wear is an object of adoration especially for my Mother-In-Law. I would still wear something quite formal and pretty for a dinner out in the town as I want to give them the best impression of me. However, if your In-Laws are a bit “Meh” I would avoid anything too flashy that might raise eyebrows. This Dovima “Gatlin Gal” dress (£145) is classic and bold at the same time and flatters a curvy hourglass figure without being too revealing. I would pair with some red pleather high-heels, like this.

So these were my picks for the Holiday Season! What would you wear for a Christmas party and what did you think my wishlist? Let me know in comments! xx

October Wishlist – Vintage Reproduction Clothing

Hi everyone! I need to start off the post saying I did not get the job I applied for but was left to silver podium this time. I know I’m not the only one with bad luck when applying for a job but this particular one would have meant the world to me. Not just because it was something to do with lingerie but because I happen to be broke and would have loved to get back living without a care for what I’m going to eat next week. Also I had so many vintage repro dresses and other goodies on my wishlist and now I can only dream of having something new to wear! I have recently found so many new brands I am dying to try so I must let you know guys what I’m lusting after. So here you go!

Sea Nymph Dress by Great British Retro – This is a brand I just found today via Fuller Figure Fuller Bust’s Facebook page. I took a look at their online shop and the clothing is absolutely fantastic with a pretty affordable price tag as well with this particular dress costing a rather reasonable £64. What I loved most about Great British Retro were their lovely quirky prints that absolutely melted my heart!

I took a look at their sizing chart and they would put me in a size 12 accommodating my 28″ waist (yay, got rid of the last half an inch!) and 36″ bust. My bust is actually closer to a 39″ but I have tested out so many brands and come to a conclusion that a 36″ bust room is actually quite enough for me. This can be due to my muscly back which makes my bust measurement a bit (a lot!) bigger than it actually is! I also find that repro brands usually run small as I am now a solid size 10 on high-street. I would love to try GBR sometime in the future and if I get that chance, I will review something for you to determine their fit for curvy figure!

Sally Denim Capris By Collectif – I have been looking for a suitable 50’s style cigarette or denim pants and now I have finally found a great option. I am not a great wearer of trousers but the temperature is getting pretty damn cold here in Finland. And believe me, dresses and stockings do not equal proper winter-wear! There’s already -2 C out there so I def need something pratical that fits my style and the Sally jeans would probably do a pretty good job. With my 28″ and 38″ hips I would probably do great with a size 10 as I find that Collectif runs more true to size than other repro brands. I have reviewed their Phyllis dress here if you want to know more about their fit!

Monte Carlo by Heart of Haute – I originally found this brand and dress through Twitter. I had heard of Heart of Haute before but as it’s a US brand I had not dared to even dream about it. Also, it’s a bit out of my price range with its $145 price tag but a girl can dream right? Besides, if I ever get a chance to try this brand, it’s also sold on a UK online shop called Tatyanna which also sells a few other lovely repro brands including Tatyana Boutique. According to HOH size chart I would be a size Medium so again this brand runs a bit on the smaller side in my opinion.

Sarong Geisha Dress in Pink Bloom by Vivien of Holloway – I have heard a lot of things about Vivien of Holloway but still not had a chance to try them for myself. This particular dress caught my eye on Diablo Rose’s blog as she reviews the dress and looks fantastic in it! I don’t know what size she is wearing but the size chart puts me into a whopping 14. Not a size I would gladly wear as it seems so “off” but VOH seems to be going for the original vintage clothing sizing which is a lot smaller than with today’s high-street brands. I am now super intrigued to try something from them as the brand is definitely something different! This pink Geisha dress would look stunning with my hair and I would be interested to see how it looks on an hourglass figure like mine.

Tara Black Swing Dress by Lindy Bop – The reason I want this dress is really sad and excuse me for including it on my lust list. Though it’s a beautiful dress on its own and would be great stable for my wardrobe I really need this dress for an upcoming funeral. My dear grandpa has been battling cancer for years now and it seems he’s finally making his way to where angels live. I am so sad about this and I’m crying while writing this but I have been preparing for this to happen for so many years that seems he’s only suffering while being here. His state just got worse a few days ago and we have been told not to keep our hopes up.

The Tara dress seems like appropriate choice for a busty girl when attending a funeral. The neckline is modest, the shoulders are covered and the hem reaches below your knees. It’s also a bargain for its £34,99 price tag so if you need a LBD asap for small budget, this is definitely your dress. The one Lindy Bop dress I have tried runs true-to-size so I would most likely be a 10 with Tara as well.

Poppy Floral Dress by Hell Bunny – Last but not least is the brand I have been dying to try for a couple of months now – Hell Bunny! I have known this brand for years but didn’t realize how lovely their vintage repro dresses are until now. To me Hell Bunny has always been brand associated with gothic style more than vintage but now that I have seen more of their designs, I am absolutely smitten. Looking at their size chart I would probably be a 10 with Hell Bunny but as I have not tried them yet, I cannot be 100% sure. Hell Bunny does not have their own online store meaning they only do wholesale and their clothes can be found on various other online shops. I found this particular dress on Tiger Milly and they seem to have a good stock of Hell Bunny so do check them out!

What do you think of the brands listed here? Any positive or negative experiences? Let me know! Also, if you have other favourite vintage reproduction brands, please share them in the comment box! xx

Full-Bust Friendly Clothing – Collectif “Phyllis” Dress Review

 When it comes to bust-friendly clothing I always struggle to find something that fits both my bodytype and budget, and I tell you, we’re not even talking about style and fashion aspects yet. I am very picky about what I wear – it has to fit nicely over my bust and waist and the waist must be at the right height to look the most flattering. Recently, I have been leaning towards a more vintage-kinda style as it usually tends to flatter my figure – and the most important thing, I feel smashing in those old-Hollywood style dresses.

When I was UK last time, ie. August, I popped into a Collectif store in London Holborn area. I was exhausted with blisters on my feet for walking miles in the London heat, wearing nothing more breathable than my dark leather Doc Martens. I was probably the funniest thing those sales assistants had seen in weeks as I stumbled through the Collectif door with my Docs in my hand, barefooted and carrying a suitcase. Not the kind of graceful pinup goddess they must have shopping in their store all the time, huh? Well, I couldn’t give a flying fuck about my appearance at that point so I just tossed my luggage at the till and started browsing their very convenient flash sale.

To my happiness, I was lucky enough to get my hands on of their Phyllis dresses, even though I first had the classic Dolores Doll in mind. The Phyllis was a lovely cream colour with a rose-shade applique adorning the shoulder and with the £17,50 price tag, I just couldn’t resist it.

I snatched up the Ivory Phyllis in size 10/ Small and since then, it has definitely become one of my wardrobe staples. It’s such a classic shape – a 1940’s style a-line dress with a swift-like top part and classic colourways to choose from. As the summer has now come to its end, I decided to buy another Phyllis to accommodate my autumn wardrobe. This one shown in the pics is the Navy colourway and I think it’s actually a great option for those who don’t look that good in black (including almost everyone actually). The navy blue flatters my fair skin and doesn’t wipe the colour off my face like black does and still manages to look elegant and appropriate for both day and night.

I would say the size UK 10 fits me pretty spot on, even though I wouldn’t wear that size with every single Collectif dress. I tried several other pieces of clothing while visiting their shop but found some of the materials and cuts making the dresses too small for me in size 10. To be honest, I’m trying to lose a bit of weight at the moment (which seems to be impossible as I was just hit by a terrible flu) as I want drop down to the size 8-10 territory again and not slip any further. But as it goes, the Phyllis is a rather stretchy fabric and can accommodate some size fluctuation, in my opinion. The top part is nice and stretchy but wouldn’t allow a bigger bust than mine, as it doesn’t fit perfectly even now with my 30GG’s. The neckline requires a rather low-cut bra (def not this Lepel “Iris” which I wear in the pics) so I have been wearing it mostly with t-shirt plunges such as my Kris Line “Marilou Deco” or my unpadded balconette Gossard “Phoebe”.

The waist sits perfectly on my 30″ waist, even though the size chart points me towards the size 12. I would say that this is because of the fabric and I do prefer a rather tight fit on my waist. Also, I don’t want to buy too baggy dresses as they don’t flatter my figure, especially if my weight shifts downwards. The bottom part of the dress looks super nice and rather flowy, but not too much as it doesn’t lift up in a windy weather. The length of the hem is flattering too – I love that it hits me just below the knee. This means it will maintain the vintage look but doesn’t look too long on me – I do not want to make my legs look shorter!

I am so sorry I didn’t get to take any better pics, I still have my camera stand attaching-thingy missing so hopefully I will find it at some point. Also, it appears to be that my bf is horrible at taking pics so what can I say, NO CAN DO. Hope you enjoyed this review though and I hope to be reviewing more stuff from Collectif in the future. If you have any comments or tips about Collectif’s sizes or fit, do drop a comment below! I am planning to order some other dress styles in the future and would love the advice. Also, if you fancy a Phyllis dress of your own, it’s on sale online in the Collectif store here. There are a fair amount of sizes left in colours Navy, Ivory and Black so you have a very good chance still to get this dress for the best price!