My Retro Closet Experience: Made-to-Order Retro Nighties

I rarely buy lingerie anymore (for obvious reasons, I have no more room in our two-room flat!) but when I do, it’s those pieces that I have considered long and hard. I am actually pretty considerate when it comes to buying pretties: I usually wonder and weigh on my purchases for months and really think hard if I want and need the item in question. I don’t have tons of spare coins and I like good quality clothing that is ethically made, so I save my pennies to buy something absolutely gorgeous or adorable.

So, I decided to make my first lingerie purchase in probably years and invested in a My Retro Closet “Jayne” nightie in red – I just couldn’t resist the ruffles, the adorable shoulder-ties and the way it spoke Xmas to me. Regardless of it being a Christmas season treat to myself, I decided to review it here now as I truly think this piece of heaven deserves a special mention here on my blog.

I have admired My Retro Closet’s pieces for a while and they struck me as something we could have seen on the actresses of Mad Men or in the sleepover scene in Grease – perfect 50’s-60’s style boudoir glamour that look both effortless and sexy. I was first wary about the fit and the look this nightie would give me – I wasn’t sure if it was going to sit nicely on my larger-than-average bust and I was afraid of looking frumpy and shapeless in it. There were also not specific sizes when it came to the Jayne babydoll, which is not usually good for busty ladies like myself. However, the website said it would fit UK sizes 8-16, so I decided to give it a try.

My fears were not in the right at all, as the cut is very generous and would probably fit a plethora of body shapes and sizes. The tie-shoulders help with adjusting the neckline to a height that suits my body (and my mood!) the best. I find the shape rather flattering in its unique way – it’s rather innocent while being so flowy but also a bit naughty as it is a see-through fabric. The see-through aspect of it is not the most obvious which is something I like – I want just a hint of my skin showing through.

My Retro Closet’s own house brand is usually made-to-order, with the exception of some special sale events when the owner (a lovely lady, if I may say so!) sews a few of the most popular styles ready-to-ship. I ordered my Jayne babydoll during a 20% flash sale but yet it was made-to-order – however, I told the owner that I needed the item by a certain date for a special occasion and she made sure to sew and ship it in time, so it arrived in Finland several days before the D-day. I was ecstatic and can only say good things about the customer service! She is also a doll on social media and always replying to her customers questions on there as well.

When the parcel arrived in just a few days after shipping, I was happy to discover a lovely neatly wrapped babydoll in it – and it was even more gorgeous than I had hoped it to be! The quality was impeccable and you could see it was made with love. Some of the best lingerie money I have seriously ever spent (and I have spent quite some…)! The colour was a perfect true red which suits perfectly Christmas, Valentine’s Day and pretty much any day you want to feel sassy and retro.

I am very much of home-type of person – I do like my nights out and going to gym and strolling in the city centre etc, but my bed is literally the best place I know. Preferable with my loved one (don’t you think dirty there!). Even though I got the Jayne nightie for a special occasion, I do find it rather practical as well. Sure, I would never give up my Bambi onesie I got from Disneyland – after all I got proposed in it! – but I also sometimes like to feel a bit feminine without giving up my comfort either. This is where the Jayne comes in – it makes me feel so sexy yet not exposed nor uncomfortable at all.

Depending on the time you order, the made-to-order items at My Retro Closet take about 2-6 weeks to sew and ship. So if you have a day you need them on, please make sure to order in time and leave the owner a note! The Jayne range also features a bralette and panty set I very much have my eyes on – I am just hesitant to make a purchase because of my bust size. However, I have ordered some other items from them and they have always been beautiful and great quality. This store and it’s lovely owner get a huge thumbs up from me! If you are interested in your very own Jayne, it costs £75. However, they do have regular sales for a few % off if you are on a budget! And even on regular price, I can tell the products are totally worth it 😉

Sleepwear Worth of Sleeping Beauty – Review of Gossard “Elegance”

When it comes to sleepwear, there are occasions when I see something really pretty, get my hopes up but unfortunately my boobies turn out to be a bit too big for the beauties I have laid my eyes on. This is exactly what happened with the “Elegance” sleepwear range that Gossard sent me a few weeks ago – what pretty pink shades, what a lovely rose petal print! And when the parcel arrived at my door and the skivvies were on, I huffed and puffed for a moment because the garments just didn’t fit my 30GG/H bust. What a bummer! In these occasions I usually always do the same thing – I ring my friend Jo to “help” me (aka release me from the agony of owning too small pretty things) and there again she was, turning something that didn’t work on me into pure magic. Here are a few notes and pics of the lovely Gossard “Elegance” slip, cami and the french knicker which are part of the Gossard SS15 collection.

  
To start off we perhaps need to mention Jo’s bra size which is usually something around 28F or 30E (with the expception of Gossard bras fitting in 30DD). She is quite tiny all over and wears a UK size 8 (EU 34, US 4) with underbust measurement of roughly around 28″. The Elegance comes in UK sizing, sizes 8-16 which translates roughly to 34-42 in EU sizes (excluding France, Spain and Italy). Even though I am usually a size 10 and Jo a size 8, I did feel the Elegance sleep range does run a bit small so the 10 fitted Jo quite comfortably without much extra looseness. The fabric (which is mostly polyester and elastane) is rather stretchy so you might get away with your regular UK size but just be aware that this way it will be quite clingy!

The bust area of the Cami and the Slip feature lovely stretch lace which is very soft and forgiving for different bust sizes but with size 10, I wouldn’t recommend anyone with above 30F wearing this, unless you don’t mind a very odd shape to your bust line. Even with the stretch lace, the top part squishes a bigger bust to very sad droopy boobs and this is definitely not ideal for support nor aesthetics! This however, is not the fault of the product but something that us GG+ have to get used to now and then. Up to F though, the slip and the cami should do their job fine and the bust area certainly looks great with Jo’s 28F full-on-bottom breasts.

The colour scheme of the set is very pale but even with our Finnish practically white skin tones, it does work pretty anyways. Some people are convinced that pink and red/ginger hair don’t go well together but I disagree on that too – I think the pale pink is a marvelous companion to Jo’s light ginger bob! The print is very unique and on-trend considering that water-colour and painting-like prints have been really “in” for a couple of years or so. Nevertheless, the print is by no means restless and seems like a pretty suitable option for someone wanting either pretty bedroom or loungewear.

When it comes to practicality, the Elegance range does seem to suit boudoir or lounge purposes better than actually sleeping in. Both of us sleep pretty much butt naked or in old longjohn’s (yap, I said it) so for actually sleeping in, these wouldn’t be neither of us’ first choice. However, if you are in a mood of looking/feeling a bit prettier in the morning/evening and feel like slipping into something luxurious, Elegance is a very good quality choice for an affordable price. The slip retails for £32, the cami for £28 and the french knicker for £21. As opposed to some other high-end or even pricier high street brands, this is a fair price for something a bit more special for your loungewear. However, the range does include a lovely plunge bra up to E-cup and some skimpier bottom choices as well, so if you love the print but are not a big fan of sleep/loungewear, you can invest in something a bit more practical as well 😉

What do you think of the Elegance range? Do you wear pretty sleepwear on regular or is it just an occasion-kinda-thing? Let me know in the comments!

Moda Exhibition 2015: Cyberjammies SS15 + AW15 Collections

A week ago I had the pleasure of going to Moda Exhibition to see all the lovely autumn/winter 2015 collections all my beloved lingerie brands had been preparing for so long. I was about to skip the Moda this time but fate intervened in my plans a bit and I was asked to take part in the Moda lingerie panel discussion – so how could I say “no”? I asked Anna from Bras and Body Image if I was welcomed to stay with her again (she lives near Birmingham) and to my great happiness, she had a spare bedroom for the very weekend. Last week I packed my bags and was ready to visit my home-away-from-home again!

This time I was lucky enough to be strolling around Moda for two whole days which lead me to meet so many new brands I had not heard of before and one of my best discoveries was definitely Cyberjammies. As I have not covered sleepwear that much apart from Gossard and Charnos, I was happy to get to know a great alternative to my boudoir and thermal wear I had been introduced to before.

It is actually a miracle on its own I had not heard of Cyberjammies before – they have a very wide footing around the globe and are also sold on several big online lingerie stores such as my fave Figleaves. Looking at their size chart, they are also actually pretty damn full-bust friendly as their size 10 woven top does not fit a standard bust measurement of 34″ but a bust of 38,5 inches. To me this is definitely a huge plus and I would love to see how this works in practice!

In addition to what seems to be a very forgiving size chart, the brand clearly takes care of the comfort and style aspects of their products. I usually just browse around Moda very hastily (I assure you one day is not enough to see it all, the Panache stand itself steals a good hour of my time!) but as I walked past the Cyberjammies stand I just had to stop and take a good look at their fabulously cute prints and vintage-inspired styling. Those roses, birdies and check prints – so very traditional yet fresh at the same time. Also the colour schemes were super refreshing compared to so many other sleepwear ranges – this brands wants to offer something on-trend in addition to your regular pastels.

Also the comfort aspect seems to be a key to Cyberjammies – of course, it’s a sleepwear line and you’d never wear something scratchy or sweaty to bed, would you! With my extensive skin problems I am always on a look out for comfy yet stylish sleepwear that would fit my curvy figure which is actually a pretty hard thing to find (best regards, “Laying in my bed, hating my bad-quality Primark tee”). As I asked about the materials, the brand rep was quick to point out that most of their jammies are not made out of pure cotton as it is not always the most soft and comfy material on its own. Most of Cyberjammies are made of different cotton blends or eg. modal to make their sleepwear extra soft against even the most sensitive skin types. This was a big relief to me, as soft breathable materials are my best friend for lounging around.

Cyberjammies are made in a few different styles to ensure that everyone gets what they look for: it might a pretty robe, classic pyjamas or perhaps a relaxed nightshirt. Surely there is plenty of room in one’s wardrobe for each though! There are also different lengths of sleeves and bottoms, which makes the brand versatile and suitable for many climates. I am cold-feet by day but nights can get literally quite steamy which is why I feel like my wardrobe is definitely in need of a couple of different styles from these bad boys!

Cyberjammies come in a great size range of UK 8-22 and the prices are bang-on as well (about £40-45 for pyjamas). Pyjamas can be bought even as a set or you can choose to mix and match the kind of tops and bottoms you feel the most comfortable in. If you would like to take a look at their current collection and maybe snatch up a beauty or two, Cyberjammies has their own online store which ships worldwide with reasonable shipping rates.

Let me know how you like Cyberjammies and if you have tried them already! I am always pleased to hear about your thoughts 😉 xx