Lingerie Review: Panache “Fontaine” from My Curves and Me

When I plan reviews with brands for my blog, I usually get to pick something I personally like from their selection, meaning I mostly go for something rather extravagant and pretty. Nothing too practical that is! You may not believe me but I actually don’t own that many everyday-practical bras that actually suit my purposes and body type. What I really need though is non-padded plunge bras, in every single colour and style. When My Curves and Me – a discount site for Panache and Panache sub-labels’ past-season lingerie – asked me if I would like to try something from their online store, I was happy to oblige and decided to get something I would actually be wearing a lot. This time I would steer clear from the super padded balconette bras. I decided to opt for the SS15 Panache “Fontaine” which is a modern version of the old Tango plunge shape. Let’s see how I liked this feisty little number!

I just noticed the other bra strap is twisted in these pics! Please, forgive me and try to ignore it 😀

Design: The reason I chose the Fontaine in Coral, was that I wear a lot of plunging necklines and prefer not to show my bra gore around, if possible. Also, most of my dresses are already a bit tight across my chest, which makes unpadded bras much easier and more comfortable to wear on a regular basis. I also like the light-weight feeling of unpadded bras and like the way a seamed bra makes my boobs look – uplifted and perky.

The Panache “Fontaine” is made with a three-part cup construction like many non-padded balconette bras – however, its gore is a lot lower than with a balconette and the seam placement is designed in such a way, that the uplift of this bra is perhaps not the best Panache has to offer. It is a great bra when you are looking for a rather natural (ie a bit pointy) and subtle shape and don’t want your boobs right up to your chin. The cups are double lined with the stiff and supportive cup material and keep your breasts pretty much in place, even when being active (not something you can say for all unlined bras!).

The Fit: To be totally honest, I haven’t worn or bought a Panache bra in quite a long time. The last time I wore one was about year and a half ago and it was the infamous Marcie in 30G. Nothing that fits me anymore so I sold my darling yellow friend to a fellow big-boobed lady. This time, I was pretty sure my Panache size would be 30H but I was still a bit hesitant as I had no experience with Panache plunge bras at all. As I read Becky’s review over at Becky’s Boudoir, I knew 30H would probably work so I decided to go for my gut instinct.

I was so glad I did since this is definitely the right size for me, at least with this particular bra! The band is a very snug one for 30 but stretches out to a comfy length after a couple of wears. I originally thought the whole ensemble felt very stiff to touch but when I have it on, it is quite comfortable! The cups are a right size for me as well, so I would say this bra runs pretty true to size despite the snug bra band. The underwires of Fontaine are quite a bit too wide for me as you can see in the pictures but luckily I have not had any chafing regardless. The cup depth is pretty average so suits me just perfectly! The shape of the bra is perhaps not the best for me as I am quite full all over but someone with more full-on-bottom boobs may find this better for her shape.

Comfort: Despite of being made from a rather stiff material, Fontaine turns out to be a very comfortable set after all. What gets special mention with this set are definitely the straps – they are fully-adjustable, just the right width and placed more inwards so they won’t fall off my shoulders all the time. I also like the way they are slightly padded for extra comfort and stability. Even though the underwires are not the best width for me, they are not too tall so no uncomfortable pinching in my armpits nor any chafing from the bra cup edge.

To complete the set, I got a couple of pairs of size 12 Fontaine briefs with the bra. I decided to go for size 12 instead of my usual UK 10 after reading Becky’s review – the panties do come up a bit on the smaller side and are not massively stretchy. However, I would not call them too rigid either even though that was my first impression when looking at the knickers. The cut is quite low so if you prefer higher waistlines, these might not be your cup of cocoa. The styling is very cute though and I am especially in love with the the big bows that adorn both the centre gore of the bra and the top edge of the briefs. Absolutely adorable!

Unfortunately, the coral Fontaine is currently sold out on My Curves and Me, but if you are interested in seeing what other goodies they might have from past Panache collections, take a look here. You are sure to grab a bargain! The Fontaine is also available in a new Rose colour, that was recently reviewed on the Sweet Nothings blog.

Lingerie Review: Kris Line “Manuela” in 65H

Over the time, the two Kris Line reviews and my introduction post to the brand have been some of the most popular posts I have ever written. It is quite clear why, too – Kris Line is one of those Polish brands that are widely accessible through the likes of Brastop and Zulily with very reasonable pricing, which makes it a good first choice for testing Polish lingerie. For me, Kris Line has always held a special place in my heart – their wires are not narrow enough to poke me in my breast tissue and the designs are breathtakingly beautiful. Today, I am reviewing something that will be a continuity range for Kris Line starting from last summer and continuing at least to the next summer season. Let me introduce you to the beautiful Manuela! *This set was kindly gifted to me by Kris Line. All opinions are my own.*

Design: I chose the non-padded balconette Manuela but in true Kris Line style, this design comes in several bra and bottom options. I also received the complementing briefs to match my bra. Why I decided to opt for the non-padded bra with this style was because of the realization of the fact that this is the most popular bra style in my bradrobe and thus, it is the most practical everyday style for me. The bra cups are constructed of three pieces, one seam going diagonally and one going vertically, to form a very traditional and natural bust line. The bottom half of the cups is double-lined but the top part remains completely sheer.

The colour and styling of Manuela are absolutely breathtaking and I first fell in love with the sky blue hue and the detailed embroidery of the set. I am fan of blue lingerie in general as it suits my skin tone, eyes and hair colour pretty bang-on, but I am also a sucker for trends and this autumn, it is all about the blues. I was very happy how the styling turned out in flesh as well and the shade of the set, which is truly stunning.

Fit: As I had tried Kris Line soft cups before and found them to run a bit on the bigger side, I decided to size down to 65H this time. Kris Line sizing is quite unique but if you want to learn more about it, I would highly recommend taking a look at my previous post on the brand. According to the size chart I would be a 70H which is the size I went for last time and it fitted me pretty well in both the Deco-shape and their soft cup style. However, I have found the bands become a bit loose after a good amount of wears and decided I would go for 65 this time, just to give my bras a little more time to live. Also, I lost some weight after I first acquired my Kris Line bras about a year ago and I think I have gone about half a cup size down after that. This is why I chose to go down with my cup size as well this time, resulting in 65H as my best size with their soft cup style.

The 65 band feels nice and snug but not restrictive in any way, which is sometimes the result when gambling with your band size. However, I did not notice a significant difference to the 70 band so if you are between band sizes, I would suggest taking the smaller one, even just for longevity. The cups encase my breast tissue nicely and again, the wires are perfect for me as always with Kris Line. The straps are only half adjustable but that has not been a problem for me with this bra, however, I am 5″6 so definitely not petite. If you quite petite though, I would consider getting yourself some Strap Savers or skipping this style all together. Overall, the fit of the bra on me is spot-on and I have no gripes with it whatsoever!

Comfort: I love how comfy Kris Line bras are! If I would have to pick two of the most comfortable brands I wear on day-to-day basis, those would definitely be Kris Line and Gossard. Of course, no brand makes everything perfect to the last detail but these two brands keep rotating in my everyday bradrobe from day to day. I guess it’s a lot due to wiring and comfy bands – if you are pretty average breast root -wise like me, I think you would love Kris Line as well! They are a happy medium between the usual wide British wires and very narrow Polish wires. If Ewa Michalak is not your thang, definitely try KL instead!

When it comes to the panties, I would recommend taking your regular Polish size which is a medium for me. I usually wear a Small with most British brands so especially, if you are between sizes, do size up. I must say the Small is absolutely tiny with KL panties and still, the Medium is smaller than eg my Freya briefs in Small.

If you would like to try some Kris Line for yourself, I would highly recommend checking out Zulily for American customers and Brastop for.. well, basically everyone else 😀 The prices are usually very reasonable on these sites and you are sure to score a bargain!

How do you like Manuela? Also, how do you like the blue colour trend for this autumn? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Comparison of Ewa Michalak BM- and S-cuts: BM Landrynek + S Neonek

Hello peeps! I just got back from Finland, and boy does it feels good to be back home again! Even though I am currently on a sick leave for a sprained ankle and a flu (yap, UK was a bit rough on me) I am happy to get back to blogging. Somehow August kind of divides the year for me in a nice way and I feel like everything is fresh and new from the new minors I am starting at uni and a new makeup collection I just acquired on my trip. Also, I am happy to start this autumn season with some gorgeous bright neons from a favourite of many full-busted gals – Ewa Michalak. The EM team was so kind to send me a couple of their most recent shapes BM and S to try out and I was happy to get trying some new styles from them.

To get the styles straight, let me start with a introduction to the shapes. Ewa Michalak carries several different shapes in their collection, marked with a letter or a combination of letters attached to the name of the design. The styles I have reviewed before were the SM (a non-padded balconette for medium-large bust) and the PL (a padded plunge bra for all sizes, including detachable cookies inside the cups). As both of those shapes were a really nice fit on me, I was intrigued to see how the BM and S would do.

The S is a padded version of the SM cut, meaning a balconette designed for larger busts. However, the EM style guide mentions that the S-shape is also suitable for extra large busts meaning it does have a bit wider size range to it. The BM-cut on the other hand seems very similar to the S-cut as it is a non-padded balconette bra but as the EM site does not have a proper description on it, I am assuming it is designed for extra large busts as well, with the raised gore to bring more security and support. This way, the construction and the target market of the S and BM cuts are very similar, the only difference seems to be the padding which makes the S seem a bit bulkier to me personally.

When it comes to styling, I am huge fan of EM as they always come up with unique colour combinations and prints. This time, the focus on the Landrynek and Neonek are on the colours themselves, with some contrasting straps and trims which makes such everyday styles a bit more fun and hip. I can’t really pick which one of the combos I like more – the Neonek’s pink/banana yellow or Landrynek’s Neon Peach/Turquoise – they both are equally gorgeous. Also, both styles feature fully-adjustable straps and three hooks and eyes with the back band, which ensures the support of both styles.

Even though both of the bras are in line with each other in many ways, team EM suggested that I would try the BM in 70G and the S in 70GG as I mentioned I usually required a bigger size with padded bras. However, I am still a bit unsure if this was the right choice – it seems both of the styles run a bit bigger than for example the PL (which fits me well in 70H) and the SM (fits me in 70GG). This might be because the styles are designed with larger busts in mind meaning the sizes come a tad bigger in the first place. The BM fits me perfectly in size 70G but I think the S in 70GG is a bit on the larger side for me, so it would have been interesting to see how the 70G would have fitted in the S-cut as well. As my left boob a bit bigger than my right one, I have placed both of the cookies into the other cup, to balance out my a-symmetry and still, it seems the cups are gaping just a tiny bit. However, the bra is still totally wearable and great for those days when you want a bit of extra oomph.

In practice, I do tend to lean on the BM Landrynek more, just for the non-padded style of it. As I am a very busty gal, padded bras are not always the most practical option with most of my dresses, but the Landrynek does just the same job of uplifting and rounding as the S Neonek. Comfort-wise however, they are very similar with their super-soft materials and great supportive bands. As a rule of thumb, EM bras run very “Polish” in the brand so I would suggest sizing up for comfort. The wires are also typical for Polish brands, meaning they are rather narrow. However, I do feel like the BM and S cuts feel a lot better on me wire-wise, which could be due to tad wider wires than EM usually uses, or just the bigger cups that come with these shapes.

All in all, Ewa Michalak has once again impressed me a great deal. Also, if you would like to buy the matching panties for these sets, they are finally available! I have not tried them, at least yet, but usually EM panties are worth the money as they are extremely comfy and utterly cute! The BM Landrynek retails for 169 zlotys and the S Neonek 179 zl which translates to roughly 40-43 euros which is a very good price point for such excellent construction and fit. Do snatch these up before the sizes are gone as the AW styles start rolling very soon!

What do you think of the BM Landrynek and S Neonek? Which shapes are you favourites when it comes to EM bras? Let me know in the comments! xx

Sunday with Samanta: A122 Spinel in 65J + Discount Code!

Ah, I know I am late. The Sunday last week passed already but again, this month will feature two Sunday with Samanta posts as I am not someone who skips a post completely 😉 Also, I will apologize for my absence next week as I am visiting UK + Moda again and won’t be home before the 12th. However, from then on there will be Moda-posts-galore and you’ll see some lovely collections from all of our fave brands! (If you have any particular brand you would like me to go and see, do let me know in the comments below!) However, today I am bound to bed with a sprained ankle and will be telling you all about my latest Samanta trial. This time, it is the non-padded balconette style A122 in “Spinel” – a lovely sophisticated French-style beauty who’ll steal your heart, no doubt.

The Design: The A122 is an unpadded balconette bra which is designed especially for women with big breasts and is supposed to offer a beautiful rounded “two cakes on a plate” -cleavage with a little less coverage and an uplifting three-part cup construction. This shape is widely used by British manufacturers as well, but the shape of the Polish balconette is a bit different from what we are used to with the likes of Panache and Curvy Kate. The vertical seam of the A122 cup goes on very straight across the cup whereas many British brands favour a more diagonal seam which gives the bra its somewhat pointed natural shape. I am more a fan of the Polish version though, as it rounds up the bust while still catering a rather natural look to it.

The A122 is something perhaps a Cleo-fan would enjoy – it is a quite simple style yet works brilliantly with all the uplifting and shaping a bigger bust requires. The look of the Spinel however, is something for the more “middle-market” audience meaning the styling is a bit more grown-up and sophisticated. As a 22-year-old gal some might think I would be all for polka-dots and bows but I do prefer a more glamourous look to my bradrobe. This is why I love the grey and peach colour combo of Spinel and lace is AGAIN absolutely stunning – something Samanta does so well each time.

The Fit: The A122 Spinel fits me very well and is the same as my other Samanta bras – I am once again convinced that Samanta is one of the most consistent brands out there which makes it easier for gals like me to order their bras online. It is true that some of the models are a bit deeper, which could affect your bra size with Samanta, but until now all of my 65J’s have been great size-wise. The band is rather narrow yet sturdy with the A122 and is made of stretchy elastic material instead of the usual power-mesh. The 65 band is a rough equivalent to a British 30, yet a bit snugger than with the likes of Freya and Curvy Kate. The cups are again, the perfect size and depth to me which makes this bra a great fit overall.

If you have any trouble with the usual height and width of balconette bra gores, this could be a great style for you to try! The gore is very slim and sits rather low at my sternum, meaning there is no stress on my ribcage even with very “harsh” tacking. The wires are again just the right length and width for me so no poking or too wide cups, which always makes me happy. For reference, I am pretty average-set and not particularly wide nor narrow at my breast root.

Comfort: The A122 is a lovely choice for those who want the same Samanta-quality for their summer but something a bit more light-weight than their padded bras. I personally REFUSE to wear padded bras at summer just for comfort reasons – everyone raise a hand who know that boob-sweat is a thing?? Cause it certainly is when you have big tatas, there is no denying it. Also, non-padded bras are great under tighter tops and dresses that have zero extra room for boobies and extra padding is not an option.

If I could give Samanta some feedback on this particular model, it would be regarding the straps – they are a tad too wide-set for me, meaning they sometimes fall off my shoulders and rub against the edge of my armpit. I think this will get better over time as I haven’t washed the bra more than twice now (there’s a huge review pile to test out each month, so most of my samples only get a couple of washes before being reviewed). However, in any case I would love to see Samanta revising their strap-placement a bit as I know there are a lot ladies who suffer from too widely placed straps immensely.

I also got to test the M300 brazilian briefs which are made of very same mesh/embroidery and sleek polyamide blend as the bra band. The seamless back of the brief is great under tighter jeans and also, quite sexy with its very wetlook-like appearance. The size Medium fits my 39″ hips very well but the rise with the M300 is pretty low, so ya be warned. However, I do like this style completing the set and I am always open to falling in love with new panty styles if they forgive me my ever-growing butt 😉

If you would like to give Spinel a proper spin (hehe), do use the code Mette at the check out to get 20% off your A122 Spinel bra. The bra retails for (full price) 56,30€ and the briefs for 26,30€ on the Samanta online store so not bad at all, especially with the discount! If you live in USA, please contact Samanta via email to place your order. Also, do ask for different shipping methods if you are hesitant about the shipping costs! Have a lovely Sunday everyone and let me know in the comments how you liked the review and Spinel, I would love to hear from you 😉

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!

Sunday with Samanta: A333 “Kerk” in 65J

Let’s be honest – there is rarely a red bra I would not like. When Marzena, the head designer of Samanta, suggested that I would try their Kerk in A333 cut as my next Samanta bra, I was very happy! I am all for pinks and red which are very classic and cliched lingerie colours but what can you do – I am a Barbie girl by heart. Also, the style intrigued me – I had not tried any of the less covering Samanta bras yet so A333 was a nice change as something that would cover about 80% of my bust. Here’s what I thought of the Kerk and A333 cut in general!

Design: The A333 cut is a padded balconette style bra with a slightly reduced gore for a more comfortable fit for women who want the sturdiness of the balconette shape but the cleavage of the plunge. I was very happy to be trying something a bit more revealing as most of my necklines are pretty low and full-cups are usually a no-no. I am also a big fan of balconettes and they are behind my blog’s name in the first place, which was why I knew the cut would probably be a good fit too. The padded cups are constructed of three pieces which gives the bra its uplifted and very rounded shape. Sometimes three-part cups end up looking a bit droopy or conical but the A333 was absolutely perfect! I could not praise the shape of the bra enough, it is so well constructed.

When it comes to the design of Kerk, I am super glad I got to try this bra – the red colour is a lovely warm shade of red (which would actually be perfect for Christmas) which suits even paler skin tones like mine. Also the guipure lace is stunning in flesh and looks much more luxurious in real life than in pictures. If I would have a bra for special occasions only, Kerk would definitely be on top of my list!

 
Fit: The fit of A333 cut is probably the best I have encountered with Samanta bras after trying four different models so far. With the A925, A922 and A470 the full-coverage style was a bit hard to fill in perfectly and get to fit just right but the A333 fitted like a dream because of the ample room at the top of the cups. As my boobs are quite full-on-top meaning there is a lot of breast tissue at the top part of my breasts, the more open cups and less coverage give them more space to “roam free” (haha) and thus fit better in the cups without any wrinkling or cutting in at the top. The 65J was a perfect size once again and the rather deep cups lets my breast tissue to settle in the cups very well without any sorts of folding at the bottom, which is what usually happens when my boobs and shallow + padded bra cups encounter. Also the band is nice and snug and compares to a regular British size 30, or perhaps a bit snugger one when you compare to the likes of Eveden brands and Curvy Kate.

The size A333 Kerk is very in line with other Samanta bras I have tried so I would say the sizing is very consistent among different cuts. Still, I haven’t tried any of the shallower cups yet so I have some more research to do 😉 All of their underwires seem to be the same size with my 65J’s so that is definitely an upside as well! Speaking of the wires, they truly are one of the best widths and lengths I have worn during these past three years of wearing a proper bra size. It seems that in addition to Kris Line, Samanta makes their wires a bit wider than eg. Ewa Michalak whose wires do feel a bit too narrow for me at least. So, if you find yourself average when it comes to breast root width, Samanta is definitely a brand to check out!

If I could perhaps suggest Samanta to consider something to improve their bras even more, I would really appreciate the chance of using removable pads inside the cups – especially with styles like A333 which are padded with a three-part cup construction. These sorts of styles could easily feature some nice pockets for push-up pads as sometimes us bigger busted ladies suffer from asymmetry that shows a bit with padded bras and could be fixed with a little help from a pad inside the other cup. Also, who knows if you want a little more oomph to your cleavage – it’s good to have the option!

 
Comfort: The A333 cut is especially crafted for comfort and it clearly shows when you wear the style for a while. The materials and the cut give me a rather natural feeling throughout the day keeping me feeling sturdy yet not like in a bra armor or anything too heavy. The wires are a bit stiff at first but there is really nothing than a few wears and washes can’t soften! The straps are half adjustable but a very good length so I am sure people of many heights could wear it with no trouble at all.

What could irritate some is the upper edge of the cup near the armpit – it does come up a bit high which can rub your armpit a bit at first. As I have only had the chance of wearing this bra for a few days (they had a post office strike here in Finland, sigh…) I cannot tell if it is something that will get better over time. However, it is not constant and super irritating on me to prevent me from wearing the bra but something I noticed to happen now and then when moving around a lot (I have a pretty active job).

When it comes to the panties, I was sent the D300 boxer briefs in size Medium which delighted me with their more covering style and comfortable materials. I have become VERY picky when it comes to bottoms so I was glad to notice that these were gems like the ones I tried last time with Beryl. Even though some of the stiffer materials with Samanta panties are not particularly my thing, they do make some really soft and stretchy knickers as well to suit my curvier body type (aka the ghetto booty). Again, I would suggest to size up with the panties from your regular British size as they are quite snug and yet not SUPER stretchy.

All in all I am in love with A333 and Kerk and they have fast become one of my favourite sets from the all of the 45 sets I own (lol, I know, a lot of sets!). If you would fancy an A333 Kerk of your own, you can now get it at a discounted price for a week! To get your 20% off use the code “Mette” at the checkout. The price of the bra will this way be an affordable 47,76 €  + 29,70 € for the boxer briefs. Also, if you are a US customer, please contact Samanta via email to claim your discount and set up an order. Do ask their customer service about different options for shipping as well!

What do you think of the Kerk and A333 cut? Has anyone else tried it? Also, do you prefer less coverage with your bras like yours truly? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know 🙂

Lingerie Review: Maison Lejaby “Féline” in 32G

You might remember me raving about Maison Lejaby a couple of months ago (click for my latest post on ML!) – when I last visited London I had the pleasure of trying on a few pieces at Mimi & You Lingerie boutique and I fell in love with their designs. During the same visit I did travel up to Birmingham where I had the chance to chat with Maison Lejaby’s UK & Ireland coordinator who introduced me even more to this lovely brand. Fast forward to today, I am now reviewing my first Maison Lejaby set here at 2COP. Maison Lejaby was so kind to send both me and Jo a set from their Elixir and Premium collections and today, I am reviewing the lovely Féline bra set from Maison Lejaby Elixir collection. Enjoy!

Design: To be honest, I was very nervous about Lejaby picking something for both of us and sending them to review as a complete mystery. I am a bit picky when it comes to my lingerie – there are some things I absolutely dislike so I was so anxious about getting something as a surprise. On the other hand, I do love surprises which made me very intrigued about the contents of my parcel. When it finally arrived in the post office and I ripped the packaging off I was so happy to be facing a set of sophisticated animal print in an unusual grey colour. Also the texture was lovely and unique – there were some bigger leopard spots at the top part of the cups which seem to raise ever-so-sligthly from the otherwise sleek fabric.

The construction of the bra is a very traditional plunge-balconette with a three-part cup and medium coverage. Féline gives me a decent amount of uplift and a very natural shape – this is a bra that I would recommend to anyone who wants something subtle under their clothes. It gives a rather rounded yet natural look and works well with most of my outfits.

The Fit: I asked for a size 32FF as this was the one that fitted me the best in another styles from Lejaby. However, as the parcel arrived I realized I had been sent a 32G instead of an FF so I was a bit nervous about the fit. These things happen sometimes when I get sent samples – someone accidentally sends me a wrong size and sometimes they fit, sometimes they don’t. In this case, the mistake was a blessing in disguise – the 32G fitted me super well! I do notice some slight gaping on my smaller boob but as we all know so well, the bra size should be opted by the size of one’s bigger boob. The unpadded style of the bra ensures though that the gaping in in no-way notable under shirts and dresses which makes it also a practical little number to wear for everyday. The 32G compares roughly to a regular, even large-ish British 32GG so this brand and particular bra run about a cup size or a cup size and a half bigger than usual!

As Maison Lejaby only makes 30-bands in a few styles, I was sent a bra with a 32 band instead. For a French brand, Maison Lejaby seems to be running very British when it comes to their bands – that is, very true-to-size. With my 30″ underbust measurement the band is in all honesty a bit loose but doesn’t ride up in the back even when worn in the loosest set of hooks. However, this may not be your sturdiest bras anyway – the materials are very stretchy meaning the whole ensemble is super comfy yet not the kind of to run a marathon with. In my opinion the band would be best for someone with a 32″ rib cage so on me, it is not the best size. However, I have worn this bra over the last couple of months each and every week so you can imagine how comfy it really is!

The underwires of Féline are a rather standard ones for a French brand – not as wide as with British bras but not as narrow as Polish. This works for me very well as my boobs are a very average width and don’t require super wide or narrow underwires.

Comfort: As mentioned before, the Féline is VERY comfortable and a stretchy little sucker. The band, the cups, the wiring and the straps are all made with comfort in mind – this makes the bra to adjust to your body and feel comfy when moving around. Even though this takes a bit away from the sturdyness of the bra it does give you a sense of not wearing one in the first place – which is something I aim for when I am at home chilling and still want to feel supported.

When it comes to the underwires, the Féline does a great job by staying low under the armpits to avoid any unpleasant chafing against your arms or pinching in the flesh under them. The wires are also just flexible enough to keep you comfy even riding a motorcycle, which some of you know to be my ultimate test for my bras (by the way, thank heavens for the mc season starting just now, I missed you Honda-babe <3). The straps can be quite stretchy as well but nothing near eg the Comexim “Irish Coffee” (click for the review!) I own. The straps are also rather long so if you are even slightly more on the petite side, this could cause you some problems. I have adjusted mine to the tightest they can go and this is the right length of straps for me with Féline.

I was also sent the Brazilian brief in size 2 to match my Féline bra. My bf is probably the biggest fan of Brazilians so he was happy and to be honest, for a Brazilian this panty is a rather comfortable little number. The size 2 is a french size which translates roughly to a UK size 10-12 (not sure though, enlighten me if I got it wrong!). The back of the Brazilian leaves a seamless finish so if you are a great jeans-wearer, this could be just the knicker style for you.

When it comes to getting your hands on Maison Lejaby, I would say your local brick and mortar boutiques and department stores are the best to look into. I tried to look for Féline online and found this one place where you can get your hands on it for a reduced price even. The online store is a french one called Les Dessous Chics but it translates mostly to English as well and sells Féline bra for a rather great price of 53,83€. Even though Maison Lejaby is a bit more in the luxury category both for quality and price, the course of the pound is horrendous to anyone who doesn’t live in UK. This actually takes the Maison Lejaby pretty close to its British rivals when it comes to € price and sometimes even a more affordable choice compared to other full-bust mid-priced bras.

How do you feel about Maison Lejaby? Have you tried them and if so, how do you find the quality and fit? I would love to know a second opinion to mine so let me know in the comments! xx

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 🙂

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Introducing Moontide & Piha Swimwear

When it comes to swimwear, I tend to be extremely picky – I hate triangle bikinis, can’t stand tacky 90’s patterns and a tankini is a definite no-no. I like my swimwear cute, comfy and retro-inspired which makes my hunt for the perfect swimwear a bit tricky. Not to mention my size – someone in the 30-32 G-H range ought not be too fussy, but what can you do! However, now and then I come across brands with exactly my kind of aesthetics and one of those brands were Moontide and their sub-label Piha at the Moda tradeshow. One thing that made the brand instantly more appealing to me was that the Moontide range actually goes up to G-cup with some styles. Let’s dive into this swimwear giant a bit more…

Tulip, Poppy & Bauhinia in their fantastic tropical floral prints (all from their SS14/15 collection)

Moontide was founded 35 years ago in Auckland, New Zealand and is now one of the leading fashion-forward swimwear-only brands in the world. When going through the Moontide website, it’s easy to see that in addition to fabulous fashion styles the brand is extremely confident about their fit. The passion towards well-fitting swim pieces is pretty obvious which makes me a new fan of the brand. The fuller-busted customers have been thought of too; there is a separate logo for the so called “cup fitting” pieces, which simply states “CF”. These pieces are either sized in bra sizes (with some styles going to up F/G) or offer a separate full-bust fit (this feature is mainly used with the one-piece swimsuits). Even though this kind of sizing cannot cover each and every bust size, it’s a good way to acknowledge that there is indeed a demand for more boob room among us gals with fuller busts. To be honest, I would be quite intrigued to see how well the full-bust version of the swimsuit would hold up my ~GG boobies!

When it comes to styling, I find the Moontide to be an instant winner – I mean, who can resist a good floral or juicy summer brights? Well I certainly can’t. My favourite of the new collection pieces (pictured above) would definitely be the yellow one with the black and white rose print as it’s such a lovely vintage-inspired style. These pics are however only my favourites, so if floral and super bright colours are not your thing there is also lots of black and white monochrome, stripes and abstract prints on offer. I have previously worked as a gardener and a florist which should explain my love for all sorts of floral prints 😉

Even though I have pictured above only Moontide swimsuits, they do offer also a wide array of other cuts to choose from. To be honest, I have never seen such a variety of different styles when it comes to a single design of swimwear! Most Moontide swim pieces come in an array of tops, bottoms and even a couple of different onepiece styles so everyone can make their pick and be happy with it. As a lover of onepieces I would love to try their “Twist”-style swimsuits with the fuller bust fit as the whole design seems very flattering allover.

Piha (which, funny enough, means ‘yard’ in Finnish) is a sub-label of the more mature Moontide brand. Even though Moontide’s designs could probably appeal to any age group depending on one’s personal style, Piha is clearly directed to a younger audience with a love for clashing colours and pop-art kind-of prints. The size range of Piha is much smaller, only accommodating up to D, but I am really hoping and wishing for a bigger size range in the future – these pieces would definitely rival the likes of Cleo and Freya in the full-bust swimwear market! However, I do understand the limits of making cup sized swimwear/lingerie as you do always need to make a profit. Just hoping Piha could someday make a profit of us bigger-busted gals as well 😉

If you are interested in the brands more, I suggest you visit their websites for more info. Also, the brands are sold world-wide so if you are still in a need of proper swimsuit for the upcoming summer, do check out the likes of Asos, House of Fraser and Simply Beach to find your favourite style. The Moontide and Piha websites have both a very impressive list of stockists and online retailers stocking their designs so you can pick one according to your own location!

How do you like the Moontide and Piha designs? Do you think Piha should extend their size range eg. up to G as well? Let me know in the comments!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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