Lumingerie-Exclusive: Lilah

*Disclosure: This set was provided me free of charge by Lumingerie. All opinions are my own.*

Edellisessä postauksessa Mervi vinkkasi haastattelussaan, että Lumingerie suunnitteli yhteistyössä Gorsenian kanssa 10-vuotisjuhlamallin, joka pohjautuu Gorsenian suosittuun Victoria-malliin. Gorsenia kutsuu mallia “kokokuppiseksi”, mutta itse miellän mallin toppaamattomaksi kolmipalaiseksi balconeteksi (oliko tuossa jo liikaa sanoja?). Sukelletaanpa siis arvostelun pariin pikimmiten!

In my previous post Mervi tipped us off that Lumingerie designed a 10 year anniversary bra style with the Polish bra manufacturer Gorsenia. This style is based on the rather full-coverage three-part cup balconette (what a word monster!) style Victoria. Let’s dive into the review!

The Design: Gorsenialta löytyy periaatteessa kolme “päämallia”: kokokuppisempi balconette (kuten Lilah!), puolikuppinen toppaamaton balconette ja topattu pystysaumainen balconette. Lilahin malliksi valittiin ensiksi mainittu, sillä siitä on saatavilla isoin kokovalikoima ja malli sopii monelle eri rinnan mallille. Väriksi valikoitui musta ja lila, sillä nämä värit näkyvät Lumingerien nettisivuilla vahvasti ja yhdistelmä on freesi mutta samalla hillitty.

Liivi on muuten jämäkkää kiiltävää neulosta, mutta kupin yläosa on läpinäkyvämpää pitsiä, jossa voi nähdä toistuvan sydänteeman. Keskellä komeilee ihastuttava lila bling-koriste. Lilahin muoto on todella kaunis ihan niin kuin muissakin Gorsenian malleissa – tämä toppaamaton kokokuppinen balconette kohottaa todella hyvin rintaa ja tekee sen kauniin pyöreäksi. Ulkonäössä ei siis mitään moitittavaa!

Gorsenia offers a selection of three types of bra shapes: more full-coverage balconette (just like Lilah here), a half-cup non-padded balconette and a padded “two-cakes-on-a-plate” style balconette. The first one mentioned was selected as the shape for Lilah as it is a rather universally well-fitting shape with a vast size range. The colours are black and violet as these are Lumingerie signature colours but also a great fresh yet subtle combination.

The bra is made of a sturdy material but it has a nice see-through upper panel with a repetitive heart-motif. The centre gore features a lovely violet fake gem. The shape of Lilah is just beautiful – this full-coverage balconette style lifts your tits up like no else and makes them nice and rounded!

The Fit / Istuvuus: Itse omistan kolme Gorsenian liiviä tällä hetkellä ja kaikki ovat oikeastaan eri kokoisia – jaiks! Koot ovat 65I, 70I ja 70J, joten lähimaastossa ollaan, mutta toki on hyvä tiedostaa, että aina ei heti ensimmäisellä tilauksella koko nappaa. Siksi tällaiset arvostelut ovatkin juuri niin käteviä! Tällä kertaa kooksi valikoitui 70J, joten voisin sanoa Lilahin olevan hieman niukkakuppisempi kuin joidenkin muiden Gorsenian mallien.

Koossa 70J on ihanan napakka mutta kuitenkin mukava ympärys ja kuppi istuu justiinsa eikä melkein. Kupin yläpaneelin pitsi jää hieman pystyyn kupin keskiosasta – tätä ei kuitenkaan pidä luulla liian ison kupin merkiksi, vaan se on ainoastaan kupin pitsin ominaisuus, joka katoaa kun liiviä sovitetaan paidan kanssa. Ei siis syytä huoleen 😉 Gorsenian kaarituet istuvat minulle kuin nakutettu, sillä ne ovat juuri sopivan kapoiset eivätkä ylety liian korkealle kainaloon. Kokomatkalta säädettävillä olkaimilla saa mukavasti säätövaraa liiviin niin pitemmille kuin lyhyemmillekin naisille.

I now own three Gorsenia bras and they are all different sizes – yikes! The sizes are 65I, 70I and 70J, so close to each other but it is good to acknowledge that sometimes you have to go a bit back and forth with the sizes to find the right one. That’s why these kind of reviews even exist! This time I went for a size 70J, so I would say Lilah is a bit snugger in the cup that some other Gorsenia styles.

The band in size 70J is lovely and snug, yet very comfortable. The cups fit me really well and the underwires are quite narrow, but not too much to pinch me in my breast tissue. There is something I need to say about the cups though – the lace on the upper panel sticks out a bit but this does not mean the cups are too loose, it’s just a feature of the lace and will be invisible under clothing. The straps are fully-adjustable which always solves a bunch of fit issues for taller and shorter girls alike.

Comfort / Mukavuus: Lilah on kokonaisuudessaan todella mukava setti – tähän vaikuttaa tietenkin Gorsenian hyvä istuvuus juuri minun vartalolleni, jolloin esim. hiertävistä kaarituista tai epämukavasti pyörivistä ympärysnauhoista ei ole vaaraa. Tein liiville ultimaattiseen “mukavuustestin” – eli otin siinä päikkärit! Oikeastihan kaarituellisissa liiveissä ei saisi nukkua, jotta kaarituet pysyvät uomissaan ehjinä, mutta pienet silmien lepuuttamiset sohvalla sallittakoon 😉 Siinä sohvalla pötkötellessä oikeastaan huomasin juuri sen mitä mukavien liivien kohdalla pitääkin hoksata: nämähän eivät tunnu päällä oikeastaan miltään.

Housujen kohdalla havainto oli sama, tosin liian pienenä nämäkin housut toki kuristaisivat jykeviä reisiä ja muhkua peppua. Tämän kerron siksi, että Gorsenian housuissa on todella niukka mitoitus ja minä valitsin näistä L-koon itselleni. Referenssinä tähän se, etten käytä mistään vaatekappaleesta kokoa L, vaan olen enemmänkin kokojen S ja M välillä riippuen merkistä. Housuissa on oikeassa koossa kuitenkin mukava korkeus (ei ihan lantiomalli siis!), vaikka tietenkään suosikkini eli korkeavyötäröiset mummopöksyt nämä eivät aivan ole 😉 Haarakiila on sopivan levyinen itselleni (eli leveähkö) ja housut ovat melkoisen joustavaa materiaalia.

Jos näillä puheilla Lilah alkoi kiinnostaa, kannattaa suunnata Lumingerien kauppaan laittamaan tilausta sisään! Lilah-liiviä (39€) saa koissa 70-100 D-M, ja pöksyjä (19€) M-4XL.

Mitä mieltä olet Lilah-setistä? Jos itse suunnittelisit uniikin setin, minkälainen se olisi? Laitappa kommenttilootaan viestiä ja kerro! 

As a whole, Lilah is a very comfortable set indeed – this is obviously partly because Gorsenia bras fit me so well, there is really no fear of  pinching underwires or a rolling bra band. I gave the bra the ultimate test – I took a nap in it! I know, I know; you really shouldn’t sleep in your bra as the wires might snap for all the tossing and turning, but a small nap on the couch wouldn’t hurt, right?!  As I was lying on the couch I noticed the one thing that really needs to be noticed when a bra is truly comfortable: it doesn’t actually feel like… anything at all!

With the panties, I can say the same thing, but in a size too small these panties would be uncomfortable on thick thighs and big booties. I say this because these suckers run SMALL! I picked a size Large for myself, and I can tell you I have literally no clothes in size Large in my wardrobe otherwise and I usually take a Small or a Medium when it comes to panties. So be sure to size up with these! In the right size, the panties have a nice rise even though they are not high-waisted, which is something I would personally prefer. The gusset of the panties is wide which is something I always like and the material is smooth and stretchy.

If this review inspired you to try the Lilah, you can find it in the Lumingerie webshop here. The bra (€39) comes in EU sizes 70-100 D-M and the panties in M-4XL (19€).

What do you think about Lilah? What would YOU do if you could design the perfect unique lingerie set? Shoot me with a comment in the comments section!

Lingerie Review: Ava “Ines” in 70I

Ava is one of those brands, which I quite rarely review but every time I do, their bras pretty much fit me like a glove. Their availability is not as good as with some other Polish brands such as Kris Line or Ewa Michalak but I am fortunate to live in the same city where the Lumingerie lingerie online store is based – so I have access to many Polish brands that are carried nowhere else in Finland! I popped in at the Lumingerie storage to say hi to the lovely owners, and Mervi decided to put together a bag of goodies for me, the sweetheart she is. This particular set has been very much on demand, so if you see your size on the web store, grab it while you can (psst, they also offer free delivery within EU)!

The Design: The Ines is a non-padded balconette style which reminds me a lot of Panache and Cleo bras – in fact, it’s something that Panache and Cleo would create if they made a love child together. What I mean by this, is that the shape of the bra is beautifully rounded as with most Cleo signature balconettes but the construction is a bit more elaborate to offer a tiny bit more support, especially around outer breast area. The cut of the bra is called “Side Support Bra” at the website but it is still not too full-coverage which is something you would typically expect from a Panache bra.

The style of the Ines set is quite young and hip yet sexy – the leopard is still very much on trend and the black/raspberry colour combo keeps it sassy. The stretchier lace upper panel compliments the bra beautifully and brings together the four-piece cup construction.

The Fit: When buying Ava bras, you need to remember that their cups run on the bigger side. I would actually go as far as saying they run exactly one cup size big, as my usual European bra size is 70J and this bra fits me very well in 70I. The cups are still very spacious and could perhaps even endure some period size fluctuation. The band is firm in 70 and is rather something between UK 30 and 32 than a solid 32. To be frank, the Ava 70 band is a perfect fit for me: I am exactly between 30 and 32 with Panache and the Ava 32 (70) band is just snug enough to feel comfortable yet sturdy on my body.

The cups of the Ines are quite deep as you would expect from a Polish bra. However, the underwires are not particularly narrow, which is something you need to consider if you like your wires are narrow as eg with the likes of Ewa Michalak. I would say The Ava wires are quite close to Samanta and Ewa Bien wires, which is a rather good width for me personally.

Comfort: The way I see it, there are two ways to judge if a bra is comfortable enough for everyday wear: A) after the “breaking-in period” (the few times when you wear the bra for a first time and then wash it) it shouldn’t “feel” too much while wearing it, and B) it stays put when you are active. The Ines ticks both of the boxes, especially the latter! Don’t get me wrong – you will totally feel it when you wear it for the first few times and the centre gore especially tacks my sternum very firmly. However, the bra does “loosen up” a bit after a few wears and thus becomes more comfy over time. The sturdiness is still there though – this bra lifts heavy! It stays and feels supportive no matter what, which is a sign of a well-thought-out full-bust bra.

The Ines hooks at the back with three hooks and eyes in the bigger sizes and features fully adjustable straps which is always a great feature regarding comfort. This means the bra can be adjusted no matter the shape or the size of a person wearing it. It also comes quite high on my armpits but as the materials are not scratchy, I actually enjoy it as it means my breast tissues near the armpit area is fully encased.

The Ines bra comes with two different types of panties – regular short-style knickers and a thong. Obviously, I went for the shorts, as I like my panties to cover a bit more and feel comfy no matter what. My only issue with the knickers is that they are cut quite small – I thought I would be fine with size Medium as my size hasn’t changed for the bigger in many months but it appears, that Ava does run very small with their knickers. Sure, I can wear the Mediums but I wonder if the Large would have been a more flattering look. That thought in itself feels peculiar to me as I usually still wear Small-Medium with all other brands!

As mentioned in the beginning of the post, this set is flying off the shelves, so if you want to get your mittens on it, don’t wait! You can find the English website for Lumingerie here. The Ines bra (65-105 D-L) costs an affordable 39€ and the cute panties (S-XXXL) 19€.

Suomeksi: Heippa kaikille! Pitkästä aikaa laitan tulemaan myös suomennosta postaukseen, koska tämän postauksen tuotteet on sponssannut ihana kotimainen alusvaateverkkokauppa Lumingerie. Lumingerien varastohan sijaitsee täällä meikäneidin kotikaupungissa Oulussa, joten välillä piipahdan siellä ihan vain kahvittelemassa ja ihailemassa sesongin uutuksia. Tälläkään kertaa en lähtenyt kotiin tyhjin käsiin, vaan mukaan tarttui Avan ihanan pinkki leopardi-kuosinen “Ines” setti, jonka Lumingerie lahjoitti minulle arvostelua varten. 

Ava onkin minulle jo tuttu niiltä ajoilta, kun olin viimeksi kesätöissä Lumingeriella ja muistelin heidän mitoituksensa olevan hieman reilumpaa kuppien suhteen. Muistini ei pettänyt minua vaan niinpä koon 70J sijasta mukaan lähtikin 70I, joka vastaa brittien koissa n. 32G:tä. Puolalaiset merkit ovatkin tunnettuja hieman syvemmistä kupeistaan mutta myös tiukemmista ympäryksistään, joten vaikka moni brittimerkki istuu minulle myös koossa 30H (65H), niin tämä kaunokainen on aivan riittävän tukeva jo 70-ympäryksessä. Ympärysnauha on myös ihanan leveä, joten se tukee hyvin aivan arkikäytössä.

Alushousuja tähän settiin löytyy kahta mallia: stringiä ja tavallista boy short-mallia. Meikäläisen mantra on “Mitä mummompi, sen parempi”, mitä alkkareihin tulee, joten tiedätte varmaan kummat mulla lähti matkaan. Näissä kannattaa myös kiinnittää huomiota kokolappuun: puolalaisten pikkarikoot on aikas niukkoja, joten suosittelen ottamaan ainakin koon isommat tämän merkin kohdalla. Mun kooksi valikoitui M, mutta veikkaan että L:kään ei olisi ollut hassumpi. 

Tätä settiä ei ole enää montaa jäljellä, joten jos hyvinistuva, kaunis ja vieläpä edullinen alusvaatesetti kiinnostaa, nyt kannattaa katsoa vieläkö omaa kokoasi olisi jäljellä. Rintsikat löydät (koot 65-105 D-L) täältä ja alushousut (S-XXXL) puolestaan täältä. Lumingeriella postikulut, vaihdot ja palautukset on ilmaisia, joten jos merkki ei ole vielä tuttu, voi liivejä tilata vaikka parissa eri koossa ja laittaa vääränkokoiset takaisin!

Lingerie Review: Ewa Michalak PL Lśniąca Scarlet

Happy March! How are you guys? Feeling spring-y already I have been centered around art, wedding-stuff (I found a dress, yay!) and some unfortunate drama in a project I was working on so it’s good to take some time to sit down and spend some time with the ol’ blog. Also, the blog giveaways are coming so don’t fret! 2COP is a hefty toddler now and just turned four, which is something we need to celebrate 😉 However, today we are bathing in some scarlet goodness, which is the Ewa Michalak PL Lśniąca Scarlet. This set was generously provided me by Ewa Michalak, but all opinions are my own!

The Design: The PL Lśniąca Scarlet is a classic PL-style from Ewa, which means it’s a padded plunge. The design features seams though, which gives the bra its signature well-constructed feel and improves the fit for a padded bra. As someone who doesn’t enjoy padded bras as much, I wasn’t even surprised that I still liked this particular bra – it’s the absolute royal of the padded bra family and I wear it each time I want to feel uplifted and oomphed to the max. The cups feature removable cookies, which is great if you want something extra, have a-symmetry or change a bit in size during your cycle.

The style of the bra is not the most ornate I have seen in the Ewa Michalak collection, but it still manages to appear striking with its colour and satin-y materials. This bra can easily be worn under t-shirts (with a darker colour, of course) but it’s still appropriate for boudoir as well. What’s not to like!

The Fit: The PL bra is not unfamiliar to me and thus I pretty much knew it would fit me in my regular size of 70GG. I don’t find EM sizing to be that different from British D+ brands, maybe just a bit tighter in the band, so I usually go for my looser band size 70 (UK 32). Picking a size is pretty easy for me personally, as the EM team usually does it for me when I provide them with my usual size. Ewa Michalak bras are infamous for varying in fit and size, which is why it pretty much depends on the style whether I go for 70G or 70GG, or even H. This one runs very true-to-size though, which always makes the shopping experience a bit easier.

I have literally no bad things to say about the fit of the PL Lśniąca Scarlet: everything just seems to fall into place perfectly. The cups encase my breast tissue well when I insert just one of the pads into my right cup (my left boob is bigger). The cups are just deep enough for my breast tissue to sit in them without the cup foam collapsing at the bottom (very usual with most padded bras if there’s not enough depth at the bottom of the cup) and luckily the wires are not too narrow for me with this particular EM style! I am so happy, as this trait with Ewa bras has always been a bit of a hit-or-miss with me.

Comfort: In addition to being well-fitting, Ewa bras are usually a pleasure to wear all-day, as the materials are well-thought out. The PL bras are always lined with cotton to feel comfortable against the sensitive boob skin (I am sure most women relate to boob itch, don’t you?!), which is something I wish every lingerie brand did with their bras. It also makes the bra much more comfortable during the summer months, as sweat does not play well with artificial fibers, in my personal experience. The straps are pretty well placed with this style, I would say and they are fully-adjustable, which is great for tall and petite girls alike.

The Lśniąca Scarlet “high-waisted” panties are not the highest I have seen, but still proper cute and sexy. The lace on the back could a bit stretchier in my opinion and if you have a more rounded butt than me, I would suggest sizing up. For reference, I have 40″ hips and these were a size 38/10. These are perhaps not your everyday panties but are sure to make some hearts flutter, if that is what you wish for!

The Lśniąca Scarlet can be bought at the EM online store, which you find here. It’s made-to-order which means it can take 2-3 weeks to make and after that the product will be shipped to you. If you can’t find your size in the drop-down menu, the EM team will be happy to make a custom size, however those are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. The price for a custom sized bra is 20 PLN higher than the regular price of the bra. The bra (in regular sizes 30-44 A-JJ) costs 189 PLN and the high-waisted briefs (36-48, UK 8-20) cost 69 PLN.

Lingerie Review: Gossard Superboost Lace in 32G

Let’s face it – I am not a huge fan of t-shirt bras. They are usually too bulky for me, creating extra volume that I just don’t need. When Gossard suggested that I would give their Superboost Lace t-shirt bra a try, you can imagine I was a bit hesitant – would it be a super push-up bra that I would never use after reviewing it? I decided to give the set a go because it is such a classic in Gossard’s continuity selection and I actually really liked the new salmon red colour of the ensemble. Here’s how I liked one of my first t-shirt bras in so many months!

Design: As opposed to what I thought it would be, the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra is actually made of a rather thin moulded foam and it is great for anyone who feels that eg. the Freya Deco feels a bit too thick for everyday wear (or has too much cleavage, on the other hand). My mum, for example, loves spacer foam for its breathability and seamless finish, and the material of the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra comes very close to it. It is not quite as thin as spacer foam but definitely not thick or bulky in anyway.

Otherwise the Superboost Lace is something quite pretty for an everyday bra. It has some nice lace adornments on the bra band – however, take this into consideration if your skin is very sensitive and can’t take lace. The lace on Superboost is quite soft though so I personally did not have any gripes with it. The shape of the bra is quite natural so no boobs up to your chin or anything dramatic like that. There is subtle cleavage on show (depending on your breast tissue distribution/placement of course) but nothing epic that would not be suitable for jobs that have a fairly casual dress code. The gore is quite low meaning this bra can easily be worn with low-cut tops and open necklines.

Fit: I opted for my regular Gossard size of 32G and it certainly runs true to size for this particular brand – that is snug in the band and large in the cup compared to other British brands. The cups are quite a bit too wide and shallow for me, hence the empty space at the bottom of the cups. I am a bit surprised about this as usually Gossard bras fit me pretty much perfectly but apparently moulded cup bras and I are not meant to be. I know they have their place in so many peoples hearts but my boobs seem to just state “Nope. We are so not getting along with this.”

The band of the Superboost t-shirt bra is quite narrow compared to a regular Gossard 32G band, meaning it only features two hooks and eyes. I personally prefer three for extra support but some women actually like narrower bands and bra straps, even just for the looks. The bra straps are quite widely placed meaning not the best for my shoulders but they are fully-adjustable meaning it is a great bra for women with shorter torsos.

Comfort: This set is quite comfy when it comes to materials – they are definitely soft to touch even though I personally prefer cotton as cup lining. However, the whole set feels super soft to touch and even the lace feels silky and stretchy which makes it quite nice for even more sensitive skin types. As the straps of this bra are quite widely placed, I did have some trouble with the cup edges cutting into my armpits – luckily though the materials are smooth enough to make it up for the extra height near the armpits.

I also got to try the matching Brazilian brief in size Small and the silky soft feeling extends to the bottoms as well. To my taste, brazilian briefs are always a bit too skimpy – I prefer the good old high-waisted bottoms or hipsters as they feel more comfy under my dresses than any thong or brazilian I have ever tried. The back side of the bottoms is very stretchy though which is why it is great for those who fear the dreaded VPL.

If you would like to get the Superboost Lace t-shirt bra (£25) and brazilians (£14) as a nice everyday set, they can be purchased at the Gossard online store. The bra is available in sizes 30-38 A-G and the knickers in size XS to XL.

What is your favourite t-shirt bra? Have you tried the Superboost Lace and how do you like it? Let me know your opinion in the comments! I would be happy discover more great t-shirt options even just for my mum’s sake 😉 xx

Sunday with Samanta – Hana A111 Review

As we discussed the Sunday with Samanta series with Marzena, the head designer of Samanta, she gave me a list of suggestions she wanted me to try which included some of their oldies but goodies, including the bestseller “Hana” in A111-cut. To be completely honest I wasn’t super excited about the design but Marzena asked me to give it a chance so I decided to do so. I was glad I did – Hana is a great everyday basic which comes in soft tones of grey, deep red, beige, white and black which all feature the same guipure lace that makes the bra a bit more interesting to the eye. Here are my thoughts on the cut and style…*This set was gifted to me by Samanta. All opinions are my own!*

Design: Even though I was not immediately impressed with Hana as it seemed a bit too mature to me, I decided I would give the unusual combination of rose pink and grey a go as it seemed like a nice option to add to one’s summer bradrobe. The grey is light enough to go under most shirts and even though the lace is a bit bulky it is still a subtle looking bra with a simplistic styling. Even though I am not a huge fan of simplistic florals, I did like the light rose pink daisies quite a bit.

The A111 cut is something I was intrigued to try as I had seen how it worked on Sweet Nothing’s and wished it would be a bit better fit for yours truly. I was pleasently surprised by the shape and cut of the A111 and now it is a firm part of my bra collection where it serves as a great everyday option. The cups feature three parts each, including a narrow side support panel to bring the bust slightly more forward from the sides. The cups give me a natural yet rounded look under shirts and they even look a bit optically minimizing just as the cut description promises. The materials are very light-weight making the bra perfect for hotter climates!

The Fit: The A111 cut fitted me surprisingly well considering how often these sorts of shapes start looking a bit droopy aka not uplifted enough. The A111 Hana offers me just the right amount of uplift for everyday use and I like how rounded it makes my boobs look. The sizing seems to be in line with my other styles from Samanta – I am wearing a perfectly fitting 65J in the pictures. I would say the depth of the cups is spot-on for me with A111, as the bottom part of the cups doesn’t fold at all and my breast tissues fills the cups completely.

I would say the A111 cut is a very good fit for gals like me with more full-on-top boobs as there is plenty of room on the top part of the cups, allowing the breast tissue to take its place without any bulging at all. This is a great feature as so many bras these days are targeted more for the full-on-bottom gals which is of course fair as they are the majority. However, it is nice to find a bra that fits well without any extra room at the apex and no cutting at the top! The band seems like a regular 65 or 30 band and it seems to stretch up to approximately 30,5″ (maybe 31″). The gore seems to float a bit away from my sternum but I prefer it this way as extremely tacking gores can be a bit painful on me.

Comfort: The A111 Hana has got a lot of wear ever since I received it as it is such a comfortable set when it comes to every aspect of it – the materials, seams, cuts and wires are so thought-through they pass the test with full points! I have sometimes had trouble with Samanta straps coming too far apart and the edge of the cup chafing my armpit but this style has none of those problems in sight. This however is no wonder; Hana is one of the oldest Samanta styles produced and has been perfected to the very last detail when it comes to fit and comfort. As you may have noticed, full-bust bras require years of work to get perfect and even then, there is always someone who dislikes the fit.

The straps of Hana are half-adjustable which is always something that needs to be taken into consideration when thinking about the comfort aspect of the bra. I had no trouble with the straps at all though and they are adjusted half-way, meaning shorter and taller gals than me can easily still wear the bra with comfort.

I was also sent B300 classic briefs as co-ordinates which I really liked as a matching bottom to the bra. Even though I am a big fan of the Samanta boxer cut when it comes to bottoms, these were equally comfortable but a bit more revealing as they almost resemble a brazilian cut brief. The B300 briefs are also a bit more low-cut than the boxers so if you like eg Cleo bottoms, these are definitely for you!

If you would like to get a Hana A111 of your own, the style is now on sale for 39,30€ for the bra and 18,30€ for the B300 briefs on the Samanta online store (US customers can order via email). As the style is already discounted, this month’s Sunday with Samanta will not have a separate discount code. Nevertheless, the style is very much worth the price and fairly affordable for such a great staple!

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 😉

Lingerie Review: Tutti Rouge “Tallulah Tattoo” in 30H

When it comes to printed lingerie I am quite picky – florals are usually pretty safe but anything that is too kitchy (in a bad way) is just, shall we say, too British for me. I mean, lets be honest here: the Brits are absolutely gaga over anything from shabby chic roses to Russian dolls (I’m looking at you, Freya!) and aztec prints. Cool for you but us Finns, we are a bit more boring on that front. However, when a unique cutesy print is done well I am truly and utterly impressed and of course, I have to have it in my collection of non-tacky print bras. This one was one of those occasions and I feel like I am not the only one drooling over this particular bra set – the Tallulah Tattoo was instantly a hit when the pics of it went live half a year ago. This beauty is made by one of my favourite brands of all time and definitely a strong newcomer in the market – Tutti Rouge. TR was so kind to sent me Tallulah Tattoo for review so here are my thoughts on the set… 

The Design: The Tallulah Tattoo is a Tutti-exclusive print which means it’s designed for Tutti Rouge and won’t be seen in any other collection than their own. The print is very detailed and features tiny little butterflies, birdies, pinup girls and roses which I love. Also the colours are really cute and make the whole set more approachable to people with different tastes; the cream undertone makes the print pop and doesn’t come up too distracting. The lipstick red bows are the icing on the cake and accentuate the pinup vibe of the set.

The TT style is based on the former style of Evelyn and Rosa, of which I have the latter one in 32G. The semi-padded bra style is still quite new to the British full-bust market and Tutti Rouge has been pretty brave as a rather new D+ brand to take on the challenge to make a well-fitting bra in this style. The style has been revised a few times to make the fit right and I must say it’s already a good one for certain kind of breast shapes. The cups are however, still quite shallow and wide and the look a bit “east-west” so if you prefer very forward-projected cups, this might not be your type of bra. The shape is quite natural yet fairly uplifted which makes the bra very wearable for everyday.

The Fit: Even though I love the look of most semi-padded bras, I have come to the conclusion that most of them just don’t fit me right. There is always something a bit wrong; either the whole style is too shallow or too deep, or the cup shape is just kind of wrong on my body. Sadly, this was one of those occasions when my boobs and the semi-padded style did not go well together – padded part of the bra was indeed deep enough but the upper lace panel was too rigid and closed at top to fit my upper fullness well enough. This does not keep me from wearing the bra anyway as it’s so pretty and the size seems to be somewhat right for me. If I could change something though, it would definitely be the lace as a stretch lace would have probably fixed a lot of fit issues for me with this bra.

When it comes to sizing, the Tallulah Tattoo seems to be running fairly regular and in line with other British full-bust brands. I opted for my regular 30H and the band seems to be a more regular 30 than it was with my SS14 Betty. However, I would say the band stretches only up to 30,5 max so be sure to size up if you are between band sizes! I measure 30″ underbust at the moment and the band was very snug on me. Also the cups were on the smaller side so size up in them as well if you are between sizes! I am still hanging on between GG and H and the H was definitely the right choice for me.

When it comes to wire width, the Tutti Rouge bras always feature a bit too wide wires for me. However, this does not bother me too much so I don’t see it as a proper fit flaw in the end. The main problem with the bra for me is that the top lace panel is so rigid and shallow at the centre that my breast tissue gets pushed a bit in the armpits which is not a pretty sight. All in all, the bra would be a great fit on someone with a bit shallower breasts with a wide breast root as mine don’t quite fit into that category.

Comfort: I am really glad Tutti Rouge has revised their fit a bit recently as this bra is much more comfy compared to the Rosa from SS14 season. This might be due to a better size too but I feel like the bands are now more in line with other British brands meaning I can comfortably wear my regular band size 30 instead of 32. Even though some brands have stated to favour the “old” system of +4 method and tight bands, I feel like it’s better to go with the crowd with this matter as it makes the purchase way easier for consumers. The band still feels very snug and supportive though and I am loving the three hooks and eyes which give us GG+ ladies a bit of extra support.

Even though I would prefer a nice stretch lace on the top half of the bra, the materials of Tallulah Tattoo are comfy yet again. I love how TR lines their bras with cotton as it makes the inside of the bra feel so much comfier on my easily irritated skin (which is very badly ruined by my claws right now, thanks to Finnish climate). Also the strap placement is much better than with Rosa which I’m very grateful about – this way my armpit area stays untouched and less irritated by the edge of the cup. The matching Brazilian knickers run a bit small so I would suggest to go up a size for a comfortable fit.

All in all, Tallulah Tattoo is a gorgeous piece of underwear to have in one’s SS15 bradrobe, even though the bra was not a perfect fit for me. However, if you are more shallow and have a wide breast root, I would definitely recommend this bra to try as something well-fitting and pretty at the same time! TR styles are always rather affordable and the bra sets you back at £35 and the Brazilian at £16 and you can find them both at the TR Big Cartel online store in sizes 28-38 DD-HH and XS-XXL.

Suomeksi: Tutti Rouge on jo pitkään ollut yksi meikäläisen lempparimerkeistä, joka on kuitenkin D+ markkinoilla melko uusi nimi. Sain merkiltä testiin uuden Tallulah Tattoo nimisen mallin, joka on merkin pitkään viilattu puolitopattu balconette. Malliltaan Tallulah Tattoo on hyvin saman tyyppinen kuin viime kevään Rosa, taikkapa syksyn Kitty. Puolitopattu balconette on suoraan sanottuna vaikea malli toteuttaa varsinkin uuden merkin toimesta, joten mielenkiinnolla odotin, miten TR oli uudistanut kyseistä mallia. 

Valitettavasti puolitopattu balconette ei kuitenkaan ole ihan meikäläisen juttu noin istuvuuden kannalta. Ulkomuodoltaan settihän on kuin karkki, joten mallin istuvuus oli todella harmi. Kokonaan susi setti ei kuitenkaan ollut – Tutti Rougen mallit vain tuppaavat olemaan minulle liian leveitä ja “ei-syviä” eli pinnallisia. Tämä on kuitenkin tyypillistä brittiläisille merkeille ja sopii todella hyvin rinnoille, joissa on leveämpi rintajuuri ja vähemmän volyymiä kuin meikäläisen varustuksessa.

Kooltaan Tallulah Tattoo alkaa olla jo melko perinteistä brittiläistä luokkaa. Valitsin itselleni kooksi 30H:n (eli 65H:n) sekä M-koon housut, sillä TR:n Katie ohjeisti minua valitsemaan koon isomman alaosan tässä mallissa. Omasta kokemuksestani pystyn myös sanomaan että TR on kooltaan melkko niukkaa mitoitusta niin ympäryksen, kuppien kuin alushousujenkin kohdalla. Nyt mitoitusta oli kuitenkin saatu enemmän jo kohdalleen ja koko 65H toimi meikäläisellä jo aika hyvin. Kupin yläosan pitsi on kuitenkin melko jäykkää, joten yläpainotteisille rinnoille tämä malli ei suoraan sanottuna käy. Jos kuitenkin brittiläiset leveät kaarituet ja söpöt printit ovat sinun juttusi, kannattaa Tallulah Tattoolle antaa mahdollisuus! Suomesta setin voi tilata Lumingerieltä, jossa rintsikat kustantavat edulliset 39 e ja postikulut ovat ilmaiset 🙂

New Feature on the Blog! – Sunday with Samanta: Aurora A922

I rarely post any ongoing regular features on my blog but since the blogging has really took off since last year, I decided why not to include some bigger projects with my ultimate favourite brands. When we talked about lingerie and blogging with Samanta, a Polish lingerie brand I have introduced to you here (click!) we decided to treat you my readers with a mutual project to showcase ALL of the cuts Samanta offers and to report to you about the fit. I have already written about the different models in a previous blog post but what better way to actually go in-depth with their fit features than to actually test the models out in real life! This brings us to our little venture with Samanta here at 2COP – each month will feature a new model to introduce to you. This blog post series will be called “Sunday with Samanta”. The feature name comes from my two favourite things combined: lingerie and lazy Sundays! I do hope you enjoy this blog post series and if you have any specific fit questions, do leave them in the comment box and I will try to help you with you anything you need.

As the first model I reviewed for Samanta was their A925 – a semi-padded balconette – this time I bring you something both a bit similar and different, that is the non-padded balconette A922. I was sent the Aurora, which is one of my favourite Samanta styles, in a cup size smaller than last time. Here is how I liked the A922 in 65J.

The Design: When I first saw the Aurora in its light gray version, I was instantly smitten. Even though the lovely Natalia tried to dig out the bra for me, unfortunately it seemed to be found nowhere and this is why I went for Mintaka with the A925 model (an equally beautiful style I might say!). When the new Claret shade of Aurora finally dropped on Samanta’s online store, I new instantly that this time I had to snatch it up real quick and to my luck, this was the time when we decided on the “Sunday with Samanta” collaboration. When the Aurora popped through my mail box, I knew that wait had been worthwhile! What a beautiful bra with such delicate yet bold lace adorning the cups in addition to the romantic colourway. As a ginger-haired (or is this more like auburn?) gal I knew it would look awesome with my colouring and I was definitely right. I also found a perfect lippie to match the set and voila, we had a winner!

The A922 model is very similar to the A925 which I tried before with Mintaka, only with the exception of being completely non-padded and sheer. The model description says that the cut is meant for larger breasts and is also suitable for someone with a little less firm bust. I myself still have a perky pair of boobies as I am young and haven’t had any kids yet but I can assure you the cut is great either way. The cups cover 90% of my bust but this does not decrease the bra’s sex appeal at all – in fact it’s one of my boyfriend’s favourite styles on me. The shape is quite natural yet very uplifted even with the three-part cup construction which can sometimes lead to the sad droopy look.

The Fit: As we talked about my size with Samanta, we decided to go for a smaller cup size this time as last time the deep cups were leaving me a bit of space at the tip of the apex. This happens to a lot of people if you’re shape is not naturally very deep: for example, Miss Underpinnings wore a cup size down with the deepest Samanta cups when she did a comparison between the different models. I found this to be very consistent with the A925 and A922 models and the 65J seems to be a better size for me with deeper cups. As both of the styles I have tried have been Samanta’s deepest cups, I cannot tell if the 65K will be better for me with their shallower cuts but this will definitely be discussed during this upcoming year and my other “Sunday with Samanta” posts!

I have lost a bit of weight recently which has got me back to my 30″ underbust measurement instead of the previous 31″. This is great as it usually makes opting for a band size a lot easier as I am a true 30-band at the moment and can usually opt for it or 65 band, depending on the sizing system a certain brand is using. Samanta uses a very standard EU sizing system which is quite accurate in my opinion. I am usually a 30GG-H at the moment in UK sizing, and the 65J translates roughly to UK 30GG. With the deeper cups this makes perfect sense and my advice would be to go for your smaller cup size with deep Samanta models if you are between sizes. The band is a very regular 65/30 band but a bit bigger than with most Polish brands. My most common Polish band size is 70 but with Samanta I can easily wear a 65 without any discomfort. This also comes down to preference: I like my bands snug but someone might like a more loose and “comfortable” fit.

  
Comfort: As a model that is meant to be really sturdy and supportive, the A922 does its job really well. This bra can take pretty much any kind of activity (though you probably shouldn’t use it as a sports bra 😉 ) from running for a bus to running errands. Even though the bra band features only two hooks and eyes the wiring and the strong materials make sure it will hold up even a heavier bust. Also the straps are lovely and just wide enough to feel comfy but still look pretty. The straps are  only half-adjustable but luckily they seem to be the right length for most people to still have enough leeway to adjust. My adjusters are a bit below half way so I would say the straps are designed with both taller and more petite women in mind.

The bottoms are this time a size Medium as I found them to run quite small, and the choice was definitely right. I would say to size up a whole bottom size with these as the material doesn’t have really too much give to it! The M300 – a sexy Brazilian cut – looks delish on my butt but anyone with a little more junk in the trunk seriously needs to size up even two sizes to avoid muffin top or any extra bulges! I would say the Aurora M300 fits more like a British size Small so take that into account when opting for your size!

How do you like Aurora? Do you need very deep cups or are you looking forward to hearing about the more shallow ones? Let me know in the comments! Also, if you would like me to review a specific model from Samanta next month, leave your suggestions below. For your own A922 Aurora, you can shop at the Samanta online store and the bra sets you back at 76,30 € and the M300 bottoms at 33€. This makes the set a more luxury option for some of you, but I can guarantee that the quality is right in line with the price tag!

Suomeksi: Blogissani harvoin näkee toistuvia tietyn teeman mukaisia blogipostauksia, mutta kun Samanta ehdotti pidempiaikaista yhteistyötä, olin heti jutussa mukana. Samanta on puolalainen merkki, jonka valikoimista löytyy yli 20 eri liivimallia, jotka sopivat erimuotoisille ja kokoiselle rinnoille riippumatta myöskään rintavarustuksen kiinteydestä tai täyteläisyydestä. Vaikka olen käsitellyt näitä eri malleja lyhyesti aiemminkin, päätimme alkaa tekemään Samantan kanssa yhteistyötä siten, että te rakkaat lukijani saisitte mahdollisimman kattavan kuvan merkin valikoimasta. Tästä lähtien Kaksi Kakkua esitteleekin joka kuukausi yhden Samantan liivimallin, ja tänään meillä on vuorossa A922 eli merkin toppaamaton balconette suurille rinnoille. Liivin itsensä nimi on Aurora, joka on Samantan malliston yksi ylellisimmistä liivimalleista.

Koska viimeksi A925 kohdalla koko tuntui suorastaan liian suurelta ja syvältä mallin ollessa Samantan syvimpiä, päätimme bröndin pääsuunnittelijan Marzenan kanssa, että jospa nyt kokeiltaisiin kokoa 65J, joka siis vastaa UK kokoa 30GG. Tämä oli todellakin oikea ratkaisu ja liivit istuivat ehdottomasti paremmin kuin viimeksi. Malli on kuitenkin edelleen todella syvä ja tarkoitettu erityisen suurille ja täyteläisille rinnoille, mikä puolestaan ei ehkä vastaa ihan omaa rinnan malliani. Omat tissini kun ovat aika keskiverrot kaikin puolin ja hieman vähemmänkin syvä kuppi riittäisi!

Malli A922 on mainio isorintaiselle sen mahtavan tuen ja peittävyyden kannalta. Vaikka olen itse paljastavampien mallien fani, on tällaiset lähes kokokuppiset balconetet paikallaan ihan vain päiville, jolloin menoja on paljon ja aktiivisuus nousee kevyen liikunnan luokkaan. A922:n tukevat kaarituet ja napakat materiaalit takaavat hyvän käyttömukavuuden ja toimivat erityisen hyvin ihan jokapäiväisessä elämässä, vaikka Auroran tyyli huokuukin erityisen ylellistä iltaglamouria. Mikäli mielit Auroraa omaksesi, löytyy malli Samantan omasta nettikaupasta 76,30 € hintaan, jonka päälle alushousut kustantavat 33€. Hinta on siis ehkäpä hieman kalliimpi kuin joidenkin muiden mallien kohdalla mutta laatu on siihen nähden myös kohdallaan! 

Ewa Bien Size Comparison and Review: Fago B111 and Suria B111

When it comes to new brands I try it’s always a bit of hit and miss with the sizing. Even with a decent size chart you never know what’s the brands policy on eg. band sizing. Most Polish brands appreciate a really comfortable fit which means a girl who’s used to tight UK bands can be left with band that feels way too loose for her preferences. My hard and fast rule has been to size down a band size from the recommended size by the brand and it has so far worked well. As I measure 75 cm under my bust, most brands would put me in the 75/34 category but I prefer a 65-70 bands and could never feel comfortable in a 75 band. This is why I decided to try a couple of sizes from Ewa Bien in the same bra model so I could compare the fit and tell you what I think about it. Let me introduce you to Suria and Fago in model B111! (These bras were gifted for me for review purposes, all opinions are my own.)

I tried sizes 65K and 70J (which are sister sizes) in the Ewa Bien B111 model. The model is a low-coverage balconette with a three-piece cup construction and VERY see-through cups (a massive YAY for me, I am all for no double lining!). The shape this model gives me also very Polish: uplifted, quite rounded in-your-face kinda boobs, if you know what I mean. The black Fago is in size 65K and the band feels definitely a bit snugger than the Fago B150 I tried in 70J. However, the difference isn’t that big so I actually feel I can comfortably wear them both without any discomfort.

Oddly enough, both of the B111 models feel exactly the same on me nevermind the size difference. I suspect this is due to the fabric choices of the different styles – the Suria’s materials are a lot less stretchy than with Fago which leads both the bra band and the knickers run a bit on the smaller side. I would advice to take this into account when opting for you Suria size as the band feels exactly as tight as the 65 with Fago! Also do take this into account when opting for your knicker size with Suria – the materials are truly quite rigid so size up a whole knicker size with this style!

When it comes to fit, I need to disclose one thing: as you can see, I haven’t quite pulled up the Suria to where it should be and this causes the bottom of the cups to look a bit off. However, I assure you the fit is exactly as good as with Fago and the model seems consistently constructed with both bras. All in all, I am in love with how this style fits me! The lower coverage option is always good to have even when you are a lady with a large bust – it just makes some clothing choices so much easier and makes you feel a lot sexier than in a full-cup bra. As you can see, the uplift and fit still look great – it’s a total misconception that full-bust women NEED a lot of fabric in their bras. BUUUULL-SHIIIT, I say. You CAN make beautiful bras with less fabric and still keep the girls supported (and just a side note – these bras are beautiful as heck, right up my street!).

As you can see, the straps are detachable which is one feature I am quite baffled with. It doesn’t really bother me or affect he fit anyway. I recall that the other strap has come undone twice now that I have worn these bras several times, so not too bad (and the occasions were the kind of situations when I had run or done something extra active). So to be honest, I don’t really have an opinion on the straps – if you do and have tried these kind of bras, please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

All in all the bra is quite comfy, though as with the Fago B150, the wires are a bit on the wider side for me. This doesn’t really bother me that much as the cups still seem deep enough and the fit stays superb (when the bra is pulled high enough though!). I am very pleased with every aspect of Ewa Bien lingerie – especially with the aesthetics that really speak to the princess in me. I just wish Ewa Bien will start making their fashion styles up to J-K, as I really feel like these shapes work well for us full-busted gals as well. If you want to read about the brand and the ordering process more, do check out my Fago B150 review here.

Suomeksi: Viimeksi esittelin teille yleisesti merkkiä nimeltä Ewa Bien ja arvostelin heidän Fago B150-mallinsa. Tällä kertaa tarkoituksena olisi pureutua B111 malliin ja vertailla hieman kahta eri kokoa – kaikkihan me tiedetään kuinka vaikeaa varsinkin kahden ympärymitan väliltä on valita (vai olenko yksin tämän ongelman kanssa?). Sain siis testattavakseni Ewa Bienin Surian ja Fagon heidän B111 toppaamattomassa balconette mallissaan. Itseeni kyseinen malli vetoaa erityisesti ulkonäön puolesta, se on ihanan tukeva malli kuitenkin läpinäkyvillä ja “matalilla” kupeilla – voisipa mallia jopa kutsua half-cupiksi.

Musta Fago on koossa 65K ja sininen Suria koossa 70J. Halusin kokeilla näitä sisarkokoja siksi, että saisin selville kumpi ympäryskoko olisi parempi – itse kun olen yleensä kahden eri koon väliltä. Näissä kahdessa mallissa oli kuitenkin erona eri materiaalit, jotka vaikuttivat myös kokoihin. Mustan Fagon ympärys on periaatteessa  pienempi kuin Surian, mutta käytännössä liivien koko tuntuu samalta. Ai miksikö? Koska materiaaleilla on vaikutusta siihen kuinka hyvin liivit “antavat periksi”, voi 65 ja 70 ympäryksen välillä olla hyvinkin pieni ero. Surian materiaalit ovat paljon “tiiviimmät” eivätkä anna periksi yhtä paljon venyttäessä kuin Fagon. Kannattaa ottaa tämä huomioon ja ehdottomasti ottaa se isompi koko Surian kanssa sekä ympärysmitassa että alushousuissa! Itse valitsin alkkareista koon M ja se vastasi aika tarkasti meidän suomalaisten kokoa S.

Kaiken kaikkiaan olen todella tyytyväinen Ewa Bienin alusvaatteisiin ja toivonkin, että merkki tekisi tulevaisuudessa myös isompia kokoja heidän “fashion”-malleistaan. Mielestäni molemmat B150 ja B111 mallit sopivat oikein hyvin myös isommille rinnoille ilman minkäänlaisia ongelmia istuvuuden tai tuen kanssa. Jos haluat lukea lisää Ewa Bienistä ja miten heiltä voi tilata, kannattaa tsekata tämä postaus aiheesta 😉