A Very Pink and Red Valentine’s Day Lingerie Lust List!

And apparently a post with a very long headline, hehe. So, it’s that time of the year again – Valentine’s Day is around the corner. And guess what? I am actually spending it with my boo this year – what a shocker! I have been with Mr. M for 2 years and two months now and not once have we spent the Valentine’s Day together since I have spent my Valentine’s in UK for the last couple of years.

This time, I am visiting the Paris tradeshow which is held a couple of weeks before Moda, meaning I will finally get my cheesy date this year! I am also big on V-day gifts cause hell, who doesn’t like gifts? I certainly do and am looking forward to getting something for my Mr Right from my Paris trip. When it comes to gifts for myself on Valentine’s, I do love a bit of lingerie. Here are a few examples of cheesy V-day lingerie a pink princess like myself would enjoy!

Scantilly “Invitation”

I am in love with Scantilly and I suppose everyone around here knows about my big crush already. But the collection reeeeaaally screams Valentine’s Day (or night?) date and would be something most full-bust girls would dream of receiving on a romantic and sexy holiday like that. I have reviewed the Scantilly “Peek-a-boo” set before and already have my eyes on the Surrender basque and the lovely pink “Invitation” which is the perfect demi-cup pink/black bra under a low cut dress. I am also pretty damn sure any guy/girl would be lucky to see this worn after the hot date! Scantilly goes up to HH-cup at the moment and can be bought at Brastop and Figleaves.

x
Cleo by Panache “Kali” Babydoll

Cleo makes lovely options for young women with full-busts and just in time for Valentine’s Day, they have come out with an amazing shade with the Kali babydoll. The babydoll might be a cheesy option for V-day with its hearts embroidery but who said cheesy was a bad thing? I personally love the deep raspberry hue of the babydoll and the amazing thing about it is that it goes up to J-cup. You can get the babydoll and a matching low-cut brief at Bravissimo and the babydoll itself sets you back £37 – not bad, huh?

Comexim “Rita”

Ordering from Poland is always a bit of a hassle as the bras are usually made-to-order and thus take a bit more time to ship. Luckily, there is still time to make that order if you are in the mood to treat your girl with something a bit more special. Processing the order can take up to 10 days but after that, the set should arrive in no time, no matter if you live in Finland or USA. The Polish brands are also usually great value for the money – this particular Rita bra sets you back at 35$ which is not bad for something that has on-point construction and a stylish design.

Curvy Kate “Tease” babydoll and bra set

This is probably one of my ultimate lust-list sets as it was the first well-fitted set I got when I was 18. I am so glad CK brought this colourway back as it is definitely one of the most gorgeous ones ever seen – and for once the red is not paired with black. I am also loving how they turned the Tease into a ruffly sweet babydoll which will be perfect for this Valentine’s Day. As this colourway is already technically last season, you can now get it at a reduced price almost everywhere. Brastop has a pretty good selection of prices available, so I would check there first.

Samanta “Anvers” in A470

If you are buying for a basics-loving lady but still want to treat her for a little bit of pink goodness, why not try another Polish brand, Samanta. Samanta has been reviewed here on 2COP many times and this particular set is called “Anvers” will be the next one reviewed on the 31st of January. This set is breathtakingly pretty in flesh and features a lovely smooth finish which is perfect under sleek t-shirts and jersey dresses. To give your a spoiler on the fit of the bra in A475, Jo said that it might actually be her best-fitting bra ever. Quite a compliment, huh?

+ A MANDATORY SPLURGE

Vollers “Lusso” Waist-Training Corsets

Not every gentleman/lady has the money to splurge on a well-made waist-trainer but in my dream world, there would be such corsets to everyone! I have been lusting after a proper waist-trainer for months now but I am not sure which company to go to – I don’t want to get anything rubbish that will wear out right away and in the worst case scenario, would hurt my body some way. I have heard that Vollers is a very reputable corset company so what better brand to add on my lust list? The pink Lusso corset is a perfect option for long-torsoed gals like me and IF you would happen to have the dough to spend, it would be yours for £155.

Here’s my wishlist for this upcoming Valentine’s Day! What is on your list? Also, what are your plans for the V-day? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Samanta “Mintaka” in 65K

I am sorry this review is a bit late but I had a very rough evening with Thai boxing and mixed martial arts yesterday and was not in my best shape to write a proper review. It still hurts when I laugh! But onto the review. The lovely Natalia from Samanta sent me this bra to get some feedback on the style but also so I could show it to you and report about the fit. I hope enjoy the post! (If you want to read more about Samanta, read my post here!)

The Design: Well, as you can clearly see, this is one of the MOST gorgeous pieces of lingerie I have ever owned. The colour and the detailing is so exquisite and I am especially big fan of the lace. I mean how stunning is it? I think the Slavic European vibes are clearly seen in the detailing and I do appreciate the design as a unique jewel among other ordinary plain everyday bras.

The construction is superb as well. The cut is called A925 which is a semi-padded almost full-coverage balconette style for large breasts and soft less firm breasts. Well, my breasts are pretty damn firm but I still found the style to be a great shape for my boobies. The cups construct of three parts with one vertical and one horizontal seam with the lower part of the cup padded and upper half non-padded. The bra gives me a lovely rounded yet very uplifted shape with a natural curve at top but it does boost my breast a lot so this may not be the most subtle bra shape, if that’s the look your are aiming for. Also, the cups come quite high up my torso so you might want to skip combining the style to a low-cut t-shirt.

The Fit: I opted for the size 65K with this style as it is the most accurate equivalent to my British size 30H. When I tried out the Samanta size chart I was given the size 70J but as I had heard Samanta fits their customers in looser bands for comfort reasons I decided to sistersize to 65K. This was the right size as the bands do run on the looser side. I just measured myself recently and my underbust measurement is 31″ currently (yay, back muscle!) so I am right between band sizes 30 and 32 according to British sizing. The band features two hooks and eyes but still feels supportive as the 65 band feels snug enough for me and hasn’t worn out easily after a bunch of wears.

The cups seem like a regular fit and I would count on the Samanta size calculator on that. I also skyped with Natalia and this was the size she suggested me through our video chat (very accurate estimation I might say!). The cups are the deepest Samanta makes and this can be seen easily – there’s a fair amount of room in the apex, even for someone with more projection than me. However, if you are even shallow-ish, don’t bother trying the style – Samanta has plenty of other lovely styles to offer for you! The wires are rather good on me but I tell you, they are not nearly as narrow as eg Ewa Michalak. I might even say they are the widest I have encountered among the Polish lingerie brands, but not as wide as most British brands.

The Comfort: As it appears to be, I forgot to measure my butt correctly before I opted for my panty size, so I went for my regular Small. The panties are Small indeed! However, not horribly so and if I lost my cookie pouch they would look much more flattering on me. The materials are very stretchy though so the butt part looks great and actually super sexy. The back is completely seamless so it’s a great choice to wear with eg tight jeans. But my rule of thumb would be to definitely size up if you are between sizes like me!

The bra is a pretty comfy number though there are couple of things you might want to consider. First of all, the wires are a bit wider than with other Polish bras I have tried but usually this is more of a plus when talking about comfort (unless the wires reach your back, cause that might be inconvenient). The straps are quite widely placed which is common for Polish bras, especially with small-band-big-cup combinations. The straps are half-adjustable but an average length so I had no problem with them.

All in all the well-selected materials and great construction make this bra good for everyday use though you can utilise it as a boudoir set too, as it’s such a sexy style after all (at least in my opinion). If you would like to order yourself the Mintaka, you can do so on the Samanta online store. They ship EU-wide but if you would like to order eg. from US, I suggest you contact them directly for more information. The A925 goes up to M-cup so it’s great for the big-boobed gals like me, but if you are a bit smaller, there is also a fair amount of choices for you from sheer balconettes to low-cut plunge styles. The A925 bra sets you back at 63€ and the tanga (or brazilian) at 26,30€.

How did you like the Mintaka? Any thoughts or questions on the sizing, construction or looks? Let me know in the comments! 🙂 xx

Suomeksi: Tänään blogissa olisi esittelyssä Samantan “Mintaka” setti, jonka merkin “alusvaate-stylisti” Natalia lähetti minulle ystävällisesti arvostelua varten. Samanta on puolalainen perheyritys, joka on perustettu vuonna 1992 elikkä brändi on täsmälleen samanikäinen kuin allekirjoittanut 😉 Samantan perusti Natalian ja Marzenan (Samantan pääsuunnittelija) äiti ja yritys on kehittynyt perheen naisten hellässä huomassa yhdeksi Puolan innovatiivisimmista alusvaatemerkeistä.

“Mintaka” on ihanan ylellinen violetti kaunotar, jonka materiaaleina on käytetty kaunista eurooppalaista pitsiä sekä sisämateiaalina pehmoista puuvillaa. Kuppien rakenne on myös mallillaan; ne on koottu kolmesta palasta, joita yhdistää yksi poikki- ja  pystysauma. Yleensä tämä kombo johtaa hieman surulliseen ja roikkuvaan ilmeeseen mutta Samantan liivissä muoto on todella kauniin ylöspäinsuuntaava ja pyöreähkö. Kupit ovat puoliksi topatut ja peittävyys on juuri suomalaiseen makuun – ne peittävät n. 90% rinnoista.

Mukavuudeltaan ja istuvuudeltaan malli A925 ja EU-koko 65K olivat minulle juuri passelit. Samantan mallit nimetään numeron ja kirjaimen yhdistelmillä, jotka kertovat mallin käyttötarkoituksen. A925 on tarkoitettu suurille, vähemmän-kiinteille rinnoille, mutta mielestäni malli toimii myös kiinteille rinnoille erittäin hyvin. Kupeissa on paljon syvyyttä, joten tissiä saa näihin rintsikoihin olla ihan reilusti! Mintakasta on kuitenkin olemassa myös muita versioita, esim ihan puolikuppinen ja plunge-malli, joita kannattaa kokeilla, mikäli omaa hieman pienemmät rinnat. 

Mikäli Samanta kiinnostaa enemmän, saa heidän nettikaupastaan tilattua setin myös Suomeen! Nettikauppa toimii englanninkielellä, joten tilaamisen pitäisi olla helppoa ja kätevää. Rintsikat veloittavat 63€, pöksyt puolestaan 23,30€. Ihan passeli hinta tällaiselle luksus-setille! 😉 Vai mitä mieltä itse olet?

Introducing Samanta Lingerie

As many of you know the year 2014 was a year of Polish lingerie for me. When I first started the year and promised myself I would look more into our Slavic neighbour in East, I was prepared for a secretive world of lingerie elite brands but as I discovered later, the research was way worth it. I was not sure if the Polish brands could top up the likes of Panache and Curvy Kate I had adored for a while but was so happy to find a whole different world of lingerie aesthetics and fit solutions. The British and the Polish brands are so different, I can’t really compare the two to each other but I was happy to have the option of narrower wires and deeper cups with lovely European detailing. Today I am bringing you the one Polish brand I have been talking to for so many months now and we have finally put together a decent info post for you, topped up with a review that will be published tomorrow.

When I first contacted Samanta on Facebook I was instantly greeted warmly by the lovely Natalia, the lingerie stylist of the brand. We talked through the different cuts and the aesthetics of Samanta and also what I liked as a customer. I really felt like she knew what she was talking about and that there was a huge amount of passion behind this brand. Fast forward to today and I have finally my first Samanta set with me and I can see the fruit of passion in flesh.

Boshenit, Aurora & Earth from the SS15 collection inspired by stones

Samanta is a family business and Natalia’s sister designs the bras to the very last perfect detail. To me, Samanta is one of the most detailed extravagant brands that cater to women who seek that special look and pure beauty when it comes to their undergarments. The sets are named after a certain theme, this SS15 it’s stones, last season they draw inspiration of the galaxy of stars. This is what Natalia has to say about the materials and quality of their lingerie:

“Our products are made from the highest quality materials from the best producers in Europe: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, which have an Oeke-tex certificate, which means that they are pleasant for the skin. This ensures standard quality products which aren’t harmful for us.”

All of the products, both the bras and bottoms, are made in different cuts to ensure a perfect fit. The cuts are named by a letter and a number which forms an array of cup depths, constructions and bra shapes from which the customer can opt the ones best for her.

MODEL
A111	This bra design is dedicated to women with larger breasts. Optically reduces the bust, exposes it and slightly raises it up. It maintains and naturally rounds the bust. Deep cups cover 80% of the bust, ensuring maximum subtlety and comfort.
A122	This bra is designed for women with larger breasts. It collects the bust to the cleavage. Lifts it giving it strong support and comfort. Hidden supports inside the bra offer additional support.The cups cover 80% of the bust.
A222	The bra is designed for women with larger breasts. It doesn’t enlarge the bust, but lifts and gathers it, providing it with strong support. The cups cover 80% of the bust. The bra is made of lace or embroidery, lined on the inside by an extra net which has the same values for usability as in the A122 model.
A142	The design of this “balconette” type bra with a shallow cup is meant for women with firm breasts. Lifts and raises the bust to gently promote cleavage while giving it stable support. Hidden supports inside the bra offer additional support. It sensually exposes the bust.
A211	This bra design is dedicated to women with larger and/or less firm breasts. It lifts and naturally rounds the bust, without making it appear larger. Deep cups cover 80% of the bust ensuring maximum subtlety and comfort.
A225	The design of the “semi-soft” type bra (bottom of the cup stiffened, reinforced by foam with cotton from the side of the body), is dedicated to women with less firm breasts. Rounds and supports large breasts very well, collects and naturally lifts the bust up, while providing maximum comfort.
A242	This “balconette” type bra is additionally reinforced with a net layer on the inside cups. It is dedicated for women with firm breasts. It raises and collects the bust to gently promote cleavage, giving it stable support at the same time. It sensuallyexposes the bust.
A330	The design of the push – up type bra is dedicated to women with smaller and less firm breasts. Lifts and collects breasts to promote cleavage while it enlarges and rounds the bust. Provides impressive level of comfort while wearing.
A331	The design of the stiffened push – up type bra is for women with smaller and less firm breasts. Displays and enlarges the bust. Also has the asset of extreme comfort when wearing.
A333	The design of the stiffened push – up type bra is directed to women with larger breasts. Raises, rounds and collects the bust promoting cleavage and providing strong support. Cups cover 80 % of the breasts. The cups are mounted on a 3/4 high gore, which encourages the display of cleavage. Ensuring maximum comfort while wearing. This model is especially designed for women with softer, less firm breast. It’s perfect women who have just completed breastfeeding.
A335	Push-up bra design. This design is meant for women with smaller as well as widely spaced breasts. Lifts and collects the bust to promote cleavage, creating a “round apple” effect. A shallow cup promotes appropriate exposure of the bust making it ideal for very deep cleavage.
A341	Balconette type push-up bra design. Designed for women with smaller and medium-sized breasts, which are widely spaced and less firm. Lifts the bust and helps to expose it sensually and supportively.
A345	This bra design is stiff with a deeper cup, designed for women with a larger and/or less firm breasts. Gently enlarges, lifts and rounds the bust, while strongly supporting it. Collects bust to gently promote cleavage.
A351	Contour type bra design. The sides of this bra are finished off with silicone. It greatly lifts and exposes the bust. Ideal for dresses with bare shoulders and back.Detachable shoulder straps .
A470	Contour bra construction without push-up padding, designed for women with fuller breasts. The bra gathers, fills out, and naturally enhances the bust. The cup is smooth, seamless and stiff, placed high on the gore. The sides smoothly adjoin to the body. Detachable shoulder straps, where the width depends on the cup size. Designed for fitted outfit, thanks to the smooth finishing it stays hidden beneath clothes.
A472	Contour, push-up, décolleté bra construction. It lifts, strongly enhances and enlarges the bust. Smooth and stiff cups are placed high on the gore. The sides of the bra are seamless, finished with silicone. Ideal for dresses with exposed shoulders and back. Detachable shoulder straps. Designed for fitted outfit, thanks to the smooth finishing it stays hidden beneath clothes.
A475	Contour type push-up bra design. Lifts, enlarges and naturally exposes the breasts. The cup is smooth and rigid, mounted on the gore. The sides of the cup cling smoothly to the body. Detachable straps and their width is adjusted to the size of the cup. The bra is ideal for women with widely spaced breasts. Designed for close-fitting outfits, thanks to a seamless finish that does not stand out under clothing.
A476	Design of the multi-functional, front-fastened contour type bra. Allows for a variety of strap pin-ups and the back can be change to a silicone one. 6 combinations depending on your needs. Naturally enlarges and rounds the bust. Ideal for deep cleavage and an exposed back.
A479	Contour type, mega push-up bra design. Ideal for women with a smaller bust.Greatly enlarges and rounds the breasts, sensually exposing them.
A922	Thise bra design has additional strength. Designed for women with larger and/or less firm breasts. Patented straps add to increased comfort and stability. Deep cups cover 90% of the bust and the additional strength of the cup ensures stable support.  This bra gathers and rounds the bust, naturally exposing it.
A925	This bra design is for women with larger and/or less firm breasts. Patented straps guarantee comfort and stability. Deep cups cover 90% of the bust and foam in the lower part of the cup provides additional strengh and ensures stable support. This bra gathers and rounds the bust, naturally exposing it.
B0309	Classic briefs. Height below the navel. Discreetly covers hips and buttocks. Gives a beautiful shape. Perfect for women who appreciate a classic style and comfort.
B0501	Maxi briefs – very high up to the navel. Fully covers hips and buttocks. The sides and a wider crotch provide more privacy. Ideal for women who want to discreetly model their figure.
B300	Classic briefs. Height below the navel. Discreetly hides the sides and buttocks. Give a beautiful shape. Perfect for women who appreciate a classic style and comfort.
B400	Midi briefs – high below the navel. Cover the sides and buttocks almost completely. Perfect for women who appreciate comfort and a classic style.
B500	Maxi briefs – very high up to the navel. Fully cover the sides and buttocks. The sides and a wider crotch provide more privacy. Ideal for women who want to discreetly model their figure.
B700	Control briefs – high waist reaching above the navel. Fully covering the sides and bottocks. The sides and a wider crotch provide greater comfort. Front reinforced, for a slimming effect. Ideal for women who want to discreetly model their figure.
C100	Mini thongs – very low on the abdomen line. Fully expose the sides and buttocks.
C200	Hip hugging thongs- low on the hips. Discreetly obscure sides and fully expose the buttocks. Perfect for women wearing low-waist pants.
C300	Classic thongs below the navel. Discreet and fully expose the buttocks. Perfect for women who appreciate a classic style and comfort.
D100	Boy shorts on the abdomen line. Cover sides and discreetly exhibit the lower part of the buttocks. Perfect for women wearing low-waist pants.
D200	Hip boyshorts, covers sides and discreetly exhibits the lower part of the buttocks.Perfect for women wearing low-waist pants.
D300	Classic boyshorts, below the navel. Covers and discreetly exposes the lower part of the buttocks. Ideal for women who appreciate a classic style.
F60	Garter belt, reaching from the hips to the waist. Back fastened with hook and eye clasps. Front and sides high, reinforced with a net to perfectly model the figure.
G251	Linen corset with a balconette type cup. Back fastened with hook and eye clasps, bottom garter clasps. Corset greatly lifts and exposes the bust. Ideal for wedding dresses, emphasizes the shape of the body. It has detachable shoulder straps .
M200	Thong, often called “Brazilian”, held on the hips.Covers about half of the buttocks and expose feminine shape. Ideal for low waist pants and clothing that clings firmly to the body.
M300	Thong, often called “Brazilian,” of a classic height below the navel. Hides and exposes half of a woman’s buttocks. Ideal for clothing that clings firmly to the body.

This table was sent to me by Natalia which shows the differences between the cuts. I have not edited it so this is the brand’s view on their styles. I myself have tried their A925 which is an almost full-coverage balconette bra for large breasts. The style is specifically designed for less firm breasts but I can assure you that it will work for various breast types. These descriptions above are merely guidelines to find the perfect fit but many of the styles work for multiple breast shapes despite of being designed for something particular.

The different models can be confusing so if you want to see them in action, I would suggest you take a look at Miss Underpinnings’ guide to all the different cuts. However, if you set your eyes on something the list above is also very useful to determine whether a certain style would be a good choice for you. Also, all the styles come in different size ranges which will limit the option you have in the first place. The whole size range of the brand goes from 60-95 (UK 28-42) A-M (UK A-J) which is amazing for a family business! The sizing is pretty regular EU sizing so my 30H translates straight to 65K.

If you want to know more about the sizing and fit, I will share my first Samanta review tomorrow so stay tuned for that! Samanta ships to everywhere in EU but if you are based eg. in the USA, I would suggest you try to contact them directly for more details. For promotions and new collections, do check out their Facebook page too!

How do you like Samanta? Have you ever ordered from them and how do you feel about their products? Let me know in the comments!