Sivutyöstä täyspäiväiseksi naisyrittäjäksi: Lumingerien 10 vuotta – From a Side Job to Full Time Female Entrepreneurship: 10 years at Lumingerie

Suomessa alusvaateala on aina ollut marginaalissa: jokaisella suurella kaupungilla ja joskus jopa pienemmälläkin pitäjällä on oma pieni putiikkinsa, jonka kapasiteetti usein riittää tarjoamaan kokoja n. G-kuppiin asti, ja vuokrien ollessa kalliit ja tilojen pienet kivijalkakauppiaana alalla on vaikea menestyä. Alusvaateverkkokaupat ovatkin olleet monen isorintaisen pelastus: kokoja löytyy huomattavasti enemmän ja merkkivalikoimasta löytyy paljon muutakin kuin perinteistä Primadonnaa.

Ensimmäinen suomalainen alusvaateverkkokauppa, johon itse blogiurani alussa (eli n. 5 vuotta sitten) tutustuin, oli omassa kaupungissani Oulussa varastoa pitävä Lumingerie. Lumingerien valikoimassa itselläni sykähdytti tutut nuorekkaat merkit kuten Curvy Kate, Freya ja Cleo by Panache, joita pääsinkin jossain vaiheessa blogiarvostelujen merkeissä testaamaan Lumingerielle. Yhteistyöstä kehittyi ystävyys, ja jossain vaiheessa myös työpaikka, jossa pääsen tänäkin päivänä toteuttamaan omaa intohimoani asiakaspalveluun ja alusvaatteisiin.

Lumingerie on monelle edelleen alusvaatejälleenmyyjänä uudempi nimi ja moni yllättyykin, kun kerromme asiakkaillemme, että yritys on ollut pystyssä jo aika lailla tasan kymmenen vuotta! Haastattelinkin Lumingerien perustajaa ja omistajaa Merviä yrityksen kymmenestä vuodesta ja siitä, minkälaista on ollut olla naisyrittäjä alusvaatealalla Suomessa.

English: The Finnish lingerie market is a tough one – many small boutiques don’t have the capacity to cater for bigger cup sizes than G as the rents are high and store spaces are small. 

I became familiar with a Finnish e-commerce shop Lumingerie in the beginning of my lingerie blogging career and instantly fell in love with their vast selection of young and fun D+ brands. Even better, the storage was located in my town, which meant after a couple of blog collaborations with the company I was invited for tea and to see what the whole thing was about. I was so excited! That very summer in 2014 I got my summer job at Lumingerie and since then, I continue my story with them today as a CS for the company.

Lumingerie was founded exactly 10 years ago, which is a great achievement for lingerie retailer in Finland! Today I have interviewed the founder and owner Mervi about her success as a female entrepreneur in the industry.

Mervi Modan alusvaatemessuilla Birminghamin NEC-keskuksessa / Mervi at Moda lingerie exhibition in NEC-centre, Birmingham.

Mistä lähti ajatus verkkokaupan perustamiseen ja miten yrityksen perustamisprosessi eteni? / How did you start your business and what was the process like?

-Kirjoitin pro gradu -tutkielmaani vuoden 2007 lopussa ja lähdin samalla yrittäjyyskurssille kotikunnassani Lumijoella. Pääaineeni yliopistossa oli tietojenkäsittelytiede, mutta ideaa alusvaateverkkokaupasta pyöritellessäni päätin kokeilla verkkokaupan perustamista sillä idealla, että jospa tätä voisi tehdä sivutyönä opiskelujen ohessa. Tein Lumingerien yrityssuunnitelman yrityskurssin päättötyönä ja itse verkkokauppa aukesikin jo vuoden 2008 alussa. Tein tuolloin lähes kaiken itse, ja jopa verkkosivut väänsin omin pienin kätösin. Eiväthän ne hääppöiset olleet, mutta jostain piti aloittaa. Myöhemmin puolisoni Mikko onkin auttanut verkkokaupan kehittämisessä koodaustaidoillaan.

Odotuksena oli, että pari hassua tilausta kun viikkoon saisi, olisin tyytyväinen. Yllätyinkin kovasti kun ensimmäinen tilaus tuli todella pian verkkokaupan avautumisesta, ja tilauksia alkoikin tulla oikeastaan joka päivä. Jossain vaiheessa heräsikin ajatus, voisiko tästä lopulta ihan täyspäiväinen työ.

I was doing my university dissertation in 2007 and took an entrepreneurship course in my home town Lumijoki at the same time. In university I studied computer science, but wanted to try out my idea of a lingerie e-shop as a side job. I crafted my business plan at the entrepreneurship course as my final dissertation and soon in the beginning of 2008 I launched the e-commerce shop. I did almost everything by myself, even the layout of the website. It wasn’t the best layout ever, but I needed to start somewhere. Later on my husband Mikko has helped me a lot with the coding.

My expectations about the shop weren’t too high at first and I would have been happy with just a couple of orders a week. However, I was surprised to find out that the orders kept coming almost every day and it made me wonder whether this could be something I could do full-time.

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Tempastiin ja hankittiin kaikille kotimaiset @sievishoes jalkineet tepasteltavaksi varastolle. Nyt on hyvä pakkailla useampikin tunti putkeen 👌 #sievi #kotimaisetjalkineet #kotimaisetkengät #shoppailureissulla #lumingerie #lumingerie10v #juhlavuosi #lumingerienvarastolla #alusvaatteet #kurvikkaille #rintaliivit

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Miten päädyit valitsemaan verkkokauppasi kohderyhmän ja millä perusteella valitsit ensimmäiset merkit kaupan valikoimaan? / How did you set your target market and choose the first brands to offer in your selection?

Olen itse isorintainen nainen (tällä hetkellä käytän UK-kokoja 70-75 J-K merkistä riippuen) ja koin, ettei kokoiselleni löytynyt Suomesta erityisemmin valikoimaa – erityisesti pienen ympäryksen ja ison kupin yhdistelmä on haastava! Päätinkin siis, että Lumingerie keskittyisi erityisesti D-kuppia isompiin kokoihin ja tällä hetkellä valikoimassa on kuppikokoja D:stä aina UK K-kuppiin asti. Muuten en ole lähtenyt kohderyhmäämme määritelemään, vaan asiakkaidemme yhdistävä tekijä on tarve D-kuppia isommalle liiville.

Ensimmäiset merkit, joita otimme kauppaamme, olivat Kris Line ja Adore Lingerie. Nämä merkit ovat sittemmin jääneet pois, mutta ne valikoituivat alunperin sillä periaatteella, että molemmilla oli hyvä kokovalikoima ja he olivat halukkaita tekemään yhteistyötä pienen verkkokaupan kanssa. Nykyään yritämme valikoida mukaan merkkejä, joilla on kohtuullinen valikoima kokoja ja hinta ei päätä huimaa. Suomalaisessa alusvaateverkkokaupassa luksusmarkkinat ovat vaikeat, joten otamme valikoimaan liivejä, joita on matala kynnys tilata kotiin kokeiltavaksi.

I am big busted lady myself (I wear a UK 32-34 J-K) and felt that there weren’t enough retailers catering for my size – especially the big cup, small band market was lacking. I decided that Lumingerie would focus on cup sizes above D-cup and now we cater up to a UK K-cup. There is really nothing else that defines our customers – just a need for a cup size bigger than D.

The first brands we took in were Kris Line and Adore Lingerie. These brands are not sold at Lumingerie anymore but they were selected in the first place for their wide size selection and willingness to do business with a small e-commerce shop.These days we try to select brands that have a decent size range and a price tag. The luxury market is very difficult for an online-only business, which is why it is something we haven’t really wanted to try.

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Scandicissa katsomassa porukalla Wacoalin ensi syksyn mallistoja. Wacoalin edustajana toimii ihana Sari, jota on aina ilo nähdä! @wacoaleurope #wacoal #freya #fantasie #newcollection #aw18 #autumntrends #collectionpreview #lumingerie #lumingerie10v #sneakpeek #kurvikkaille #alusvaatteet #rintaliivit #lingerietrends #lingerie

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Kertoisitko jotain Lumingerien kehityksestä yrityksenä näiden kymmenen vuoden aikana? / Please tell us something about the progress at Lumingerie over these 10 years!

-Lumingerie on kasvanut tasaisesti ja varmasti näiden kymmenen vuoden aikana. Jo perustusvuonna 2008 työ muuttui päätyöksi vuoden lopulla ja keskityin täysillä Lumingerien pyörittämiseen. Varasto oli aluksi suhteellisen pieni ja siksi pystyin pitämään sitä kotona Lumijoella vuoteen 2010-2011 asti. Muistaakseni vuoden 2010 lopulla kaverini Digitarvikkeelta vinkkasi varastotilan heidän varastonsa vierestä Oulun yrittäjäkylästä, ja päätin tarttua ehdotukseen. Ensin varastoja oli vain yksi, mutta nykyään tilamme ovat jo kolminkertaistuneet.

Vuonna 2014 otin yritykseen ensimmäisen kesätyöntekijän (toim. huom. eli minut!) ja vuonna 2015 muutimme toiminimen osakeyhtiöksi puolisoni kanssa. Tuolloin Mikko tuli myös töihin Lumingerielle ja hän toi yritykseen erityisesti teknistä tietämystä aiemman koulutuksena ja ammattinsa puolesta.  2015 ennakoimme muutenkin yrityksen kasvua ja palkkasimme vuoden aikana kaksi uutta työntekijää mm. markkinoinnin ja kirjanpidon tehtäviin.

Vuonna 2015 valikoimamme muuttui niin, että mukaan tuli myös miesten tuotteita. Miesten verkkokaupalla onkin ihan oma nimensä HerMan’s, joka tulee Mikon toisesta nimestä Hermanni. Ajatuksena miesten kaupan nimen takana oli myös se, että Lumingerien asiakkaat olisivat mahdollisesti voineet ostaa HerMan’silta alusvaatteita puolisoilleen – tämä ei kuitenkaan mennyt lainkaan niinkuin ajattelimme, vaan miehet ostavat alusvaatteensa oikein mielellään itse ja tilaajat ovatkin HerMan’silla lähes poikkeuksetta miehiä. Hyvä näinkin! HerMan’s onkin enemmän Mikon vastuulla, jolloin molemmilla meillä omistajista on myös omat kiinnostuksen kohteensa mukana työssä.

Lumingerie has grown surely and steadily over these 10 past years. In the end of 2008 my job at Lumingerie turned full-time and I decided to give my all to it. The storage was quite small at first so I could have all my stock at home in Luminjoki until 2010. If I remember correctly, it was in the end of 2010 when my friend at Digitarvike suggested I rent a storage right next to them at business village in Oulu. I grabbed the offer and first rented one storage unit, and now Lumingerie takes up three whole units!

In year 2014 I took in my first summer assistant (editor’s notes: that was me!) and 2015 we founded the Ltd with my husband Mikko. Mikko came in to work with me and brought some valuable technical know-how into the company. We also wanted to predict the company’s growth and thus hired two new employees to take care of marketing and book-keeping.

In 2015 we also took in some men’s products and named the men’s store site HerMan’s according to Mikko’s middle name Hermanni. We also imagined that HerMan’s could be a place for women to buy underwear for their partners – little did we know that HerMan’s whole customer base would basically be all men! This suits us perfectly fine though. HerMan’s is more Mikko’s responsibility and this way we both have a focus in our work and something interesting to work on.

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Panachen uudet AW18 mallit tulivat meille tänään hipisteltäväksi! Mervi ja Tiina peukuttavat 👍 @lovepanache AW18 collection arrived at the storage for a preview – Mervi and Tiina approve! #aw18 #panache #panachelingerie #lovepanache #autumntrends #lingerie #lingerietrends #lumingerie #kurvikkaille #rintaliivit #fullbustbras #collectionpreview

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Mitkä koet suurimmiksi saavutuksiksesi yrittäjänä ja mitä haluaisit vielä saavuttaa? / What are your biggest successes as an entrepreneur and what would you like to achieve in the future?

Ylipäänsä se, että tästä oli mahdollista tehdä kokopäivätyö itselle on iso saavutus. Pidän myös itse siitä, että Lumingerie on perheyritys. Varmaan kuitenkin isoin saavutukseni yrittäjänä on mahdollisuus tarjota useammalle ihmiselle työpaikka yrityksessäni. Tänä päivänä Lumingerie on myös kansainvälinen yritys – lähetämme tuotteitamme Eurooppaan ja myös rapakon taakse viikottain.

Tulevaisuuden suunnitelmia ja haaveita on paljon, enkä ihan vielä aio niitä paljastaa 😉 Yhtenä esimerkkinä voisin kuitenkin sanoa omien liivimallien suunnittelemisen juuri meidän kaupallemme – haluaisin tarjota jotain uniikkia asiakkaillemme! Pyörät tässä asiassa ovat kuin ovatkin jo lähteneet liikkeelle ja Lumingerien 10-vuotis juhlamallin Lilahin olemme suunnitelleet yhteistyössä alusvaatemerkki Gorsenian kanssa. Malli tuli myyntiin tällä viikolla ja se on suunniteltu Lumingerien väreissä koko työtiimin mielipiteet huomioon ottaen.

It is amazing that I could make this my full-time job so that is an achievement in itself. I am also happy to say that Lumingerie is now a family business. My biggest achievement though would be being able to offer jobs to other people as well. These days Lumigerie is an international company as well, as we ship to European countries and also beyond the pond weekly.

I have a lot of plans and dreams regarding Lumingerie but I am not sure whether I want to reveal them just yet! Something I could tell you is that I would like to create more in-house designed styles just for Lumingerie and this way offer something unique to our customers. We started this journey already and are now offering a 10-year anniversary style Lilah in our e-commerce shop. This style has been designed with our whole Lumingerie team in collaboration with a Polish lingerie brand Gorsenia. 

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Tässä on Lilah, Gorsenian kanssa yhdessä meille suunniteltu uutuus, joka juhlistaa meidän kymmenvuotista taivalta. 😊 Parhaillaan tuotannossa, tulossa helmikuussa! #lumingerie #10vuotta #juhlavuosi #anniversary #vainmeiltä

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Kiitos Merville haastattelusta! Jos haluat lukea arvostelun Lilah-setistä, pysyhän kuulolla huomiseen asti 😉 / Huge thanks to Mervi for the interview! If you would like to see Lilah reviewed here on the blog, please stay tuned until tomorrow 😉

Lingerie Review: Ewa Michalak PL Lśniąca Scarlet

Happy March! How are you guys? Feeling spring-y already I have been centered around art, wedding-stuff (I found a dress, yay!) and some unfortunate drama in a project I was working on so it’s good to take some time to sit down and spend some time with the ol’ blog. Also, the blog giveaways are coming so don’t fret! 2COP is a hefty toddler now and just turned four, which is something we need to celebrate 😉 However, today we are bathing in some scarlet goodness, which is the Ewa Michalak PL Lśniąca Scarlet. This set was generously provided me by Ewa Michalak, but all opinions are my own!

The Design: The PL Lśniąca Scarlet is a classic PL-style from Ewa, which means it’s a padded plunge. The design features seams though, which gives the bra its signature well-constructed feel and improves the fit for a padded bra. As someone who doesn’t enjoy padded bras as much, I wasn’t even surprised that I still liked this particular bra – it’s the absolute royal of the padded bra family and I wear it each time I want to feel uplifted and oomphed to the max. The cups feature removable cookies, which is great if you want something extra, have a-symmetry or change a bit in size during your cycle.

The style of the bra is not the most ornate I have seen in the Ewa Michalak collection, but it still manages to appear striking with its colour and satin-y materials. This bra can easily be worn under t-shirts (with a darker colour, of course) but it’s still appropriate for boudoir as well. What’s not to like!

The Fit: The PL bra is not unfamiliar to me and thus I pretty much knew it would fit me in my regular size of 70GG. I don’t find EM sizing to be that different from British D+ brands, maybe just a bit tighter in the band, so I usually go for my looser band size 70 (UK 32). Picking a size is pretty easy for me personally, as the EM team usually does it for me when I provide them with my usual size. Ewa Michalak bras are infamous for varying in fit and size, which is why it pretty much depends on the style whether I go for 70G or 70GG, or even H. This one runs very true-to-size though, which always makes the shopping experience a bit easier.

I have literally no bad things to say about the fit of the PL Lśniąca Scarlet: everything just seems to fall into place perfectly. The cups encase my breast tissue well when I insert just one of the pads into my right cup (my left boob is bigger). The cups are just deep enough for my breast tissue to sit in them without the cup foam collapsing at the bottom (very usual with most padded bras if there’s not enough depth at the bottom of the cup) and luckily the wires are not too narrow for me with this particular EM style! I am so happy, as this trait with Ewa bras has always been a bit of a hit-or-miss with me.

Comfort: In addition to being well-fitting, Ewa bras are usually a pleasure to wear all-day, as the materials are well-thought out. The PL bras are always lined with cotton to feel comfortable against the sensitive boob skin (I am sure most women relate to boob itch, don’t you?!), which is something I wish every lingerie brand did with their bras. It also makes the bra much more comfortable during the summer months, as sweat does not play well with artificial fibers, in my personal experience. The straps are pretty well placed with this style, I would say and they are fully-adjustable, which is great for tall and petite girls alike.

The Lśniąca Scarlet “high-waisted” panties are not the highest I have seen, but still proper cute and sexy. The lace on the back could a bit stretchier in my opinion and if you have a more rounded butt than me, I would suggest sizing up. For reference, I have 40″ hips and these were a size 38/10. These are perhaps not your everyday panties but are sure to make some hearts flutter, if that is what you wish for!

The Lśniąca Scarlet can be bought at the EM online store, which you find here. It’s made-to-order which means it can take 2-3 weeks to make and after that the product will be shipped to you. If you can’t find your size in the drop-down menu, the EM team will be happy to make a custom size, however those are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. The price for a custom sized bra is 20 PLN higher than the regular price of the bra. The bra (in regular sizes 30-44 A-JJ) costs 189 PLN and the high-waisted briefs (36-48, UK 8-20) cost 69 PLN.

Lingerie Review: Katherine Hamilton Intimates “Louise” in 32GG

Many of you might remember me introducing you to Bosom Galore a couple of years back – Katy, the owner of the brand, has been super blogger-friendly from the get-go and thus the brand name spread through the lingerie blogosphere rapidly. Quite soon after the launch Katy decided to re-brand Bosom Galore and named it Katherine Hamilton Intimates, a brand with a stronger look and even more luxurious vibe to it. The relaunch of the brand took a while – but we all know that anything that’s good is worth the wait. A couple of months back Katy sent me a set from her new collection and I was delighted to see the brand had definitely grown into something bigger and better – the unsure teenager had become a strong independent woman. *Disclosure: This set was sent to me for review purposes by Katherine Hamilton Intimates. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: The first moment I saw Louise, I was sold. Who doesn’t like strappy designs? Well, I do! The idea behind the black strappy is not something particularly new, but I like how Louise does it is its own sophisticated simple way – there is only one strap going over the upper boobage and the magic of the bra is really the amazing shape and comfiness it provides.

The cups are constructed of three parts and they form a subtle plunge shape, even though the actual gore of the bra is on a balconette level. The centre gore doesn’t have any bows or ruffles on it which is why I don’t even mind it peeking from my shirt necklines. The cups are lightly padded but it is a cut-and-sew bra still, it provides a much better fit than most moulded padded bras. The shape with the Louise bra is also round and uplifted, which reminds me a bit of Ewa Michalak PL bras.

The Fit: I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to padded bras, for the reasons mentioned above; the padding usually tries to mold my breast tissue to the shape of the bra, not the other way around as it should be. With KH Intimates the road has been long and Katy has wanted to make everything on-point as her price tag is a bit higher than with some of the biggest full-bust brands. It’s definitely a luxury brand, so mishaps are a no-no.

The wait was long, but now it seems KH Intimates has got it right – the sizing seems pretty much on par with other UK brands with the exception that the Louise band seems to be running on the snugger side. I went for my second most used size 32GG and it is the perfect size for me. The cups run true-to-size and there is much more depth than with most other – especially new – British brands. The underwire reaches under my armpit so it’s a bit too wide for me, but this doesn’t cause me any discomfort. The centre gore tacks my sternum and the cups are deep enough at the bottom which prevent the cups from denting and collapsing under my breast tissue.

Comfort: When I first put the Louise on, the band was on the tighter side for 32 and reminded me more of a 30-band. However, it has since stretched out a bit and I can now comfortably wear the bra on the loosest set of hooks. I have even had this on for a whole night of dancing and partying and never once did I regret that choice! The materials are sleek on the outside but the lining inside the bra is 100% cotton as with the previous Bosom Galore bras – this is fantastic for us girls with skin conditions!  The straps are bit on the slippery side so I would perhaps think about the material choice on them, but otherwise the bra is pretty much spot-on when it comes to comfort.

I surprised myself with opting for the thong this time – as you know, I never ever wear thongs! However, the bra is a bit sexier so I figured it would be nice to have something skimpy as co-ordinates. I went for the size 12 and it fits me really well and I actually think it’s quite flattering too. You can never have too many strappy panties, I think!

The Louise set is available on the KH Intimates website – the bra retails for £78 and the thong costs £34. The size range is especially kind to those with a smaller band size – the band sizes start at UK 26! The whole size range with Louise bra is 26-36 D-HH and the panties UK 6-16. What do you think of KH Intimates and the Louise set? xx

Moda Lingerie Preview: Panache, Cleo & Sculptresse SS17

Panache SS17 is the last collection I will go through before I move on to the AW17 season! This is a huge collection so please keep reading 😉

PANACHE

Clara in Royal Blue (D-J cups), Thea in White Floral (D-K), Floris in Black Floral (D-K), Clara in Pink/Dove (D-J), Jasmine in White Abstract, Blue Blossom and Petal print (D-K)

Sandie in Cashmere (D-K), Elise in Powder Blue (D-G), Cari in Champagne (D-H) and Petra in Capuccino (D-H)

The Panache core collection was once again vast and rather true to Panache’s regular British style – lots of floral prints such as the Thea and Floris. These will no doubt appeal to the most loyal Panache fans who love their quirky colour combos and ditsy florals. I myself prefer a more watercolour-like look and was super satisfied to see the core style Jasmine in lovely pastel-y shades and bigger more blurred floral prints. The Abstract print is super fresh and I like the colour combination – it will suit Easter perfectly! The Clara is an old favourite of mine and I am again very pleased with the colour combination, besides, anything looks great in a shinier fabric with a lace on top of it! The really exciting part is that Clara now comes with a high-waisted knickers, which is a perfect luxurious addition to the line.

There weren’t that many completely new styles in the Panache core collection but the Petra and Sandie are both delightful additions to the collection. The Sandie is a much prettier set in flesh, so if you have a chance to try it in a store, please do so! The embroidery is absolutely beautiful and the colour will be perfect for many pale-skinned beauties in the summertime. If you have a deeper skin tone though, the Petra might be your cup of tea. It is a lightly-padded and well-constructed little beauty and would make a great staple for someone who is struggling to find full-bust sizes in a deep-enough skin tone. It’s still not very dark, but a good start for a British full-bust brand.

PANACHE BLACK

Etta in Navy (D-G), Aria in Navy/Nude (D-H), Ruby in Black (D-H), Quinn in Unpadded Balconette (D-K) and Strapless (D-G)

The Panache Black collection featured mostly core colours such as white, navy, black and beige, which has been the MO of the range since the very beginning. The focus is on the cuts and luxurious materials, which brings the price point up just a bit. The new styles – the Ruby and Quinn – were some of my personal favourites from the collection. I love the cut-outs where the cups meet the straps with Ruby and the bridal collection is stunning with its satins and golden hardware. I am however a bit disappointed that the strapless Quinn bra only goes up to G – but perhaps they’ll bring it up to H next season? A girl can hope! (hint hint, team Panache)

PANACHE SPORT

The Panache sports bra is again introduced in two prints and up to J-cup. My favourite from the two is the more abstract print with a salmon highlights at the neckline. This print would be amazing on matching sports tights! The cyber print is a bit odd and quirky but I can definitely see some people fancying it. The non-wired sports bras go up to H-cup and match the wired ones with their colour themes.

CLEO BY PANACHE

Hettie in Blue/Teal (D-J), Marcie in Navy (D-J), Mimi in Spot Print (D-H) and Minnie in Navy Multi Print (D-J)

Breeze in Floral Print (D-H), Skye in Violet Mix (D-J), Koko Spirit in Fuchsia (D-H), Kayla in White Multi Print (D-J)  and Piper in Acid Coral (D-J)

Cleo is again a pleasant sight: lovely prints and bright young colours. Again, navy is one of the core colours with this collection and I love the fact that there’s not a lot of black. Navy is a basic colour that compliments so many, which is why I prefer it over black, beige and white. Pink and coral were also very much on trend, and neons are making a subtle comeback this upcoming spring. The Piper in Acid Coral was absolutely stunning and perhaps, I will be able to try it this time as last season it was completely sold out!

There weren’t many new styles in the Cleo collection, apart from the padded plunge style Koko Spirit, which is a new version of the regular Koko style, transformed to be a bit more trendy and fashion-y. My personal favourite from the collection is the Minnie though – instead of the older polka dot prints, the Minnie is now available in a lovely more abstract multi print.  Another obvious favourite is the Breeze longline which manages to be a total stunner each season.

SCULPTRESSE

Flirtini in Floral Multi (D-H),  Candi in Cobalt (D-HH), Gina in Raspberry ( D-HH), Chi Chi in Palm Print (D-HH) and Sasha Multiway in Soft Pink (D-H)

Sculptresse, the plus size collection is yet again small yet sweet. Fortunately, there a couple of new styles that were introduced for this season: Gina and Sasha. The Gina is a regular non-padded balconette and the Sasha is supposed to be the ultimate basic bra: nude for Caucasian skin tones, made of light-weight spacer foam material and has a J-hook at the back to form a racerback if needed. The colours are bright and in line with the rest of the Panache collection – corals, blues and pinks to brighten up your spring.

 

PANACHE SWIM

Portofino in Petrol (D-K) and Anya Voyage in Navy (D-G)

Florentine Swimsuit and Bikini (D-G), Nina in Geo Print (D-G) and Britt Stripe in Red/White (D-H)

In the new Panache swim collection there were quite a few new styles, mostly in core colours and floral prints. Unfortunately, there weren’t that many styles that would please me per se, but I did find a couple which I really liked. My absolute favourite was the Florentine strapless swimsuit, which is a lovely vintage-y ensemble. The 50’s and 60’s vibe is still there, which is something I have enjoyed about the Panache Swim collections in the past as well. The Anya Voyage for example is the perfect 60’s Bond girl bikini, in my opinion!

CLEO SWIM

Gigi in Blue/Black (D-G), Avril in Palm Print (D-H), Lucille Tankini in Navy/White (D-H) and Isla in Tropical Orange (D-G)

The Cleo Swim collection was full of colour, palm prints and trendy shapes. I love the piping trend on the new Gigi style and am so disappointed it doesn’t come in my size! If I could wish something from the Panache design team, it would be more bigger cup sizes in especially in the Cleo Swim collection.

Tankinis haven’t been that much on trend recently, but there is one lovely option the collection and that is the Lucille. The colouring is quite classic but the shape is great for younger customers as well.

How did you like the new Panache spring collection? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Ewa Michalak “BM Bordeaux” in 70G + A SALE!!!

Ewa Michalak has been one of my favourite full-bust lingerie brands and continues to be so – it is just a bit of gamble whether their wires are too narrow for me at times. This depends on greatly the particular EM bra and style of the bra which is why I was happy to receive some of the newest Ewa Michalak styles a few months ago. I had the privilege to try multiple styles at once and I am grateful for it, as I found true gems. Today I will the reviewing the BM Bordeaux, which is a brand new style at Ewa Michalak in a full-bust appropriate shape “BM”. *This set was kindly sent to me by the Ewa Michalak team. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: The BM Bordeaux is a non-padded balconette shape and similar to the older SM shape that also includes smaller cup sizes. If I know correctly, the BM is a bit deeper in the cup to accommodate a fuller bust, and thus many can buy a cup size smaller with it. The style is very similar in looks compared to SM but seems to have a bit more support on the sides to bring the fuller breast tissue up and front. Ewa bras are very well-known for their exquisite uplift and forward-projection, and the BM Bordeaux does not fail us either – the shape is very round yet not unnaturally so and the profile is great under any shirts and dresses.

The style of the Bordeaux range is very sexy as the bra’s upper panel is quite sheer and the whole bra is covered in beautiful black/burgundy lace. The glimpses of burgundy are not easily shown on camera, so trust me that they are more visible in flesh! I like the colour combination and the classic look of the bra and I think it’s great for someone who wants something traditionally feminine yet a bit daring.

The Fit: As I mentioned above, the BM style runs a bit deeper in the cup which usually results some people to buying a smaller cup size than usual. My most common size with EM is 70GG at the moment, but I do think the 70G is just enough for me in the BM. The upper panel of the bra is stretch lace, which is great for me personally because of my upper fullness, and thus the bra conforms beautifully to both of my boobs, even though they are not exactly the same size. As you can see, there is no bulging on my bigger side either (the one facing camera in the pic above)!

The band of the BM Bordeaux is on the tighter side of 70, but I can still close it and it has stretched over the many times I’ve worn it already. However, I have tried a couple of BM bras in my bra blogging career, and both of them have been tighter in the band than my SM and the new SF styles. This is something you need to consider if you are between sizes! The width of the BM wires seems to be better for me though, so I would say they are maybe a smidge wider than with the SM bras. This is perfect for me, as the SM bras I’ve tried have stabbed me in my breast tissue after a few hours of wear – not something anyone enjoys!

Comfort: As I was sent four different sets in total – with one BM bra, two SF’s and one PL – it is easy to compare each one when it comes to comfort. There was one set that I would set apart particularly but it has not been released yet so this is why I can’t tell you yet which one it is! The Bordeaux however is not a bad one either – my only gripe with it is really is that the band is a bit a rigid at first and needs a bit of breaking in. But I do like it, and have worn it on an everyday basis, so there is really nothing else I can say about this bra. It’s not the most heavenly on your body but not the worst either! Besides, I would say this is something many women would reserve for boudoir use only.

The panties are very comfortable for me in UK size 10 and I am glad I got to try them this time, as the last time EM sent me samples, they did not include panties at all. However, I have always been a big fan of both of their briefs and EVEN… dun, dun, duuuun! THONGS. I know, who am I even? But yes, even their thongs get an A+ from me. These regular Bordeaux briefs were not any different; they are cute, sexy and yet so very comfortable I can wear them even though they are not high-waisted. The lace on the back is quite stretchy, they are a flattering rise and have a super cute key-hole detail on the back. If you get the bra, please invest in the panties as well – they are absolutely amazing!

For your luck, Ewa Michalak is running a sale TODAY. You heard it, today only! There are plenty of stuff even 50% off, so go and grab some goodies while you can. The Bordeaux is one sale as well, so I would heavily suggest to snatch it up – and maybe something else as well? My other golden tip is to get your hands on their new SF bras, they are pure gold. The Bordeaux bra (132 zl) comes in EM sizes (a bit different than most full-bust brands, so check the size chart!) 30-38 E-JJ and the panties (55 zl) in UK 8-16. The prices are now down but the EM products are always great quality even for the full price and I cannot recommend them more for girls who need deep cups and narrow wires, and still want to look cute in their lingerie.

Moda Lingerie Preview: Tutti Rouge SS17

Hi everyone! Today I need to start by being completely honest with you even if it hurts just a bit to admit that I haven’t lately been that inspired to blog anymore. I don’t know exactly why, perhaps it’s a combination of so much time spent on the computer already doing my uni essays but also because I have so many samples to review (which are lovely and I am grateful for them!) that I don’t have time to write anything else. This is why I wanted to take a break today from the reviews and start showing favourites for the upcoming spring season. Luckily, I am going to the Salon de la Lingerie in Paris just next month, so hopefully I will gain some inspiration there for my blog as well! I would also like to write more about vintage reproduction brands that are suitable for a fuller bust, so if you have an opinion on that or a brand you would like reviewed, please let me know in the comments.

Also, if any of you have any suggestion for blog post topics, I would be more than willing to hear your ideas. Also, if there is something YOU would like to write about here on my blog, don’t hesitate to email me! I always accept thoughtfully written guest posts unless it’s a company trying to get free ad space. I don’t have money to compensate you but if you have a blog of your own, I am more than happy to link to your blog here as well. Without further a do though, let’s dive into the new spring collections as I am so sick of this winter and most of all, winter blues! Today I’m bringing you some sunshine in a form of the new Tutti Rouge collection, “the Birds & the Bees”.

Sukki & Lexi, both up HH-cup

Tutti Rouge collections are still rather small but what they lack in size, they patch it up with a good dose of sweetness. The first thing we encountered at the Tutti Rouge stand was the lovely new colourway of the Sukki, a style inspired by a pinup model and a burlesque diva Sukki Singapora. I am a big fan of the lady herself but regardless of the inspiration, I truly love this set a lot. The past season colourway of black and cream was something a bit too obviously sexy for my taste but I am now head over heels in love with the new blush colourway. I love the combination of the sweet colour and the naughty (detachable) strapping and I would love to wear this with a crisp white summer dress. The style also looks perfect for us ladies with a little extra fullness at the top of our breasts, so I am really looking forward to trying this style!

Another option in a similar style minus the strap detailing and padding is the new Lexi bra. The Lexi is a true half-cup shape which is rather rare in the full-bust market. It has one seam going vertically in the middle of the cup and re-enforced side panel which should bring your boobs more to the centre instead of giving an east-west sort of look. The style looks promising but I haven’t seen it on anybody yet, which makes me wonder how Tutti Rouge managed to make the fit right for us fuller busted ladies. Here’s hoping the HH-cup fits as well as the F-cup!

The Chloe is a style that makes me really happy just looking at it – the bright lemon-y yellow gives me life and makes me want to jump into spring already. The pink bows add a touch of cheeky contrast to the set and I am absolutely in love with the lacy half-longline addition to the bra band. The shape of the bra is similar to other half-padded bras of Tutti Rouge but I do have to say Chloe looks just a tiny bit more uplifted and centred when it comes to its cup shape.

My only gripe with this set are the panties. I used to love TR pants so so much but lately, I they haven’t been that much to my taste anymore. I like my high-waisted pants HIGH, like up to my belly button so this trend with the middle-rise panties is killing me on the inside. I frankly think it’s one of the most unflattering rises you can wear, for me at least, so I have been pushing designers to make them higher. Let’s see what happens next season, I hope my wishes have been granted! Another interesting panty choice in the collection was the high-legged brazilian knicker. I don’t know what has got into people but these seem to be super on-trend right now in the lingerie industry, and I am not digging it. Don’t get me wrong – I have seen some babes ROCKING them with their wide hips and all but my narrow hips would probably just look very sad in them.

Amelia, Nichole and Liliana in their pretty peachy tones, all up HH-cup

The Amelia is a new style in the TR product family and it’s based on the older Betty shape which is their signature padded balconette bra. I have been a fan of Betty from day one and the one I tried from the ss16 collection was absolutely fantastic. I have high hopes for this bra as it is super pretty and looks very promising fit-wise too! The back of the bra is especially beautiful, as the straps feature a wider lace detailing which reminds me of the trendy smaller bust bras we see on the high-street. The comfort factor of the bra seems to be getting an A+ as well, as the inner material is made of the softest cotton that caresses my skin like no other.

Nichole and Liliana are the staples of this collection but I was happy to see them clad in lovely vibrant shades of the red and peach. The particularly fun twist of the Nichole is the sweet leopard print adorning it all around – in recent years, leopard prints have grown on me more and more and this particular one is very girly and not tacky at all.

This is the set that I reeeeeaaaally wanna get my hands on next spring. It is called Pixie and it’s a whole new style and shape for Tutti Rouge. If you are a fan of the Jessica bra WITHOUT the cookies, just like me, I would suggest looking into Pixie. It is a non-padded plunge bra adorned with the Tutti Rouge exclusive print “Birds and Bees” – something super girly and young yet I still would love to wear this as a 24-year-old. The corset detailing at the centre gore, the cutesy print and the practical shape of the bra makes me go all grabby-hands and I am sure to get this bra for all those low-cut summer dresses. Just perfection!

How did you like the new Tutti Rouge ss17 collection? Any favourites? Please, let me know in the comments so I can take your opinions straight to Jessica in January! The collection will launch in January according to the brochure, but I would say TR usually takes a bit of time with their launches, so I would be ready with the shopping money in February. Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday and I will write again soon! xx

Getting to Know Signature by After Eden – Review of “Sophia” and “Grace” in 32F

A couple of weeks back I wrote about the new After Eden sister-label which is created for fuller busted and also fuller figured girls. As I mentioned in my latest post about the brand, even though the range is targeted for girls with bigger band sizes as well, the brand does make their bands in 32 and even 30 in some styles. When the head of marketing for Signature and After Eden, Paul, contacted me and asked if I would like to try some of their lingerie, I jumped at the chance even though I knew I wouldn’t be in their size range exactly.

When the beautiful “Sophia” and “Grace” sets arrived at my door, I was so exacted I ripped the packaging open and was faced with two gorgeous bras accompanied with both briefs and thongs for both of them. I instantly tried on the bras with both fear and excitement – would they fit even though being a couple of cup sizes too small to begin with? I had indeed heard that Signature would run big so I was hopeful. Unfortunately, the bras came about two cup sizes too small for me, so I would have needed a 32G with them. Then something struck me – I had just bravangelized one very sweet and gorgeous young girl who would be perfect for both the brand and the size. Let me introduce to you: Miss E and Signature!

When it comes to Miss E’s regular bra size, she is usually something in the 30FF-G bra range and wears a 30G in Parfait “Charlotte”, for example. She is a very sporty young girl so she’s quite fit and small around her underbust area, meaning 30″ band is the best option for her in most bras. As Signature bras start usually at 32 (excluding their continuity style Anna which starts from 30) I was a bit hesitant if the bras would come up too big for her small frame, but luckily they fitted quite nicely. The Signature 32 bands seem to be quite snug, especially with the black flock print “Sophia” (49,99€), as it can be converted into a strapless. This particular bra also features some silicone strips going around the band, to keep the bra up when worn strapless.

The gorgeous snake-print “Grace” (44,99€) was a bit on the looser side compared to Sophia, so Miss E is wearing the bra in the second tightest set of hooks and eyes. Speaking of hooks and eyes, there is four sets of them on each bra which is absolutely amazing! The bands are pretty wide and thus supportive and they feature three hooks and eyes in each row. The metal parts of the Signature sets are done in such a beautiful way – they are gold in colour and look very expensive and luxurious taking into consideration how affordable these sets actually are.

The cup sizing is pretty similar to any other mainstream brands, if not a tiny bit more generous than eg with Freya or Curvy Kate. Signature uses EU-sizing as they are a Dutch brand, meaning the UK size 32F translates into 70G in their own size chart. As we know Miss E’s regular size is 30FF-G, the 32F is a sister size to 30FF, making me think these the cups are a bit bigger than a 30FF would normally be. This is great for E, as she is between FF and G in the first place.

As I tried these bras on myself, I noticed the cups are especially closed at top with Sophia – this happens quite often with strapless bras but it’s also a brand spesific thing; for example, Freya is great for full-on-bottom boobs, Cleo is great for full-on-top breasts. I would say E’s breasts are pretty full allover, meaning the fit of Signature is quite good for her (actually, most bras fit well with evenly-full breasts). There is no bulging or gaping and both of the bras fit smoothly.

When it comes to wiring, the underwires of Signature seem to be in line with most British brands – they are rather wide but not as much as with eg. Tutti Rouge. I would compare their wires to most Curvy Kate bras – great for people who need average to slightly wider wires. The Sophia and Grace are a bit different to each other in this sense as well – the Sophia is a bit wider when it comes to wires and also has a bit more widely-placed straps. E mentioned the straps right away went she put on the bra – they were chafing her armpits a bit. However, the bra is great for its strapless feature and is something that will probably be a good choice under a spagetti strap top which is something E wears from time to time. The straps are fully-adjustable with both bras which is always an asset for taller or more petite girls.

The centre gores are a bit wider as well with Signature, so if you are close-set, you might want to consider this. E seems to be pretty average-set with her breasts so there seems to be no issue with the gores and they are tacking her sternum pretty well. The Grace bra is a bit lower with its gore area and seems to be sporting a nice practical plunge balconette shape that is great for everyday, especially combined to the smooth t-shirt finish.

The materials and styling used with the Sophia and Grace sets feels and looks absolutely luxurious. The Grace set is finished with beautiful stretch lace that makes the panties so much more comfortable to wear – both the thong and the shorts leave a seamless finish and match the bra nicely. The bottoms are a bit higher than what E is used to but she seems pretty happy with them anyway – the rise is actually quite flattering and is something most women would find comfortable.

The Sophia is made of quite thick power mesh sorts of material which is adorned with a velvet-y like flock print. The basic black looks so amazing with the print and contrasting textures and is suitable under most clothing as the print is not too prominent, unless you are wearing something super thin.

All in all, we are both very impressed with Signature and I can safely say that it is a good option for young girls out there who are looking for their first full-bust bras. Signature is sold on their own website but unfortunately, they only ship to Netherlands at the moment. However, if you live somewhere else and want to give this brand a try, do let the brand know about it! I am sure they would be eager to hear enthusiasm from their international fans and let you know about any retailers near you 😉

Review of By Caprice “Love Blossom” in 32G

I very often bump into brands that are just so cute, sexy and so “me” and when I look for my size, it shines with its non-existence. Well, I first saw By Caprice lingerie on a random website and this is exactly what happened – ouch, up to G and I was a double! However, some of the designs really caught my eye and I was left wondering if I could sistersize down to a 32G. When Sophie from By Caprice contacted me asking if I wanted something to review on my blog, I jumped at the chance and decided to try my luck. I was sent the “Love Blossom” set in sizes 32G and Small and here’s how I liked it…

Design: I went for the Love Blossom as it instantly caught my eye – the colour and the lace embroidery looked amazing! I was a bit worried about the extra padding inside the cups but I am so looks-orientated that this set definitely won me over. The whole look is quite over-the-top, in a good way of course, as the plunge shape creates a massive cleavage and the shiny pink satin is quite eye-catching. The lace is quite thick so be sure to match this bra with something not-so-clingy! I wore this bra with my new Lindy Bop “Ophelia” dress and it created a nice look under the ruched neckline.

Love Blossom is a moulded-cup padded bra featuring some extra push-up padding in the bottom part of the cups. For me the push-up padding is a bit too much as I probably could have achieved the cleavage without any extra help but for some the padding can be a bonus. The bra gives me a very uplifted lovely shape and looks great with very open necklines as it doesn’t cover much of your chest.

Fit: As you can see, the fit is unfortunately not the best for me. This is not the bras fault though – my boobs are just about a cup size too big for it. I think my best fit with By Caprice would probably be a 32GG so I am looking forward to their potential size expansion that will take place sometime in the future. The band feels firm for 32 but I would say it’s just on a smaller side of 32 so not super snug on me but still doesn’t ride up. There is some spillage mostly on my left boob as it is bigger than my right one so if I had the chance I would size up to a GG. However, the quadboob on my left side is not that notable under clothing so I have actually been wearing this bra quite a lot lately as it looks great under most of my dresses.

The wiring and depth of the bra are quite the average so a very good fit for me. I find the cups to be rather deep at the bottom too (compared to eg. Curvy Kate bras) so there’s not a bunch folding going on at the bottom. I usually have some wrinkles at the bottom of the padded cups I wear so to me, the overall fit of Love Blossom looks pretty good to me, if it only was the perfect size. Also I do think that my shape is not the best for this bra and it could have fitted better if I had less fullness on the top part of my breasts. So if you have more bottom-heavy breasts – this is probably your best choice for a push-up bra!

Comfort: I have been wearing this set quite a bit as it is very comfortable doesn’t peek under my low-cut open necklines. The materials feel nice to touch and the lace is not scratchy at all – quite the contrary! The wires feel very reasonably placed so they don’t poke me in my armpits or feel too narrow or wide. The band features three hooks and eyes which I’m really grateful for.

The panties looked very skimpy at first and I wondered if they would look flattering or feel good. I was also hesitant about my size as the size range goes from S to XL and I am probably not even close to By Caprice’s smallest customer. The size was spot-on though and the side strings of the brief give a lot of room for size fluctuation. I would say the panties run true-to-size just like the bra did. This is definitely always a good quality of a new brand you try, as it is more likely to get the right size with a little less hit-and-miss.

I hope you liked my review and will be looking into By Caprice too – they are a great option if you fall into their size range and are looking for a good push-up bra with a lovely fit. If you fancy yourself a very own set from By Caprice, I would suggest you look into Littlewoods and Very! They have a nice selection of By Caprice for great prices. By Caprice also produces smaller sizes so if you are not D+, you still have a good shot at fitting into their brand.

How do you like By Caprice and the Love Blossom set? If you have any questions or comments leave them for me in the comment box! Have a great Sunday, loves xx

Bra Review: Gossard V.I.P Lingerie “Phoebe” in 32FF

As many of you have already noticed I am a Gossard girl big time. There was no way anyone could have kept me away from their V.I.P range for long, the vintage feel of it screamed my name so loud I just needed to have my hands on some of their luxe sets. Lucky me, Gossard offered to sent me their new Phoebe set to try and I got my very own portion of V.I.P treatment. Here are my thoughts about this gorgeous set…

  
The Design: The Phoebe is a non-padded balconette shape bra that comes with a matching thong and a suspender-skirt. The whole set feels very luxe and is all over adorned with beautiful details such as shimmering embroidery and tulle. I love the colour of the set – it is a great “nude” shade for me with a touch of pink to it. The whole set screams ballerina elegance which I personally adore.

The style is what some people call “bandless” – the band doesn’t reach the lower curve of the wires meaning it comes up higher and looks more invisible. This is the very first bandless bra I have tried and so far it feels comfortable and fits well. This however, is not the case with everyone, I have heard some ladies saying it’s not the best choice for them fit-wise. The cups give me a rather low-profile pointy look which bothered me a bit first but actually looks great under more vintage-y dresses (such as my new Collectif dress, a review to come soon!). 

The Fit: I opted for my regular Gossard size 32FF but as I am now more near 30H with other British brands, I think I could have probably gone for 32G as my other boob tries to escape the cup now and then. The bra itself fits otherwise as should and feels the same size-wise as other Gossard non-padded bras. The cups are constructed of three parts which gives the cups their somewhat pointy shape and low profile. The depth of the cups is great for me, as they don’t feel too shallow. I would say Gossard makes probably the deepest cups when it comes to British bras – I would say they are on the same line as Cleo. So if Cleo works for you, I think you should definitely give Gossard a shot.

The wires are again prefect and I love that I can count on Gossard on this. Also the band feels like a standard Gossard band. I read another review of it saying the band feels a little more snug than usual but for me this feels like my other 32″ Gossard bands. So if you are between band sizes, I would suggest to size up. The Gossard 30″ bands fit more like 28″s making it a great choice for smaller girls as well.

The Comfort: This bra features the signature gateway back that Gossard does with most of their bras. The band feels rather supporting but I cannot help but want a wider band, just for some extra security. The band features two hooks and eyes meaning it does look rather subtle-looking which is of course a plus. Also the straps feel a bit thin for someone with a full-bust. However these things have not kept me from wearing this set, it really is a comfortable one.

I wore this bra and the thong through a massive move to our new apartment meaning the bra needed to stay comfy through two days of lifting, cramming myself into tiny elevators and a few nervous break-downs. Ten points to Gossard for keeping me supported and comfy during those days, cause bra rubbing or chaffing is the last thing you want when you are feeling super-not-comfy otherwise! The wiring of the bra feels nice on and the bra stayed put through the whole move.

I got the matching thong and the suspender-belt in size Small this time as I have grown myself a booty and it requires more space nowadays. The choice was spot on and both feel great on. I haven’t had the chance to test out the suspender too much as it’s truly a more novelty piece than something for everyday wear. However, I wore it around home for a couple of times and it truly looks really nice and covers all my soft bits giving me a more tucked-in feel. 

All in all, I am totally in love with this set and I hope Gossard keeps on making such lovely pieces for us full-busted gals as well! What do you think – yay or nay? Drop me a comment telling me would you wear Phoebe! If you are as excited as me, you can get yours on Gossard’s online store for £39 for the bra,  £18 for the thong and £45 for the suspender skirt.