Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien B151 “Maruni” in 70J

Hey loves! How is spring treating you? Mine has been busy busy busy, as you may have noticed from my absence here at the ol’ blog. Today I am bringing you some goodies from Poland again: Ewa Bien sent me these lovely things a few months ago and I am “a bit late” with introducing you to Maruni B151, which is a new semi-soft full-bust style from the brand. This bra style goes up to Polish L-cup, which is a rough equivalent to UK HH-cup. I asked for bigger cup sizes and that is what I got! Here’s how I liked the style…
The Design: I chose Maruni as my B151 design as it spoke to me with its beautiful colour and lovely embroidery. There is nothing juvenile or “too” girly about Maruni – it is something that will probably speak to women who are past the cutesy period of buying ruffles and bows (however, some of us are never over it!) and want something that makes a statement. Maruni reminds me of a beautiful jewel with its design and thus it takes its place is my “better” underwear drawer.

The shape of the B151 is a regular semi-soft style, which is something Polish brands are proud of and will keep as their staple cut in many collections. I know exactly why: many women enjoy the sturdy feeling and shaping of a padded bra but the fit can drive you crazy, if the cut is not perfect for you. Enter: seams and non-padded top part. The thinner layer of fabric usually conforms to ones breast shape better than stiff padding and will suit a plethora of breast shapes. This particular bra has a three-part cup construction with a rounded shape and a balconette-style cut.

The Fit: I asked for 70J as it seems to be my regular size with Polish and other EU-sized brands, and I had worn it with Ewa Bien bras in the bras. As you may remember, I reviewed one other bra of theirs a few weeks ago, which was in the same size and fitted very well.

This was no exception: the size was pretty much spot-on, regardless of the band fitting a tiny bit smaller than with my other Ewa Bien bras. I would personally not size up with it, but I would say the material is a bit more restricting so take that into consideration if you are between sizes and want to stay comfy. I like my bands on the stretchier side as I do not wear my bras out easily and want them to feel comfy from the get-go. However, if you don’t have tons of bras like yours truly, you may prefer a more rigid band material for some extra staying-power.

The cups are a really good size for me and the semi-soft style ensures that the bra fits my upper breast tissue with ease – however, the material is not very stretchy so if you are more full-on-bottom, there may be some looseness if you are between sizes for example. As the fabric is very thin, the looseness wouldn’t show as much as with a fully padded bra though. The cups are quite deep but also on the wider side, so I would imagine this could be a great bra to someone both plus size and big-busted.


Comfort: The B151 seems like a great basic style for full-busted women who want some extra bit of luxury to their everyday lingerie. The materials are excellent quality and the set is overall pretty comfortable, depending on whether you like your bra bands stretchier or not. Personally I would have felt comfier in a stretchier band that would have been a smidge wider as well. The common trend in Poland seems to be that even full-bust bras need to look as dainty and elegant as possible, hence the lack of wider bra bands and full-cup options. This is fine by me, but I do enjoy a wide band in my everyday bradrobe as well. The straps are strudy and 3/4 parts adjustable which is a bonus; however, they could be a bit more closely placed in my opinion.

The bottoms of this set, which I received in C410 short style and size M, were quite practical and comfortable. The sizing is true to Polish brands and thus a bit on the smaller side for us used to UK-sizing. The M is a rough equivalent of size Small in UK, and still a bit skimpy. This particular style was cut rather low so I would compare it to size 10-12 Cleo hipster panties (hope that makes sense?). Overall still, great style for everyday wear for those who like their panties cut low!

If you would wish to give this style a go, it’s now on sale at the Ewa Bien online store for 139 zl for the bra (sizes 65-100 B-L) and 68,60 zl for the short bottoms (sizes S-XL). Still plenty of sizes left so do snag a set for yourself as well!

Introducing the New Ewa Michalak SF Semi-Soft Cut

Happy new year 2017! A year of better bra blogging for me, I hope. Every now and then full-bust brands claim to have come up with “a new revolutionary” shape or a cut, that they are trying to sell as a cure for every bra problem in the world. This is not one of those times, as Ewa Michalak comes up with a new shape every now and then in all quietness. They make no fuzz about it, yet many gals wearing a D+ cup size swear by her bras. I can see why – EM bras are known by their incredible shape and narrow wires that are not rivaled by many. Today I would like to tell you about the new SF shape they came out with just recently.

I received two styles called SF Trapez and SF Czerwona Pantera, the latter hasn’t been released yet though, but I thought you would like to get a complete idea of the new style. When you think of a semi-soft cut, made popular by Polish bra brands, you automatically think of a style with padding at the bottom and a sheer or a lacy top that accommodates your upper breast tissue. However, the Ewa Michalak semi-soft, shortened to SF, is a style which is actually not padded AT ALL, just reinforced at the bottom to gain a sturdier feel to the bra.

I was a bit worried when I thought that I was going to get yet another bra with padding, but I actually think this is a brilliant way of making sturdier bras without adding bulk. The bottom part of the cups is double-lined with strong poly-blend material which is rather stiff and thus holds its form better than some flimsier materials. The cut is rather similar to the soft full-bust style BM, but offers just a tiny bit more support in my opinion. The shape is very rounded and uplifted, which is something I always enjoy about Ewa Michalak bras.

As the SF style is pretty much based on the BM, the sizing works similarly with it as well. I received both of the styles, SF Trapez and SF Czerwona Pantera in 70G, which seems to be a pretty good size for me with both of them. I would say though that even them both being a same cut, they are not exactly the same when it comes to fit. I prefer the red and black SF Czerwona Pantera as it feels a tiny bit larger in the cup and band than the Trapez. As you may notice in the pics above, the Pantera (which is how I will refer to the black and red bra from now on) covers my tissue a bit more from the sides and thus contains my boobs better.

As said, the band of the Pantera is also a bit stretchier so I like it better than the Trapez one. However, the Trapez isn’t bad at all, just needs a longer breaking-in period. Both of the bras feature a stretch lace on the top panel of the bra, which is great for a variety of breast shapes. The depth aspect of the bras is just about right to me and thus you cannot see any dents at the bottom of the cup, nor gaping at the top. As the Pantera covers my armpit area better than Trapez, I would go as far as saying it has become one of my top three bras of the year!

The materials of both of the sets are a bit more “basic” than my other EM bras – instead of luxurious embroideries and sheer mesh, these bras are made of something stronger and everyday-appropriate. They are pretty and even sexy, but there’s no extra hassle to make them feel too precious and delicate to wear under your everyday wardrobe. The straps are fully-adjustable which contributes to the practicality aspect of these bras. The bands have three hooks and eyes, and four rows of them, which is great in regards of durability.

The panties that come with these bras are as uncomplicated and sweet as the bras. Both of the styles feature the same stretch lace that is featured on the top panel of the bras, and the materials are nice and light-weight as they should be with comfy panties. These were both a size UK 12/ Polish 38 and they fit my 40″ bum very well. Even the thong is super comfy, as the rise hits me at the perfect spot and the materials are stretchy enough to hug my curves. I also really like how wide the thong is at the hips, it is such a flattering cut.

Out of all the EM styles, I would say the SF is my new favourite. I love wearing it regularly and it is one of their styles which does not try to stab me in the breast tissue. If you would like to try the SF, you can find eg the SF Trapez here at the EM online store. The Trapez is almost sold-out at the moment, but I would suggest taking a look at their new SF Roma (189 zl) which is a beautiful colourful style with a full size range of 30-44 E-JJ.

Gossard Celebrates the Re-Launch of Gypsy! – Our Review on the Collection

A fun little story – when we were on a plane to Helsinki before our flight to London we sat next to a previous lingerie shop owner. She was super interested about our blog so we brought up some brands Jo and I had worked with and when we mentioned Gossard, the lady went nuts and told all about how she had stocked them in a small town shop in the 80’s. That was the same reaction I got from my mom when I told I was collaborating with Gossard – she gushed about it like it was the biggest deal on earth (and it kinda still is to me!) and told how she used to have a co-worker in the 80-90’s who wore nothing but Gossard and was the most proud of it. I finally got it – this brand was a heck of a big deal in the 80’s and I was so proud to represent them as they were one of my favourite brands too, still making fabulous on-trend lingerie for sizes A-G.

Today, we are celebrating the relaunch of one of the most iconic Gossard sets and that is the Gypsy – the set that “made men faint”, as the 80’s Gossard commercial lead to believe. Obviously, I did not live in the 80’s but born over a decade after so it is impossible to compare the new revamped Gypsy to its original counterpart. However, we will do our best to review the new Gypsy to its very last detail – so here we go! 
Design: For a lingerie set designed in the 80’s the Gypsy seems like a fairly classic option for everyday use. As Jo put it – it is so comfy you wanna wear it everyday but still rather sexy so you kinda wanna keep it as a special occasion set. That is, the Gypsy is a perfect medium between the impractical boudoir bra (without the impracticality) and something you put on everyday when you go to work. The style is available in both non-padded full-cup style and a semi-padded demi-cup bra. Obviously, the full-cup goes up to G as it is crafted more for lthe fuller bust and the demi-cup goes up to E – now you can imagine it was a no-brainer who went with which style! The set is completed with a pair of knickers of your choice – I went with the delicious high-rise panties for my uber-vintage look whereas Jo wanted to stick with her everyday style that is the thong.

The Gypsy has definitely been revamped in some way but still has its original feel to it – just without the 80’s vibe. The colours have changed a bit too as instead of the creamy white colour this relaunch brings us a more versatile Caramel shade which is ideal for a pale skin tone like mine. The shape of the full-cup is pretty much the same but just a tiny bit more uplifted and rounded as 80’s full-cups tended to have a bit more toned-down yet pointy shape to them. The lace has a lovely little sheen to it which gives the set its glamorous feel and little something extra to the classic style.

The Fit: Now to the most interesting part as it always quite exciting to see how an “old” style works after revising it a bit. As I have not tried the original Gypsy, I cannot compare the sizing at all but I hope this bit still helps you to figure out your best size in the new version! I was sent my regular size of 32 G + size Small bottoms and Jo went with her regular 30DD + size XSmall bottoms.

To sum it all up, the Gypsy range runs overall a bit big which is why you can see my other cup wrinkling at the top. Jo and I noted the same thing with our Gypsy sets – the cups run a full size larger than any other Gossard bra we own and by the way, that is one large pool of Gossard bras. Also the bands were a tad looser than normal so I would say if you are between band sizes with Gossard bras, size down in this particular style. My 32 was a fairly good fit though so I wouldn’t change that necessarily, just the cup size is notably too big for me. The 30DD was on the other hand too big in the band for Jo and only a tad big in the cups, which was btw easily fixed with tightening the straps with some help from the Strap Saver (click link for the review!). Both the demi-cup and the full-cup bras included a layer of the softest stretch lace you can imagine – great for a-symmetrical boobs and comfort in general!

The wires of Gypsy felt particularly narrow for me compared to my other Gossard bras and you can see in the pictures how nicely the underwire curves right next to my armpit without going too far in it. Gossard wires are always absolutely perfect on me but I can see some girls with narrower breast root enjoying this style quite a bit – it definitely rivals any Polish brand with its wire-width! The straps are quite long with Gypsy so if you are petite like Jo, do give the Strap Saver a go as it can shorten any too-long straps to make the fit of the bra a lot better.

Comfort: Can everyone just praise Hallelujah as Gossard did it again?! As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, the Gypsy is exactly that lingerie set you want to take everywhere with you – to work, to a nightclub, to a summer holiday, you name it. It is such a lightweight set you barely notice it when being active but then again, it also looks good and you can feel confident it it without anything else on. Especially for me the high-waisted knickers sealed the deal with my love affair to this set – they are perfect under light-coloured pencil skirts and dresses and also feel so soft against my hyper-sensitive skin. Also the thong option is lovely and wide at the back with a seamless finish to avoid any bulges or VPL.

What could be improved with this set is the straps though – they are bit too long even for me who never really struggles with too-long straps. This is a common feature with Gossard bras but still something that could be addressed in the future. Otherwise though, everything was so spot-on with both of our sets comfort-wise and we cannot recommend them enough as great basics to any girls lingerie drawer.

Gypsy has launched TODAY and is now ready to be purchased on the Gossard online store! The non-padded full-cup bra retails for an affordable £30 and the padded demi-cup for £32. The bottoms come in sizes XS-XL and feature a regular brief (£16), the thong (£14) and the deep short (£22). Give this babe a try and you won’t be disappointed!

What do you think of the Gypsy? Have you tried the original version and how do you feel it compares to the new? Let me know in the comments, we are dying to know! xx

Sunday with Samanta: A225 “Hemaris” in 65J

Hello everyone and hope you are having a fabulous Sunday! Mine has been pretty good and I am now happily in bed ready to blog for you about my next Samanta venture – the Hemaris in A225. Hemaris is one of the Samanta best-sellers and belongs to the affordable “Young”-collection, which is – as the name suggests – targeted for young trendy women on budget. The Young -collection features more basic styles with simplistic yet hip lace and embroidery combined to an array of bright colours and fun prints. I received the Hemaris in the A225 cut which is specifically crafted for larger breasts and thus goes up to K-cup.

Design: When I first found out the lovely Marzena from Samanta had thought of Hemaris for me to try next, I wasn’t super excited about the set – however, the leopard print lace and the orange-y red turned out to be a fun combo for everyday wear and I did like the style when I saw it in flesh! The colour is a little warmer than your average red which makes it appropriate for this late summer we are now experiencing and also, looks nice on most skin tones, I think.

The A225 cut is a semi-soft style which is something Polish bra companies are famous for – and which really suits so many breast shapes especially if you are on the softer side! However, me and Marzena discussed some of the fit issues I encountered with the semi-soft construction, and we can both safely say this is not the best bra shape for me.The A225 Hemaris constructs of three cup pieces with a stretch lace on top to accommodate any a-symmetry and the style is overall a bit wider and deeper than most Samanta styles I have tried so far.

Fit: I got the Hemaris in my usual Samanta size which is 65J (translates roughly to UK 30GG). Usually Samanta has been very consistent with their sizing, but it seems that the semi-soft styles run a bit larger than their soft and padded bras which is why I could have easily done well in a 65I with the A225 shape. There is also something to my bust that does not co-operate with semi-soft styles at all (finally, a shape that does NOT work for me, haha!) – and when we discussed this with Marzena she instantly told me it is probably the density of my breasts. The A225 style is specifically designed for larger but also softer breasts and as mine are still very firm, the breast tissue does not conform to the semi-soft shape and fill it completely at the apex.

As you can see in the pictures, this style is also quite wide for me allover and thus is not the ideal look and fit I prefer. Even though I am not super narrow at my breast root, I do prefer bras that minimize the look of my boobs and makes them fit into tighter dresses when needed. However, I can imagine this bra shape being ideal for women who have lost some of their fullness and density and want to feel fuller and uplifted again! For example, if you have just breast-fed and are changing back to regular bras, this could be a great option for the fuller-busted lady.

Comfort: As fit and comfort usually go hand in hand, this was not the best of Samanta bras I have tried comfort-wise either. The materials were incredibly soft and well thought-out, but the construction with its wider cups and also, wider-placed straps did not suit me very well. I just recently found out that apparently, I am quite narrow at my shoulders and widely-placed straps are not the most comfortable for me and unfortunately, it seems that this particular bra is not very good match with my body shape. This is something many British and American women struggle as well when it comes to Polish bras – it seems Polish girls are a bit more broad-shouldered and want less coverage which leads for the bras to have wider strap-placement with Polish bras in general. I have given feedback about this particular matter to eg Avocado who are tackling the the issue at the very moment.

Usually though, Samanta bras have been nice and comfortable for me, so this time, is no doubt just one style that simply does not go well with my proportions and body type. However, if you are a bit wider than me all over (breast root- and shoulder-wise) you could find the A225 quite good for you needs. Also the size I take usually faces some problems as the small band and big cups are not the easiest combination to accommodate in every single bra style. However, for materials and overall feeling, Samanta always earns an A+ as they really make an effort to use the best quality laces and also the softest cotton lining in the bra cups. The M300 brazilian briefs are also a dream to wear as the stretch lace really accommodates your own body shape and leaves no bulges or seams on sight.

If you interested to try out the Hemaris, it is now on sale for a very good price of 32,30 e for the A225 bra and 13,70 e for the Brazilian brief. Do snatch them before they are completely gone!

What do you think of Hemaris in A225? Have any of you tried any semi-soft bras and how do you like the shape in general? Let me know in the comments!

Lingerie Review: Maison Lejaby “Crystal” Padded Demi-Cup Bra in 32D

As summer has arrived in pretty much anywhere else but Finland, I decided it is time to introduce the perfect lightweight summer bra to you, my dear readers – The Crystal by Maison Lejaby. Now, I must warn you this little beauty only goes up to DD which is why our lovely 2COP guest blogger Jo will be introducing it. However, I thought it would be lovely to showcase some smaller/average-bust options on the blog as well! Here are our thoughts on the Maison Lejaby Premium Collection continuity style, Crystal. *This set was sent as a gift to Jo from Maison Lejaby. This does not affect her or my opinions on the set.*

Design: Crystal comes in various shades for each season, this ss15 season being the time for a lovely coral-like pink. As Jo is a bit on the paler side when it comes to skin tone (not as white as me though), the peachy colourway works as a pretty good “nude” on her too. The only thing that takes away from the practicality of the set, is the lace that is pretty prominent under very thin top materials. However, this feature can be used as an asset too – why not pair it with something a bit see-through for a night out with the girls?

The shape of the bra is rather pointy yet not very notable under regular t-shirts, especially a bit looser ones. The top panel of the bra is made of very light stretch lace which is amazing for any breast shape – particularly full-on-top boobs. Jo is more full on bottom, but rocks this style equally well. The coverage is pretty low meaning there might be some nipple (gasp!) showing through the lace (a feature neither of us is that scared of…). The star of the show however, are the lovely Swarovski crystals at centre gore, which add a nice feminine touch to the set.

Fit: As most Maison Lejaby styles do not carry 30 backs not even talking about 28’s, we decided to ask a size 32D for Jo. What can I say, who doesn’t compromise sometimes? (I know I do -naughty me!) As we knew Maison Lejaby runs large in the cup, we decided go for the D, which is technically a cup size smaller than Jo usually wears (meaning 30E/28F). The size guess was pretty much spot on! Even though the band is definitely a rather regular 32, it does not ride up Jo’s back as her bust is not particularly heavy. She does wear the band on the tightest hook which is by no means the best solution, but as I said, the fit is still reasonably good. Also the cups fit her really well with no gaping or bulging as the stretch lace is such a forgiving choice of material.

The wiring is a lot narrower than with British brands, which makes Maison Lejaby a good choice for Jo – she is rather petite all over with her bird’s bones so too wide/high/dense wires tend to poke her in the armpits and even her ribs. With Crystal the wire width and length seem to be spot-on which makes the bra a better fit for Jo despite the loose back band.

Comfort: As I conducted with my ML “Feline” set (click the link to read the review!), Jo came to the same conclusion with Crystal – Maison Lejaby knows how to make comfy lingerie. It is no wonder though, as they have been in the industry for so many years and clearly, some serious bra-making knowledge has tagged along since the 19th century. Everything from the materials to flexible wiring has been perfected to the very last detail which makes the higher price tag of the garments absolutely worth it.

Jo was also sent the size 1 knickers (translates to UK 8 and US 4) which finish off the set beautifully with the same amount of comfort and style that was put into the bra. The stretch lace is again there to save the day – these panties are great when you need something seamless! Also to praise the bra even more, the half-adjustable straps are just the right length for Jo who usually suffers from too long bra straps (petite ladies, take note!).

All in all, this set definitely scores an A+ when it comes to comfort – it is the perfect light-weight bra for hot summer weather and is equally great when lounging around at home.

If you would fancy to give the Crystal a try, it is sold at least on Amazon and House of Fraser for a reduced price. However, the style is a continuity range which will be available this autumn in Love Red colourway in addition to basic colours Black, Lily and Cashmere. What do you think of the Crystal? Let me know in the comments!

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 🙂

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Fago B150” in 70J

I know many of you have been super excited about the Polish lingerie reviews last year and as promised, I will keep up with them this year as well with some new brands and also oldies but goodies that I already love. This review belongs to the first category – today’s post is all about a lovely Polish brand called Ewa Bien. Ewa Bien has been in business for over 25 years but I only found out about them when I became familiar with Miss Underpinnings, who visited Poland to meet all the biggest manufacturers in the industry. I instantly fell in love with Ewa Bien’s amazing aesthetics and knew I got to try their lingerie one day. Lucky me, Ewa Bien was so generous to send me a few sets to try and review for you, so here we go!

The Design: There are not that many styles in my size in the current Ewa Bien collection as I am definitely in the larger end of their size range and only a few styles are made up to European K-cup. However, I do appreciate that the bras for the fullest of busts are breath-takingly beautiful as opposed to being too basic or frumpy. The colour black is accompanied by a lovely sparkle that adorns the embroidery and the scallop edge of the cup is a thoughtful little detail.

The B150 is a semi-soft style which seems to be a very popular one for Polish brands. I find myself wearing mostly unpadded bras on a day-to-day basis but I like to have the option as half-padded bras seem to fit me a bit better than completely padded ones (don’t get me wrong, I do own many well-fitting padded bras as well!) The Fago B150 seems to sport a bit wider wires than your regular Polish bra and the shape is also a bit different, meaning a lot more naturally shaped as opposed to what I can the “Polish orb”.

The Fit: Well this is what you all are itching to know, right? 😉 I went for the size 70J as that was the suggested size by the Ewa Bien team – and it was spot-on. I always feel like the semi-soft shape leaves a bit of room where the seam crosses my breast but it seems to be due to the construction rather than the bra being too big. I was also offered to try the size 65K so I could compare it to its sister size, so I promise you a size comparison in the next Ewa Bien review!

There has been a lot of talk about the bands being quite stretchy when it comes to Ewa Bien but their team has obviously been working hard to rectify this situation and it seems they have managed to improve the fit tremendously with some sturdier band materials. My 70 band fits me well without riding up or feeling too loose. It’s stretchy enough to be comfy but snug enough to support as it should. The band features two hooks and eyes but is still wide enough not to feel too flimsy.

When it comes to the cups I feel they are a rather regular depth and size. The size is similar to a UK 32GG with a bit snugger band and the cups seem to be a good equivalent to GG. As said, the wires are definitely a tad wider than eg Ewa Michalak or even Kris Line, so probably the widest Polish wires I have encountered so far. The wires don’t go all the way up to my armpit which is a definite upside as I loathe poking underwires! Overall, the fit seems to be a good one for me and the depth also spot-on at the bottom of the cups, which usually tend to fold a bit as most brands make their cups too shallow at the bottom.

Comfort: Most people complain that too wide wires can cause a lot of irritation and discomfort during the day but I would say this is usually due to too LONG wires, meaning the wires go too high up on the sides which cause them to poke the armpit area. Even though the Fago seems a bit too wide-wired to me, it doesn’t cause any discomfort during the day and I quite forget that I am wearing it in the first place.

The Fago B150 features stable straps meaning the straps are sewn onto the bra as opposed to being removable as with most Ewa Bien bras (you will see this feature on the other style I received) The stable straps make the bra a bit sturdier and reliable when it comes to those everyday situations when you run for a bus or do some other intense activity on a short notice. The straps are half-adjustable which is a pet peeve to some girls out there that are quite petite or tall but I would say there is still plenty of room to adjust, as I am wearing my adjusters in half way up the strap.

When it comes to the panties, I tried them in a size Medium which seems to be my most comfortable fit with most Polish brands. I do feel European brands make their bottoms a bit snug so I would definitely size up from your regular British size! This was a good choice with Ewa Bien too and I felt the short style was super flattering and comfy. The materials are dreamy too – especially the cotton lining of the bra and the velvet-y backside of the shorts. 10/10 for comfort it is then!

If you would like to try Ewa Bien, you can head over to their e-commerce shop and place an order that way. Ewa Bien shop does not take credit cards or Paypal payments from international customers but will contact you via email to sort the bank transfer and your shipping costs out. The Fago bra for example costs 188 Polish Zlotys which is about $50. Not too bad for such a luxe piece, huh? How do you like Ewa Bien lingerie? What about the Fago set? Let me know in the comments! xx

Suomeksi: Nyt olisi taas puolalaisia ihanuuksia luvassa, sillä esittelyssä on tänään upea luksusmerkki Ewa Bien. Vaikka rintsikkakokoni on Ewa Bienin kokovalikoimassa sieltä suuremmasta päästä,sain kokeiltavaksi heiltä kolme eri settiä, joita merkki valmistaa ihan EU K-kuppiin asti. Kookseni valkkasin 70J:n joka tuntuu melko hyvin vastaavan UK-kokoa 32GG.

Ewa Bien on yli 25 vuotta vanha yritys, joka toimii perheyrityksenä monen muun puolalaisen alusvaatemerkin tavoin. Mallistot koostuvat herkullisista väreistä, ihanista eurooppalaisista kirjailuista ja säntillisestä liivimallijärjestelmästä – taattuun puolalaiseen tapaan. Tänään testissä on Ewa Bienin B150, joka on tarkoitettu erityisesti suurille ja jo jonkin verran elinvoimansa menettäneille rinnoille. Tämä tuntuukin olevan yleinen kohderyhmä semi-soft mallisille rintsikoille, joiden topatun ja toppaamattoman osan yhdistelmä tarjoaa hyvän tuen myös ei-niin-elastisille rinnoille. Itse olen vielä nuori ja oikein rintsikoiden vuoksi rintani ovat suht hyvässä kuosissa edelleen (painovoimasta huolimatta), joten en välttämättä ole tätä ominaisuutta paras arvioimaan mutta kelpo rintsikoiltahan nämä muuten vaikuttavat!

Ympärykseltään Ewa Bien on melko samaa luokkaa muiden puolalaisten merkkien kanssa – voi siis olla että tarvitset kokoa suuremman ympäryksen, etenkin jos arvot kahden koon väliltä. Itse sijoitun nykyään juuri kokojen 65 ja 70 väliin ja puolalaisten merkkien kanssa 70 on melko varma valinta (poikkeuksena kuitenkin Kris Line ja Samanta, jotka ovat mielestäni hiukkasen löysempiä). Kupit puolestaan ovat melko normaalia kokoluokkaa, joten niissä kannattaa pysytellä siinä totutussa koossa. Istuvuus liiveissä on hieman erilainen verrattuna muihin puolalaisiin liiveihin: Ewa Bienin kaarituet ovat selkeästi leveämmät ja liivin muotokin on hieman luonnollisempi. 

Jos oma Ewa Bien setti miellyttää, voi heidän alusvaatteitaan ostaa joko heidän oman verkkokauppansa taikka sitten Funky Ladyn kautta. Funky Lady taitaa toimia pääasiallisesti Etelä-Suomessa, mutta jos sinnepäin on menoa, käykää ihmeessä piipahtamassa! Kokeilullahan sitä löytää aina parhaimman istuvuuden 😉 Rintsikat kustantaa euroissa vähän alle viisi kymppiä Ewa Bienin nettikaupassa, joten ei todellakaan paha hinta laatuliiveistä. Jos haluat kuitenkin jättää tilauksen tuota kautta, ei EB valitettavasti hyväksi Paypal- tai luottokorttimaksuja. Jos kuitenkin teet tilauksen, otetaan sinuun Ewa Bieniltä yhteyttä ja saat enemmän tietoa pankkisiirrosta ja postikuluista!

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?

Lingerie for a True Pinup – Review of Gossard “Retrolution” in 32G

This is a review that is long overdue and there is actually a rather good reason for it – I have been wearing the set all the freaking time. I am wearing my vintage repro clothing almost everyday so it’s not a surprise that the Gossard “Retrolution” is a perfect match for my style. Gossard was so kind to send me the whole set of the semi-soft balconette bra, brief and the waist cincher. The bra is actually now on sale for £18 so pay close attention to this review to find out whether it would be a good fit for you!

The Design: I have actually been drooling over this set for ages. I mean like seriously, when I first saw Miss Underpinnings and Le Curvy Kitten wearing it, I knew this would be my goal – to have my hands on this set one day, when I had the money or a miracle would happen (as I was and still am a poor student). Fast forward a couple of years and I have reached this bra goal and I am so happy I did. The set is all I expected it to be – quality materials, the perfect vintage shape without being too cone-bra-like and beautiful finishing touches like the rose gold metal parts.

I must warn you that this is not the bra for those gals who love the round shape of Cleo bras but perfect for any pinup girl out there who would like to test out the vintage shape without looking too out-there. The shape is a bit cone-y but not too much for my taste. The cups are semi-soft meaning the lower part of the cup is padded and the upper panel is soft. I love a good well-crafted semi soft any day and this is definitely one!

The Fit: This is probably one of the best-fitting semi-soft bras I have ever tried. It’s also a first bra with a padded lower half that doesn’t crease. Like, at all. The lower part of the cup is just deep enough for me to fit the bra perfectly. The upper part is a bit more closed at top than my other Gossard bras but it doesn’t lead up to any quad-boob so it’s not a problem at all. The wires hit me at the right point and the cetre core tacks nicely. All in all, this is probably my best-fitting Gossard bra of all times!

When it comes to sizing, this bra is consistent with other Gossard ranges. I opted for my regular size 32G and it feels spot-on. The band feels a little snug for a 32, as always, but there is a great improvement compared to my other Gossard bras – it has three hooks and eyes! The band feels so comfortable and supportive I cannot thank the Gossard team enough for making the band wider. The cups run larger than with other British brands so even if you are more full-on-top I would suggest sizing down. However, if you want to buy this bra, do it now. Gossard will not be carrying this style above E-cup starting from this spring season so if you see your size still available on their website, snatch it up asap!

The Comfort: I am impressed by the comfort of Gossard sets over and over again as I try new goodies from them. This is set is a favourite of mine for various reasons: it has a wider band, wider shoulder straps and great quality metal parts. The waist cincher includes suspenders but I have detached them as in the winter time I don’t really have a chance to wear stockings. However, the suspenders seems good quality too and the panties, both of them, are rather comfortable.

As the bra seems like a regular fit and comfort level for Gossard I will tell you more about the co-ordinates. First of all, both the brief and the cincher run a bit smaller than your regular Gossard co-ordinates so I would suggest sizing up if you are between sizes. The size Small I opted for felt a bit on the snug side but is still comfy enough to wear on a regular basis. The waist cincher is gorgeous but a little too short for me so if you have a long torso, keep that in mind. For someone a little more petite, the fit will be a lot better (I am 5’6). However, the waist cincher still does its job and flattens my stomach a bit as I do possess a little cookie pouch no matter how thin I am. The waist rolls down a bit as it’s too short for me so I cannot wear it without a belt to cover the seams on my waist but I usually wear it with my wiggle dresses which I like to wear with a belt anyway. The brief feels tiny at first but there’s still a fair amount of butt coverage so it’s a practical little number after all.

All in all the set is very pretty, well-fitting and comfortable. As I said before, I have been wearing this set a lot lately and with the co-ordinate options you can make it more versatile. If you would like to get Retrolution for yourself, you can find it on Gossard online store. The bra is still available in sizes 30-38 B-G so if there are any E+ sizes left, do consider them as when they’re gone, they really are gone!

How do you like the Retrolution set? Have you encountered any other pinup inspired lingerie sets you like? Let me know in the comments!
Suomeksi: Moikka kaikille! Tänään arvosteluun on päätynyt Gossardin “Retrolution” alusvaatesetti, johon kuuluu puolitopattu balconette-liivi, muotoilevat korkeavyötäröiset alushousut sekä tavalliset hipster-malliset alkkarit. Gossard ystävällisesti lähetti tämän setin minulle mutta mielipiteeni ovat luonnollisesti omiani!

Gossard on jo pitkään ollut lempparimerkkejäni mutta nyt perusmallistosta on löytynyt oikea helmi. Olen jo pitkään kuolannut tätä retroa settiä muiden blogeista ja nyt onneksi sain kokeilla sitä myös itse. Setti on kaiken kaikkiaan upea ja hyvin istuva ja harmikseni sen valmistaminen G-kuppiin asti lopetetaan tänä keväänä. Jos siis nyt löydät kokosi jostain, nakkaappa suorin tein ostoskoriin! Nyt keväällä rintsikoiden valmistamista jatketaan vain E-kuppiin asti. Liivit ovatkin Gossardin sivuilla alennuksessa joten ne saa reilulla parillakymmenellä eurolla omakseen 🙂

Kooltaan Retrolution rintaliivit istuvat samoin kuin muutkin Gossardin rintsikat – hyvä sääntö on siis ottaa isompi ympärys ja pienempi kuppi kuin normaalisti. Itse ostan yleensä kokoa 65H muilta brittiläisiltä merkeiltä mutta Gossardin kanssa 70G riittää hyvin. Retrolution on muutenkin yksi parhaiten istuvimmista seteistäni, sillä sen ympärys on tavallista leveämpi ja kuppien alaosassa on enemmän tilaa rintakudokselle. Kupin alaosaan ei siis muodostu minkäänlaisia ryppyjä vaikka malli on niiltä osin topattu! Yläosa on pehmeää pitsin ja mesh-kankaan yhdistelmää, joka toimii hyvin näin yläpainotteisilla rinnoilla.

Alaosat setistä ovat tosi nättejä mutta mitoitukseltaan hieman normaalia Gossardia pienemmät. Jos arvot kahden koon väliltä, kannattaa ottaa se suurempi vaihtoehto! Lisäksi korkeavyötäröiset muotoilevat alushousut on tarkoitettu melko lyhyelle keskivartalolle, joten tämä kannattaa ottaa ehdottamasti huomioon. 

Kaiken kaikkiaan Retrolution on mahtava alusvaatepilari kaikille retrofaneille ja pinup tytöille. Mitäs sinä tykkäsit? Jätähän alle kommenttia!