Lace and Haze

Author: laceandhaze

  • Period pants.

    Period pants.

    All products have been purchased myself and all opinions are my own. This post does contain some affiliate links.

    Let’s talk about period pants! If you have periods or know someone who does or will at some point, this one is for you.

    So I’m obsessed with period pants, they are my product of choice to stop blood running down my legs once a month. Some other options incase you are unaware are pads, tampons, liners, re usable pads and moon cups.

    Modibodi sensual high waist bikini, Modibodi classic bikini, Modibodi Sensual high waist bikini and finally the Thinx hip hugger thong.

    So why are they my product of choice?

    Well for me, I find them the easiest to use, the most comfortable and slightly more eco friendly then Traditional period products such as tampons and pads. For me when I was working in retail I found them particularly useful. Every time I needed to change my tampon I’d get stuck with a customer and end up bleeding through. Not fun. But when I discovered period pants it was a huge relief knowing I wouldn’t have to go through that trauma every time I had my period at work.

    I think they are a great option for teenagers who are just starting to get their periods, I know tampons can seems quite daunting and pads just feel so bulky and foreign. They are becoming more widely available, you’ll even see them on your supermarket shelves these days. 2 years ago you would have never dreamed of it. So as they are rising in popularity, more products and coming into the market. Hopefully this little guide can help you decide which ones you’d like to try.

    Today I’ve got 4 brands to show you and share my thoughts on.

    Love Luna

    First up is the first pair I ever tried. These ones are from a brand called love Luna period brief and I came across them at my local Woolworths. I’d been wanting to try period briefs after failed attempts with the moon cup and wanting to move away from disposables. They are realitivly cheap, $10-$15 AUD depending if they are on special or not. They come in 3 styles, low, mid and full brief and they hold up to 20mls or the equivalent or 3-4 tampons worth. They come in Australian size 8 to 22 and just in one colour, black.

    Modibodi

    Modibodi is a stand out brand in this area. I was put off trying them for awhile because of the higher price point and having to buy them online at the time. It was the best decision I made when I finally purchased them, these are the pants that convinced me that period pants were the way to go.

    So they have an absolutely massive range. They have ones for sweat, maternity, pee and of course period. Their size range is from Australian size 6-26 or xxs -6xl. They have Bikini style briefs, full briefs, boy shorts, thongs, seam free and my favourite type, the sensual. They also have different level of absorbsbcey from light to heavy/ overnight. Also they have a lot of colours so if you want to add a little brightness and fun to your period pants wardrobe. There are so many options but my favourites have been the sensual high waisted brief in the overnight absorbency and the classic brief with moderate absorbency. The briefs are so comfortable, they are made from bamboo and spandex. The gussets liner (the absorbent parts) are made from merino, spandex and polyester. They also have a vegan range for anyone looking for that but I haven’t tried that style myself. The over night styles hold up to 20mls or 3-4 tampons worth of blood and the prices range from $25-$35 AUD per pair but they do do bundle packs at a discount.

    Thinx

    So Thinx is an America brand and it’s the most expensive on this list. Price ranges from $35-$70 AUD. They have a lot of different products from thongs to shorts and absorbency from 4.5 mls up to 36mls. Size range is xxs-3xl. Thinx used to exclusively sell direct to consumer but in the last few years the have expanded and now sell their products globally through stockists. It’s now sold in some David Jones stores in Australia and is available on ASOS which is wear I got mine. In the uk it looks like they are available in most boots.

    Their products are certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®️ and vegan as well, so good for the conscious shopper.

    Tom

    So Tom organics started of as a sanitary brand selling pads and tampons. They are the ones I’ve used as long as I can remember and I still use their tampons to this day. They have just launched a menstrual cup and now the period brief. They only have one style and it comes only in black. Size range is from xxs-3xl or the equivalent of Australian 6-20. They are only $15 but they only hold 2 tampons worth of blood so better suited on lighter days or combined wear with tampons as backup. The body of the product is made with organic cotton and elastane, the absorbency layer with 85% regular cotton and 15% polyester and then an additional leak proof layer. They also came in plastic free packing so that’s a win in my book.

    But how are they to wear?

    Not exactly flattering or comfortable, this is the size Large.

    So it’s pretty much you get what you pay for. The Tom organic period pants I really wanted to love but I just don’t. I find the seam on the legs really firm and cuts in massively. I’m wearing a size large in them but I think I’d like to try the XL just to see if it would make much difference. They also feel quite bulky. I love the fact that the body of the pants is made from organic cotton but I just can’t get past how uncomfortable and awkward I found them.

    Luna period pants holding up reasonably well after a few years.

    Love Luna is ok but they still have that bulky feel to them. These ones are from when I was slimmer so they are a size 10-12. I’d need the next size up now. I do find I leak through these ones. Perhaps they have updated the product since I purchased these ones as the website does state they have a leak proof layer. I think both the Luna and Tom products are a good entry level product if you wanted to try period pants for the first time without investing a lot of money. Also great that they are both stocked in supermarkets in Australia, great when your period strikes and need an emergency pair.

    Wearing Thinx lightest absorbency option the thong and the heaviest, the overnight brief both in size medium.

    I really like the Thinx products and I’m glad I do, I’d be pissed if I spent $100 on two period pants and they were crap. They are super comfortable to wear, I haven’t leaked through and the fabric is nice and smooth so it doesn’t stand out too much under clothing. After washing the overnight pair, the absorbency layer felt slightly out of place but with a few adjustments it was back to normal. One main difference with this brand is that the gusset and absorbency layer is like a ribbed texture in the pairs I tried and not completely flat like the others. I thought this was a really cool detail as I think it helps the blood absorb faster.

    Top images size 12 classic bikini medium absorption, bottom images size 14 sensual bikini medium absorption.

    Period pants from Modibodi are by far my favourite. They are just so comfortable to wear, they don’t cut in anywhere and I love the broad range of products. I have worn and washed them more times than I can count and they still look good. The one slight issue I have with them is that sometimes I can leak through at the seams at the gusset, like the absorbency layer and leakproof layer aren’t sewn into the gusset seams completely. Like the layers are floating there. This only happens when my period is very heavy and have only noticed it a few times at night. It doesn’t leak anywhere but can stain the outer fabric of the undies.

    So how do you take care of you period pants?

    The best way to wash you period pants is to rinse them after use then put them in the washing machine. Don’t use bleach or softener and don’t tumble dry! I usually just rinse mine when I have a shower that way it’s easy and quick. Now, unfortunately period pants don’t last forever. You will need to replace after a few months/years depending on how often you use them and how many you have. While they are still better than using disposable sanitary items, they are not perfect.

    As someone who has suffered through really painful periods I have found period pants a life saver. Sometimes cramps are just too bad to be inserting anything.

    Have you tried period pants, and if so what are your thoughts?

  • Adina Reay Fran review.

    Adina Reay Fran review.

    It’s been slowly coming around for awhile, but there are now options for luxury lingerie for the fuller bust customer. Adina reay is one of these brands that focusing on the luxury fuller bust market and currently serves the dd_G 28-38 customers. It doesn’t cover the entire fullerbust range as that would be huge, but it’s a very good start.

    I ordered the Fran set in red. The bra in a 28FF initially and the suspender briefs in a small. When it arrived it was clear that the 28FF was far too small so I exchange it for a 28G. The process to exchange is fairly simple. You just email Adina Reay and they send through the document for the courier pick up. You do have to call the courier company to arrange the pick up, for me this was really hard. I struggle with calling people, it gives me huge anxiety I literally put it off for a month because it gave me so much stress. It would have been great if their was an online option.

    The knickers are so comfortable to wear! The mesh is super soft against the skin even with all the vertical detail panels. I’m surprised how well they held up stockings. I wore this set for 6hrs walking around and sitting and they stayed in place no worries. If you are on the smaller side of your size measurements it may not be the same. I’m on the upper end of small so it worked for me. My one major concern if you would wear these knickers with the suspenders all the time is how well the fabric would hold up to the constant pull of the stockings. The fabric warped a little when I wore them for 6 hrs, I’m not sure how much more they would warp if worn regularly.

    The bra feels beautiful on but it doesn’t feel super secure. It’s made from the same really soft mesh which feels beautiful against the skin. I’d heard that this style ran big that’s why I initially ordered the 28FF. I can confirm it does run big in the band but only because of the materials used in construction. So I’ve had this set for awhile and I’m finally reviewing it. The main reason for the delay is because at first I didn’t like this set on me. But slowly I’ve noticed I’ve been reaching for this set to wear. It’s perfect for those lazy days when you want comfort, nothing to delicate or fussy and more support than a bralette. It’s definitely not one of the most supportive bras I own but it’s definitely one of the most comfortable.

    My only regret with this purchase is that I didn’t get a 3 piece set. I like the suspender knickers but I find I wear them only as normal knickers without the stockings. They always seem like a good idea but never actually end up being used as much. This set doesn’t actually come with a matching suspender which explains why I went with the suspender knickers all those months ago.

    All in all I’d say I like this set but I don’t love it. The bra band isn’t firm enough for my liking and doesn’t give as much support as I would like. The suspender knickers are ok. I’d much prefer a separate suspender and normal knickers, preferably seamless. I think its a good brand but next time I think ill try a product that perhaps has more structure and support to it and hopefully a 3 piece set.

  • Katherine Hamilton Abrielle review.

    Katherine Hamilton Abrielle review.

    This set has been gifted to be by Katherine Hamilton. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

    I really love it when brands do a 28 band. I love it even more when they actually make lingerie I want to wear. Usually its hard to find that perfect combo of fashion/comfort/fit in one brand but Katherine Hamilton is giving all us D+ gals what we have been wishing for for years.

    I was gifted the Abrielle set in the navy (also comes in black) in a size 28H and the high waisted briefs in a size 12. This set retails for 206 GBP or roughly $370 AUD.

    So these are not my usual sizes. I’d say I’m a solid 28GG and a Solid size 10. I was advised to size up in this bra as it came up a tad small. Ive tried Katherine Hamilton before and I know the briefs I had back then came up small so I went ahead and ordered the next size up. I’m not sure if this is true for all the products but I would generally say if in between sizes, size up.

    I absolutely fell in love with this set when I first saw it pop up on my instagram feed. It reminds me of I.D sarrieri but for Fuller bust people and I think it would be a lot more durable (Just guessing I’ve never tried I.D sarrieri as I’m sized out). I think the idea of the embroidery being so detailed and petit really appealed to me as a fuller bust customer as usually they are not terms I would describe fuller bust lingerie with.

    We know this set is obviously beautiful so I’ll tell you a bit about this set that isn’t as easy to spot. The top layer of the cup comprises of French embroidery on a sheer mesh. This is what lays on top of the structural cup to give it the tattoo effect. The structural cup Is a 3 piece full cup with the additional side sling for forward projection. The top layer is mostly just floating very precisely on top of the structural cup and is held in place with some very well concealed stitches. You have the support of a full cup bra but with the look of a Demi bra. The straps are fully adjustable and the back as 3 rows and 3 columns of hook and eyes in this size. The straps are wide enough that they don’t dig in but not so wide as to feel bulky.

    This is seriously one of the most comfortable bras I have ever tried, I feel like it was made for me. It feels firm and supportive without feeling it like its digging in anywhere. I think this is because of the specialist wires Katherine hamiltion has developed specifically to combat the issues that usually arise when wearing a bra as a full busted person. Out of all the bras I’ve tried in my life, I feel like this one has the best combination of fit, comfort and fashion. Its like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

    The briefs at first I thought weren’t going to fit me. I have particularly wide thigh bones so it was a bit of a stuggle getting them on. I was so afraid I was going to rip them! I slowly wiggled my way into them and when they were on they fitted perfectly! They were slightly big on the waist but I definitely couldn’t size down in them, I would 100% rip the size 10 if I tried to get them on. I’ll take slightly big waist band over ripped knickers any day.

    This is definitely one of my all time favourite sets, the only thing its missing is a matching suspender belt! I have seen a sneak peak of the upcoming collection and I’m happy to report that there is some absolutely drop dead gorgeous lingerie sets heading our way and I did spot a suspender for one of the sets. I’m saying goodbye to my money already as I NEED everything from the next collection.

    Why wait for the next collection? Shop this set from Katherine Hamilton now, available in sizes 26-36 D-HH.

    Elly x

  • When lingerie fights back.

    When lingerie fights back.

    I’ve noticed a trend lately seeping into my lingerie drawers, my lingerie is making me laugh. It’s making me smirk. A strange reaction to lingerie to be sure. Most of the time it ignites feelings of confidence, of lust or of security. But now I’m feeling amused by it. The reason? The lingerie industry seems to be giving the big ol finger to the Man and I couldn’t be happier.

    Wether it be erotic prints, cheeky embroidery or a playful design, it seems the lingerie industry is fighting back against the oppressive censorship that the industry receives in the best way they know how. Perhaps I’m just seeing what I want to see, but its seems to me that lingerie has shaken off its traditional and rigid past and has developed a sense of humour. Of course you could take the higher brow option and choose to see this trend as inspired directly by art. I do feel the timing of such collections lends me to believe its more a social commentary of our present that references the past.

    Take Studio Pias s/s 19 collection named Bourdin for the first example. Inspired by Bourdins photography which is commonly recognised as sensual and provocative, this collection references his photography with enticing embroideries. There is not one, not two but 3 ranges featuring a creeping hand or pinching fingers that have been delightfully placed in the most intriguing areas. The success of these collection has been so great as to possibly bring forward another colour of the same concept for the next collection. Who doesn’t love a sly nipple pinch from their bra?

    The Studio Pia Mira set.

    And then similar to that again is Bordelles New Moa collection developed in collaboration with artist Etta Shon. The collection has been touted as the new nude. Naked without being naked, celebrating the female form without getting banned on instagram or tumblr or facebook. This collaboration has been inspired by the work of artist Egon Schiele, an early pioneer of expressionism. The choice of inspiration draws interesting parallels between censorship of the artist over 100 years ago and censorship today. Bordelles choice to reference this artist work is a clever play on artistic censorship. Nudity and art is often heavily censored but when it’s cleverly displayed on items that are widely seen as something for male consumption and pleasure it’s deemed acceptable. Commentry on society? I think so.

    Image source @atelierbordelle instagram

    Playful promises line Bettie Page also has a vintage take on the trend and has been directly inspired by vintage lingerie and fashion of the same nature. Taken directly from a photo of Bettie wearing lingerie, it has been delightfully reproduced for the modern consumer.

    Image source playfulpromises.com

    This trend has also been found in swimwear, the most notable designer being Adriana Degreas and also her collaboration with Cult Gia. Her designs have made the news world over for their unusual design and risqué nature such as the hand bikini and the martini tulle bikini leaving little to the imagination. As naked as you can get on a beach without being naked.

    Image source @cultgaia @adrianadegreas_usa

    Of course none of this is new ground. Old school la perla black label was using erotic prints before many of these brands had even started. Their prints were the most scandalous but also less obvious and again had inspiration from Shunga and many other erotic art forms.

    Image source mylingerieaddiction.blogspot.com

    The newest brand on the block the end lingerie has the most unique take on this trend and is very much their brand identity. You may have seen a nipple bra but how about a nipple ring bralette? And it doesn’t just stop at the bralette, you can get underwear with similar hardware in interesting positioning . It’s all about being good but being naughty. Who said being eco conscious was boring?

    Image source @theendlingerie

    The most mainstream version of this trend would be the love hearts placed over the nipples on sheer bralettes. This has been seen everywhere from for love and lemons, ASOS, kisskill, urban outfitters and Fenty. Not to be forgotten the nipple/boob t-shirt craze that has literally been used by every big brand and their dog.

    Image source kisskill.com.au

    The most literal nod to the fuck you censorship trend has to be Scantilys censorship set. They have literally put the censorship bar in for you, saving you all the trouble of editing out your nipples for all the delicate souls on the internet.

    Image source @dearscantily

    Silent arrow have gone a slightly more direct with their message with their F.U. and F.U. Too ranges. Leave subtly at the door with these ranges and get straight to the point. Give a big F.U. To traditional lingerie, body shaming, censorship and expectations. Or whatever or whoever you want to really.

    Image courtesy of @allthings.lace.and.leather

    Last but not least there is underthyskin lingerie who as a brand has a very modern take on the trend and again is very much part of their brand identity. Light as a feather lingerie with literal messages embroidered on. If storytelling lingerie isn’t your thing there is also a selection of pinching nipple hands embroidery inspired by the school of Fontainebleau.

    Whether this trend is social commentary of our time or a reflection on art, I’m happy to see humour (as sarcastic or literal as it may be) as a trend. Because florals for spring? Ground breaking….

  • Lovehoney lingerie

    Lovehoney lingerie

    I don’t usually review cheaper lingerie. Maybe that’s me being a snob. I just don’t buy cheaper lingerie anymore. But when lovehoney approached me last year I was curious. Curious about the brand and about the quality. I will review them like I would any of my luxury purchases in the way of price vs what you get.

    So these products were sent to me free of charge but all opinions are my own as always.

    So Lovehoney is a brand I wouldn’t normally purchase from. Yes that’s me being a snob as well as I’m probably in a different place in my lingerie journey. It’s e-commerce site is functional and does the job, but it doesn’t have the cohesiveness and cleanness that I’ve come to expect. I totally understand why this is, it’s not a luxury brand so presentation isn’t as important.

    The packaging it comes in is just a plastic slip, again I expected this as it’s in a very accessible price range. As far as size ranges go it’s a pretty standard Small, Medium and large. They also have some plus size lingerie and that is available in 1x to 4x. The price range starts from around $10 up to $110 for a more detailed style.

    One thing to note is that they have e-commerce sites for Australia, America and Europe. The shipping within Australia is so fast! It’s the quickest I’ve ever come across so that really impressed me. I received the Parisienne set in wine size medium and the midnight soirée suspender body which is one size fits all scenario.

    I wasn’t sure at all how these sizes would work on me. The Parisienne set I thought the bra back would be huge but the cups workable and I thought the suspender knickers would fall down almost instantly I attached stockings. I was super surprised to find out that suspender knickers stayed up perfectly well with actual stockings, no need for stay ups.

    The bra is far too small in the cup and big in the back. I’d definitely say that the bra isn’t fuller cup friendly but it’s workable as a bedroom only piece as it was intended. All of lovehoney products are for bedroom use, I think all the lingerie is crotchless except for a few of the guest brands. This isn’t to say you can only wear it in the bedroom but for me I’d have to layer both the top and bottoms as not to expose myself during the day. The products are mostly made up of stretch lace which is super comfortable to wear as well as easier to fit to a range of body shapes and sizes.

    The all in one suspender body I love and everyone else must as well as it’s now sold out. It’s pretty much fully adjustable and the cups actually fit me!!!! I’m guessing that if you are an A or B cup in the smaller size range that this style won’t work all that well for you.

    I found this range to be the most visually interesting out of all the options. It’s actually pretty comfortable to wear as well. This style I have worn out and about and it’s held up quite well. I don’t think it would hold up to regular everyday wear but it performed well as an occasion piece. One thing that was irritating was the neck piece, particularly around the closure. The stitching was quite messy and therefore rough and it did cause a bit of discomfort throughout the day. It is detachable I discovered at the end of the day so next I might just wear the collar attached for photos.

    Every strap is adjustable.

    Overall I’m impressed with the quality at the price point. There sizing went as well as expected, it’s definitely for the core size customers. I do quite enjoy having separate lingerie for the bedroom I think they cater for it very well. Sturdy enough to wear all day but not overly expensive so as to not mind when it’s ripped off at night.

  • Lara Intimates Clio review

    Lara Intimates Clio review

    Lara Intimates take two!

    So you may have realised that I’ve purchased and reviewed products from this brand before. My first experience from them was good, but didn’t quite meet my extremely high expectations. This time the company has sent me a few products to try out and review and here are my honest as always opinions.

    I was sent both the classic briefs and hipster briefs in my regular size 10 and the Clio bralette in a 28G all in the limited edition green. The briefs retail for £20 and the bra for £55.

    So to put it simply, I flat out love these products. I’ve been wearing them constantly since they arrived and I’m very glad they sent me two briefs because I like to wear matching sets and there is no chance I’m doing my hand washing everyday. (You can machine wash these in a laundry bag)

    The hipster briefs.

    So why do I love them? The briefs are so soft against the skin and just a pleasure to wear. I don’t have a bad word to say about them. There isn’t a lot of difference between the two brief styles apart from the classic brief has slightly more butt coverage and a very slightly wider gussset.

    The classic brief.

    The bralette is pretty much perfect. The sizing on this is more accurate than the previous Ava style I tried. I find this design is better suited to my size. The straps are padded if you are above a DD+ and if you are a G or above there is an internal sling to help with support and projection. My breast are pretty front and centre so I get a little bit of wrinkling around the sling section as I don’t have much tissue there. And at the front there is very slight spillage. This isn’t a problem for me at all but it just gives you an idea of the cup shape and coverage if you are a similar size and positioning as myself. Also important to note that Lara has its own sizing system so make sure you use it before ordering!!!! It’s very straight forward and easy to use and it’s been the best online one I’ve come across.

    All Lara intimates are made to order to minimise wastage. They do keep a few items in stock in their most popular sizes and colours. The maximum wait time for these made to order intimates is around 6 weeks.

    I’ve been wearing this set so much that I’m going to order the same bra in black with all 4 bottom options because I’m seriously obsessed!!!!! I can’t wait to see what colours, styles and sizes that they will bring out next, I’ll be eagerly waiting and wearing my current Lara sets to death.

    Elly x

  • Amaella Review

    Amaella Review

    It’s hard to find truly ethical lingerie companies. A lot of indie designers hardly pay themselves a living wage and that is far from ethical. Amaella are doing things different and it shows. This company has sent me these products free of charge, my opinions are completely my own and slightly delayed. Sorry amaella!!!!!!!!

    Amaella is an English based brand but their products are manufactured in Portugal. The one thing I love about them is how open they are. If you follow them on instagram you will see regular posts behind the scenes, where their products are manufactured and all about their supply chain.

    I was sent the organic cotton seamless knickers and bralette, both in a size medium. They retail for around $150 AUD. The knickers come in sizes XS-XL and the bralette in S/M/L. According to the size chart the bralette is best suited to a bra size 36B. I assume you all know this already but I’m far from a 36B. In my opinion this could fit 28FF/30F/32E/34DD comfortably. I’m currently a 28G and I wore this comfortably all day. Yes it not THE perfect fit for my size but it works. It’s important to note that you can wear this bralette militiaman ways. You are able to cross over the straps at the back to suit racer back tops by simply unhooking the rose gold tone hardware and attaching them to the opposite side.

    The material is made of GOTS certified organic cotton and recycled elastin. This is also the most comfortable material I have ever worn. I know the price might seem a lot higher compared to your average bralette set, but you really can tell the difference in the material. Also it’s nice to know no one had to suffer for your lingerie.

    I have worn these items so much!!! They are perfect for Australian summer and they are also perfect for travelling as they are so light and comfortable. The briefs in this collection are the real hero piece. It’s a particular combination of elements that makes them perfect but impossible to find. Thank god Amaella has made them because I was sick of searching. These are made of the same material, the GOTS organic cotton and recycled elastin and they are seamless!!!!! Not kinda seamless but actually. They hug your body perfectly and don’t leave any marks on the skin. I’ve worn them under tight dresses, white linen pants and white dresses and they have been invisible underneath. I avoid seamless underwear most of the time because they are usually made of nylon. These undies take the grossness out of seamless underwear and actually are an enjoyable experience to wear. It is two layers of the fabric so they feel secure but not bulky and there is no extra gusset lining as it’s unnecessary as they are cotton. I think that’s why they are so enjoyable to wear as there is no added bulkiness in that area.

    They are well worth the hefty price tag, I haven’t experienced such luxury in basics before and come across such a considered ethical products from conception to design.

    I can’t wait for their new collection to drop, I’m really hoping they bring out a 5 pack In all basic colours for these knickers. They are truly my favourite and I need more!

  • Avocado lingerie reviews

    Avocado lingerie reviews

    You read that title right, multiple reviews in one little blog post! As you may know, Avocado is a favourite brand of mine when I’m looking for supportive but still beautiful fuller bust bras. I’ve purchased from them a few times in the past but these two sets were gifted to me by the brand.

    I was sent the Misia HCQ bra and briefs and the Silk Gardenia HCQ bra and briefs. Both bras are a 60G and briefs are both medium.

    Visually I liked these bras when they arrived, but when I tried them on I loved them, especially the Gardenia bra. I thought at first that it may seem like too much coverage. Combined with the beige/gold tone I thought it might look a bit too old for me. Goes to show that Anna from Avocado knows what will suit me better then I know myself! The golden tones work perfectly with my skin to work as a perfect beige everyday bra. It’s the fanciest everyday bra but I’m calling it an everyday bra because I want to wear it all the time! It fits me perfectly, the embroidery is beautiful, it’s supportive and it gives a great shape. It’s also super comfortable. What more could you want from a bra?

    The matching briefs are a bit big for me. They wouldn’t be my first choice of style of bottoms but they are functional and comfortable but if I dare say it, slightly daggy. What makes them not so perfect for me is the amount of beige coverage.

    The second set fits very differently even though they are the exact same size. The briefs sit a bit lower and definitely feel small on me. The bra is a bit bigger in the cups as well. The reason for this I believe is the difference in materials used. With the first set the embroidery is very full and very ridged. This set is made of a very fine mesh and delicate lace so it has more give in it. It also doesn’t quite have the same construction as the first bra. What I mean by that is in the gold bra the embroidery goes all the way up to the shoulders providing extra lift. The taupe bra does have this feature but the materials don’t have the same strength or rigidity. This is why it feels less supportive even though technically they are the same type of cup.

    The shape of avocado bras really work for me. The wires are quite narrow and they work well for my close set breasts. There is enough depth in the bottom of the cups, something that can be a struggle to find with other brands.

    So if I measure myself and go by Avocados size chart technically I should be ordering a 65F. I’m in between bra band sizes and the advice is to size up. I go for a 60G as I find the bands can run slightly larger. This is not something I would recommend doing unless you like your bra band quite firm.

    These sets from avocado will set you back around $150-$180 AUD each. I know that may sound like a lot, but cost per wear they are my cheapest bras. They are specifically a fuller bust brand and they offer over 50 sizes which is a huge achievement for a brand of this size.

  • Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

    Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

    Lara has long been on my Wishlist of lingerie brands to try. Sadly for me and all my bigger busted babes, up until the end of last year they were only catering to the small back and core sized market. Luckily for me this brand took a chance and expanded their size range quite extensively so I was able to finally purchase something after browsing for a year.

    I purchased the Ava bra in the limited edition lilac in a 28G and the high waisted briefs in a small. I was tossing up between two styles for my first purchase from Lara. The other option I was seriously looking at was the wren bra.

    The main thing that first drew me to this brand is the fact that it is an ethical and sustainable brand. All products are made by a small team in their studio in London. The fabrics which they use are all dead stock fabrics that otherwise would go to landfills. They generally are only made to order with a few key items in stock and ready to ship. It may take longer for your order to arrive when it’s made just for you but this avoids having the issue of over stocking. When you see big clearances in fashion, it’s because they had to make enough to fill the shop floor, knowing most of it will go to clearance, then the outlets and if it never sells it gets incinerated or sent to landfill. Pretty wasteful way of producing right?

    I’m getting distracted here but the reason I love this business model apart from the obvious is that it makes us more considered consumers. You plan ahead, you save up and you avoid that instant gratification. If you really want it you can wait for it.

    So I’ve waited a long time for this set! It actually didn’t take long to make and be sent from London to Sydney, it was under 6 weeks. So here are my thoughts.

    For a brand that is only fairly new, my first impression of the quality was fantastic. Everything was very neat and tidy. I was surprised how light the mesh was. It literally felt like I wasn’t holding anything. The fabric against the skin was even better, like wearing nothing at all. The briefs are a dream to wear, I don’t have a bad word to say about them. The bralette I’m slightly disappointed in but I’ll tell you in full detail why.

    First of all I should have ordered a 28H. Lara intimates uses its own sizing system so it’s very important that you check your measurements and their sizing system before you order. It’s very easy to use and is one of the best online sizing calculators I’ve used. Technically I measure for a 28G in Lara but I think this style in particular came up small in the height of the cups for me as well as slightly in the cup width. I don’t find this style particular supportive even though the band fits well. It’s better than some bralettes I’ve tried but because the mesh is so soft it doesn’t have the uplift and support I would like. It’s great for lounging but after a full day of work and walking around I could tell it wasn’t going to be replacing my regular bras. One other slight issue I had was with the depth of the cups. There is no division or uplift. I’m sad to say I’ve had better luck with an off the rack bralette in a regular medium.

    It’s not a bad bralette, it’s just not what I was expecting. I would like to see more depth in the cup area, but as I’m not technically trained in lingerie pattern making I’m not even sure if that’s possible. Again if you are using dead stock fabric you don’t have as much choice with what materials you work with. The mesh is beautifully soft to wear but it lacks the support of a more ridged mesh.

    If I was to purchase again I’d definitely go for a different style. I think the straps are too narrow if you have a bigger bust to be truly comfortable. One plus side of the straps is that you can wear them normally or as a racer back. I know a lot of fuller busted babes look for thinner straps in bras so they can wear them easier with clothes. If you are one of those people, this is the bralette for you!

    I look forward to seeing how Lara intimates progresses. They have a lot of positive feed back from customers and I’d love nothing more than to see this brand do well.