Bodysuits are one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your wardrobe. Finding a good one is near impossible. Right now the market is saturated with cheap, poorly made fashion items that won’t last past their first wash, that’s if you find one to fit you first! When Real Underwear contacted me a week ago and asked if I would like to try one of their products, I was hoping this style would be sent my way!
I received this seamless lace bodysuit in a size medium. That’s my ‘normal’ size I go for in bodysuits. I’m always trying to find a balance of long enough for the torso, big enough for the boobs, small enough for the waist. When I first tried it on I was so happy. It actually fits!!! Honestly I think I would fit a small better but I wasn’t willing to take that chance. My advice is take the size you normally wear in briefs. This knit fabric is very stretch so it can accommodate a lot of different body shapes. The fabric is very smooth and comfortable. I feel like this bodysuit could be used as dance-wear, lingerie as well as just regular clothing. It has that cross over appeal. The brand as a whole fits the need we have of our clothes to do more. I can see myself taking this piece on holidays as it’s very lightweight, easy to wash and a versatile piece to style.
Little love hearts in interesting places.
This style has hook and eye closures at the gusset. I much prefer the hook and eyes over the press studs, I find them less bulky and more comfortable. There are no itchy spots when I wear this and the binding doesn’t cut into my bum too much. I would say this bodysuit is seamless everywhere but on the binding. This is only really an issue if you plan on wearing it with a slinky silk skirt or something similar. The real winning part of this bodysuit is how the knit fabric is used to show just enough skin. I’ve seen similar bodysuits like this on the market, but they seem to show too much or not enough. I think this is the perfect balance of sheer and opaque, I could actually get away with not wearing a bra with this and not worrying about showing too much.
Soft bum problems
This company seems to be fairly new to selling direct to consumer as they have just launched their website. So far there are a few styles on the website but I’m hoping to see more in the near future. Everyone knows I love comfortable, practical underwear that still looks good. I think this company has done well to fill that void and I can’t wait to see what this small New York based company does next.
Seamless Lace bodysuit is available in sizes S-XL and colours jet black and faded parchment. It retails for $58 USD and is available to purchase on realunderwear.com
If you follow me on Instagram or have read all of my blog posts (well done you), you may have seen that I have a bit of Playful Promises in my collection. There is a reason I keep going back. It’s playful (the hints in the name), fun, affordable, comfortable and it’s easy to buy online. They now even have a loyalty program so the more you buy the more points you earn which results in money off for you! The Karine set has been kindly gifted to me by Play promises for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and as usual I’m 100% honest.
I was beyond excited when this came in the mail the other day I may even have let out a squeal of delight. This style is right up my alley. Black and gold lace? Check! Matching suspender? Check! Interesting design features? Check! When I tried it on it seriously fit perfectly, that’s always a nice surprise.
The bra I received in a size 30E, and the suspender and knickers in an UK size 8. I was hoping that PP would continue doing 28 bands but I guess that they haven’t sold well enough to keep. I’m wearing my sister size and it fits perfectly in the cups and I’m wearing it on the tightest set of hook and eyes. The bra closes with 3 columns and 3 rows of hook and eyes and it feels very secure. The moulded cups are overlayed with the black and gold lace that continues up past the top of the cup. I love the effect of the lace on bare skin but do be warned if you’re nipples sit high, the metallic lace may cause irritation if you are particularly sensitive. My nipples sit quite high in this and while the lace isn’t itchy, I can feel that it’s there. I’m not sure what magic the pattern maker has weaved, but I love the shape of my boobs in this bra! I find plunge bras usually don’t work super well for me, flesh kind of just spills out if it’s soft. With this bra my boobs stay in place even when I bend over. I’ve found a few improvements in this style from their initial fullerbust collection. For one, the bra straps are thicker and plusher. Secondly the top of the bra isn’t as open so it works for those of us who are fuller on bottom or more evenly shaped. And lastly, they have used a wider and what appears to be stronger band elastic. All of this makes for a more wearable and longer lasting bra.
It’s all in the details.Thicker band elastic, Velvet bows, Gold tone suspender clips and the plush thicker straps.
The knickers are really cute with the skirted lace. The style of briefs isn’t my favourite, they appear to be super low-rise on myself. I would also say the front of the briefs are on the narrow side and in that respect they are very similar to the Tiah knickers from Kiss Kill. I generally go for something that sits higher but this style actually works really well with the suspender. The briefs are mostly composed of mesh so they are very comfortable and feel really light on. The suspender completes this set in my opinion. It makes it look better as a whole mainly because of the skirted lace. There has been improvements in the quality of the suspender as well. The fabrics used are a satin and there is also panels of mesh. The mesh used for this suspender is stronger than the mesh used in my previous suspenders from PP. There is also bones in this suspender which helps it stay up all day without being pulled down too much. The suspender straps are also longer in length this time. While that is an improvement, I’m a bit sad to see that they are skinnier as well. I feel it would match with the curve and fullerbust collection better with thicker straps. If you can only have one (because having both will increase the cost), being able to adjust the length of the straps is better.
Great contrast of delicate black and gold lace with the lush velvet bow.
To say I’m happy about this set would be an understatement! I’m seriously in love I can’t decide if I want to wear this all the time or save it for a special occasions. Thanks to small improvements from Playful Promises you can do just that! I think this set would be perfect for Christmas, it’s festive without being cheesy and clichéd.
The bra is $89 AUD, suspender $80 AUD and Briefs $45 AUD. While this isn’t cheap by most people’s standard it’s worth every penny. To have a set available is 3 different sizing categories is a tremendous feat that many huge lingerie companies have not accomplished. The quality and design have always been of a very high standard. Whats even better is seeing this company continually expanding their sizes ranges, improving fit and design all the while stay true to their aesthetic.
What do you guys think of this design and the improvements?
Avocado is a brand I’m fairly new to. I’d only really started to hear about them earlier this year. Part of my late discovery may be due to the fact that I was placing myself very firmly in the core sizes camp and hadn’t started looking at other companies catering for different sizes. I made my first purchase from this company in August and it’s taken me this long to finally write a post about it! Better late than never…..
So after much deliberation between styles and sizes I decided on the Amber set. The bra I purchased in the HTC style is a 65F and the undies in the hipster shorts in a size small. It took me awhile to figure out what sizes I needed, as Avocado has its own method of sizing. This was also my first experience with a Polish bra company so I had no sphere of reference for the different cups and narrowness of wires. To get your size in Avocado you are told to measure your underbust tightly in centimetres. My measurement that I took was 68 cm. You are then told to deduct 5 from that number and then round to the nearest number as they are in increments of 5. So mine was 63 so I decided to round-up to 65 rather than down to 60. The next part is to find your cup size by wearing your best fitting bra and measuring loosely on your overbust. I measured in-between like I always do so I went for the bigger cup. It’s best to look at the size chart for yourself to work out what cups size you will take.
I eagerly opened the package when it arrived and the first thing I noticed was the smell. I don’t know what it is but I want to buy more lingerie from them so I can smell that beautiful scent again. It seriously blew me away! After that it then took me a few days to actually try on the lingerie. I convinced myself that it wouldn’t fit me, it looked so big in the cups! I didn’t want to try it to confirm the fact that after all my measuring I still had gotten it so wrong. I finally got over my bout of body dysmorphia and tried the set on. The fit is pretty much perfect and I was kicking myself for being so stupid and not putting this golden goodness on my body sooner. The colour is a warm gold which works really well with my skin tone. It works as a nude colour for me which isn’t actually what I was aiming for. I was going for a little more bling a little less beige. The colour aside, this style works really well under most clothes because of the half cup style and the combination of the smooth stain and embroidered fabric.
Where the beautiful strap detail just ends…
The cup is a standard 3 part cut and sew style. It feels very supportive on and it kind of just enhances my natural shape rather than changing it too much. The two main panels on each cup are lined with a fine mesh but there is no extra sling like I was expecting. The back of the band is mostly made up of a very soft and stretchy mesh. The frame of the bra is more of the embroided tulle on its own without any support fabric so it has the illusion of floating embroidery on the skin. The bra has 2 rows and 3 columns of hook and eyes and the straps adjust by 9 cms from the shortest to longest length. One thing that annoys me about this set is how the detail on the strap abruptly stops. I know it’s so you can adjust the straps but it just seems messy and avoidable. Another little detail is the centre front of the bra. It’s a very minor part of the bra, and it may not be on all of them, but once you see it you can’t unsee it. There is more mesh on one side of the bra than at the bottom of the gore. It’s a very minor detail and doesn’t affect the wearability of the bra at all, it’s just me being OCD.
Do you notice the variance at the gore?
I found this bra needed a few days to break it in. When I first started wearing it, I could feel it on. Not in an uncomfortable way, but you couldn’t forget that you were wearing it like an old favourite. Now it has been worn in enough I must say I think I should have ordered a 60G. The band fitted perfectly at first but now I wear it on the tightest hooks and I haven’t worn it more than 10 times. It really is crucial to measure yourself correctly!!!! Just before I started writing this I took my measurements again. I measured 65 cm tightly which puts me in firmly in the 60 band camp. If you measure in between band sizes, for this style I would go for the smaller one as it has stretched out fairly quickly. The bra is still very wearable and is still one of my better fitting ones, but next time hopefully I will have my size down pat. The wires are a good height, they don’t dig into my armpits but they aren’t as narrow as I was expecting. It always takes a few trial and errors to find your right size with a brand you haven’t tried before. It’s worth it though I would say as this is in my top 10 bra purchases this year. I’m not going to tell you out of how many because my friends and family reading this may have a heart attack.
The undies are a good fit but I was hoping they would sit a tad higher. In the campaign they seem to sit higher than what they do on me. They are very comfortable to wear and I love the design. It almost looks like you are wearing a thong but it’s just the illusion of the opaque material surrounded by the mesh. Overall a very cool design and a good fit, but next time I will be ordering the retro style undies so they sit above my hips.
The brief that looks like a thong.
This set worked out to be roughly $140 AUD. It definitely more than I would pay normally trying a brand for the first time, but in this case it was worth it. I’m trying to decide what style to get next, there is just too many good ones to choose from!
Since Elle Macpherson body launched in August there has been a lot of improvements in the styles available. My first impressions of the range weren’t fantastic, mostly the colours weren’t to my taste. Now I see colours they have introduced that haven’t been used much in lingerie before, and I must admit it’s intriguing.
Elle Macpherson Body has kindly sent me the Zest set in the colour shell. The bra is the balconette underwire bra in a 30E and bikini brief in a size small. I did initially try this style in black when it was first launched, but the 30E was far too small. But in the shell it’s quite a good fit for me. Sometimes I find in clothing and lingerie, you can have the same style in multiple colours but the black will always come up a little bit smaller due to the dye process.
The Zest bra is called a balconette, however I would not consider it a true balconette. The general shape is what widely is considered a balconette bra but here the shoulder straps are not connected with the lower half of the cup. The neckline sits somewhere between a plunge and a balconette, it has good coverage and is less revealing than both of those styles in their traditional sense. The cup is made up of 3 parts and has the additional side sling for extra support and projection. The straps on this bra are only partially adjustable, just like the Dash bra I have from this range. It seems to work fairly well for me but I know that some people prefer their bra straps to be fully adjustable. The part of the straps that are adjustable are in a contrasting sage green colour. Even then, part of the straps are purely for decoration as an additional wing of lace is added between the strap and bra band. So the total difference between the shortest and longest length is only 5 cm. The strap width is also on the thin side of what I’m used to wearing. Normally this width would cause a problem for me as I find they can dig in to my shoulders. Surprisingly they don’t dig in at all even after a full days wear. The comfort is due to the elastic being plush on the inside while the top has a smooth satin finish, and that the band actually does its job. This is the firmest 30 band I have come across! I’m hoping that means this bra will have a long life and not stretch out after a few wears. I would say this bra fits more like a 28/29 band which is fantastic news for women looking to find small back sizes that are easily accessible.
The bra itself is made of a beautiful stretch lace backed with a soft mesh. The bra band is partially lined in a double layer of a more durable mesh. The wires are placed perfectly for me and they don’t dig into my armpits. The gore tacks firmly but not so much so that it hurts, it just feels very secure on!
Up close with the inside of the bra.
I do have a bit of over spill on my bigger boob but not so much so that its noticeable. The stretch lace helps accommodate my fluctuating boobs but I do feel that the top edge of the cup is slightly closed off so this may be an issue if you are FOT. All the hardware is in a rose gold tone which just happens to be my all-time favourite! The bra closes with 2 rows and 3 columns of hook and eyes. The bra also features a little grey tassel on the gore. I find this a very sweet touch and I much prefer this to the traditional bow. I really love the contrast of colours on the small aspects of the bra, it keeps with the pastel theme but gives it a sophisticated spin.
There isn’t much to say about the knickers. The small equates to an Australian size 8 to 10. They are made of the same stretch lace which gives them a near seamless appearance under clothes. I would consider them a low-rise style which I normally try to avoid but this style doesn’t cut into my wide hips like other brands do.
The briefs retail for $34.95 and the Bra $59.95. I personally find the products to be well priced considering the quality of materials used and that they launched with a more inclusive size range. If you walk into David Jones or Myer right now, Elle is the most affordable brand doing a selection of fuller bust sizes in fashion styles.
I’m looking forward to the launch of the Elle Macpherson Body website website but I feel like my credit card won’t be…
So you want to gift someone special lingerie this Christmas but don’t know where to look? It can be quite daunting if you have never done it before but I’m here to help! If you are shopping for a partner, mother, friend or even for yourself, here are a few gift ideas for a range of budgets and styles.
Robes
Robes come in all different styles and fabrics, you can find one to suit everyone! The best thing about buying a robe as a present, is that you just have to roughly know the size of the gift receiver.
Fleur Intimates Take me away robe. $127 USD sizes S/M M/L L/LClassic Agent Provocateur Dressing gown $470 USD sizes 1-5 or XS-XL. This style also comes in black. Perfect present for all ages.Vero Moda Kimono $55 AUD and sizes XS-XL. Sold on ASOS.
Slips
Everyone needs a good slip in their life but for some reason its often overlooked. You can also never have too many as they can be used as sleepwear, outerwear, under dresses as lingerie and in the boudoir!
Silk Laundry short 90’s emerald slip is $169 AUD and comes in sizes XS-XL. Amazing quality silk and comes in lots of different colours.Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Lace-trim slip $58 AUD and comes is sizes XS-XL and in 11 colours.Carine Gilson lace-trimmed floral-print silk-satin chemise. This comes in at $1469 AUD and only is available in small and medium via Net-a-porter.
Chokers
Chokers are very much the “It” item this season and are a good choice for someone who is a bit more open with their style. They are great as a stocking filler or secret Santa present.
The Asobi collar from Bordelle is $110 AUD and comes in 4 colours. This can be purchased online or at babylikestopony in Sydney.
Karolina Laskowska Anita satin choker. Available in 5 colours and is only one size as it is adjustable. $42 AUD.Alexandrea Anissa Ramona Choker. Comes in one size. $20 AUD.
The full set
The hardest thing to buy is the full set. Between getting the sizes right and finding the right style it can seem overwhelming. First off look through her underwear draw and find the bra and undies she wears the most and seem to be the best fit. Write down the sizes and brand and take a photo of the styles so you can gauge what you think she will like when yore confronted with the crazy shops before Christmas! Second, make sure you find a balance between what she will like and what you like. If she isn’t comfortable in the style she won’t wear it! Last check the return policy of where you are shopping just in case after all your effort it doesn’t work. Here are a few sets you can find online that may tickle her fancy.
The Juliet set from Playful Promises. Bra $116 Brief $45 and Girdle $68 AUD. This style is available in a huge array of sizes. Its part of the main collection, Fuller Bust collection and the curve collection.What Katie Did Bizarre Lingerie set. Bra $85 suspender $60 and knickers $33 AUD. Sizes 10 to 18 for bottoms and bras 10C-10F, 12B-12F, 14B-14F and 16B-16E.Harlow and Fox Eleanor Set. bra $176 suspender $155 and Briefs $99 USD. sizes XS-XL and bras 30-38 D, DD, E, F, FF and G. This collection also has a half slip, robe and tap pants, perfect if you really wanted to go all out!
Little bits and pieces
If you are still not sure about actually buying lingerie as a gift, here a few lingerie related items that I promise will go down well as I’m speaking from personal experience!
Silk eye mask from Kiss Kill. There are 2 other options in this style one saying ‘go away’ and my personal favourite ‘fuck off’. this retails for $39.95 AUD.Brakitty travel case. Perfect for protecting your lingerie in your bag. Lots of different designs available. $49.99 USDStocking storage bag from What Katie Did. Perfect case to stop your nylons snagging while stored. $25.50 AUDSilk laundry silver silk pillowcase. Amazingly soft to sleep on and an excellent gift to receive. They come in ivory as well as rose. $109 AUD for a pair.
So all of the above is available to purchase online. I would recommend purchasing no later than the 5th of December to avoid disappointment! Some websites have the dates up when you need to order by to receive it in time. If shopping online isn’t your thing, your options are limited but you’ll hopefully have an expert in store to help you. If you are in Melbourne, visit Kiss Kill. If you are Sydney based I highly recommend Baby likes to pony. The department stores are quite good for last-minute gifts. If you go to David Jones you’ll find brands such as Lonely, Simone Perele and Agent Provocateur at the bigger stores. At Myer you will find Pleasure State, Sass and Bide and Palindrome.
Hopefully this has help some of the people who have asked me about buying lingerie for a partner!!!!!
If you haven’t heard of Hopeless Lingerie before than you’re definitely missing out. Hopeless has gained somewhat of a cult following worldwide, something most independent designers could only dream of. There is a reason many people are screaming their praises, many reasons in fact. It’s one of the few labels making lingerie that ticks nearly every box.
The back of the über cool Dionne Knickers.
When I shop for lingerie I look at price, quality, how ethical the brand is and fit. I also ask myself if it’s different to what’s on the market? Does it look good? Will it work well with my clothes? Am I going to wear it more than once? Last but not least, is it convenient for me to purchase? It’s a lot of things to consider and many brands don’t make it past 3 ticked boxes. For me hopeless ticks almost all the boxes. It’s handmade in Melbourne so it ticks the ethical box. The price is fantastic seeing as each item is made in Australia, from that alone I would expect the prices to be double like most independent brands. It is very different to what’s on the market up until recently when their designs were copied. Hopeless is not one to follow the crowd, they set the trends. I find their undies über comfortable and the fit is always spot on thanks to their detailed size charts and recommendations. Hopeless lingerie is easy to care for and has lasted many washes and wears. This lingerie is deigned to work under your everyday clothes but also the design is there that if you wanted to show it, it leaves an impression on whoever sees it.
The back of the Alex top from the Classics collection. The quality of the sewing is always impeccable.
There is a wait time between ordering and when the lingerie will be in your hands. On average it’s 6 weeks but sometimes it feels like more! I personally don’t have an issue with waiting, it builds the anticipation to the level of a 5-year-old on Christmas Day. If you hate Christmas then you can purchase a select few items from The Passionfruit Shop in Melbourne or on their website! My only disappointment when it comes to this brand is the bras. As much as I like them aesthetically, the practicality of them gives me the shits sometimes. I find the halter style bras unhooks itself at the neck during the day. It’s not the worst thing in the world but it is annoying. I’m not sure why this happens, perhaps the weight of my boobs is not great for that design. It might be due to the type of hardware that is used. Most of the designs I have from Hopeless use a swan hook in the bras and harnesses. I haven’t really had a problem with a swan hook before but the ones hopeless use are very thin so don’t grip the elastic as well. They are very comfortable and not bulky at all under clothing but I find it compromises the wearability of some items. Also I would love to see them introduce wired bras. I know they are a whole different level of expense and difficulty to produce but this is always the reason I hold back from buying more. I love to have matching sets and with hopeless it’s easy to mix and match. I would defiantly buy more from them if they had the option of an underwire black mesh bra that would go with all the mesh undies in the range.
The swan hooks that are used.
They have quite an extensive size range XXS-XXL and if you want something made to your exact measurements they do offer that service at an additional price. I’ve done this before for a bralette and it did make an improvement on the wearability of it, but for me, it can’t replace wearing an underwire bra. It’s nice to have the option, but there sometimes is a reason why items aren’t made in all sizes.
For me, Hopeless is all about the undies.
I do have a favourite out of the Hopeless items I own and its may surprise you. It’s the Sabrina thong in bamboo. Words can’t adequately describe how comfortable this thong is! It goes past forgetting that I’m wearing anything at all. I could never forget I’m wearing the Sabrina thong because I have never had undies (especially a thong) that comfortable! There is a reason that they are available in a 3 pack, because once you’ve tried it you’ll want more! At $38 AUD each, it isn’t an unreasonable price to pay for a little slice of comfort. Or save yourself a few dollars and get the 3 pack at $105 AUD. If thongs aren’t your thing, go check out the rest of the range as there is something for everyone. High rise, low-rise, full coverage, cutouts, harness knickers, prints, colours, mesh and sometimes lace.
High rise, high cut.
What do you think of Hopeless? Have you purchased from them before? If not what holds you back? Let me know in the comments!
Simone Perele is a name that everyone knows in the lingerie industry. Not because of daring new designs, or big budget advertising campaigns, it’s because they have been quietly doing their thing for over 60 years.
This family run business started in 1948 and its brand aim was to combine comfort and beauty. This international brand has gone from strength to strength and is a staple in all good department stores and lingerie boutiques the world over. So much so that it is said to sell an Andora bra every minute somewhere in the world!
The key to its success is that this lingerie is for the everyday woman, someone who is focused on well-fitting garments that work seamlessly under clothing. While this may be lingerie you can wear everyday, it is by no means boring. My first impression of this brand was exactly that, too beige and too many t-shirt bras for my liking. It’s unfortunate that I held onto that impression for such a long time because I was missing out. When I first found Simone Perele, it was in a David Jones. At this stage it was not a concession so it didn’t have control of what products were being ordered and there was less focus on adequate staffing. It had a presence there (it’s the only lingerie concession in all David Jones stores) but no soul. I have been aware of the brand but never tried. Simone Perele is missing from many lingerie addicts wardrobes, it’s often overlooked. I was surprised that some of my friends live in Simone Perele and know nothing/ have no interest in lingerie. I was so surprised in fact that I thought I had better try myself.
Luckily I was given the chance through my work to attend a brand awareness workshop as part of the companies move into concession in David Jones. It was great to learn about the different products and size ranges, as well as the history of the brand. I was able to try on a few different styles of bras before I was able to choose which one would be coming home with me. In Simone Perele I take an 8E as that is the smallest back size they do. They also only do single letter cup sizes so it’s best to go into your local David Jones or lingerie boutique that stocks SP and to get fitted properly as your size may vary from other brands. This session was also about getting fitted properly but I ruined their fun by knowing my size straight away! It worth noting that my bra size fluctuates quite a bit so I ordered this in a size that would fit me on my smaller days.
You can see how the details and contrasting materials really stand out, even on a muted colour like Anthracite.
The bra I decided on in the end was the Amour 3D plunge in the colour Anthracite. The main reason I chose this bra is because it was one of the few available in my size and it was the only one in that size that a suspender was part of the collection. I was very tempted by the new strapless bra. It was the most comfortable strapless bra I’ve ever tried, but my mind was set on the Amour. So you may be wondering what 3D means? Well while this bra looks like a moulded cup, it isn’t. The cup is made of two pieces of spacer foam that have been sewn together. The result of using this method and fabric type is a super lightweight bra, breathable fabric (essential to avoid sweaty summer boobs in Australia), and enough coverage to avoid nipple situations without adding bulk. To pretty up this bra, they have used leavers lace on the outer sides of the cups. The reason for placing the lace in this position is so the function of the t-shirt bra is not compromised, it still keeps its smooth line under clothes, but it adds that feminine detail SP is known for and is the point of difference between the many t-shirt bras on the market.
Branding done right, Subtle SP next to the hook and eyes.
In the 8E the bra closes at the back with 3 columns and 2 rows of hook and eyes. The back of the bra is made of a microfiber material so it keeps everything smooth. This is the only time I’ve ever really liked only having 2 rows of hook and eyes. It just helps keep everything seamless while still having enough support. I think this bra will stretch out more than speciality fuller bust bras that I own, but that is to be expected as SP mainly focuses on core sizes with a few extensions on both sides of the spectrum. The Amour 3D spaces comes in sizes 8D-F, 10B-F, 12B-F, 14B-E, 16B-E, and 18B-D. Generally they do 8-20 back sizes and A-H but not all sizes are available in each range/style.
This bra is so comfortable to wear I can’t even put it into words! The wires are perfect, not too high not too wide, but I did notice there is a bit of a gap in the casing where the wire ends. It is about a fingers width and a bit. I didn’t actually notice this till after a couple of wears and inspections. It actually has made no difference to me while wearing the bra I just thought of it as something quite odd. The bra straps are only half adjustable but I have found them quite a good length for me personally. The front of the bra has the double feature straps which give a delicate edge in contrast to the quite serious colour without compromising on support.
These are some seriously comfortable and pretty undies! Seamless doesnt always equal plain and ugly.
The suspender and boy shorts I purchased in a size 10 with my own money to complete the set and I couldn’t be happier with them. The undies so so comfortable and perfectly seamless, and the suspender actually does an OK job for holding up stockings even with only 4 straps. The ribbed elastic helps stops the coated metal sliders from sliding down while wearing stockings. The main part of the suspender is made of the same microfiber material as the back of the bra so it is seamless under clothes and does not irritate the skin at all. For a suspender that is from a mainstream lingerie company that does not specialise in those items, I’m quite impressed with the quality of it. This will not replace my retro heavy-duty suspenders but it’s just nice to have a full set that is seamless, practical and comfortable.
So what did I learn from this session? Basically not to knock something before you try it.
A couple of weeks ago I found myself 30 minutes early for an appointment. I decided to take a look around at the local shops and what do you know, there was a lingerie store! It took me two walk by’s to pluck up the courage to go in. It was messy, it was busy and I loved it. I hate walking into somewhere that is like a museum, it’s too quiet and neat for me and puts me on edge. The best thing about actually going into a boutique is trying stuff on you never have the chance to! I was finally able to try a 28 band and after that, everything else I tried on felt too big.
Andorra in all her glory seen here with What Katie Did tap pants.
The bra I ended up buying was the Panache Andorra in black. Unfortunately there were no matching knickers but I thought ‘whatever it’s black it will go with a lot!’ To be honest it’s not my favourite looking bra, it leans more towards grandma than chic. I think I only brought it because I was excited to find a 28 band and to support a local boutique however minor the purchase was.
Decent sized sling for a 28ff
There isn’t a lot to be said about this bra that hasn’t been said before. It’s great if you fluctuate between sizes because it’s made of stretch lace. It gives a good shape thanks to the substantial side sling it just kind of pushes everything forward. The cups are made up of 3 parts. The bottom two parts have the stretch lace over a rigid mesh and the top part is just the stretch lace. The bra closes with 2 rows and 3 columns of hook and eyes in this size but goes up to 3 rows in the larger cup sizes. I personally prefer 3 rows of hook and eyes, I just feel more secure and I feel that it looks smoother under clothing so wish that it was 3 rows for all sizes.
The back view of Andorra and it’s fully adjustable straps.
The gore tacks firmly and comes up quite high at 3 inches. That is to be expected for a full cup bra but it is the highest I have and took a little bit of getting used to. I have this in a 28ff and I’m unsure if it’s my right size or if I’m just not suited to a full cup. On my bigger boob it fits really well but on my small boob I don’t fill out the lace at the top AT ALL. Might be because it goes boob, then bone. Like 0 top fullness. The boutique that I was at is discontinuing stocking Panache so I couldn’t try on many sizes to compare.
I’ve had this bra for a while now, and I’m surprised how much I’ve actually worn it. I do have a lot of lingerie to choose from on a daily basis so I’ve surprised myself when I’m constantly reaching for the Panache Andorra bra. A lot of my love for this bra lies in its firm band and its stretch lace. It’s also the only full cup bra I own. I’d never considered buying from Panache before I walked into that little boutique. I thought it wasn’t for me, too old and not fashion forward enough. I’m happy to report that I was very wrong in thinking it wasn’t for me. I’m now planning on buying another style from them, but hopefully this time with matching bottoms!
Has anyone else changed their mind about a bra after getting to try it on? If you find the perfect fit, will you compromise on style?
Every time I write ‘fuller bust’ I cringe. Not because there is anything wrong with being fuller bust or small bust or no bust for that matter. It’s just I don’t see myself that way. Maybe it’s the years of being put into the wrong size bras (34d) I always seem to see myself as within the core size ranges. And I’m not really. I’m starting to realise slowly that I definitely need a 30 band sometimes even a 28 and that there is nothing wrong with that. But I still feel like I’m lying to myself, that I’m forcing myself into bras that don’t fit me when really they are the best sizes for me.
I recently ordered from a Polish fuller bust brand. When it arrived I took one look at it and my heart sank. I was thinking that after I took my measurements 100 times I’d got it wrong. This beautiful bra looked way too big to ever fit me. So I put off trying it on for a few days until I had worked out if I could exchange it. I’d worked myself into a state all over the size of a bra, I had thought that I had ordered a cup size too big and that I was kidding myself that I would ever fit into it. Then I tried it on. And it’s pretty much perfect….
Does anyone else suffer from this weird psychological battle of bra sizes? I know that a bra size doesn’t define me but I think it’s more the labels that are associated with them. I look at other people in the full bust market and I’m just like “yep I don’t belong”. Even people I know always assume I am a very different size than what I am and for some reason it offends me.
Labels in general suck. It may be helpful in a search engine and for marketing but not much else.
What are your thoughts on belonging to a certain ‘group’ in a lingerie sense? Do you like retro lingerie but don’t fit the pin up mould? Like wearing bralettes and you’re a 34H? Or like me do you suffer from stupid thoughts about size when really IT DOESN’T MATTER!!!!???? Leave a comment below.
Lace and Haze 