Swimwear Review: Curvy Kate “Siren” Swimsuit in 32GG

Hi everyone and greetings from Split, Croatia! After a few bumps on our road (our Helsinki-Oulu flight was cancelled so we stayed a night at the Helsinki airport) we finally got back home and I have to say, even though it was one of the most awesome trips I’ve ever been to, it is always lovely to be home. Without further a do, I will introduce you to a beauty I had with me on the shores of Split – the amazing Curvy Kate “Siren” one-piece swimsuit. This little number was kindly sent to me by the Curvy Kate team, but all opinions are my own!

The Design: How amazing does the coral shade look against the turquoise ocean?! Bloody damn amazing, if you ask me! I have been lusting after this particular swimsuit since I first saw it at Moda a while back. The scallop cut details remind me of Ariel the little mermaid and also give the suit its playful and pinup-y look. There is also a waistband at the middle which gives the swimsuit a more structured look and nips you in at the waist. The coral colour would look amazing on someone a bit more tanned than me (I know, I am white as a chicken throughout the year!) but I think it suits us paler girls as well and looks especially good with ginger hair like mine – and CK’s own model Lottie!

The shape of the Siren is based on the Curvy Kate “Luxe” strapless bra (which I’m still yet to review though I do own one!) which has been a big hit among many full-busted gals out there. I first did not like the whole thing: but apparently, I had bought the wrong size of 30GG with the Luxe (I bought it in a hope of less coverage – bad decision!) which meant the too small cups were pushing the bra down and thus it felt a bit comfortable on me. Now, I sized up to 32GG with the Siren – first of all because I like my swimsuits a bit looser in the bodice and back – and the bigger cups fitted me much better and gave me a lovely rounded shape. There is also some leeway to make this suit fit your body the best way possible with some detachable straps and laces on the hips to adjust the rise of the leg. At the back there is a regular (though a bit wider) bikini clasp to close the band.

The Fit: As I said, the 32GG was definitely the right choice for me with this one-piece. I consulted Chantelle at the Curvy Kate HQ whether I should go for 30H or 32GG and she recommended that I would size up in the band with this one, as it ran a bit tighter than your usual CK bra. This holds quite true and also, we need to remember that most brands do make their swim tops a bit tighter in the band to remain supportive when getting wet ie stretching out. The whole bodice was very comfortable on my body in the 32-band so I would say it suits someone in the UK 10-14 range the best (I am wear mostly 12 these days).

When it comes to cups, the Siren runs very true-to-size for Curvy Kate. So I would suggest taking your regular UK bra size unless you prefer your swim top bands a little bit more comfy like I do. The wires are actually quite narrow for CK which is a pleasant surprise and the cups also quite a lot deeper to contain all my full breast tissue. I love how stretchy the whole bodice is and also the way the sides can be adjusted by pulling the laces a bit – I personally prefer a a more ‘vintage’ look with a lower leg but especially if you have curves on your hips, the sides would look fabulous with a higher leg as well.

Comfort: I cannot praise this swimsuit enough for its comfiness! When thinking about swimming in it – cause I did swim even though the Adriatic was a bit cold at first – I cannot really think of anything that would have bothered me, at all. The Siren stayed on like a dream even without straps and did not move an inch on my body. I am used to lifting and adjusting my other strapless swimsuits so it was kind of a miracle that I did not have to pull the upper part of the suit up at all. Here’s where I have to stress that the right size makes all the difference with strapless bras and swimsuits – if you skimp on the size, it is no doubt going to end up feeling a bit uncomfortable and you have to make adjustments during your swim and especially when getting out of the water.

Some gals are a bit afraid of swimsuits with wires as they feel it makes the suit look a bit “old” and “granny-ish” but also feel uncomfortable. With the Siren swimsuit the wires are hidden inside the suit so they won’t appear on the outside but will give you phenomenal lift without anyone knowing there’s hardware in your suit! The wires are also the perfect length and width for me personally (I have a pretty average breast root) so I had no trouble with them poking or rubbing my armpits in anyway.

If you are looking for a cute pinup-appropriate swimsuit for a full-busted curvy figure, I would definitely recommend the Curvy Kate Siren. It is truly one of the best swimsuits I own and I am sure to wear it multiple times this summer! If you would like to give the Siren a try, it comes in sizes 28-38 D-J and retails for around £50 on SimplyBe, HerRoom, Figleaves & Brastop.

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 Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Introducing Moontide & Piha Swimwear

When it comes to swimwear, I tend to be extremely picky – I hate triangle bikinis, can’t stand tacky 90’s patterns and a tankini is a definite no-no. I like my swimwear cute, comfy and retro-inspired which makes my hunt for the perfect swimwear a bit tricky. Not to mention my size – someone in the 30-32 G-H range ought not be too fussy, but what can you do! However, now and then I come across brands with exactly my kind of aesthetics and one of those brands were Moontide and their sub-label Piha at the Moda tradeshow. One thing that made the brand instantly more appealing to me was that the Moontide range actually goes up to G-cup with some styles. Let’s dive into this swimwear giant a bit more…

Tulip, Poppy & Bauhinia in their fantastic tropical floral prints (all from their SS14/15 collection)

Moontide was founded 35 years ago in Auckland, New Zealand and is now one of the leading fashion-forward swimwear-only brands in the world. When going through the Moontide website, it’s easy to see that in addition to fabulous fashion styles the brand is extremely confident about their fit. The passion towards well-fitting swim pieces is pretty obvious which makes me a new fan of the brand. The fuller-busted customers have been thought of too; there is a separate logo for the so called “cup fitting” pieces, which simply states “CF”. These pieces are either sized in bra sizes (with some styles going to up F/G) or offer a separate full-bust fit (this feature is mainly used with the one-piece swimsuits). Even though this kind of sizing cannot cover each and every bust size, it’s a good way to acknowledge that there is indeed a demand for more boob room among us gals with fuller busts. To be honest, I would be quite intrigued to see how well the full-bust version of the swimsuit would hold up my ~GG boobies!

When it comes to styling, I find the Moontide to be an instant winner – I mean, who can resist a good floral or juicy summer brights? Well I certainly can’t. My favourite of the new collection pieces (pictured above) would definitely be the yellow one with the black and white rose print as it’s such a lovely vintage-inspired style. These pics are however only my favourites, so if floral and super bright colours are not your thing there is also lots of black and white monochrome, stripes and abstract prints on offer. I have previously worked as a gardener and a florist which should explain my love for all sorts of floral prints 😉

Even though I have pictured above only Moontide swimsuits, they do offer also a wide array of other cuts to choose from. To be honest, I have never seen such a variety of different styles when it comes to a single design of swimwear! Most Moontide swim pieces come in an array of tops, bottoms and even a couple of different onepiece styles so everyone can make their pick and be happy with it. As a lover of onepieces I would love to try their “Twist”-style swimsuits with the fuller bust fit as the whole design seems very flattering allover.

Piha (which, funny enough, means ‘yard’ in Finnish) is a sub-label of the more mature Moontide brand. Even though Moontide’s designs could probably appeal to any age group depending on one’s personal style, Piha is clearly directed to a younger audience with a love for clashing colours and pop-art kind-of prints. The size range of Piha is much smaller, only accommodating up to D, but I am really hoping and wishing for a bigger size range in the future – these pieces would definitely rival the likes of Cleo and Freya in the full-bust swimwear market! However, I do understand the limits of making cup sized swimwear/lingerie as you do always need to make a profit. Just hoping Piha could someday make a profit of us bigger-busted gals as well 😉

If you are interested in the brands more, I suggest you visit their websites for more info. Also, the brands are sold world-wide so if you are still in a need of proper swimsuit for the upcoming summer, do check out the likes of Asos, House of Fraser and Simply Beach to find your favourite style. The Moontide and Piha websites have both a very impressive list of stockists and online retailers stocking their designs so you can pick one according to your own location!

How do you like the Moontide and Piha designs? Do you think Piha should extend their size range eg. up to G as well? Let me know in the comments!

Review of Cleo Swim “Betty” swimsuit in 32G

It’s Sunday again and I feel like time is flying when one is having a good time! However my boyfriend has situated himself on the couch to watch motocross races so I may as well take this little time to review something for you. I am going to start today’s review with a little story. When I was choosing for the swimsuit from Panache a few weeks ago it was a massive mess and I was a bad, bad blogger. I first opted for the size 30GG which is my usual size and when choosing a style to go with the size I wanted to try the sweet Betty swimsuit in hot pink shade. However, I changed my mind swiftly and asked instead a sister size 32G. Well, after changing my size preference I noticed that also the lovely Carmen was indeed available in this size and I reaaaaally wanted to try it so I emailed Panache to ask if they could send the Carmen in 32G instead. In the end, the lovely folks at Panache sent me BOTH Betty and Carmen (a link to my review) which means two reviews for you guys! I am so grateful and was super-eager to try how these two very different styles would suit me.

The Design: Betty is a more cute Cleo style and it really stood out to me when I browsed through the new Cleo Swim collection. I love pink (duh, just look at my hair) so I thought it would be a nice shade for me and my fair skin tone. The shade of pink is indeed flattering and the white dots keep the style simple and classy. Otherwise the colour-combo is almost too cutesy but looks nice when you are feeling a bit playful. The suit also goes nicely along with the Cleo’s pink version of the new Kaftan. To add up the girliness of this suit, Cleo has added some ruffles to the neckline and the bottom part of the suit as well. I really like the ruffles but I still prefer the more clean-cut look of Carmen – it’s definitely more grown-up and beach-suitable. 

The Betty features non-padded plunge cups which is something people might prefer to achieve a better fit. However, as I guessed when opting for the suit the balconette shape of Carmen is still my go-to choice. The shape the cups give me is quite rounded which I love about Cleo styles in general and they feature only one seam that runs diagonally across the cup. Even though the upper part is very plunging it still features a center gore that’s quite high and sturdy.

The Fit: I was a bit worried about the plunge neckline since it doesn’t tend to work on my body and boobs that well. The cups were quite deep all over which made it more easy to adjust my breast into the cups and there was no overspill whatsoever. In fact, the cups were almost too deep for me and did leave some wrinkling at the apex when poorly-adjusted. When adjusting and taking the suit for swim I didn’t notice any problems anymore so I guess you should always take a swimsuit for a test-run before judging. 

Betty runs about the same way Carmen did which meant the 32G was slightly too big for me in the body part of it. I could fasten the band to the tightest set of hooks so I could have definitely tried my normal 30GG. I am used to Cleo bands running pretty tightly so I would say both of the swimsuits I tried were more true-to-size in the band. To me, this is a good thing since customers can now buy their regular size without worrying about it being too tight. 

Comfort: First of all, I didn’t expect how tricky it is actually to get a wired swimsuit on – it definitely needs some more time and effort than a regular one. The wires tend to stab me a bit in the stomach when putting on the suit but I figured out the best way to put it on painlessly; just roll the upper part of the suit either inwards or outwards before putting it on. This way the wires behave more nicely and don’t stab you too much. Otherwise the swimsuit is quite comfortable and also the halterneck straps are not as thin and flimsy as with the Carmen swimsuit. I think this style is very well suited for gals with bigger breasts than mine since it gives more support than Carmen and is deeper in the cups.

The center gore of Betty is quite sturdy and comes quite high for a plunge neckline which may be an issue for some women. I first thought it was a bit too sturdy on my sternum but when I actually went swimming, it felt fine and I couldn’t even notice it. The body part of the suit was also very comfortable and I definitely could have gotten away with an even smaller size. 

All in all I really like the Betty but my heart still belongs to Carmen, as it’s more my own personal style and keeps me looking fresh with its colour scheme. However I would still recommend Betty more if you have a fuller shape than mine and want more sturdier support when swimming. 

This style is available in a great size range of 30-38 D-H and you can find it eg at Brastop for £46. How did you like the Betty compared to Carmen? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments! xx

Disclosure: This swimsuit was generously gifted by Panache for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Review of Cleo by Panache “Carmen” swimsuit in 32G

As all ya British people know, the summer is almost here in UK and that means packing our swimsuits and heading to the seaside. Not that the climate is too warm here yet but there have been some pretty excitingly sunny days to at least dream about a cool swim and a day at the beach. America is a whole another story, I have literally seen people’s lakeside pictures from their spring break and I almost can’t take it – way too exciting for someone whose homeland is still in a winter-y state. However, when Panache contacted me and asked me to review one of their new Cleo Swim styles I was totally up for it as I had been longing for a proper swimsuit for months. When grilling myself on the beach I prefer bikinis but for swimming pool use I feel like onepiece is a more appropriate choice.

After weighing my options (and changing my mind for a few times as I am the queen of hesitation) I really wanted to try the amazing new Carmen swimsuit in 32G. This swimsuit goes up to G-cup and Cleo styles usually run a bit tight in the band which is why I felt that I needed to sistersize this time. Panache also sent me one of their new creations with the swimsuit – a lovely yellow kaftan in size M. The parcel also included a plastic little bag for the swimsuit and a beach bag to along with the whole “outfit”. Here are my thoughts about the Carmen swimsuit and the kaftan…

The design: Extremely attractive! I mean whoa this thing is a total beauty for a onepiece swimsuit. I was skyping with my boyfriend in the middle of shooting the pictures and he literally told me he couldn’t have ever believed how hot a swimsuit could be. ALSO, I got hit on by a random dude at the swimming pool today when wearing this so apparently this swimsuit appeals to both men and women. The print is absolutely lovely and the colour extremely flattering. I love the pineapples which makes the onepiece look a little retro. Also the cut is very 50’s-60’s looking which I absolutely love. It’s very flattering and covers everything that needs to be covered.

I love how this swimsuit features padded balconette cups with two-part cup construction which gives me extra security with no nipples showing through and my girls supported the best way when swimming. There is a bra band built in the swimsuit which adds a bit more security and holds the breasts up better than a regular swimsuit. The cups give me a pretty rounded look, just what I expect from Cleo. I also like how good the proportions are on my body – the swimsuit is not vertically too short or show too much of my butt or chest. However the cups of the swimsuit are not too high either so they keep the look very young and a bit sexy as well.

The fit: As I sized up in the band for comfort reasons I felt like the I could have tried the 30GG after all (if it existed). However the fit was overall really nice and I would say true-to-size. I now usually wear a 30GG when it comes to bras but with a swimsuit I am happy compromise the snugness of a band to make it look less tight and overall more flattering. I am also not the shortest person I know which means I always want to make sure everything fits me length-wise as well (for reference I’m almost 5″6). 32G was definitely a good fit length-wise but when stretching out a bit while getting wet the suit could have been slight tighter on my body. However this didn’t bother me and when doing any sort of sports I wanna feel comfy and not too restricted.

The cups were a good fit, not too small or big but just the right size. The wires were exactly the right width for me which I always appreciate. Because this is a strapless balconette style with optional halterneck straps attached to it I find it really attractive but was dubious about how it would hold itself up when swimming. This was not a problem though and I felt pretty secure in the suit without the fear of my boobs falling out of the cups. However the feeling of not having “proper” thick straps made me still yank up the suit now and then but this was more due to a psychological reason – I couldn’t believe I was wearing an actually working strapless swimsuit. However I would advice Panache to add some kind of silicone strings to the inside of the cups, just for extra security (but on the other hand, I have no idea how it would work together with chloride water – maybe the silicone would wear off easily?)

Comfort: Love it! So comfy when just chilling (tested in my room while skyping with my bf) and amazing when swimming. The materials feel very soft and the fabric is stretchy enough to allow any movement. The wires don’t dig into my armpits thanks to the perfect width and length. What I would hate would be wires going too high up in my armpits which would affect my comfort while swimming; however, this swimsuit is so perfectly planned to be functional, comfortable and pretty at the same time so I don’t really have any complaints. It also doesn’t dig into my butt or hips which creates a smooth look on my body. Gotta love it! The detachable straps of the suit are very thin which could cause a bit of strain on your neck but as it’s created for D-G busts it’s not meant to carry a huge amount of weight. Also the support comes from the built-in band which is always the most crucial part of a bra or a swimsuit.

The Kaftan: So adorable. And comfy! I love the soft fabric the kaftan is made from and how you can make it accommodate your figure by tightening the waist with the strings. The colour is so cute for the summer and I like how it matches with the Carmen swimsuit. Definitely will be wearing this A LOT in the summer since it’s so easy to throw on even when going shopping or having a drink at a terrace. For me it’s a prefect length too so quite short but I can see so many girls wearing this style with leggings as well.

The size M is a bit too large for me since I usually wear a size XS-S but as I said I can definitely make it work by tightening the waist. It’s also super-flattering for someone who has a big bust – definitely not ” the expecting mum look” here at all! Actually, I am so thrilled about this kaftan I can’t stop imagining myself in my city’s docks, eating ice cream and wearing my matching yellow RayBans. Oh summer, why can’t you be here already!

Overall I think Cleo Swim has put together a really amazing new collection and I’m really impressed by the look and fit of the Carmen swimsuit. This is exactly what I want all the full-bust brands to do and I am so grateful that I had the chance to try this new style out. The best and prettiest swimsuit I’ve ever tried! What do you think about the Carmen? Let me know in the comments!

The Carmen swimsuit is available in sizes 28-38 D-G. The Kaftan is available in sizes S-L and also in a lovely pink shade. Do check out the other Cleo Swim styles as well because, hello, there’s also a LONGLINE bikini available!

Disclosure: This swimsuit was gifted by Panache for review purposes. All opinions are my own.