Lingerie Review: Parfait “Elissa” Longline in 32G

Spring and summer are time for romance and weddings – shoutout to a fellow lingerie blogger Becky who married her boo a couple of weeks back! As I have probably never worn white lingerie since primary school and never really introduced you to bridal options in DD+ here on 2COP, maybe it was time I reviewed something plain white for your curvy bride-to-bes. When Parfait asked if I wanted to try something from their SS16 collection, I decided to give their Elissa range a try. Here’s how I liked the set…

The Design: On the Parfait website the Elissa longline is named as an unlined wired bralette; to me, bralette indicates a wireless bra which is why I’d rather call the piece a longline bra. This particular longline features six rows of hooks and eyes and four bones on the band; two at the front and two on the sides. This keeps the longline from flipping up and moving around and also gives the piece a bit of structure. The cups are constructed of three parts, one vertical and one horizontal seam. The shape of the bra is quite natural, so a bit pointy and goes very well under my vintage dresses.

The style of the bra is very pretty even though I am not a big fan of white lingerie. I chose this set so I could break my own boundaries and I do actually like it a lot – there is nothing too juvenile or basic about this set, it is sophisticated enough for bridal wear but also smooth enough to be worn on regular everyday basis. The lace on the band and the upper part of the cups is very beautiful and a tiny bit stretchy to maintain a pretty good fit.

The Fit: As most Parfait bras only go up to G-cup, I decided to opt for size 32G with Elissa and see how it goes. Usually 32G has been a pretty good success with Parfait and I was right again – the cups are a teeny tiny bit too small as my boobies are bulging just a bit over the cup edges. However, I would say this bra suits more full-on-bottom breast anyway, so maybe we were just not meant to be. You can also see a bit of wrinkling on the bottom part of the cups which I have no clear idea of where they came from. Maybe it’s a shape incompatibility issue? If you have ideas, please let me know in the comments! If I had the chance, I would have loved to try a 32GG with this bra to see if it would solve some of the fit problems.

The longline band of this bra is quite tight for a 32. I would say it stretches up to exactly 32″ so if you measure 32″ or 33″ I would suggest sizing up to 34. I can just about do this up but not on my own so that is definitely something to consider when opting for your size! The underwires are quite wide for me so if you are more wide-rooted this may be the bridal bra for you! However, I am not too bothered by the wires as they don’t rub me or chafe my armpits at all.

Comfort: My history with longlines is not the most smooth one – the ones that have been here from the start remember that infamous Fauve “Bronte” review where I complained about the bones on the bodice that rubbed and stabbed me all over my torso and armpits. Not a pleasant experience! Since then I have been hesitant to try longlines. I needn’t have worried this time though – the Elissa is a pretty comfy little number even with the four bones on the band. Sure, it will never be a comfortable as a bra without extra wiring but the bones don’t poke me all around like with Bronte. The materials are also quite soft and the lace does not cause any itching even when being so close to bare skin on the bottom half of the band. The straps are fully-adjustable so they suit many body types with ease.

I got the bikini brief bottoms with the set in size Small and I would say Parfait really knows how to make comfy panties. These run quite true-to-size but they have some give at the back because of the stretch lace. If I could suggest something to Parfait, I would ask them to make a deep suspender belt to match this set or perhaps a high-waisted panty with garters.

All in all I think this would be a fantastic set for any full-busted bride out there, if you don’t need a strapless bra under your dress. Longlines are usually a pretty good choice under a party dress anyway, as many women like the smoothing ability they have – I am looking at you ladies who are neurotic about back fat! If you would like to get yourself an Elissa set of your own it comes in sizes 30-40 D-G and S-2XL and you can find it on Kohl’s and Classic Shapewear . The longline bra retails for $54 and the bikini briefs for $25. What kind of lingerie did you wear/ are you planning to wear on your wedding day? Let me know in the comments! xx

SIL Tradeshow: Panache Favourites for AW16

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

PANACHE (main brand)

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

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

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

CLEO BY PANACHE

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

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

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

PANACHE BLACK, SPORT & SCULPTRESSE

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

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

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

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

SIL Tradeshow: 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.

Lingerie Review: Signature “Ginger” in 32F

It has been a couple of months since we reviewed After Eden’s Signature range here at 2COP and I am happy to say that it was not the last time for us! Signature is a very promising new full-bust/full figure targeted brand which has only been going on for a couple of seasons now. Today we are reviewing a longline bra set from their AW15 collection, before completely diving into the SS16 season – also, take note about the style of this set as it might be the perfect ensemble for the upcoming Valentine’s Day!

Design: Ginger is a lovely young yet sexy style that comes in a very classic combination of black and red and a smooth moulded cup style. What I think is one of the biggest assets of Signature lingerie, is the cute and approachable styling that lures in the younger girls, who might not fit into the chain stores’ and Victoria’s Secret lingerie as they stop at DD. This effect would be even greater if the brand started making smaller band sizes, so hint hint, Signature! 😉

I picked this set up for Miss E completely out of blue – she had no idea what I had chosen for her but when I came to her doorstep around Christmas time, she was very pleased with my pick. The longline is still something that has been quite neglected by some DD+ brands (even though the AW16 will totally change the game!) and I am happy to see such a new brand making them for us fuller busted ladies. The cups are very rounded and smooth so Ginger could easily be worn under regular t-shirts without showing through. The band features four hooks and eyes so it’s not the widest longline ever but still enough to give the bra its distinctive look.

Fit: Even though Miss E’s best size with Signature would be closer to 65H (that is 30FF in UK sizes) we are both quite happy with the 70G (= UK 32F), especially when worn on the second tightest hooks. The band does not ride up but could be a bit sturdier to stay supportive for a few more months. The cups are just the right size for Miss E so there’s no spillage or gaping in sight! After seeing already three bras on my girl, I would say Signature runs on the generous side of true-to-size – Miss E is usually something between 30FF and 30G and all of her Signature bras have been just the right size (cup-wise) for her in the sister size of 30FF, that is 32F.

The wires are perfect for Miss E with the Ginger bra and she is also very happy to report that this time, the wires do not come too high up for her and there is no chafing near the armpit area whatsoever. As all different brands producing lingerie seem to sport a different underwire shape and size, I would say Signature’s wire seems to be the perfect medium between the very narrow Polish and the quite wide British ones. The depth of the cup is a bit too shallow for Miss E which you can see by looking at the root of the bra cups. There is a bit of empty space there but E gave me no complaints about it as the bra is so comfortable in general.

Comfort: Out of the three sets Miss E owns from Signature, this might be her most comfortable one yet! The materials of the set are very sleek and soft against the skin and the straps are placed in a nice spot where they won’t rub her armpit area and cause irritation. As you can see, the strap placement is much more centered than with the Grace and Sophia bras she tried earlier. That’s definitely a HUGE improvement! This time the straps are only half-adjustable so if you are more on the petite side, I would advice to skip this bra unfortunately – Miss E is quite tall so she had no problem but someone under 5’5 might find them too long for her height. The longline band features additional boning under the armpits to keep the band from flipping, but the boning is flexible enough not to poke E on the sides.

The Ginger set comes with two different co-ordinate options which are a regular shorts-style knickers and a thong. We went for the same size as last time, that is Medium, but thought about trying a Small next time, as especially the thong seems to be a bit big for Miss E. Bottoms-wise, I think Signature runs on the snugger side of true-to-size, yet not a full size smaller. The bottoms are the same smooth material as the bra so very wearable for everyday, whether it be under dresses or the tightest of jeans.

You can find Ginger on Signature’s online store, here (and it’s on sale, yay!). Signature ships only to Netherlands at the moment but if you are interested in stockists near to you, feel free to contact them via email or on social media!

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Desire” in 32G

I am a big fan of longline bras/ bustiers in theory – they are lovely to look at but in practice, they usually kill my sensitive skin and prominent rib cage. When I first saw the Gossard’s new “Desire” longline that went up to G-cup, I could not resist though! I had to get my hands on the piece right away when it released and luckily, I am in pretty friendly terms with Gossard after blogging for them for two years now. The lovely Laura from Gossard was happy to send me this new V.I.P.-range set to review, so let’s enjoy the beauty of it! *This set was sent to me free of charge by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

Design: The Desire is a beautiful classic VIP range style with lovely eyelash lace adorning the cup and the band edge. The colour combo is very stylish and sultry – the black lace and mesh are sewn onto a blush beige/pink underlay which makes the set a perfect romantic gift to your beloved one (if romantic lingerie happens to be her thing)!

The style of the longline is a pretty traditional plunge shape with no additional push-up padding to enhance the cleavage – the shape of the cups does all the work on its own! The cups go quite high up near my shoulders compared to my other Gossard plunges which makes it a great style to combine to v-neck tops and dresses. The cups are moulded so there is no seams on sight and some great roundness to the bust line.

Fit: When it comes to moulded cups and longlines it gets a bit tricky with my breast shape. Even though I do have quite “easy” boobs (meaning most bras fit me better than most other girls in my size range) but moulded cups are still something that don’t quite like my bust – but I am pretty sure they are not a great match with anyone’s boobs unless you can get the cup depth and wire width exactly right (molded cups don’t mold into your own breast shape but try to make your boobs mold into the shape of the bra). As you can see, there is some space at the bottom of the cups which tells us that the Desire bra is just a bit too shallow for me to fit perfectly.

I chose my regular Gossard size 32G with the Desire and think the decision was quite good. However, if I could try a 30GG, I would as the band is a bit looser than with most other Gossard bras I have tried (except for Gypsy). I think this is because longlines are pretty supportive even without a super snug band though, so I am definitely not complaining. However, I can comfortably fasten the band to the tightest set of hooks, which is not the ideal situation if you want to get the most life out of your bra. Conclusion: definitely go with your regular British band size and a cup size down with this bra! The band features whopping seven hooks and eyes which is great though and adds so much support to the whole ensemble. Also, the wide back band smooths any back fat rolls you might encounter with regular bras, so I know a lot of girls will enjoy this asset 😉

Comfort: I was a bit worried about the boning aspect of the longline but I needn’t have worried! I love how the boning (there are six additional bones in the band) is flexible enough to move with my body but also sturdy enough to keep the band in place. Sometimes longlines tend  to roll at the band if not reinforced with heavy boning but I think we have a pretty happy medium here! The underwires of the bra are a bit wide and high for my taste but but not horribly so to make me not to wear it. To be honest with you folks – this bra is mostly for boudoir and special events so I don’t need it to be that most practical working horse type of bra anyway!

What I like about this bra especially are the straps this time. Gossard has moved Desire’s bra straps inwards a bit more than with most of their bras, which is a huge improvement for girls like me who sometimes experience bra straps slipping off the shoulders. The straps are also fully-adjustable which is great for both more petite and tall girls alike!

What I really loved about this set are the panties (got them in my regular Gossard size Small) – holy cow these bottoms are sexy, comfy and practical at the same time! I know they don’t look like that but they really do good a job in my wardrobe at least. As you know, I wear a lot of pinup style dresses and with them, petticoats are essential. With petticoats though comes the problem of seams itching my tummy which is why I love high-waisted knickers! These particular ones are just high enough to please me but also feel sturdy on my tummy and look sexy even when not being the skimpiest panties on earth. I also love the detachable garter straps as they seem like good quality to me – something I will love when the weather gets warmer in the spring (no stockings for me at the moment, hrrrrr!).

If you would like to give Desire a try, you can get the set on Gossard online store for £42 for the bra (available in sizes 30-38 A-G) and £34 for the deep short (sizes XS-XL). The set comes with brazilian suspender brief as well, if high-waisted knickers are not your cup of tea. 

How do you like the Desire? Have you found a full bust longline in your size that works? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know! xx

PS. If you would like to read my article about how to buy lingerie/bras for a sensitive skin, head over to The Lingerie Addict blog! Definitely a good read for someone with eczema or psoriasis.

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Graceful” in 30DD

Back with a another review! I hope you excuse me for my long unintented hiatus – work and life happened. However, today I am coming for you with another Gossard review in collaboration with my lovely bff and guest blogger Jo! As unfortunately this ss15 collection of Gossard does not include that many ranges up G, we decided to take the chance of reviewing some smaller and average sizes although my blog is still obviously most about full-bust brands and products. However, I do see the need to represent the kind of smaller and average sizes A-DD on my blog as well, as I know many of my friends for example are in that size range and do follow my blog. This is where Gossard comes in: it’s a great brand to look for all of these size ranges though they don’t exactly profile themselves as full-bust or small-bust brand. Today we are reviewing the lovely “Graceful” set from Gossard, here modeled by Jo in 30DD and XS. *Disclosure: This set was sent to Jo for review purposes. All opinions are our own. Also, the Finnish translations will be on hold for some time now as I am super busy this month and still want to keep my posts regular! Sorry Finnish peeps, I will get back to you later!*

Design: When I showed Jo the Gossard catalog the Graceful was the first one that really pleased her eye. To be honest, it was the one that caught my eye as well – who could resist the pretty painting-like rose print and the longline construction? Unfortunately, Grace goes up to E cup only so it was something out of my reach. Don’t get depressed though even if you are a E-G lady – Gossard will be coming up with a brand new and steaming hot longline up to G this upcoming autumn. I am determined to get my hands on it so we’ll see how that works!

The Grace is a longline bra that can be converted to a strapless with detachable straps. It features a three-part cup construction and keyhole cutout detail on the centre gore which by the way does not work for everybody (= very soft breast tissue)! However, even as strapless the bra holds its shape and gives a slightly pointed vintage look but still a rather natural one to wear under any type of strapless dress or a top. If you wear a size A-E and aren’t wearing the fairest of dresses to your summer party, Grace could be an excellent choice under your party ensemble!

Fit: When it comes to strapless bras, the fit can be quite tricky to get right. This is why I was quite impressed with Grace – it gives Jo an uplifted look and a sturdy support to actually hold the breasts up without the band or the cups shifting down her torso. I remember when I wore a strapless to my matriculation party and finally shoved it in my handbag as it was so uncomfortable in a 34C which I used to wear back then. The Gossard “Grace” is a lovely option to those cheap H&M straplesses that in the end are no use at all – £34 price tag makes it an affordable choice but still a supporting one as the back sizes go down to sturdy 30s (see what I did there…). As the Gossard bands come up quite tight Jo can easily wear her Grace in the loosest hook even though she usually fits a 28 band. Sizing up in the band is definitely necessary, especially if you are between sizes!

The cups of the Graceful run a bit bigger than most British bras but with this particular style, the cups are also quite closed at top to keep the cups from tipping over when worn strapless. This causes Jo’s other boob to bulge over a tiny bit nevertheless not disturbingly so – the 30DD is still very much wearable. Jo’s breasts are quite full-on-bottom so if you have a lot of breast tissue on the top half of your boobs, I would not recommend this bra for you. However, it is a good bra for anyone drastically full-on-bottom and rather shallow as well.

 
Comfort: As the Graceful is made in a longline style with a rather wide back band (at least for Gossard as their bands are usually pretty narrow) the bra holds up the breasts effectively even worn as a strapless. This makes it a much more supportive choice which definitely holds up even after a few hours of wear. However, when the bra is worn with the straps, some problems arise: the straps are again very flimsy and long! To be honest, they are so long for Jo’s torso that she has thought about taking them in a bit. Keep this in mind if you are very short-torsoed and would like to wear the bra with the straps! If you are looking for a good strapless though, this does not matter and you can wear the bra comfortably without thinking about the falling straps.

The thong was sent to Jo in size Xs and fits her like a dream. I have always been a fan of Gossard thongs as they are made in such a way that even thong-haters like myself can wear them rather comfortably – the back part of the thong is made of a wider mesh strap that lays flat over the bum and looks seamless under tight-fitting jeans. Jo however is a great wearer of thongs so she usually doesn’t complain about these aspects anyway! The look of the thong is very flattering on her as per usual and it completes the set beautifully.

If you would fancy a Graceful set of your own, you can snatch it up on the Gossard online store for £34 for the bra and £14 for the thong. The range features a regular short as well and strapless cup-sized slip if you are more interested in pretty supportive loungewear. How do you feel about the Graceful set? Are you as excited as me about the new longline up to G (I will put up a pic of it later on here on the blog!)? Let me know in the comments! xx

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!

Spring favourites – Review of Curvy Kate “Carmen” longline in 30GG

From time to time I face a lingerie set that just has to be mine. I’d do anything for it, beg or not eat in a few days. Walk a few miles to the ByBox, for instance (which I totally did! 4,2 miles to be exact). When I saw Curvy Kate’s Carmen a few months ago for the first time it was love at first sight. That bra HAD to be mine, no matter what it would take. A couple of days ago I finally received my Carmen which I bought from Figleaves and I couldn’t be happier. Turns out, in addition to great looks, Carmen is also made of true Curvy Kate material; it’s comfortable and well-fitting. Here’s my review, hope you enjoy it!

Design: 

Carmen is a longline bra which means the band of this beauty is much wider than on regular bras. This fine individual features six hook and eyes and I would estimate the band to about 8 cm wide. The cup construction is very typical for a padded CK style: it has three vertical seams which gives the cups a very traditional balconette shape. My boobs and the balconette work wonders together once again and the cups give me a pretty rounded uplifted shape. The material of the cups is by no means thick so this bra doesn’t add too many extra inches to my natural breast size.

When it comes to colour and styling I love how CK preserves their well-known aesthetics with a fresh twist. I personally love the look of longline bras which is one of the reasons this bra was a mus-buy for me. I am also sucker for a good pink or red bra and loved how feminine and elegant the colour scheme looks on this particular style. Also the flowers that adorn the cups are created in a fresh, young and modern way which suits my 21-year-old taste. The dash of lime green just adds a girly and fun edge to the bra and prevents it from being too pink.

Fit: The fit of this bra is quite similar to my new Tease Me which I reviewed just recently. I would say the cups run a teeny tiny bit larger which is why my other cup ends up gaping just a little bit. Otherwise 30GG appears to be a great choice. The cups of the bra are definitely on the shallower side but not too much to cause major problems with my boobs (just a little extra space in the bottom of the cup which causes slight folding of the cups). I love CK balconettes: they are very compatible with my FOT shape and provide extra space on the top part of the cups.

The band of this longline bra is one of its best qualities, once again. I have had VERY painful experiences with longlines before which made me a bit hesitant to try the style in the first place. However, CK bands tend to run a bit on the looser side which meant that the band was stretchy enough to allow normal movement without any pinching or rolling. 

The straps of the bra are a bit wide-set but not once have they fallen off my shoulders. They are also fully-adjustable which makes this bra an easy option for many petite girls as well. Wires are the same length as your usual CK bra: pretty average and especially spot-on on yours truly. They also end at the right spot under my armpit which prevents discomfort and chaffing. 

Comfort: As mentioned before, I have previously had problems with comfort issues when it comes to longlines. However, CK Carmen is constructed differently than most of other longlines I have encountered so far. Here’s the difference; Carmen only features 2 additional bones which are right below my armpits. Since there is no boning in the back of the bra it makes the whole design much more comfortable and better for everyday use. Also the boning used on the sides of the bra is very flimsy which makes it super easy to move around without any pain or discomfort. I also love how stretchy the band is an doesn’t compress my ribcage too much.

All in all I think Curvy Kate has managed to pull off their first longline design very well without any major fit issues or comfort-related problems. If I could make one improvement suggestion it would be to reduce the height of the cups to create more cleavage and an a more appealing look over-all. I love how my boobs look in Tease Me and just out of my personal preference I would love to see a more revealing version of Carmen.

Has anyone of my lovely readers tried the new Carmen yet? If not, is it on your spring lust-list? Let me know in the comments! xx