Moda Lingerie Preview: Best of Lepel, Charnos & Lepel London

Hiya everyone! My trip to Paris is drawing close and I would still like to preview a few collections before we move on to AW17. Today I am bringing you some of my favourites from Lepel, which is an all time favourite for small- and full-busted gals on a student budget.

LEPEL

Soooo, I’m trying this pic collage thing out, don’t judge me! I just thought it may be a more compact way of showing my favourites. If you want to see the designs in more detail, I think you just need to click on the individual pic on the collage.

This year’s Lepel core collection wasn’t one of their biggest, but they revamped a couple of their basic styles with new colour combinations and introduced two new styles, Poppy (obviously the one with the Poppy print) and Maisy (the lacy one with a raspberry tone). Interestingly, the Poppy looks very similar to something we already know – the Tutti Rouge first edition Betty, which was exactly in the same print as this one, with a slightly different colour scheme. I am not saying this is a copy, but I do think this is not a very original design from Lepel, which is a bit disappointing. However, I do like the print still and it will be a nice option for young gals on a budget who want to have the same look as with the TR Betty, but can’t find it in the Poppy print anymore.

The Maisy on the other hand is a rather beautiful little number and reminds me a lot of the Charnos collection. The Lepel team told us that the collections are and will be more linked to each other from now on and this is clearly visible when looking at the whole collection range.

The styles that got revised yet again were the Lilly (in the sparrow print) and Fiore, which have been winners in the market for a long time. I am pretty excited for the Fiore bodysuit myself and will be happy to tell you that it will go up to G-cup! All of the styles pictured above will be available in a size range of 30-38 B-G, with some of them including A-cups in band sizes 32-36. I think this is pretty impressive for a such an affordable brand and do keep in mind that their cups run a bit on the larger side usually! The Lepel team is continuing their trend of two-toned Fiore, which I love, and I am excited to see what they have come up for autumn – teal and purple, perhaps?

LEPEL SWIM

“Sailor” and Aloha, sizes 30-38 B-G

“Flower Power” bikini and swimsuit, “Tropics” swimsuit and bikini & “Deckchair” bikini

When Lepel core collection seems to shrink a bit year by year, Lepel Swim is alive, growing and well. They must be doing something right as their swimwear collection is and has always been one of the biggest and the prettiest I have seen on the market during the past four years! There is something for almost every taste – pretty florals, sporty mesh and net materials, stripy pinup styles.

My personal favourites from the collection were the stripy Sailor (which comes in a swimsuit, moulded triagle bikini going up to G-cup and a regular wired balconette bikini) and the rather classic yet a bit exotic Tropics, which is the black style with colourful tropical flowers on it. The best part of Lepel Swim collection is that it too is very size-inclusive and offers multiple bikini top and bottom options within one style. As you can see, the Tropics comes in a padded bikini and a swimsuit, both going up to G-cup.

Regarding sizes, the Lepel Swim collection has been generous towards us full-busted gals – most of their styles come in UK cup sizes and up to G-cup, with the exception of three styles going up to H-cup this time! This is fantastic news and a good start for the brand to start adding more sizes to their collection. H-cups will be available eg in the Flower Power print seen above and made in a non-padded halter-style wired bikini top.

LEPEL LONDON

“Charlie” black bodysuit and wired bra set; “Bea” triangle bra set; “Sophia” bodysuits in blue, red and ivory; “Caitlyn” triangle bra set; “Tamara” in Ivory

Lepel London was such a tease, as always, as they only carry cup sizes with some of their styles and when the products are cup-sized, they only go up to UK D- or F-cup. Every season I wait for a size expansion and it never really comes! Maybe this time? If it happens, I will be the first to report you!

The one style that I still love is the Tamara, which goes up to F-cup but this season, the clear winner of the show was the Charlie, pictured at the very top. This combo of a bodysuit and bra set (only going up to D-cup though…) is absolutely breath-taking and I love the corset lacing detail at the back. It’s such a beautiful shape so I hope you small-busted girls will snatch it up and I can live vigorously through you…

The bodysuits in general are aesthetically the strength of the Lepel London collection as they look pretty luxe but are still quite affordable. The one weakness this collection may have is the size range though – and I am not even talking about cup sizes. Most of Lepel London pieces are made in UK sizes 6-14 which is US 2-10, and in my opinion, they are ruling out many plus size customers with this decision. I would increase the sizing up to 18, which is only two sizes bigger, and I think it would still make a huge difference.

CHARNOS

Bailey Bridal set (32-38 B-G); Sienna in Ivory/Gold (30-38 B-J); Suzette in Rose (30-38 B-J),Olivia in Black (30-38 B-E); Violet in Ivory (32-40 C-J)

Nothing super new on the Charnos front; the Charnos collection seems to be mainly about recolouring their old favourites such as Rosy, Violet and Suzette and the colour scheme stays rather muted and light. The Violet is once again one of my favourites, as it is the perfect everyday bra for girls who need G+ sizes and bigger bands. I also really like the new bridal set as it seems like a more rounded option than Charnos’ previous strapless styles. The one stand-out selling point of this range is the size range – there is only two styles that don’t go up to J-cup, which is phenomenal taking into consideration that Charnos started with only a couple of G+ styles a few seasons ago.

All in all, I really like the SS17 Lepel collection family, though I wish they would concentrate more on unifying the size ranges across all of their collections. The bodysuits seem to be on trend now so I am really looking forward to seeing their new collections and whether there will be more in bigger cup sizes available in the future.

Hope you enjoyed this preview and are excited see what’s up with the Paris show in just two weeks! I will try to post stuff straight from the show so do follow me on Facebook and Instagram at @2cakesonaplate to see the gems of the show!

Lingerie Review: Lepel “Lyla” in 36DD

Hi dear gals! March is already here and spring is around the corner – meaning some of us will be wearing lighter-coloured clothing and starting to reach for lighter-coloured bras as well (at least if your skin tone is light). Tis the season of women going on endless hunts of the perfect nude bra to wear under those crips white t-shirt and blouses – so we are bringing you an option for you pale babes out there! Today our guest reviewer will be the ever-so-lovely Miss T, who I asked to review something on the blog to bring more body diversity into 2COP’s array. Miss T is a gorgeous raven-haired gal who usually wears a UK 36DD-E and is giving you her thoughts about the Lepel “Lyla” in Beige today.

The Design: Lyla belongs to the basic offering of Lepel and comes in beige, black, white and French Navy colour. We thought about showing this beige option here on the 2COP as it is something that pale-toned women like ourselves would appreciate – it’s the perfect shade of pale beige for Miss T, not too pink, not too yellow but a creamy neutral shade. The styling of the Lyla is quite simple yet pretty with the smooth cups, cute bow at the front and some lace on the bra band to make the design more feminine. This was exactly what T was looking from her basic beige bra so she was very happy with the looks!

The shape of Lyla is a traditional Lepel moulded balconette which personally doesn’t suit me at all – I have tried the Lilly, which is a similar shape and unfortunately the fit wasn’t the best for someone with upper fullness. However, Miss T’s shape is quite different from mine; her breasts are more on the shallower side, meaning there is no need for super deep cups or narrow wires. The shape of the bra is very rounded yet natural and looks like a great affordable option for a beige t-shirt bra.

The Fit: With size, it is always a bit of hassle to come to a conclusion when the person hasn’t tried a specific brand before. Miss T had a little bit of experience with Lepel a couple of years back when she ordered the plunge Fiore from Figleaves – and sadly it didn’t fit at all size-wise! Her breast size hasn’t changed much in these years and with my experience of Lepel fitting tight in the band and big in the cup, we decided to go for a 36DD. Unfortuntely I did not remember that Lepel’s Lilly (Lyla’s printed sister) was a bit looser on the band so with Lyla as well, Miss T could have easily gone down to 34. This however, is a preference thing as well – I like my bands quite comfortable and T prefers hers very snug. The 36 is wearable but for longevity of the bra, the 34 might have been a better option.

The cups are quite the right size for Miss T, even though her left boob (which is usually the bigger one!) is bulging a tiny bit when standing up with a good posture. This is something that happens quite often with moulded bras – the bra doesn’t stretch or conform to your breast shape but tries to mould your breasts into the shape of the bra. Otherwise the cups fit quite nicely – the width and depth of the cups is pretty much perfect for Miss T and the coverage is low enough to be practical under most regular t-shirts and blouses.

Comfort: For comfort Lyla gets a clear A! This set is great for everyday wear and for long working days – the materials are super soft and smooth and the wires don’t chafe or poke Miss T at all. The straps are fully adjustable meaning it’s a great option for shorter girls as well. The straps do fall off the shoulders now and then so if you are very narrow, that might be something to think about. The band is quite stretchy which is something to think about fit-wise but is also a pro when you think about comfort – I personally prefer stretchy bands as they allow for more movement.

The bottoms are a size 18 and a bit too large for Miss T – usually Lepel bottoms run true to size but the Lyla briefs are made of very stretchy lace and Polyamide/Elastane combo so if you are between sizes, we would advice to size down. The rise is quite high so something Miss T prefers and finds comfortable for everyday wear. If you don’t like as much coverage, there is also the option of Brazilian brief which is perfect under the most skinniest jeans and pencil skirts!

The Lyla goes up to only E-cup so it’s a great option for more smaller and average-sized ladies – the size range also includes eg sizes 30B and 30C which are quite hard to find anywhere. This could definitely be a great first bra for a young girl, so take note moms! If you would like to order your own Lyla, you can do so on the Lepel online store. The balconette bra sets you back at affordable £24 and the briefs at £12. How cool is that?!

How are you preparing for spring? Do you see a shift in your bra preferences? Let me know in the comments!

SIL Tradeshow: Lepel, Charnos & Lepel London AW16 Collections

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

LEPEL

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

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

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

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

CHARNOS

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

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

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

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

LEPEL LONDON

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

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

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

SS16 Swimwear Roundup – aka My Personal Wishlist!

I am going on a summer vacation for the first time in 14 years. Yap, like a real beach kinda holiday, which is really weird for me as I usually travel to city destinations in the winter time and actually really enjoy. However, a few months ago I kinda blurted out to my mother-in-law that I reaaaaallly needed a proper beach resort holiday and there we were, booking a holiday after a few minutes of conversation. We decided on a lovely city/beach resort of Split, which is located in Croatia, as we really wanted to go somewhere where we could enjoy culture, good food and just relaxing in a nice warm climate.

So, it has been a while since I have actually needed a swimsuit – regardless I do have a few of them, but ya know, why not look for a special one for this occasion. As we browsed through the collections at Moda last August, I did see quite many intriguing little DD+ ensembles, so I would love to share my favourites with you in a form of a wishlist/roundup – who knows, one of these might actually be the one for my holiday in May!

Curvy Kate “Siren” One-Piece

I believe I haven’t really gone through the CK SS16 collection at all, so here’s a lovely sneak peek of what’s coming next from this all-time favourite! The Siren swimsuit is a padded one-piece with detachable straps and adjustable sides at the bottom part of the suit. It features an amazing bright colour and scallop-like detailing which makes it perfect for real-life mermaids like myself! This style is up to J-cup.

Lepel “Hawaii” Bikini

I love Lepel’s swim range – they seem to make so many lovely swim styles each season that I cannot really keep up with them! I had real difficulties picking just one favourite from their collection but ended up with this Hawaii-style which is a cute colourful Tiki-sorts of print with tiny little Hawaiian pinups on it! The shape is very trendy as well – as you can see, it is the same sweetheart neckline that is featured on the Curvy Kate style above. This range goes up to G-cup and as we know that Lepel runs quite large in the cup, I could really give this one a try!

Moontide “Victory” Freedom Twist Suit

Moontide has come out with another strong collection and this time, it’s about clashing colours and graphic prints. I really liked this photorealistic print of the Victory range and even though this particular style does not come in cup sizes, I have heard that this “Twist”-style one-piece is a very full-bust appropriate even in regular dress sizes.

Panache “Britt Stripe” Bikini

The Britt is a Panache classic that has been tweaked a few times and this time comes in a sailor-like navy and white stripe print. I personally became a huge fan of the high-waisted briefs that come with the range and luckily, can also fit into the top as it goes up to H-cup in this halter-neck style. Most Cleo bikini tops stop at G-cup which is a pity to me, but I could easily imagine enjoying this bit more classic style as opposed Cleo’s clashing colours and bold prints. Glam pinup style designs for the win!

Pour Moi “Pineapple” Bikini

All my nearest and dearest know that I have a slight obsession with pineapple prints – which is quite funny cause I reeeeaaally dislike the taste and texture of real pineapple! This cute-ass bikini is by Pour Moi and I am absolutely in love with every aspect of it – it’s navy and pink combo, pineapple printed and comes with adorable ruffly high-waisted bottoms! What’s not to like?? Pour Moi goes up to G-cup so I might want to try their 32G at some point.

Here’s my top 5 of SS16 swimwear – how did you like it? Are you going on a beach holiday someday soon? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Moda Exhibition: Preview of Lepel & Charnos SS16 + Lepel London AW15 Collections

Ah, Lepel. You always manage to steal my heart somehow, whether it comes to new shapes, colours or prints, you are my one true love and this new SS16 season changes nothing. Yes, you did cheat me this time with not making my size in some of your most fabulous styles but I will forgive you as my love is unconditional.

Haha, that’s it for the love letter but strictly speaking, Lepel did up their anté again this season which always seems to surprise me as I definitely thought they could not have done better after this summer’s fabulous styles (such as the Minnie) – but they certainly did. I also feel like the summer season is always a bit stronger for Lepel – they do lovely summery prints on their core styles but also, their swim is the one that really impresses me time after time. This time, there was also one lovely surprise in store to make the new season a jackpot – a completely new range called Lepel London. To learn more about each of their range and my personal faves, keep reading! (All styles go up to G unless stated otherwise, also this is not the complete collection because that would have made a heck of a long post!)

LEPEL

  
Fiore Full-Cup, Fiore Plunge, Lilly Rosette, Daisy, Victoria Balconette, Victoria Moulded Plunge (up to F) & Matilda

The Lepel core collection consists of some of their oldies-but-goodies in new colourways but also some more recent additions to their basics such as Fiore. Personally I am always up for new cuts and shapes but this time, I was instantly smitten with the apple green shade of Fiore and will sure be giving this old lady (hehe) a try when the new colourways launch. Lepel had adopted lovingly the new orange/pink colour trend for SS16 which is actually one of my ultimate favourite combos of all time. The Victoria, another older style of Lepel, will be available in this candy-like combination next spring and I will be sure to get my hands on it!

The Lilly Rossette is a fun take on Lepel’s basic balconette bra and the fit is also revised this time, so I am intrigued to see how it does after some alterations. In fact, I am quite impressed with this specific style with Lepel, as it always comes in such vibrant and surprising prints for each season, this AW season including a fun strawberry print (a must-have for me!). When it comes to newer styles, the turquoise Daisy is a lovely plunge option for us fuller busted ladies as well and if the blue hue is not your thing, it will also be available in white. The lace of Daisy looks fresh and young and the style seems a good basic addition to accompany the older Fiore style.

CHARNOS

Violet (up to J), Sienna (up to J), Cherub & Bailey

As Steve (the very charming head of marketing at Lepel!) mentioned last time we went to Moda, Charnos and Lepel collections have started to become more alike, with some designs overlapping the collections a bit style-wise. This was even more clear with Charnos this time, with Sienna being the star of the show with it’s graphic jungle print and stunning colour combination of yellow, green and bluebell. I have personally never been a huge fan of Charnos but with the new younger prints and sexier shapes, I am definitely intrigued to try something from the collection. Also the materials seem very on point with this particular collection – I mean, who doesn’t love stretch lace? (We all know that I am a fan!)

Even though Charnos has now taken a bit younger approach to their collections, the shapes and styles remain mostly very classic and appropriate for a more mature taste. There are also some very popular trends shown in this SS16 collection, including what I call the “Marie Antoinette vibe” – think pale lace, ruffles and light-coloured wallpaper prints. The Bailey, which is a completely new style for Charnos, fits the bill exactly and is a lovely more romantic option for the Charnos fan, if the loud prints are not your cup of champagne. Also, who doesn’t love tassels?! Tassel panties, y’all, everyone should own a pair.

LEPEL SWIM
       
Sun Kiss, Riviera, Venice Beach, Surf Balconette & Bandeau (UK 8-16), Hawaii, Sunset (UK 8-18), Helena & Lagoon Bandeau (UK 8-18) + Swimsuit (UK 8-18)

With Lepel Swim, I always pretty much go “Come to Mama, all of you!” because DAMN these designs are awesome. I don’t even know where to start as there are literally so many favourites in this swim collection. There is something for everyone: sport luxe style, Tiki pinup style, fabulous prints and colours with some more solid & classic styles as well. What really hit me hard were the Surf and Venice Beach balconette bikini tops which were fantastically styled with some contrasting trims and summery colour combos. However, if I would pick something to suit my everyday style, I would go for the Hawaii bandeau bikini because OMG LITTLE TIKI PINUPS, can I just die??? This style could definitely do with a high-waisted bottom option as I can imagine many modern day pinup girls enjoying this print.

When talking about new shapes, Lepel Swim has now introduced a moulded triangle bikini top up to G which seems very promising from what I have seen of it. The specific style is called Riviera which comes in tankini and a mini-longline bikini top as well but the triangle top is a totally new innovation to me at least – or has anyone else heard of an unwired triangle bikini top up to G-cup? I don’t think so! Even though the style is quite basic to my taste as least, I would love to try out this little number just for the science – these tatas haven’t seen a triangle bikini in years! On the model though the style looked really nice and the shape was fairly rounded yet natural.

LEPEL LONDON
       
Claudia (up to DD), Paloma in Black and Red (up to D), Tiff in Orange and Baby Blue (up to D), Georgie longline & padded bra (up to D), Chelsea Diamond in Black and Turquoise and Tara (up to DD)

Now, if the Swim didn’t blow your mind, this certainly will. The Lepel London range is something that was created for this AW15 season in collaboration with ASOS to offer the Lepel customer something a bit more hip and young, trendy and sexy at the same time. The collection features a lot of key trends for the fall and upcoming spring season as well –  strappy styling, orange and blue tones, longline cuts and eyelash lace. Super-duper stunning, to say the least!

What really did put me off with the range was the cup sizes though – up to DD?! How dare you! I think I actually told Steve to fuck off at this point when I heard they wouldn’t be going up to G (yap, that professional I am…how awkward) BUT to my excitement, ASOS really pushed the brand with the size range and it will expand in the future. The SS16 collection of Lepel London will include F-cups and MAYBE, POSSIBLY the G-cups will be introduced later in AW16. I was kinda promised that. And team Lepel, I will literally murder you if that does not happen! (haha, JK…) Cause yes, that much of a fan I am of this collection.

What really stands out to me with this collection is how it takes all of the key trends and mixes them in with a great fit and affordable prices. These pieces are not supposed to be the “luxury” range of Lepel, but a more fun, on-trend version of their original style for the same price point. This makes it affordable to any uni student out there – even Jo, the goddess of saving herself, stated that she would buy some of the pieces from the collection in a heartbeat as with such a beautiful product and a low price – why not? If not for the necessity, then just for the fun.

How do you feel about the new Lepel collections? Are you as excited about Lepel London as me? I would love to hear your opinions, so let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Exhibition Favourites – Curvy Kate AW15 Collection!

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

THE BASICS

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

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

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

EVERYDAY FASHION OPTIONS

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

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

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

  
Dita, Tease, Jewel, Temptress and Bardot

NIGHTTIME NAUGHTIES

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

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

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

Lepel Swim “Minnie” Range – Swimwear for a True Pin-Up Diva

First of all, I have to start this post with a little (or actually a massive) disclosure. I have been struggling with my body image for years and even after recovering from anorexia, I am still nervous about people’s views on my body. It took me an INCREDIBLE amount of courage to post pictures of myself with my tummy and everything on show and this is why I ask you to kindly keep your opinions to yourself if you don’t like what you see. I think all of you have heard the phrase “If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself” 😉 Thank you in advance of taking my mental health into consideration!

Now, onto the actual post! When I first saw the Minnie swimwear range at the Moda exhibition at the Lepel stand last August, I wanted to run away with every piece of it and never look back. Literally, I screamed of excitement and everyone at the stand must have thought that this girl is pretty nuts. You know this happens to everyone – you just see something so YOU and you can’t help but make a little happy-dance to celebrate it. Fast forward to this spring and I was talking to Lepel about this and that and BOOM – they decided to gift me the whole Minnie range for me to review at the blog. Imagine my delight – it was obviously a happy-dance time again! Here are my thoughts on the whole range… (Btw, if anyone wonders, I made the hair flower piece myself.)

The Minnie One-Piece Swimsuit

I don’t go swimming an awful lot as I find myself pretty bad at it – I just never really learned the best techniques and opted for running, dancing and gym as my choice of sports instead. But when I do visit a public swimming pool for actual working out purposes, I do prefer a one-piece to give me the best support and the minimal risk of falling out of my swimwear when being a bit more active. Also, I hate the kind of sporty swimsuits that give zero support to my breasts and usually look really outdated as well. In one sentence: I like my swimsuits supportive AND pretty. This is exactly why I love Minnie: it features sturdy underwires, great cut, padded cups and an option to wear it as a halter neck or a strapless version. Not to mention how cute the whole ensemble is!

As I have worn Lepel quite a bit during the last year or so, I knew my best bet for the size would be 32G. This was spot-on as per usual and I was very happy with how big the cups were – almost a bit too big for me! I would say the real UK size of the swimsuit would be closer to a 32GG-H so this is definitely good news for people who thought they could not fit into the Lepel size range. The cups have a pretty vintage-like shape to them so if you like super rounded cups, this might not be for you! I however LOVED the styling and the fit so the piece was absolutely perfect. The band (there is a separate one!) and lower part of the swimsuit felt like a regular 32 and as someone between 30 and 32 bands at the moment, I could have had it a bit sturdier but the swimsuit does its job nevertheless.

The Minnie Bikini Top and Skirted Pant

Y’all, this bottom is the BOMB. I am not a huge bikini person as I have a bit of a tummy and it’s the part I am a bit insecure of. However, I really did forget all that when wearing this combo: it’s so perfect at hiding my cookie pouch line that I praise hallelujah for it each time I put it on. Also, how freaking cute is it?? I mean, skirted. red. bikini bottom. Enough said, to me at least! I felt like a true mermaid when floating around in it at the pool and it’s also the comfiest little number I have worn for swimming. The rise is perfect, the colour is perfect and the styling is PER-FECT. As you might have guessed by now, this one was definitely my top favourite of all the bottoms included in the range.

When it comes to the bikini top, the sizing is a bit different from the swimsuit in one thing you definitely need to consider when buying: the band is TIGHT. I mean, I would say the 32 fits more like a very snug 30, meaning it’s not the easiest to close if you are more of a true 32-band gal. However, if you do buy a size too snug, I would suggest rinsing the band before putting it on – this will give the band more stretch and will make it easier to close the clasps. Again, the cups are very generous and the bikini top can be worn both halterneck or strapless. Both ways work for me fine and even as a strapless the suit and the bikini top stay put without readjusting them every 5 minutes 🙂

The Folded Bikini Bottom and the Bikini Brief

If the skirted pant is not your thing – a little too cutesy or young – there are other options as well that you can consider when opting for Minnie. I received the folded bikini pant and the bikini brief and even though they haven’t been as popular with me, I can see a whole lot of girls and women choosing to go with their more laid-back, subtle look. The folded pant is very low-cut so take that into consideration if you are opting between the two! The bikini brief is not cut as low and features a matching red bow instead of the red fold edge. Both are real cute and match the top equally well but still, the skirted bottom wins my heart over 10-0. All of my bottoms were a UK size 10 and fitted my 39″ hips very well.

What do you think of the range darlings? Are you as smitten with it as me? Also, do you prefer a one-piece or a bikini? Let me know in the comments! If you wish to get yourself your very own Minnie bikini set or a swimsuit, you can now buy them online at Lepel’s online shop. If your size isn’t listed there, I am sure other online stores will be stocking them soon enough as well. To mention one stockist, Very.co.uk already has the range sold on their site! The one-piece (UK size 30-38 B-G) sets you back at £40, the bikini top (UK sizes 30-38 B-G) at 30£ and the bottoms ( UK sizes 8-18) £14-18 depending on the style you go for. Not too bad, huh? 😉

My 2nd Blogiversary: Lepel Lingerie & Swim Giveaway

One of the best lingerie and swimwear brands for hip students on budget is definitely Lepel. I awarded the Lepel “Iris” as my go-to comfy bra of 2014 and now you have a chance to win some sweet comfortable lingerie or swimwear for yourself! Lepel is offering one lucky reader a set of lingerie or swimwear of their choice. The styles available are Fiore in Electric Blue (sizes A-G), the Rosie (sizes B-J) and swimwear ranges Minnie (pictured above, sizes B-G), Disco (sizes B-G) and Seaside Fever (sizes B-G). The prize is subject to availability.

To enter the giveaway, just follow the link below and the instructions on Rafflecopter. The only mandatory task to enter is commenting on this blog post by answering the question I have set up on the Rafflecopter widget. Other tasks will gain you more entries and increase your chance of winning 😉

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b8/?

When it comes to the rules of the raffle, all of our giveaways will run until 22nd of February 2015, 12 am (GMT). The winners will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter and announced on my blog soon after the raffle closes. If a winner fails to claim their prize within a week’s time of announcement, there will be another winner drawn. Now, get entering and good luck! xx

The Best Of 2014 – My Year in Bras

Hi everyone! So sorry I have not posted in while again, Finland is reeeeeally dark right now so taking pictures is almost impossible. Not to worry though! The sun came out to play first time in forever today so tomorrow will hopefully be a good day to shoot. Tomorrow is also first day of school (well, my first uni lecture of the year) so I am sure to take some proper pictures in the morning in my fresh makeup and hair.

Before we go into the real topic of this post, I will make announcement about February. I had decided not to enter Moda Lingerie Exhibition this time but as it turns out, I have been asked to take part in a discussion panel on Tuesday so of course I couldn’t say no. If I get any video footage I will post it up here as well! Also, this means I will be posting about the new collections for AW15 and I am so excited. So February will most definitely be my month of very prolific blogging, I promise you that.

Well, onto my real topic, I will be discussing the best bras of 2014 and where you can still find them if you’d like to take advantage of the final sales. Let’s see what I’ve picked!

The Looker of the Year

As I am very looks-obsessed person I shall start with the one I loved the most looks-wise this year. The Ewa Michalak “PL Slowianki” (click for the review!) made my summer and it was killer combination with my red Urkye dress. The red comes up so vibrant and I love the print, the lace and cut all so much I can’t really compare it to any other plunge bras I have tried. I also really liked the detachable padding as my boobs are a-symmetrical. EM online store still has some of these left in stock so if you have your size listed, give this one a try! If not, why not check out their other gorgeous PL styles? 😉

The Most Comfortable of the Year

I have to say the Lepel “Iris” (click for the review!) was not on my comfy list at first but after a few wears the wires loosened up and now, the bra is my go to choice for a comfortable evening at home. The materials feel so soft against my skin and the cups are made of amazing stretch lace that accommodates any size fluctuations I might go through. I tell you, this bra is pure perfection and it’s super affordable too – it’s only under £16 at Brastop and a tenner at Figleaves! Both have only a few sizes left but if you are willing to pay the full 25 quid, you have an array of colours to choose from.

The Boudoir Bra of the Year

It was hard to choose only one from Gossard as they deserve a title of Boudoir Brand of the Year but as I am singling out bras here, I decided the Temptation set (click for the review!) is definitely a winner. The bra construction is very unusual for a bra going up to G-cup and the lace, the print and the demi-cup shape form a combination that whispers pure seduction. The set also includes a lovely waspie waist-cincher which makes this set a friend of any pinup gal in the bedroom. If you fancy buying this set for a little Valentine’s Day surprise for yourself or/and your OH, you can snatch it up on the Gossard online store for a reduced price for £25 for the bra and £32 for the waspie!

The Most Unique of the Year

I love Tutti Rouge for making the cutest sets ever but last year they upped their game a bit by creating a print of their own for their cute girly style called Rosa (click for the review!). The tradition goes on this spring as the same cut comes in “Tallulah Tattoo” print, another Tutti exclusive design that draws inspiration from Sailor Jerry tattoo artist. As a true pinup, roses, pastel colours and tattoo prints are right up my street and this way, Tutti shoots an arrow to my heart each season. The Rosa is still available on the Tutti Rouge online shop and she sets you back at £35 so not bad for this unique looker! If you are interested in the Tallulah Tattoo, I will be reviewing it later on this spring.

The Cleavage of the Year

My girls are not particularly close together so I would say that a good cleavage-enhancing bra is a true friend of mine. Not that it’s for everyday wear but when you head out for a night out in town, this totally boosts my ego a bit. The bra in question is the Kris Line “Marilou Deco” (click for the review!) and in addition to being a total babe, the bra is also made with lovely materials and great construction. This particular bra is pretty hard to find unless you’re Polish but there’s a few options for it on the Brastop online store. If you’re based in USA, Kris Line pops on Zulily quite regularly as well.

The Best Construction of the Year + The Best Basics of the Year

Though I did review the Avocado Essentia only about a week ago, I did receive it in December so it still makes the list! I would say the K-shape of Avocado is one of the best I have encountered in addition to Ewa Michalak bras. Also the whole construction is uplifted and well-thought out, so I’m happy to hand this particular award to Avocado. If you would like your very own Essentia, head out to the Avocado website to get yours for 49,75 €.

The Innovation of the Year

As an active sports gal I could not leave this off the list as it’s one of the best sports bras I have ever tried. Panache Sport Non-Wired (click for the review) offers me exactly the same support as the wired one and I really believe it will be a favourite among those who do not like wired sports bras. This new season will bring out this badass bra in a vibrant purple shade and I absolutely adore it! I got mine from Lumingerie which delivers EU-wide and offers free shipping on all orders. If you live in the USA, you can get yours easily from Figleaves.

Here are my bra favourites from 2014 and tomorrow we’ll get back to the reviews. I will be reviewing the Gossard Retrolution set and I am sure you will love it! Which bras did you wear the most in 2014? Or did you regret buying a particular bra? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!

Review of Lepel “Alexandra” in 32G

I have been raving about Lepel’s collection for ages now and since seeing their AW14 collection last spring, I just new I would have to get my hands on some of their new stuff. Luckily Lepel offered to sent me a couple of sets to review and I was over the moon to get my hands on their Alexandra and Babushka sets. I received the bras in size 32G which was unfortunately a bit off with Babushka (too big with the band, too small with the cups) but the Alexandra was a good fit with the exact same size. This might be due to the difference in construction and materials. The Alexandra is a non-padded balconette shape with a rather generous cups and a firm mesh band whereas the Babushka is a padded balconette with a sleek and stretchy micro fibre fabric. Here’s a full review on the Alexandra, hope you enjoy it!

Wow my boobs look massive.

Design: Alexandra is a balconette bra featuring a three-part cup construction and a quite tall centre core. This balconette gives me almost full coverage and leaves no cleavage in sight. I would say the look is very appropriate for everyday and looks good under shirts that have a bit higher neckline. The cups give me a rather rounded forward-projected shape but not tons of uplift. The shape reminds me a lot of Marcie by Cleo, though I would say that Alexandra has a little lower profile and looks that way a bit more modest than some of the similar Cleo styles.

Although I do not own a lot of black lingerie, there is something about the look of Alexandra that intrigues me. I think the design is very simple, yet has a little bit of naughty maid-vibe to it. The upper part of the cup is see-though which looks lovely and gives the bra a bit of sexy edge to it. The centre bow keeps the look classic and cute and the black and white combo is always on trend.

The Fit: As I now wear a 30GG/H mostly with other British brands, I knew that the 32G would be a rather close call with Lepel. Lepel tends to make their bra bands a tad snugger than eg Panache and Curvy Kate so I opted to size up in the band. With the Alexandra style, this was the right move as the band is very rigid and stretches quite little. The 32 feels actually like a true-to-size 30″ band so I would definitely recommend sizing up even if you would measure 30 inches around your underbust. The band features two hooks and eyes but is wide enough to be comfortable and supportive.

The cups or Alexandra run large-ish so if you are between cup sizes, I would suggest sizing down. I am now exactly between 30GG and H so the 32G (same cup volume as 30GG) was a great fit for me with this bra. The cups are also very open at the top, meaning this is a great option for someone with full-on-top breasts and also a rather wide breast root. I find myself to be medium-to-narrow when it comes to the breast roots (the part where the breast meets the chest) so I would say the cups are a bit too wide for me, even though the depth was quite spot on. Usually breasts tend to be either shallow and wide or deep and narrow so this is something you should try if you are both deep and wide. The wires are a medium length so they fitted me pretty well.

Comfort: Alexandra is made of see-though mesh which is usually not the best material for someone with eczema. The set didn’t however feature any scratchy lace to irritate me so I felt I could wear it for a whole day without any skin irritation. The mesh feels a bit rigid to me, meaning the bra band was quite snug and also the thong didn’t stretch a lot. You might want to consider that when choosing the sizes if you have a bit of extra squish. For me the size 10 thong was spot-on and looks super flattering. Also the rise of the panties looks nice and the wide back part is something I adore when it comes to something as skimpy as thongs.

The bra straps are quite widely placed so you might want to take that into consideration if you are very petite or have slope-y shoulders. Also the wires come quite high so this can cause a bit of irritation in the armpit area. Otherwise the bra and the thong feel very comfortable on. Also I would like to give Lepel a bonus for the fully-adjustable straps that make the bra fit a lot better and also the straps a lot less slippery!

Lepel Alexandra is available in sizes 30-38 B-G and the panties (thong and short) in sizes 8-18. The best places to shop for them are Asos and Figleaves and the prices are very reasonable and student-friendly – only £24 for the bra and £12 for the bottoms! So what do you think of Alexandra? If you have any comments or questions, I will be more than happy to answer them! xx