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

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 😉

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Super Smooth” in 30DD

I know my lasses, I have been gone for too long. But! I have been doing some good and productive stuff as I have have got myself trained as a bra fitter (!) so my last couple of weeks has been fitting people and learning about the brand I work for. This means I will be getting even more people into well-fitting bras in the future – how cool is that, right? 😉

However, today is not about my new job (maybe I’ll tell you more about it in the future!) but about someone we already know – a little lady called “Super Smooth”. Super Smooth* was formerly introduced on 2COP a few months ago when the first black version of it lauched on the Gossard online store and my lovely bff Jo modelled and reviewed it on the blog. Today, I am bringing this inseparable combo to you again, hence a better-fitting bra size of 30DD. Also, the Super Smooth has finally been introduced in some fab prints and today we are bringing you the cute and sassy leopard print. *Disclosure: This set was provided by Gossard for review purposes, all opinions are our own.

Design: When we talk about the very basic lingerie we have in our bradrobes, what would you consider a must? When I think about my very best bras and panties, it’s always about comfort, practicality and good looks combined into one perfect set. As a Finn, I know our lust for the boring beige and black underwear but what if, just for once, we tried to spice it up a bit? Even though the black Super Smooth was an instant hit with Jo and meshed well with her wardrobe, the sassy leopard print is a good option under your everyday clothes – and why not under a see-through top on a night out? The leopard print is done in a subtle way in a toned-down colour combo of beige, black and army green which might sound like an odd pairing to some but seems to work well in such a wild (see what I did there?) print.

Even with the wilder print, there is always the sleekness and practicality of the t-shirt bra finish – as the name promises, the bra and the panty give a seamless look with just a little more oomph with the push up padding in the cups. The cleavage is phenomenal as always and it’s achieved with a completely wireless structure of built-in “support panels”.

Fit: If you are interested in a our previous description of the fit, I suggest you look into our first post of this particular bra, HERE (click!). What has changed though is the bra size Jo is wearing this time – the black Super Smooth was in a size 32D whereas this one is worn in a size 30DD. Last time, Jo could easily close the bra in the tightest hooks with the 32 being obviously too big on her, but the 30 band seems to work well for her small underbust area. The materials are rather stretchy meaning she could probably go down to 28 if it existed but the bra fits well nevertheless.

The 30DD is a sister size to a 32D which means the cup volume is the same with both bras. As Jo’s cup size hasn’t changed much during the past few months, it seems the sister size is working well regarding the cup size as well. Jo usually wears a size 28F with most UK brands so I would suggest once again to go for your regular Gossard size; one cup down and a band size up from your regular UK size. Jo is wearing a size XS short with the bra and it fits her really well too without any bulging or gaping anywhere.

Comfort: When it comes to comfort, it would seem to be a key ingredient in making the perfect everyday set – especially when designing a wireless. Even though wireless bras usually tend to feel pretty flimsy on a fuller bust, Gossard has managed to make this bra feel sturdy and comfy on. The in-built support panels almost feel like underwires without the possible poking and make the bra approachable for us D+ ladies as well. Here’s hoping Gossard would upgrade the size range up to G!

Even though Gossard bras are usually very comfortable overall, there seems to be one thing that bothers me and Jo a bit – and that is the straps. Unfortunately, even with the bigger sizes, Gossard is using rather slim half-adjustable straps with most of their designs which leads up to a flimsy feeling and sometimes even to annoying slipping off the shoulders. For me, the length of the straps has never been a problem but to Jo, they were just way too long to feel sturdy and to support the 10% of the weight of her bust. This can be fixed easily with basic sewing skills but it could also be taken care of during the design process. So Gossard, here’s the thing – we LOVE you. Just improve the straps a bit, okay?

All in all the set is very comfy and great-looking in its new print for the spring season and we would both recommend this to any A-E gal out there who want the support without the wires. You can snatch up this bradrobe staple from the Gossard online store for a reduced price of £35 for the bra and £14 for the short. How do you like this set? Would you be willing to try the E+ sizes if Gossard made them in the future? I would love to know, so do leave me a comment! xx

Suomeksi: Heippa ihmiset! Tämä tyttö on ollut töissä ja kouluttautumassa alusvaatemyyjäksi, joten siitä onkin jo jonkin aikaa, kun olen ollut viimeksi ruudun ääressä rustailemassa teille. Tällä kertaa meillä on uudestaan arvosteltavana Gossardin “Super Smooth”, jota Jossu testailikin jo muutama kuukausi sitten debyyttivärissään, mustassa. Rintsikoista muodostui heti yhdet Jossun lemppareista, ja olimmekin molemmat iloisia, kun Gossard halusi lähettää hänelle testiin saman liivin uudessa kausikuosissaan, eli ihanaisessa leopardiprintissä.

Vaikka musta onkin meidän suomalaisten pyhä väri, josta emme vain osaa luopua, on mukavaa, kun omista lemppareista ilmestyy välillä myös niin kutsuttuja “fashion”-versioita. Tämä tuo omaan vaatekaappiin vähän vaihtelevuutta ja perusrintsikkamalliin hieman eloa. Villistä printistään huolimatta Super Smooth on tehty hillityllä eleganssilla; väreiksi ovat valikoituneet beige, musta ja armeijan vihreä, jotka tasapainottavat räväkkää leopardiprinttiä. Malliltaan liivi on topattu t-paitaliivi ilman kaaritukia, joka kuitenkin tuo sisäänrakennettujen tukipaneelien ansiosta rinnat kauniisti eteenpäin ja esille.

Kooksi valitsimme tällä kertaa Jossulle 30DD, joka vastaa kupiltaan hänen aikaisempaa 32D. Tässä koossa ympärys on kuitenkin napakampi ja näin istuu Jossulle paremmin kuin hänen aikaisempi musta versionsa. Gossardin liivit ovatkin usein ympärykseltään napakampia kuin muiden brittimerkkien, ja näin ollen normaalisti 28-ympärystä käyttävä Jossu voi huoletta käyttää myös 30-ympärystä heidän malleissaan. Lisäksi kuppi on Gossardilla suurehko, joten siitä voi ottaa koon pienemmän kuin normaalisti.

Vaikka Super Smooth on mukavuudeltaan samaa luokkaa kuin muutkin Gossardin liivit, on sen ongelmana myös merkin perisynti: liian kapeat ja pitkät olkaimet. Tässä olisi siis ehdottomasti parannuksen paikka merkille! Minulla Gossardin olkaimet ovat toimineet melko hyvin, mutta pienempikokoisen ihmisen tulee varautua vain puoleksisäädettäviin olkaimiin, jotka ovat lähtökohtaisesti melko venyvät ja paukkuvat.

Jos oma perussetti Gossardilta houkuttaa, voit klikata englanninkielisen tekstin linkkejä ja löydät nopsasti Super Smoothin tuotesivulle. Setti on tällä hetkellä alessa, joten nyt kannattaa ehdottomasti katsoa, josko omaa kokoa olisi jäljellä! Valitettavasti kokoja mallista löytyy vain E:hen asti, mutta laitetaan sormet ristiin – jospa saataisiin malli joskus G-kupissakin 😉

Review of Tutti Rouge “Mae” in 30GG

I have been lusting over so many Tutti Rouge sets recently and lucky me, I have a tried a few of them too. Today I am reviewing a set I won through a TR competition on their Facebook page. I got to choose a set from their AW13 collection and went for the sexy yet cute style called Mae. Here’s how I liked it…

The Design: The cups are made of three parts with a mesh on top and leather-look satin on the bottom part of the bra. I personally love the risque materials that create a very sexy look without being too tacky or trashy. Many of you may think that Mae is very “french maid” but for me it represents more Snow White. The lovely red roses and lacy bows make the bra more cutesy and give it a girly edge. The black and white combo is very classic but looks great in a bra designed for the AW season.

I love the rounded shape this bra gives me – it’s actually almost minimizing. I think the shape is based on TR “Sophia” which had problems with the mesh coming up too loose but I feel like this model is highly improved as I don’t experience any loose fabric during normal use (the pics might show a little extra mesh on the sides but it smooths out when being in a normal position, not holding a camera and posing). 

The Fit: I went for my regular TR size meaning 30GG. I would say this style runs a bit tighter in the band than my TR Nichole, meaning it feels quite snug. It doesn’t cause any ugly bulges though and feels fairly comfortable on so I feel like it fit me well even though being a bit tighter than I prefer. However, I don’t think sizing up would be a good idea since the band will loosen up after a few wears. I have worn this bra only for a few times since I think it’s more appropriate for autumn but I’m positive I will be wearing it tons when the weather gets colder.

The cups run pretty true to size meaning I can easily wear my regular 30GG without any spillage or gaping. The wires are quite wide for me as I now need medium to narrow-ish wires. However, they feel quite comfy and don’t give me any pain while wearing the bra. As you can see the cups are on the shallower side especially on the bottom half of the bra meaning the cups fold a bit as they are not deep enough for me on the bottom. This does not bother me at all but it’s good to know if you are especially deep on the bottom half of your breasts. I think the bra would be quite great for someone with a bit more shallower breasts than mine.

 Comfort: I wore this bra during a long motorcycle ride and it felt comfortable on even with the band being quite snug. I love TR’s materials – they always feel really high-quality and well thought-out. The wires felt pretty flexible and the core tacked well and didn’t cause any pain at all.

When it comes to the mini-style thong, I wasn’t too pleased. To be honest, I haven’t worn it a single time since it’s not a flattering style on me. The cut is so low on the waist and so high on the crotch that I feel really uncomfortable showing that much flesh. I think the style would fit someone with a little less booty and a flatter stomach. Also, I feel like Tutti Rouge has definitely made their panties a little smaller in size – I got this in size Small and even though their Small has fitted me well in Nichole, Betty and Liliana, the Small in Mae feels quite tiny compared to the fore-mentioned styles. However, this could also be due to the mini style which is just not my cup of tea.

Otherwise, I feel like Mae is a gorgeous set and the bra is really pretty and looks great on. I would definitely recommend it to someone who loves balconettes and has a lot of upper fullness to fill the top part of the bra. You can get your Mae from TR’s BIG CARTEL ONLINE STORE. The bra (£22,40) comes in sizes 28-38 DD-HH and the bottoms in S-XL (£9,60). What do you think of Mae? Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments!