My Retro Closet Experience: Made-to-Order Retro Nighties

I rarely buy lingerie anymore (for obvious reasons, I have no more room in our two-room flat!) but when I do, it’s those pieces that I have considered long and hard. I am actually pretty considerate when it comes to buying pretties: I usually wonder and weigh on my purchases for months and really think hard if I want and need the item in question. I don’t have tons of spare coins and I like good quality clothing that is ethically made, so I save my pennies to buy something absolutely gorgeous or adorable.

So, I decided to make my first lingerie purchase in probably years and invested in a My Retro Closet “Jayne” nightie in red – I just couldn’t resist the ruffles, the adorable shoulder-ties and the way it spoke Xmas to me. Regardless of it being a Christmas season treat to myself, I decided to review it here now as I truly think this piece of heaven deserves a special mention here on my blog.

I have admired My Retro Closet’s pieces for a while and they struck me as something we could have seen on the actresses of Mad Men or in the sleepover scene in Grease – perfect 50’s-60’s style boudoir glamour that look both effortless and sexy. I was first wary about the fit and the look this nightie would give me – I wasn’t sure if it was going to sit nicely on my larger-than-average bust and I was afraid of looking frumpy and shapeless in it. There were also not specific sizes when it came to the Jayne babydoll, which is not usually good for busty ladies like myself. However, the website said it would fit UK sizes 8-16, so I decided to give it a try.

My fears were not in the right at all, as the cut is very generous and would probably fit a plethora of body shapes and sizes. The tie-shoulders help with adjusting the neckline to a height that suits my body (and my mood!) the best. I find the shape rather flattering in its unique way – it’s rather innocent while being so flowy but also a bit naughty as it is a see-through fabric. The see-through aspect of it is not the most obvious which is something I like – I want just a hint of my skin showing through.

My Retro Closet’s own house brand is usually made-to-order, with the exception of some special sale events when the owner (a lovely lady, if I may say so!) sews a few of the most popular styles ready-to-ship. I ordered my Jayne babydoll during a 20% flash sale but yet it was made-to-order – however, I told the owner that I needed the item by a certain date for a special occasion and she made sure to sew and ship it in time, so it arrived in Finland several days before the D-day. I was ecstatic and can only say good things about the customer service! She is also a doll on social media and always replying to her customers questions on there as well.

When the parcel arrived in just a few days after shipping, I was happy to discover a lovely neatly wrapped babydoll in it – and it was even more gorgeous than I had hoped it to be! The quality was impeccable and you could see it was made with love. Some of the best lingerie money I have seriously ever spent (and I have spent quite some…)! The colour was a perfect true red which suits perfectly Christmas, Valentine’s Day and pretty much any day you want to feel sassy and retro.

I am very much of home-type of person – I do like my nights out and going to gym and strolling in the city centre etc, but my bed is literally the best place I know. Preferable with my loved one (don’t you think dirty there!). Even though I got the Jayne nightie for a special occasion, I do find it rather practical as well. Sure, I would never give up my Bambi onesie I got from Disneyland – after all I got proposed in it! – but I also sometimes like to feel a bit feminine without giving up my comfort either. This is where the Jayne comes in – it makes me feel so sexy yet not exposed nor uncomfortable at all.

Depending on the time you order, the made-to-order items at My Retro Closet take about 2-6 weeks to sew and ship. So if you have a day you need them on, please make sure to order in time and leave the owner a note! The Jayne range also features a bralette and panty set I very much have my eyes on – I am just hesitant to make a purchase because of my bust size. However, I have ordered some other items from them and they have always been beautiful and great quality. This store and it’s lovely owner get a huge thumbs up from me! If you are interested in your very own Jayne, it costs £75. However, they do have regular sales for a few % off if you are on a budget! And even on regular price, I can tell the products are totally worth it 😉

Lingerie Review: Gossard Harmony in 32G + the Teddy

Hi everyone! Sorry about being less active this month here on the blog – I gotta confess that I haven’t been feeling my best and the job hunting + uni work has been fierce. I am kinda depressed that I still haven’t been able to find a summer job and it’s nearly May – meaning I have no idea how I’m going to pay my June’s rent. I have been in so many interviews but the problem seems to be that I am over-educated for the jobs I’m applying for, and then again, have no diploma to take on a job that would require a higher degree of education (it’s my fourth year in uni and I still have two more to go…). On the positive note, my beach vacation is drawing closer and closer which is a lovely thought in the midst of extreme anxiety.

However we are not here to talk about my anxiety today! I have a lovely new set of bra, panties and a teddy to show you from Gossard and I am guessing you can’t wait to read another review! So here we go… *This set was gifted to me by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: Gossard “Harmony” is one their new spring launches that oozes the fresh air of spring with a delicate almost toilé-like print. The colours are very subtle yet quite interesting – you can’t really see all the beautiful shades of grey, blue and purple from the pictures, but trust me, the colours are far more pretty in flesh! I also find the colour combo very interesting as it is not something we usually see from Gossard this time of the year. I really like the way they are mixing it up a bit and trying out some unusual lighter spring colours for this SS16 season. The styling is otherwise very simple and there is only some slight folding and stitching on the cup edges.

The shape of the Harmony plunge bra is very similar to other Gossard plunge styles this spring meaning there is quite a bit of bra to it (if you know what I mean?) and shape is quite uplifted and round, yet natural. To me, it feels again like a bit too much fabric, but what can I say, I do wear one of the largest sizes they offer. Compared to eg the Desire bra I tried a few months ago, this one feels a bit lighter though in construction can be worn without adding too much bulk under regular clothing.

The Fit: I went with my regular Gossard size 32G and size Small bottoms and wasn’t disappointed this time either. The size is definitely right for me, but to be honest the fit of the Gossard plunges is not the best for me anymore. I am not sure if it’s my shape that has changed but I do still have some older Gossard bras in my bradrobe and they fit me quite nicely, which brings me to the conclusion that there must have been some changes to the patterns as well. I think the new patterns would perhaps be better on someone with less fullness at the centre and also at the top, as I feel like the bra is cutting a bit into my upper breast tissue even though being the right size for me. As you can see, there is also slight gaping where the strap meets the cup which indicates that the bra is just the wrong shape for my boobs. Pity, but will be a great fit for someone with perhaps more fullness towards the armpit area and the lower half of their breasts.

It’s a bit hard to see where the wire goes in the pics with the busy print and all, but I assure you that wire-wise this bra is a much better fit for me than Desire. The wires hit me at the right spot and the cups are overall quite a nice depth for my boobs. There is only tiny bit of space left on the bottom part of the left cup (note that my left boobs is fuller meaning it requires more depth) meaning it is not quite deep enough but definitely not as shallow to deem it a bad fit. The band is the right size for me though I have come to the conclusion that Gossard must me making their bands a bit bigger nowadays, meaning it does not run a full band size small anymore. I would say this one is right between 30 and 32 bands.

Comfort: Great materials, simplistic styling and fully adjustable bra straps makes this set a winner for many gals out there looking for the perfect spring-appropriate everyday set. The material choices are very sleek and soft to the skin, meaning this is a set that can be worn for several hours without any discomfort. The straps are again placed a bit too far-apart for my body and liking, but for someone with a bit broader shoulders, it wouldn’t be an issue.However, the straps are also made of simple elastics that are sturdy enough to hold well no matter what.

The bottoms that come with the set are one of the most comfy I have tried this spring and thus they are on regular use even when I’m not wearing the matching bra. I like how “basic” they are – just regular short-style bottoms that go well under almost anything. The size is perfect for me with these, so I would say they run true-to-size compared to other Gossard knickers.

The Teddy: I received the Harmony teddy to go along with my lingerie set but unfortunately, with my curvy hourglass figure it was not the best match. I received the UK size 12 to make sure it fitted me in a relaxed way but again, my boobs, butt and long torso were a bit too much for it – it wasn’t too small but the waist hit me at an awkward spot. I would say the loungewear runs a bit smaller than eg their bottom sizes so do size up for a more comfortable fit. However, the biggest problem with me + the teddy seemed to be my super long torso, which made it too short for me to wear without the bottom part riding up my crack (hehe). With heavy heart, I gifted the teddy to my bestie Jo and she was happy to give it a test run. Turned out, it was quite lovely for her body shape regardless of the fact that she would have probably been better off with a size 10.

The thing with the teddy is that you have to loosen up the straps quite a lot to get a more comfy fit with it – at first, it was too short for Jo as well! When we noticed the straps needed to be loosened a lot, it fitted so much better and now it’s totally wearable. Take into account though that Jo’s torso is much shorter than mine and she is also a couple of cm’s shorter than me (I’m 5’6). After getting the fit right, Jo has been super happy with the teddy and has been wearing it on a regular basis as it is such a comfortable piece to lounge around in. The materials are the same as with the lingerie set; super soft satin that is light to wear even in the hot summer months.

If you are interested in getting a second opinion on the set, here’s a review of it on Comics Girls Need Bras! The set and the teddy is sold on Gossard online store for £34 for the bra (30-38 A-G), £16 for the shorts (XS-XL) and £39 for the teddy (UK 8-16). How do you like the Harmony set? Are you gravitating towards lighter colours now that it’s spring? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Tackling the Cold Nights With Charnos – The Cocoon Thermal-Wear Review

As I mentioned in my yesterday’s post, the weather is getting pretty damn cold where I live and to be honest, our heating system literally sucks. The heat is monitored by some random person who controls the heating of the whole building. So either we are all freezing or melting here and at the moment, it’s the first-mentioned. Luckily the lovely people at Charnos (a sister label to Lepel) offered to send me some of their awesome thermal-wear for me to test out and I have been enjoying these garments for a few weeks now! I have honestly worn them everyday when at home and slept in them every single night as the nights get really cold here. Here’s how I liked the Cocoon thermal leggings, camisole and the long-sleeved top…

Y’all, these are bloody amazing! Cocoon range offers the ultimate comfort with a mixture of modal, silk and elastane. The range is available in three basic colours black, white and the mink. I think the set would look cute in a fashion colourway too – think pale pink or mint green. I went for the Mink as it reminds me of my mom – this is definitely a colour combo she would love for herself.

I went for a size Small as that is my usual size and I find the set to run true-to-size. They come in a size range of S, M and L but stretch a lot if needed. I think the Small would be a good choice for someone who usually wears a UK size 8-12. As I wear size 10 most of the time, I would say the set fits me spot-on!

 
I am about 5’6 meaning I am about the average height at least compared to other Finns. The leggings and the sleeved top are just the right length for me and this way look and feel fantastic on.  I also like the materials a lot – they feel super silky on and are not too warm even though are meant to be thermal-wear. During my days at home studying on my computer I usually wear the long-sleeved top as it keeps me warm in our cold flat but when I go to sleep I do fine with the cami as I can’t sleep without a thick blanket anyway. I am also pretty sure the Cocoon range would make a could underwear staple as well, if you feel like you need a good pair of longjohns or a cami under your regular clothing.

Besides being comfy and well-fitting (even on my rather curvy figure) the Cocoon set looks rather cute too. Even though the set comes in basic colours, Charnos has done well with trimming the sleeves and and necklines with lovely contrasting lace and little cute bows. The Mink colourway is matched with a pale pink lace which makes it look even more romantic and cutesy.

Even though Charnos is best known for their grown-up affordable lingerie I would highly recommend taking a look at their loungewear as well. I am truly impressed with Cocoon range and it’s actually quite affordable with the prices ranging from £25 to £35. If you want to get a set of your own or just a piece of it, I would recommend Charnos’ own online store or Figleaves which also has a US site.

Is it yet cold where you live? What kind of sleepwear do you like and wear? Let me know in the comments, love! xx