Moda Lingerie & Swim Show: Gossard SS16 Collection

As I have worked with Gossard from the very first time I visited Moda, I have always been keen to see their stuff at the stand – their team is absolutely fantastic and even though Gossard is one of the busiest brands at the show, they always manage to make time for us bloggers as well. This time we were greeted by the lovely rep of the brand right when we arrived at the stand and she was happy to talk us through the collection. Here are the new beauties that are up for grabs next spring – enjoy!

Reds, pinks and oranges… We are in for a treat next spring! Top to bottom: Super Boost Lace, Glossies, Gypsy Basque, Amour & Animal Instinct (All up to E, except for the Glossies which goes up to G-cup!)

We have already talked about the yummy pinks and oranges for next spring but as each and every collection does these colour trends in their own unique way, I was thrilled to see Gossard hopping on the juicy bandwagon. I am especially smitten for the Glossies’ orange hue, even though the shape and look of the range is not really my thing per se. The orange goes on in a more sophisticated way to the new VIP range beauty, Amour, which reflects the trend of pinks and orange-y tones together. This time however, the orange is more of a tomato red, deep shade which makes the combo all the more spicy.

When it comes to Gossard news this season, the brand has included a separate Gossard Everyday Collection in their selection, to feature well-known Gossard shapes in more simplistic everyday styles and a accordingly-planned price range. The Everyday range has been designed with a perhaps younger customer in mind, to offer cute and sexy styles for those who need something quick and easy to make their basic bradrobe complete.

The new meaning of BB – Black & Beige! Top to bottom: Super Boost Lace Bralette, Super Smooth Glamour Lace & Luscious

Even though we love bright colours here at 2COP, there is nothing like a good beige or a black bra that suits every style and occasion. This is why I was thrilled to see some lovely basic-coloured options for this upcoming spring season. The biggest new-comer seems to be the  Super Smooth Glamour Lace which is a new take on the Gossard basic style, Super Smooth. As the style launched a few seasons ago, I was thrilled to see what it had in store for the future and here we can see the fruits of the Gossard design team’s ongoing brainstorming: the new Glamour Lace range consists of the regular Super Smooth wireless bra in addition to a nifty multiway and sweetheart plunge options. This is definitely the party girl in the Super Smooth family and takes the design up a notch, to make the range a bit more nighttime appropriate.

The other two glamorous yet basic options for next spring are the Super Boost Lace Bralette (up to E) and beige satin-y little number called Luscious (up to G). I was particularly excited about the Super Boost Lace Bralette as I love how it hooks at the front and looks cozy yet luxurious at the same time. The design is very sexy too and I really wished this would have come in bigger sizes as well. However, the Luscious ain’t a bad option either and I am happy to see Gossard make lovely plunge options for us fuller-busted gals as well – something they do with a great success!

  
Frosty Florals, top to bottom: VIP Lustful, Dotty & Lacey, Entice, Harmony bra set & Harmony Cami + French Knickers

I looove florals and even though they are nothing new to spring collections, I love how they are done in a more winter garden kinda way this time. The combination of pale icy blue and vibrant purple seems like a very unique one for the SS16 season and the ombre effect these colours create on the Lustful set totally steals my heart and crushes it by only going to up to the infamous E-cup. However, I shall not be left grieving for a long time as Gossard has created a couple of lust-worthy florals for us full-busted gals as well – I am absolutely smitten with both Entice and Harmony which both would be fit for a Disney princess (as I see it myself, Entice for Anna and Harmony for Elsa, haha!).

When it comes to shapes, the whole Gossard collection is full of their fabulous plunge bras this time and I am happy to see them around more up to G-cup. What does bother me though is again the lack of G-cup options in a variety of shapes and styles – for example, I would have loved a good nonpadded balconette which seems not to be on Gossard’s radar this upcoming season. However, if you are on a lookout for amazing prints and killer cleavage, Gossard is your girl!

The new collection will be launched as soon as November and each month after that will bring us a new drop of G-goodies. What would you pick if you could have something regardless of size? Let me know in the comments! xx

D+ Clothing Review: Koperta Krótka Dress by Urkye + DISCOUNT CODE

When it comes to buying dresses I am a complete hoarder and sucker for anything pinup-esque. However, there is always the problem of le boobs – last week, I had to return two lovely dresses to their warehouses as they just wouldn’t go over my chest. This is when the boob-friendly clothing companies come in to play and they have never disappointed me yet. When the Polish curvy clothing brand Urkye offered to send me their brand new Koperta dress to review, I was instantly smitten to have something to fit my curves properly. All of the pics are by the lovely Tiina from a Finnish blog called Kissanpäiväkimara.

The Koperta is a classic stretchy cotton-blend wrap dress. It hits me just above the knee which is very flattering length on almost anyone, unless you are super petite. I fell in love with the Tuba dress last summer and the Koperta is growing to be my next new favourite for this spring. As the Tuba is definitely more of a summer style, the Koperta sports short sleeves and a more flare-y skirt part which makes it great for layering up with a cardi and thicker tights as well. I chose to style the dress with a rather traditional pinup way – a vintage scarf, mid heel pumps, hair flowers and and a skinny belt to cinch the waist in.

The Kopertowka dress comes in three different colours for this spring season: Black, Red and Forget-Me-Not Blue. Obviously the special name of the blue one drew me in and I decided to opt for it as I already owned a few black and red dresses in similar styles. The decision was definitely right – I got so many compliments wearing this dress to a pub on Friday night and it seems to flatter my eye colour and skin tone very well.

Sorry for the weird-ass ribs! I know they are super prominent but what can you do…

When it comes to sizing and fit, I must say I was very pleased with both. The size chart would put me at 38ooo but as I had worn the Tuba dress successfully in size 36o/oo (click for the review!) I decided to just go up with the bust size, to a 36oo/ooo. These dresses have a lot of stretch to them so I would say it really depends on how you like your fit to be – tight or loose – and then go with that. I like a tighter fit to accentuate my curves and a little less coverage on the bust so the oo/ooo was a good option. However, the neckline is pulled quite low in the pictures and if you wish, you could opt to wear it higher for a more modest look. For reference, I wear a 32G Gossard Retrolution bra under the dress.

The sizing with Urkye works in such way that you will opt a certain bust size in addition to your regular European dress size. The sizes go from o/oo to ooo with the first fitting someone moderately busty and the ooo fitting an extremely busty figure. My bust is rather full but I do fine with both of the smaller sizes rather than ooo as I don’t like a lot of coverage over my chest. The dress size itself is regular European sizing in which I’m usually 36-38 (or UK 10-12).

If you gals want to get this dress for yourself I must say it’s a bargain for such great quality! The blue colourway is sold for 145 Polish Zloty which is about 35 euros – not bad, huh?! The shipping costs are reasonable too, depending on your parcel weight of course. How do you like the dress and have you ever tried anything from Urkye? Did you like how I styled it? Let me know in the comments! :)

EDIT: If anyone of you my dear readers is still interested in getting their own Koperta, Urkye has offered you a code to get 10% off both their short and long-sleeved Koperta dresses! Use the code 2CAKES at the checkout to claim your discount. The code is valid until 10th of April 2015.

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

Lingerie Review: Avocado “Jewel” Bra in 70H

I started off the year with a proper Avocado extravaganza by introducing you to their basic range Essentia. I was so happy with the range and when Avocado told me that they were sending me another style to try you must guess I was over the moon. When Essentia was a simple style for everyday wear, the Jewel in A-cut was a whole another story. Here’s how I liked this decorative little number…

  
The Design: After trying out something rather simplistic I was pretty smitten to get testing something really exquisitely designed and unique. Though the colouring may feel a bit autumnal to some, I find it rather lovely combo for spring as well. I am not a huge fan or brown but as the hue turned out to be a lovely dark caramel with red accents, I was actually rather pleased with the result. The styling is very European with stunning large embroidery and I am glad to see it done by the Polish brands as well as I’m used to seeing such styles with French lingerie in particular.

The shape is same as with my A-cut Caprice bra (click for the review!) so rather rounded yet natural. The breasts hang on a rather natural level so you won’t get that pushed up look with this bra! For me, this makes the bra a great option for everyday wear even though the design looks more night-appropriate. The bra cups are constructed of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam and the straps are attached to the top panel of the cups. The coverage is medium level and I would say it suits well under most regular t-shirts, even with a plunging neckline.

The Fit: I have always felt that Avocado makes great options for every breast shape and I still think that to be pretty accurate. I am lucky enough to suit both their A- and K-cuts pretty well so again, I have no real complaints about the fit. I went for the size 70H with the Jewel as well and have been pretty happy with it, even though the cut seems a bit shallower near the centre core. If you are very full all over then do take that into consideration! The cup edge feels a tad tight across my larger breast but doesn’t cut in so it’s not a real downside for me. However, the cup construction makes my boobs look a bit smaller than they actually are so I actually dig the style the most for that feature! It’s a true heaven on earth as you try to cram your tits into a dress that’s suitable for a 36″ bust when your actually 41″ (and I do that a lot).

The band is lovely and snug for a 70 and even though I am 65 (UK 30) with most brands, the Avocado 70 fits me very well. The wires are again pretty much perfect and the cups seem to have enough depth to them even though I do get a teeny tiny bit of wrinkling at the bottom.

Comfort: As the wire width and length is spot-on for me, the whole bra seems to be a very comfortable piece to wear throughout the day. I can easily wear the bra at home too, just lounging around, without feeling that I have something super restrictive on. The band features three hooks and eyes so it feels supportive and comfy even after loosening up a bit. The straps are half-adjustable so this may be something that you want to take into consideration if you are very tall or petite.

Avocado makes all their lingerie Poland with a love to details and quality, so I suggest you take a good look at their English website, here (click!). The prices are rather similar to other European luxury brands but do guarantee a good quality bra and a superb fit, alongside the massive size range Avocado offers (EU 60-95 C-L). They have a sizing system of their own so do check out the size chart on their website before ordering!

The lovely team at Avocado has also asked me to deliver an important message to you. They will be raising their prices a bit very soon for wholesale related reasons but they would like to offer a little discount to their returning customers. If you are a returning customer you will get a 10% off your future orders so basically the prices will stay pretty much the same 😉 The Jewel bra will still cost 72,25€ for a while so snatch it up real quick if you are new to Avocado!

What do you think of the bra? Do you like the colours for spring or do they suit autumn better? Let me know your thoughts in the comment box!

Suomeksi: Moikka kaikille! Tänään mulla olisi arvostelussa vähän koristeellisempi Avocadon rintaliivimalli nimeltä Jewel. Avocado on yksi lempparimerkeistäni laadun ja mukavuuden puolesta, ja tässä tyylissä riittää lisäksi vielä ihasteltavaa kriittisemmällekin silmälle. Vaikka karamellin ruskea ja punaisen eri sävyt tuntuivat aluksi melko syksyisiltä, on stailaus kuitenkin todella sievä myös kevättä ajatellen. Erityisen kauniilta värit saattavatkin näyttää juuri hieman ruskettuneella iholla!

Tästä A-mallista minulla on aikaisemmin ollut testissä merkin Caprice-liivit (linkki arvosteluun!), jotka ovat edelleen tuolla laatikossa hyvänä vaatekaapin peruspilarina. A-malli on hieman plungen ja balconeten välimaastoa muistuttava hybridi, jossa olkaimet kiinnittyvät rintsikoiden kuppien yläpaneeliin. Peittävyydeltään rintsikat ovat keskiluokkaa eli sopivat hyvin esim. ihan perus t-paidan alle.

Malliltaan ja istuvuudeltaan Jewel on minulle melko lähellä täydellistä, sillä sen ympärys on napakka ja kupit melko lailla oikeaa kokoa. Liivien keskiosan läheisyydessä ei ole ehkä niin paljon tilaa kuin sietäisi, mutta tuplatissi loistaa onneksi edelleen vain poissaolollaan. Kooksi valitsin tässä mallissa oman perinteisin Avocado-kokoni eli 70H, joka piti kutinsa jälleen kerran (kokotaulukkoa kannattaa kuitenkin vilkaista, sillä mitoitus on aika lailla omaa luokkaansa). Kaarituetkin olivat todella soppelin mittaiset ja levyiset, joten kokonaisuudessaan ei valittamista!

Jos mielit kokeilla Avocadoa, vielä lopuksi pari vinkkiä tilaamiseen. Avocadon hinnat nousevat aivan lähitulevaisuudessa, joten tämäkin kaunokainen kannattaa ostaa heti pois kuleksimasta! Jos kuitenkin olet jo vanha asiakas, ei huolta. Avocado on luvannut palaaville asiakkaille 10% alennuksen myös myöhemmistä tilauksista, joten jälleen kerran kanta-asiakkaat palkitaan 😉 Suomeen postikulut ovat n. 10€ luokkaa ja paketti saapuu yleensä perille noin viikossa.

Mitäpä mieltä sinä olet tästä ihanuudesta? Sopiiko väriyhdistelmä mielestäsi myös kevääseen? Jätähän alle kommenttia!

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

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

For a night out with friends…

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

For a Family Dinner…

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

For a party with the co-workers…

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

For a date night out…

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

For a dinner with your In-Laws…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tackling the Heatwave – A Review of Urkye “Tuba” Dress in 36 o/oo

The summer has finally hit Finland and it’s not all good – degrees can go as high as +28 C which is very unusual for Finnish weather. I live on the coast so I’m pretty used to cool and damp air meaning hot weather can be a pain in the arse. I spend two hours each day in a bus to commute which is not fun with no air-conditioning whatsoever. One day at work we got a big package from Poland; some refills from Urkye. I jumped at the chance to try out their famous Tuba dress and as I got it on, it stayed on. 

To me Urkye seems like a pretty decent choice for those looking for practical basic clothing in delightful colours and modest price point. Of course I got mine with a fair discount, but even full price the dress would have cost about 40 € here in Finland, so not bad for a dress. We had four colours of the Tuba – red, black, pink and petrol green – but as a lover of a good red dress I decided to try the red one in size 36 o/oo.

The Design: My first thoughts about Tuba were that it was a little plain and nothing too special to spend my money on. That was when I hadn’t tried it on, just seen it on other people and on internet. What changed my mind then? I suddenly realised how practical and versatile Tuba actually is. Even though it’s a very basic style with no embellishments, I really like how it can be worn almost anywhere and be dressed both up and down. Ever since I brought the dress back home a few days ago, I have been wearing it non-stop and even had a nap in it.

The way I style the dress is a more vintage pin-up – I usually wear it with a scarf on my head and some red lipstick and a pair of ballet flats. The neckline is very open and needs something low-cut beneath it (I’m wearing my Gossard “Lola” in the pictures). However, the soft cotton material is so clingy in the mid section of the dress I’m actually not wearing panties at all in the pictures. So you be warned – it’s almost guaranteed you will get a VPL. Otherwise I love the way the dress hugs my curves and flares a bit towards the hem. It’s truly a classic shape to wear everywhere from work to after-work drinks.

The Fit: I opted for the 36 o/oo but as a 30GG I’m between the sizes o/oo and oo/ooo according to the Urkye size chart. I asked my boss which size would be better for me and she suggested the smaller to try on first. Her advice was spot on and I think the dress gives me just the right amount of coverage, ie. covers my bra but leaves tons of cleavage on sight. I usually wear a UK dress size 10 which is about the same as EU size 36 so I would say the sizes run quite true to size. 

As I started wearing the dress I noticed my bras always try to peek out a bit from the neckline but I’m quite okay with that. I actually feel it’s kinda my right to show off my bra a bit – they are all so beautiful and never to be seen otherwise! I think I could have gone up to size oo/ooo but feel like this is exactly the coverage level I want. The seam going under my boobs tacks beautifully to my ribcage and doesn’t lift up because of my boobs. The overall fit of the dress is pretty clingy but looks great even without any shapewear (unlike my MiP pencil dress!)

(Compulsory Miley pic, sorry)

Comfort: The dress is so comfy on! I love it how the materials have been so well-thought out – the dress is a stretchy cotton blend allowing you to move easily and feel comfortable at all times. As I told you, I have napped in this dress and also gone a few hours completely braless wearing it (would not recommend to anyone above GG-cup though..). It’s a thin fabric meaning it’s pretty comfy in hot weather as well. 

I would gladly recommend the Urkye “Tuba” to anyone who needs a pretty basic dress eg. for work or just hanging out. I would also wear it for casual drinks or dates so it’s really versatile in addition to being extremely flattering. You can get your Tuba at Urkye’s website which ships internationally. If you happen to live in Finland, Lumingerie has a few Tuba dresses in different colours so you can snatch yours up quickly and easily.

Moda Trend Report: Autumn/Winter 2014

After I visited Moda lingerie exhibition last spring I decided to do a trend report such as Invest in Your Chest has done for a few times now. I actually met the girls at the show and I have to confess I indulged myself in a little fan girl moment but then tried to got my shit together. I am not usually the shyest kind of girl but when I meet people I really admire I still feel a bit starstruck. Good for me, both Cheryl and Becky are so much fun to be around and I’m kind of waiting to see if they will join me this August as well. 

I enjoyed Moda tremendously last time and saw a lot of upcoming lingerie trends so I think it’s time to share them with you now. Better later than never, right! Well, onto the trends of aw14…

Neon brights – Of course the best are first up! I really enjoyed the amount of neon colours for autumn. I think neons are often seen as spring or summer hues but I think they bring a bit of fun to gloomy autumn nights. I think the most outstanding colour was the neon pink/orange that reminded me of tropical flowers. I also liked neon turquoise and yellow a lot – I think Cleo hit the jackpot with their new Kali design (a must-have for this autumn!). After Moda I was drooling over so many daring designs just for the striking colours they came in.

 
Innocent whites – There was a lot of goodies in the show for some future brides: a whole section of the lingerie fashion show was dedicated to white romantic undercrackers. I am not a huge fan of white myself – I find it too restrictive and impractical but for special occasions it can be a very pretty choice. One of my ultimate favourite sets in white is Mimi Holliday “Coquette” which actually reminds me a bit of Snow White. Again, I felt like the trend was better suited for summer (even the styling featured butterflies, wtf??) so this was definitely not my favourite of all the trends shown on the catwalk.

Smoky & Edgy – This trend is something I love to wear personally and it fits really well the autumn/winter scenery. The smoky greys and blacks ooze sexiness and paint you the scenery of seduction. I am especially in love with the new styles Gossard has created for autumn and guess what? I GOTTA HAVE THAT BLUE/BLACK BRA in third picture. It’s so gorgeous. Also if the bra in second picture came in my size I would die to have it. Simply die. I have yet to try grey lingerie but with the sophisticated laces and trimmings these sets are offering, I am definitely willing to try that too in the future.

Girly vibes – I am not a girly girl myself – not too much at least. I have heard that I’m girly but not princess-y so getting all covered up in pinks and flowers is not my cup of tea. However, recently I’ve been finding myself in the middle of piles of pink lingerie so I guess I must throw that misconception of myself away. I am sometimes a princess – with a big P. I always love a good pink or red bra so I was quite happy to see such beautiful hues on the runway. But again, this style is more summery to me so I find it a bit unsuitable for winter. However, the bras were beautifully styled and as individuals so pretty I think I might indulge in some winter florals next season.

Mistress of Dracula – I love a good red and black combo and this part of the show definitely got it. Red is probably my ultimate favourite colour among pinks and other brights even thought it’s almost too classic and cliched. However, you can never fail with a good red lingerie set. I think especially Lepel did a great job with their reds, so did Curvy Kate. 

So this was it for this time, next time I will be introducing a couple of swimwear trends. Which lingerie trend did you like the best? 🙂 Let me know in the comments! xx

Review of Made In Preston’s Red Pencil Dress – EDITED!!!

I have recently been making a lot of fuzz about my clothing choices – after GG-cup there hasn’t been a lot of options and it really frustrates me. I am not comfortable with going above size 10 even though it’s just a number, meaning I just don’t buy clothes since it’s a rare occasion when I find something in size 8 or 10 that would have enough bust room for me. For this reason I have been searching for brands that would both suit my figure and my fashion taste. A couple of weeks ago I got a chance to review one of the new pieces from a DD+ clothing brand called Made in Preston which made me very excited. I opted for the new red pencil dress from their SS14 collection and got it delivered swiftly straight to my mail box. I took the dress to a spin for a couple of occasions including my primary school class reunion. Here are my thoughts about the dress…

Suomeksi: Viime aikoina vaatteiden shoppailu on tuntunut jotenkin erityisen ikävältä ja syynä on ollut rintojen kasvaminen pari kuppikokoa. Suomessa on paljon tarjolla ruotsalaisia vaateketjuja, joiden tarjonta on aika yksipuolista ja vaatteet suunniteltu pitkille suoravartaloisille skandinaaveille. Sain pari viikkoa sitten arvostelutarjouksen Made in Preston-nimiseltä vaatebrändiltä, joka valmistaa muodikkaita vaatteita myös meille “vähän” rintavammille. Valitsin MiP:n uudesta mallistosta punaisen kynämallisen mekon ja tässäpä muutama ajatus siitä…

The design: The dress comes in both black and red which is great since they are both dramatic and classic colours. They are both pretty demanding as well, so make sure to choose the one that flatters you more. Not all people can pull off black that well so I would actually claim that red is a more safe choice for someone as pale as me. Black requires a very strong colouring of your own meaning it’s not the best option for us Finns with our grey-ish hair and grey/blue eyes. To me the red shade of the dress is perfect – even my mom commented it to be nice clear hue.

The dress is quite clingy and long which made me a bit hesitant how it would flatter my figure but I really like how sexy the shape is. I definitely need a pair of shaping knickers and a t-shirt bra under it. After a bit of “cheating” the dress looks fabulous and gets a LOT of attention when I hit the town. So girls, be prepared for some serious eyeing from almost everyone if you intend to wear this on a night out! The dress seemed a bit too long for me at first but after the first night out I felt like it’s exactly the right length for me by hitting right below my knee – the dress is so sexy it doesn’t need to be mini.

Tyyli: Saadessani mekon hyppysiini, olin varma että peilistä katsoo kohta sellainen makkarankuoreen ängetty ilmestys, että huhhuh. Myös pituus epäilytti, sillä itsehän en ole mikään hirveän pitkä, tällainen normi 167 cm eli alle polven laskeutuvat mekot ja hameet tuntuvat aina jotenkin katkaisevan jalat keskeltä kahtia. Mekon pituus oli kuitenkin yllättävän imarteleva ja muodikas midi, joka kompensoi mekon vartalonmyötäisyyttä. Lopulta muotoilevien alkkareiden ja korkeiden korkkareiden kanssa kokonaisuus loksahti kohdalleen ja mekko näyttää päällä tosi hyvältä. Varoituksen sananen kuitenkin, tämä päällä ei voi olla herättämättä huomiota! Vähän tuli kaupungilla kulkiessa esineellistetty olo mutta minkäs teet, enpähän jäänyt seinäruusuksi.

Tätä mekkoa saa Made in Prestonilta myös mustana mutta omasta mielestäni tämä punainen on jotenkin kiva sävy kesään ja sopii varmasti myös usemmalle sävyltään. Vaikka monet pelkäävät punaista, on musta juuri usein se epäimartelevampi sävy, joka vetää tällaisen perussuomalaisen lakanan vieläkin valkoisemmaksi. Mielestäni mekon tyyli on upea esim. tuleviin YO-juhliin tai vaikkapa kavereiden kanssa kaupunkiin suunnatessa. Oma poikaystäväni sai juuri kandin paperit, joten täälläkin on juhlat tiedossa!

The fit: I opted for size 10Fab meaning I belong to the bustiest customers of MiP. Their sizing system combines your high street size to specified fit category called Fit, Foxy and Fab. As a 30GG I need the most bust room but the dress is so stretchy it could accommodate loads more bust volume as well. I think the material choice of the dress is super clever cause it hugs all my curves without pulling anywhere. Also my recently grown booty looks fabulous in the dress which makes me quite smug when wearing it.

The armpit and shoulder section of the dress is pretty good for me too. I have quite broad shoulders and muscular arms meaning I sometimes struggle with too small armholes/sleeves and the shoulder pieces of the dress flatter my shoulders quite well. My bra straps and a small glimpse of my cups show from the armholes but it doesn’t bother me too much. However, I think this dress would look its best with a low-coverage strapless bra or a bra that has a little more narrowly set straps than my Deco.

Istuvuus: Mekko istuu todella hyvin ja jokainen kurvi pääsee siinä takuulla oikeuksiinsa! Itse valitsin koon 10Fab joka vastaa EU-koissa 36 erityisen runsaalla rintojenympäryksellä varustettuna. MiP yhdistää tavallisiin UK-kokoihin oman istuvuutta merkitsevän lyhenteen, jolla vaatteesta saadaan mahdollisen istuva ja imarteleva. Koot menevät järjestyksessä Fit, Foxy ja Fab, joista itse kuulun viimeisimpään eli rinnakkaimpaan ryhmään. Mekon materiaali on kuitenkin sen verran joustava, että tähän kyllä mahtuu vielä enemmän tissiä ja pyllyä ilman tukalaa puristumisen tunnetta!

Rintsikkavalinta kannattaa miettiä tarkkaan, sillä omat Deconi ainakin näkyivät alta kuten kuvista huomaa. Hihaaukot tuntuvat aika antavilta mikä on omalla kohdallani hyvä juttu (haukkoja on tullut tehtyä…), mutta kannattaa tosiaan harkita esim. olkaimettomia matalakuppisia rintsikoita. Ns. “hartiapalat” tuntuvat imartelevan ihan hyvin omaa ylävartaloani, sillä hartiani ovat leveät ja tykkään peittää ne usein jollain vaikken esim. boleroista ja neuletakeista välitäkään.

Comfort: This dress is super comfy since it features a lot of stretch as said before. The skirt part of it is quite tight meaning it can be restricting. I tried to take on a bus and almost fell on my face because I didn’t realize how tight it was! So be careful and take time for walking. Sitting feels comfy and I don’t think I have the risk of ripping the dress by sitting too roughly (believe me, that has happened to me before, with two dresses actually!) I can wear this dress all night long without any discomfort so it has quickly become my favourite dress for nights out.

Mukavuus: Ihanan mukava mekko! Materiaalista löytyy stretsiä tosi paljon, joten tanssiminen, istuminen ja kaikki muukin venkulointi onnistuvat ongelmitta. Itsehän olen hajottanut kaksi mekkoa pelkästään istumalla, joten miljoona plussaa mekon joustavuudesta! Mekon alaosa on kuitenkin melko tiukka, joten esim. bussiin noustessa kannattaa varoa ettei kompuroi hillittömästi tai kaadu nenälleen. 

EDIT, PLEASE READ! Made in Preston has been closed down as the owner has went on a maternity leave. I will ask you NOT TO PUT YOUR MONEY IN THIS COMPANY. They are not sending any products out to customers even though the online store is still running. They have no customer service at the moment and no returned products are being refunded. Please please please, do not buy from this company anymore! I was very happy with the product I received but the company seems to be a huge scam nowadays.

Rant time – Dressing big boobs

Today I want to talk about something that has bothered me recently even more than previously and I can’t hold it in – after all I have a wonderful media for this kind of rants. I wanna talk about dressing big boobs and how difficult it is when they cross the G-barrier. I have always been aware that I can’t really try all the trends and all the fashionable shapes since I own a pair of D+ boobs. I have been told by my mom that “Sorry hun, those just will not fit into a size XS anymore” which is honest but brutal to hear when you are a rather slim 14-year-old. Not the thing you wanna hear when shopping for clothes, rather desperately I might add.

My boobs grew when I was about eleven and I started wearing my 32A on 5th grade (should have probably worn a 28C). I was the first one in my class and when I look back now it was pretty devastating to hear from other kids “You’re fat!” just because you start to develop a womanly figure while being so young. I sucked it up and handled it the way 11-year-olds do – shut my mouth and developed an eating disorder. Not a way to go, I assure you.

When my boobs got even bigger I couldn’t really do the box-y shirt thing like others my age. I still did and wanted to do it so badly that I ended up reminding a massive box walking on two sticks. Not an attractive look but I wanted to convince myself I was just like other girls, just a bit curvier. I also wore shirts that were pulled quite high by my boobs and again was teased by other kids cause they could see a tiny slice of my belly. I personally didn’t care that much but for others it was apparently a big deal.

There are definitely some complaints I’d like to make about dressing boobs in a world we live now: one of them is that you end up looking heavier than you actually are by wearing the kind of baggy sweaters and t-shirts fashion world just loves to death. I bought a lovely thick box-shaped sweater from Urban Outfitters a couple of months ago and I must say, as nice as it might look on someone else it’s not the most flattering look on me. I hate how I end up looking way heavier than I am and it is the kind of clothing that was one of the reasons for my anorexia back in the days. When dressing up in baggy shirts you will only see how big you look in them and feel a bit frumpy about your looks. But what can you do, fashion is fashion and you can’t really affect the clothing manufacturers. 

The common “sin” when wearing regular clothes on big boobs is the amount of attention your form-fitting “too sexy” clothing attracts. However this kind of sexy clothing is usually something that would look just cute or pretty on someone with a smaller bust, and you are making it look inappropriate just by the curves God gave you. Makes me super mad and even though I find my figure-hugging dresses lovely and flattering I have had comments about them looking way too sexy and uncomfortably tight. Well, let me tell you something my friend, they might look uncomfortable to you but do you know how uncomfortable it makes me that you are looking at it that way even though I just wanted to look NICE, for once. It seems like people feel like they are entitled to comment on someone’s clothing even with sporting a whole other bodytype which might be ten times less hard to dress “appropriately”. 

When this kind of talk about my clothes arises, especially while wearing something form-fitting yet otherwise totally modest, you can only imagine the looks of contempt when I have a full-on cleavage going on. I personally enjoy my cleavage and I think it looks good but there are definitely times when people actually stop and stare it like it’s some kind of exhibition object. It’s not but I don’t mind the stares unless you are going to say something inappropriate or judging. Cause judging is the worst you can do to someone who can’t choose their boobs and happen to have a cleavage when the dress is a bit too tight over her boobs or the cut of the neckline is low. My sister goes out wearing a tank top and my mom says nothing. I wear a tank top when seeing my mom and she literally tries to yank the neckline up just to notice it sliding down after a few seconds. This is my life and I require some respect and sympathy as well, even though my cleavage might be offending you.

So here’s a piece of advise for you who feel entitled for your comments about my or my busty friends’ clothing choices – try to dig your head out of your ass and put yourself in our shoes. It is hard enough to learn to like your curves and dress them nicely, we don’t need anyone to make it even harder.