It been over two years since Elle’s name disappeared from our favourite lingerie line. Replaced by Heidi Klum’s, the lingerie was pretty much the same but I personally felt it has lost some of its grandeur. A few days ago as I was doing my weekly rounds at the shops a spotted the familiar name. But what it was attached to was a far cry from what I was expecting.
It’s all about the laid back Aussie spirit for the campaign.
Elle Macpherson body is now manufactured by Simon De Winter which also does Fine Lines and Kayser. This might explain the difference in overall style. With Bendon group I tend to think girly, lace and colour. Simon De Winter is more seamless underwear, practical and dare I say a bit boring to me. The change in style may also be to set a point of difference with its now competitor Heidi Klum. The styles of underwear that I have seen from this new collection, hasn’t stolen my heart. I don’t need any of it in my life unless I require a seamless t-shirt bra and all the rest of mine have caught fire. Although it’s not my style, I do see why Elle Macpherson Body has chosen to go in this direction. Athleisure is at its most popular and this style of lingerie fits right into that aesthetic.
This is a few of the product shots from the new range.
The range so far consists of Bodysuits, T-shirt bras, plunge bras, balconette bras, triangle bras, crop tops, thongs, G-strings, high-cut briefs, bikini, tanga and hip huggers also known as boy shorts. There are a lot of terms thrown around like “micro” and “basic” and something called “knicker program” which I guess is their way of saying you can mix and match me with any bra. From the few news article about, it seems there may be an extension into men’s, sleepwear, gym gear as well as the traditional silk slips.
At this stage there does not seem to be a website for the brand. You can purchase from Myer and David Jones and apparently Net-A-Porter but I have failed to find the product on there as yet. From what I’ve seen, the quality looks good for the price and I do like a lot of the cuts and fabrics. Mostly I feel it’s the colours letting this collection down and the one print I’ve seen is terrible.
Change room selfie of one of the promising styles ‘Edge’.
I did find one bra that I liked but unfortunately there are no matching knickers available as yet. I purchased it anyway as I had a $20 voucher to use and I thought I might as well try something new. I’m glad I had the chance to try it on because the sizing comes up small in the Dash bra. I first tried on a 30E but had way too much spillage. So I have taken home the 30F and its fits fairly well. The gore is a good height and the wires don’t dig into my underarms. There is a bit of gaping on my smaller boob but nothing that a random cushion won’t fix. Not sure what the complete size range is but the Dash bra is called a fuller bust bra but I was only able to find it available up to an F cup and starting at a 30 band to a 38. This was one of the more expensive bras in the range sitting at $79.95 which is $10 more than the dash plunge boost bra that is available in core sizes. You can tell that this isn’t really engineered to be for a fuller bust. The detail in the middle is a gold O ring that gets completely squashed by my boobs. The straps are quite thin and there is basically no adjustability of the shoulder straps. I’m fairly tall and I have them adjusted as short as they can be. This is an area the design team really need to look into. It would be a great everyday bra if they fixed the 2 issues with the straps. I also tried the Zest soft cup bra. This style also comes up small and has a minimising effect on my breasts but for some reason I don’t think that was the intention with this style.
You can see the rose gold O detail can’t lay flush against the Dash bra. Love that the lace continues on the back of the band but those bra straps just don’t adjust enough!
First impressions are important and I’m not sure Elle Macpherson Body has quite hit the mark. It is still a very young brand so it has lots of time to develop and grow. It does have an edge over its competitors with worldwide connections and years of experience from its creators. I guess only time will tell how successful Elle will be second time round.
Have you seen Elle’s new Lingerie or tried it for yourself? Let me know your thoughts!
This is a set it took me awhile to buy. I’m not sure why exactly as it had been high on my wishlist. This was going to be a cheaper better fitting version of Bordelle, a bra that I show off to the world in sheer tops and low back dresses. I finally decided to bite the bullet and ordered this set off ASOS when it went on sale. I purchased the bra in a 32E and briefs in a size 8 AU. I really wanted the matching suspender but decided against it as I thought it wouldn’t be firm enough to stay in place all day. The bra cost £22 and the briefs £11.
Its all about the back details with this set.
When it arrived I knew immediately I had ordered the wrong size in the bra. The cups looked huge. I had spent 2 days trying to decide what size to order and I picked the wrong one! I did actually wear the 32E for a day and the fit was ok it was more just aesthetically I didn’t like the look of the wrinkly cups. So back to ASOS I went and ordered the 32dd. The new size fitted a lot better but there is still a little bit of wrinkle action happening on my smaller boob. This will always be an issue to some degree for most people as everyone has varying severity’s of asymmetry.
Both cups seem to wrinkle a bit as I was moving around. The cups fit me but i don’t have much upper fullness.
Bluebella MORE has a size range starting at 32DD-38G and 8-18 in bottoms. While this is an impressive size range for their first foray into the fuller bust market, I wish they had included at least a 30 band and what would be even better is a 28 and 40. I understand why they haven’t/cant but that doesn’t stop me wanting! The 32DD fits OK. The extra strappy details that give this bra it’s appeal, hold it in place well compared to just a normal two strap bra of the same band size. The network of straps stops the band from sliding up a great deal throughout the day and the 3 rows and 3 columns of hooks and eyes makes it feel secure but not bulky. While the band on this is too big for me to be really supportive the weight is spread evenly across the 8 small shoulder elastics that replace the traditional thicker two. The weight is distributed without adding too much pressure to one particular spot. It helps that it looks pretty cool as well and that is its main function, to be a fashionable bra. The cups are made up of 3 parts with two layers of mesh. While this styles gives a gentle lift and shape it is overall let down by the quality of the finishes. There are a few loose threads on the bra and knickers as well as the gold O detail that has been sewn on crooked. This is an issue that can occur when the attention to detail isn’t extremely high. The cost of this bra is fairly reasonable and it would be unfair to expect perfection from a product that costs the same as my dinner. There is nothing functionally wrong with the bra but it does bring into question the longevity of each item.
I have found the Asteria knickers true to size and extremely comfortable. I expected the elastics to dig into my hips more but they seem to be pretty much perfect. I was surprised that I didn’t have any VPL while wearing these knickers with jeans. Usually the edge of briefs tend to be quite bulky and firm and that’s why I mostly go for a thong when available, but these briefs are quite the opposite. I even forget that I’m wearing them and that can’t be said for a lot of briefs that are part of a matching set.
All smooth back here.
I was drawn to this collection because of the design without even realising that it was for the fuller bust market. I’m not sure how many other potential customer have just assumed by looking at the imagery provide by Bluebella that this is just for core sizes. While I do hope they continue with the MORE range I also hope to see a few improvements. Size expansions are very important as is appropriate campaign imagery to sell the range and set it apart from their core collection. I feel like everything is almost right with this set it just needs some fine tuning.
Waking up with Venus is a brand I’m relatively new to. I stumbled across them on Instagram and have been an avid follower ever since. A few days into stalking their page they posted a new set available to purchase. This little number is called Dotty. What drew me to Dotty in particular was the style of bottoms and the unusual print. I’m not usually big on prints in lingerie I think this may be one of three in my collection!
It took about a month for this to be made by hand and shipped from the UK to Australia which is below the expected time frame stated on the website. When it arrived it was wrapped beautifully in individual white boxes that made me feel like I was opening up Christmas presents. I was so excited to open them that I forgot to take a picture! There was also a hand written note from the designer which is always a nice touch.
With this brand when you order you leave your measurements and bra size at checkout so each item is made just for you. I was a little bit hesitant to order this in my actual bra size purely because when I have done this with other brands they have come up small. So I said I was a 30F and I think the size is pretty much spot on as I prefer more coverage rather than less.
The bralette features a cut out in the centre where the wires would usually sit as well as a large white bow on top. The bra straps are fully adjustable and don’t budge throughout the day. The bra closes at the back with a single gold hook.This set is made from Lycra and for this reason it reminds me a lot of swimwear. Maybe I’ll try this set in the pool when summer comes along. The bralette is unlined but all the sewing and seams seem very accurate and neat and cause no irritation. It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I’m happy with the fit of the bralette. I’m excited to now have one I can wear regularly that’s supportive enough.
Close up of the unlined cups and back fastening.
The same elastic is used on the top and bottoms and while I found the bra to be supportive and comfortable, the bottoms began to irate me later in the day. The elastic around my waist and hips started to rub even when at the loosest and the gold O rings that join the fabric to the elastic, started to dig in. I did wear this under very tight jeans and think this may have added to the irritation as I wrote it for 14hrs. I hate being even slightly negative in reviews because I want all these brands to do well. It’s more telling of my bad shopping and not looking for these thing in the first place and not wearing the right lingerie at the right time. I’m thinking the elastic will soften up the more I wash and wear it.
The open sides of the briefs are an unusual feature but I must say I really enjoy the almost naked feel to it. I knew they wouldn’t be the most practical but they have stayed in place with minimal gaping throughout daily the day. They also feature a matching cut out that mirrors the cut out on the bra. There is also another large white bow on the knickers and my feelings on this particular feature are undecided. Fit wise they are spot on except the gusset which is 1/2 cm too wide for me but that is a very minor issue.
This is about the full extent of the gaping.
Overall I am very impressed with my first purchase from WUWV. This set cost £40 plus £10 for postage. I think the price points are fantastic and make this a very accessible brand. Supporting small businesses is something I am trying to do more of and with WUWV making such cool and wallet friendly lingerie, it is something I will be doing more of very soon. I’m looking at you Jazz set.
If I had to choose only one piece of lingerie to wear for the rest of my life it would be a suspender belt and stockings (they count as one because you can’t have one without the other). Screw the undies and burn that bra because today’s post is all about the so-called extras.
So I’ve tried a fair few stockings and I’ve found some I love and some I hate. When I first started getting into lingerie I was looking for stockings everywhere and all I could find were stay-ups. So here is a rough guide of where to shop for some stocking!
Cheap stockings/ for beginners
H&M
This was the first place I found any wearable stockings that weren’t ridiculously priced. I managed to find a few pairs of their sheer 20 denier stockings in black. They retail for around AUD $6. They feel soft on the skin and have a nice sized welt (not too big not too small) but as you would expect they do not have a reinforced heel or toe and wear through quite quick for that reason. Apart from that I have found they wash well and I’ve hardly had any pulls or runs. Made in Italy.
Gabriella
I found this brand on stockingshq.com when I was looking for plain stockings for work. They started off well but after a few wears I found the material started to pill. They are a good starter stocking if you don’t want to commit to more expensive stockings yet. I’ve tried the Cher sheer stockings from them and they have a thin reinforced toe and wear OK considering the price of $5 but wouldn’t give them a life span of more than 5 wears. Made in Poland.
Silky
These are the cheapest stockings I’ve found also from stockingshq.com. I have the knit 100% stretch nylon stockings and the quality reflects the price. They feel weird to wear and they also come in one size fits all which only 1% of the population may fit. They are a British brand and have a reinforced toe but I avoid wearing them if I have any other choice. I have one of the varieties of the nude colours and it just doesn’t work for me. I would suggest trying the black if you were keen on these. It’s worth a try at only $2 it’s not a huge financial investment. Made in the UK as far as I’m aware.
What you can find in Department stores (Australia)
Collette Dinnigan
The well know Australian designer has ventured in to stockings and they aren’t half bad. They retail from $20-$30. They have hold ups and stay-ups but only in black and white. It’s called a bridal and boudoir collection so they have little lux details like bows at the top of the back seam and pearl details on the heel. So not super practical as I’ve had all those little extra fall off after one wear. If you are in the market for a one time wear pair of luxury stockings then I highly recommend as they feel amazing on and definitely have those designer touches. Made in Italy.
Voodoo
The particular stockings I’m referring to are the hard to find undercover back-seam stockings. They come in 2 colours and 2 sizes and are always sold out when I go to get more! The retail price is $16.95 which I think is good considering they are some of the most durable and fashionable stockings I’ve come across. Made in Taiwan.
Levante
The Levante Vanessa stocking are the most widely found in Australian department store. They feature a reinforced toe and a patterned under welt. They come in 3 sizes and 3 colours that I’m aware of. These are great for everyday wear as they are soft and comfortable yet not overly delicate. I only ever wear the black in this style as the ‘natural’ looks anything but on my skin. They sell for $13.95 and are made in Italy.
Jonathan Aston
I’m only new to trying the vintage legs back seam and heel stockings from this brand. They are a reasonable price, probably the cheapest back seam style you will find in an actual store. They retail for $14.95 and their lifespan is reasonable. I found these ones got pulls in them easier than the Voodoo style. The pulls didn’t turn into runs so were still wearable for a long time after that. The back-seam in these are quite thin which is a detail that sets them apart in the stretch vintage style stockings department. Made in Italy.
Lingerie brands
Agent Provocateur
They have mixed reviews on their stockings but all the ones I’ve tried I love. The Astra seam and heel stretch stockings are a firm favourite of mine as are the Diablo. The prices are very high in the region of $50-$60. Cost per wear it works out OK as mine have lasted very well. The do get little pulls in them but they haven’t turned into ladders. The heel and toes are reinforced really well and haven’t had any issues with that. They have a variety of styles from stay-ups, hold-ups, silk and fashion focused colours and prints. Some of their stockings go on sale twice a year so it’s worth grabbing a pair then as they usually come down to $30. Most of their old stockings are made in France but new ones are made in Austria.
Honey Birdette
The red retro heart stockings have a very thin welt.
I first discovered Honey Birdette because I was looking for stockings and this was one of the search results in google. Their stockings are OK. I find the colour fades fast and that holes appear in the toes after a few wears. I have some of their stockings that have a very thick welt which make them hard to attach the suspender to and give me sausage leg. But then there are stockings that have a very short welt and find they are great to wear under shorter skirts with a sturdy suspender. They sell for $29.95 normally but in the sale there are always some for $15. They are 20 denier normally and have the vintage style back seam. They only come in 2 sizes, average and tall. Their stockings are made in Taiwan.
What Katie Did
If you are looking vintage style stockings, What Katie Did is the place to go. They have retro seamed stockings and also contrast seamed stockings in 15 denier. They come in two sizes and a few different contrast colour options. Prices start at just $13 and go up to $37.50 for the contrast Cuban heel fully fashioned stockings. The quality is fantastic as is the price per wear! Most of their stockings are made in Italy and the Fully Fashioned stockings are made in England.
L’agent
The little sister to Agent Provocateur and their stockings collection reflects that. They have less styles available but at a lower price. Their 20 denier seam and heel stretch stockings retail for around $35. They have 3 sizes available and the stockings I have of theirs are made in Taiwan.
Nylon Stockings
Cevrin
A well know stocking brand famous for its Bicolore stockings . They are also known for being super delicate but with nylon RHT and FF stockings it is to be expected. I find the stockings very comfortable and a good way to break up the routine of wearing plain black stockings. They are at the pricier end of the scale starting from $25 and up to $65 for the silk stockings. Made in France.
Dita for Secrets in Lace
The daytime sheer stockings are an all-time favourite of mine. When I first received them they looked so small in the packet I thought they would never fit me! They have a lot of stretch but still maintain the look and feel of nylon stockings as they are 100% nylon. I’ve worn and washed these stockings more than I can count and only now are they starting to die. They do have a reinforced toe but it’s starting to give way now. They are around $18 a pair for the daytime sheer and go up to $50 for the Dita glamour French heel. These stockings are made in the EU.
Eleganti
These stockings are too long for me so I fold down the welt.
This is a brand that specialises in nylon stockings and are made on the original machines from the 1950’s. All are made from 100% nylon with no stretch. Prices can start from $16 for the imperfect plain nylons and go up to $50 for the perfect Fully Fashioned contrast seam stockings. One mistake I always make with this brand is ordering too big! I look at the size chart and go ‘yer I’m that tall I’ll have them’. But when they arrive they are too big around my legs and foot as the foot is shaped. With these I suggest doing a trial buy with 2 sizes in a cheaper range so you can get the sizing right. You need to look at your height, weight, foot size but then also if you have a longer torso or legs that can change what size you need to order. For example all my height is made up from my long torso and I can size down in the stockings because my legs are shorter. All Eleganti stockings are made in England.
Clio
The stockings I have tried from Clio are their Bas Prestige non-stretch RHT stockings. I purchased them through stockings.hq for just under $12. They come in five colours and 5 sizes and are made in France. I have mine in the colour Vison and it works well with my skin. They also do stretch stockings. Made in France.
A great British brand that many lingerie addicts are familiar with. They offer a range of styles and are more fashion focused are not ridiculously expensive. Prices start from $14.
This is a good brand if you are experimenting with nylon stockings. They still contain stretch but they feel more authentic than others brands on the market. The only down side is they only come in 2 sizes and I’ve found they shrink after washing. They also have a very thick welt. They are another brand that has a very thin back seam and interesting heel details. Prices start from $10 and the stockings are made in Italy but it is a Polish brand.
This is a brand I tried only once as managed to rip my stockings on the first wear. I had the sheer matt stocking 15 denier in the sun colour. This was the only stocking I found that matched my skin! They come in a range of skin tones but only 3 sizes. These were really soft to wear, I need to buy more and at only $12 I don’t need to save too much to restock. Made in Italy and found on stockingshq.com.
Ambra
The Ambra Opaque no-show stay ups are a winter favourite. They are 70 denier and Hypoallergenic so good for people with sensitive skin. I find they don’t dig in like some stay ups do and if you wanted to attach a suspender to them just in case (like I do sometimes) the material is thin enough that you can. This style come sin 3 sizes and retails for $13.95. They are well worth the money, I haven’t had to replace a pair yet after 2 years of winter wear. These can be found at David Jones. Made in China.
If you are looking for retro seamed stockings try…
I’m sure I’m not the only person to have purchased something online only to realise it’s not what you were expecting. Buying lingerie online is both easy and hard. At 3am after a few glasses of wine it can be a little too easy. Bye bye money. So here is a few pointers I wish I had back in the day to avoid any serious regret.
FIRST TIME
If it’s you’re first time buying from a brand my advice is to buy sale. Personally I can’t make the commitment of a full price purchase of a brand I have never tried before. What’s the fit like? What do the fabrics look like in person? It’s an expensive mistake to make if the fit doesn’t work for you and then it’s not returnable. A lot of people/sales assistants look down on you for buying sale but it is the best way to get a feel for a brand with a smaller financial risk for yourself.
STUDY THE SIZE CHART
Size charts are your friends. Go through every aspect of them. Get that measuring tape out! Each size chart is different so while you may be one size in brand A, with the same measurements you might be a size bigger in brand B.
READ REVIEWS
Read as many reviews as you can about the brand or product you are thinking of purchasing. The best information usually comes from other lingerie addicts. Also seeing how the same product fits on a range of body types is immensely helpful. If you are still not sure, email the customer service for the brand and ask for more information and advice.
CHECK THE RETURNS POLICY
It may seem obvious, but in the heat of the moment when you’re excited about purchasing something new and amazing this may be the last thing on your mind. Not all brands/stores accept returns. Some don’t accept knickers as returns for hygiene reasons. Custom made lingerie and accessories are 99% of the time non-refundable. If they do accept returns, there is usually a very short time period to send it back. Also the return postage may be at your personal cost.
SHOP AROUND
If you have time, shop around online. Some brands are stocked on multiple websites and all have different pros and cons. What I look for is free shipping. If there is free shipping over $200 and my order total is $150 I’m more than happy to buy something extra rather than pay $15 for shipping. Also if shopping on international websites it’s always best to shop in the local currency as there is sometimes huge differences in their currency conversion rates. Also signing up to mailing lists usually gets you a ‘welcome discount’ of 10% and is worth utilising.
TAXES AND IMPORTS
Be aware of custom charges for your country. For Australia if you have goods over the value of $1000 in one order you will be charged an import tax and it isn’t cheap. This tax has to be paid to release your items and if you decide to return your purchase you don’t get your tax back! Also if shopping on European websites, check who charges VAT and who doesn’t when shipping to Australia. Technically we don’t have to pay it so it’s kind of a 20% discount when available.
DELIVERY OPTIONS
I always go for track and trace options for post as there is nothing worse than your order going missing. Sure its $10 more expensive but lingerie is precious cargo and I like to know where in the world my babies are.
HAVE A WISHLIST
Write down things that you actually want to buy and save towards it. It’s easy to get distracted by sales and promotions but if you only want it because it’s on sale you probably aren’t shopping wisely. That may sound like a bit of contradiction to my first suggestion but this applies to long-term investment pieces. Better to buy one thing you really want like silk stockings over a sale set from Heidi Klum that almost fits…
SECURE PAYMENT
There are a lot of articles out there about safe shopping online. The most important part of them is make sure you shop with a reputable retailer or if buying off eBay/etsy/depop make sure they have reviews of over 95%. Best way to pay is by PayPal. Its secure, fast and easy to use.
Nothing really compares to shopping in an actual store but for many people this isn’t a reality. Stock limitations, sizes, location and budget all affect your options if you want to try before you buy. Online shopping is far easier, accessible and relatively stress free. And better yet you can do it all from the comfort of your home drinking tea in your pj’s.
This review is long overdue. I’ve only had a blog for a month but I’ve been dying to tell anyone who cares how amazing this suspender is for over a year! I first came across this brand thanks to The Nylon Swish. I’m obsessed with her blog and shop but when I saw her wearing one of Coco’s belt I knew I had to have one too!
I ordered the Y-strap suspender belt in a size small via Etsy and I received it sooner than I was expecting for something that is made per order. I think I paid around $90 at the time for the item and postage. I know that seems expensive for a suspender belt but it’s truly worth it. You have to remember that it’s handmade by one Woman (Goga) in Croatia with the best materials.
Extreme close up of those Y-straps.
The fit of this belt is perfect. Even after a year of wearing this at least once a week, it still fits almost as it did on the first wear. It has stretched out a tiny bit but that is the nature of elastic when it’s washed and worn. It is made up with 7 panels so it gives a really good fit and closes with 3 rows and 2 columns of hooks and eyes so it feels very secure on. All of the metal teeth on the suspender straps are still in perfect condition as are the cloth backs of the clips. Also when I wear this there are no itchy spots! Sometimes I find a tag can irate me or the stitching on the seams rub but it has never happened once with Coco’s products! I sometimes forget that I am wearing this suspender because it is so comfortable and I never have to adjust it.
What I call metal teeth. So much better than sliders, they don’t move an inch!
The one thing I must warm you about is just the general style. If you are used to modern lingerie, this may not be the perfect suspender for you. It is near impossible to wear your normal low-rise undies over this belt. You can wear them under but it’s less practical. If you wear taps pants or high-waisted underwear or none at all, then this will work well. Feels a tad obvious to say but it ain’t called ‘Retro’ for nothing.
For the purpose of this review, I am wearing the suspender over the knickers so you can see more of it.
This suspender (along with the rest of them from Coco’s Retro Closet) gives me a great streamlined shape and really hugs your curves without cutting in. It has just the right amount of depth and strap adjust-ability from 11” to 12.5” with the strap’s at the longest. This style in particular will show up under really tight clothing mostly because of the Y suspender straps but also because of the thickness of those straps. They measure 6/8” which isn’t the thickest I’ve come and is fairly standard in retro lingerie but it’s definitely more substantial than what you can find in your average stores.
The shape of the suspender from the back. As you can see I’m wearing it at its tightest.
This style is available in a great range of sizes from XS (20”-23” waist) up to 4XL (50.5”-55” waist).
Prices do vary between sizes. Starting price is $65 and goes up to $73 Aud + postage.
Overall this is one of the best pieces of lingerie I own and I think my cost per wear must be below $1 by now. I highly recommend you check out Goga’s shop yourself as there are a variety of options of styles, colours and straps available!
Suspender worn with lingerie from JPG for Target and Voodoo backseam stockings. All products have been purchased with my own money and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had been thinking about purchasing another set from the fuller bust collection from Playful Promises for a while. I wear my Portia set so often I thought I should give her a rest. Two weeks ago, ASOS added the Imogen set to their end of season sale and I was lucky enough to get in quick and nab my sizes. I purchased the Bra in a size 30E and the briefs and suspender in XS.
I love shopping with ASOS, the delivery is free when you spend over $40 (easy) and it’s so quick! It’s not the most luxurious packaging but I think it’s unreasonable to expect it at this price point. Every other aspect of the shopping experience fantastic.
Vintage vibes with black satin and buttons.
This set fits me perfectly. I was worried with ordering the XS in the briefs but they don’t cut in at all and they are so comfortable. I’m a size 8-10 so if you are any smaller than this I think the briefs and suspender will be too big. The briefs feature two cut outs and 3 buttons as the feature at the rear. The briefs sit quite low for my standards but it makes wearing them over the suspender easier. The suspender is nice and deep and has four silver metal suspender clips. The buttons feature on the left front panel of the suspender belt. The back is made of a very soft mesh and closes with 3 hook and eyes. If I could change one thing about this suspender it would be to put a stronger mesh at the back so it would be a firmer fit. I would also have six suspender clips instead of four but then the price would go up and it functions well enough so I’ll stop being picky now…
The cutout details of the briefs.
The Imogen bra is a 3 part moulded cup which creates a slight push up effect and looks great under clothes! It has black satin covering the cups, centre gore and the satin makes up the front of the bra straps. I personally find having the bra straps made from a non-stretch fabric gives better support. I find I am adjusting the bra straps less throughout the day because of this. The back of the bra is made from a firm power mesh and closes with 3 hooks and eyes. I’ve found the cup comes up a bit smaller in the Imogen bra compared to the Portia even though I have the exact same size. I think the cup is just slightly shallower around the top. There are 3 little buttons on the centre of the bra to give the set a cohesive look.
The bra gives a very slight retro shape under clothing.
I love the simplicity of this range. I’ve been looking for a black satin set for a long time. The button details aren’t super practical if wearing tight clothes but lucky I don’t but if you do it’s something to consider. I would highly recommend this set for anyone who is looking for a simple set with just a little something extra.
This set is still available on ASOS and of course on the Playful Promises website where it is also available in the Curve collection! The briefs retail for $45, Suspender $89 and Bra $98 AUD.
I’ve been obsessed with Loveday London for a while. But like a lot of people, it’s out of my price range. So when I saw that the set that I had been lusting over go on sale I quickly handed over my money. I purchased the brief in a medium and suspender in small from coco-de-mer. Unfortunately they had sold out of my size in the bra so I purchased that full price in a large direct from the Loveday London website.
Love a good box.
My parcel from coco-de-mer was processed and dispatched in an hour and arrived a couple of days later in Australia. Plain packaging and free delivery always score high in my book but I was really impressed with how fast it was. The bra took awhile longer from Loveday London. It was 6 days from when I placed my order to when I received an email saying my order was complete and then another 6 days for the package to arrive. But when it did arrive it was in a beautiful box wrapped in tissue paper with all the trims.
The Leandra set is made from luxury materials and is made in the UK. It features lambs leather, Italian lace, silk tulle and gold-plated hard wear.
Aesthetically I love this set. In a practical sense I hate it. I know this is a boudoir brand and that being practical is probably low on their priorities. But it annoys me greatly (to put it politely) that the f*#&:£g suspender looks and feels like it will break if I move too fast, let alone any hardcore romance that may take place. Yes the materials are lovely and luxury and it’s a big plus that every piece is made in the UK. But if it’s barely wearable is it worth it? Just trying it on I managed to put a pull in the silk tulle even though I barley touched it. My main problem with the suspender is how the suspender straps are attached to the very fine silk tulle at the front. I feel this should have been reinforced somehow.
So much tension on such delicate materials.
I was looking forward to wearing the bra and briefs after I got over the initial disappointment of the suspender. Unfortunately I was disappointed again. The bra actually adjusts really well for the band size. Unfortunately one of the cups is cut weird. The inner part of the cup is cut too big/too long so it won’t sit flush against the breast tissue. When I’m paying close to $300 for a bra I kind of expect it to fit better than my $5 ones. It’s also on the side of my smaller boob so it’s extra noticeable. I’m thinking of getting the cups altered if possible because it actually feels amazing on and the style is very cool. Even if I was just to wear this set for boudoir purposes I would still get it altered as there is nothing sexy about an ill-fitting bra. I think this bra would suit someone who is full on top with a lot of forward projection.
The briefs would have been perfect if I had ordered my normal size. They looked small and very low-rise on the model so I thought they would run small. I was wrong and the medium is defiantly too big. Because I don’t have enough bum to fill them out, the leather sits awkwardly and sags. Although I must add that every time I try it on the fit gets a little better. Like the leather is moulding to me a bit more.
Back view of the set
It’s sad to say this is the most disappointed I’ve been with any of my purchases. Maybe because I was so excited in the first place and had my expectations too high? Don’t get me wrong, I love it. The colour is vibrant, its comfortable and it has an exciting design. It just doesn’t sit well on my body. Trying to take photos was near impossible. I didn’t mean for this review to be negative but I try to be 100% honest at all times. I will continue to support Loveday London, but will in future just buy the ouvert bras to eliminate any cup size issues.
I’m going to start off this review by saying this isn’t really my correct size. This was brought at a sample sale and I was kind of in the mind-set of ‘close enough I’ll take two!’. Purchased at a fraction of the retail price how could I say no?
So this is the Sophia set from Claudette in size 32dd and small. It is the less famous little sister to their Dessous bra. I have 4 of the Dessous bras but the Sophia is definitely a new fave. It’s a moulded cup in the balconette style and it has fully adjustable straps. Like all the Claudette styles, it comes in a multitude of colours. This particular one I’m wearing is called sea-foam. It has 3 columns and 3 rows of hooks and eyes so even though the back is a bit big on me I feel secure. If I was buying this bra again i would probably go for 30F as the 32dd is too big in the back and i have a fair amount of spillage out of the cups. There really isn’t a bad thing to say about the actual bra. The gore tacks well, nothing digs in, the straps are sturdy and the quality is good for the price range.
The Sophia Suspender briefs I purchased purely because I like to have my underwear match. I really wasn’t expecting great things. So i was wrong and they are amazing! the material used for The Sophia range is great for everyday as its smooth and thin so perfect for actually wearing under clothes! Who would have thought? The suspender briefs actually do what they say they do and managed to hold up my stockings all day. They didn’t pull my pants off and the sliders stayed in place and didn’t move on their own accord. I really wasn’t expecting them to stay in place. I was so doubtful i had a spare suspender in my bag just in case. The only thing i don’t like is the metal finishes. I prefer mine gold tones and on show. Not coated metal hidden beneath ribbons even though it gives the set a streamlined appearance.. But that just a personal preference.
Extreme close up of the suspender clips
Overall I am very happy with the Sophia range and I plan on buying it in some other colours in my correct size.This set is currently on sale on the Love Claudette website the briefs for USD $24.99 and the Bra for $29.99
Lace and Haze 