Salon International de la Lingerie: AW18 Trend Report

I have made a true industry comeback: I visited the Salon International de la Lingerie (SIL) just recently and I am here to bring you all the news regarding AW18 season! First before we start previewing the collections, I am here with a trend report on the colours, prints and materials for next season. Enjoy the autumnly ride!

Green

 

You asked for it – now prepare yourself! AW18 season is the season of green. Mostly bottle green, but you do see some shades of mossy and lime green as well. If you are a full-busted gal, look no further than Cleo by Panache to find something in this colour to add to your collection.

Gold

 

This is something that I am personally very excited about! Gold, especially paired to either black or white is a striking hue that will make the autumn season ever-so-luxurious. Metallics in general are in fashion and you can find some silvery and gun-metal coloured pieces as well. To acquire the most beautiful golden-hued full-bust bras, turn to the luxury brand Harlow & Fox

Bralette

 

 

As Lingerie Insight stated in its previous number, 2017 was the year of the bralette. But the season for this fun and comfy piece of underwear is far from over! Now bralettes have been transformed to fit all sorts of body types and needs (see the blue bralette from Parfait) so everyone can enjoy the trend in 2018.

Bodysuits

 

To accompany the bralette trend, 2018 is bringing us an array of bodysuits, both in wired and non-wired options. There is something for everyone: D+ consumers, triangle bra lovers, lingerie-as-outerwear darers and luxury enthusiasts.

Velvet

 

Even though lace and embroidery still dominate the European lingerie markets, we can see some unusual materials in AW18. Some trendsetters have long used velvet to make a statement but this season it will hit the lingerie market big time. What has mostly been used in luxury robes now translates to bralette sets, body suits and small details on eg. see-through bra cups (see Maison Lejaby).

Geometrical & Cage Patterns

 

I first fell in love with “cage” designs when I saw the first Bettie Page by Playful Promises collection a few seasons back. Now the trend is taking on the industry and putting its naughty vibe on everything. This brings us to smaller geometrical prints that adorn many see-through sets and bodysuits this upcoming season. How refreshing after all the winter florals that return every AW season!

How do you like the AW18 trends? Interested to see any particular collection in the upcoming weeks? Let me know in the comments below! xx (…or even just leave me a comment to let me know you’re there, okay?)

SIL Tradeshow: Panache Favourites for AW16

I love Panache – they have been such a corner stone when building my bradrobe for these past five years and I have affectionate feelings for their Cleo non-padded balconettes (one of them which I reviewed a few days back, check it out here!). The Panache stand is also one of the highlights of my tradeshow visits as it is a huge collection which needs a lot attention. Usually, I tend to post each Panache sub-label as its own post but this time, I decided to share my very favourites from each range. If you are interested to see the whole collection, please head over to Bra and Body Image as she has it all covered! However, let’s jump into my favourites, as I would love to share some true gems with you.

PANACHE (main brand)

Top to bottom: Jasmine in Orchid + Rose Prints (up to K-cup), Elise in Praline (up to G), Ava in Pearl Grey (up to H), Thea in Black Floral (up to K), Clara in Heather + Slate/Teal (up to J)

Panache main line is quite well-known for its habbit of pushing out new prints and colourways of its original styles – with a few completely new additions, of course. I haven’t been too keen on the Jasmine prints since the very first navy/ floral print but now I think Panache has come up with something a bit more feminine and soft than the past animal and geometric prints – I am still a sucker for romance and for that taste, the new Jasmine prints cater very well for. My absolute favourite has to be the Orchid print as I love photo-realistic florals and the dark colourway of it which go perfectly well together for the AW16 season.You can also see the two fashion colours for this AW season with these prints – blue is still continuing to win the colour trend game and burgundy is now making its way to the full bust world along with other brownish red shades.

One of the new styles that kinda stole my heart was the Ava. I have been falling in love with grey lingerie over the past six months or so and I am so happy to see it as an option alongside of black and navy. Grey suits fair skin tones so well and looks lovely with ginger hair (hehe, biased much) and I am quite convinced the Ava’s non-padded plunge shape would be perfect as my bradrobe staple. The styling of it is nothing overtly vavavoom but I like its basic prettiness that speaks to the “Sunday-in-bed” side of me. Unsurprisingly I loved the Heather colourway of the Clara as well, as it’s such a gorgeous hue of grey-ish blue and with the pairing of yellow-ish cream the set is like straight out of Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe.

CLEO BY PANACHE

Top to bottom: The Breeze Longline in Geo Floral (up to H-cup), Hettie in Black/Pink (up to J), Kali in Black/Pink (up to J), Skye in Magenta/Lime (up to J), Marcie in Tangerine (up to J), Piper in Cobalt (up to J) and Della in Floral Print (up to J)

Cleo is the queen of bright and clashing colours and we were not disappointed this time either. I do feel that Cleo could almost go a bit more crazy with its design – I would love to see some more innovative prints which Cleo is so well-known for! The best designs within the Cleo range in my opinion are its boldest ones – the new floral printed Della (go and buy this bra now, it’s amazing!) and the new Piper longline. I adore the electric cobalt blue shade of the Piper and it combines perfectly an amazing fit and gorgeous looks while still remaining young and fresh. If I would have to pick just one set from the whole Panache AW16 offering, Piper would most definitely be it!

With Cleo collection, instead of teal and burgundy the Cleo collection features delicious magenta and brighter blue tones. As a pop of colour, we can see some tangerine and lime contrasts which are super appropriate for the early autumn season. How cute is that pumpkin shade Marcie? Again, the Breeze longline remains a favourite to me personally as it is still such a cute style with a great graphic autumn floral print.

PANACHE BLACK, SPORT & SCULPTRESSE

Top to bottom: Panache Black “Ardour” ja “Etta” (both up G-cup), Panache Non-Wired Sports Bra in Blue Marl (up to H), Sports Bra in Neon Pixel Print (up to J) & Sculptresse “Chi Chi” in Lace Print (up to HH)

The Panache Black, previous Masquerade range, is a rather small sub-label for Panache but for me, it’s one of their most interesting ranges. The size range is a bit smaller as well, which is a shame as these styles are truly stunning – for example, the new Etta design features a striking see-through stripe detail which I am a big fan of. Another favourite from the Black AW16 range is the basic Ardour style – it’s a grey t-shirt bra that would be an amazing option to some people who usually buy beige or black bras for their everyday bradrobe.

My favourite from the different options for the infamous Panache Sports bra was the Blue Marl as it something totally different than Panache has done before. The inspiration for this non-wired version of the classic sports bra came from the British Olympic team colours – what would be more appropriate for a British full-bust brand that makes an award-winning sports bra? What caught my eye from the Sculptresse collection was one of its original styles Chi Chi in this new Lace Print which reminds me of Snow White. This style will also be available in a dark brown Cappucino shade which will be an excellent nude shade for some women of colour!

How did you like the new Panache AW16 collection? Are you feeling the colours and prints? Let me know in the comments! xx

SIL Tradeshow: Gossard AW16 Collection

When I entered the full bust blogging world, one of my goals was to become more familiar with Gossard and perhaps, even work with them in the future. I adored their styles and wanted to dip my toes into the waters of this cult lingerie brand, as it was something even my mom’s generation knew well. Fast forward to today and I am now closely working with Gossard and regard them as one of my top 3 favourite brands to wear. I was so excited to see what they had come up with for autumn 2016 – and again, I was certainly not disappointed! Let’s dive into the collection.

Lacy basics, top to bottom: Superboost Lace Bralette in Purple (up to E-cup), Superboost Lace in Blue (up to G) & Gypsy Plunge in Teal (up to G)

What I really love about Gossard is that they come up with new prints and innovations each season regardless of being an old and trusted lingerie company and having such a strong status in the lingerie industry – this brand is not sticking only with its basic core styles but experimenting constantly with new styles to improve their offering. This season, Gossard comes out with a new updated version of the Gypsy in a plunge style which goes up to G-cup – a dream come true to plunge fans! I am also enjoying the bright teal colour which is a beautiful jewel tone trend colour for this AW16 season.

Painted florals, top to bottom: China Blue Teddy + Bra Set & Japanese Rose (both up to G)

The China Blue and Japanese Rose were probably my two favourite ranges from the autumn collection. True, they are both padded t-shirt bras which are not actually the most practical bras for myself (I don’t like adding extra bulk to my bust) but the prints are so gorgeous I don’t even mind the padding that much. Both of these collection features bra and panty sets but also beautiful lounge and sleepwear such as teddies, cami sets, slips and kimonos. I am so glad these collection have such a vast array of products, so even if you cannot fit into the Gossard G-cups, you have the chance to slip into a beautiful floral printed kimono.

Revamped classics, top to bottom: Glossies in Blue + Very Berry, Glamour Lace Sweetheart Plunge Bra in Red/Nude (all up to G)

The Glamour Lace in Red/Blush comes both in the Gossard innovation, the wireless plunge bra, but also a sweetheart plunge that now goes up to G-cup. This style used to go up to E-cup only but Gossard has been gracious enough to extend some of their size ranges and it makes this 32G Gossard girl very happy. I probably won’t be opting for this style per se as it is a padded bra that is kind of too basic for my taste but I can definitely see some 18-20 yo girls enjoying this as an option that is sexy and young but has a nice size range of A-G.

Gossard V.I.P.ranges, top to bottom: Ornate Embroidery in Eclipse (up to E) & Olympia bra set (up to G), bralette (up to E) and body (UK 8-16)

This season will bring two new VIP ranges to the Gossard collection – these designs are more exquisite and feature beautiful laces and more luxe materials which also bring the price point up a notch. Personally, this is usually my favourite kind of Gossard lingerie and I love how the ranges feature gorgeous co-ordinates such as waspies , suspenders and bodies. This time the colour theme seems to be teal and dark blue which I am glad about as I personally prefer blue hues to the basic sexy black. Unfortunately, my favourite piece from this range, the Olympia bralette, only goes up to E-sup. However, I am sure my guest blogger Jo would be thrilled to try it and I can live vigorously through her 😉

What are your faves from this collection? Are you inspired by the oriental floral prints? Let me know in the comments below! xx

SIL Tradeshow: Lepel, Charnos & Lepel London AW16 Collections

When I am visiting tradeshows, there are always a few must-see brands that me and Anna are set our minds to visit first. Tradeshows can be intimidatingly big and thus you need to make a game plan about what your priority brands are and to mention a few, our list consists of the big full-bust names such as Panache, Gossard, Tutti Rouge, Curvy Kate and Lepel. Lepel is one of my favourite stands to see not only because of the gorgeous lingerie but also the warm welcome we get each time. This time we were greeted by the lovely Peter who showed us through all of the LF Intimates collections – Lepel, Charnos and the new-comer Lepel London.

LEPEL

Hues of pink and blue, top to bottom: Fiore (up to G-cup) in Fuchsia/Brilliant Blue, Roxy in Blue Multiprint (up to G-cup with the longline and F-cup with the plunge) & Victoria in Deep Purple/Brilliant Blue (up to F-cup with the plunge and G-cup with the balconette)

I was so excited to see Lepel doing more pink this season – I know it’s a rather cliched lingerie colour but to be honest, I haven’t really seen it done over the past few seasons and there is a Barbie inside of me screaming for some pink! With the Lepel collection the bright jewel-tone pink or Fucshia was combined to another jewel, that is the Brilliant Blue. I became an instant fan of this colour combo, almost as much as with the pink-orange trend combo for this SS16 season. The blue is a vibrant shade that brings out the fuchsia in a lovely way and I love how playful it looks in a floral print. I know florals are “in” almost every season but I think this AW16 season brings them to another level – my personal favourite from the Lepel collection was the Roxy, which I can’t wait to try in the longline version pictured above!

Cute basics, top to bottom: Daisy in Black/Fuchsia (up to G), Lyla Push-up in Black (up to E) & Lilly in Leopard print (up to G)

Lepel seems to be doing quite a lot of plunge bras this season which is something I always personally vouch for – I wear a lot of low necklines which require a plunge bra, and preferable a non-padded one. Their basic Lyla range (which will be reviewed on 2COP next week!) gains a new member from a plunge push-up bra that will accompany the range of t-shirt balconettes. This style will only go up to E-cup but is a great addition to their basic collection. The new plunge Lyla will be available in basic colours of beige, white and black. Also the Lilly gets a revamp with another exciting young print – an orange/pink leopard print. This is one of my favourite prints with this range so far as I’m starting to warm up to animal prints for the first time in my life.

CHARNOS

Sultry berry-tones, top to bottom: Violet in Raspberry & Sienna in Deep Purple (both up to J-cup)

The Charnos collection goes this time more luxe with some beautiful European-style lace and sultry colours such as purple, fuchsia and gold. I love how they have differentiated the range from Lepel with a more grown-up aesthetics but still not in a boring way. The Charnos range has improved looks-wise tremendously in my opinion and there are definitely some styles that I am really looking forward to trying on myself! I am also super happy that they cater up to J-cup and offer some stretch-lace options such as the Violet (pictured above) which are crucial to women with A-symmetry.

Luxurious materials, top to bottom: Bailey in Ivory (up to G), Bridgette Full-Cup (up to J) and chemise in Black/Gold & Suzette in Black (up to J)

My personal favourites from the whole Charnos collection were the new bridal colour of Bailey and the Black/Gold Bridgette range. I am so happy to see Charnos making a bridal version of their new Bailey bra as I really love the plunge shape and and the gorgeous styling with the little tassel on the front. This style will also be available in a strapless style and is an affordable option for any bride out there. I am sure that I would consider this style as my very own choice for the big day, if it fits me well 😉 The Bridgette on the other hand is a lovely non-padded full-cup which is accompanied by the chic chemise that sports the same luxurious lace and gold underlay as the bra set. I am sure this colourway will be a hit for Christmas and make it to my personal wishlist as well!

LEPEL LONDON

Top to bottom (all up to D-cup unless otherwise specified): Paloma in Pink, Sophia body & bralette in Black (UK 6-14), Tamara Velvet (up to F), Tamara (up to F), Chelsea Geo body & bralette set in Black and Sky Blue/Blush (UK 6-14)

From all of the three collections, I was most excited to see the Lepel London range grow. This is a collection designed specifically for Asos and their target market is young fashion-forward women who want cute and edgy lingerie at affordable prices. The average price of a bra for Lepel London is about £20 so definitely something a student could invest in! This season the brand is branching out to F-cups with their Tamara and Tamara Velvet styles, which is a big improvement to last season. I am still waiting for my G-cups impatiently but I am sure they will become reality someday soon. In meantime, I am determined to get my hands on that Sophia body, as it does have my name on it 😉

How do you like the LF-Intimates offering for AW16 season? Any favourites? Let me know in the comments below! I would also love to hear would you wear Lepel London if it came in your size! Our opinions matter as it tells the brands that these designs are coveted in bigger cup sizes as well.

SIL Tradeshow -Parfait AW16 Collection Preview

Parfait is one of those brands that are really famous for one bra – that is the Charlotte. Most of us have bought it at some point of our lives and love the bra as a great bradrobe staple. It is a wonderful ensemble with a unique design and great shape, but I also feel that the rest of the Parfait collection seems to stay in the darkness and not many of my regular online shopping platforms offer some of the other lovely Parfait styles. I hope this AW16 season will be a different story as it is one of the strongest collections Parfait has come out with. Even while being small, the AW16 range offers a variety of lovely lace pieces but also practical basics. Let’s dive into it!

Charlotte in Bronze, Casey in Ruby Wine & Estelle in Merlot

This new AW16 was definitely a great step towards more inclusive DD+ lingerie industry and thus a season for “nude” lingerie for women of colour. As compared to this spring season we are already seeing lots more variety with the “nude” colour palette and Parfait is a great example of it – they didn’t come up with just one, but three styles that will be a great match for dark chocolate toned skin.

The first one of the styles featured above is the good old Charlotte. This style already comes in a dusty rose colour which is great match for my skin for example, but now Parfait has created another lovely basic colour for their signature bra style. Also another classic, Casey (sizes 30-40 D-G), comes in a warm, almost red-ish dark brown colour with the lovely smooth surface to go under the thinnest of t-shirts. If you are looking for a more sexy style though, I would go for the Estelle which is my personal favourite from this whole collection – it’s a lacy, almost Marie Antoinette-like version of the Charlotte and I really like its more feminine look as compared to Charlotte’s fashion forward and edgy design.

Estelle in Black, Aline in Black and Nude

Estelle and Aline are the two new styles for Parfait that come out around July/August in 2016. With the Estelle being a total queen of the collection, the Aline is a new more basic style that comes in both Black and Nude and a classic pinstripe pattern. The design is bandless, which means there is no band fabric at the lower part of the centre gore and the wires make a U-shape on one’s ribcage. I am not a fan of basic t-shirt bras but I know there is a market for them – my mom for example would really enjoy the nude version of Aline.

Destiny in Nightshadow Blue, Marianne in Cobalt Blue

Blue is still going strong as an alternative for black and purple. I am also very much fancying the grey-ish blue tones that seem to also be making their way into basic colours this SS16 season. The new colour of the Destiny bra set would be beautiful on any redhead like myself – it also sports some luxurious satin and lace, which makes the set look far more expensive than it actually is. Both of the sets above come in 30-40 D-G. I am really hoping that at some point Parfait will expand their size range with some of their other styles in addition to Charlotte – I think that would make a lot of ladies super happy!

How do you feel about the new Parfait autumn collection? Do you like the dark brown options? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Full-Bust Pinup Fashion Haul

I love fashion. Sometimes, as you may have heard me say it, fashion does not love me. I am in a constant struggle to find clothes that actually fit me. And I am not talking about t-shirts and jeans. You know, I am not a t-shirt and jeans kinda girl! Even if there are a few brands out there that make full-bust appropriate fashion, I have to say not many of them explore some more structured styles as they are a bit trickier to make. Don’t get me wrong – I love simple stretchy dresses as well since they are great for days when you just want to be comfy, but I do like to wear some pretty extravagant tailored pieces as well.

Along the way I have tried many clothing styles – I was one of those weird kids who wanted to be all at once and I do have quite a few style regrets as well. I mean, who thought it was a great idea to put on a tiny doll hat on your head? Apparently, I did. Even though I did have some phases of ridiculous clothing choices, I became infatuated with vintage styling years and years ago. I think I was probably 14 when I told my mom I wanted to look like Dita Von Teese and I still remember what she replied: “Darling, it’s only a crap loads of slap and hair dye.” Which is kind of true, I guess (hehe).

I finally became dedicated to the pinup / vintage style about a year ago – actually when I first started my Instagram (which is btw a great source for some awesome pinup inspiration)! I started to order more clothes online where I could actually see the measurements in a size chart to determine if something would even remotely fit me. Rule of thumb is that if the size chart says 34″ in the bust section, then it most likely will not fit (hehe)! A girl can dream though… However, I have stumbled across some brands that cater for fuller busts as well, so here’s a little clothing haul for you gals that struggle to find nice fitted clothes for you boobies!

Pinup Girl Clothing: Bella Donna Dress in Italian Landscape (+ Forever 21 cardigan + Face Stockholm glasses + Sophisticated Lady hair flowers)

To warn you right off the bat, most of these dresses are Pinup Girl Clothing aka PUG. Why? Because their sizing just usually works for me and I don’t have to worry if I can zip these dresses past my boobs. The first dress I ordered from PUG was their Evelyn (which I could perhaps review later?) and then came the long-sleeved Heidi. However, it’s been a while since I got them so I wanted to introduce you to my latest purchases.

I decided to buy the Bella Donna dress (now sold-out in this print) in Medium with some gift money I had and as it was in the PUG final sale section, I knew I had to get it for my upcoming bday in November. The dress finally came, about a month before my big party and to my shock horror, it was too small. I was devastated and had a horrible tantrum over it as I had checked the measurements before clicking the dress into my cart. After I had tried it on, I knew I had to measure it to make sure – and surprisingly enough, the dress DID come up too small for the size chart. It measured about 13″ flat at the waist, meaning it was probably sized like a normal PUG Small. Well, I ain’t Small in their size chart, so no wonder it didn’t fit.

However, when you engage in the pinup community, you usually learn all sorts of tips and tricks, so I had heard that some of the PUG dresses could be ironed through and stretched, so the fabric would stretch to meet the size chart measurements. I did this to my Bella Donna and after that it fitted VERY SNUGLY but fitted anyway, so I could finally zip it up (and I also went on a more healty diet but didn’t lose an inch lol). The boob department is boned with this particular dress and it’s great for girls who are a bit more well-endowed. I am a 30H so quite busty and it fits me but does quad-boob a bit, so not the most modest of dresses on me at least. However, I can wear it with no bra on which is great and liberating!

What I really like about this dress is that its straps are fully-adjustable so you can make it fit your body a bit better than most dresses with regular spaghetti straps. I have loosened them up a bit as I am long-torsoed and this dress is made for short-torsoed girls especially. I find that the waistline of the dress still comes up a bit high for me, but I am not super fussy about it as I think it looks great anyway!

Pinup Girl Clothing: Jenny Dress in White Harlequin Print (+H&M cardigan + home-made swan brooch +  a vintage scarf)

The Jenny dress is the original version of the PUG Bella Donna and it features a lower waist line, thinner straps and a more simplistic styling without the ruffles. It comes in so many prints and colours and is regarded as the basic pinup girl wardrobe staple every PUG lover should own. I got this dress as a birthday present from my boyfriend and even though he cringed a bit at the print first, he did love it when he saw it on me.

The Jenny dress also features the same boning as the Bella Donna and thus I can easily wear it without a bra. This dress was advertised to me as specifically bust-friendly but with this print, I have to disagree. I mean, if you would be like, say 30FF, I would be quite fine but 30H is another thing. Also, the size Medium is very small with this style as well – so I would advise to size up with Jenny’s if you are not interested to iron and stretch them! Mine measured again 13-13,5″ at the waist, laid flat, so I had to stretch it a bit to match my 28″ waist. Not horribly inconvenient but a bit of a hassle anyway. As I live in Finland, exchanges are not really possible for me so I need to make everything work as they are. (I have to say though that my Evelyn and Heidi fit more true-to-size and no need to stretch them at all!)

Pinup Girl Clothing: Jenny Dress in Orange Border Print (+ Bolero Beachwear bolero + Sophisticated Lady hair flowers)

I know it’s a bit boring to review two of the same dresses in the same post but let me tell you, there is a difference between two of these! I got this Orange Border Jenny from Retro Glam (a Canadian pinup retailer) at the Black Friday sale and even though it did add up a bit with the taxes and custom fees, I am super glad I got this dress as I have been drooling over it for months.

The Orange Border Jenny was almost as tight as the Harlequin one so I did stretch it a bit but not as much as the Harlequin. The waist zipped up even before stretching but I did some work on the torso to make it more comfortable and now it fits really well! The bust department of this particular Jenny is much better though than with the Harlequin one, as it seems a lot higher and thus can contain a lot more boob. I am not sure why this is, but no clothing brand is completely consistent with their sizing. I also like the orange belt that came with the dress as it makes the ensemble a bit more unique than most other Jenny dresses.

Lady Vintage London: Swing Dress in Red Lips Print (+ Poinsettia hair flowers from Sophisticated Lady)

I had been wanting to order from Lady V London for a while and when about two months back they had one of my favourite prints (this gorgeous Red Lips one!) on sale + free shipping, I could not resist the temptation. Usually Lady V dresses are around £45-55 which is not a very high price, but as I need to pay for international shipping and the Euro/Pound conversion rate is crap at the moment, it really adds up and I didn’t want to pay that much for a dress I did not know would even fit me. When the price of the dress went as low £19 I was ready to take the plunge and ordered this beautiful dress in their swing style.

What I was really afraid of, was the sizing of the dress. I had heard Lady V dresses were quite bust-friendly, but when their size chart stated that UK size 10 had bust room for 34″ boobies, I almost lost my hope. However, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best as I did not want my waist to be swimming in the dress – and it worked! This dress is amazing for my boobs – my only gripe with the fit is that the waist line is a bit too high for my body/taste but then again, I am a long-torsoed gal. The material is lovely stretch cotton and the zipper is good quality, meaning no broken zippers for trying to yank the the zipper past my boobs. If I would have to say one bad thing about the quality of this dress, it would be that unfortunately the colours run a bit in the wash and you might end up having red-ish spots on your dress unless you wash it with a colour catcher.

This would be my autumn/winter haul and I will get back to any new bust-friendly dresses as I get to buy some more! Which one of these was your personal favourite? Let me know in the comments below! Lots of kisses and happy holidays to everyone! xx

Moda Exhibition Favourites – Curvy Kate AW15 Collection!

I have always loved Curvy Kate and will always love them – and the simple reason is, not many full-bust brands attracted me that much when I first entered the industry. Curvy Kate was all I asked for – something a bit sexy, fun and flirty but also girly and well-fitting. It is a lot to ask from a single brand, but somehow they still managed to shoot straight into my heart with their fun styles that first and foremost came in my size. This AW15 season was no different for CK as they brought back the very style I started with a few years ago in addition to some great newbies on the block. Let’s see what they have on offer when the autumn winds reach us!

THE BASICS

When I was a few years younger, I was obsessed with the Curvy Kate Smoothie set and owned it in every colour. After that came the beloved Starlet and even though the fit wasn’t as good as with the Smoothie for me, I still loved the rounded shape and the fun styling of it. Who doesn’t love hints to mermaids?? This time, Curvy Kate has revisited their old Smoothie shape and come up with a new more romantic version of it – the Smoothie Prowl (D-J cups). It comes in a lovely autumn-appropriate colourway of crimson red and orange with some cute lace and animal print bows that keep the set simple yet detailed enough to be interesting. The bottoms that belong to the set are also amazing and would suit anyone who struggles to find something seamless yet pretty for their underwear.

The other renewed classic has to be the Daily Dream set. It is a revised version of Curvy Kate’s older Daily Boost and what seems to be different this time is definitely the shape of the bra. I think many gals out there will be very pleased to hear the new version offers a much more rounded look to it, meaning the fit will most likely be better for the most of us! The Daily Dream will still be going up to K which makes it an amazing everyday choice for the most full-busted of us.

  
Top to bottom: Ellace, Cascade, Dreamcatcher, Cherie and Portia. (All D-K cups)

EVERYDAY FASHION OPTIONS

As most of the styles mentioned and pictured above are already known to you, I am going to focus on the new interesting fashion offerings Curvy Kate has in store for us for the autumn season. These are the Ellace and Cherie, which both really appeal to me in different ways – the Ellace is such a great basic everyday style whereas the Cherie speaks loud and clear to my pinup style.

To be honest I have never really been into cherry prints but somehow, just somehow, Curvy Kate has managed to create such a lovely one that I don’t think I can resist it! The cups of the Cherie are lamented and it’s the same well-known and -loved balconette shape Curvy Kate started out with in the first place with the likes on Portia (which I love in the blue/orange colourway, btw!). The upper cup panel is made of dotted mesh which only adds up to the cuteness of the bra and makes it a bit more sexy with the sheerness.

The Ellace on the other hands would seem to be something that could steal many girls’ hearts with something we all love – and that is the stretch lace. I am hands down all for stretch lace and I think everyone especially with a-symmetry should try it out. It is such a comfortable choice of material which also suits many breast shapes so I am actually a bit surprised this is the first time Curvy Kate uses this fabulous material in their designs.

  
Dita, Tease, Jewel, Temptress and Bardot

NIGHTTIME NAUGHTIES

Even though Curvy Kate just launched their Scantilly range just for this purpose, I think their core collection has some great options for boudoir purposes too. If you don’t want anything too racy, these are the styles for you! What I loved the most about the more sexy “Showgirl”-like options was that the Red/Blush “Tease” was brought back. This was the style I bought a few years ago from Curvy Kate as one of my first well-fitting bras and was heartbroken when I grew out of it a couple of years back. Now the beauty will be back on the store shelves in two amazing options – the regular padded balconette bra and a flirty babydoll (pictured above). I am pretty sure I will want both of them so need to be quick when they come out!

My other favourites were the Temptress and Bardot in their new colourways as I am all for red and golden hues for autumn and especially Christmas time. Also, I am very tempted (haha) to know what the fairly recently revised padded plunge shape fits like in bigger cup sizes, which makes me want to try the Temptress real bad.

Here’s my roundup of Curvy Kate favourites for AW15 – how did you like them? Are you as excited as me about the comeback of the red Tease? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Panache AW15 Collection

When I visit Moda, there is one brand I always need to book in advance because hell no I’m going to miss it – that brand being the giant lingerie power house Panache. Panache is very close to my heart as its Marcie bra was one of those sets that supported me through my late teens and still works its magic in my bradrobe, sadly being a bit small at the moment though. I was super excited to see what these bad boys would have in store for autumn 2015 season so we rushed off with Anna to our appointment quite eagerly. Sadly our rep was sick at the time but we got to chat to Panache’s intern Craig (hi Craig!!!) who was happy to guide us through the collection.

Floris & Jasmine in Abstract, Floral & Snake prints

When it comes to their main line Panache does not go over board with their prints and I think it’s cool that way – the target market is a little more mature than with their Cleo line so clean cuts and sophisticated details is the thing. The Jasmine and Floris are the exception to this rule though and I always look forward to seeing especially Jasmine in its new colourways. This time was no different and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! Jasmine comes out in three new prints this upcoming season and they are all clearly designed for different characters; there is the mysterious and bold snake print, the feminine and sultry floral (and not just any floral – I mean, VIOLETS!) and the playful and young abstract water colour print. All so different and at the same time, they speak to different sides of me as well.

The Floris is made in a Space-kind-of abstract print this time, and seems to be going along with the same colour theme as most of the Panache collection – blue with some berry tones to spice it up. Personally I haven’t tried the Floris yet but Jasmine is my old favourite which I can recommend basically to anyone with asymmetry or just a need for a regular supportive everyday bra. The construction is pretty much the same with all Panache balconettes but Jasmine sports a lovely stretch lace that seems to go well together with most breast shapes.

Clara, Hepburn, Olivia, Idina & Tango in their sea-themed colourways

Then onto the trend I am always fan of – mermaids! I am a red haired gal myself and basically I see myself as a new incarnation of Ariel so how could I resist all the petrol and royal blue lingerie? I could not. My absolute favourite was the new Clara which is now released in this amazing Navy/Jade colourway. Isn’t it perfect? I got way too excited about it at the Panache stand, I mean, embarrassingly excited. When Clara was first released a couple of season ago I fell in love with the Gold/Black colourway but I think the Jade version takes it up to another level with a very fresh yet autumn-appropriate touch. Another favourite of mine was the gorgeous Idina which has actually never caught my eye before this season. The Teal colourway however is absolutely stunning and would make a great fashion-forward everyday piece in anyone’s bradrobe.

Olivia and Hepburn are a bit less-known older Panache styles in new colourways with generous size range of 30-38 D-K. So something for you GG+ gals as well! I personally liked more of the young look of Olivia as the cups are not as full-coverage as with Hepburn. However, I do adore the colourway Hepburn and also the new Tango come in – cobalt blue is definitely one of the most flattering shades of blue on my skin. The styles though are a bit too mature for me so I would love to see some other style (perhaps Jasmine?) come in the same shade as well.

Georgia, Clara, Cari, Andorra, Brooke, Fontaine & Rhapsody in deep berry tones

It’s funny how clearly you can divide the AW15 Panache collection into two separate colour schemes: the mermaid and the berry shades. I am actually a fan of both so no complaints here! I especially liked how the Clara was made in both; the gorgeous Jade but also the beautiful Claret colourway. The use of lace overlay colours was also pretty interesting to me: rarely have I seen brands using charcoal grey instead of black which is a definite plus for me. I am all about sexy black but dang it gets boring sometimes!

Georgia, Brooke and Cari are all new styles with first two going up to K-cup and Cari going up to G. I am actually quite sad about the Cari size range as it’s such a pretty t-shirt bra in a fabulous colour. Red can be quite a predictable colour for autumn/winster season but I think Panache has managed to make it a bit more sophisticated and unique with a tad deeper tones, resembling cranberry. I am suspecting the Brooke to be a hit as it’s rather similar cut to Jasmine, which has already acquired a cult reputation among Panache lovers. My personal favourite (in addition to Clara, of course) would be the Fontaine though (going up to H-cup) with its French aesthetic and deep plunge shape.

I am so looking forward to this upcoming season and Panache will definitely be on my wishlist of brands to try when their new styles hit the stores. What do you gals think of the new collection? Any favourites? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Maison Lejaby AW15 Collection

Maison Lejaby is one of those brands that I have been eyeing for quite a few years; first in my teens when I had no money to even dream to buy a set, then in my early 20’s when I thought I had grown out of their size range. Take note in the word “thought” as when I first tried a set of their lingerie at a London lingerie boutique Mimi & You (that’s a whole another post for the future!) I was smacked in the face with a reality: I could literally, actually, REALLY fit my usually-30H bust into a Maison Lejaby 32F or FF. I stood in front of the fitting room mirror, my mouth in a round “o”-shape, that blown-away I was. A couple of days later I rushed to the Maison Lejaby stand at Moda and was ready to learn all about this wonderful brand I had been avoiding all those years for no reason.

The Full-bust line Elixir: Roxane, La Gourmande, Attrape Coeur & Theodora

Maison Lejaby consists of three collections: Premium (including core sizes A-D, with some exceptions going up to E), Elixir (including sizes C-G) and Couture (even more of a luxury line, sold exclusively in Maison Lejaby Couture Salons). I myself was jumping up and down when I saw their Elixir collection for AW15 as the designs were so pretty and sophisticated – to sum it up in one word, very “French”. The Elixir collection consists of seven different ranges which each offer a couple of different bra and bottom styles to choose from. There are also multiple colourways on offer; usually black, beige and/or white with changing fashion colourways each season. This upcoming autumn season was all about petrol and blue which seems to be a big trend among several brands in the lingerie industry.

Elixir includes sizes C-G but as I mentioned before, the cup sizes run quite big (bands are fairly true-to-size). This always makes me happy when I have prepared myself to cry for not being included in a certain size range (and this my dear readers, has happened with so many brands including Lepel and Gossard which are my current favourites!). The cups run at least two cup sizes big, so don’t throw your ax in the well (as we Finns say) if you think you are way out of the Lejaby size range. You might just fit into it!

  
Premium Collection (sizes up to D): Petra, Marani, Divine Guipure in White and Tan, Crystal & Passion

When it comes their A-D offering, I did find some absolutely gorgeous pieces as well – some made me want to me to swap my boobs to a D in a heart beat (haha, not really, just kidding)! What Lejaby seems to be doing exceptionally well is what I call the Marie Antoinette cut, more well-known as a bandeau balconette. I had the pleasure of trying their Attrape Coeur in both the full-cup and the balconette and it seems in both the construction is truly impeccable and well-fitting, even with the larger sizes (I fitted a 32F with the full-cup and 32FF with the balconette, which was also padded so it explains the size difference). The bandeau style was one of the strongest styles in the Premium collection as well and I absolutely adored it!

If I’d have to pick favourites from the collection, I would say Attrape Coeur really stole my heart and it was also the first style I ever tried from Maison Lejaby. The style is made in scarlet red for this spring season and in lovely Imperial Blue, Lily and Black for this upcoming autumn season. Another favourite was the Passion Red Theodora with its massive centre gore bow and fabulous cut (very similar to Ewa Michalak SM shape so fans, take note!). From the Premium collection Divine Guipure was definitely a stand-out piece and I would love to see it produced in bold fashion colours and bigger sizes as well.

All in all, I am super impressed with this huge power house and their attention to detail which absolutely blew me away. I hope to be sharing a lot more about Maison Lejaby this year so stay tuned for any future reviews and news regarding them! In meantime, do tell me what you think of the collection or their fit, if you have tried ML before! What is your favourite piece from them? Let me know in the comments! xx