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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Lustful” in 30DD

One of our favourites from the Gossard SS16 collection was definitely the Lustful VIP range which is a style that features a beautiful ombre-colour and unusual pairing of bright purple and subtle lilac. When Gossard asked whether Jo would be interested to try the style, we couldn’t have been more happy: it is one of the most gorgeous sets we have encountered this spring. I am personally a big fan of Gossard VIP collection anyway – their designs always manage to look very on-trend yet unique and luxurious for a pretty good price as well. Let’s see how Jo enjoyed her new set!

Design: As said, the Lustful set utilizes an ombre technique that looks absolutely stunning with this unique colour combination. I have not seen many lingerie brands doing ombre that much, not at least with their lace which makes the dip-dye effect of the bra subtle yet effective. The colours match beautifully, when on the other hand they clash just a bit with the other one being so jewel-bright and the other almost a grey-ish pastel. The style of the straps is effective with the bright purple colour yet there is no lace nor embroidery or silky textures to them, allowing them to be fully-adjustable. The back of the bra features the signature Gossard gateway bra band with only one row of hooks and eyes.

The bra is very low cut, a true demi-cup with a balconette shape and one vertical seam at the front. The Lustful bra gives a sexy “two cakes on a plate” cleavage while still remaining quite work-appropriate with its rounded yet not massively uplifted shape. The lace on the cups is very stretchy meaning it can fit a multitude of breast shapes, both FOT and FOB.

The Fit: Jo went with her usual 30DD with the Lustful bra and again, we came to the conclusion that she is currently right between 30DD and 30E with Gossard. Her left boob is trying to say “Hello!” every now and then with a minor nip slip here and there but it’s nothing to bother Jo and she is happy with the size. The style is very low cut so especially if you are more full-on-top and between sizes, you may want to size up. Otherwise the style fits Jo beautifully with just enough cup depth and wire width for her. I still own a similar style in 32G (the old Temptation set) which I still love and wear for special occasions! So I would say the Gossard half-cups suit bigger busts as well.

The band of the bra is very much true to size for Gossard, so a little on the tighter side compared to other British brands. The centre gore tacks Jo’s sternum well while still remaining comfortable; it is quite low though so if you have a lot of softer breast tissue at the front, I would suggest opting for something else.

Comfort: The materials are premium with this sets as it belongs to the VIP range: the satin that is featured both on the band and the bottoms is super soft and the stretch lace is something that is always loved by women with a-symmetrical boobs (which is around 80% of women btw). The whole ensemble is beautiful to touch and thus a great set for both everyday and boudoir wear. The fully-adjustable straps make sure that the bra fits both petite and taller ladies, which is always an upside. The only gripe with the bra is the same as with other Gossard bras that only feature one row of hooks and eyes: the band is so flimsy it tends to rolls around and move a bit, exposing the hook and eye closure to the skin and thus rubbing against it a bit, causing minor irritation. While the band itself is rather supportive even while being so narrow, the fore-mentioned problem is something that could be solved by just half-an-inch wider bra band.

The bottoms that match the bra are quite flimsy as well but very sexy with just the elastic strings at the sides. To be fair, it is not the most flattering look on everyone which is why I am not personally a fan, but Jo seems to pull it off effortlessly nonetheless (I guess it’s because of her round hips). As a set the two pieces go together really well and I can imagine most girls wearing this as something to spice up the bedroom in a less conservative (ie not black and red) way.

The Lustful collection is available now on Gossard online store – the bra retails for £39 (30-38 A-E) and the thong for £20 (XS-XL) which is quite nice for such a high-quality luxurious set. If you are not a fan of super skimpy undies, there is also a brief available to match the bra. How do you like the ombre colour on the Lustful set? Have you seen any other brands doing this kind of dye? Let me know in the comments!

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

Happy New Year with Playful Promises – Review of “Juliet” in 32G

Hi everyone and happy Three Kings’ Day! Christmas is finally over and I am finishing off my holidays as well – the uni is starting again on 11th so still a few more days to go. The reason I haven’t blogged for two weeks is because, obviously holiganza happened but also because I have been organizing things for my incoming exchange students. I am taking care of 11 students this spring term and it has already been a hassle so excuse me for lacking the time to engage with you! I am happy to say though that I am back and will start off the year with something super lovely – that is the Playful Promises full bust collection.

When Anna from Playful Promises contacted me this late autumn and told me about her upcoming DD-G collection, I was so excited – PP is a brand I have been loving and drooling over for a couple of years now and as they were out of reach for me because of the size range, they left my heart broken in million pieces. Imagine my joy when they announced the size expansion! Anna was kind to offer me a set from this new collection and as I had been lusting over the strappy lingerie trend for a while, I decided to go for the sexy and edgy Juliet. Here’s how I like the complete set!

Design: I had such a hard time picking a set from this fantastic collection as Playful Promises really nails it with every single design they do. And I am not kidding – you know when most brands come up with a couple of gems a season but this brand is something else. Each set is a carefully crafted piece of seduction that speaks to me personally on so many levels. When I saw the Portia on eg Becky from Becky’s Boudoir I went instantly nuts and was sad I couldn’t catch them all – but you mustn’t be greedy ya know 😉

I have loved the strappy Dom lingerie trend when it first came in fashion and even though some people are predicting it to finally see its end, I am really loving these sorts of designs still. I was happy to see Playful Promises translate the style to a full-bust collection and I think they hit jackpot with Juliet – the clean styling and black colour of set emphasize the carefully placed straps that adorn the bodice and upper bust area. The bra comes with a separate harness that goes over the bra and can be tossed if it does not suit your ensemble of the day. I personally haven’t found many dresses that would compliment this bra that much but I have a red little number on the way that just might be it.

The bra cups are constructed of three pieces with two vertical seams – which is actually pretty unusual for a G-cup bra. Most brands refuse to use this pattern as it is not seen as the most supportive one – which I beg to disagree on. I really like how PP uses this sorts of style to create half-cup like look but unfortunately, there is still some work that needs to be done on the shape. I personally feel it flattens and widens my bust a bit which is something that Anna and her design team could still look into. I prefer a very rounded look to my bust and this is why I would love to see this style tweaked just a bit.

Fit: With new full-bust collections it is always a bit of a hassle to find your perfect size and fit. As PP does not go above G yet, I decided to sister size down from 30GG (which I still sometimes wear in addition to 30H) to 32G. I was aware that PP might come a bit small in the band like most vintage inspired / reproduction lingerie brands which is why I was quite certain the band wouldn’t come up too loose. And I was right – the band is very tight and the 32 only stretches up to approximately 31″ which is my exact underbust measurement (I should probably cut down on my back weights at the gym, sigh…) at the moment. If you are between band sizes, I would definitely suggest sizing up. The band is a rather rigid sort of power mesh which is why I don’t see it stretching out too easily either.

The cups are pretty much true to size and fit the same way as with most British full-bust brands – quite wide and shallow that is. This does not personally suit my breast shape that well and I would love for PP to experiment with just a smidge deeper cups to achieve a better fit for so many girls like me. However, I know that there really are wide and shallow girls out there as well and this could be a great fit for them. I am just being greedy and wanting this brand to fit me amazingly so I can buy all the pretties, haha!

The wires are not super wide like some British underwires so I definitely don’t have a problem with them going too far in my armpits. The cups are also pretty low-cut meaning the wires are not chafing me anywhere. The centre gore of the bra floats a bit off my sternum but not horribly so and if the cups were just a teeny bit deeper, I am sure this would be fixed (though I am not too fussy about floating gores, I actually hate when they tack me too hard and pinch me in the sternum!)

Comfort: As I did mention before, the band is very tight on me which is why it’s perhaps not the most comfy on me yet. This is because I have not gotten much wear out of the bra for not getting my creative juices flowing and pairing it with enough outfits. I am sure however that after a few more wears the band will loosen up and feel more comfortable. In fact, it is better for the band to be a bit too snug at first, so it will still be supportive after you “break it in”. The materials are lovely on this set and I love how good quality they feel on – the metal parts are sturdy and the garters of the girdle are “real” garters which actually hold up your stockings.

The straps of the bra are quite wide and placed well so they won’t fall off my shoulders easily; they are also half-adjustable but still quite a good length so I could see this working on someone a bit taller or shorter than me (I am 5’6 for reference).The underwires of the bra are very flexible meaning they move nicely with my body while being active throughout the day.

The co-ordinates to this set are equally lovely as the bra itself – I love that the set comes with a high-waisted panty which is my preferred style of knickers but also with a lovely vintage-style girdle. Both of them have little peep-holes at the back which is a great design detail and suit the set well. I got both the panties and the girdle in a UK size 12 but I can see that there is a slight size difference between them – the girdle comes up a bit snugger than the knickers and I easily could have sized down to 10 with the panties. I think this might be because the girdle is a smoothing garment as well and needs to suck your tummy in a bit to create a desired silhouette. All in all, I love both of the co-ordinates and they are perfect for everyday wear for being simple in design and creating a clean line under pencil dresses and other sleek clothes.

If you would like to get some extravagant full-bust lingerie for yourself, do check out the Playful Promises full-bust collection on their online store. The prices are a bit higher than your average full-bust bras and everyday panties but then again – this is not your average lingerie. The Juliet harness bra (comes in sizes 28-36 DD-G) sets you back at £65, the high-waisted knickers (UK sizes 8-16) at £25 and the girdle (sizes 8-16) at £38.

How do you like the new Playful Promises full-bust collection? Do you think boudoir brands are in need in the full bust market? Let me know in the comments! xx

Gossard Celebrates the Re-Launch of Gypsy! – Our Review on the Collection

A fun little story – when we were on a plane to Helsinki before our flight to London we sat next to a previous lingerie shop owner. She was super interested about our blog so we brought up some brands Jo and I had worked with and when we mentioned Gossard, the lady went nuts and told all about how she had stocked them in a small town shop in the 80’s. That was the same reaction I got from my mom when I told I was collaborating with Gossard – she gushed about it like it was the biggest deal on earth (and it kinda still is to me!) and told how she used to have a co-worker in the 80-90’s who wore nothing but Gossard and was the most proud of it. I finally got it – this brand was a heck of a big deal in the 80’s and I was so proud to represent them as they were one of my favourite brands too, still making fabulous on-trend lingerie for sizes A-G.

Today, we are celebrating the relaunch of one of the most iconic Gossard sets and that is the Gypsy – the set that “made men faint”, as the 80’s Gossard commercial lead to believe. Obviously, I did not live in the 80’s but born over a decade after so it is impossible to compare the new revamped Gypsy to its original counterpart. However, we will do our best to review the new Gypsy to its very last detail – so here we go! 
Design: For a lingerie set designed in the 80’s the Gypsy seems like a fairly classic option for everyday use. As Jo put it – it is so comfy you wanna wear it everyday but still rather sexy so you kinda wanna keep it as a special occasion set. That is, the Gypsy is a perfect medium between the impractical boudoir bra (without the impracticality) and something you put on everyday when you go to work. The style is available in both non-padded full-cup style and a semi-padded demi-cup bra. Obviously, the full-cup goes up to G as it is crafted more for lthe fuller bust and the demi-cup goes up to E – now you can imagine it was a no-brainer who went with which style! The set is completed with a pair of knickers of your choice – I went with the delicious high-rise panties for my uber-vintage look whereas Jo wanted to stick with her everyday style that is the thong.

The Gypsy has definitely been revamped in some way but still has its original feel to it – just without the 80’s vibe. The colours have changed a bit too as instead of the creamy white colour this relaunch brings us a more versatile Caramel shade which is ideal for a pale skin tone like mine. The shape of the full-cup is pretty much the same but just a tiny bit more uplifted and rounded as 80’s full-cups tended to have a bit more toned-down yet pointy shape to them. The lace has a lovely little sheen to it which gives the set its glamorous feel and little something extra to the classic style.

The Fit: Now to the most interesting part as it always quite exciting to see how an “old” style works after revising it a bit. As I have not tried the original Gypsy, I cannot compare the sizing at all but I hope this bit still helps you to figure out your best size in the new version! I was sent my regular size of 32 G + size Small bottoms and Jo went with her regular 30DD + size XSmall bottoms.

To sum it all up, the Gypsy range runs overall a bit big which is why you can see my other cup wrinkling at the top. Jo and I noted the same thing with our Gypsy sets – the cups run a full size larger than any other Gossard bra we own and by the way, that is one large pool of Gossard bras. Also the bands were a tad looser than normal so I would say if you are between band sizes with Gossard bras, size down in this particular style. My 32 was a fairly good fit though so I wouldn’t change that necessarily, just the cup size is notably too big for me. The 30DD was on the other hand too big in the band for Jo and only a tad big in the cups, which was btw easily fixed with tightening the straps with some help from the Strap Saver (click link for the review!). Both the demi-cup and the full-cup bras included a layer of the softest stretch lace you can imagine – great for a-symmetrical boobs and comfort in general!

The wires of Gypsy felt particularly narrow for me compared to my other Gossard bras and you can see in the pictures how nicely the underwire curves right next to my armpit without going too far in it. Gossard wires are always absolutely perfect on me but I can see some girls with narrower breast root enjoying this style quite a bit – it definitely rivals any Polish brand with its wire-width! The straps are quite long with Gypsy so if you are petite like Jo, do give the Strap Saver a go as it can shorten any too-long straps to make the fit of the bra a lot better.

Comfort: Can everyone just praise Hallelujah as Gossard did it again?! As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, the Gypsy is exactly that lingerie set you want to take everywhere with you – to work, to a nightclub, to a summer holiday, you name it. It is such a lightweight set you barely notice it when being active but then again, it also looks good and you can feel confident it it without anything else on. Especially for me the high-waisted knickers sealed the deal with my love affair to this set – they are perfect under light-coloured pencil skirts and dresses and also feel so soft against my hyper-sensitive skin. Also the thong option is lovely and wide at the back with a seamless finish to avoid any bulges or VPL.

What could be improved with this set is the straps though – they are bit too long even for me who never really struggles with too-long straps. This is a common feature with Gossard bras but still something that could be addressed in the future. Otherwise though, everything was so spot-on with both of our sets comfort-wise and we cannot recommend them enough as great basics to any girls lingerie drawer.

Gypsy has launched TODAY and is now ready to be purchased on the Gossard online store! The non-padded full-cup bra retails for an affordable £30 and the padded demi-cup for £32. The bottoms come in sizes XS-XL and feature a regular brief (£16), the thong (£14) and the deep short (£22). Give this babe a try and you won’t be disappointed!

What do you think of the Gypsy? Have you tried the original version and how do you feel it compares to the new? Let me know in the comments, we are dying to know! xx

Lingerie Review: Maison Lejaby “Crystal” Padded Demi-Cup Bra in 32D

As summer has arrived in pretty much anywhere else but Finland, I decided it is time to introduce the perfect lightweight summer bra to you, my dear readers – The Crystal by Maison Lejaby. Now, I must warn you this little beauty only goes up to DD which is why our lovely 2COP guest blogger Jo will be introducing it. However, I thought it would be lovely to showcase some smaller/average-bust options on the blog as well! Here are our thoughts on the Maison Lejaby Premium Collection continuity style, Crystal. *This set was sent as a gift to Jo from Maison Lejaby. This does not affect her or my opinions on the set.*

Design: Crystal comes in various shades for each season, this ss15 season being the time for a lovely coral-like pink. As Jo is a bit on the paler side when it comes to skin tone (not as white as me though), the peachy colourway works as a pretty good “nude” on her too. The only thing that takes away from the practicality of the set, is the lace that is pretty prominent under very thin top materials. However, this feature can be used as an asset too – why not pair it with something a bit see-through for a night out with the girls?

The shape of the bra is rather pointy yet not very notable under regular t-shirts, especially a bit looser ones. The top panel of the bra is made of very light stretch lace which is amazing for any breast shape – particularly full-on-top boobs. Jo is more full on bottom, but rocks this style equally well. The coverage is pretty low meaning there might be some nipple (gasp!) showing through the lace (a feature neither of us is that scared of…). The star of the show however, are the lovely Swarovski crystals at centre gore, which add a nice feminine touch to the set.

Fit: As most Maison Lejaby styles do not carry 30 backs not even talking about 28’s, we decided to ask a size 32D for Jo. What can I say, who doesn’t compromise sometimes? (I know I do -naughty me!) As we knew Maison Lejaby runs large in the cup, we decided go for the D, which is technically a cup size smaller than Jo usually wears (meaning 30E/28F). The size guess was pretty much spot on! Even though the band is definitely a rather regular 32, it does not ride up Jo’s back as her bust is not particularly heavy. She does wear the band on the tightest hook which is by no means the best solution, but as I said, the fit is still reasonably good. Also the cups fit her really well with no gaping or bulging as the stretch lace is such a forgiving choice of material.

The wiring is a lot narrower than with British brands, which makes Maison Lejaby a good choice for Jo – she is rather petite all over with her bird’s bones so too wide/high/dense wires tend to poke her in the armpits and even her ribs. With Crystal the wire width and length seem to be spot-on which makes the bra a better fit for Jo despite the loose back band.

Comfort: As I conducted with my ML “Feline” set (click the link to read the review!), Jo came to the same conclusion with Crystal – Maison Lejaby knows how to make comfy lingerie. It is no wonder though, as they have been in the industry for so many years and clearly, some serious bra-making knowledge has tagged along since the 19th century. Everything from the materials to flexible wiring has been perfected to the very last detail which makes the higher price tag of the garments absolutely worth it.

Jo was also sent the size 1 knickers (translates to UK 8 and US 4) which finish off the set beautifully with the same amount of comfort and style that was put into the bra. The stretch lace is again there to save the day – these panties are great when you need something seamless! Also to praise the bra even more, the half-adjustable straps are just the right length for Jo who usually suffers from too long bra straps (petite ladies, take note!).

All in all, this set definitely scores an A+ when it comes to comfort – it is the perfect light-weight bra for hot summer weather and is equally great when lounging around at home.

If you would fancy to give the Crystal a try, it is sold at least on Amazon and House of Fraser for a reduced price. However, the style is a continuity range which will be available this autumn in Love Red colourway in addition to basic colours Black, Lily and Cashmere. What do you think of the Crystal? Let me know in the comments!

V.I.P. Lingerie: Review of Gossard “Temptation” in 32G

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? I had a fantastic one with some other bloggers from my hometown Oulu. I will not go into details yet but I promise a blog post about the night as it was so much fun and I have some pretty nice pics. Today I have another Gossard review for you and it’s one of my absolute favourite sets from Gossard (I think I say this everytime I write about Gossard?) – the Temptation. Temptation was released last month as a part of Gossard’s V.I.P. range and even before that I was super excited about the set as it includes some pretty badass eyelash-lace and a lovely deep suspender belt. The lovely folks at Gossard sent me the entire set in sizes 32G and Small and here are my thoughts about these lovelies.

The Design: This style is pretty unique to any full-bust bra I have ever tried; it’s a demi-cup bra meaning it only covers about half of my breasts. This may not be something that works for all sizes and shapes, but for my full-on-top breasts the look and fit is pretty stunning. The cups are constructed of two parts with a vertical seam going across the cup and making the breasts look super rounded. This bra also created my signature cleavage – two cakes on a plate! It’s a very “pushy” in-your-face kind of look but I love it as it’s not that well-achieved after you go past the G-cup barrier.

The overall look of the set is super sexy and looks as if someone had created a full-bust bra using the traditional aesthetics of a smaller cup lingerie – meaning pretty lace, fantastic half-cup cut and some gorgeous painting-like floral print. The whole look is so stunning and vintage-like I could simply die out of adoration. The deep suspender belt creates a lovely hourglass illusion and suits my pinup style very well whereas the brazilian is cut to be invisible under clothing if that’s the look you need to go for.

The Fit: This bra fits me pretty much like a dream. I decided to go up to size 32G instead of my regular Gossard size, 32FF. With other brands I am usually between 30GG and 30H right now. So I would still advice you to go up a band size and down a cup size with any Gossard style. However, if you are more full-on-top and in-between sizes like me, I would suggest taking the bigger cup size. I still fit fine into eg my Botanical bra even though it’s a 32FF. This is probably due to the demi-cup shape of Temptation and a size smaller would definitely lead to some spillage with my breast shape.

The band did not feature the gateway design this time so I would say it feels a bit more secure than your regular Gossard bra. The straps were quite thick but also widely placed and slippery so they tend to slip off my shoulders from time to time when combined with another slippery material. However, they are also fully-adjustable so that’s definitely a good thing!

Comfort: Even though the straps caused a bit of tricky situations when combined to eg a polyester dress, this bra is otherwise very comfortable. The wires are perfect again and I can’t praise Gossard more on their comfortable and high-quality co-ordinates. The lace doesn’t feel scratchy at all and even with my worst skin condition the bra felt pretty damn comfy on.

The suspender belt and shorts look fabulous but also feel good on. I really liked how the suspender belt flattered my tummy area and sucked some of it in to form a more streamlined look. However, this is not the most subtle piece of lingerie, so be aware that it does show through clingy clothing. Even though the look is very “bedroom” I think the suspender belt is also very wearable under eg vintage-style swing dresses as it is not too tight or restrictive and has high-quality metal parts that hold your stockings in place during everyday or evening wear. The panties were very appropriate for any outfit you can imagine; even though they do feature some lace the back part is seamless and looks overall great and flattering with or without clothes.

This set is priced a little higher unlike your usual Gossard lingerie; it’s part of the V.I.P. range so it’s definitely a bit more luxurious style with more exquisite details. In my opinion the whole assemble is so alluring and stunning I would pay the higher price tag for the quality and style one gets for the money. You can find the whole set on Gossard’s online store and the sizes go up to G-cup. There is also a plunge bra available up to D-cup if you are smaller-breasted and look for a more sheer look! The demi-cup bra costs £42 whereas the brazilian and the thong are sold for £24 and the waspie suspender belt for £54.

Hope you liked the review and if there is anything else you would like to know or just something you want to comment, please leave me a comment below! 😉 xx