Bluebella MORE Review: “Calypso” in 32G

Hi lingerie folks! Hope the spring has been treating you well. We are now less than two months away from the wedding and we are also moving on Easter, so needless to say I have been a busy woman. Everything seems to be happening at once, but I think I’m probably not alone – it’s just the way life works itself out. I haven’t forgot about you though! I have exciting reviews coming up, both clothing- and lingerie-wise, so do hang in there!

Today I am reviewing something from a very exciting new collection from Bluebella MORE range. The MORE by Bluebella is a collection for us fashion-forward full-busted ladies and it now starts with 30 bands as well! The range is still only up G-cup though, so I needed to cheat with  the sizing this time as well – don’t judge me! However, let’s keep buying and wearing MORE, and maybe in the future we’ll get those H-cups 😉 *Disclosure: This set was provided me free of charge by Bluebella. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: Picking something from the Bluebella MORE ss18 collection was a hard task – there were so many things I was intrigued by, I really wanted to have it all. This is rare these days, as I am a picky lingerie consumer and hardly find myself getting so excited over a whole collection.

I usually pick something non-padded as it is more wearable to me, but having tried some non-padded MORE lingerie already, I went for the padded half-cup shaped Calypso. Take note: this was never supposed to be even remotely everyday-wearable to me, but something more to wear in the boudoir or maybe on stage. Thus I was not too fussed about the fit or shape of this bra.

I like how low cut the bra is, as most bras in my size range tend to go higher up my chest. I like having options so thumbs up for the low-coverage, definitely! The one thing that really drew me in with this set was the harness-brief though and the beautiful thick lace decorations of the set. The adornments really make a statement and the aesthetics are both strong yet romantic at the same time. Also, I am always a sucker for the combo of cream and black.

Fit: As the MORE range goes up G-cup, I had little choice with the size of the bra – either I was going to compromise on the band being too loose or the cup being too small. I absolutely HATE too loose bands, so I decided that for a boudoir bra it wouldn’t hurt to wear it in a slightly too small cup size. BUT… As you can see, the cups are not slightly too small 😀 In theory the cups should be only a cup size too small for me, but as this bra runs both small and shallow in the cup, it seems like I would need two cup sizes more to have all my breast tissue lie nicely in the cups. Overall, I would advice to go up a cup size in this bra, if you can. The band is on the snug side, so if you find yourself between sizes, do go up a band as well.

Frankly me and the bra weren’t a great match shape-wise either as I need narrower wires and deeper cups. It’s really the same issue as with most Curvy Kate padded balconettes. However, this does not stop me from wearing such styles from time to time – it’s not meant to be the most practical bra so let’s not expect a perfect fit from it either. Also, the fact that it doesn’t suit me does not mean it won’t suit anyone. I can think of a number of people this would be pretty much perfect on (I am looking at you, Miss R!). Also the shape of the bra is quite nice – it’s not square-y like some half-cups in D+ sizes and I think in a better size the construction of the bra would be highlighted much better.

Comfort: As the bra is a wrong size for me, I haven’t worn it out much so it’s a bit hard to say whether it’s super comfy or not. Only time would tell that and I cannot really wear a bra two cup sizes too small several hours in public – anyone my size would know the experience is awkward and uncomfortable. Based on the feel of the garment and the materials I would say the bra is a rather comfy one – the elastic parts are sturdy and wide, the band has three hooks and eyes, and both the inner and the outer materials are nice to touch.

When it comes to the bottoms of the set, I tried a couple of sizes but unfortunately neither of them fitted me at all. I got a size 12 and 14, but for my body type (hourglass with a bit of tummy), this panty did not feel comfortable or flattering on. I reeeeally wanted it to work and was conflicted to whether review the panties at all, but I think you should be always aware of what you are buying so there won’t be any disappointments. What didn’t work for me were the strappy parts of the panties – they are not elastic at all and thus won’t conform to my body the way I would have liked them to.

I have seen bloggers wearing the panty successfully (here some pics on the lovely Charlie of Big Cup Lil Cup) but they have a slimmer body than mine with a flat tummy. I know some people don’t mind if their pants create more curves but at this point, I am not that comfortable with extra tummy rolls which the straps create by digging into my skin. This was not corrected by a bigger size as the size 14 was otherwise too big for me (the crotch area bunched up significantly) but the straps still dug in. What I think I’m going to do is to sew a loop on some other black knickers, so I can wear the beautiful harness with another panty (luckily the harness is detachable!).

Thank you for reading the review and let me know what you think of the new Bluebella MORE offering, which can be found here! The Calypso bra (UK 30-38 DD-G) costs an affordable £38 and the harness panty (UK 8-18) sets you back at £24.

Happy Easter everyone!

 

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: Tutti Rouge “Jessica” in 32GG

When Tutti Rouge first came out with their Jessica set, I was super excited to get my paws on the style – who could resist something as versatile as a non-padded bra with removable cookies?! It took a bit of time from me to finally lay my hands on this product, but as I finally did, I was so happy but not for the reasons I was suspecting. Here are my thoughts on this probably world’s first non-padded bra with not one but two different sizes of boosters!

From top to bottom: Jessica with Tutti Super Booster, Tutti Booster and without boosters 

The Design: The Jessica comes in three different colourways at the moment – the black and cream option which I am wearing in the pics but also in ivory (excellent option for brides!) and orange-y red. I like each and every colourway but for autumn, the black one is very classic and appropriate. The look of the Jessica is quite sexy yet playful: it features a lovely stretchy lace overlay, some ribbon over the wires and a tiny rose at the centre gore. Tutti Rouge is famous for their smallest adorable details that they put in every single of their styles. The shape of the bra is a balconette plunge in my opinion and I love how low-coverage it is as this feature in particular makes it so practical for me personally. The cups are constructed of three pieces with one vertical and one horizontal seam and the upper panel of the cups is quite stretchy to accommodate my some fuller breast tissue at the top of one’s breasts.

The thing that did not work for me with this bra were the Tutti Boosters. They come in two sizes, one with a pocket to insert the other one if needed/wanted. I don’t want a lot of cleavage most of the time, but when I do, I would have thought that this style would be a good option. However, it seems we are not very compatible with the bra in that department – the Boosters seemed to just widen my boobs and make them look pointy which is not something I find particularly attractive! I think this might be a compatibility issue as I have seen some other bloggers rocking their boosted Jessica bra. When I wear this bra, it is always without the boosters and that way, it is almost perfect in every way!

The Fit: I shall be reviewing the Jessica bra without further notes on the boosters, as with them the bra did not fit nor look that good on me. As a regular non-padded bra it is a whole another story though! I have been wearing this bra constantly for so many reasons: it is lightweight, flexible if I feel bloated, the wires sit on me at the right spot and both the cups and the band are spot on. It also goes under even my trickiest necklines, eg the Pinup Girl Clothing “Birdie” dress.

I went with the 32GG with the bra as Tutti Rouge bands tend to run a bit on the snugger side (I would say they are rather comparable to Cleo) and I like my bands comfortable because of my skin issues. This was the right choice – I can comfortably wear the band in the loosest set of hooks and it still feels supportive enough.

Overall the bra is not the sturdiest I have tried but then again, not all bras are meant to be. Sometimes we just want the best comfort and only a subtle lift to our bustline and especially when I was working with kids, this bra was a holy grail status product for me. The one thing I have to say is that the cups run on the generous side a bit when worn without the boosters, as TR has clearly added some space to the bra for them. This suits me fine and I can’t see the bra gaping but it does effect the “pull” the bra gives to your bust.

Comfort: This bra is a winner for its comfortable materials, flexible wires and a lightweight feel. I would say it’s especially practical for those who fluctuate in size during their cycle or suffer from bloating like I do (go to hell, IBS..). The straps are fully adjustable, meaning the bra will suit more tall and petite girls as well – however, the straps are placed a tiny bit too widely for my liking, even though I haven’t had to pull them up too much during wear.

The panties were a bit of a disappointment – it is truly sad as for the most part, I have always enjoyed Tutti Rouge regular briefs and shorts! As I saw them first I was thrilled as they were so pretty and in size Medium, they should have definitely fitted me. And they kinda did, but they are just so non-stretchy that I can’t really wear them without discomfort, especially while sitting down. I don’t know what has happened with the panties in the recent TR collection – the elastics are not elastic enough and the mesh part is just way to rigid. I would say that if you are more flat-bottomed than I am, you could possibly wear these even just for bedroom, but for my booty, they were a no-no.

Even though the knickers were not a hit with my body, I really did enjoy the bra and think it’s worth the £38 price tag. If you want something cute and low-cut with stretchy materials, this bra is for you! The size range is pretty admirable too: the bra comes in 28-38 D-HH and the panties in XS-XXL.

Bespoke Corsetry: Review of Vollers Made-to-Measure Corset

There is nothing like getting a lingerie item made to your own specific measurements: it feels like the ultimate luxury, having something so close to your body fit like a dream. So you can imagine my delight when the legendary Vollers Corset Company contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a corset from their selection. Of course I did! Knowing I wouldn’t fit into the measurements of their regular overbust corsets, we immediately decided to have a corset made to my measurements specifically. I was over the moon! After a couple of weeks of making my corset and sending it to me in a lovely luxurious wrapping, I finally placed my paws on this beautiful garment. As corsets take time to test, I have owned this piece for a few months now but I hope I can be a bit more thorough with my review because of that.

The Design: I wished for something similar to the Eye Candy corset as it was a classic sweetheart neckline with a Jessica Rabbit-ish look to it! I had seen a couple of other bloggers wearing similar styles and had fallen head over heels in love with it. I also really wanted an overbust corset, as that was something quite impossible for me when buying corsets off-the-rack – so it was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. I would say that the Eye Candy style is more of a quarter-bust style as it does NOT cover even half of my bust. I know my bust is quite big to be contained in an overbust corset, but it is also a matter of breast shape; my bust has a lot of fullness on the top part of it (ie above the areola) which means there will be naturally more overflow with these sort of corset styles.

I had no idea what colour my corset would be, but I wished for something golden, as I thought is was a great colour for both spring and autumn and would fit perfectly under a little black or red dress during the Christmas party season. The Vollers team decided to make my wish come true and paired the gold with a classic black. The laces are black to be as modest as possible and the golden grommets are carefully hidden with an extra fabric trim at the front. The curve of the corset is quite impressive which is always a huge upside when it comes to corsets – however, if you want something extra curvy and decide to go for bespoke Vollers corset, I would advice you to give the design team a bit smaller waist measurement than you actually have. This will ensure you can tight-lace and even waist train in your corset and won’t have to change your corset size too soon.

The lower part of the corset is not my favourite style though – the rounded “hem” makes my belly look more rounded than it is and does not flatter my body type the best way. I would have probably needed something a bit more straight/horizontal line to fit my body – now the hem of the corset curves upwards at the sides which is not ideal on my body, as I would love some compression and definition especially on my upper hip/lower belly area.

The Fit: The corset I received features 16 steel bones, ten panels , a waist tape and five busk closures to close it at the front. As I knew better with this corset, it being my second, I knew that I had to close it at the front starting from the middle busk closures and then working my way up/down from there. This corset was a lot easier to close and open compared to the True Corset which I reviewed here – I think that might have had something to do with the Vollers corset being an inch or so bigger at the waist, which made it easier to loosen it up before trying to put it on. As this corset is made to my very own measurements, I could choose the size between regular corsets sizes 24 and 26, which made the waist size absolutely perfect for me. I only wear corsets for special occasions, so I won’t be closing the back anytime soon, but as this is the right size for me, I can still tighten the corset the way it won’t show any skin under the modesty panel.

My biggest gripe with this corset, as with the previous one from True Corset as well, is that  it is undoubtedly too short for me. I have an extremely long torso that would need a suuuuper longline-style corset, which the Vollers corset unfortunately is not. This is a preference thing though – some like their corsets short and sweet, whereas I like mine to go seamlessly across my whole upper body. I feel like the shortness of the corset is pushing my middle body fat towards my lower belly and thus creating more bulk there, which is not the most desirable affect, especially with wiggle-style dresses. Also, it gives me less boob coverage when being so short, as I can’t hike the corset up more and risking my lower body having even less coverage.

The first and foremost question we need to ask with this piece is however, does it support my boobs? Well, in short, it really does. If you scroll down to the last picture of this review, you can see me wearing the corset under my Collectif Dolores dress without a bra on. The corset gives me a very Marie Antoinette like shape – kind of like a shelf-boob – but there is no discomfort with the bust flopping around or moving painfully inside my dress. The cups are big enough to hold all the volume of my lower breasts and there are no unsightly bulges to make people guess I have crammed myself into a too-small OTR corset. It doesn’t flatten me out either but makes my waist and bust ratio look deliciously curvy.

These pics have been taken a few months apart – this means there may be some slight changes to my body and how the corset looks on it.

Comfort: This one is always a bit tricky for me when it comes to reviewing corsets – some people claim good corsets are never uncomfortable and you will be able to breathe pretty normally with one on. To be honest, this is not the case with me. Even with a bespoke corset, I have hard time wearing it for several hours as it constricts my breathing, movement and eating habits. Disclaimer: don’t eat a normal warm meal when wearing a corset! It will instantly make you feel sick and you will need to take your corset off, especially if you are a beginner. As someone who lost her corset virginity only a few months ago, I cannot say for sure if the comfiness aspect will improve over months of wear, but I am pretty sure me and corsets are not meant to be full-time lovers. I also think this is a lot due to my ribcage shape which is very protruding and thus fights the shape of the corset. However, bones are flexible and will get used to corseting over time.

The materials of my Vollers corset are definitely premium quality and feel good against a bare skin – I know you are supposed to wear a liner or a cami of some kind to prevent your corset from greasing and getting sweaty, but I don’t wear them for a full day ever, so I am not too concerned about that. With my Vollers corset, I can clearly see that the quality is overall supreme, and it is lovingly stitched to the very last detail to make its wearer feel extra special.

Overall, my experience with the Vollers bespoke service was excellent, even though I forgot to mention a few details that would have helped them to create an even better fitting garment for my body type per se. If you are looking to have something made just for you, make sure to tell them each detail that they would need to take into consideration when it comes to your corset. Bespoke corsets cost always a bit more than their OTR equivalents, so make sure that the makers have all the information they need – this will ensure that at the end, you will have a perfect luxury product for your special occasions.

If you are looking to invest in a reasonably priced, well-made made-to-measure or off-the-rack corset, I would be happy to recommend Vollers for both purposes and budgets. You can find their look book here and  get an idea what would suit your body the best way. To have a corset especially made for you, you can contact Vollers by email. However, they do offer most of their corsets in sizes 18″-38″ which is a very impressive size range on its own. Have you ever considered buying a bespoke corset? After this review, would you be tempted to? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Curvy Kate “Tease” Cami in 30H + GIVEAWAY

There are certain styles in the full-bust bra market that will always hold their place in my heart and one of them is the infamous Curvy Kate “Tease” ie the former Showgirl range style Tease Me. Tease Me in cherry/blush was my first extremely well-fitting bra and it made me feel fabulous as well – I had never felt so sexy as I felt in that set. All the ruffles and the delicious colour combo that was actually recently brought back by Curvy Kate, last season to be exact. With the Tease bra set, they also launched the Tease Cami which is lovely ruffly version of the classic romantic balconette style bra. Today I am teaming up with the folks of Curvy, an Australian D+ online retailer, who offered me to try the new Tease Cami in Berry/Black and have also promised to gift two of my lovely readers a set of their choice from the Curvy store selection. Here’s how I liked my old, renewed favourite!

Design: As always, the Tease design is absolutely beautiful and I love all the beautiful ruffles, embroidery and jewel-tone colour combos it comes in. The new cami version is cut open at the front in a way some Disney princesses have their skirts (hehe) and the edge of the hem is adorned with a flowy ruffle. I would perhaps prefer this style in a longer babydoll cut but I do like this one as well. Also the hem part could be a be a bit more voluminous to create more creases and thus be more covering. The colour combo of the new season Tease is quite dark for a summer season but it is created for “bedroom purposes”, so it fits the bill.

The style of the cups is a true padded balconette which is constructed of three pieces and two vertical seams. I have always liked this cup construction and it gives me the perfect Marie Antoinette sort of cleavage. The former Tease bras have been very open at the top making them perfect for FOT breasts but I can see a slight change in the pattern with this particular colourway – it’s a bit more closed at top, meaning it will suit more full-on-bottom shaped breasts now (with me, it seems to create a slight quadboob on my bigger breast).

Fit: I opted for size 30H with the Tease Cami as it is my regular Curvy Kate size – however, I do still have a ss14 Tease in my bradrobe which still fits me at 30GG. I have to report a few differences with these two products, so you can make the right choice with the Cami, if you are thinking of buying one! First of all, the band of the Cami is significantly smaller than the regular CK bands I have tried in the past. Even the Scantilly Peek-a-Boo which is a newer model from the CK sister range fits like all of my previous CK bras – so this is not something they have changed with all of their bras, I think it’s more of a one-off style that happens to run smaller ie more true-to-size in the band. Curvy Kate has been infamous for making quite stretchy bands so far, so all of you petite girls go and buy this beauty right now if you are a CK fan!

The cups are also quite a bit smaller than with most of my CK bras – which I own a plenty! Most of my Curvy Kate bras fit me perfectly in either 30GG or 30H, I would even go and say they are quite generous in cups these days. However, this time the cups proved to be quite small! I would even say they run a full cup size small, so definitely size up with these. If I had tried these in store, I would have loved to have tried a 30HH or a 32H, as I prefer my bands comfortable when lounging (as let’s be honest, this is not a bra for everyday wear at work). Also, as said above, the cups are quite a bit closed at top and the centre of cups is rather shallow, so people with less fullness on top and the centre might enjoy this style more than my boobs. The wires of the Tease are actually pretty decent on me and don’t reach far in my armpit like most of my non-padded CK bras.

Comfort: I believe I have said before here on 2COP that CK Tease has always been my go-to bra for comfort – its soft padding and stretchy band make it easy to wear even around house or being a bit more active than usual. As the Tease Cami provides a firmer bra band than usual, it’s not as comfortable as my Tease bra but still feels good on to wear for lounging purposes. I like this style more than the classic Ritzy babydoll as its wires sit on a better spot for me personally and thus they don’t poke me in the armpits.

What I really like about Curvy Kate is that they make their boudoir style pieces with the same comfort level as their regular everyday bras – who says you can’t be comfy when lounging around or getting frisky in the bedroom?! I refuse to compromise with my comfort level no matter the scenario, so I appreciate CK’s dedication to make all of their sets both beautiful and extremely comfortable.

If you would like to try the Curvy Kate Tease Cami (up to J-cup!) for yourself, the Curvy online store has it on sale for 72 AUD which is a great price. I also really appreciate Australian full-bust shops as they are working in an incredibly demanding field in their country – so show Curvy some love, will you! Curvy would also like to show their love to you and gift two lingerie sets for a raffle! Here comes the important rule: there is one raffle for international readers ie all of you and another for my Australian 2COP readers. 

Here’s a link to the international raffle: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b17/?

And here to the Australian one: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b3aac76b18/?

The raffle is open from now on to 15th of July 0:00 GMT and the prize is subject to availability. If you win, you can choose any two piece lingerie set you wish, excluding Primadonna and Scantilly sets. Please complete the tasks in the Rafflecopter widget to gain as many entries as you can! There will be two mandatory entries: commenting on this blog post by answering a question stated in the widget (which set would you choose from Curvy’s selection?) and also by subscribing to Two Cakes on a Plate. Other entries are optional but will increase your chance to win! The winners will be contacted by me soon after the raffle and if the winner(s) fail to reply to my email after a week’s time, another winner will be drawn. Good luck everyone – get entering 😉

Introducing Gorsenia Lingerie – Review of “Evita” in 65I

Have you ever heard about Gorsenia? Polish lingerie scene is a world of its own and even though I have been privileged enough to try some of the most well-fitting gorgeous designs from many Polish brands, there are still some I am sure I have not heard of and definitely haven’t tried personally (if you are working for a Polish brand I have not yet featured on 2COP, please feel free to email me and introduce yourself!). Gorsenia is one of the brands that have not yet received a ton of exposure in the lingerie blogosphere which is why I thought it would be important to feature them as soon as I got the chance.

Well, that chance occurred a small while back when I went to the Lumingerie storage to say hello to old friends. As per usual, I test-ran a few new styles and also, wanted to try some of the strappy styles that I knew Gorsenia was offering for us full-busted gals. I had tried a few of their half-cup balconettes before and really liked the styles and construction, which is why it was no surprise I ended up falling in love with their non-padded bras as well. Finally Mervi dug out an older Gorsenia style for me to try and as they only had a few left-over sizes left, she gifted me the Evita set without even asking for a review. I was super happy but still thought to myself: well, I might as well report something about the fit, as there are not that many Gorsenia reviews out there. Here’s how I liked the sultry Marlies Dekkers-inspired Evita-set.

The Design: The Evita set and especially the bra takes a lot of inspiration from the original Marlies Dekkers two-strap style that was quite popular a few years ago. When Dekkers claimed bankruptcy (and has recently started to heal and rise again) other brands were swift to take on the challenge of creating something similar to fill the gap in the market. The trend was also highly influenced by the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon which raged in the market for a couple of years and has since left a permanent mark in the strappy bondage-style lingerie styles, that are still very popular. I am still personally a big fan of the strappy styling and think that its a whimsical take on the lingerie-as-outerwear trend that makes a simple outfit instantly less boring.

The two straps above the cups are paired with simple mesh and satin fabrics which make the bra perfect for everyday-wear. the place where the strap meets the cup and also the centre gore are adorned with cute little embellishments which give the bra a more sophisticated look to it. The shape of the bra is very rounded and very similar to Cleo non-padded balconette bras which are infamous for their orb-like look. The bottom half of the cups is lined with a light satin-y fabric but the upper panel remains totally sheer to keep the bra sexy and sultry.

Can you notice that Mr. 2COP takes my pics these days? Thus the cheesy smile ❤ 

The Fit: Well now onto the most interesting part! First of all, Gorsenia is one of those brands who are unfortunately quite inconsistent with their sizing and depending on the style, I can be anything from 65-70 I-K with them. This is why I would try to search for a specific bra review online to find out what the sizing is like with each individual style. The bands run usually similar to eg Curvy Kate so a little on the looser side, especially for a Polish brand. I usually take a 70-band with almost every single Polish brand except for Samanta, but Gorsenia bands are quite stretchy, meaning you should go down a band size from your usual Polish band size. Their bands start usually at 65 which is a bit of a bummer for the more petite girls out there. The 65 ie 30 band fits me really well though and I love how snug and comfy it is at the same time, even though it only features two hooks and eyes.

The bra cups on the other hand run quite large with Evita. So large indeed, that I went down two whole cup sizes and there was no bulging whatsoever. This bra is size 65I which translates roughly to UK 30G but definitely feels more like a Curvy Kate 30H or perhaps a 32GG with another British brand. However, the Gorsenia padded half-cup balconettes do NOT run this big, so I would probably stick with your regular size with them or perhaps size down just one cup size. The cups are rather average when it comes to depth and width which is why I would again recommend to try this bra if you are a fan of Cleo. The fit is especially good for us full-on-top ladies as the bra has quite a bit of room in the upper cup section and also, the straps lay nicely if you have more breast tissue for them to sit on.

Comfort: Despite of the inconsistent sizing, I think Gorsenia is worth trying for the comfort factor only and of course, the stunning styling. The materials are very lightweight, maybe not the best quality, but still nice on even a more sensitive skin. For the price (39 € for the bra and 19€ for the panties) it is a great everyday set which goes under regular t-shirts and jeans like a dream and also looks gorgeous. I have really no complaints when it comes to the comfort aspect of this set: the wiring is spot-on, the straps placed well and they are also fully-adjustable.

The bottoms are high-waisted but not as much as I would like – on the other hand, Mervi told me that on her, they are super high because she has shorter torso than me. So each to their own and not everything fits the same way, even when it’s something as simple as panties. The Gorsenia bottoms run quite small and I am wearing a Medium with these – so these are pretty much in line with every other Polish brand! I would have loved to have seen a bit of strappy styling on the bottoms as well but I am sure some gals prefer them like this: pretty but yet simple enough to not show through tighter jeans or pencil skirts.

If you are interested in Gorsenia, do check out the Lumingerie online store for some of their most gorgeous styles. They do have some Evita sets left as well, so take a look if they still carry your size (the sizes are 65-90 D-L)! Delivery is FREE to all EU-countries! Have you ever tried Gorsenia bras? If so, how have you found their fit? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Amour” in 30DD

It seems Jo’s taking over my blog, haha! Can’t blame her though – it’s not always easiest to find a vast array of interesting lingerie brands that make sizes up to H-cup. I am also super grateful for her help as I could not probably do this blogging thing as well if it wasn’t for her. So thank you darling for being the best friend and guest blogger ❤ Today we are bringing you the Gossard “Amour” range which launched near Valentine’s Day – unfortunately 2COP’s review pile was so high at the time that we couldn’t write about it before today. Let’s get on with the review then! *This set was generously  gifted by Gossard for review purposes. All opinions are our own!*

The Design: Amour is part of the Gossard VIP range which is a collection with more detailing, European style embroidery and boudoir-inspired co-ordinates such as waspies and suspenders. The Amour set consists of a non-padded balconette bra, a low-cut brazilian brief and a lush suspender belt, all featuring the gorgeous colour combination of orange-y tomato red and bright fuchsia. The styling of the bra is very French-chic and the design is finished with beautiful key-hole detail on the centre gore.

The shape of the bra is a very classic unlined balconette with one vertical and one horizontal seam – very similar to some of the non-padded Gossard bras I have reviewed before. I wish these sorts of unpadded styles were more popular in the Gossard design team as the fit is so good both with the smaller and the bigger cup sizes! The balconette bra gives Jo a subtle point to the bust line which creates an almost vintage-like look. The Amour bra also seems to minimize Jo’s bust a bit, which is sometimes an upside when wearing tighter tops that may not mesh well with a push-up bra or anything padded for that matter.

The Fit: As always, we went for the size 30DD and size Xsmall bottoms with the Amour set. Again, Gossard seems to be very consistent with their sizing – the set fitted almost perfectly, with just some little bulging on Jo’s bigger boob. I think Jo might actually be right between Gossard’s 30DD and 30E at the moment so this was expected. The shape of the bra is very appropriate for full-on-bottom breasts – the mesh and the embroidery of the bra are quite rigid so if you are more full-on-top, I would suggest sizing up with this style. The underwires of the Amour bra are quite narrow compared to some other Gossard styles and hit Jo’s breast root at the right spot. The cups are not deep nor shallow but something right in the middle which is typical Gossard.

The band of the Amour bra is quite flimsy with just one row of hooks and eyes but that is understandable taking into account the size range and the purpose this set is designed for – it is meant to look delicate and boudoir-appropriate resulting in the choice of narrower bra band and straps. Jo wears the bra in the second set of the hooks to make the bra more secure and better-fitting for her tiny 26″ frame.

Comfort: Gossard sets are usually pretty spot-on when it comes to comfort but with this particular one Jo did have some issues, especially with the narrow band. The back band is so flimsy it tends to twist a bit and the hook moves against the skin in the way it starts to itch after a while. Also, the band features the signature Gossard gateway back which requires a piece of extra boning at the edge of the bra band, where the gateway straps start. This piece of boning is not the best option for sensitive skin types and can dig in and rub at times, which is less than ideal. Otherwise the materials are quite comfortable, the lace is soft enough to not itch and straps are placed pretty well even for Jo’s narrow frame.

The co-ordinates are made of the same sturdy powermesh as the bra band and the shape of the brazilian brief is improved version of the Gypsy thong that scrunched a bit when wearing. These bottoms are designed a bit better with some extra seams at the front to create a better shape that moves effortlessly with the body – they also rise higher above the thigh. The suspender belt is as sturdy as other Gossard ones we’ve tried – the garters themselves are made of metal which helps them to hold on to stockings efficiently. Both of the co-ordinates ran true-to-size, which is quite standard with Gossard.

If you would like to give the Amour a try, you can find in the Gossard online store for £39 for the bra (30-38 A-E), £20 for the Brazilian brief (XS-XL) and £39 for the suspender belt (XS-XL). Keep in mind that this part of the Gossard VIP range which reflects in prices – if you are interested in Gossard as a brand and are on a budget, you can still most likely afford some pieces from their regular collection. How do you like the Amour set? Would it be something worth making in G-cups? Let me know in the comments! xx

Sunday with Samanta: Zorza A330 in 65E

Technically, it will be Monday in 5 minutes or so but as it will be Sunday for a few more hours in States, I can still write my Sunday with Samanta post, right? 😉 It has been a long Easter Sunday and I just couldn’t bring myself to blog before midnight – so typical of me! However, today we are bringing you the Zorza in A33o by Samanta lingerie. For new readers, Samanta is a Polish brand that creates beautiful lingerie for many different sizes, shapes and budgets. Today, we see a style targeted for smaller/ average-sized breasts, that is the A330. *This set was generously gifted by Samanta. All opinions are our own.*

The Design: The A330 is a Samanta model that goes up to EU G-cup in the 65-band – thus it’s made for smaller and more average sized breasts to give them more volume and cleavage. The A330 was especially designed for softer breasts but is definitely suitable for firmer ones as well, which Jo absolutely proved while testing the bra. The bra features detachable push-up pads but even without them, it gives a subtle hint of sexy cleavage. The shape of the bra is very rounded and forward-projecting, just like with most Samanta bras I have encountered so far.

The Zorza is a style part of Samanta’s Pret-a-Porter collection which is a mid-priced core collection alongside of “Young” and “Glamour”. The collection offers beautiful styles with subtle yet luxurious detailing and quality materials – with a lower price point than the Glamour range and yet more “grown-up” sophisticated designs than the Young range. The Zorza style is definitely something you would wear for a Friday night out – it’s sophisticated, yet steaming hot and features some feminine embroidery to seal the deal. The embroidery on the cup edge resembles a lot of sunflowers which go perfectly with the beautiful roses and bows that adorn the set.

The Fit: Jo received the Zorza in the same size as the Anvers she reviewed last time, that is 65E (UK 30DD). She reported that the size was quite similar to the Anvers A475 bra but to be a bra nerd, I must say the cups seem a tiny bit smaller (or perhaps shallower?) and the band is a bit stretchier, not necessarily smaller than with Anvers. I would say that if you want to wear this bra with the push-up pads in the bra, do size up a cup size. The band stretches out a bit during a whole day of wear and thus Jo usually tightens it up a bit at the end of the day by hooking the bra to a tighter set of hooks. However, we need to keep in mind that Jo’s underbust measurement is around 26″ so the 65 band would be too big for her in the first place anyway.

Again, the length and height of the underwires is pretty much perfect for Jo but this time the cups seem a bit shallower than with other Samanta bras. This is quite usual for push-up bras so if you are fan of the shape, do give this beauty a try. The centre gore of the bra is very low and narrow so if you have smaller close-set breasts or find high centre gores painful, this style would be prefect for you.

Comfort: When comparing to Anvers, the A330 Zorza bra is definitely a lot skimpier and thus perhaps not as supportive and everyday-appropriate. Don’t get me wrong – it’s still one of the best push-up bras out there, but as it is targeted for smaller breasts, it is not meant to do any “heavy lifting”. The straps of the bra are a bit thinner and the whole ensemble is quite delicate – thus it is most appropriate for date-nights to look and feel sexy. However, the straps are fully-adjustable and the band features two hooks and eyes, so you can definitely wear it at work as well as it is not made out of strings only! The materials of the set are a bit scratchier compared to Anvers but still feel nice against skin and don’t itch even after a long day of wear.

Jo also received the M300 suspender thong in size Small and even though the tag says “thong” the style is definitely more of a Brazilian brief. This makes sense though – apparently actual thongs are not super popular anymore in Poland which is why Samanta offers their customers a more popular and fashionable choice, that is the Brazilian. The rise of M300 is a bit weird on Jo to be honest – not high or low enough to look the most flattering on her, but I do know some women would find this particular rise absolutely perfect. In my opinion though, these would need to be a bit lower to maintain the sexy look of them and also to not bunch up on Jo’s body, like they do now. However, the suspenders hold stockings really well and are a nice touch, if you want something a bit more special. They are also detachable which makes the set more versatile for everyday wear.

All in all, the Samanta “Zorza” is a lovely style up to EU G-cup (UK F-cup) which would be a perfect pairing with a festive little black dress or a v-neck top. If you are interested to order the Zorza for yourself (or why not for your partner?) take a look at the Samanta online store. The A330 bra sets you back at 59,70€ and comes in 65-85 A-G and the suspender brief is priced at 39,70 and comes in size S-XL. How do you like the Zorza? Have you tried Samanta bras yet? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Curvy Kate “Cabaret” in 30H

After all these years, Curvy Kate still manages to be one of my favourite DD+ brands of all time. I am now leaning towards their more sultry styles, meaning the Scantilly collection, but I do love even their “everyday” sets for amazing comfort and cute styles. When team CK asked if I wanted to try something from their new SS16 collection, I was over the moon as I haven’t reviewed much from their core collection (ie non-Scantilly range) in a looooong while. I was offered the amazing Cabaret set, which is definitely one of my faves from their ss16 offering. Here’s how I liked the set!

The Design: I love how Curvy Kate is brave enough to do completely sheer styles even up to J-cup – not exactly what you can say of so many mainstream full-bust brands such as Freya! There is nothing more disappointing than to see a gorgeous see-through bra and then find out that all the sizes above G-cup are made with double-lining, which absolutely ruins the design. I would say CK is actually one of the first UK brands to toy with this design feature and they are absolutely rocking it! The style of Cabaret is otherwise quite simple and the black mesh is paired with scallop-y embroidery and a bright fuchsia-shade accents.

The shape of the bra is very similar to the Daisy Chain non-padded plunge I tried a couple of years back and liked a lot. Back then, I was super surprised to see CK doing such an uplifted shape but today I have come to expect it and was not disappointed – long gone are the days when Curvy Kate bras looked a bit downwards-pointing and frankly sad. To be completely honest, I think the shape of the bra would be better suited for someone with lower fullness but I think it works fairly well on my full-on-top boobs as well.

The Fit: I opted for sizes 30H and UK 10 with this set as they were the most recent sizes that have fitted me with Curvy Kate specifically. As I have stated in my previous blog posts, I am now right between two bands sizes, that is 30 and 32, but as CK bands tend to be a bit on the stretchier side, I can easily fit into the 30 band with them. The band is still snug so it’s definitely not a full band size big but is just quite stretchy and thus suits us girls who want more comfort when it comes to our bra bands. The band features three hooks and eyes so that makes it extra supportive and sit nicely on the torso without creating extra bulges that too-narrow bra bands can sometimes cause.

The cups fit very much true-to-size which is something I am used to with Curvy Kate bras. This is what makes the brand a solid choice for young women on a budget – CK prices are very affordable and it’s hard to go wrong with their sizing when you “find the one”. This is at least my experience with them! The shape and width of the cups is not the best for me personally as they are much too wide and a bit east-west for my liking but the cup depth is reasonably good, especially when comparing to the CK bras from a few years back. So if your breasts are both wide and full, Curvy Kate could be an excellent option for you!

Comfort: As always, the Cabaret is definitely a very comfortable set – nothing less than I expect from Curvy Kate! Both the straps and the bra band are nice and wide to keep the weight of my bust well-distributed and the wires are flexible enough to move comfortably with my my moving body. Even though the underwires are definitely too wide for my breast root, they do not poke me in the armpit uncomfortably. The bra straps are a bit too widely-placed for me personally but are sturdy enough to stay on my shoulders for most of the time – they are also fully-adjustable which is always a huge upside when it comes to making the bra suitable for women of many different heights!

The materials are a bit more stiff than with some of my other CK sets, meaning I would suggest sizing up with the bottoms if you are between sizes. I thought a 10 would be a good size for me as it is the one I wear with eg Carmen but apparently the mesh with this set is rigid enough to make me want to size up to 12. I can wear the 10 easily but I think a 12 would have been a more flattering look on me. As the size is a bit too small for me, I cannot really judge the co-ordinates (expect that they look gorgeous!) but usually CK underwear is some of the best out there and I have no doubts that these would feel amazing if they were just a smidge looser on me.

All in all I really love how sexy and yet still so practical the Cabaret set manages to be – not to mention its amazing size range of  28-38 D-J and the price point around £30 for the bra. If you would like to try it for yourself, Brastop has a decent selection of sizes left and a top price for the set. How do you like Cabaret? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Entice” in 32G

The spring is upon us and so are the amazing spring collections that I have been lusting over for over half a year now. It was in August 2015 when I first laid my eyes on the Gossard ss16 collection and again, couldn’t wait to lay my paws on all the pretties. A couple of months ago Gossard dropped its first spring styles with a few gorgeous styles up to G-cup, including the lovely photo-print floral number, Entice which I am reviewing today. *This set was generously gifted by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: With a first look, the Gossard “Entice” looks actually a bit like a non-padded bra – its upper mesh part with a beige underlay tricks us to think it’s completely see-through on the upper part of the cup. However, the cups are fully padded and moulded, so this is only an illusion. Personally, I have come to prefer unpadded cups with my current bra size of 30H as my boobs are quite literally BIG. This is something I wish Gossard would take more into account with their designs: there is a time and place for super enhanced look but also for practical non-padded bras.

For a moulded plunge bra it is a gorgeous one though – I love the print and the styling with the black upper half of the bra and if you like the added boost of the padding, this might just be your go-to-bra. The shape is quite rounded and uplifted and the finish is rather smooth under most of my clothes.

The Fit: I went for my regular Gossard size with the bra which is 32G – size-wise Gossard seems to pretty damn consistent which is what I really love about the brand. The only exception so far has been the Gypsy which runs both large in the cup and the band. Even though the size is right for me again with the Entice, this time I unfortunately bumped into some fit-incompatibilities; it seems my upper fullness is not really coping well with this bra and there is some slight bulging with my bigger boob. I would say the Entice is a better option for someone with more lower fullness and also someone who needs wider shallower cups than me. As you can see, there is a bit of empty space at the bottom of the cup which means there is not enough depth for my breasts to sit nicely in the cups.

I think there has been a slight shift in Gossard’s fit when it comes to padded plunge bras as I have noticed that their bras have become more wide and shallow when it comes to cups – I am not sure if it’s just my body that has changed but I certainly encounter more fit issues with Gossard these days. I LOVE their designs to death but I would be really grateful if they could make some more non-padded options up to G-cup. So hint hint, team Gossard 😉

Comfort: As always, I do like how comfortable this set is – the materials are soft and sleek and the mesh featured in the co-ordinates is so thin yet high quality, I feel like I am not wearing anything at all. It’s a bit funny since the bra is so heavy-duty and super padded whereas the panties are like made of fairy dust. I went for size Small with the co-ordinates and it was the right choice. I do feel the Entice panties run a bit more generous than Gossard panties in general but I think it’s partly due to the stretchy mesh at the back of the bottoms. The suspender belt felt true-to-size though so keep that in mind! To me, the suspender belt could have been a bit deeper/wider, as I have such a long torso. However, if you are a more petite gal, I think this would work wonderfully!

When it comes to the bra, the materials are equally lovely as with the co-ordinates and the bra feels sturdy in regular use. The bra band only features two hooks and eyes but I feel the power mesh the band is made of is so strong it does feel very secure even while being a bit narrow for my taste. The bra straps are made with a satin-y finish which is not the best choice for my shoulders as most bra straps fall off my shoulders now and then anyway. The straps are a bit wider though than with most Gossard bras which is a plus if you don’t like your bra straps to feel too wishy-washy.

Even though me and Entice weren’t a match made in heaven fit-wise, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad bra – it just didn’t mesh well with my personal breast shape and preferences. For example, it’s a much better fit for Wen from Comic Girls Need Bras (check out her review!). Overall, it’s a gorgeous style and as most Gossard sets, I do love to wear it on special occasions. Also, you are a burlesque performer, this is a brand and set to try if you are looking for some D+ stage wear! If you are interested to try the Entice, you can find it at the Gossard online store. The bra (30-38 A-G) will set you back at £34 whereas the briefs (XS-XL) cost £14 and the suspender belt £24. That’s pretty damn affordable for such a stunner!