New Styles at Avocado! – Review of “Chamade” S194HC in 70H

I know, you might be thinking “What, I have not heard of Avocado in a long while – what are they up to now?!” Exactly – this brand has apparently been hiding under the rock for a while or so it would seem. In reality, Avocado is buzzing with new styles and website revisions, so the truth is they have been working their butts off and there literally has been no time for blog reviews and such. I contacted Avocado recently on Instagram as I noticed they had been working on some new styles and for my happy surprise, Anna contacted me by email soon explaining what’s up with her brand and how things are proceeding. She also offered to send me some of their new shapes and designs, which I was of course super happy about. Today I shall start with my favourite of these three new styles, that is the Chamade in the new HC cut.

The Design: The new HC  cut stands for half-cup meaning this is a bra that covers about 50% of your bust – some brands call it a demi-cup bra. The Avocado’s HC at least in my size gives more of a 60% coverage in my opinion but this could be due to the fact that a true half-cup wouldn’t have enough fabric to contain a larger breast. The size range with this style goes up to K-cup (consult the Avocado size chart to find out your size with them!), meaning it is meant to suit us fuller busted ladies and thus be very supportive. I think it’s a great thing that Avocado has managed to create a half-cup style in bigger sizes in the first place as there are many brands who simply refuse to make this style past a G-cup. The cups are constructed of two pieces with one vertical seam that gives the cup its rounded and uplifted shape, which is a favourite to many full-busted women.

The Chamade as a design is very pretty and it oozes a Marie Antoinette -like rococo glamour. The colours are very subdued yet not boring – something anyone would love in their summer bradrobe to go under lighter coloured tops. I also like that Avocado does not always play with the most basic adornments such as frills and bows but tries to make their designs with more clean-cut solutions like the tiny silver pendant on the centre gore of Chamade. The neckline of the HC Chamade is very open and it goes amazingly well with so many of my dresses and tops (eg Pinup Girl Clothing Peasant Tops!) which would normally show some bra on the outer corners of the neckline.

The Fit: We decided to go for my regular Avocado size 70H as the newer styles ran deeper and more full-on-top friendly. As you may remember, I used to love the Avocado A-cut but it was meant for more FOB breasts and thus created a bit of bulge on the top part of my breasts at the times. These newer designs feature some stretchier materials and more space on the top part of the cups, which I am super happy about. The 70H ended up being just the right size for me and there is no bulging whatsoever – to be honest, there is actually a slight bit of gaping where the strap meets the cup but that is mainly due to how wide the cups are for me. My fullness is mainly at the top part of my breasts and I have an average-width breast root, meaning the cups are a tiny bit too wide for me and have some empty space on the sides.

Even though the wires are on the wider, this is actually my favourite of the lot that Anna sent me – the shape is perfect and there is overall enough space in the cups to contain my breast tissue fully. The centre gore is quite high so if you have close-set breasts, this may not be the style for you. Who would it suit the best then, you ask? Well, I would say someone with a wide breast root and overall full breasts. Also A-symmetrical boobies would enjoy this style – it has a fair amount of stretch to it at the top of the cups, meaning it can manage some size fluctuations and fit both breasts even with a slight size difference. The band of the HC Chamade is the loosest of the three bras I tried, but it also the most comfortable on me which is why I like it. I would say it is still on the snugger side of 70 so If you are between sizes, I would size up (for reference, I wear 70GG with Ewa Michalak and 65J with Samanta).

Comfort: As said above, I chose this set as my favourite since it ticks all my comfort boxes – the materials are spot-on, no itchy cheap ruffles, the wires don’t poke me and the gore tacks but doesn’t stab me in the sternum. The Chamade is a pleasure to wear anytime, even at home when you are lounging around. It is also one of the most practical bras I own, because of the fact that is non-padded and low-cut. The only “flaw” with the bra I bumped into is my usual nemesis – the straps. They are quite widely placed, which however DOES not cause any irritation on my armpits this time; I think this is due to the cup shape being so low. I would like most lingerie brands to consider their strap placement though, as it is so hard to find bras with straps that would sit on my shoulders without me pulling them in like crazy.

When it comes to the panties, I can report that they are equally as comfortable as the bra and I love how well they are made – such a pleasure to wear! For the record, I am super picky about my knickers so sometimes, I just find the bottoms that come with a bra too tiny (as in skimpy) for me and I toss them in the back of my drawer. However, all of my Avocado bottoms have been high quality and very flattering, which makes them some of my favourite panties to wear. These particular panties are in the Avocado classic brief cut, which is exactly what it claims to be – great basic underwear which is still very pretty. I got the size Medium with them which was a right choice with these ones. However, I would say with the panties you may want to consult Anna about any style you are looking to buy as all of the designs run a bit differently. I even have a pair of Small Avocado panties that are quite loose for me!

If you would like to give the Chamade a try, you can find the bra (66,92€) here and the classic briefs (27,72€) here. They come in a great size range of 60-95 C-K, XS-XXL, which is impressive for a smaller luxury brand! Also, the set is available in multiple bra and panty styles, so if the HC is not a great fit for you, you can find another shape that will fit your perfectly. What do you think of the new Avocado HC-cut? Would you be willing to splurge on a well-fitting half-cup bra? Let me know in the comments below! 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 😉

Lingerie Review: Rochella “Tattoo Butterfly” in 32GG

I recently wrote about a new DD+ brand Rochella which is a British middle-market brand with a good cause and a unique, more mature yet quirky aesthetics. I remember back in the day Miss Underpinnings used to talk about the lack of full-bust brands catering for the 30-something customer and I personally feel Rochella is the answer to that plea. The designs are suitable for any age but I think they do have more grown-up styles than eg Cleo and Curvy Kate, yet the styles are not “old” but a bit whimsical to maintain a fresh look. When interviewing the founder of the brand, Karen, she asked if I wanted to review one of her sets and of course I said yes! Today I am bringing you one of the first (if not the very first?) Rochella blog reviews out there, with their beautiful “Tattoo Butterfly” set.

The Design: I was instantly drawn to the Tattoo Butterfly set as it was something rather unique to me: I had never had a bra with butterflies on it and even though the idea sounded a bit juvenile to me, there is nothing too young and cute about this bra. The design is, in one word, STUNNING. I have actually always loved butterflies, I hate bugs in general, but I find butterflies to be the miracles of nature and each time I see one, it makes me so happy. Even though butterflies are usually depicted as super colourful with the shades of orange and yellow, I really enjoyed the teal and black combination of the set which makes it so much more sophisticated. Also the completely sheer upper panel of the bra is amazing, something not many brands have been brave enough to do.

The shape of the bra is something between the new Curvy Kate balconettes and perhaps a slight bit of Freya G+ balconettes. There is a tiny bit of point to the apex but there is still much more room at the top of the cup than eg with Freya. For a new brand, the shape is very good right from the start with enough uplift to avoid the downwards-7 effect, which can sometimes occur with three-part cup construction + the balconette style. The style is a true balconette but not a completely full-coverage one – this bra is very suitable for everyday wear and goes under most tops and dresses beautifully. I wear it regularly with my Pinup Girl Clothing peasant tops and the butterflies on the cup edge peek beautifully from the low neckline of the top.

The Fit: This is always the most interesting part of reviewing a new brand for you. When looking at the Rochella size chart, you can see that there are no 30 bands in sight, meaning I resulted in opting for my second most worn size, 32GG. I thought it might be a close shot as I am now leaning more towards 32 bands these days – however, British brands are infamous for being looser in the band than their Polish sisters. This was the case with Rochella as well; the 32 band was a size too big for me, but luckily it had four (!) sets of hooks and eyes to tighten it a bit. I am usually wearing it in the tightest or second tightest set of hooks, which is unfortunate as it shortens the lifespan of the bra a bit for me. The fit of the band is definitely on par with the likes of Curvy Kate and Freya, so if you are between band sizes, do size down.

The cups are a bit deeper than your usual British full-bust bra which is a huge upside for me personally – I find most British bras too shallow for my full bust and the Tattoo Butterfly fits me beautifully without any wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. Compared to its Polish counterparts the bra is not super forward-projecting but not as wide and splayed as eg Curvy Kate either. Also the wires are quite average in my opinion, the perfect medium between Polish and most British bras. The straps of the bra are quite long so take that into consideration if you are on the petite side! However, they are also fully-adjustable so there’s a lot of leeway to make them fit you the way you want.

Comfort: Overall the Rochella Tattoo Butterfly set is very comfortable – the materials feel high-quality (though I would be careful with the see-through mesh, it’s super thin and delicate!) and soft to touch. The outer layer is made of stretch satin and the lining out of polyester; I personally prefer cotton lining with my bras but I do feel this is another great option as I don’t feel it’s the kind of scratchy cheap polyester. The lining is a pretty lavender shade to show the support to gynaecology cancer survivors and sufferers – this makes sense as some of the profits go to a gynaecology cancer charity, which is awesome when we are talking about such a new brand.

The only thing that takes a bit away from the comfort factor of this set is that the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me and the cup edge comes up high enough in the armpit to chafe me while being more active. This has not prevented me from wearing this bra A LOT though, so I would say all in all the Rochella sets are not just pretty to look at, they are also quite comfy and very well-fitting. Also the panties get an A+ from me: I went for the size UK 10-12 and they fit me beautifully, I would even say they are one of my most flattering bottoms I own. The back of the briefs is made of super stretchy mesh so these are very butt-friendly and sexy at the same time.

The price point of Rochella is a bit higher than with most UK full-bust brands but that is kind of what the founder of the brand went for – better quality and a big size range (32-42 D-J) are key features with Rochella and I personally feel that £59 for a bra and £30 for the bottoms is a fair price for the pieces. Heck, the hardware on the front part of the straps is 18 ct gold! If you would like to give Rochella lingerie a try, I would suggest taking a look at their web shop, which you find here. They are also adding 30 bands this upcoming autumn so stay tuned for that if you are outside their size range at the moment! I am personally looking forward to trying something from the AW16 collection in 30H, which will be a sligthly better fit for me size-wise. xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Lustful” in 30DD

One of our favourites from the Gossard SS16 collection was definitely the Lustful VIP range which is a style that features a beautiful ombre-colour and unusual pairing of bright purple and subtle lilac. When Gossard asked whether Jo would be interested to try the style, we couldn’t have been more happy: it is one of the most gorgeous sets we have encountered this spring. I am personally a big fan of Gossard VIP collection anyway – their designs always manage to look very on-trend yet unique and luxurious for a pretty good price as well. Let’s see how Jo enjoyed her new set!

Design: As said, the Lustful set utilizes an ombre technique that looks absolutely stunning with this unique colour combination. I have not seen many lingerie brands doing ombre that much, not at least with their lace which makes the dip-dye effect of the bra subtle yet effective. The colours match beautifully, when on the other hand they clash just a bit with the other one being so jewel-bright and the other almost a grey-ish pastel. The style of the straps is effective with the bright purple colour yet there is no lace nor embroidery or silky textures to them, allowing them to be fully-adjustable. The back of the bra features the signature Gossard gateway bra band with only one row of hooks and eyes.

The bra is very low cut, a true demi-cup with a balconette shape and one vertical seam at the front. The Lustful bra gives a sexy “two cakes on a plate” cleavage while still remaining quite work-appropriate with its rounded yet not massively uplifted shape. The lace on the cups is very stretchy meaning it can fit a multitude of breast shapes, both FOT and FOB.

The Fit: Jo went with her usual 30DD with the Lustful bra and again, we came to the conclusion that she is currently right between 30DD and 30E with Gossard. Her left boob is trying to say “Hello!” every now and then with a minor nip slip here and there but it’s nothing to bother Jo and she is happy with the size. The style is very low cut so especially if you are more full-on-top and between sizes, you may want to size up. Otherwise the style fits Jo beautifully with just enough cup depth and wire width for her. I still own a similar style in 32G (the old Temptation set) which I still love and wear for special occasions! So I would say the Gossard half-cups suit bigger busts as well.

The band of the bra is very much true to size for Gossard, so a little on the tighter side compared to other British brands. The centre gore tacks Jo’s sternum well while still remaining comfortable; it is quite low though so if you have a lot of softer breast tissue at the front, I would suggest opting for something else.

Comfort: The materials are premium with this sets as it belongs to the VIP range: the satin that is featured both on the band and the bottoms is super soft and the stretch lace is something that is always loved by women with a-symmetrical boobs (which is around 80% of women btw). The whole ensemble is beautiful to touch and thus a great set for both everyday and boudoir wear. The fully-adjustable straps make sure that the bra fits both petite and taller ladies, which is always an upside. The only gripe with the bra is the same as with other Gossard bras that only feature one row of hooks and eyes: the band is so flimsy it tends to rolls around and move a bit, exposing the hook and eye closure to the skin and thus rubbing against it a bit, causing minor irritation. While the band itself is rather supportive even while being so narrow, the fore-mentioned problem is something that could be solved by just half-an-inch wider bra band.

The bottoms that match the bra are quite flimsy as well but very sexy with just the elastic strings at the sides. To be fair, it is not the most flattering look on everyone which is why I am not personally a fan, but Jo seems to pull it off effortlessly nonetheless (I guess it’s because of her round hips). As a set the two pieces go together really well and I can imagine most girls wearing this as something to spice up the bedroom in a less conservative (ie not black and red) way.

The Lustful collection is available now on Gossard online store – the bra retails for £39 (30-38 A-E) and the thong for £20 (XS-XL) which is quite nice for such a high-quality luxurious set. If you are not a fan of super skimpy undies, there is also a brief available to match the bra. How do you like the ombre colour on the Lustful set? Have you seen any other brands doing this kind of dye? Let me know in the comments!

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Laskar B139” in 65F

The first time I encountered Ewa Bien was in my second year of blogging when I ventured more into the world of Polish lingerie. They have always been super nice to me and their lingerie features some of the most gorgeous embroideries in the market. When Joanna from Ewa Bien contacted me to ask whether I would like to feature some of their SS16 styles on the blog I jumped at the chance with joy. This time their spring collection did not include any sizes up to J-cup unfortunately so I asked Jo if she wanted to try something from EB. Of course she did! Here’s a review of their Laskar bra in style B139.

The Design: The style of the Laskar is once again breathtakingly pretty. It’s a muted light orange colour with the right splash of pink – one of the most trendy colour combos this spring. The materials are very light weight with the cups being mostly made out of the thinnest layer of mesh and net-like material. The embroidery is one of the key elements of this design as per usual for Ewa Bien and it instantly brings the bra up to a princess level.

The shape of the bra is a revised Ewa Bien B130, which used to be a shallower version of this new B139. This time the cups are deeper to contain more fullness but also a bit wider to catch all the breast tissue near the armpit area. The shape is super rounded due to the one vertical seam at the centre of the bra cup – almost a bit too rounded for Jo’s liking. She prefers a natural slope to her bustline but I can imagine this ultimate round shape would be a winner for so many other ladies out there. The style is also a multiway as the straps are detachable from both sides of the bra – this is quite practical as during the summer months Jo will most likely be wearing an array of different tops that need more unconventional bra solutions.

The Fit: We asked for a size 65F for Jo as I had the experience of Ewa Bien bras running pretty much true-to-size. The Polish 65F is a rough equivalent to UK 30E which is Jo’s usual bra size in addition to 28F. As she is very petite and Ewa Bien bra bands are on the stretchier side (I would compare them to most UK 30 bands like with Panache and Curvy Kate), a 60 band would have been a closer call for her, but she is still happy in the 65 when wearing it in tightest set of hooks. The cups are on the larger side so there is a tiny bit of gaping on Jo’s smaller boob, which is also completely understandable taking into consideration that her boobs are more full on the bottom. I personally think the B139 would be a great match for more FOT breasts so I would be intrigued to try it in my size in the future (a girl can dream!).

The bra wires are tiny bit wider with Ewa Bien than most Polish brands but this suits Jo quite well. Her breast root is quite average just like mine so the likes of Samanta, Gossard and Ewa Bien are the best fit for both of us. The cups are almost a bit too deep for Jo so the statement about the new version of this bra being deeper all over holds very much true. The centre gore lies flat on Jo’s sternum but is still very comforable and doesn’t stab her despite her bony ribcage area. Even with the slightly too big band the whole ensemble feels super sturdy on and thus supports the ladies through long working days.

Comfort: The Laskar B139 is a great style for everyday wear if you don’t mind the embroidery and like non-padded bras as opposed to regular t-shirt bras. It gives you a modest bustline and coverage while still remaining low enough to go under more low-cut tops. The materials are extremely thin which makes the Laskar a perfect summer bra to wear in hotter climates as well. All of the materials – the sleek band and bottoms material, the netting, mesh and embroidery – feel soft against the skin and don’t cause any irritation even on a more sensitive skin. The C511 Brazilian brief is made to look seamless and smooth under the tightest of jeans, but take our word of warning: Ewa Bien panties run very small so prepare to go up a size or two from your regular UK size. Jo is wearing a Small in the pics.

The only tiny flaw with this bra is one very typical for so many bra manufacturers – the straps are just too widely placed on the shoulders and the bra cup edge near the armpit is too high, causing some minor chafing when having an active day at work. This can leave a hint of red trail where the cup edge cuts the armpit. Red marks are not always a sign of pain or eg a too small bra band, but near the armpit area they are usually a sign of too widely placed straps. The straps themselves are very sturdy though meaning Jo has no trouble of them slipping down and causing inconvenience. Also the chafing problem is sometimes corrected with enough washing which softens the edge a bit to feel more comfortable.

Overall we are very impressed with the Ewa Bien SS16 collection and are looking forward to introducing you to some more styles next month! There will be two more reviews to come so stay tuned ❤ If you would like to give this brand a try, Ewa Bien has their own online shop where you can place an order (as an international customer, you will be billed by email). The Laskar B139 retails for 189 zl (roughly $48) and comes in sizes 65-90 B-I. The C511 bottoms cost 95 zl ($24) and come in sizes S-XL. Have you tried Ewa Bien bras? How do you like them compared to other Polish lingerie brands? Let me know in the comments! xx

PS. If you are a US customer, you can also find Ewa Bien at Luxury Goddess online store!

SS16 Swimwear Roundup – aka My Personal Wishlist!

I am going on a summer vacation for the first time in 14 years. Yap, like a real beach kinda holiday, which is really weird for me as I usually travel to city destinations in the winter time and actually really enjoy. However, a few months ago I kinda blurted out to my mother-in-law that I reaaaaallly needed a proper beach resort holiday and there we were, booking a holiday after a few minutes of conversation. We decided on a lovely city/beach resort of Split, which is located in Croatia, as we really wanted to go somewhere where we could enjoy culture, good food and just relaxing in a nice warm climate.

So, it has been a while since I have actually needed a swimsuit – regardless I do have a few of them, but ya know, why not look for a special one for this occasion. As we browsed through the collections at Moda last August, I did see quite many intriguing little DD+ ensembles, so I would love to share my favourites with you in a form of a wishlist/roundup – who knows, one of these might actually be the one for my holiday in May!

Curvy Kate “Siren” One-Piece

I believe I haven’t really gone through the CK SS16 collection at all, so here’s a lovely sneak peek of what’s coming next from this all-time favourite! The Siren swimsuit is a padded one-piece with detachable straps and adjustable sides at the bottom part of the suit. It features an amazing bright colour and scallop-like detailing which makes it perfect for real-life mermaids like myself! This style is up to J-cup.

Lepel “Hawaii” Bikini

I love Lepel’s swim range – they seem to make so many lovely swim styles each season that I cannot really keep up with them! I had real difficulties picking just one favourite from their collection but ended up with this Hawaii-style which is a cute colourful Tiki-sorts of print with tiny little Hawaiian pinups on it! The shape is very trendy as well – as you can see, it is the same sweetheart neckline that is featured on the Curvy Kate style above. This range goes up to G-cup and as we know that Lepel runs quite large in the cup, I could really give this one a try!

Moontide “Victory” Freedom Twist Suit

Moontide has come out with another strong collection and this time, it’s about clashing colours and graphic prints. I really liked this photorealistic print of the Victory range and even though this particular style does not come in cup sizes, I have heard that this “Twist”-style one-piece is a very full-bust appropriate even in regular dress sizes.

Panache “Britt Stripe” Bikini

The Britt is a Panache classic that has been tweaked a few times and this time comes in a sailor-like navy and white stripe print. I personally became a huge fan of the high-waisted briefs that come with the range and luckily, can also fit into the top as it goes up to H-cup in this halter-neck style. Most Cleo bikini tops stop at G-cup which is a pity to me, but I could easily imagine enjoying this bit more classic style as opposed Cleo’s clashing colours and bold prints. Glam pinup style designs for the win!

Pour Moi “Pineapple” Bikini

All my nearest and dearest know that I have a slight obsession with pineapple prints – which is quite funny cause I reeeeaaally dislike the taste and texture of real pineapple! This cute-ass bikini is by Pour Moi and I am absolutely in love with every aspect of it – it’s navy and pink combo, pineapple printed and comes with adorable ruffly high-waisted bottoms! What’s not to like?? Pour Moi goes up to G-cup so I might want to try their 32G at some point.

Here’s my top 5 of SS16 swimwear – how did you like it? Are you going on a beach holiday someday soon? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Moda Lingerie & Swim Show: Gossard SS16 Collection

As I have worked with Gossard from the very first time I visited Moda, I have always been keen to see their stuff at the stand – their team is absolutely fantastic and even though Gossard is one of the busiest brands at the show, they always manage to make time for us bloggers as well. This time we were greeted by the lovely rep of the brand right when we arrived at the stand and she was happy to talk us through the collection. Here are the new beauties that are up for grabs next spring – enjoy!

Reds, pinks and oranges… We are in for a treat next spring! Top to bottom: Super Boost Lace, Glossies, Gypsy Basque, Amour & Animal Instinct (All up to E, except for the Glossies which goes up to G-cup!)

We have already talked about the yummy pinks and oranges for next spring but as each and every collection does these colour trends in their own unique way, I was thrilled to see Gossard hopping on the juicy bandwagon. I am especially smitten for the Glossies’ orange hue, even though the shape and look of the range is not really my thing per se. The orange goes on in a more sophisticated way to the new VIP range beauty, Amour, which reflects the trend of pinks and orange-y tones together. This time however, the orange is more of a tomato red, deep shade which makes the combo all the more spicy.

When it comes to Gossard news this season, the brand has included a separate Gossard Everyday Collection in their selection, to feature well-known Gossard shapes in more simplistic everyday styles and a accordingly-planned price range. The Everyday range has been designed with a perhaps younger customer in mind, to offer cute and sexy styles for those who need something quick and easy to make their basic bradrobe complete.

The new meaning of BB – Black & Beige! Top to bottom: Super Boost Lace Bralette, Super Smooth Glamour Lace & Luscious

Even though we love bright colours here at 2COP, there is nothing like a good beige or a black bra that suits every style and occasion. This is why I was thrilled to see some lovely basic-coloured options for this upcoming spring season. The biggest new-comer seems to be the  Super Smooth Glamour Lace which is a new take on the Gossard basic style, Super Smooth. As the style launched a few seasons ago, I was thrilled to see what it had in store for the future and here we can see the fruits of the Gossard design team’s ongoing brainstorming: the new Glamour Lace range consists of the regular Super Smooth wireless bra in addition to a nifty multiway and sweetheart plunge options. This is definitely the party girl in the Super Smooth family and takes the design up a notch, to make the range a bit more nighttime appropriate.

The other two glamorous yet basic options for next spring are the Super Boost Lace Bralette (up to E) and beige satin-y little number called Luscious (up to G). I was particularly excited about the Super Boost Lace Bralette as I love how it hooks at the front and looks cozy yet luxurious at the same time. The design is very sexy too and I really wished this would have come in bigger sizes as well. However, the Luscious ain’t a bad option either and I am happy to see Gossard make lovely plunge options for us fuller-busted gals as well – something they do with a great success!

  
Frosty Florals, top to bottom: VIP Lustful, Dotty & Lacey, Entice, Harmony bra set & Harmony Cami + French Knickers

I looove florals and even though they are nothing new to spring collections, I love how they are done in a more winter garden kinda way this time. The combination of pale icy blue and vibrant purple seems like a very unique one for the SS16 season and the ombre effect these colours create on the Lustful set totally steals my heart and crushes it by only going to up to the infamous E-cup. However, I shall not be left grieving for a long time as Gossard has created a couple of lust-worthy florals for us full-busted gals as well – I am absolutely smitten with both Entice and Harmony which both would be fit for a Disney princess (as I see it myself, Entice for Anna and Harmony for Elsa, haha!).

When it comes to shapes, the whole Gossard collection is full of their fabulous plunge bras this time and I am happy to see them around more up to G-cup. What does bother me though is again the lack of G-cup options in a variety of shapes and styles – for example, I would have loved a good nonpadded balconette which seems not to be on Gossard’s radar this upcoming season. However, if you are on a lookout for amazing prints and killer cleavage, Gossard is your girl!

The new collection will be launched as soon as November and each month after that will bring us a new drop of G-goodies. What would you pick if you could have something regardless of size? Let me know in the comments! xx

Moda Lingerie & Swim Show: Tutti Rouge SS16 “Tutti Rocks” Collection

Tutti Frutti, oh Rudy! Tutti Rouge is such a fun brand to see at Moda – they always cater for the young pinup ladies such as myself as their lingerie is always a piece of cutesy pop art with a hint of romance. This time, we were not disappointed either and were so happy to see Tutti Rouge tackling the unique prints and bright colours again this season. For those of you who don’t know, Tutti Rouge also goes up to J-cup and is sold at a great price point which makes it all the more exciting for us fuller busted ladies at budget! Let’s see what they have in store for spring 2016…

The new print that came along this season was the lovely Betty in “Brighton Rocks” which pays homage to the great British summertime. Who doesn’t love seashore and summer holidays?! I am always in awe of new Tutti-exclusive prints and when I just thought the Sailor Jerry -inspired print couldn’t be topped, this Brighton babe might have just done that. To be honest, I see myself as a Tutti collector – I want all their exclusive prints as part of my lingerie art gallery! This cute print comes in the shape of Betty, a padded balconette shape that has been around since the very launch of Tutti Rouge.

The Jessica has been released now and it is the world’s first non-padded bra with detachable cookies inside the cups. I am particularly excited for this bra and it’s versatility, as it is something that serves both as a non-padded and a padded bra – which ever pleases you at the moment. I am a big fan of unpadded bras as I have plenty of padding of my own, but I do like to get some cleavage at times, especially when hopping at the pubs during the weekend. The cookies come in two size “Tutti Boosters” and “Tutti Super Boosters” from which you can opt the right amount of oomph for your specific needs.

The Jessica will include some high-waisted bottoms which will be added to the collection later on, however, they won’t be available right from the launch as there were some problems with the initial production. However, the collection will include a lovely suspender belt as well which will be a nice option if you want a bit more coverage over your tummy! The Black version of Jessica is out now and the caramel/ivory colourway will be launched in spring 2016.

When it comes to Liliana, it has now been clad in a lovely pumpkin shade, which is very much on trend for SS16 season. I am super glad that our voices have been heard and now, we can enjoy a plethora of unusual colours in the lingerie world – yellows, greens and oranges are finally on trend! As I have mentioned before, orange/pink is my fave colour combo of all time and I am excited to see it made in the form of the best-seller Liliana.

The Fifi has also been reinvented and brought back in a lovely cool pink tone and I love the whole “Barbie” feel of it – so many polka dots, ruffles and lace! The shape of the bra reminds me of the Cleo balconettes which many of us love to death, which is why I could see it as a potential best-seller. The first time this bra launched it had some problems with the bands fitting way too small but I am hopeful that this has been rectified since.

The pumpkin theme goes on and we get to see another Tutti regular in it – the delicious Kitty. I have always loved the look of this shape but unfortunately it does not fit my boobies the way I would like it to fit. The cups are just too shallow and wide and thus, our romance had to end a few months ago. However, if you are on the wider and shallower side, do try this one out as it looks so gorgeous on!

The Nichole has so far fitted me the best with all my Tutti bras I have tried. This season it is made in two basic colours Black and Beige, but also in a wild animal print that absolutely screams my name. The Nichole gives me a fantastic rounded shape which is why it could be, that I am getting back to this bra when the spring arrives – besides, I do have to get on the animal print bandwagon sooner or later!

How do you like this new Tutti Rouge SS16 collection? Also, are you feeling the pinks and oranges as well? Let me know in the comments!

Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show: Panache + Cleo by Panache SS16 Collection

One of the highlights of Moda Exhibition is always the Panache stand. It is a huge and busy one which is why it is the only one I usually book in advance so we can have a proper chat with the marketing people. It was lovely to see Jenny, the head of marketing, once again and she was happy show us the collection and talk through it. Today I am delving into the two biggest ranges in the whole Panache family – Panache core line and Cleo by Panache.

PANACHE

From top to bottom: Andorra, Jasmine in Blue Floral, Black Animal & Mosaic print, Cari (up to H), NEW Thea (up to K), Olivia, Georgia & Floris, Clara

Panache core line is usually targeted for the 30-something customer, fuller busted and for everyday wear. It is a collection that holds something for everyone though and even I, the queen of extravagance, have found several pieces from this particular line over the years. Again, I will crown the Clara as a winner of this season (well, that was not a surprise..) but I did find some other favourites as well, that I truly liked.

The key trends in the Panache collection seemed to be tapestry/mosaic prints and dainty romantic florals. I did like both of these trends, even though the mosaic prints took their time to sink into my brain – after all they are something that I haven’t seen before and thus, they appear quite interesting and unique to me. The colours included both pastels and brights with the shades of blue, pink and peach the most prominent.

So what’s new with the styles then? The Cari is something I introduced to you last season and it is now back with a new colourway of basic beige – something my mom would be crazy about. I am interested to see if this style will replace the cult status of Fantasie “Rebecca”, as the shape and styling seem a bit more hip and young to me with Cari. I am not a fan of the Rebecca, but this is certainly something I could try as my first spacer bra.

The other two styles that were new to us were the Nouveau and Thea. Sadly, I did not take any pics of the Nouveau (if you want to see a pic, head over to Bras and Body Image) but it is a revised version of the old and trusted Tango style. The leaves of the embroidery are much more modern and the fit is improved so if you don’t fit the Tango, give this one a try. The Thea on the other half is something I really enjoyed for its lovely photo-realistic print – the peach tones seem fresh to me and the pansy print is always something that melts my heart.

CLEO BY PANACHE

Top to bottom: Mimi, NEW Coco Muse (up to H), NEW Harley (up to J), Marcie, Kali, Kali Babydoll, NEW Della (up to J), NEW Skye (up to J), Breeze Longline, NEW Kayla (up to J)

As much as I love Panache core line, the Cleo range is something I wait to see even more eagerly. The wait was not for nothing – there were so many new styles designed for the SS16 that I could hardly keep up with all the goodies! My absolute favourites were definitely the new China porcelain inspired Harley and the Barbie-reminding leopard print Della. Even though most people would consider pink + animal print more than a tad tacky I loved how cartoon-y the whole ensemble looked – this is something that is a must have for any super girly pinup out there! Also the fresh strawberry shade of Harley won over my heart and I love how graphic the black looks against the romantic floral print.

The blues are still strong with Cleo as well but as with Panache, the peach and pink tones are taking over the collections this upcoming spring season. Also the new red shade of Kali is perfect for Valentines – I would def consider getting the baydoll as a boudoir piece for a romantic date night. Such a cheesy choice with all the hearts and pink but who cares! The Marcie comes out in new bluebell shade which seems to divide opinions but I am really digging the new colourway – what can I say, I love bluebells. Also the Breeze looks super fresh to me, despite the fact that floral longlines have been on trend for a while now. Maybe it’s the crisp white colourway? Anyhow, Cleo was on point this new collection and I can’t choose what to put on my wishlist for next spring!

What do YOU think of the new Panache collections? Next time I will be previewing the Swim collections from both Panache and Cleo and spoiler – they are absolutely lovely! Until next time xx

Moda Exhibition: Preview of Lepel & Charnos SS16 + Lepel London AW15 Collections

Ah, Lepel. You always manage to steal my heart somehow, whether it comes to new shapes, colours or prints, you are my one true love and this new SS16 season changes nothing. Yes, you did cheat me this time with not making my size in some of your most fabulous styles but I will forgive you as my love is unconditional.

Haha, that’s it for the love letter but strictly speaking, Lepel did up their anté again this season which always seems to surprise me as I definitely thought they could not have done better after this summer’s fabulous styles (such as the Minnie) – but they certainly did. I also feel like the summer season is always a bit stronger for Lepel – they do lovely summery prints on their core styles but also, their swim is the one that really impresses me time after time. This time, there was also one lovely surprise in store to make the new season a jackpot – a completely new range called Lepel London. To learn more about each of their range and my personal faves, keep reading! (All styles go up to G unless stated otherwise, also this is not the complete collection because that would have made a heck of a long post!)

LEPEL

  
Fiore Full-Cup, Fiore Plunge, Lilly Rosette, Daisy, Victoria Balconette, Victoria Moulded Plunge (up to F) & Matilda

The Lepel core collection consists of some of their oldies-but-goodies in new colourways but also some more recent additions to their basics such as Fiore. Personally I am always up for new cuts and shapes but this time, I was instantly smitten with the apple green shade of Fiore and will sure be giving this old lady (hehe) a try when the new colourways launch. Lepel had adopted lovingly the new orange/pink colour trend for SS16 which is actually one of my ultimate favourite combos of all time. The Victoria, another older style of Lepel, will be available in this candy-like combination next spring and I will be sure to get my hands on it!

The Lilly Rossette is a fun take on Lepel’s basic balconette bra and the fit is also revised this time, so I am intrigued to see how it does after some alterations. In fact, I am quite impressed with this specific style with Lepel, as it always comes in such vibrant and surprising prints for each season, this AW season including a fun strawberry print (a must-have for me!). When it comes to newer styles, the turquoise Daisy is a lovely plunge option for us fuller busted ladies as well and if the blue hue is not your thing, it will also be available in white. The lace of Daisy looks fresh and young and the style seems a good basic addition to accompany the older Fiore style.

CHARNOS

Violet (up to J), Sienna (up to J), Cherub & Bailey

As Steve (the very charming head of marketing at Lepel!) mentioned last time we went to Moda, Charnos and Lepel collections have started to become more alike, with some designs overlapping the collections a bit style-wise. This was even more clear with Charnos this time, with Sienna being the star of the show with it’s graphic jungle print and stunning colour combination of yellow, green and bluebell. I have personally never been a huge fan of Charnos but with the new younger prints and sexier shapes, I am definitely intrigued to try something from the collection. Also the materials seem very on point with this particular collection – I mean, who doesn’t love stretch lace? (We all know that I am a fan!)

Even though Charnos has now taken a bit younger approach to their collections, the shapes and styles remain mostly very classic and appropriate for a more mature taste. There are also some very popular trends shown in this SS16 collection, including what I call the “Marie Antoinette vibe” – think pale lace, ruffles and light-coloured wallpaper prints. The Bailey, which is a completely new style for Charnos, fits the bill exactly and is a lovely more romantic option for the Charnos fan, if the loud prints are not your cup of champagne. Also, who doesn’t love tassels?! Tassel panties, y’all, everyone should own a pair.

LEPEL SWIM
       
Sun Kiss, Riviera, Venice Beach, Surf Balconette & Bandeau (UK 8-16), Hawaii, Sunset (UK 8-18), Helena & Lagoon Bandeau (UK 8-18) + Swimsuit (UK 8-18)

With Lepel Swim, I always pretty much go “Come to Mama, all of you!” because DAMN these designs are awesome. I don’t even know where to start as there are literally so many favourites in this swim collection. There is something for everyone: sport luxe style, Tiki pinup style, fabulous prints and colours with some more solid & classic styles as well. What really hit me hard were the Surf and Venice Beach balconette bikini tops which were fantastically styled with some contrasting trims and summery colour combos. However, if I would pick something to suit my everyday style, I would go for the Hawaii bandeau bikini because OMG LITTLE TIKI PINUPS, can I just die??? This style could definitely do with a high-waisted bottom option as I can imagine many modern day pinup girls enjoying this print.

When talking about new shapes, Lepel Swim has now introduced a moulded triangle bikini top up to G which seems very promising from what I have seen of it. The specific style is called Riviera which comes in tankini and a mini-longline bikini top as well but the triangle top is a totally new innovation to me at least – or has anyone else heard of an unwired triangle bikini top up to G-cup? I don’t think so! Even though the style is quite basic to my taste as least, I would love to try out this little number just for the science – these tatas haven’t seen a triangle bikini in years! On the model though the style looked really nice and the shape was fairly rounded yet natural.

LEPEL LONDON
       
Claudia (up to DD), Paloma in Black and Red (up to D), Tiff in Orange and Baby Blue (up to D), Georgie longline & padded bra (up to D), Chelsea Diamond in Black and Turquoise and Tara (up to DD)

Now, if the Swim didn’t blow your mind, this certainly will. The Lepel London range is something that was created for this AW15 season in collaboration with ASOS to offer the Lepel customer something a bit more hip and young, trendy and sexy at the same time. The collection features a lot of key trends for the fall and upcoming spring season as well –  strappy styling, orange and blue tones, longline cuts and eyelash lace. Super-duper stunning, to say the least!

What really did put me off with the range was the cup sizes though – up to DD?! How dare you! I think I actually told Steve to fuck off at this point when I heard they wouldn’t be going up to G (yap, that professional I am…how awkward) BUT to my excitement, ASOS really pushed the brand with the size range and it will expand in the future. The SS16 collection of Lepel London will include F-cups and MAYBE, POSSIBLY the G-cups will be introduced later in AW16. I was kinda promised that. And team Lepel, I will literally murder you if that does not happen! (haha, JK…) Cause yes, that much of a fan I am of this collection.

What really stands out to me with this collection is how it takes all of the key trends and mixes them in with a great fit and affordable prices. These pieces are not supposed to be the “luxury” range of Lepel, but a more fun, on-trend version of their original style for the same price point. This makes it affordable to any uni student out there – even Jo, the goddess of saving herself, stated that she would buy some of the pieces from the collection in a heartbeat as with such a beautiful product and a low price – why not? If not for the necessity, then just for the fun.

How do you feel about the new Lepel collections? Are you as excited about Lepel London as me? I would love to hear your opinions, so let me know in the comments! xx