Lingerie: Avocado “Chloe Folie NF” in 70H

Even though autumn and winter are upon us, it is never a wrong time for basic coloured lingerie, something that most people call “nude” (which is a bit problematic as nude does not mean the same thing to everyone). Some work places require a white button-up as basic work attire, which is why you can never have too many skin-toned bras. When I first saw Avocado‘s Chloe Folie, I thought that this is a truly versatile yet pretty “nude bra” – it could probably work on multiple skin tones, from a fair skin like mine to deeper ashy tones. Avocado sent me this style in their NF style, which is a revised version of their old H-cut, where the straps attach to the bottom part of the cup. Here’s how I liked this delicate beauty…

The Design:  I loved the colour combination of this set right from the start – it was a great pairing of greige (greyish beige) and deep magenta. The lace is delicate and who does not like the little tassels at the front? As a lingerie blogger, you start to get tired of the old bows, which is why the tassels were a nice surprising touch to the design. Regardless of the centre gore adornments and the lace, the style of Chloe Folie is quite simple and thus work appropriate. The lace is very thin, meaning you can wear it under regular shirts without it showing through too much. However, it is not a seamless t-shirt bra so you won’t get a “braless” look with it, if that is what you require from your everyday work bras!

The shape is rather similar to the old H-cut, but it seems to be a bit less covering and pointy and thus for me at least, a lot more practical. There is also quite a bit of uplift, but the one thing I don’t like that much is how the balconette shape splays my breasts to the sides a bit. I like my boobs “at the front” as they make me appear bigger than I am anyways. Keeping them as compact as possible makes me feel more comfortable and look the size I actually am rather than looking wide and frumpy. The one definite upside of the bra is that Avocado seems to be working with much stretchier materials these days and even though the the upper panel of the cup is not exactly stretch lace, the cups seem quite stretchy overall.

The Fit: As I knew from my past experience with the Avocado NF-style, it would probably fit me nicely this time as well. I was right – my size still seems to be 70H with the NF style, but with the Chloe Folie, I would be wary of not picking a too tight band size. If you are between band sizes, definitely size up! This style is not as tight as the Lorca I reviewed recently, but it is still on the snugger side compared to my older Avocado bras.

The cups are still the perfect size for me, even on the roomier end of the H-cup which is excellent if you need deep cups. What kind of baffles me is the cup width-depth ratio; usually deep cups mean narrower wires whereas this Avocado style seems to be both quite deep AND wide. The underwires are a tad too wide for me personally, but I don’t find them pinching me in the armpit whatsoever.

When it comes to shape compatibility, my full-on-top breasts are definitely friends with Chloe Folie: the RV shape seems quite open at the top with this particular style and thus leaves me more room for my upper breast tissue, that sometimes can argue with a cup pattern like this. In general, I’d think this bra would suit many breast shapes if you are not bothered by the wideness of the cups.

I know they look like a different colour but they are not! The lighting is playing its tricks on me – the real colour is more of a mixture of both of the pics shown above.

Comfort: I like this set a lot but there is one fundamental problem with it and I actually mentioned it before already: the band is a bit too small for me unfortunately. Not as much to make me want to size up a whole size, but maybe half a band size too snug. I can close the bra no problem, but the rigid band does not conform to my body very easily, which is why I haven’t worn the bra a lot during long days at work. Otherwise there are no comfort issues with the bra really: the tacking centre gore loosens quite quickly after a few wears and I especially like the width of the straps which are too widely placed for me personally, but still manage to feel good without any chafing.

The bottoms on the other hand are fantastic! I love that Avocado has brought the option of high-waisted panties into their selection and they have nailed it right away. I have to say though that the Medium is a bit too large for me, so if you are between two sizes, I would advice to size down with these. The rise of the panty is divine: it reaches my belly button and covers my butt well. A covering comfortable style yet still very attractive in my opinion!

If you would like to test the Chloe Folie set, you can find on the Avocado online store for 66,92€ for the bra (60-95 C-L, Avocado sizes) and 33,96€ for the full brief (XS-XXL). If these are not the shapes and styles you prefer personally, you can find the Chloe Folie in other Avocado styles as well. What do you think of the Chloe Folie? Have you tried the new Avocado styles recently? Let me know in the comments! xx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lingerie Fit for a Burlesque Star: Louise Ferdinand “Uma” in 32G

I have been admiring Louise Ferdinand lingerie  from a far since a couple of years back. I first became familiar with them through a Fuller Figure Fuller Bust review and was smitten with the vintage styling and the craftsmanship put into the designs. Also what really struck me was the way they used and still use models of all sizes and ethnicities – not many lingerie brands are that inclusive, even in 2016.

Only a couple of weeks back Sandra, the wonder woman behind the brand, contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a sample from them and of course, I couldn’t say no. This brand is still something very unique to the full-bust market – it’s all about innovative styles and nods to the past, with a styling that would woo even the pickiest burlesque queens. Let’s see what Sandra surprised me with!

The Design: I had literally no idea what was coming to me in the mail so when I opened the parcel I was pleasently surprised with the Uma set, which I had already been eyeing at – however, there is probably nothing I don’t like in Louise Ferdinand’s current selection, so I think I would have been happy with probably any of her designs.  The Uma is a rather classic shape for LF meaning it’s a vintage-style plunge balconette, with a rather pointy shape. The bustline is not what a modern western woman usually wants – smooth, super uplifted and round – but I really enjoy this shape, especially under my 40’s style dresses.

The styling itself is so stunning and I am impressed with the combination of girly lace and bow and the black sturdy mesh that gives the bra a more edgier look. I also like that the bow at the centre gore is not red like the trimming at cup edge but a contrasting purple colour. The coverage this bra gives is pretty much perfect for me but I am wondering if it’s because this is a cup size too small for me. In any case, I have worn it a lot with my more low-cut dresses and it works really well with them.

Fit: As I mentioned above, the 32G was about a cup size too small for me so this is definitely not my best size with Louise Ferdinand. I would love to try a 30H someday with this brand as it seems to be running along the lines of other British DD+ brands and thus, I feel that my regular size would have been better for me. Also, the band is a tiny bit loose on me, which is understandable as I measure 31″ under my bust.  I am a bit of a tricky size right now when it comes to bands so I can never know whether to go for 30 or 32, especially if it’s a brand that I am not yet familiar with. The band is quite wide though so it is supportive in the 32 as well, but I prefer to wear it in the tightest set of hooks.

The underwires of this bra are also quite regular for a British brand, so a wee bit too wide for me. However, I did not experience any discomfort with them and they do not bother me at all. The cups are an average depth but designed more for a full-on-bottom shape breasts – my boobs are full-on-top so I am pretty sure that is one of the reasons I’m bulging a bit at the top. The cup edge trimming is quite rigid so I would definitely even recommend sizing up in the cup if you have a bit more breast tissue on the top half of your boobs.

Comfort: I really liked how this set manages to feel quite nice against my skin even when being a quite rigid mesh material. The materials feel like good quality and don’t rub my skin anywhere, not even around the usually-very-itchy armpit area. Also the band and the wires feel really flexible, meaning I can move around in the bra without any discomfort. My only real gripe with the bra are the straps – unfortunately they are too widely placed and stretchy for my body and tend to slip off my shoulders now and then. They are fully-adjustable however, so even when being petite or tall, you can make them work length-wise.

I also got the Uma briefs in size Medium, which is probably around 12 in UK sizes – I found that this runs pretty true-to-size as my butt has grown an inch again (!!! those squats though…) and I am becoming more of a true 12 on the bottom half of my body (which is so annoying cause my waist is still a size 10). The bottoms are quite low but not as much as with eg Cleo – which is good, because Cleo bottoms and I don’t really mesh well together! The briefs is styled with the same cute lace as the bra and cover my bum nicely – I am not a huge fan of the brazilian trend that’s going strong at the moment! Overall the set is a comfy and surprisingly practical little number, but also manages to be sexy enough to wear in the boudoir. Love it!

If you would like to get your hands on some Louise Ferdinand set yourself, do check out their online store here. The Uma set comes in a whopping size range of 28-38 A-J + bottom sizes S-XL, and set you back at £60 for the bra and £34 for the briefs.

Have you tried Louise Ferdinand lingerie yet? Do you like the vintage styling on a modern bra? Let me know in the comments! xx

Happy New Year with Playful Promises – Review of “Juliet” in 32G

Hi everyone and happy Three Kings’ Day! Christmas is finally over and I am finishing off my holidays as well – the uni is starting again on 11th so still a few more days to go. The reason I haven’t blogged for two weeks is because, obviously holiganza happened but also because I have been organizing things for my incoming exchange students. I am taking care of 11 students this spring term and it has already been a hassle so excuse me for lacking the time to engage with you! I am happy to say though that I am back and will start off the year with something super lovely – that is the Playful Promises full bust collection.

When Anna from Playful Promises contacted me this late autumn and told me about her upcoming DD-G collection, I was so excited – PP is a brand I have been loving and drooling over for a couple of years now and as they were out of reach for me because of the size range, they left my heart broken in million pieces. Imagine my joy when they announced the size expansion! Anna was kind to offer me a set from this new collection and as I had been lusting over the strappy lingerie trend for a while, I decided to go for the sexy and edgy Juliet. Here’s how I like the complete set!

Design: I had such a hard time picking a set from this fantastic collection as Playful Promises really nails it with every single design they do. And I am not kidding – you know when most brands come up with a couple of gems a season but this brand is something else. Each set is a carefully crafted piece of seduction that speaks to me personally on so many levels. When I saw the Portia on eg Becky from Becky’s Boudoir I went instantly nuts and was sad I couldn’t catch them all – but you mustn’t be greedy ya know 😉

I have loved the strappy Dom lingerie trend when it first came in fashion and even though some people are predicting it to finally see its end, I am really loving these sorts of designs still. I was happy to see Playful Promises translate the style to a full-bust collection and I think they hit jackpot with Juliet – the clean styling and black colour of set emphasize the carefully placed straps that adorn the bodice and upper bust area. The bra comes with a separate harness that goes over the bra and can be tossed if it does not suit your ensemble of the day. I personally haven’t found many dresses that would compliment this bra that much but I have a red little number on the way that just might be it.

The bra cups are constructed of three pieces with two vertical seams – which is actually pretty unusual for a G-cup bra. Most brands refuse to use this pattern as it is not seen as the most supportive one – which I beg to disagree on. I really like how PP uses this sorts of style to create half-cup like look but unfortunately, there is still some work that needs to be done on the shape. I personally feel it flattens and widens my bust a bit which is something that Anna and her design team could still look into. I prefer a very rounded look to my bust and this is why I would love to see this style tweaked just a bit.

Fit: With new full-bust collections it is always a bit of a hassle to find your perfect size and fit. As PP does not go above G yet, I decided to sister size down from 30GG (which I still sometimes wear in addition to 30H) to 32G. I was aware that PP might come a bit small in the band like most vintage inspired / reproduction lingerie brands which is why I was quite certain the band wouldn’t come up too loose. And I was right – the band is very tight and the 32 only stretches up to approximately 31″ which is my exact underbust measurement (I should probably cut down on my back weights at the gym, sigh…) at the moment. If you are between band sizes, I would definitely suggest sizing up. The band is a rather rigid sort of power mesh which is why I don’t see it stretching out too easily either.

The cups are pretty much true to size and fit the same way as with most British full-bust brands – quite wide and shallow that is. This does not personally suit my breast shape that well and I would love for PP to experiment with just a smidge deeper cups to achieve a better fit for so many girls like me. However, I know that there really are wide and shallow girls out there as well and this could be a great fit for them. I am just being greedy and wanting this brand to fit me amazingly so I can buy all the pretties, haha!

The wires are not super wide like some British underwires so I definitely don’t have a problem with them going too far in my armpits. The cups are also pretty low-cut meaning the wires are not chafing me anywhere. The centre gore of the bra floats a bit off my sternum but not horribly so and if the cups were just a teeny bit deeper, I am sure this would be fixed (though I am not too fussy about floating gores, I actually hate when they tack me too hard and pinch me in the sternum!)

Comfort: As I did mention before, the band is very tight on me which is why it’s perhaps not the most comfy on me yet. This is because I have not gotten much wear out of the bra for not getting my creative juices flowing and pairing it with enough outfits. I am sure however that after a few more wears the band will loosen up and feel more comfortable. In fact, it is better for the band to be a bit too snug at first, so it will still be supportive after you “break it in”. The materials are lovely on this set and I love how good quality they feel on – the metal parts are sturdy and the garters of the girdle are “real” garters which actually hold up your stockings.

The straps of the bra are quite wide and placed well so they won’t fall off my shoulders easily; they are also half-adjustable but still quite a good length so I could see this working on someone a bit taller or shorter than me (I am 5’6 for reference).The underwires of the bra are very flexible meaning they move nicely with my body while being active throughout the day.

The co-ordinates to this set are equally lovely as the bra itself – I love that the set comes with a high-waisted panty which is my preferred style of knickers but also with a lovely vintage-style girdle. Both of them have little peep-holes at the back which is a great design detail and suit the set well. I got both the panties and the girdle in a UK size 12 but I can see that there is a slight size difference between them – the girdle comes up a bit snugger than the knickers and I easily could have sized down to 10 with the panties. I think this might be because the girdle is a smoothing garment as well and needs to suck your tummy in a bit to create a desired silhouette. All in all, I love both of the co-ordinates and they are perfect for everyday wear for being simple in design and creating a clean line under pencil dresses and other sleek clothes.

If you would like to get some extravagant full-bust lingerie for yourself, do check out the Playful Promises full-bust collection on their online store. The prices are a bit higher than your average full-bust bras and everyday panties but then again – this is not your average lingerie. The Juliet harness bra (comes in sizes 28-36 DD-G) sets you back at £65, the high-waisted knickers (UK sizes 8-16) at £25 and the girdle (sizes 8-16) at £38.

How do you like the new Playful Promises full-bust collection? Do you think boudoir brands are in need in the full bust market? Let me know in the comments! xx

Lingerie Review: Gossard “Desire” in 32G

I am a big fan of longline bras/ bustiers in theory – they are lovely to look at but in practice, they usually kill my sensitive skin and prominent rib cage. When I first saw the Gossard’s new “Desire” longline that went up to G-cup, I could not resist though! I had to get my hands on the piece right away when it released and luckily, I am in pretty friendly terms with Gossard after blogging for them for two years now. The lovely Laura from Gossard was happy to send me this new V.I.P.-range set to review, so let’s enjoy the beauty of it! *This set was sent to me free of charge by Gossard. All opinions are my own.*

Design: The Desire is a beautiful classic VIP range style with lovely eyelash lace adorning the cup and the band edge. The colour combo is very stylish and sultry – the black lace and mesh are sewn onto a blush beige/pink underlay which makes the set a perfect romantic gift to your beloved one (if romantic lingerie happens to be her thing)!

The style of the longline is a pretty traditional plunge shape with no additional push-up padding to enhance the cleavage – the shape of the cups does all the work on its own! The cups go quite high up near my shoulders compared to my other Gossard plunges which makes it a great style to combine to v-neck tops and dresses. The cups are moulded so there is no seams on sight and some great roundness to the bust line.

Fit: When it comes to moulded cups and longlines it gets a bit tricky with my breast shape. Even though I do have quite “easy” boobs (meaning most bras fit me better than most other girls in my size range) but moulded cups are still something that don’t quite like my bust – but I am pretty sure they are not a great match with anyone’s boobs unless you can get the cup depth and wire width exactly right (molded cups don’t mold into your own breast shape but try to make your boobs mold into the shape of the bra). As you can see, there is some space at the bottom of the cups which tells us that the Desire bra is just a bit too shallow for me to fit perfectly.

I chose my regular Gossard size 32G with the Desire and think the decision was quite good. However, if I could try a 30GG, I would as the band is a bit looser than with most other Gossard bras I have tried (except for Gypsy). I think this is because longlines are pretty supportive even without a super snug band though, so I am definitely not complaining. However, I can comfortably fasten the band to the tightest set of hooks, which is not the ideal situation if you want to get the most life out of your bra. Conclusion: definitely go with your regular British band size and a cup size down with this bra! The band features whopping seven hooks and eyes which is great though and adds so much support to the whole ensemble. Also, the wide back band smooths any back fat rolls you might encounter with regular bras, so I know a lot of girls will enjoy this asset 😉

Comfort: I was a bit worried about the boning aspect of the longline but I needn’t have worried! I love how the boning (there are six additional bones in the band) is flexible enough to move with my body but also sturdy enough to keep the band in place. Sometimes longlines tend  to roll at the band if not reinforced with heavy boning but I think we have a pretty happy medium here! The underwires of the bra are a bit wide and high for my taste but but not horribly so to make me not to wear it. To be honest with you folks – this bra is mostly for boudoir and special events so I don’t need it to be that most practical working horse type of bra anyway!

What I like about this bra especially are the straps this time. Gossard has moved Desire’s bra straps inwards a bit more than with most of their bras, which is a huge improvement for girls like me who sometimes experience bra straps slipping off the shoulders. The straps are also fully-adjustable which is great for both more petite and tall girls alike!

What I really loved about this set are the panties (got them in my regular Gossard size Small) – holy cow these bottoms are sexy, comfy and practical at the same time! I know they don’t look like that but they really do good a job in my wardrobe at least. As you know, I wear a lot of pinup style dresses and with them, petticoats are essential. With petticoats though comes the problem of seams itching my tummy which is why I love high-waisted knickers! These particular ones are just high enough to please me but also feel sturdy on my tummy and look sexy even when not being the skimpiest panties on earth. I also love the detachable garter straps as they seem like good quality to me – something I will love when the weather gets warmer in the spring (no stockings for me at the moment, hrrrrr!).

If you would like to give Desire a try, you can get the set on Gossard online store for £42 for the bra (available in sizes 30-38 A-G) and £34 for the deep short (sizes XS-XL). The set comes with brazilian suspender brief as well, if high-waisted knickers are not your cup of tea. 

How do you like the Desire? Have you found a full bust longline in your size that works? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know! xx

PS. If you would like to read my article about how to buy lingerie/bras for a sensitive skin, head over to The Lingerie Addict blog! Definitely a good read for someone with eczema or psoriasis.

2015 Christmas Gift Guide for Modern Day Pinups! + A Couple of Announcements

Hi everyone! First of all, I need to start by announcing the winners of my birthday giveaway. I was so happy to see so many entries (850+ in total, to be honest! WOW!) and was also so grateful to see a lot of people commenting nice things about my blog and congratulating me on turning 23. THANK YOU! There is so much hate in the world right now that I am happy to see kind words wherever I face them. Please stay positive and kind, gals 🙂 It makes the world a better place!

Now for the winners! The lingerie set of choice from My Curves and Me goes to…

EMMA H.

The Mala dress + three discount codes go to…

GABBY

Thank you everyone for taking part and congrats girls for winning!

Another thing I would like to address today is the fact that I have been nominated for Esty Lingerie Blogger Awards for the Best DD+ Blogger of the Year! What an honour! If you like my blog and enjoy our little bra-fulfilled space here, please go and cast me a vote, will you? If you did that for me, I would be a very happy peanut 🙂 ❤ Here’s a link, so get voting! The voting ends on 14th of December, 12 GMT.

Thanks in advance for voting me! Anyhow, I wanted to put together a gift guide for this year which would include some stuff that I truly love for myself and I think other pinup girls and lingerie lovers would enjoy. As a word of warning, this list does not include lingerie-only items but other things as well which are perhaps easier to shop for regardless of one’s bra or dress size. I have also tried to include things that are pretty budget-friendly as I am a student myself and know December is a tough month anyway (all student loan spent already, that is!). Hope you will find something to make you or your friend/spouse/mom/sister happy!

Playful Promises D+ Collection! – Let’s start with lingerie anyway cause why not 😉 I recently heard that Playful Promises – a well-known lingerie brand in pinup scene – is coming out with a full-bust collection! Well, these pieces have now been released and I have received my first ones which I am very happy about – the set is absolutely beautiful and well-made with a fairly reasonable price tag for such unique designs!

As a Christmas appropriate ensemble, I picked the Portia set to be included on my gift guide. All the bras go up to G-cup and to spoil you a bit, I must say they run a size small in the band and a size big in the cup. I would suggest trying out your regular Gossard size, if that helps! I am wearing a 32G with PP, for reference. The bra sets you back at £55 and the panties at £30 so not the cheapest but something you would definitely get points for treating your loved-one with!

Erstwilder brooches! – I have only recently become obsessed with brooches and the blame is on the pinup community. How am I supposed to resist these beauties if everyone flaunts their cute brooches around? My outfits don’t feel complete anymore and this is why I have requested my first Erstwilder “Fancy New Do” brooch from my boyfriend as a Christmas present! They are little pieces of art but only cost around 35 AUD with reasonable shipping rates to anywhere in the world.

Besame Cosmetics Lipsticks! – Unfortunately I have not yet had a chance to try Besame but I have heard some awesome things about them. If you wish to learn more about the brand and their quality, I would read Miss Victory Violet’s review on some of their products! I personally have been dying to try out these lush shades for forever and also really dig the packaging – who could resist such glamour?

You can get the lipsticks on Besame online store and even though they are quite pricy for $22 for a tube, they are a great luxury gift for a beauty-obsessed gal like myself! My personal favourite is the “Noir Red” which is part of their 30’s range full of rich deep tones of red.

Cute Aprons from Suburban 50’s! – I am a huge fan of baking but also a super messy person and my boyfriend is always amazed about my risk-taking abilities when I bake with my beautiful Pinup Girl Clothing frocks on. Not wise, to say the least! This is why I am looking forward to Christmas as apparently Mikko is planning to get me a cute apron as another Christmas present. As a picky person, I did do some research on pinup style aprons and found a lovely and affordable Etsy shop called Suburban 50’s. Most of their aprons are around $35 and are made with amazing novelty prints (like this foxy little number in the pic above) to top it all off!

PJ’s from Cyberjammies! – I know this is not particularly pinup but us glamour ladies need some comfy lounge- and sleepwear as well! One of my favourite brands to drool over at this time of the year is Cybejammies. They are a British company who sell reasonably-priced sleepwear with amazingly comfy materials and cutesy prints. I am including these “Flora” jammies (£45) on the list because they were the first thing that caught my eye a year ago at the Moda Exhibition while browsing the Cyberjammies stand and I am still head over heels in love with them!

Ewa Michalak lingerie! – Almost every full-busted gal loves Ewa and there is a pretty good reason for it; not everyone can offer such uplift and unique styles in hard-to-find sizes. Ewa Michalak bras are absolutely amazing quality for their price and most of the styles are created especially for the customer in question – meaning you should definitely be placing your order soon if you want to make it before Christmas! I fell in love with the SM Rozmarzona which is a beautiful pinup-esque style with a great size range and cute detailing!

Dita Stockings by Secrets in Lace! – I love stockings, holdups and any hosiery really as it makes me feel so glamorous, especially when wearing something super thin and festive. I recently came across these Dita Von Teese french heel stockings ($32) over at Secrets in Lace and they are so gorgeous I could die! Every pinup loves Dita so why not indulge your loved one with a pair of signed stocking from her idol?

So here were my tips on how to make a pinup girl reeeeeeally happy! Hope you enjoyed my list and if you have something to add, please feel free to comment down below. Let me know what are you wishing for Christmas! xx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retro-Style Lingerie: Review of Parfait “Charlotte” in 30HH

Many of you must have become familiar with a very well known Parfait style called Charlotte (click for my previous review in 30G!). Basically, Charlotte is a Parfait best-seller going up to K-cup and this way, it has become a favourite for so many women who crave for sexy options for a fuller bust. I myself have owned Charlotte in its pink colourway but this autumn the Parfait team has come up with a great new colourway of Purple Wine. I was so smitten with the purple shade and as I had grown out of my pink version, I knew I had to have my hands on the purple Charlotte. Luckily, my friends at Large Cup Lingerie were so kind to send me a whole new set of Charlotte so here’s the updated review of Parfait’s G+ Charlotte.

Design: As you may know by my last review of Charlotte, I absolutely adore the design as it is very retro pinup-like and always comes in delicious colourways. I liked how the Charlotte has now seen a few deeper shades as the previous ones have been quite pink and cutesy. The purple hue is very lively and rich and reminds me of berries. I also like the black trimmings – they make the style a bit more whimsical and classic at the same time and give the design its signature look.

The cups of the 30HH Charlotte cover a lot more than my 30G but that is quite expected as many brands don’t really know how to make supportive bras with a little less fabric or just believe than bigger busted gals need a bit heavier bras. The shape of the bra is still good and it leaves a fair amount of my chest bare so I think the looks of the bra work well in bigger sizes as well. There is not much cleavage in sight but it’s always good to own even some bras that cater for more modest look under clothing.

Fit: As the my previous version of Charlotte in 30G fitted me true-to-size and also otherwise very well, I was a bit baffled when I heard the G+ sizes were a different story. The cups ran small, the cups and straps were wider and cups came up high in the armpit. I wanted to know if this was something I could get on with and found indeed the bra to be a different fit with in 30G and 30HH.

I don’t find the fit differences such a huge problem but as there are significant differences, I suggest you read my review thoroughly. First of all, the cups do run about a cup size and half small so I would say you need to size up either a cup size or two if you are bigger than a G-cup. My 30G was on the smaller side of G but still not as “off” as the cup volume in the bigger sizes. My usual size is now between 30GG and 30H so a 30HH was a pretty good guess I’d say. Also I had tried the red version of the bra in a 30J before and it fitted me well (!) BUT the sizes has been revised a bit since last spring and they now come up a tiny bit roomier. The bands are snug but I would still go for your regular band size as the 30 band fits my 30″ underbust very nicely.

The cups encase my breast tissue well and the whole bra feels very supportive on – it’s one of the most sturdiest bras I have at the moment. If you do have a large bust and need something that will keep your girls in place, this is the bra for you. The straps are very wide in my opinion which is also a pro if you want something super supportive. The bra band is also rather wide and so are the cups/wires. I would say Parfait could still do some revising on the fit as the cups tend to come quite high up in my armpit but as it goes, I can deal with that issue pretty well. Also the fit is quite good for my full-on-top boobs though there is some folding at the bottom of the cups as they seem to be a bit too shallow for me. However, the top part of the cups is not cutting in and the bra gives me a nice shape so I don’t mind the wrinkling too much.

Comfort: As the bra is a bit heavy and sturdy it is probably not your best choice for a summer day in hottest heat but when you want to feel secure and strapped down and eg need to run for a bus, this bra is a great option. I sometimes find myself opting for the lightest bras I own and in the end of the day, the narrow bands and straps just feel painful and too flimsy, especially if you are wearing the bra for several hours. I would say that Charlotte does have a lot of bra going on, but it can be a saviour of the day when you have been running around all day and your boobs still haven’t bounced and hit you in the face.

The panties of this set are again comfortable AF and look super flattering too. I have even worn my Charlotte panties for dance class and other sports and they always seem to do the job superbly. So if you get the bra, make sure to get the bottoms as well! Charlotte set also includes a pair of lovely high-waisted knickers so if you want to add up some extra retro vibe, make sure to check them out too. The panties run true-to-size in my opinion so I went for my regular size Small.

The bra goes up to 40K (!) and costs only £30 so it’s not gonna break the bank either. I would also like to dearly recommend Large Cup Lingerie as they have a fantastic customer service and they offer a FREE international delivery! The ladies at LCL put their heart into their work and it really shows while interacting with them. If you don’t find your size on the online store, just pop them an email and they will do their best to order your size asap.

Have anyone of you tried Parfait Charlotte in the G+ sizes? How did you like it and is there something you would improve? Leave me a comment below as I would love to know 🙂 xx

Canadian Goodies – Review Of Blush Lingerie “Paramour” High-Waisted Brief

First of all, I am hyperventilating here because I have my final job interview for being a bra fitter for a very well-known brand (and I REALLY want the job). So please excuse me if this review turns out odd, I am not myself at the moment. Okay, moving on…

A few weeks ago I saw this amazing set by Blush Lingerie and of course, got super excited and tweeted them that I would literally die if I couldn’t get my hands on it (this happens now and then). What I wasn’t expecting was that the lovely people at Blush contacted me and asked if I wanted to review the very same set called “Paramour”. Unfortunately, I do not fit into their bra size range which only goes up to DD with this particular range but I was very happy to be sent the lovely retro suspender brief in the lovely Black/Obsidian colourway. Here’s how it looks and fits…

I want to say something before I tell you about the briefs. It took me a whole lot of courage to post pics of myself in my panties so I hope you are gentle on me. I have scars and wounds around my body because of my eczema and I am not perfectly slim, I know that (also, I just noticed I have super weird ribs poking out under my bra band). Why I wanted to post these pictures was because I want to show how lingerie looks on someone my size and hopefully some of you can relate to my body type. If you are about to comment on this post, which I appreciate, leave my body out of the comments unless you have something nice to say. I am very touchy about this subject because of my eating disorder problems and will ask you to respect that. #diversityinlingerie

The brief looks as stunning in nature as in the pictures though the mint-green undertone looks much more accentuated in natural light. I am so glad Blush Lingerie has decided to pair the mint shade with black as it makes the bottoms approachable to us fuller-busted ladies as well and we can match it to any basic black bra we own. The design of the panties is so adorable and sexy at the same time and I love the high rise that looks pretty good on me too, even though I don’t have the best proportions for high-waisted stuff. The brief comes up to my belly button but doesn’t cover it so I would say the panties are designed for someone with rather regular proportions and height.

I went for the size Small with the panties even though my waist measurement belongs to the M category. The thing is, my waist and hips don’t have a dramatic difference between them so each time I go for a certain size, I need to pick whether the panties are a bit snug on my waist or a little too loose on my butt. I usually go for the snugger waist as I do like a nipped-in look with everything high-waisted.

The quality of the panties seems great to me and the detachable suspenders are made of a lovely velvet-y material, creating a more luxe look to the style. The materials are stretchy enough to feel comfortable and the gusset feels a good width to me. Also the butt section has enough room for my booty and looks quite flattering even though I don’t have much curves on my backside. All in all, the Paramour high-waisted knickers seems like a very good quality for their 38 CAD (=27 €) price tag! Shipping to Europe can be costly but eg. to USA it’s only $5.

How do you like the panties? Do you love or hate high-waisted bottoms? Let me know in the comments! xx