After Eden D-cup & up: Carlissa & Cendrine in 70E

Finding your perfect size and shape match with bras is a pretty tough job – sometimes people think it’s just a matter of trying on a few styles and then finding the perfect bra that suits your particular tastes and shape the best. In reality, it can take years to find the styles and brands you like and even then, your tastes may change. Eeva is a friend of mine who I bravangelized this year and we found out that her best size is something between a 70E and 65F. She has never thought of being a busty gal, but alas, you don’t need to have a notably large bosom to be above D-cup!

When I first fitted Eeva, we noticed that padded plunge-balconettes were defintely a great match for her. Now, the task was to find a brand that would make something in her size, that would still be to her taste and has a good selection of padded plunge-balconettes for her to try. Enter: After Eden D-cup and Up (previously known as Signature by After Eden). *After Eden generously gifted these sets to Eeva, all opinions are our own*

The Carlissa set in 70E and a size Medium thong.

The After & Eden D+ range bras are something probably many gals who enter the full-bust world want: they are cute and sexy, very similar to core sized bras in stores like Aerie and Victoria’s Secret but come in a better size range. These particular bras go up to F-cup, but in general many D-cup & Up bras go up to an EU G-cup. The size range is geared more towards the busty plus-size gals, as the band sizes go up 42 (EU 95) and 44 (EU 100), but there are still options for the slender customers as well.

Even though these styles in particular don’t include the 30-bands, Eeva is well off with the 32 band and the many hooks and eyes ensure that the bra can be properly tightened up, if the band gets loose over time. This is definitely one of the strengths of the range – the bra bands accommodate a lot of size fluctuation which is not something I can say about most bras. The shoulder straps are also pretty versatile and can be adjusted almost fully.

The Cendrine set in 70E and a matching thong in size Medium.

When I asked Eeva about her breast shape, she would describe it as more full-on-top (FOT) – this means her breast have more full breast tissue above the nipple than below it. In my experience After Eden D-cup & Up bras are especially well-fitting for FOT gals, as they are pretty open at the top. The underwire of the bra hits Eeva at the right spot and I would say the wires are a medium lenght and and quite low near the armpit area.

For the price tag (25 € for the bra in sale just now!), these bras last in wear and tear for quite a while and the detailing (rose gold hardware!) is cute and looks like good quality to me. The materials are soft and pretty comparable to anything you would find in a high street store – not luxury but also not cheap either. The panties are also well-designed regarding rise and materials which makes them equally easy to wear as the bras.

If you would like to snag these sets for a very good price, head over to the After Eden webstore now. The Carlissa and Cendrine sets are sold for 25 € for the bras and 9€ for the thongs. 

SIL Tradeshow: Preview of Curvy Kate AW16 Collection

The whole full bust world loves Curvy Kate: it’s one of those brands that seems to cater to so many different tastes and breast shapes, and they also carry a tremendously big size range from D all the way up to K-cup (all styles below are up to K unless otherwise specified). As one of the biggest full-bust brands in the market, we made sure to visit the CK stand at the Salon International de la Lingerie. If you are intrigued to know what’s up with their AW16 collection, keep reading! (From tomorrow, I will be on a vacation for a week so I won’t be posting for a little while. So sorry for that!)

Princess in Blueberry, Ellace in Crimson, Dreamcatcher in Magenta, Atomic in Plum (up to J), Florence in Bowder Blue (up to J)

REVAMPED CLASSICS

The styles above are good old favourites that have been revised with new colour combinations – these styles include both the classic Curvy Kate non-padded balconettes as well as non-padded plunges such as the Atomic. I actually love Atomic: it reminds me a lot of the atomic prints that were popular in the 50’s. The plum shade is not a favourite for me unfortunately, but I do like the SS16 orange/pink version of it a lot! Another favourite from this lot is the new CK basic Ellace; it’s a balconette bra with lovely thin cup material and soft stretch lace to ensure the best fit for many different breast shapes.

Wild Cat in Leopard, Daydreamer in Floral Print & Daily Dream in Blueberry Mix

WHIMSICAL PRINTS

Curvy Kate loves their cutesy and wild prints and it’s no different this season! Both the Daily Dream and the Daydreamer are older styles with new young prints – to be honest, something a bit too juvenile for me personally. But I do see the potential with these prints as they would both be excellent choices for pre-teen and teen girls who want cute age-appropriate D+ bras. The Wild Cat on the other hand is a great everyday option for any fun and flirty gal out there – the print is very ‘Curvy Kate’ and the colour combo absolutely appropriate for autumn season.

Ellace in Latte, Smoothie Deluxe in Rose (up to J) & Smoothie Spirit in Latte (up to J)

NEW BASICS

I love how Curvy Kate has made their Smoothie bra range blossom: it reminds me a bit of Freya’s Deco range but still, the CK Smoothie styles seem to differ a bit more from each other, instead of just being different colourways. The Smoothie Deluxe is a nice more luxe, grown-up version of the original Smoothie; there is no leopard print but a beautiful soft lace on the bra band and completely smooth print-less cups that cater for a classic taste. The new Smoothie Spirit on the other hand is a new beige bra targeted for the younger CK customers who want less coverage and a cute everyday bra. Both of the styles feature a J-hook on straps to convert the bra to a racerback.

Vixen in Black/Almond (up to J), Belle in Blush/Black, Cabaret in Black/Blush (up to J) & Kitty in Merlot (up to J)

THE BOUDOIR PRINCESS

From the more sexy “Showgirl” (an old term but I still use it!) offering from Curvy Kate, I would say my personal favourites are the Belle and Kitty. Kitty is an older style that has been revamped with the Merlot colourway, which to me is absolutely gorgeous. I love that we see some more shades of burgundy this autumn as it is a bit neglected shade among all the Xmas reds and plums. This particular shade would go perfectly with ginger hair, which makes me even more eager to get my hands on it. The Belle is a completely new style with cute “tuxedo bows” at the centre gore and a beautiful colour combination of grey and blush pink, which makes this sexy style a tad more romantic.

How do you like the upcoming Curvy Kate collection? Which ones are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard Harmony in 32G + the Teddy

Hi everyone! Sorry about being less active this month here on the blog – I gotta confess that I haven’t been feeling my best and the job hunting + uni work has been fierce. I am kinda depressed that I still haven’t been able to find a summer job and it’s nearly May – meaning I have no idea how I’m going to pay my June’s rent. I have been in so many interviews but the problem seems to be that I am over-educated for the jobs I’m applying for, and then again, have no diploma to take on a job that would require a higher degree of education (it’s my fourth year in uni and I still have two more to go…). On the positive note, my beach vacation is drawing closer and closer which is a lovely thought in the midst of extreme anxiety.

However we are not here to talk about my anxiety today! I have a lovely new set of bra, panties and a teddy to show you from Gossard and I am guessing you can’t wait to read another review! So here we go… *This set was gifted to me by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: Gossard “Harmony” is one their new spring launches that oozes the fresh air of spring with a delicate almost toilé-like print. The colours are very subtle yet quite interesting – you can’t really see all the beautiful shades of grey, blue and purple from the pictures, but trust me, the colours are far more pretty in flesh! I also find the colour combo very interesting as it is not something we usually see from Gossard this time of the year. I really like the way they are mixing it up a bit and trying out some unusual lighter spring colours for this SS16 season. The styling is otherwise very simple and there is only some slight folding and stitching on the cup edges.

The shape of the Harmony plunge bra is very similar to other Gossard plunge styles this spring meaning there is quite a bit of bra to it (if you know what I mean?) and shape is quite uplifted and round, yet natural. To me, it feels again like a bit too much fabric, but what can I say, I do wear one of the largest sizes they offer. Compared to eg the Desire bra I tried a few months ago, this one feels a bit lighter though in construction can be worn without adding too much bulk under regular clothing.

The Fit: I went with my regular Gossard size 32G and size Small bottoms and wasn’t disappointed this time either. The size is definitely right for me, but to be honest the fit of the Gossard plunges is not the best for me anymore. I am not sure if it’s my shape that has changed but I do still have some older Gossard bras in my bradrobe and they fit me quite nicely, which brings me to the conclusion that there must have been some changes to the patterns as well. I think the new patterns would perhaps be better on someone with less fullness at the centre and also at the top, as I feel like the bra is cutting a bit into my upper breast tissue even though being the right size for me. As you can see, there is also slight gaping where the strap meets the cup which indicates that the bra is just the wrong shape for my boobs. Pity, but will be a great fit for someone with perhaps more fullness towards the armpit area and the lower half of their breasts.

It’s a bit hard to see where the wire goes in the pics with the busy print and all, but I assure you that wire-wise this bra is a much better fit for me than Desire. The wires hit me at the right spot and the cups are overall quite a nice depth for my boobs. There is only tiny bit of space left on the bottom part of the left cup (note that my left boobs is fuller meaning it requires more depth) meaning it is not quite deep enough but definitely not as shallow to deem it a bad fit. The band is the right size for me though I have come to the conclusion that Gossard must me making their bands a bit bigger nowadays, meaning it does not run a full band size small anymore. I would say this one is right between 30 and 32 bands.

Comfort: Great materials, simplistic styling and fully adjustable bra straps makes this set a winner for many gals out there looking for the perfect spring-appropriate everyday set. The material choices are very sleek and soft to the skin, meaning this is a set that can be worn for several hours without any discomfort. The straps are again placed a bit too far-apart for my body and liking, but for someone with a bit broader shoulders, it wouldn’t be an issue.However, the straps are also made of simple elastics that are sturdy enough to hold well no matter what.

The bottoms that come with the set are one of the most comfy I have tried this spring and thus they are on regular use even when I’m not wearing the matching bra. I like how “basic” they are – just regular short-style bottoms that go well under almost anything. The size is perfect for me with these, so I would say they run true-to-size compared to other Gossard knickers.

The Teddy: I received the Harmony teddy to go along with my lingerie set but unfortunately, with my curvy hourglass figure it was not the best match. I received the UK size 12 to make sure it fitted me in a relaxed way but again, my boobs, butt and long torso were a bit too much for it – it wasn’t too small but the waist hit me at an awkward spot. I would say the loungewear runs a bit smaller than eg their bottom sizes so do size up for a more comfortable fit. However, the biggest problem with me + the teddy seemed to be my super long torso, which made it too short for me to wear without the bottom part riding up my crack (hehe). With heavy heart, I gifted the teddy to my bestie Jo and she was happy to give it a test run. Turned out, it was quite lovely for her body shape regardless of the fact that she would have probably been better off with a size 10.

The thing with the teddy is that you have to loosen up the straps quite a lot to get a more comfy fit with it – at first, it was too short for Jo as well! When we noticed the straps needed to be loosened a lot, it fitted so much better and now it’s totally wearable. Take into account though that Jo’s torso is much shorter than mine and she is also a couple of cm’s shorter than me (I’m 5’6). After getting the fit right, Jo has been super happy with the teddy and has been wearing it on a regular basis as it is such a comfortable piece to lounge around in. The materials are the same as with the lingerie set; super soft satin that is light to wear even in the hot summer months.

If you are interested in getting a second opinion on the set, here’s a review of it on Comics Girls Need Bras! The set and the teddy is sold on Gossard online store for £34 for the bra (30-38 A-G), £16 for the shorts (XS-XL) and £39 for the teddy (UK 8-16). How do you like the Harmony set? Are you gravitating towards lighter colours now that it’s spring? Let me know in the comments below! xx

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!

Sunday with Samanta – Model A470 “Beryl” in 65J + A DISCOUNT CODE

Is it already the end of April? I may sound like a granny but recently time has flown by so damn quickly. Today I am bringing you the April’s “Sunday with Samanta” feature with a first moulded Samanta bra I have ever tried. When opting for the model, we decided to keep reviewing the more full-coverage models of Samanta, but next month will definitely be something a bit less covering. Today’s Samanta cut is “Beryl” (retailing for 63€) which is designed specifically for a larger bust. Keep reading and don’t forget to check out the discount code at the end! *Disclosure: This set was sent to me by Samanta for review purposes, all opinions as my own*

Design: When picking my next Samanta set, I was determined that at some point, the Beryl would definitely be on my list. Gladly, as the head designer of Samanta suggested the A470 model for my next review, I knew this would be the time to give this lovely combo of ink blue and gold lace a twirl. I am a big fan of both blue and gold since as a combination it whispers royal elegance. I was particularly keen on the lace which is absolutely breath-taking and somehow very European again – something that Samanta is well-known for. When the parcel arrived at my door, I was so happy to see that the design was even more beautiful and elaborate in flesh.

When it comes to the shape, the  A470 covers the breasts almost completely leaving them looking seamless and rounded under regular t-shirts. The A470 Beryl is a gorgeous bra to wear for boudoir purposes, but it’s true value is measured by how practical and gorgeous it is at the same time. If you are looking for the in-your-face kind-of look of the Freya “Deco”, this is not the bra for you but it is a great option to achieve a smooth and natural look to your bust line.

Fit: I opted for my regular Samanta size 65J with the A470 and the size seems spot-on again. As someone who has experience of Samanta bras in three different models, it seems that at least within the selection of bras in same cup depth they do run quite consistent along ranges. As the first A925 model I tried was a bit too roomy in 65K, I am really staring to think that my true Samanta size with the deeper models is 65J. This is a rough equivalent to a British 30GG which is my preferred size with deeper British bras as well (I wear a 30H with shallower cuts).

The band of the A470 Beryl is very comfortable yet snug in 65 (UK 30) band and I feel like Samanta has put a lot of effort in the comfort aspect of the underwear. Sometimes brands make their bands of otherwise stretchy materials but then add a rigid trimming to the band edge which takes away a lot off the comfort level of the bra; Samanta however crafts their bras with care to the last finishing touches, so every aspect of the bra fits and feels great. The cups are deep as mentioned before and fit well my full-on-top bust without any bulging, gaping OR folding at the bottom, which has been my problem with moulded padded cups for whole my life. The centre gore doesn’t tack completely (there is about 2 mm space from my sternum) but so far, this hasn’t affected the support or the fit of the bra notably.

Comfort: Thinking about the comfort aspect of the set, I must say Beryl has been so far my favourite set from Samanta. The materials are absolutely lush, as mentioned before, and the lace of the bra and the panties is very soft and stretchy. As opposed to the previous styles Mintaka and Aurora, the materials of Beryl are also ever-so-slightly stretchier and there is no rigidness to the lace which could restrict your movements or feel scratchy against skin. The straps of the bra are also very comfy, 2 cm wide and half-adjustable – which of course affects the wearability of the bra depending on how tall or short-torsoed you are. I am 5’6 with a rather long torso and wearing the straps adjusted half-way, so I would estimate them to be rather accommodating to various torso lengths.

The wires with the A470 model are typical to Samanta – quite an average width so just about perfect for me. If you find other Polish brands’ bras too narrow-wired for your liking, you could definitely wear Samanta rather comfortably, unless you have very wide breast roots and need wires going farther into your armpits.

For the bottoms I opted for the D300 model – the so-called boxers (retailing for 29,70€) – which is a classic more covering style of bottoms. I am not a huge fan of thongs and even Brazilians make a wee bit uncomfy, so this style of bottoms has been my favourite so far from the Samanta bottoms selection. The D300 is super comfortable and the lace comes out gorgeously popping out over the blue base, creating a great co-ordinate to the more subtle bra style.

As we a are slowly but surely growing our Sunday with Samanta feature, I wanted to give you, my dear readers, something special regarding it as well. For this reason, Samanta and I have created a special discount code for anyone wanting to try the A470 model for themselves. The code “METTE” (my first name actually, if you care to know) is valid from today until next week’s Sunday and gives you a great discount of 20% off your A470 bra. If you do decide to use the code, let me know what you ordered and later on, how it fits! I would so love to hear your thoughts about the model and Samanta in general as well 🙂 Also, if you have any questions about the fit or ordering process, let me know – I try to be of help as much I can. Have a lovely time shopping gals and most of all, have a great Sunday 😉

Suomeksi: Moikka kaikille! Kuun viimeinen sunnuntai pyörähti taas käyntiin, eli meillä Kahdessa Kakussa se tarkoittaa Sunday with Samanta -arvostelua 🙂 Tällä kertaa Samanta lähetti meikäläiselle testiin ihanaisen Berylin A470-mallissa, joka on ulkomuodoltaan ja rakenteeltaan peittävä muotoonprässätty t-paitaliivi. A470 jatkaa sarjaamme lähes kokokuppisista liiveistä ja kuten mallit A925 ja A922, se peittää rinnasta n. 90%. Meille suomalaiselle juuri tällainen liivi onkin se mieluisin ja erityisesti malli on aikuisen naisen makuun sopiva. Lisäksi A470 on suunniteltu erityisesti suurille rinnoilla, jotka vaativat syvemmän kupin.

Beryl on kaikinpuolin juuri sitä, mitä niin moni nainen haluaa – sileää kuppia, hillittyä mutta kaunista värimaailmaa ja vain hieman pitsiä piristämään muuten peruskäytössä olevaa liiviä. Itse kaiken maailman pitsihörsylöitä rakastavana en sileäkuppisia liivejä juuri harrasta, mutta Berylissä yhdistyy käytännöllisyys ja kauneus niin upealla tavalla, ettei se jätä esteetikkoakaan kylmäksi. Lisäksi materiaalit ovat Berylissä niin pehmoiset ja joustavat, että se on mukavuudeltaan sopiva käyttöön kuin käyttöön.

Samanta käyttää kokojärjestelmänään EU-kokoja, jonka vuoksi valitsin kookseni perinteisen 65J:n, jota käytän erityisesti syvempien kuppien kanssa. Ympärys 65 on hieman joustavampi kuin useimmilla eurooppalaisilla ja varsinkin puolalaisilla merkeillä, joten jos olet kahden koon väliltä, suosittelen ottamaan sen napakamman vaihtoehdon. Kuppien koko riippuukin sitten niiden tilavuudesta ja varsinkin näissä malleissa, jota olen itse päässyt testaamaan, on kuppi ollut tilavuudeltaan suurehko.

Päällä setti istuu ja tuntuu kaikin puolin mukavalta, ja sen takaavat Samantan huolella tehty suunnittelutyö sekä materiaalien valinta. Muotoonprässätty kuppi antaa rinnalle luonnollisen muodon ja saumattoman lookin t-paitojenkin alla. Myös kaarituet ovat Samantan liiveissä hyvin kohdallaan allekirjoittaneella – ei huolta liian kapeista tai leveistä tuista, vaan ne asettuvat juuri oikeaan kohtaan hieman kainalon etupuolelle. 

Mikäli A470 näyttää ja kuulostaa siltä, että se voisi sopia juuri sinulle, olemme Samantan kanssa sopineet viikon voimassaolevasta alennuskoodista jokaisen Sunday with Samanta- postauksen yhteydessä. Nyt huhtikuun viimeisen viikon aikana on voimassa alennuskoodi “METTE“, jolla saatte A470-mallista mukavat 20% pois hinnasta. Nyt kannattaa siis ostaa omansa pois, sillä Samantan hinnat pyörivät enemmän siellä luksusluokassa! Laadultaan Samanta kuitenkin yltää ehdottomasti kalliimpienkin luksusmerkkien tasolla, jollei ylemmäskin, ja rahoilleen saa taatusti vastinetta, vaikka useampi kymppi rintsikoista voikin aluksi kirpaista. Koodilla esim. Beryl-liiveille jää hintaa vain 50,40 €, mikä ei ole enää ollenkaan paha hinta laadukkaasta liivistä 😉