The Lingerie Box – Review of a lingerie subscription box

Subscription boxes became all the rage a few years ago and unboxing them eg over at Youtube is still a big hit these days. This is especially a trend in the USA and I haven’t heard about a lot of subscription box services here in Finland. This year I got a taste of the phenomenon myself for the first time as the Lingerie Box contacted me and asked if I want to review their service. Of course I did! Here are a few thoughts on this particular service and how it serves a full-busted gal like myself…

How it works: The first step to join, is to fill in a form with your size, style and colour preferences. The questions include pretty much all the details they need to know to pick you a set just for your needs. However, when it comes to eg picking “sexy” lingerie, not all of us have the same idea of sexy. Thus, it is really up to the person picking your monthly goodies what they think of sexy or flirty underwear.

When you have filled in the form with your credit card information, a box will be sent to you and you will be charged $49.95. The boxes get sent out once a month and you will be charged accordingly each month.

The contents:  My Lingerie Box included a pink and orange Kris Line set in sizes 32H and Medium. I marked my bra size 32GG, so it was a pleasant surprise that the company took into consideration that KL produces rather small bra cups and automatically upped my cup size accordingly. With Kris Line though, my band size is usually 30, so with this particular brand I would have preferred a size 30HH. The set also included a size Medium brazilian, which is not my preferred panty style, but I am guessing they did not have anything else to go with the bra.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the set the Lingerie Box team chose for me as it is very much to my taste and the sizes were quite well-fitting too. However, I am wondering how much this is due to them reading my blog and having a pretty good idea of my taste anyway. It would be interesting to know how well they would succeed with someone who they know only by the questionnaire.

The offering: The Lingerie Box offers ten different lingerie brands on their site, from which they choose the lingerie to include in the subscription boxes. These are both European and American/Canadian brands, with a nice variety of sizes as well. Most of the brands go up to G-cup with their size selection, some even up to UK K-cup. The band size selection is very wide too, with sizes from 30 to 50. I am wondering though, how many options would someone, say UK size 36K have in their selection and would they run out of options quite fast.

In addition to bras and panties, some of the brands produce lounge- and sleepwear as well, which is a lovely addition to the selection. Most of the brands on the site I had actually never heard of, so I had to take a better look at them before even saying yes to the review request. After figuring that truly, they do have options for different sizes and tastes, I was happy to take part in this “experiment”. In the end, it is kind of exciting to come across new-to-me full-bust brands and this could be a great way of trying them.

The pricing and T&C’s: The monthly price you pay for the box is 49,95 (usually 25,95 for the first month)  and the worth of the box  is claimed to be $100 or more. This however is debatable as lingerie prices are definitely subject to what a certain store wishes to charge. For example, a typical Polish lingerie set such as the Kris Line I am wearing in the pictures costs and affordable 60 € or so. It is still saving as you only pay a bit less than $50 for it but still, it is nowhere near the $100 mark. However, in States this could be a regular price for a Kris Line set, so it could be a great saving to a US citizen if you are wary of ordering overseas. The Lingerie Box does not ship internationally so to us Europeans, it is not an issue we have to worry about.

Another thing that may concern many are returns and unsubscribing from the box. This was something that I had to look into a bit on the Lingerie Box site, but I did find a FAQ section where they mention returns and cancelling your subscription. Good news first: the returns are possible and apparently easily done, but you will have to pay for the return shipping and you can only get store credit towards your returns and return shipping costs. This is something that may put off people quite a bit, as you can never be sure how well the LB team is able to pick the right sizes or styles for you. This is definitely something the company could reconsider.

Cancelling your subscription should be quite easy: you get in contact with the customer service 14 days before your next delivery and the thing should be sorted.

Is it worth a try? Taking into consideration the price and the offering, and how well the team picked my lingerie box contents, I would say the box is definitely something you could consider if you are a true lingerie lover and the brands offered are something to your taste. With these sorts of services, you definitely need to do your research and see what is available in their selection, and of course what you will get in return for your money, if you are not satisfied with your monthly picks.  For a full-busted lady, it is tricky to order online and giving the control to someone else can be terrifying. At best, the service could resolve a lot of problems for you, but this would require more questionnaire question about breast shape etc. With this sort of subscription box, customer service is everything.

If you would like to try the box for yourself, take the questionnaire here. If you have any further questions, I would suggest emailing the lovely folk at the Lingerie Box.

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Daria” B103

It has been a while since I tested Ewa Bien bras myself: they are actually visually one of my top favourite brands but unfortunately, most of their beautiful bras stopped at G- or H-cup in Polish sizes. As someone who wears 70J in their bras, this made the brand out of reach for me. When I reported this problem to Ewa Bien and though I understand the limitations when it comes to bra manufacturing and running a business successfully, Ewa Bien team took my advice and plea, and added a couple new full-bust appropriate styles to their collection! This is amazing, as making J-M cups is not always the easiest nor the most cost-effective thing to do. Today I am trying out their new B103 style in Black/Grey Daria. Here’s how it turned out for me! *This bra was sent to me by the lovely Ewa Bien team. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: The B103 is meant for the fuller bust as it goes up to Polish M-cup, equivalent to UK J-cup. This is an amazing size expansion for a family-lead brand, that doesn’t yet have the audience of Panache and other huge brands. In Poland however, businesses such as Ewa Bien are very popular and Polish women trust in their country-women’s knowledge on bra-making. No wonder – the shape you can get with a Polish bra is unrivaled and Ewa Bien is no exception.

The shape with the B103 is very uplifted and it has a great deal of immediate projection, which is something many women look for in their bras. The cups are constructed of four parts: it has the traditional three-part cup construction but for added support, there is a side sling to bring the breasts even more forward. This prevents the breasts from splaying towards my sides, which is something I can always appreciate.

The Daria style seems to be something that Ewa Bien is making as one of their core styles for bigger cup sizes. The style is also available in other cuts which doesn’t have the massive size range, but they do make it in one other full-bust style, the semi-soft B151. The Daria also comes in two colour combinations: Black/Cream and Black/Grey, of which I chose the latter one. Grey has recently become one of my favourite colours in both clothing and underwear and I love the sophisticated combination of black and grey a lot.The cups are completely see-through which is nice if you are looking for something a bit sexy for your everyday bradrobe.

The Fit: The B103 is quite a regular balconette style cut, with a 3/4 coverage. Personally, I would prefer something a bit more revealing like the styles I tried a couple of years back from Ewa Bien, but I have no issue wearing this bra either on a regular basis. The cut still suits a variety of necklines and is a great basic style for everyday wear.

I am wearing my regular Polish size 70J (UK 32GG) with this bra and I am very happy with the size – the band is stretchier than with many other Polish brands but this suits me fine as I like my bands comfortable. The fastening happens with three hooks and eyes and the band is wide enough to feel comfortable and supportive on someone with my body type (ie. small band, big cups). I would say the size runs very true-to-size if you have tried Polish or other European brands before. If you are between band sizes, I would advice to size up with most Ewa Bien styles.

My only gripe with the fit is the wires – however, wires are the one part that are highly personal when it comes to what fits your body the best and I prefer wires that are medium-to-narrow width. This style is a bit on the wider side for me, but not alarmingly so. If I could, I would have them just one cm narrower, that’s all. The depth is absolutely perfect for me, and I like how it contains me fully top, bottom and sides without any extra bulging.

Comfort: This set is made of very comfortable materials and it’s lightweight which makes it easy to wear almost under anything. The top part of the cups is a bit stretchy so it suits many breast shapes without being too restricting for a full-on-top girl like me. The band is comfortable and the whole ensemble is very sturdy if you need to be active and walk/move around a lot during the day.

The only thing I am having issues with, are once again the straps. Even though they are rather wide and comfortable themselves, they are placed a bit too widely for my body type. This makes the bra cup’s edge chafe my armpit just a little, which is not ideal if you want your bra to “feel like nothing”. Overall, I would say this bra style is meant for someone a bit wider than me, when it comes to breast tissue distribution, shoulders and rib cage.

The panties are, in a very Polish manner, quite snug in sizing. I went for the size Medium which does fit me okay, but I would perhaps prefer something a bit more covering. However, the C511 style is a classic Brazilian so it’s not even meant to cover a ton. Great for feeling a bit cheeky, quite literally!

If you would fancy giving this new full-bust style a go, you can find it on Ewa Bien’s own online store. The B103 bra (219 zl) comes in Polish sizes 65-100 B-M (enormous size range, right?!) and the C511 briefs (109 zl) come in sizes S-XXL. What do you think of size expansion and the Daria? Let me know in the comments!

Introducing the New Ewa Michalak SF Semi-Soft Cut

Happy new year 2017! A year of better bra blogging for me, I hope. Every now and then full-bust brands claim to have come up with “a new revolutionary” shape or a cut, that they are trying to sell as a cure for every bra problem in the world. This is not one of those times, as Ewa Michalak comes up with a new shape every now and then in all quietness. They make no fuzz about it, yet many gals wearing a D+ cup size swear by her bras. I can see why – EM bras are known by their incredible shape and narrow wires that are not rivaled by many. Today I would like to tell you about the new SF shape they came out with just recently.

I received two styles called SF Trapez and SF Czerwona Pantera, the latter hasn’t been released yet though, but I thought you would like to get a complete idea of the new style. When you think of a semi-soft cut, made popular by Polish bra brands, you automatically think of a style with padding at the bottom and a sheer or a lacy top that accommodates your upper breast tissue. However, the Ewa Michalak semi-soft, shortened to SF, is a style which is actually not padded AT ALL, just reinforced at the bottom to gain a sturdier feel to the bra.

I was a bit worried when I thought that I was going to get yet another bra with padding, but I actually think this is a brilliant way of making sturdier bras without adding bulk. The bottom part of the cups is double-lined with strong poly-blend material which is rather stiff and thus holds its form better than some flimsier materials. The cut is rather similar to the soft full-bust style BM, but offers just a tiny bit more support in my opinion. The shape is very rounded and uplifted, which is something I always enjoy about Ewa Michalak bras.

As the SF style is pretty much based on the BM, the sizing works similarly with it as well. I received both of the styles, SF Trapez and SF Czerwona Pantera in 70G, which seems to be a pretty good size for me with both of them. I would say though that even them both being a same cut, they are not exactly the same when it comes to fit. I prefer the red and black SF Czerwona Pantera as it feels a tiny bit larger in the cup and band than the Trapez. As you may notice in the pics above, the Pantera (which is how I will refer to the black and red bra from now on) covers my tissue a bit more from the sides and thus contains my boobs better.

As said, the band of the Pantera is also a bit stretchier so I like it better than the Trapez one. However, the Trapez isn’t bad at all, just needs a longer breaking-in period. Both of the bras feature a stretch lace on the top panel of the bra, which is great for a variety of breast shapes. The depth aspect of the bras is just about right to me and thus you cannot see any dents at the bottom of the cup, nor gaping at the top. As the Pantera covers my armpit area better than Trapez, I would go as far as saying it has become one of my top three bras of the year!

The materials of both of the sets are a bit more “basic” than my other EM bras – instead of luxurious embroideries and sheer mesh, these bras are made of something stronger and everyday-appropriate. They are pretty and even sexy, but there’s no extra hassle to make them feel too precious and delicate to wear under your everyday wardrobe. The straps are fully-adjustable which contributes to the practicality aspect of these bras. The bands have three hooks and eyes, and four rows of them, which is great in regards of durability.

The panties that come with these bras are as uncomplicated and sweet as the bras. Both of the styles feature the same stretch lace that is featured on the top panel of the bras, and the materials are nice and light-weight as they should be with comfy panties. These were both a size UK 12/ Polish 38 and they fit my 40″ bum very well. Even the thong is super comfy, as the rise hits me at the perfect spot and the materials are stretchy enough to hug my curves. I also really like how wide the thong is at the hips, it is such a flattering cut.

Out of all the EM styles, I would say the SF is my new favourite. I love wearing it regularly and it is one of their styles which does not try to stab me in the breast tissue. If you would like to try the SF, you can find eg the SF Trapez here at the EM online store. The Trapez is almost sold-out at the moment, but I would suggest taking a look at their new SF Roma (189 zl) which is a beautiful colourful style with a full size range of 30-44 E-JJ.

Lingerie: Avocado “Chloe Folie NF” in 70H

Even though autumn and winter are upon us, it is never a wrong time for basic coloured lingerie, something that most people call “nude” (which is a bit problematic as nude does not mean the same thing to everyone). Some work places require a white button-up as basic work attire, which is why you can never have too many skin-toned bras. When I first saw Avocado‘s Chloe Folie, I thought that this is a truly versatile yet pretty “nude bra” – it could probably work on multiple skin tones, from a fair skin like mine to deeper ashy tones. Avocado sent me this style in their NF style, which is a revised version of their old H-cut, where the straps attach to the bottom part of the cup. Here’s how I liked this delicate beauty…

The Design:  I loved the colour combination of this set right from the start – it was a great pairing of greige (greyish beige) and deep magenta. The lace is delicate and who does not like the little tassels at the front? As a lingerie blogger, you start to get tired of the old bows, which is why the tassels were a nice surprising touch to the design. Regardless of the centre gore adornments and the lace, the style of Chloe Folie is quite simple and thus work appropriate. The lace is very thin, meaning you can wear it under regular shirts without it showing through too much. However, it is not a seamless t-shirt bra so you won’t get a “braless” look with it, if that is what you require from your everyday work bras!

The shape is rather similar to the old H-cut, but it seems to be a bit less covering and pointy and thus for me at least, a lot more practical. There is also quite a bit of uplift, but the one thing I don’t like that much is how the balconette shape splays my breasts to the sides a bit. I like my boobs “at the front” as they make me appear bigger than I am anyways. Keeping them as compact as possible makes me feel more comfortable and look the size I actually am rather than looking wide and frumpy. The one definite upside of the bra is that Avocado seems to be working with much stretchier materials these days and even though the the upper panel of the cup is not exactly stretch lace, the cups seem quite stretchy overall.

The Fit: As I knew from my past experience with the Avocado NF-style, it would probably fit me nicely this time as well. I was right – my size still seems to be 70H with the NF style, but with the Chloe Folie, I would be wary of not picking a too tight band size. If you are between band sizes, definitely size up! This style is not as tight as the Lorca I reviewed recently, but it is still on the snugger side compared to my older Avocado bras.

The cups are still the perfect size for me, even on the roomier end of the H-cup which is excellent if you need deep cups. What kind of baffles me is the cup width-depth ratio; usually deep cups mean narrower wires whereas this Avocado style seems to be both quite deep AND wide. The underwires are a tad too wide for me personally, but I don’t find them pinching me in the armpit whatsoever.

When it comes to shape compatibility, my full-on-top breasts are definitely friends with Chloe Folie: the RV shape seems quite open at the top with this particular style and thus leaves me more room for my upper breast tissue, that sometimes can argue with a cup pattern like this. In general, I’d think this bra would suit many breast shapes if you are not bothered by the wideness of the cups.

I know they look like a different colour but they are not! The lighting is playing its tricks on me – the real colour is more of a mixture of both of the pics shown above.

Comfort: I like this set a lot but there is one fundamental problem with it and I actually mentioned it before already: the band is a bit too small for me unfortunately. Not as much to make me want to size up a whole size, but maybe half a band size too snug. I can close the bra no problem, but the rigid band does not conform to my body very easily, which is why I haven’t worn the bra a lot during long days at work. Otherwise there are no comfort issues with the bra really: the tacking centre gore loosens quite quickly after a few wears and I especially like the width of the straps which are too widely placed for me personally, but still manage to feel good without any chafing.

The bottoms on the other hand are fantastic! I love that Avocado has brought the option of high-waisted panties into their selection and they have nailed it right away. I have to say though that the Medium is a bit too large for me, so if you are between two sizes, I would advice to size down with these. The rise of the panty is divine: it reaches my belly button and covers my butt well. A covering comfortable style yet still very attractive in my opinion!

If you would like to test the Chloe Folie set, you can find on the Avocado online store for 66,92€ for the bra (60-95 C-L, Avocado sizes) and 33,96€ for the full brief (XS-XXL). If these are not the shapes and styles you prefer personally, you can find the Chloe Folie in other Avocado styles as well. What do you think of the Chloe Folie? Have you tried the new Avocado styles recently? Let me know in the comments! xx

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: Ewa Bien “Laskar B139” in 65F

The first time I encountered Ewa Bien was in my second year of blogging when I ventured more into the world of Polish lingerie. They have always been super nice to me and their lingerie features some of the most gorgeous embroideries in the market. When Joanna from Ewa Bien contacted me to ask whether I would like to feature some of their SS16 styles on the blog I jumped at the chance with joy. This time their spring collection did not include any sizes up to J-cup unfortunately so I asked Jo if she wanted to try something from EB. Of course she did! Here’s a review of their Laskar bra in style B139.

The Design: The style of the Laskar is once again breathtakingly pretty. It’s a muted light orange colour with the right splash of pink – one of the most trendy colour combos this spring. The materials are very light weight with the cups being mostly made out of the thinnest layer of mesh and net-like material. The embroidery is one of the key elements of this design as per usual for Ewa Bien and it instantly brings the bra up to a princess level.

The shape of the bra is a revised Ewa Bien B130, which used to be a shallower version of this new B139. This time the cups are deeper to contain more fullness but also a bit wider to catch all the breast tissue near the armpit area. The shape is super rounded due to the one vertical seam at the centre of the bra cup – almost a bit too rounded for Jo’s liking. She prefers a natural slope to her bustline but I can imagine this ultimate round shape would be a winner for so many other ladies out there. The style is also a multiway as the straps are detachable from both sides of the bra – this is quite practical as during the summer months Jo will most likely be wearing an array of different tops that need more unconventional bra solutions.

The Fit: We asked for a size 65F for Jo as I had the experience of Ewa Bien bras running pretty much true-to-size. The Polish 65F is a rough equivalent to UK 30E which is Jo’s usual bra size in addition to 28F. As she is very petite and Ewa Bien bra bands are on the stretchier side (I would compare them to most UK 30 bands like with Panache and Curvy Kate), a 60 band would have been a closer call for her, but she is still happy in the 65 when wearing it in tightest set of hooks. The cups are on the larger side so there is a tiny bit of gaping on Jo’s smaller boob, which is also completely understandable taking into consideration that her boobs are more full on the bottom. I personally think the B139 would be a great match for more FOT breasts so I would be intrigued to try it in my size in the future (a girl can dream!).

The bra wires are tiny bit wider with Ewa Bien than most Polish brands but this suits Jo quite well. Her breast root is quite average just like mine so the likes of Samanta, Gossard and Ewa Bien are the best fit for both of us. The cups are almost a bit too deep for Jo so the statement about the new version of this bra being deeper all over holds very much true. The centre gore lies flat on Jo’s sternum but is still very comforable and doesn’t stab her despite her bony ribcage area. Even with the slightly too big band the whole ensemble feels super sturdy on and thus supports the ladies through long working days.

Comfort: The Laskar B139 is a great style for everyday wear if you don’t mind the embroidery and like non-padded bras as opposed to regular t-shirt bras. It gives you a modest bustline and coverage while still remaining low enough to go under more low-cut tops. The materials are extremely thin which makes the Laskar a perfect summer bra to wear in hotter climates as well. All of the materials – the sleek band and bottoms material, the netting, mesh and embroidery – feel soft against the skin and don’t cause any irritation even on a more sensitive skin. The C511 Brazilian brief is made to look seamless and smooth under the tightest of jeans, but take our word of warning: Ewa Bien panties run very small so prepare to go up a size or two from your regular UK size. Jo is wearing a Small in the pics.

The only tiny flaw with this bra is one very typical for so many bra manufacturers – the straps are just too widely placed on the shoulders and the bra cup edge near the armpit is too high, causing some minor chafing when having an active day at work. This can leave a hint of red trail where the cup edge cuts the armpit. Red marks are not always a sign of pain or eg a too small bra band, but near the armpit area they are usually a sign of too widely placed straps. The straps themselves are very sturdy though meaning Jo has no trouble of them slipping down and causing inconvenience. Also the chafing problem is sometimes corrected with enough washing which softens the edge a bit to feel more comfortable.

Overall we are very impressed with the Ewa Bien SS16 collection and are looking forward to introducing you to some more styles next month! There will be two more reviews to come so stay tuned ❤ If you would like to give this brand a try, Ewa Bien has their own online shop where you can place an order (as an international customer, you will be billed by email). The Laskar B139 retails for 189 zl (roughly $48) and comes in sizes 65-90 B-I. The C511 bottoms cost 95 zl ($24) and come in sizes S-XL. Have you tried Ewa Bien bras? How do you like them compared to other Polish lingerie brands? Let me know in the comments! xx

PS. If you are a US customer, you can also find Ewa Bien at Luxury Goddess online store!

Sunday with Samanta – A479 Goshenit in 65E

Hi everyone! It’s another end of the month and I am happy to introduce you to one of my newer guest bloggers and my little sister, Emma. A few things about this lovely specimen: we are both gingers, love food and lifting – but those are pretty much our only similarities! As you can soon see, we also look quite different; Emma has a lot straighter figure and is more petite all over. I LOVE showcasing different body types on my blog which is why I am happy to have my lovely sis here! This time we are bringing the Samanta A479 style in 65E. This particular style was originally meant for Jo but it was too small for her – so I figured Emma would be just the right size. Let’s take a look at the ensemble! *This set was gifted to Emma free of charge by Samanta. All opinions are our own*

The Design: The Goshenit is a beautiful style part of the Samanta Glamour collection – it is a set with a beige base and an a blue heavily adorned overlay. The style is quite universal to all ages and thus suits a 20 year old as well as a 50 year old lady, in my opinion at least. The bright indigo blue is one of Emma’s favourite colours which is why this set was a jackpot for her personally.

The A479 is a push-up style bra for smaller busts and thus also runs a bit smaller in the cup than some of the other Samanta bras. It goes up to F-cup in 65-bands which is an equivalent to a British E-cup. The bra could give you intense cleavage depending on your bust shape but Emma’s bust is a bit shallow meaning the bra brings the boobs up and front but don’t create a super over-the-top vavavoom effect. The style is a “bandless” true plunge which is great for low cut tops and dresses. The push-up padding of the bra is not detachable like with most Samanta styles which is something to be considered if you are not always into the more enhanced look.

The Fit: As said before, the size Emma is wearing is a EU 65E which is 30DD in UK sizes. Usually Samanta bras run a bit big in the cup which is why I thought this would be a good size for Jo but it seems this particular style, the A479, is running quite true to size in the cup. Emma is now pretty much exactly 30DD with most brands and the 65E Goshenit fits her like a glove! The moulded cups are great for Emma’s shallow-ish breasts (she does not usually fit well into non-padded bras actually!) and the low-cut push-up style is something that Emma likes wearing when it comes to her everyday bras. You can see a tiny bit of gaping in the top picture above but I assure you it is only due to her posture. The cups are perfect for a more shallow breast shape and the underwires encase Emma’s breast tissue beautifully without being too narrow or wide.

Emma measures 29″ under her bust so she usually wears a 30 (=65 EU) band comfortably. She is quite muscular for her size so there is not much squish on her ribcage area and while she is between band sizes, she will rather size up than size down in the band so there won’t be too much pressure on her ribs. She is also working as a baker and a pastry chef which requires a lot of physical work – hence she needs a bra she can breath and move in but which will also keep her supported through the long working days. The Samanta 65 band is tad on the looser side for her but she wouldn’t still go for a smaller size as she appreciates comfort like I do. She is still wearing the bra on the loosest set of hooks which is always a good sign after a few weeks of wear.

Comfort: So far the two ladies I have personally introduced Samanta lingerie to – Emma and Jo – have both tremendously enjoyed their bra sets as they are pretty, well-fitting and damn comfortable. The Goshenit set got the ultimate compliment from Emma; it feels like you are not wearing anything underneath your clothes, in a good way. The materials are soft and top quality and they wash well without the colours fading or band stretching out. The straps are half-adjustable (with a multiway function) but as Emma is on the petite side (a bit over 5’4 for reference) she hasn’t had any problems with them being too long or falling off the shoulders. The only tiny gripe with them is that the adjusters slide down a bit after wearing the bra for a while and need to be adjusted now and then.

Emma got the B300 Goshenit briefs with the bra and I opted for a size Small in them. Again, these were supposed to be worn by Jo but luckily Emma and her are about the same dress size! The briefs area great fit for her and look sweet in the see-through style they come in. They are a bit more of a brazilian than a regular brief so they don’t offer tons of coverage – but I am quite sure Emma is not bothered at all! All in all the whole set is a beautiful and comfy little number which has quickly become on of Emma’s favourite sets of all time.

If you are interested to give Samanta a try, you can find their online shop here. The A479 comes in sizes 65-80 A-F and the B300 bottoms in S-XXL. The Goshenit bra retails for a 73€ and the briefs for €36,30. As this style belongs to the Samanta Glamour range it is a bit more expensive than some of their other lingerie but I assure you that it’s worth every penny! xx

Moda Lingerie & Show: Signature by After Eden SS15 Collection

When a new full-bust brand pops up on the market, I always get super excited – especially if the company has years of knowledge making comfy bras in core sizes. When I first saw Signature – After Eden’s sub label for fuller figures and busts – I was so excited and wanted to browse their stand at Moda thoroughly. Their stand is usually one of the nicest to visit anyway – last year it was bubbly, this year cheese which I am a great fan of (well who isn’t?). As we were having a taste of the snacks, we got to meet the brand’s head of marketing Paul, who runs the company’s marketing department from Netherlands, where After Eden was originally founded.

I thought showing you the new Signature Spring/Summer collection would be so appropriate because *drum roll* we are having some of their pieces reviewed here at 2COP soon! I am also introducing a new guest blogger of mine, miss E. But I won’t tell you any more just yet! However, let’s get into previewing the collection first!

 
From top to bottom: Sevilla, Anna & Granada

This ss16 collection is Signature’s third collection and thus, it is interesting to see how the fit of these garments actually is, as making sizes A-D is completely different from making sizes D-F. Yes, indeed, the collection only goes up to UK F-cup so far, but as we have seen with other brands such as Playful Promises, full bust sizes are extremely time consuming to create and also, a great risk for companies that are not used to making them. This is why most companies start small and then continue to expand their size range when the demand is big enough. However, this requires the products to get sold on their full price which can sometimes be really difficult in this financial situation we are in.

Oh well, let’s not talk about the grim details anymore! Where Signature still lacks in cup sizes, the bands sizes are quite generous for such a new brand. Most of their styles are intended for the fuller figure customer as well and the band sizes go up to 42-44 in even with F-cups Their classic style Anna, which comes in both padded and non-padded version, starts at 30 band which is a nice start to include smaller band sizes in the collection.

 
Top to bottom: Malaga, Barcelona & Balboa

The new summer collection consists of two colour schemes: daring pink and blue harmony – very appropriate considering those truly are the trend colours of the season in addition to bright oranges. The summer collection is a bit more girly and age appropriate compared to this autumn season but that means the collection is very approachable for girls who are perhaps plus size/ full-busted and want something pretty and comfy to wear on their everyday. I am happy that out new guest blogger is 18 yo which makes her the perfect reviewer for Signature (however, she will be wearing a 32F so not a plus size but a small band/big cup combo)!

One of my favourite sets from the collection is nothing basic or too girly though, and that is the amazing Malaga. Malaga takes on the contrasting trim trend which was mainly brought to the full bust market by Parfait. I love how the contrasting trimmings are combined to a lovely feminine lace and a delicious cotton candy shade. Also, I am big fan and collector of suspenders, even though I actually rarely wear them.

If you are interested to see the autumn collection for yourself and grab a few goodies, you can do so on the Signature website. The price range is around 40-50 € for the bras and 15-20 € for a pair of knickers so not bad at all! You can find the online store here.

Lingerie Review: Kris Line “Manuela” in 65H

Over the time, the two Kris Line reviews and my introduction post to the brand have been some of the most popular posts I have ever written. It is quite clear why, too – Kris Line is one of those Polish brands that are widely accessible through the likes of Brastop and Zulily with very reasonable pricing, which makes it a good first choice for testing Polish lingerie. For me, Kris Line has always held a special place in my heart – their wires are not narrow enough to poke me in my breast tissue and the designs are breathtakingly beautiful. Today, I am reviewing something that will be a continuity range for Kris Line starting from last summer and continuing at least to the next summer season. Let me introduce you to the beautiful Manuela! *This set was kindly gifted to me by Kris Line. All opinions are my own.*

Design: I chose the non-padded balconette Manuela but in true Kris Line style, this design comes in several bra and bottom options. I also received the complementing briefs to match my bra. Why I decided to opt for the non-padded bra with this style was because of the realization of the fact that this is the most popular bra style in my bradrobe and thus, it is the most practical everyday style for me. The bra cups are constructed of three pieces, one seam going diagonally and one going vertically, to form a very traditional and natural bust line. The bottom half of the cups is double-lined but the top part remains completely sheer.

The colour and styling of Manuela are absolutely breathtaking and I first fell in love with the sky blue hue and the detailed embroidery of the set. I am fan of blue lingerie in general as it suits my skin tone, eyes and hair colour pretty bang-on, but I am also a sucker for trends and this autumn, it is all about the blues. I was very happy how the styling turned out in flesh as well and the shade of the set, which is truly stunning.

Fit: As I had tried Kris Line soft cups before and found them to run a bit on the bigger side, I decided to size down to 65H this time. Kris Line sizing is quite unique but if you want to learn more about it, I would highly recommend taking a look at my previous post on the brand. According to the size chart I would be a 70H which is the size I went for last time and it fitted me pretty well in both the Deco-shape and their soft cup style. However, I have found the bands become a bit loose after a good amount of wears and decided I would go for 65 this time, just to give my bras a little more time to live. Also, I lost some weight after I first acquired my Kris Line bras about a year ago and I think I have gone about half a cup size down after that. This is why I chose to go down with my cup size as well this time, resulting in 65H as my best size with their soft cup style.

The 65 band feels nice and snug but not restrictive in any way, which is sometimes the result when gambling with your band size. However, I did not notice a significant difference to the 70 band so if you are between band sizes, I would suggest taking the smaller one, even just for longevity. The cups encase my breast tissue nicely and again, the wires are perfect for me as always with Kris Line. The straps are only half adjustable but that has not been a problem for me with this bra, however, I am 5″6 so definitely not petite. If you quite petite though, I would consider getting yourself some Strap Savers or skipping this style all together. Overall, the fit of the bra on me is spot-on and I have no gripes with it whatsoever!

Comfort: I love how comfy Kris Line bras are! If I would have to pick two of the most comfortable brands I wear on day-to-day basis, those would definitely be Kris Line and Gossard. Of course, no brand makes everything perfect to the last detail but these two brands keep rotating in my everyday bradrobe from day to day. I guess it’s a lot due to wiring and comfy bands – if you are pretty average breast root -wise like me, I think you would love Kris Line as well! They are a happy medium between the usual wide British wires and very narrow Polish wires. If Ewa Michalak is not your thang, definitely try KL instead!

When it comes to the panties, I would recommend taking your regular Polish size which is a medium for me. I usually wear a Small with most British brands so especially, if you are between sizes, do size up. I must say the Small is absolutely tiny with KL panties and still, the Medium is smaller than eg my Freya briefs in Small.

If you would like to try some Kris Line for yourself, I would highly recommend checking out Zulily for American customers and Brastop for.. well, basically everyone else 😀 The prices are usually very reasonable on these sites and you are sure to score a bargain!

How do you like Manuela? Also, how do you like the blue colour trend for this autumn? Let me know in the comments below! xx