Lingerie Review: Freya “Fancies” Bralette

How are all my lingerie enthusiasts doing? I started my new year with a mild flu and I am already dying of boredom – I want to go out and do stuff like hit the gym and go to burlesque practices! Now that I am staying inside for a while, I might just blog. I am actually quite excited for year 2018 when it comes to basically… everything! That means blogging as well. I am just a bit afraid that people are not interested in my blog anymore – I do hope there are some of you left there! At least most my subscribers are patiently waiting for my posts as I don’t think many have unsubscribed yet. Thank you a thousand times for that!

Today I am bringing you some new year loungewear/ bralette action. We all know the hot potato in the full-bust world has been the praised bralette trend that most of us cannot really take part in – bralettes are traditionally geared towards more small-busted people and thus the breezy light undergarments are something we don’t really have access to. However, over the past year or so a few brands have come up with bralettes that actually work for more full-busted women as well! The first bralette I got to try was the Freya “Fancies” collection bralette. Cha at Large Cup Lingerie heard about my interest to try a good full-bust bralette and offered to send me a couple to try. I was super excited and here are the results…

The Design: The Freya “Fancies” bralette comes in many different colourways, the newest one being the adorable Orchid colour which is very vibrant in flesh. I got to try the red and turquoise bralettes in sizes Small and Medium and kept the red Medium one for myself in the end. The Small turquoise bralette is with my friend Eeva and she thoroughly enjoys it as a UK size 30F/32E in regular bras. The Fancies bralette is available both in brights and in neutrals, so if you like a more toned-down shade such as black or navy, Large Cup Lingerie and Freya have you covered.

The bralette comes in regular dress sizes XS-XL and is supposed to fit a plethora of cup sizes. The bralette is a pull-over style which means it is not fastened at the back – this can be a tricky design decision for us small-band-big-cup needing women, but the materials are quite stretchy and thus the pull-over feature is not too bothersome. The bralette is made out of firm lined mesh and stretchier lace and the straps are pretty similar to a regular bra, just narrower than regular Freya bras would have in big cup sizes. The straps are fully-adjustable which means the style will suit both shorter and taller women alike.

The look of the bralette is quite simple but I like the simplicity with the fun colourways. I would love to see some prints, and different types and colours of laces though! Compared to other full-bust bralettes, I think the Fancies bralette is actually rather sexy which is always an upside for me.

The Fit: I wear bras in a range of 30-32 GG-HH at the moment so I have a big bust and still quite a small band size. I know a friend of mine who wears 2-3 bigger cup sizes than me and she wears a Large in the bralette, so I pretty much knew the Medium would fit me. However, Cha was so kind to send me both Small and Medium so I could compare them to each other.

The size Small was pretty good in the band (not tight whatsoever) but the “cups” were at least a couple of sizes too small. I would say the size Small bralette would best fit someone with a 30-32 band and cup sizes DD-FF, maybe G. The Medium is a bit of a reach with my usually 32GG bust, so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with a bigger bust than mine. If I could put together size Small’s band section and size Large’s cup section, that would probably be the ideal fit for me. However, the Medium is definitely not bad and I literally wear the heck out of this thing almost everyday (I need more of these…)!

I would like to remind everyone that this is a bralette, NOT a bra that lifts and supports your throughout a long day at work. My breasts are rather self-supporting, so I don’t feel like I need more support when lounging around at home. However, if your breasts are soft and bigger than mine, I wouldn’t expect too much of this bralette – it truly is only something to keep the boob sweat at a bay and make you a bit more comfortable at home than your average bra.

Comfort: Yes, it is the most comfortable thing I have put on my boobs in a while! Of course – it is a rather well-fitting full-bust appropriate bralette after all. The materials are fine on my skin but if I was completely honest, I would rather have a cotton lining inside the bra than the same mesh as on the outside. I think the mesh has been an aesthetic choice mostly, as it gives the bralette a more sheer sexy look to it.

The Fancies bralette is very stretchy and I like the slightly taller band that lies nicely on the ribcage rather than distributing the weight of my chest only directly under my bust. I have protruding ribcage which means my upper ribs stick out a bit more than usual, so I love the stretchy lace longline that works well with both bones sticking out and bloating that comes with the unfortunate IBS I suspect having.

All in all, I am super pleased with the Freya Fancies bralette and am planning to get a few more in the future, so this one won’t be in the wash all the time 😉 Head over to Large Cup Lingerie and check out their impressive selection of colours! The bralette costs a very affordable £20 and you can also buy a pair of matching panties from the Freya Fancies collection for the price of £14.

Say YES to Undress: Full-Bust Bridal Lingerie Finds at Moda SS17

I don’t know exactly how to start this post but by the title you may have guessed it – I got engaged over the weekend! We have been together with my Mr for over three years and have been talking about getting married for a while now. It has been kind of a joke for me to say “Oh marry me already” when he has been particularly lovely and on Friday, it was his turn to actually, seriously ask the same question. So, I am wearing the most beautiful engagement/wedding ring on my finger now and I still cannot believe it’s real life – it still feels like playing some kind of weird dress-up!

If I wasn’t living in a smaller city, I would actually probably be a wedding planner and now that I have finally the permission to plan my own wedding, I am so ecstatic. I will start this happy engagement period of a little over a year with bringing you (and me!) the most delicious bridal lingerieof this spring 2017 season. However, there will be many more round-ups to come in the future, so try to stay patient for my sake!

Disclosure: These pics were taken at the Moda catwalk in August 2016. I am very aware of the gross cultural appropriation in the form of Native American dream catchers and head that were sadly worn as accessories on the runway. This is not cool in any way, but the purpose of the photos is to deliver the latest bridal trends to you and these were the only pics available. I am sorry and do not support wearing someone’s culture as an accessory.

The white on white trend has been floating around in the lingerie business forever – mainly because bridal lingerie is never out of fashion and always needed, but statistically white has also been on the top three when it comes to men’s lingerie colour preferences. Even though lingerie should, in my opinion, be bought first and foremost for oneself, there is nothing wrong with wanting to wear something that pleases your partner as well.

On a wedding night white historically symbolizes purity and virginity – which to me, is a bit disgusting as I am not a lamb to be sacrificed in some weird ritual. Or, that’s what I’d like to think (even though marriage has been exactly that, not even long ago)! However these days, we still wear white a LOT when it comes to our wedding attire and that is the chosen colour of my wedding dress and the lingerie I will be wearing as well. Maybe I’ll break the “pure and innocent” look with some red or gold, who knows! Anyway, here are a few examples of what you or I could be wearing on our big day, when it finally comes.

ADINA REAY

Adina Reay is one of the newer more luxurious options for us fuller busted brides. The prices are a bit up there for a bride on a budget, but the materials are pure heaven and the quality is breathtaking. I haven’t had the chance to try this brand for myself yet, but I’m super interested in their fit so if anyone has got any experience with them, please let me know! Even though I haven’t tried the pieces on, I have seen and touched them at the Moda show last August and have so much faith in this brand.

The two styles shown above are Pen in Champagne and Jess in Swan which are both part of the continuity line at Adina Reay. The prices are around £90-130 for a bra £50-80 co-ordinates which definitely put them into the luxury category, but I think full-busted brides need to have options. I also like the fact that the brand offers multiple different co-ordinate options, so you can choose whether to go for skimpy thong or an elegant high-waisted panty. The size range with Adina Reay is 30-36 DD-G, and S-L, which can unfortunately be a bit limiting.

FREYA

If you are D+ girl on a budget, Freya might be a better option for you. This beautiful ensemble is called Sassy and goes up to GG-cup with the longline and up to H-cup with the padded balconette bra. The white on beige combination seems to be becoming more and more popular and I personally like the look a lot.

The one confusing thing is that the sample I was shown was a lot more beige than the stock picture above. I personally like the beige one a bit more, but maybe they tried to make it look a tiny bit more bridal? Who knows! This style isn’t available until March, but if history is to be trusted it will retail around £40-50 which is pretty good for a well-fitting strapless full-bust bra.

PARFAIT BY AFFINITAS

Parfait is another great option if you are looking for something comfortable in the D-G size range and like something traditionally feminine and sweet. The brand offers many beautiful options both in their continuity line but also in their fashion range. These are the two styles that caught my attention in this ss17 collection: let me introduce you to the pale rose Sandrene and white Irene. These styles are great for plus size brides as well, as they go up to 44 band and 4XL in the panties! They are perhaps not the most practical under your actual wedding dress but would be nice options for a romantic wedding night.

HARLOW & FOX

If I could choose absolutely anything for my wedding night, one of the strongest options would be Harlow & Fox. They are the essence of bridal glamour and actually carry a decent size range of 30-38 DD-G, XS-XL on their site. The Serena range in Ivory is utter perfection: it is made of the most beautiful embroideries, tulles and ostrich feathers – everything a vintage girl could want! The only limit for me buying this range is the price – even though Harlow & Fox may be well worth it, I cannot afford to drop 142€ on a bra, let alone 999 € on the kimono robe! A girl can dream though, right? Maybe I’ll get rich before 2018, hehe!

Here are some of my picks from the Moda show bridal offering – what do you think? What is your dream bridal lingerie ensemble like? Let me know in the comments!

The Best of the Best – Moda AW15 Lingerie Roundup

As we are already approaching Moda which is no more than a month away, I decided to put together a roundup post for you of my absolute favourite styles for this upcoming season, introduced last February at Moda. Me and luckily Jo as well are visiting Moda in August again and I want to share some of my faves before the new Moda posts start rolling again! I know I haven’t been as active with my new collection introductions lately but please forgive me, it has been a very busy spring with my new job and bachelor degree research (I am now finishing it up, it’s about body image & eating disorders). However, here are some brands and new AW15 styles that really impressed me a few months ago – I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Ambra Lingerie

Ambra is an Italian lingerie brand which still remains as a luxury-focused family business in the town of Alba (interestingly the home town of Nutella as well!). The silky garments are designed and produced by hand in Italy which makes Ambra an ethically-aware lingerie manufacturer and a supporter of local employment. Even though local production always takes the prices up a notch, I do believe the production process itself is something that needs to be considered when talking about real product value. Also, the Ambra lingerie is made mostly out of silk and high-end Italian lace which makes the garments look and feel gorgeous to the wearer. The size range is still rather small but they have introduced F-cups only recently and the way is up if the demand is there! I fell in love with the delicate style above, rocking a bold combo of gold and dark purple which is a rather unusual combination for next AW season.

Millesia

Millesia is a French brand founded in the 90’s and has since aimed to create feminine yet strong styles to please women’s luxury needs in the A-D category. Even though the brand is new to me personally, I was struck by its personality and strong sense of aesthetics. The new collection was a seducing combination of fine details, lace and bondage vibes which makes it look interesting even though we have seen the 50 shades style in lingerie for a couple of years now. The set above was one of the more clean-cut yet powerful styles of Millesia for next season and I sure would love to see it produced in bigger sizes as well.

Freya

The old Frey Frey and I were not the best of friends when I entered the full-bust world a few years back. Everyone else was raving about their fit but it turned out that my FOT boobs were not too happy in most of their bras so I left it to that and turned to the likes of Curvy Kate instead. However, recently the Freya designs have improved to the level that I am super intrigued to give them a go again, even just for the looks sake. This lovely little number is called Minx and it is available in various bra styles with a size range of D-G with plunge balconette and padded half-cup styles and GG-K in the balconette style. The pic above features the first-mentioned and I am in love with the key-hole detail at the gore!

Evollove

Evollove is a fairly new D-G brand with young-ish target market and reasonable prices. I have had the chance to try Evollove bras at the Mimi & You boutique I visited last time I was London and even though the brand goes “only” up to G, they are a great option for someone looking for fun everyday bras at budget. The style above is one of their amazing longlines which are a plenty compared to other British brands in the same size category. In addition to creating sassy youthful styles for women in their 20’s, it is also a great brand to look for age appropriate bras for young girls in their early teens – this brand knows how to do a good cute floral which is something that appeals to almost any tween + their moms 😉

Gossard

Oh mighty Gossard, you seem to seduce me every time and this time was no different. The good news is, they are also bringing back more up-to-G styles again! I am so smitten as last season of Gossard was a bit of disappointment for me size-wise. This time I will have a few lovely styles to choose from, including the Desire range pictured above. Longlines up to G? I’ll take it! Also, there seems to be a fair amount of high-waisted options and suspender belts on offer, which makes a true pinup gal like myself jump for joy. What seems to be the highlight of this upcoming season will however be the classic Gossard “Gypsy”-style, brought back from the 80’s to today and renewed. No doubt I will be trying that bad boy out!

Scantilly

As Curvy Kate’s new sub-label Scantilly has been splattered across the internet already, I settle with bringing you my favourite style from the collection: the Pounce. Even though the whole small collection was completely on-point and amazing, something in this leopard lover speaks to me with such volumes. Maybe it’s the suspender belt? I don’t know but heaven’s Lord this collection is something needed in the full-bust scene! It embraces the 50 shades trend so well with a sophisticated touch that I am only left swoon and hoping to get to try these beauties asap. The sizes go up to HH so small-ish compared to other CK styles but we can definitely expect bigger cups in the future!

Signature

Signature was first introduced on 2COP about a year ago when I encountered the brand at August 2014 Moda. The brand is a sub-label to After Eden which is already a rather well-known brand across Europe, including Finland where it is sold as a house-hold name in big department stores. As After Eden only goes up to DD, the brand has given birth to a new baby in both bigger band and cup sizes. The band sizes start at 32 and end at 44 which is a fair size range for such a new brand. Also, the cups are rumoured to run large which makes it a winner instantly! My fave from the collection was the snake-print “Grace” which comes in a lovely fashion-forward colour combo or petrol blue and black.

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All in all the AW15 season looks promising! I still have a couple of brands I want to go more in-depth with so if you wondered about the absence of Curvy Kate and Lepel in my post, stay tuned as they are being previewed very soon 😉 Have a lovely upcoming week everyone and do let me know which style appealed to you the most from this roundup!

Lingerie Review + Discount Code: Going Strapless with Freya Deco Shape in 30GG

A couple of months ago when I was preparing myself for Christmas, I got my hands on a Collectif dress called Penny – a pretty strapless number that required a pretty strapless bra to go underneath it. Unfortunately I did not have a well-fitting strapless at the moment and I was doomed to go by my Debenhams 30FF bra, two cup sizes too small and a bit too tight as well. When Clara Olivia contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a couple of sets from them, I knew what I had to do – opt for something practical that I actually needed. I decided to go for the Freya “Deco Shape Strapless” which is a beautiful longline bra and a high-waisted panty combo. Here’s how I liked the set…

The Design: As longline bras in my size are quite rare, I was happy to see Freya making this style up to GG. It’s not prefect yet, but a good start to branching out to a different kind of styling – even though longlines are quite hard to make in bigger cup sizes. The Deco Shape is a versatile collection with multiple options for your bra and panties – whether it’s a regular plunge or a strapless, Freya has it covered. I chose to go for the ivory strapless longline as it was something that I found the most practical. The colour is great for spring and summer and I really like the rococo-style blush print as well – it makes the style a bit more interesting.

The whole look of the bra is very seamless – at least as seamless as a longline can ever be. The cups are moulded which is a practical choice for such a great bradrobe staple. The shape the bra creates is also decent – the cups are very rounded but not super uplifted – this could be a good bra for a more modest look. The cups also come quite high up so take that into account if your choice of dress/shirt is very low-cut.

Fit: Even though this style goes only up to GG, I must say the 30GG was a pretty good choice of size for me. I was warned off that the cups would come up quite large so I wasn’t too worried about being squashed by the bra. However, the shape is probably not the best one for me: there is a significant amount of space in the bottom of the cups and a little bulging at the top as the bra cuts into my fuller upper breast tissue. I think this style would be better for someone with a little less filling at the top – if you are more full-on-bottom and have shallower breast tissue than me, give this style a try.

The band of the Deco Shape Longline is also a bit tighter than your regular Deco plunge bra. I would say this is a more true 30-band as I measure 31″ under my bust and felt the band was very tight on me. I managed to close it, but it was definitely something that someone with a 29″ underbust measurement would do fine with. The band features six hooks and eyes meaning it is a sturdy little number. Also I didn’t experience the band flipping up like with some other longlines which is a great upside for me at least. There is additional boning though which might not be suitable for everyone – with me it was fine though and I didn’t experience any chafing whatsoever. As an additional practical feature, there are two places you can attach your straps if you wish to, which makes this bra great for someone who’s either extra petite or broad-shouldered.

Comfort: When it comes to comfort, I am always a bit “meh” with longlines – some find them extremely comfy but I usually don’t. I had a very bad experience with Fauve “Bronte” in the past which always makes me hesitant to try longlines. Gladly I wasn’t left with a torture machine this time! The strapless is a bit too tight in the band for my preference but then again, it should hold up my tits when taking on the dance floor on a night out. The bra did its job even though being a slightly wrong shape for me and it stayed put during my try-out period.

I wanted to give the Deco Shape high-waisted briefs a go too, so I opted for them in size Small. As Freya panties run a bit on the looser side, this was definitely the right size. To be honest, I am absolutely in love with the panties! They are so comfy, they shape me lightly and leave no sight of VPL, which is definitely a bonus. So my piece of advice to you? Get the panties as well with this set!

If you would like to order your own strapless or something else from Clara Olivia, they have kindly offered my readers a discount code to get 20% off your order. Use the code 2cakes20 at the checkout to claim your discount! The Deco Shape comes in bra sizes 28-38 B-GG (£40) and the high-waisted panties in XS-XXL (£20) and you can get it at Clara Olivia both in ivory and black. PS. Remember to take part in my blogiversary giveaways which are closing in only couple of days!

Suomeksi: Hyvien olkaimettomien rintsikoiden löytäminen voi olla vaikeaa, kun koko ylittää D-kupin. Olinkin mielissäni, kun brittiläinen alusvaateverkkokauppa Clara Olivia lähetti minulle Freyan kulttimallin Decon olkaimettomana versiona pari kuukautta sitten – nyt pääsisin kokeilmaan jotain painovoimaa uhkaavaa! Olin kuullut että olkaimeton Deco Shape on kupeiltaan hieman isohko, joten valitsin kookseni 65GG:n ja alushousuista koon S.

Deco Shape on malliltaan ns. longline, eli mallin rinnanalusnauha on leveämpi kuin normaaleissa rintsikoissa. Longline onkin hyvä vaihtoehto, mikäli haluaa ekstratukea – juuri sitä mitä olkaimettomien rintsikoiden kanssa todella tarvitaan. Ympärysnauha onkin näissä rintsikoissa todella napakka ja tuntuu tukevan rintoja hyvin myös ilman olkaimia. Kupit puolestaan olivat mitoitukseltaan reiluhkot, joten näistä saattaa riittää normaalia pienempi kuppi. Itse kuitenkin törmäsin istuvuusongelmiin kuppien mallin kanssa – tuntui ettei muotoonprässätty kuppi oikein istunut yläpainotteisille rinnoilleni ja kupin alaosaan puolestaan jäin rutkasti tyhjää tilaa. Näin kuitenkin käy joskus ja tästäkin huolimatta Deco Shape on ihan kelpo vaihtoehto niille harvoille kerroille, kun jotain olkaimetonta käytän!

Jos omat olkaimettomat liivit kiinnostavat, tarjoaa Clara Olivia lukijoilleni nyt alennuskoodin, jolla saa mukavat 20 % pois koko tilauksesta. Käytä siis koodia 2cakes20 kassalla, niin lompakkosi kevenee hieman vähemmän 😉 Kokoja Deco Shapesta löytyy GG-kuppiin asti ja housuista XXL:n ja alennuskoodin kanssa koko pompsi kustantaa 48 puntaa. Mukavaa shoppailua sinne ruudun toiselle puolelle 😉 PS. Muistakaahan käydä osallistumassa vielä blogiarvontoihin, enää pari päivää jäljellä!

Redhead in Pale Pink – Review of Freya “Ooh La La” in 30GG

Hi world, I haven’t forgotten you! I just had a fantastic Christmas holiday with my family so I put aside my blog and the lingerie world for a moment, though I did receive five (!) new bras before the holidays. Today I will be introducing a set by a brand I have not bought or reviewed in a while, that is the mighty Freya. I was approached by the wonderful online boutique Clara Olivia and asked if I wanted to review something courtesy of them. I was so delighted of the chance and opted for something I had not tried in a while. The set reviewed today is the lovely “Ooh La La” which is one of the best sets Freya has released in a while. I have not worn unpadded Freya bras since my beloved 28FF Arabella so I figured it was time to give them another try…

The Design: As I opted for the Ooh La La I knew there would be something I did not like and it’s the way Freya double-lines the bottom half of their GG+ unpadded cups. I would prefer the bra to be completely see-through for a better look but obviously there is a reason why the double lining has been seen a necessity: Freya bras are designed with bottom-heavy breasts in mind, meaning they aim to support the lower part of breasts and give you superb uplift from the very root of the breast. As I am more top-heavy when it comes to my boobs, I don’t really need this but do understand the logic behind it.

The construction is pretty much the same as with the B-G sizes even though I do feel there’s a bit more coverage and the shape is more balconette as opposed to plunge. The idea behind revising the shape for the bigger sizes seems to be the extra support as well. The cups are constructed of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam. This can lead to a sad “upside-down seven” shape but luckily Freya is the master of ultimate uplift. The vertical seam goes high enough to create a curved, almost a pointy shape which actually goes great under most vintage reproduction clothing I own. The colour and looks are also pretty sweet and cutesy but also go great under light-coloured clothing. The geometrical embroidery is very Freya but not too kitchy to be a turn-off for me.

The Fit: I was a bit hesitant to order this style in 30GG as I am more of a solid 30H now with most brands. However, I had been fitted into Freya bras at Bravissimo a few months ago so I was aware that the unpadded plunge balconettes would run a bit larger than their padded balconettes. I also still wear a 30GG with my regular Deco bra and it fits well so I was pretty sure I would be fine with a GG. Luckily, I was right! The cups fit me really well though they are better for someone with a little less upper fullness, as the cups are rather closed at top.

The cups are quite deep for a British brand so if Polish bras are out of the question for you and you need deep cups/narrow wires, this is a brand for you. The shape is extremely projected and the uplift is heavenly, although I do prefer a little more subtle look under some clothing. The band features a three hooks and eyes and is one of the most comfortable 30 bands I own, meaning it’s nice and snug but has enough stretch to accommodate fair amount of movement.

Comfort: I am very well aware of how comfy Freya sets can be so my expectations were quite high. The underwires were definitely a bit on the stiffer side and I couldn’t wear the bra for multiple hours first but the wires loosened up a bit after a few wears and now they feel fine. The band and the straps are sturdy so they give me a good amount of support. The material is sturdy mesh that supports the breasts well and it’s not itchy either so I do feel the bra suits my sensitive skin. The straps are full-convertible which is always a plus for you petite and tall girls!

I opted for the panties in a size Small as my butt has grown a bit since last time I bought Freya knickers and it was a great choice size-wise. Freya bottoms usually run a bit large so as I am now between Small and Medium when it comes to panties, the Small fits me spot-on. The back part of the panties is made to prevent any VPL which is great for such a basic but pretty set as this.

All in all I really love my Freyas even though they are rarer goodies in my lingerie wardrobe. I am also ever so grateful for Clara Olivia for sending this set to be, it’s a good staple in my spring wardrobe. The bra costs an affordable £33 and the brief £16,50. The line also includes a thong, a short and a lovely suspender belt. The size range of the bra is incredible and suits both smaller and larger breasts with sizes 28-38 B-J! If you are as pale as me (see, I almost blend into the white wall!) this would be a great “nude” bra to go under those light-coloured spring clothes 🙂

What do you think of the set? Also, if you are GG+ would you like your mesh bras single or double-lined? Let me know in the comments!

Suomeksi: Moikka! Miten teidän joululoma on mennyt? Itse toivun vielä suklaista ja juustoista, mutta muuten olen nauttinut ihan alusvaatteiden täyteisestä ja rauhaisasta joulusta. Nyt arvostelupinoon on kertynyt jo aikamoinen määrä settejä, joten tässäpä olisi teille yksi uusi vaihtoehto esimerkiksi kevään vaaleita trendivärejä ajatellen! Freyan Ooh La La -setin minulle lähetti brittiläinen Evedenin merkkejä myyvä Clara Olivia mutta mielipiteeni ovat luonnolisesti omiani 😉

Minulle Freyan rintsikoista toppaamattomat plunge-mallit ovat tuttuja lähinnä vuosien takaa, sillä mieluisia malleja ei ole sattunut kohdalle sitten Arabellan. Tämä Ooh La La -setti on kuitenkin todella sievä ja mätsää hyvin kalpeaan ihooni, joten ajattelin, että miksipäs ei! Geometriset kuviot tuovat settiin mukavan lisän ja alushousujen saumaton takaosa lisäävät käytännöllisyysaspektia. Ainoa asia minkä ulkonäöstä muuttaisin, olisi kuppien vuoraus niiden alaosassa – tätä vuorausta kun ei ole koissa B-G ja minulle riittäisi vähempikin tuki kupin alaosaan.

Valitsin rintsikoista perinteisen Freya-kokoni eli 65GG:n, sillä olin pannut merkille, että Freyan toppaamattomat liivit ovat usein hieman isohkoja kupeistaan. Malli istuukin melko hyvin, huolimatta siitä että se on selkeästi tarkoitettu hieman alapainotteisemmille rinnoilla. Tämä tarkoittaa sitä, ettei rintojen yläosassa ole niin paljon täytettä kuin minulla 😉 Tuplatissiä ei silti ole näkyvissä, joten kaikki hyvin! Ympärys tuntuu kivan napakalta muttei läheskään niin tiukalta kuin monet muut 65:t. Olkaimet ovat koko matkaltaan säädettävät, joten sopivat monen pituiselle naiselle ongelmitta. Kupit puolestaan ovat melko syvät ja kaarituet kapeahkot, joten mikäli Puolasta tilaaminen tuntuu liian hurjalta, on Freya hyvä vaihtoehto puolalaisille sisaruksilleen.

Kaiken kaikkiaan setti on mukava ja tukeva ja hintakin on Clara Olivialla kohdallaan, 33 puntaa rintsikoista, 16,50 alushousuista. Postikulut Suomeen kustantavat reilun kympin, niinkuin suurimmassa osassa muissakin brittiläisissä nettikaupoissa. Kokojakin löytyy valtava määrä, 60-85 B-J! Tästä mallista löytyy siis myös vaikeasti löydettäviä kokoja kuten 65C ja 60B. Mitä mieltä te olette tästä setistä? 🙂 

Lingerie News 7/14 by 2COP

 

There has been some pretty interesting things going on in the lingerie world lately which is why I decided to put together a monthly “News” feature that would gather all the important happenings together. Hopefully this will keep you posted on things such as new D+ brands, sizing and fit corrections that brands make and events to come in the near future. Enjoy!


New lingerie brands in the scene

I have found a couple of brands you might be interested in which is why I wanted to share them here. I think many of you have heard of Bosom Galore by now but the stunning brand has now created another new style to be introduced next spring and also decided which styles they are launching first. Their first styles will include my personal favourite style Amelia which is a gorgeous pale pink plunge with a beautiful lace overlay (pictured above, image courtesy of Bosom Galore). Can’t wait to try the set on when it is launched! The launch will take place this autumn and if everything goes as planned, it will take place in September.

Another brand called Juliana London has mysteriously burst onto the scene and I say mysteriously cause to be honest, we know nothing about it except it’s targeted to women with small backs and big busts. I will be meeting the owner of the brand in London sometime soon so after that I will hopefully have new info. Juliana London is a luxury brand so if you have any wishes for their size range, materials, designs or pricing, let me know and I will discuss it with the founder!

 
Freya changes their sizing markings

Freya has made the decision to change how their sizes appear on the size tags. This might seem a lot smaller change to most of you but as I work for the lingerie retail I know it’s a massive one for online retailers. The sizes are changed into EU sizing meaning the chart will go as follow: D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L… etc. This means they will be differently displayed on websites and online stores and instead of picking your UK size, you need to convert it to your EU size, eg. GG -> J. Some of the online stores may not be changing this so be careful how the sizes are displayed on web. If there are no double sizes (FF,GG,HH..) they use the EU sizing instead of UK.

A Finnish lingerie online store goes international!

I have worked with a Finnish lingerie online retailer Lumingerie for quite a while now and have some awesome news for those looking for the best selection of British and Polish brands on the scene. Lumingerie has finally decided to go international and has started to prepare for translating their website and making it easier for international customers to approach them. The English version of the website and online store does not have a launch date yet, but as soon as I have more info, I will let you know!

The Moda Birmingham Exhibition is held again next month!

I decided not to take part in Moda this season but what happened? I accidentally booked flight tickets and now I am planning my trip to London and Birmingham. This will mean you will get to see the new ss15 collections fresh from the catwalk and I will report you with the latest trends and best picks! I am especially excited to see what my favourite brands Tutti Rouge, Panache and Gossard have to offer but will visit as many stands as I can during the Sunday. I will also be meeting another lingerie bloggers so you might see them costarring the blog soon 😉

Review of Freya Deco in 30GG – Testissä Freyan Deco

Last year I did a round up of dresses and bras that go together really well when the party season ie May/June comes.Now it’s time to talk about festive undercrackers again; I myself have chosen a bet-safe combo of a high-waisted knickers, my Made in Preston dress and a cobolt blue Freya Deco. I recently got this new ss14 shade of Deco from a Finnish D+ lingerie online store called Lumingerie and I have been testing the set a lot lately while attending several low-key cocktail occasions and also on regular working days. I think many of us know how well Deco suits so many different occasions but here is a review of the classic version of it. If you wanna compare it to the little more feminine Deco Honey, feel free to click here for the review.

The design: Deco is a t-shirt bra with a very low plunging neckline. It’s great under clingy materials and doesn’t show through t-shirts or dresses. I love how great it looks under everything and am very pleased with how Freya changed a little detail recently – they replaced the molded plain edge of the cup with a trimming that should correct the “curving over” effect of the previous models. I feel like it has worked wonderfully for me and there is no fear of the edge curving at all, in fact it’s now completely invisible under most of my clothes.

The colours are always lovely with Decos – I am especially big fan of this cobolt blue version but also adore the Lagoon colourway with its soft fabric and whimsical pattern. I think the blue colour suits so many Finns and is a great basic colour in addition to black and beige. The centre gore and the straps feature little bows that add a little cuteness to the mix and make the bra more feminine. The padding of the bra is quite thick which can put off some people. However, even my mom who hates extra bulk is a devoted fan of Deco for its great shape. I love how round the cups are and the cleavage is a whole another story – it’s truly sensational.

Fit: I got Deco in my regular size 30GG which is cup-wise at the higher end of the spectrum of the size range. I think the bra fits quite like so many other brands such as Panache and Curvy Kate – the sizing is very British, if that is a proper way to put it. There is no spillage at the centre of the cups and the cups suit very well my full-on-top shape. I would say the fit of the bra is very average overall – average width wires, average deep cups and average size band. I think the band is a lot more stretchy than with my Deco Honey and this way a lot more comfy as well. I however don’t agree with the others saying Deco would run a full band size big in the band, to me it feels more like a true to size 30″.

If I could advise Freya to do something a bit differently, I would say the straps are placed a little too far away from each other. I have pretty wide shoulders but still the straps could have been more centred to avoid any slipping off the shoulders. The wire however was really great for me, not too narrow or wide, not too high in the armpits either.

Comfort: The Deco is an everyday t-shirt bra but also a popular choice for big celebrations such as matriculation parties here in Finland. For this reason, it needs to be extra comfy and not cause any irritation on your big day. I found the materials to be really nice with the smooth polyester blend that feels great on my skin. However, as said before the strap placement could have been better and I would actually advise to go for the strapless deco if you don’t want to worry about the straps slipping off your shoulders during the celebrations. The wires are pretty flexible meaning the bra is very easy to move around with and doesn’t a cause a feeling of restriction. Also the panties are quite comfy though I could have definitely gone down a size since the Small fits more like a snug Medium. The material of the panties is the same lovely sleek polyester blend as the bra and feels lovely against my skin.

Have you ever tried Deco and if so, how do you like it? Let me know in the comments!

Disclosure: This set was gifted by Lumingerie for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Suomeksi: Meillä Suomessa alkaa olla juhlakausi hyvin lähellä ja monet etsivätkin hyviä liivejä juhlamenoja varten – kovassa kulutuksessa ovat erityisesti t-paitaliivit ja olkaimettomat. Viime vuonna tein kevätkesällä postauksia hyvistä mekko- ja rintsikkayhdistelmistä mutta nyt esittelyssä olisi oma tämän kevään suosikkikomboni – Made in Prestonin punainen kynämallinen mekko, muotoilevat alushousut ja Freayn koboltin siniset Deco-liivit. Sain Lumingerielta testiin nuo uutukaiset Decot ja ovat kyllä heti muodostuneet hyväksi vaatekaapin peruspilariksi niin arki- kuin juhlakäyttöönkin.

Freyalla on tapana tehdä Decosta joka kausi uusia malleja ja vähän ehostaa vanhoja – niin suosittu se on ympäri maailmaa. Omassakin lähipiirissä Deco-faneja löytyy, mukaan lukien parhaat ystäväni ja äitini. Deco on todella hyvä perusliivi malliltaan, sillä se tarjoaa sileän pinnan vaatteiden alle sekä syvän pääntien, joka sopii syväänuurrettujen mekkojen ja paitojen alle. Freya on nyt uudistanut Decoa siten, että sen reuna on kokonaan sileän ulkomuodon sijaan varustettu ylimääräisellä nauhalla, jonka pitäisi estää reunan kääntyminen ulospäin liivien ikääntyessä. Itselläni tämä pieni fiksaus on toiminut ainakin hyvin eivätkä liivien reuna näy useimpien vaatteiden alta ollenkaan. Väriltään koboltti on kaunis ja sopii hyvin perusvärien mustan ja beigen rinnalle.

Istuvuudeltaan Deco ei petä tälläkään kertaa. Sen hyvänmittaiset kaarituet, sopiva syvyys ja joustava mutta napakka ympärys tuntuvat juuri oikeilta omalle vartalolleni. Kaarituet tuntuvat keskiverroilta ja pitävät sisällään kaiken rintakudoksen karkaamatta kuitenkaan syvälle kainaloon. Kooksi valitsin oman yleisimmän kokoni 65GG ja se istuu melko samalla lailla kuin muutkin brittimerkkien liivit. Deco on siis istuvuudeltaan hyvin samanlainen verrattuna esim. Panacheen, Curvy Kateen ja Tutti Rougeen.

Decot ovat itselleni hyvin mieluiset liivit niin istuvuudeltaan kuin mukavuudeltaankin mutta olkanauhojen paikkaa Freya voisi vielä vähän miettiä. Vaikka allekirjoittaneelta hartioita löytyykin, tuntuu silti että kauas toisistaan laitetut olkaimet tippuvat välillä päivän aikana. Decosta on onneksi kuitenkin myös olkaimeton versio joka on varmasti oiva juuri juhlakäyttöön eikä olkainten tippumisesta tällöin ole ongelmaa. Materiaalit kaikissa Decoissa ovat kuitenkin todella ihanat ja polyester sekoite tuntuu mukavalta vasten atooppista ihoani.

Alushousut tässä setissä ovat melkoisen reilun kokoiset, joten suosittelisin ottamaan koon pienemmät mikäli mahdollista. Itse valitsin koon S, joka on hieman liian suuri ja tuntuu löysältä etenkin pepun puolelta. Muuten alkkaritkin ovat mukavat ja samaa liukasta pehmeän tuntuista kangasta kuin liivitkin.

Decon löydät Lumingerielta ja toimitusaikakin on vain 1-3 päivää, joten vielä ehtii tilata liivit esim.YO-juhliin tai vaikkapa kesähäihin. Kokohaarukka on liiveissä 60-85 DD-GG, hipsterhousuissa XS-XL.

Onko kukaan vielä päässyt Decoa testaamaan itse ja jos on, niin mitä olette tykänneet? Laittakaa kommenttiboksiin viestiä, olisi kiva kuulla myös teidän mielipide tästä klassikosta!

Moda Exhibition – Preview of the AW14 Eveden collections

Hi dear readers! Today I continue previewing the lovely new AW14 collection and next up is the Eveden brands; Freya, Fantasie, Fauve and Elomi. I will be focusing more on the first three since I’m not plus size and have no idea how to review that kind of bras, from a construction point of view. But, I will have a treat for you Elomi-fans in the end of the post since I saw this beeeeautiful bra that I wanna show y’all. 

Freya 

I have always been most fond of Freya when it comes to Eveden brands; it’s their most youthful line with bright colours and quirky prints which makes it a great option for 20-something girls like me. The past couple of seasons however I have not seen that many deligthful designs from them which is why I was super-eager to see if they’d come up with something fun for the AW14 collection – and I was not disappointed. Decos had become even more lovely in their animal prints and bright jewel tones and neon colours had reached the Freya collection as so many others seen at Moda.

The Freya’s best seller Deco range had gained a few more members and renewed some of its old styles into new colourways. What especially caught my eye this season were the amazing Deco Charm in the new Fuchsia shade and also the more everyday look of Deco Spotlight, which I adored for its beautiful lilac shade. I also love how Deco has finally been turned into a animal print version which is a nice welcome to full-bust world. This pattern was also seen in a other collections but maybe in a more evening-wear way. The leopard-print Deco brings a nice sassy addition to one’s everyday look which is what I really like about it.

What really struck me about the Deco range this time was the fact that there was something for everyone; I could easily see me, my mom and my sister wearing certain pieces which is awesome regarding the popularity of the range amongst women of all ages, tastes and styles. Deco is truly an every-occasion style which can camouflage both into everyday and evening-look. In one sentence; all of my friends who I’ve introduced Deco to, have loved it to death.

With their other new styles I really felt like Freya got back to pleasing the young eye; it has all the neon brights and fun prints we are used to seeing from it. I find myself already leaning towards the more adult-appropriate lingerie but to see such nice colourways made me truly happy for those Freya girls who have been waiting for them the past couple of season. I would also say the designs were very girly; something I would have loved to wear as a busty teenager a few years ago.

What really caught my eye from the whole Freya lingerie collection was the new Pansy longline with adorable little violets on it! I would die to get my hands on that bra and am absolutely gutted I still have to wait until autumn to get my mittens on it. However, this design is exactly what my lingerie wardrobe craves – something fun yet quite sexy and feminine. I think the print is gorgeous and trendy and it’s definitely my favourite Freya design of all times (yes, even better than the Arabella!).

Freya Swimwear 

Oh hell yes! With their swimwear collection Freya hit the jackpot since it brings the funky 60’s and 70’s trends to swimwear world as well. I have seen dresses on high street with these kind of prints which is why I loved how Freya had made the perfect pair of bikinis to wear under those retro pieces I have been lusting for. Also the colours were amazing – I love a good portion of red and the shade was so appropriate for summer, a very bright hue with a dash of orange in it. So me!

Fantasie and Fauve are both brands I admire from a far partly because of their more grown-up styling and partly because of their also more grown-up price range. I love Fauve’s Bronte for its luxurious design but must say that I had terrible comfort issues with it according to my excema and bony ribcage. Otherwise my boobs got pretty well on with the fit but that’s about all I can say about Fauve. Lovely designs, just not for me.

Grown-up doesn’t have to mean boring though and I loved some of the styles Fantasie and Fauve presented for next season. I was especially thrilled with the unusual colour combinations and the amazing water colour prints that I saw. These brands are probably not something my super-traditional mom would wear but great for someone in her 30’s – the collections were luxurious but still quite young and fashion-forward with a feminine touch.

 

 

Last but not least Elomi which is very well known and loved in the lingerie-blogging world. I have not been following the brand too keenly because I don’t fit into their size range but this beauty above just stunned me with its sexiness. I love how Elomi had several options for different tastes; something for the wild and something for the sultry. I think this brand just upped their ante and with this design it hit the jackpot and probably will be a popular choice among their target market. I could easily see a couple of my dear friends lusting over this gorgeous design and the padded cups will make it even a more bet-safe hit.

Here were my Eveden favourites, now I’d like to know which ones were yours! Let me know in the comments xx

Diving into SS14 – My lingerie picks from Eveden, Panache & Curvy Kate

AW13 season was quite blunt to me when it came to lingerie and there was not much my regular go-to brands offered to a young fashion-seeking customer. As I went through preview pics of SS14 collections I felt a glimpse of hope since compared to our latest season there was much more innovation and colour involved. Today I’m gonna dive into the offerings of “the big guns” – Freya, Fantasie, Panache & Curvy Kate – and introduce you to my SS14 lingerie favourites.

Freya

Deco Original in Lagoon and Deco Honey in Topaz. I have loved Freya’s Deco range since I first had my Deco on back in spring 2013. The cleavage is phenomenal and the shape outrageously rounded. However I grew out of Deco Honey so this spring I’m on a quest to find myself a new Deco. I will probably go for the Lagoon colourway since it’s definitely something more unique the Deco range has ever provided and this time I’ll be opting for a size 30G. Also I love the Topaz since it is such a bright neon shade. I might be tempted to buy them both…

Fantasie

Elodie in Raspberry, Melissa in Soft Pink, Robyn and Vivienne in Silver. I really think that Fantasie upped their ante this season and delivers some astonishing luxurious styles to us with their SS14 collection. I would probably pick Elodie as my favourite but all the designs above are breathtaking. On the other hand Fantasie’s luxury label Fauve got completely off the track this season and this is why I did not include any designs from the Fauve collection. I don’t own any Fantasie bras yet but would be glad to try some out now that they have come up with new younger styles.

Panache Superbra

Clara in Turkish Delight and Idina Balconette in Blossom. I was a little bit disappointed with Panache’s designs this spring season but this has also something to do with my own taste evolving and getting more “playfully sexy” as I’d describe it. Panache is still a bit too adult and plain to satisfy my desire for unique styles and clashing colourways so maybe the blame is on our age gap. However I found these too styles to be very appealing even though they are not quite my usual style. Clara is super sexy in the new colourway and I love how it somehow reminds me of Indian fabrics and the smell of spices. Idina on the other hand is very sweet retro style that could be a great basic for so many women with fair skin tone.

Cleo by Panache

Lily in Magenta/Orange, Maddie Animal and Marcie in Yellow. Oh Cleo! I have always loved you and my love will never fade since once again you delight me with your incomparable colour combos and fun flirty designs. Though these styles do not scream “sexy” I would definitely describe them playful and funky. I am not always in a very sexy mood (*cough* period *cough*) and this is where I usually enter the fun. I have been drooling over the yellow Marcie since I first heard rumours of it and now that I still need to wait three whole months (!) for it I might just cry. Also I could really do with the new Maddie Animal style since it would be a great addition to my t-shirt bra collection. 

Curvy Kate

The Starlet in Tigerlilly, The Carmen in Rose and The Portia in Lime/Rose. This SS14 I feel like so many lingerie brands got back in the business with a BANG. One of those brands were definitely Curvy Kate which has been a favourite of mine since forever. Sadly AW13 brought nothing new to me and I ended up skipping the CK collection all together. However they are definitely back with one of their strongest collections and I’ll be especially curious to see if I had a better luck with this new Portia colourway. My seafoam Portia unfortunately died after a couple of months of wear so I’m curious to see whether the new Portia will live a little longer. Also the fit of their new collection intrigues me a lot so we’ll see… I’m ready to get surprised 😉

These were my favourite styles for SS14 and I’m hoping to be trying out at least a few of them and add a couple to my lingerie drawers. What styles and/or collections are you most looking forward to for SS14?

Summer dresses special: The body-con dress

This is a dress that makes me feel like Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara: hot and super curvy (which I’m actually not since I don’t own neither a waist NOR hips). And btw, I’m sorry for the gloomy face here in the pics, the sun shone straight into my eye and made them weep so it was reeeally hard to focus on my expression. Anyhow, to the point.. Guess which one of my bras I’m wearing underneath? Surprise: it’s the unrivaled egobooster cleavage bra Deco Honey by Freya! These pictures show you exactly how well it goes under super-clingy dresses like this because of its seamlessness and great lift. 

I usually don’t like to wear this particular dress because of its clinginess that shows all the lumps and bumps (believe, they’re there, I just wasn’t brave enough to show those pics that show them). However, when I do, I must make sure everything is in its right place and that means opting for a seamless plunging bra like Deco and a smoothing slip underneath. Mine is actually from H&M so it’s not that smoothing after all but gives me some security to go out the house. (Make sure to get a proper one.. I will, someday!)

This dress is made of thin jersey so it’s really tricky to pull off without moulded cups. I have two styles in my bra wardrobe (Smoothie and Deco) but Deco was better for this particular neckline. Seamlessness? Check! Great shape? Check! Deep neckline? Check! This bra ticks all the boxes and besides suits many styles of dresses. And there is a major plus for extra vavavoom: it actually adds me some more curves which go well with a sexy style of the dress.