Moda Lingerie Preview: Panache, Cleo & Sculptresse SS17

Panache SS17 is the last collection I will go through before I move on to the AW17 season! This is a huge collection so please keep reading 😉

PANACHE

Clara in Royal Blue (D-J cups), Thea in White Floral (D-K), Floris in Black Floral (D-K), Clara in Pink/Dove (D-J), Jasmine in White Abstract, Blue Blossom and Petal print (D-K)

Sandie in Cashmere (D-K), Elise in Powder Blue (D-G), Cari in Champagne (D-H) and Petra in Capuccino (D-H)

The Panache core collection was once again vast and rather true to Panache’s regular British style – lots of floral prints such as the Thea and Floris. These will no doubt appeal to the most loyal Panache fans who love their quirky colour combos and ditsy florals. I myself prefer a more watercolour-like look and was super satisfied to see the core style Jasmine in lovely pastel-y shades and bigger more blurred floral prints. The Abstract print is super fresh and I like the colour combination – it will suit Easter perfectly! The Clara is an old favourite of mine and I am again very pleased with the colour combination, besides, anything looks great in a shinier fabric with a lace on top of it! The really exciting part is that Clara now comes with a high-waisted knickers, which is a perfect luxurious addition to the line.

There weren’t that many completely new styles in the Panache core collection but the Petra and Sandie are both delightful additions to the collection. The Sandie is a much prettier set in flesh, so if you have a chance to try it in a store, please do so! The embroidery is absolutely beautiful and the colour will be perfect for many pale-skinned beauties in the summertime. If you have a deeper skin tone though, the Petra might be your cup of tea. It is a lightly-padded and well-constructed little beauty and would make a great staple for someone who is struggling to find full-bust sizes in a deep-enough skin tone. It’s still not very dark, but a good start for a British full-bust brand.

PANACHE BLACK

Etta in Navy (D-G), Aria in Navy/Nude (D-H), Ruby in Black (D-H), Quinn in Unpadded Balconette (D-K) and Strapless (D-G)

The Panache Black collection featured mostly core colours such as white, navy, black and beige, which has been the MO of the range since the very beginning. The focus is on the cuts and luxurious materials, which brings the price point up just a bit. The new styles – the Ruby and Quinn – were some of my personal favourites from the collection. I love the cut-outs where the cups meet the straps with Ruby and the bridal collection is stunning with its satins and golden hardware. I am however a bit disappointed that the strapless Quinn bra only goes up to G – but perhaps they’ll bring it up to H next season? A girl can hope! (hint hint, team Panache)

PANACHE SPORT

The Panache sports bra is again introduced in two prints and up to J-cup. My favourite from the two is the more abstract print with a salmon highlights at the neckline. This print would be amazing on matching sports tights! The cyber print is a bit odd and quirky but I can definitely see some people fancying it. The non-wired sports bras go up to H-cup and match the wired ones with their colour themes.

CLEO BY PANACHE

Hettie in Blue/Teal (D-J), Marcie in Navy (D-J), Mimi in Spot Print (D-H) and Minnie in Navy Multi Print (D-J)

Breeze in Floral Print (D-H), Skye in Violet Mix (D-J), Koko Spirit in Fuchsia (D-H), Kayla in White Multi Print (D-J)  and Piper in Acid Coral (D-J)

Cleo is again a pleasant sight: lovely prints and bright young colours. Again, navy is one of the core colours with this collection and I love the fact that there’s not a lot of black. Navy is a basic colour that compliments so many, which is why I prefer it over black, beige and white. Pink and coral were also very much on trend, and neons are making a subtle comeback this upcoming spring. The Piper in Acid Coral was absolutely stunning and perhaps, I will be able to try it this time as last season it was completely sold out!

There weren’t many new styles in the Cleo collection, apart from the padded plunge style Koko Spirit, which is a new version of the regular Koko style, transformed to be a bit more trendy and fashion-y. My personal favourite from the collection is the Minnie though – instead of the older polka dot prints, the Minnie is now available in a lovely more abstract multi print.  Another obvious favourite is the Breeze longline which manages to be a total stunner each season.

SCULPTRESSE

Flirtini in Floral Multi (D-H),  Candi in Cobalt (D-HH), Gina in Raspberry ( D-HH), Chi Chi in Palm Print (D-HH) and Sasha Multiway in Soft Pink (D-H)

Sculptresse, the plus size collection is yet again small yet sweet. Fortunately, there a couple of new styles that were introduced for this season: Gina and Sasha. The Gina is a regular non-padded balconette and the Sasha is supposed to be the ultimate basic bra: nude for Caucasian skin tones, made of light-weight spacer foam material and has a J-hook at the back to form a racerback if needed. The colours are bright and in line with the rest of the Panache collection – corals, blues and pinks to brighten up your spring.

 

PANACHE SWIM

Portofino in Petrol (D-K) and Anya Voyage in Navy (D-G)

Florentine Swimsuit and Bikini (D-G), Nina in Geo Print (D-G) and Britt Stripe in Red/White (D-H)

In the new Panache swim collection there were quite a few new styles, mostly in core colours and floral prints. Unfortunately, there weren’t that many styles that would please me per se, but I did find a couple which I really liked. My absolute favourite was the Florentine strapless swimsuit, which is a lovely vintage-y ensemble. The 50’s and 60’s vibe is still there, which is something I have enjoyed about the Panache Swim collections in the past as well. The Anya Voyage for example is the perfect 60’s Bond girl bikini, in my opinion!

CLEO SWIM

Gigi in Blue/Black (D-G), Avril in Palm Print (D-H), Lucille Tankini in Navy/White (D-H) and Isla in Tropical Orange (D-G)

The Cleo Swim collection was full of colour, palm prints and trendy shapes. I love the piping trend on the new Gigi style and am so disappointed it doesn’t come in my size! If I could wish something from the Panache design team, it would be more bigger cup sizes in especially in the Cleo Swim collection.

Tankinis haven’t been that much on trend recently, but there is one lovely option the collection and that is the Lucille. The colouring is quite classic but the shape is great for younger customers as well.

How did you like the new Panache spring collection? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Moda Lingerie Preview: Tutti Rouge SS17

Hi everyone! Today I need to start by being completely honest with you even if it hurts just a bit to admit that I haven’t lately been that inspired to blog anymore. I don’t know exactly why, perhaps it’s a combination of so much time spent on the computer already doing my uni essays but also because I have so many samples to review (which are lovely and I am grateful for them!) that I don’t have time to write anything else. This is why I wanted to take a break today from the reviews and start showing favourites for the upcoming spring season. Luckily, I am going to the Salon de la Lingerie in Paris just next month, so hopefully I will gain some inspiration there for my blog as well! I would also like to write more about vintage reproduction brands that are suitable for a fuller bust, so if you have an opinion on that or a brand you would like reviewed, please let me know in the comments.

Also, if any of you have any suggestion for blog post topics, I would be more than willing to hear your ideas. Also, if there is something YOU would like to write about here on my blog, don’t hesitate to email me! I always accept thoughtfully written guest posts unless it’s a company trying to get free ad space. I don’t have money to compensate you but if you have a blog of your own, I am more than happy to link to your blog here as well. Without further a do though, let’s dive into the new spring collections as I am so sick of this winter and most of all, winter blues! Today I’m bringing you some sunshine in a form of the new Tutti Rouge collection, “the Birds & the Bees”.

Sukki & Lexi, both up HH-cup

Tutti Rouge collections are still rather small but what they lack in size, they patch it up with a good dose of sweetness. The first thing we encountered at the Tutti Rouge stand was the lovely new colourway of the Sukki, a style inspired by a pinup model and a burlesque diva Sukki Singapora. I am a big fan of the lady herself but regardless of the inspiration, I truly love this set a lot. The past season colourway of black and cream was something a bit too obviously sexy for my taste but I am now head over heels in love with the new blush colourway. I love the combination of the sweet colour and the naughty (detachable) strapping and I would love to wear this with a crisp white summer dress. The style also looks perfect for us ladies with a little extra fullness at the top of our breasts, so I am really looking forward to trying this style!

Another option in a similar style minus the strap detailing and padding is the new Lexi bra. The Lexi is a true half-cup shape which is rather rare in the full-bust market. It has one seam going vertically in the middle of the cup and re-enforced side panel which should bring your boobs more to the centre instead of giving an east-west sort of look. The style looks promising but I haven’t seen it on anybody yet, which makes me wonder how Tutti Rouge managed to make the fit right for us fuller busted ladies. Here’s hoping the HH-cup fits as well as the F-cup!

The Chloe is a style that makes me really happy just looking at it – the bright lemon-y yellow gives me life and makes me want to jump into spring already. The pink bows add a touch of cheeky contrast to the set and I am absolutely in love with the lacy half-longline addition to the bra band. The shape of the bra is similar to other half-padded bras of Tutti Rouge but I do have to say Chloe looks just a tiny bit more uplifted and centred when it comes to its cup shape.

My only gripe with this set are the panties. I used to love TR pants so so much but lately, I they haven’t been that much to my taste anymore. I like my high-waisted pants HIGH, like up to my belly button so this trend with the middle-rise panties is killing me on the inside. I frankly think it’s one of the most unflattering rises you can wear, for me at least, so I have been pushing designers to make them higher. Let’s see what happens next season, I hope my wishes have been granted! Another interesting panty choice in the collection was the high-legged brazilian knicker. I don’t know what has got into people but these seem to be super on-trend right now in the lingerie industry, and I am not digging it. Don’t get me wrong – I have seen some babes ROCKING them with their wide hips and all but my narrow hips would probably just look very sad in them.

Amelia, Nichole and Liliana in their pretty peachy tones, all up HH-cup

The Amelia is a new style in the TR product family and it’s based on the older Betty shape which is their signature padded balconette bra. I have been a fan of Betty from day one and the one I tried from the ss16 collection was absolutely fantastic. I have high hopes for this bra as it is super pretty and looks very promising fit-wise too! The back of the bra is especially beautiful, as the straps feature a wider lace detailing which reminds me of the trendy smaller bust bras we see on the high-street. The comfort factor of the bra seems to be getting an A+ as well, as the inner material is made of the softest cotton that caresses my skin like no other.

Nichole and Liliana are the staples of this collection but I was happy to see them clad in lovely vibrant shades of the red and peach. The particularly fun twist of the Nichole is the sweet leopard print adorning it all around – in recent years, leopard prints have grown on me more and more and this particular one is very girly and not tacky at all.

This is the set that I reeeeeaaaally wanna get my hands on next spring. It is called Pixie and it’s a whole new style and shape for Tutti Rouge. If you are a fan of the Jessica bra WITHOUT the cookies, just like me, I would suggest looking into Pixie. It is a non-padded plunge bra adorned with the Tutti Rouge exclusive print “Birds and Bees” – something super girly and young yet I still would love to wear this as a 24-year-old. The corset detailing at the centre gore, the cutesy print and the practical shape of the bra makes me go all grabby-hands and I am sure to get this bra for all those low-cut summer dresses. Just perfection!

How did you like the new Tutti Rouge ss17 collection? Any favourites? Please, let me know in the comments so I can take your opinions straight to Jessica in January! The collection will launch in January according to the brochure, but I would say TR usually takes a bit of time with their launches, so I would be ready with the shopping money in February. Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday and I will write again soon! xx

Dreaming of a Lost Summer – Review of Tutti Rouge “Betty” in Brighton Rocks Print

Hi darlings! Has the autumn been kind to you? Mine has been hectic to say the least and I am quite frankly exhausted. I have been studying, working, learning how to eat again, fighting for my paycheck, seeing friends and dancing on a stage a few times. Guess what I’m really trying to do here is to tell you why I have been so absent for these past couple of months! I have one more month left of my uni training program at the kids’ mental rehab courses and I have a couple of shows behind me, but I have also completed my first month of eating five times a day with glowing results. I am starting to feel normal about my eating habits and body again, which is a true blessing.

With a little light in the horizon, I would like to bring some light to your lives as well and introduce you to a treat I was recently sent by Tutti Rouge. As you may know, I haven’t had that much luck with the most recent bras I have tried from them but now that it has been a rather long time, I figured it was time for  a second trial lap. Long story short: I fell in love again! If you wanna know the full details, here is a review of the new TR “Betty”.

First of all: apologies for the differences in lighting and colours in these pics. It is getting dark again here in Finland and it is so hard for an amateur to edit the pics from scratch when they are super dark and yellow-y to begin with!

The Design: I was happy to see that the Tutti Team had included the Betty bra in my parcel, as it was the first Tutti Rouge bra I’ve ever tried when they decided to believe me and send me some of my first blog samples. It is always fascinating to see how a core part of a brand’s collection changes over time, as there may be some style and fit tweaks that can change the whole game. The last time I tried Betty was a couple of years back at a Moda when they brought out the turquoise colourway of the original poppy print. That time the Betty bra was still trying to find its best fit and the 32H I still own did not and does not fit that well – it chafed my armpits and added bulk to my figure.

The case is completely different with the Brighton Rocks Betty bra – the shape it gives is very rounded, yet there is just enough coverage for my liking and subtle uplift to make you feel natural about your boobs (ya know, not that boobs-up-your-chin effect, hehe). The construction of the bra has changed from the original three piece pattern to a two-piece construction, with one vertical seam going across the cups in the middle. The padding of the bra is quite thin so this is ACTUALLY, REALLY a padded bra I can wear without the feeling I am suffocating me and everyone else with my boobs. I wear this bra with everything: under my work button-ups, my PUG peasant tops and my Dolores doll dresses. Anything that requires a low-cut balconette bra, and this bra is my biggest ally.

When it comes to the print, you need to scroll down to the panties pic to see it properly. And low and behold, it is a lovely print, isn’t it? I think the best asset of Tutti Rouge has always been their attention to detail and once again, they have nailed it. The small beach chairs and popsicles, maps and envelopes – it is the perfect bra for a wanderlust gal like myself. The print was inspired by the British seashore, the city of Brighton to be exact, and it still reminds me of my dream to go back to UK to explore the beachside towns one day. The print is accompanied by the small details TR is famous for; small cutesy ruffles, bows and the signature heart-shaped strap adjusters.

The Fit: I wasn’t too hopeful about TR bras fitting me this time either but boy was I wrong, and I am more than happy to admit it. It felt like finding home when I put this bra on and since then, it has stayed on with constant washing as it is now one of my most comfortable, practical bras I own. But more about that later!

The sizing seems to be now pretty on par with other UK mainstream brands such as Curvy Kate and Panache and thus I seem to be between band sizes 30 and 32. I decided to go for a 32GG with both of the bras I received, as I think it’s always safer to go with the bigger size and then tighten it with the hooks and eyes, if it is not snug enough. This saves me the hassle of exchanging my size and paying for shipping costs, so I am happy with my choice. With the Betty, I don’t think I could have gone down to 30 band though, just for comfort reasons and I can still wear the band in the loosest set of hooks comfortably. I have also recently noticed that too tight bands can be a stress factor to my skin which is why I now go more for the 32 band rather than 30.

The cups run similar to other British brands as well and I am perfectly content with my GG-cups. The only minor thing that affects the fit is that the bra is lightly padded meaning that it can’t really conform to my shape per se and thus it does not allow any leeway on my bigger boob. However, this is probably some of the best fits I can get in a similarly shaped padded bra, so I am more than happy with the fit overall. The wires are also a pretty good fit for me – if I were super strict about finding the perfect bra, I would say they are a tad too wide but as I think more of the comfort factor of bras, I would say they needn’t be changed to make this bra better. I think there is also a bit more space and depth in the cups than any previous TR bras I’ve tried, which is an instant upside for me personally.

Comfort: The level of comfiness with the new Betty is similar to its very original counterpart – everything seems to be spot on with the bra. The bra feels super lightweight even with the padding, and the the inner cups are lined with a divinely thin layer of the softest cotton you can imagine. A heaven for my eczema torn boobies! It also feels like this bra truly breathes and thus I avoid the dreaded boob sweat that is especially very present in summer time. The lace on the edge of the cups is not itchy at all and I can really give this bra an A+ for the comfort factor. The straps are quite thin which can be a downside for some but I personally like the look and feel of them.

The panties unfortunately did not work for me and it makes me super sad. I used to LOVE the short-style knickers that came with the Poppy print Bettys and I am kind of surprised why they haven’t been kept in the range. The new Betty shorts are super cute to say the least but unfortunately the choice of materials is not the best with these – the mesh and the waistband elastic are so rigid, it is almost impossible to sit down and feel comfy. If you do want to get a matching set though, I would recommend going up even two sizes from your regular UK size, as these are a Medium and fit me very tightly. I can put them on but I must say there is no stretch in the back for “junk in the trunk”.

Overall, I would say to probably skip the panties for now BUT do get the bra if you feel like you need a cute practical everyday bra but also something to go under your freetime low-cut tops. The bra is FABULOUS and retails only for £20 on sale at Very.co.uk. The Brighton Rocks print is pretty much sold out everywhere but Tutti Rouge just launched their burlesque performer print of the same Betty style and I hope to be all over it very soon as well, so snatch it up before it sells out this time. The bra goes up to H-cup so the size range is pretty generous as well!

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: Rochella “Tattoo Butterfly” in 32GG

I recently wrote about a new DD+ brand Rochella which is a British middle-market brand with a good cause and a unique, more mature yet quirky aesthetics. I remember back in the day Miss Underpinnings used to talk about the lack of full-bust brands catering for the 30-something customer and I personally feel Rochella is the answer to that plea. The designs are suitable for any age but I think they do have more grown-up styles than eg Cleo and Curvy Kate, yet the styles are not “old” but a bit whimsical to maintain a fresh look. When interviewing the founder of the brand, Karen, she asked if I wanted to review one of her sets and of course I said yes! Today I am bringing you one of the first (if not the very first?) Rochella blog reviews out there, with their beautiful “Tattoo Butterfly” set.

The Design: I was instantly drawn to the Tattoo Butterfly set as it was something rather unique to me: I had never had a bra with butterflies on it and even though the idea sounded a bit juvenile to me, there is nothing too young and cute about this bra. The design is, in one word, STUNNING. I have actually always loved butterflies, I hate bugs in general, but I find butterflies to be the miracles of nature and each time I see one, it makes me so happy. Even though butterflies are usually depicted as super colourful with the shades of orange and yellow, I really enjoyed the teal and black combination of the set which makes it so much more sophisticated. Also the completely sheer upper panel of the bra is amazing, something not many brands have been brave enough to do.

The shape of the bra is something between the new Curvy Kate balconettes and perhaps a slight bit of Freya G+ balconettes. There is a tiny bit of point to the apex but there is still much more room at the top of the cup than eg with Freya. For a new brand, the shape is very good right from the start with enough uplift to avoid the downwards-7 effect, which can sometimes occur with three-part cup construction + the balconette style. The style is a true balconette but not a completely full-coverage one – this bra is very suitable for everyday wear and goes under most tops and dresses beautifully. I wear it regularly with my Pinup Girl Clothing peasant tops and the butterflies on the cup edge peek beautifully from the low neckline of the top.

The Fit: This is always the most interesting part of reviewing a new brand for you. When looking at the Rochella size chart, you can see that there are no 30 bands in sight, meaning I resulted in opting for my second most worn size, 32GG. I thought it might be a close shot as I am now leaning more towards 32 bands these days – however, British brands are infamous for being looser in the band than their Polish sisters. This was the case with Rochella as well; the 32 band was a size too big for me, but luckily it had four (!) sets of hooks and eyes to tighten it a bit. I am usually wearing it in the tightest or second tightest set of hooks, which is unfortunate as it shortens the lifespan of the bra a bit for me. The fit of the band is definitely on par with the likes of Curvy Kate and Freya, so if you are between band sizes, do size down.

The cups are a bit deeper than your usual British full-bust bra which is a huge upside for me personally – I find most British bras too shallow for my full bust and the Tattoo Butterfly fits me beautifully without any wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. Compared to its Polish counterparts the bra is not super forward-projecting but not as wide and splayed as eg Curvy Kate either. Also the wires are quite average in my opinion, the perfect medium between Polish and most British bras. The straps of the bra are quite long so take that into consideration if you are on the petite side! However, they are also fully-adjustable so there’s a lot of leeway to make them fit you the way you want.

Comfort: Overall the Rochella Tattoo Butterfly set is very comfortable – the materials feel high-quality (though I would be careful with the see-through mesh, it’s super thin and delicate!) and soft to touch. The outer layer is made of stretch satin and the lining out of polyester; I personally prefer cotton lining with my bras but I do feel this is another great option as I don’t feel it’s the kind of scratchy cheap polyester. The lining is a pretty lavender shade to show the support to gynaecology cancer survivors and sufferers – this makes sense as some of the profits go to a gynaecology cancer charity, which is awesome when we are talking about such a new brand.

The only thing that takes a bit away from the comfort factor of this set is that the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me and the cup edge comes up high enough in the armpit to chafe me while being more active. This has not prevented me from wearing this bra A LOT though, so I would say all in all the Rochella sets are not just pretty to look at, they are also quite comfy and very well-fitting. Also the panties get an A+ from me: I went for the size UK 10-12 and they fit me beautifully, I would even say they are one of my most flattering bottoms I own. The back of the briefs is made of super stretchy mesh so these are very butt-friendly and sexy at the same time.

The price point of Rochella is a bit higher than with most UK full-bust brands but that is kind of what the founder of the brand went for – better quality and a big size range (32-42 D-J) are key features with Rochella and I personally feel that £59 for a bra and £30 for the bottoms is a fair price for the pieces. Heck, the hardware on the front part of the straps is 18 ct gold! If you would like to give Rochella lingerie a try, I would suggest taking a look at their web shop, which you find here. They are also adding 30 bands this upcoming autumn so stay tuned for that if you are outside their size range at the moment! I am personally looking forward to trying something from the AW16 collection in 30H, which will be a sligthly better fit for me size-wise. 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

Lingerie Review: Parfait “Leslie” in 32G

For a long time, I have been eyeing Parfait and been asking myself the question – should I just cheat and buy something in a 32G? As some of you may know I have been having a love/hate relationship with their Charlotte bra – I am a size 30HH with their G+ version of the bra and to be honest, it is just way too much of a bra for me. Sadly none of their other styles go above G-cup, hence my hesitation. When Parfait contacted me and asked if I would like to try something from them, I jumped at the chance and asked to try their lovely Leslie bandeau balconette in 32G. As my usually size ranges between 30-32 GG-H, it was a long shot but one worth taking – here’s how I liked this spicy little beauty!

The Design: I have recently got more into animal prints which is why I decided to give the leopard print Leslie a go – also, I am a huge fan of blue as it suits my own colouring so well. The Leslie is very similar to Charlotte in styling as it comes in both the classic contour bra and the balconette one and it also features the signature black trimming we all have come to love. As a print lover this version of the classic Charlotte shape intrigued me and I decided to challenge the bandeau bra and see how it would work for my breast size and shape. I was very happy with the results and as you can see, the bra gives me a lovely vintage-sorts of looking Brigitte Bardot kinda cleavage.

The Leslie bandeau balconette is not a moulded cup bra as it might seem but the cups construct of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam. This gives the bra its distinct shape and gives phenomenal uplift even with padding. The Leslie is indeed quite heavily padded, meaning it’s a great option if you want that extra oomph (I wear this bra mostly under my Collectif “Dolores Doll” dress).

Fit: As I knew, the 32G wouldn’t probably be my best option, but this time it came pretty close. As I have a-symmetry, my other boob is spilling over the cup just a bit but my other one seems perfectly fine – which is why I can easily wear this bra especially if I want some vavavoom with my dresses. The 32 band is surprisingly firm and passes almost as a 30. If you are between sizes with bands like me, I would suggest sizing up! The cups seem very true to size, meaning in a perfect world I would be wearing a 32GG.

The wires are a tad to wide for me as per usual with Parfait but somehow, they are far better than with the 30HH I wear my purple Charlotte in. The cups are fairly deep as well so no orange-in-the-glass effect luckily! They are also quite closed at top which makes me wonder if I would have been fine with a 32G if they were more open. However, this makes the bra perfect for any full-on-bottom ladies out there. The centre gore floats just a bit from my sternum but as I have noticed, I prefer it that way because of my atopic eczema – super tacking gores give me a horrible itch!

Comfort: For my luck, the straps of the Leslie are not quite as widely placed as with Charlotte. I really like this feature as my armpits get chafed really easily if the underwires are too high at the sides and straps are placed right at the edge of my elbows. The straps and the bra band are both wide meaning the bra is truly created to take a lot of weight and support you throughout the day. The materials are not horribly rigid meaning I can wear the bra for hours without discomfort. The cups are lined with black cotton which feels nice against the sensitive skin of my boobs.

I also received the Leslie high-waisted briefs in size Small which is still my preferred size with Parfait. I wanted to give their high-waisted options a chance again and was not disappointed – these panties are fantastic! I must admit they are not the most seamless option under tight dresses or jeans but still look gorgeous as they are and I love how high they actually come – right up to my belly button! The back side of the knickers is completely sheer which makes them a bit more sexy than your regular high-waisted panties and thus, I love them all the more.

If you would like to give Leslie a try, do check out Amazon as they have the best size range for the bra. What do you think of Leslie? Do you like the animal print more than the basic two-toned Charlotte? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie & Show: Signature by After Eden SS15 Collection

When a new full-bust brand pops up on the market, I always get super excited – especially if the company has years of knowledge making comfy bras in core sizes. When I first saw Signature – After Eden’s sub label for fuller figures and busts – I was so excited and wanted to browse their stand at Moda thoroughly. Their stand is usually one of the nicest to visit anyway – last year it was bubbly, this year cheese which I am a great fan of (well who isn’t?). As we were having a taste of the snacks, we got to meet the brand’s head of marketing Paul, who runs the company’s marketing department from Netherlands, where After Eden was originally founded.

I thought showing you the new Signature Spring/Summer collection would be so appropriate because *drum roll* we are having some of their pieces reviewed here at 2COP soon! I am also introducing a new guest blogger of mine, miss E. But I won’t tell you any more just yet! However, let’s get into previewing the collection first!

 
From top to bottom: Sevilla, Anna & Granada

This ss16 collection is Signature’s third collection and thus, it is interesting to see how the fit of these garments actually is, as making sizes A-D is completely different from making sizes D-F. Yes, indeed, the collection only goes up to UK F-cup so far, but as we have seen with other brands such as Playful Promises, full bust sizes are extremely time consuming to create and also, a great risk for companies that are not used to making them. This is why most companies start small and then continue to expand their size range when the demand is big enough. However, this requires the products to get sold on their full price which can sometimes be really difficult in this financial situation we are in.

Oh well, let’s not talk about the grim details anymore! Where Signature still lacks in cup sizes, the bands sizes are quite generous for such a new brand. Most of their styles are intended for the fuller figure customer as well and the band sizes go up to 42-44 in even with F-cups Their classic style Anna, which comes in both padded and non-padded version, starts at 30 band which is a nice start to include smaller band sizes in the collection.

 
Top to bottom: Malaga, Barcelona & Balboa

The new summer collection consists of two colour schemes: daring pink and blue harmony – very appropriate considering those truly are the trend colours of the season in addition to bright oranges. The summer collection is a bit more girly and age appropriate compared to this autumn season but that means the collection is very approachable for girls who are perhaps plus size/ full-busted and want something pretty and comfy to wear on their everyday. I am happy that out new guest blogger is 18 yo which makes her the perfect reviewer for Signature (however, she will be wearing a 32F so not a plus size but a small band/big cup combo)!

One of my favourite sets from the collection is nothing basic or too girly though, and that is the amazing Malaga. Malaga takes on the contrasting trim trend which was mainly brought to the full bust market by Parfait. I love how the contrasting trimmings are combined to a lovely feminine lace and a delicious cotton candy shade. Also, I am big fan and collector of suspenders, even though I actually rarely wear them.

If you are interested to see the autumn collection for yourself and grab a few goodies, you can do so on the Signature website. The price range is around 40-50 € for the bras and 15-20 € for a pair of knickers so not bad at all! You can find the online store here.

Moda Lingerie & Swim Show: Tutti Rouge SS16 “Tutti Rocks” Collection

Tutti Frutti, oh Rudy! Tutti Rouge is such a fun brand to see at Moda – they always cater for the young pinup ladies such as myself as their lingerie is always a piece of cutesy pop art with a hint of romance. This time, we were not disappointed either and were so happy to see Tutti Rouge tackling the unique prints and bright colours again this season. For those of you who don’t know, Tutti Rouge also goes up to J-cup and is sold at a great price point which makes it all the more exciting for us fuller busted ladies at budget! Let’s see what they have in store for spring 2016…

The new print that came along this season was the lovely Betty in “Brighton Rocks” which pays homage to the great British summertime. Who doesn’t love seashore and summer holidays?! I am always in awe of new Tutti-exclusive prints and when I just thought the Sailor Jerry -inspired print couldn’t be topped, this Brighton babe might have just done that. To be honest, I see myself as a Tutti collector – I want all their exclusive prints as part of my lingerie art gallery! This cute print comes in the shape of Betty, a padded balconette shape that has been around since the very launch of Tutti Rouge.

The Jessica has been released now and it is the world’s first non-padded bra with detachable cookies inside the cups. I am particularly excited for this bra and it’s versatility, as it is something that serves both as a non-padded and a padded bra – which ever pleases you at the moment. I am a big fan of unpadded bras as I have plenty of padding of my own, but I do like to get some cleavage at times, especially when hopping at the pubs during the weekend. The cookies come in two size “Tutti Boosters” and “Tutti Super Boosters” from which you can opt the right amount of oomph for your specific needs.

The Jessica will include some high-waisted bottoms which will be added to the collection later on, however, they won’t be available right from the launch as there were some problems with the initial production. However, the collection will include a lovely suspender belt as well which will be a nice option if you want a bit more coverage over your tummy! The Black version of Jessica is out now and the caramel/ivory colourway will be launched in spring 2016.

When it comes to Liliana, it has now been clad in a lovely pumpkin shade, which is very much on trend for SS16 season. I am super glad that our voices have been heard and now, we can enjoy a plethora of unusual colours in the lingerie world – yellows, greens and oranges are finally on trend! As I have mentioned before, orange/pink is my fave colour combo of all time and I am excited to see it made in the form of the best-seller Liliana.

The Fifi has also been reinvented and brought back in a lovely cool pink tone and I love the whole “Barbie” feel of it – so many polka dots, ruffles and lace! The shape of the bra reminds me of the Cleo balconettes which many of us love to death, which is why I could see it as a potential best-seller. The first time this bra launched it had some problems with the bands fitting way too small but I am hopeful that this has been rectified since.

The pumpkin theme goes on and we get to see another Tutti regular in it – the delicious Kitty. I have always loved the look of this shape but unfortunately it does not fit my boobies the way I would like it to fit. The cups are just too shallow and wide and thus, our romance had to end a few months ago. However, if you are on the wider and shallower side, do try this one out as it looks so gorgeous on!

The Nichole has so far fitted me the best with all my Tutti bras I have tried. This season it is made in two basic colours Black and Beige, but also in a wild animal print that absolutely screams my name. The Nichole gives me a fantastic rounded shape which is why it could be, that I am getting back to this bra when the spring arrives – besides, I do have to get on the animal print bandwagon sooner or later!

How do you like this new Tutti Rouge SS16 collection? Also, are you feeling the pinks and oranges as well? Let me know in the comments!

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Watercolour Roses” in 30DD

I love working with Gossard as they have been so kind to 2COP from the very beginning and as Jo came along, I have loved how we could showcase the differences of Gossard’s two size ranges. Gossard also comes up with such a variety of lovely styles and prints that I can hardly keep up! This Watercolour Roses print was one of those pure diamonds Gossard came up with for the AW15 season and I was surprised to see how some other brands followed along with this pastel-y romantic autumn trend. As this particular styles goes only up to E-cup, it was Jo’s turn to take the place on the stage. *This set was kindly gifted to Jo by Gossard. All opinions are our own.*

Design: As I showed Jo the Gossard catalog to see what she liked, this was one of the first styles that caught her eye – “it’s so pretty!” And it truly is. The print is consists of what it’s called – watercolour roses – and its paint-like flowers are a mixture of both cool and warm tones which creates a lovely winter-garden-like impression. The printed satin is accompanied with a lovely quality embroidery which adorns the cup edges and and the bra band.

The shape of the bra is a true plunge with a three-part cup construction that gives the bust line a lot of uplift and pushes the boobs together just enough to create an alluring cleavage. The shape is rather rounded yet natural and the amount of coverage is just right for open/plunging necklines.

Fit: I asked for a 30DD for Jo as it is her best-fitting Gossard size so far. Even though the Gypsy bra (click for the review!) was a bit roomy on her allover, the Watercolour Roses felt like a pretty regular Gossard bra with a snug band and large-ish cups. However, it seems that Jo is a bit between with cup sizes right now as sometimes, her left boob tries to escape the cup a tiny bit and thus, we would very much like to put her in a 30DD 1/2 if we could! For the push-up effect though, this is a much better size than a 30E which would undoubtedly be left gaping.

The band is very narrow with Watercolour Roses so if you feel like one hook and eye won’t support you properly, this is probably not the bra for you. The fit is however very good on Jo, who usually wears a 28 band. However, with Gossard she seems to be between band sizes too and if we could put her in a half a size smaller band, the fit would be just a tiny bit better for her. As we know, tighter bands last for a longer period of time and will prevent you from tossing the bra too early for loss of support! The wires however are great on Jo and as with yours truly, they hit just the right spot at the root of the breast. The cup shape and depth are also perfect for Jo’s full-on-bottom boobs so I would definitely recommend this bra for you FOB ladies out there!

Comfort: When it comes to the materials and fit, Gossard always makes some of the most comfortable lingerie on the market. The cups are always lined with something soft and non-itchy and the wires are flexible enough to move with your body all-day-long – even after several hours, the bras are totally wearable and not pressing your ribcage like mad. What does not work with Jo’s body though, are the infamous Gossard straps – they are once again a bit too long but luckily, not as stretchy as with the Gypsy.

The bottoms Jo chose for her set were the thong as she rarely wears anything else – a complete opposite to me, that is! The fit of the XS looks prefect on her and the back part is made of stretchy mesh that makes up for the more rigid satin-y front panel. The construction of the thong is quite simple and frill-free which makes it a perfect option for everyday-wear under tighter clothes such as skinny jeans.

If you would like to get yourself a very own set of Watercolour Roses, do take a look at the Gossard online store. The plunge bra retails for a £34 and the thong for £14, so a reasonable price for such a lovely and comfy set of lingerie.

What do you think of the fall trend of pastel florals? Do you feel it’s more appropriate for spring or do you like the winter garden look? Let me know in the comments!