Category: Lingerie

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

E. x

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.

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.

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.

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.

E. x

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.

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.

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.

E. x

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.

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.

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.

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.

This style is available in a great range of sizes from XS (20”-23” waist) up to 4XL (50.5”-55” waist).

SIZE:
XSmall (waist 20″-23″, 50-60 cm)
Small (waist 23″-28″, 60-72 cm)
Medium (waist 28″ – 33″, 72-84 cm)
Large (waist 33″-38″, 84-98 cm)
XLarge (waist 38″-43″, 98-109 cm)
XXLarge (waist 42.5″-47″/ 108-119 cm)
3XLarge (waist 46.5″-51″/ 118-129 cm)
4XLarge (waist 50.5″-55″/ 128-139 cm)

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.