Lace and Haze

Category: Reviews

  • Amaella Review

    Amaella Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Avocado lingerie reviews

    Avocado lingerie reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

    Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Introducing Saint Rule

    Introducing Saint Rule

    Saint Rule is a brand new lingerie company out of Sydney. That isn’t a sentence I get to say a lot and I’m overly excited about it. Australia is a big country with a small population. For some unknown reason, Australians seem to really love Lingerie. Slowly but surely brands are appearing locally to quench the thirst of the local addicts. Saint rule is one of those brands and it has a very unique selling point.

    I spoke briefly with the designer about the brand as I was interested to know more about how ethical a luxury lingerie brand could be. The luxury market is quite secretive in all industries, most of the time selling smoke and mirrors at a premium price. You would think that luxury also means ethical but most of the time it’s just benefiting off that assumption without having to provide any evidence. As with anything luxury, Saint Rule has a very cohesive and well presented brand, giving enough information to encourage you to buy without tell you all the ins and outs of the business.

    I was curious to find out more so I asked Caitlin, the creative director of Saint Rule some questions regarding the ethics of her brand and here is what she had to say.

    Q. Your items are made in Vietnam, what was the reason you chose to manufacture there?

    A. Several reasons to be honest. I used to work for another Sydney based ladies RTW label which produced in Vietnam, so I’ve spent considerable time in Ho chi min city. So when I wanted to do my own thing after exploring Australian manufacturing and Chinese manufacturing I decide to go back to what I knew best and work with my colleagues in Vietnam. There are a few aspects to this. To do what I have done on this scale would not be possible in Australia at an reasonable price, and I struggled to find people with expertise I needed. I would also be importing my materials. Then at the opposite of that was meeting the minimum quantity orders for China- unless you have several thousand dollars this is not reachable for start up labels although it was something i looked into. You will notice a trend become more visible soon across the industry that a lot of manufacturing is leaving China and moving to Vietnam. I can see the incredible increase in work the tailors are taking on with new brands, particularly with an increase in British brands.

    One thing I pride myself on is that I learnt everything not to do working for other people. As a new brand I can dictate the ethical stance I take. I want to do everything “correct” from the beginning and continue as I started.

    In Vietnam the tailors I work with are 3 amazing women and their family companies. I have met every worker and visited every factory and work space. I know that they are good companies with good people run by women supporting women and their quality of life. They pay well above what we would call and award wage.

    Q. A lot of new brands are built on sustainability and ethical consumption these days, is that something you have done with your business or will it be something you slowly build into it? If so, what are you doing to make it more sustainable?

    A. All of my fabric sourcing is what’s considered stock fabric or what might be know by the term dead fabric. It’s basically the rolls of fabric disregarded or what excess is sold on to smaller brands rather than it being thrown out to waste. A lot of smaller brands do this firstly, to save money and have access to amazing fabrics at a reduced rate but it’s also a more ethical choice. There are parts of the lingerie materials you need like clips and straps and rings that unfortunately would never be dead stock, this is just referring to the materials like laces and silk blends used. In the pattern making process I’ve worked with the tailors to save as much fabric as possible, at times altering the position of the lace used to reduce wastage. Sometimes the smallest shift in design can have a big impact on fabric saving and wastage which was considered throughout. I am incredibly lucky that my main pattern maker chi van used to work for triumph and etam and left to start her own company. We happened to meet and she agreed to take a chance on my brand.

    I’ve also made a conscious effort to educate my customers on the correct care for their lingerie which is provided on the website. Also having lingerie bags with ever purchase to store their pieces safely emphasises the slower lifecycle of the pieces. I’m all about buying fewer excellent quality pieces rather than cheap fast fashion that the quality won’t last.

    In terms of delivery of production as much as we could we didn’t use plastic. We had paper separating styles where most factories would put each piece in plastic. We decided to just plastic line the box for weather purposes.we consciously save a lot of unnecessary plastic there too.

    This will be an area of continuous growth for a lot of the business but if your heart and mind are conscious of it and constantly considering and reviewing your practices each step we make the industry a better place. I feel this new generation of designers are actively trying to make the best choice possible as it is a flow on from our eduction and the state of the world. It’s something that I struggle with the decision to market on my website as I don’t think sustainability should be a marketing tool but an absolute necessity across the board. So I’m very happy to discuss it if anyone ever wishes to enquire into the ethics of my brand.

    Q—You have an impressive starting size range for a new brand, is there any plans to expand it in the future?  

    A— Thank you! I’ve wanted to start my brand for a long time. So when I did I knew the demand on the market and knew I wanted to do as many sizes as possible to start with. I used to work in Selfridges and brown Thomas overseas so have a good understanding of the demand in lingerie and the sellable sizes.  

    There are definitely plans to expand the size range hopefully in my next collection (sampling and production to begin in February 2019) we will increase the sizes of jersey pieces to include the size 4 and also I would love to increase to include the size 16 and cup scale in the wired bras but i will have to wait to when I can afford it. We have had a lot of interest in our D, DD and E cups and size 14 scale so it’s logical to expand to the 16 when possible. 

    Q-Without giving too much away, what are your plans for Saint Rule? Will you be stocked at any boutiques or will you remain selling direct to the consumer? 

    A- I have a working history in Selfridges London and Brown Thomas in Dublin in management and styling and this is my ultimate goal to have concessions within Selfridges and Brown Thomas and also have a global flagship boutique in Sydney. I would like to remain as exclusive as possible but would really like to show to a few ecommerce businesses the collections as well as the boutique 1 team. I would like to maintain a boutique feel to my brand, I plan on dropping smaller collections more often but the stock runs being quite small so when it’s gone it’s gone kind of thing.

    Thank you Caitlin!

    Review

    The Eden set was gifted to me by saint rule for the purpose of this review. I received the bra in a 32E and the briefs in a size small.

    These are pretty much my new favourite briefs. They are ultra high cut just the way I like them, but surprisingly not many brands do them as well. The front is comprised of a lace panel with an material that is in between a mesh and jersey for the back. They are so comfortable to wear and the waist band nips in my waist perfectly without it being uncomfortable. They are quite narrow at the front but that is my favourite element of the design.

    I sister sized to a 32E in this bra like I do with most of my bras. I usually wear a 28/30 band with varying cup sizes. Naturally the band is too big for me but it is wearable even though technically it’s 2 sizes too big. Because of the back design, it’s not too hard to have it taken in a few inches which is what I plan to do. Because the band isn’t as firm as I’d like, the cups gape slightly at the top. If you are a regular 32E this won’t be an issue it’s only if you are sister sizing up twice that it would be an issues. The cup construction is impeccable, but it is made for core sizes as it doesn’t have the reinforcement and power mesh that I’m used to. Again this won’t be an issue if you are actually in the size range and not being a tad sneaky like I have just because I love the design.

    They have also gifted me the Haze robe which is aptly named! It’s a silk viscose blend which is unusual to see in a robe but it just gives the silk a bit of stretch and weight. It has an internal tie as well as the external sash which is attached. The sleeves are full length but do feature a split. This makes it easy to wear when getting ready in the morning as I find I can use my hands without the sleeves getting in the way. It’s now my most worn robe and I’ve only had it a few weeks, it’s just that easy to wear.

    I truly love all the designs Saint Rule has out right now, I’m particularly partial to all the high cuts and bustiers. It’s like a better and more accessible vintage lingerie collection.

    Saint Rule is bringing something new to the Australian lingerie scene and I can’t wait to see what this brand will do next.

    Elly x

  • Attollo Lingerie

    Attollo Lingerie

    Attollo is a relatively new brand coming out of London. It was created because the founders themselves couldn’t find bras in their size that they wanted to wear. I know the feeling…

    Their aim is to give the fuller bust customer beautiful, uplifting affordable lingerie that you actually want to wear. So do I think they have achieved this? In short, yes but ill give you all the details below.

    I was gifted the Gigi High waisted knickers in a size 8-10 and the Emelie Longline bra in a 28GG. The set retails for £63 or $110 AUD which may not sound very affordable but for a fuller bust bra made in Europe, it really is priced well. They have bra sizes 28-36 DD-HH and knickers XS-XL.

    It’s important to note that Attollo does not use standard sizing. Generally you need to go up a cup size from your normal uk size. The best thing about Attollo is that they have one of the most comprehensive, easy to understand fit guides I’ve ever come across. They have their own fit calculator, they have even included different breast shapes you can combine that with your measurements to make sure you are getting the best size. If that wasn’t enough, if you aren’t lucky enough to go into London for your personal fit session it’s possible to make a FaceTime appointment and you can get fitted from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a measuring tape.

    I did a FaceTime session with one of the founders of the company to determine my size. Working out a time to do it was the most difficult part about it. The time difference between London and Sydney is 11hrs so 9am London time and 7pm Sydney time seems to work the best. After discussing what sizes I wear in other brands we came to the conclusion that a 28GG would be the best fit. I rember thinking that it sounds huge! I was slightly sceptical of how well it would fit but I put my trust that they knew best. The package arrived in a week which is amazing. Usually anything sent from overseas, even if it’s express, takes more than a week.

    I was super excited to try on this set, its so hard to find a good longline bra in the fuller bust size range. When first trying it on I was amazed by the quality and how cohesive it was. Sometimes with new brands, the design can be great but perhaps they haven’t found their longtime suppliers some elements can seem off. This isn’t the case with Attollo, it looks and feels like its one of the big, established companies.

    The long line bra has 5 rows of hook and eyes which is the perfect length for a longline that is an everyday bra. The bra is mostly made up of a stretch lace with a medium stretch mesh on the inside. There are two vertical seams on each cup, yes they leave a mark at the end of a full day wearing the bra but I haven’t found them itchy or noticeable. One of my favourite design elements is the satin band, It is so comfortable!!!! I think this is my favourite bra now because the band is perfectly firm on my ribs, without digging in or rolling up. The straps on this bra are the thinnest I’ve seen on a fuller bust bra and while this may have been a concern for me at first, because the band actually fits me, I don’t have a lot of weight on the straps to begin with. At first I thought this bra was made for really tall people, the straps are fully adjustable but the longest I’ve ever seen. I soon realised they are that long because you can wear them crossed over. Ive seen people wearing them crossed over the front but I’ve only tried them crossed at the back.

    The high waisted Gigi underwear looks amazing on and it is one of my favourite styles. The only problem for me is that there is a seam in the centre of the gusset. I don’t find it too noticeable but if I’m wearing these knickers all day I will start to feel it by the end. Just something to consider if you are particularly sensitive. Apart from that I love the style and that they are the perfect hight to wear with my jeans. The lace at the back means they work seamlessly under clothing.

    I’m really looking forward to seeing what Attollo will release next. I’m very impressed with their bra fit, so much so that the longline is the bra I’m wearing most often. I find its perfect for wearing under my sheer tops, the lace gives it texture without having the solid black mass like a t-shirt bra would. I definitely need more Attollo bras in my life.

    Happy bra shopping!

    Elly x

  • Ellesmere Mint Julep Review

    Ellesmere Mint Julep Review

    This is a brand I have reviewed before so I’m going to say up front that I love this brand and I bought this set with my own money.

    I’ve previously reviewed a bodysuit by Ellesmere that they sent me for the purpose of a review which you can read here. Ever since then I’ve wanted to try one of their full sets. Now I’ve worn and washed it a few times I’m going to share my thoughts!

    So I ordered the mint Julep set in size 30F bra, medium brief and size small in the suspenders that come with detachable leg harnesses. There is also a bralette and high waisted brief available in this range. I ordered the brief according to my measurements on the size chart and they fit perfectly. I couldn’t find a size chart for the suspenders so it was a bit of a guess. Luckily everything did fit but if you are unsure you can enquire on the website and receive fit advice. The first thing I noticed when unwrapping the package, was how light everything felt. The lace and mesh seem very delicate but wearable. When I tried them on they felt as light on the body as the did when unwrapping them.

    All the products are made in an Atelier in Montreal. I was really impressed with the quality of sewing and how well finished the product was. The one thing that I felt let it down was the elastics used on the leg harness. Perhaps they are just too small for me, but I felt they dug in to my leg, that the elastic wasn’t soft enough. The same elastic is used for the bra straps but I didn’t have a problem with that. I’m hoping that in time the elastic may soften on the leg harness. I’m realistically going to be wearing the 4 strap suspender with stockings attached more often then the harness so this isn’t really a problem for me but something to consider.

    My bra size is constantly fluctuating but I find this bra can accommodate it because of the shape and materials. The top of the cup is quite open and not super firm so its good if your cup size fluctuates but not if you are naturally top heavy. If I had the option I would have ordered this in a 28 band but unfortunately for us smaller back girls, ellesmere starts at a 30. I still think the band comes up big for a 30 but it is wearable.

    I usually avoid briefs like this, but I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable they were. I was also surprised to find that they don’t give horrendous VPL, mostly because of the mesh back. One good thing about a bikini brief paired with a suspender is that it is visually appealing. You don’t lose the detail of the suspender by covering it up with a high waisted underwear which is something I’m guilty of doing a lot.

    Overall I love this set, its one of my favourites to wear as its so comfortable and light I forget I’m wearing it. It’s perfect for summer. I’m really looking forward to purchasing my next set from Ellesmere.

  • Ellesmere Custom Bodysuit review

    Ellesmere Custom Bodysuit review

    Ellesmere is a brand I noticed straight away. It’s imagery felt real and its lingerie beautiful. As I fell down the rabbit hole I also discovered that it was an ethical, approachable core size and fullerbust brand made in Montreal! It’s only been around for a year and a half, so don’t be surprised if the name isn’t familiar.

    I first realised that I could fit into this amazing lingerie when I saw Wen from commicgirlsneedbras modeling the collection in their look books. To be honest I think seeing Wen in the look book sold me on this brand even more as she isn’t a just WCW, she is Woman crush all day everyday. So when Julia, the creator of Ellesmere asked me if I would like to try one of the custom bodysuits, I jumped at the chance.

    If you love bodysuits but can never get one to fit, this may just be the perfect solution for you. This made-to-measure option feels less intimidating compared to a complete custom item. First you choose the body size S,M,L or XL. Then you can pick the bralette style triangle or keyhole. The triangle option comes in sizes XS-XL or the keyhole 30B-GG and 32-36 A-G. Next comes the fun part, the fabric options! You can choose between flue fig, black plum, black Rosa or pink Rosa. You can request further alterations but there is a fee for extra customisation. The Bodysuit I ordered was with the keyhole bust option in a 30E with a size medium body. I left the fabric design up to Julia as I fell in love each fabric option in the collection and couldn’t choose one.

    So my first impressions when opening up the parcel were very good. It came wrapped in tissue paper with a brand postcard tucked inside. I was nervous to try in on for the first time as I’m usually very sceptical about bodysuits ever fitting me but this one amazingly does! I went for a medium in the body rather than my usual small. I’ve had so many experiences of bodysuits coming up short in the body and in turn giving the worst wedgie of my life if you try and wear it for more than a few hours. The medium fits well but I needint of worried about the length as it is more than sufficient. In fact If your torso is on the shorter side I might say that it may be too long for you unless you went full custom and had it shortened. The bodysuit doesn’t come with snaps at the crotch. I don’t mind if bodysuits do or don’t, its just something to think about if you are used to having them. It makes it more comfortable to wear without having the extra bulk of snap closures or hook and eyes but it does make going to the bathroom in a rush an interesting experience.

    The Bodysuit itself is made of panels of mesh and a beautiful blue and gold lace. It’s very lightweight and pretty much seamless under most clothing. I was slightly worried about how comfortable the lace would be as I’ve had bad experiences in the past of scratchy lace on extra sensitive parts of the body. I’m happy to report that I’ve worn this bodysuit for 3 full days (7am-11pm) without and discomfort from seams, stitching or lace which is a miracle in my books. For those wondering if its supportive enough to wear all day I would say yes, but I’m only a 30E. The top half is designed like a supportive bralette. The band is firm across the back and it has hook and eye closures. The bra straps are firm and wide and most importantly, adjustable. The bra cup itself is half lined with a beige mesh, almost like a wing in a traditional bra, and has little to no stretch. I find the cups come up slightly small so if you are in between cups sizes I would go bigger rather then smaller.

    One design feature that I love is that it has an elastic waistband. This may not sound very exciting but what it does is give you a cinched in waist. I usually have a lot of excess material around that area just to get the length I need in the body. So for a bodysuit to fit my waist it was pretty exciting. Another design element that I love is the low scoop back. It makes it wearable under more styles of clothing and I personally find it a very flattering cut. I own around 10 bodysuits, and this is by far the most wearable one I own. It doesn’t ride up, its supportive enough, its the easiest one to get on and off and its easy to care for. Because the material is so light I can have it washed and dried within a few short hours which makes it my perfect travel piece!

    Ive found myself wearing this bodysuit more then I thought I would. It’s been a summer staple for me I just throw on some denim shorts and a linen shirt and off I go. I’m so excited to see what’s next from Ellesmere but before then I’m dying to get my hands on the full set in this enchanting lace.

    The bodysuit retails for $185 CAD and is available through the Ellesmere website, ellesmerelingerie.com

  • Fifi Chachnil Bonjour Paris review

    Fifi Chachnil Bonjour Paris review

    I know you’ve heard me talk about my Wishlist constantly and how many brands and sets I’ve wanted to try. Fifi Chachnil has been more of a dream, an unrealistic one at that. When I think of lingerie, of French, feminine lingerie, I think of Fifi. If I could only visit one boutique in the world, I would chose to visit Fifi. Not that I’ve been. I’ve been scouring eBay looking for something, anything in my size, just so I could try the quality and style without having to invest so much. With no such luck over the course of 2 years I finally decided to bite the bullet and order form the website.

    After analysing the size chart for weeks I decided to order the Parisienne bra in a 80E and the high waisted brief in a 38. It took me awhile to work out French sizes, never having ordered anything online and only having tried on brands in person like Chantal Thomass. I would also like to point out this is one of the few times I have paid full price for lingerie. I try to be savvy with my shopping as I spend way too much. I make use of any sign up discounts or promo codes available. I rarely wait till things are marked down as if I want something, I’m not very good at waiting. I would never buy say a Hedi Klum set full price, but when it comes to independent designers I feel more comfortable paying the full price as I know the money is going directly to the people involved and back into the business. Why am I telling you this? Well when I pay full price for luxury lingerie I expect more and that is reflected in my review.

    I’m big on presentation and packaging and this initial first contact with my new lingerie really affects my overall opinion on the products. My Fifi arrived in the cutest packaging ever!!! It’s like a mini shopping bag/box. The items were wrapped individually in tissues paper and padded out to protect them during shipping. Unwrapping it was my dream come true, it was the best unboxing experience I’ve had so far. The items themselves were so light and delicate it really was like I was unwrapping a precious jewel.

    I was initially scared to try the items on. I wanted them so badly to fit and suit me. I tried them on after a few days and I absolutely loved them and I still do. The knickers felt slightly tight when pulling them up over my thigh bones but when they rested on my waist, it felt like they were on the bigger side. That might be something to think about if you have a large waist to hip ratio. Luckily this style comes with a few different types of briefs so you can pick the style that will best suit you. The briefs are unlined except for the gusset which is lined in silk. I feel like the underwear should be fully lined to help maintain the strength of the silk as I’ve said before they do feel extremely delicate and I wouldn’t wear them under anything to form fitting for fear of damaging them.

    The bra band is the biggest 32 band I’ve ever worn. If you wear a 28 or 30 like I normally do, I would suggest getting a custom size as I’m not sure I trust anyone to alter the bra when it feels so delicate. It’s wearable when the band is bigger but the cups have some wrinkles as they are not pulled taut. The back of the bra is made up of a soft mesh, not silk like I was expecting. Usually at this price point you would see the band being made out of the same material as the main parts of the bra so I was slightly surprised by this. If the underwear also had silk front and mesh back I would find it appropriate to carry that design through all the garments but having one and not the other is slightly confusing. The mesh used is very soft and feels great against the skin but it isn’t power mesh so the support is minimal. The straps on the other hand are perfectly wide for this retro style and nice and plush. Considering I don’t have much support from the band, the straps feel very comfortable all day and never dig in. The wires feel a bit more flexible than I’m used to, but again they don’t dig into my armpits even though this bra isn’t a perfect fit.

    It is very much a full cup bra yet this set feels very far from granny even when its paired with the high waisted knickers. The set evokes a sense of femininity and a carefree spirit. It is both young and old, practical and impractical. The full cup bra and high waisted knickers seem like a style for an older, practical woman. yet the lightness of the silk and the vibrancy of colours leans towards a younger less practical one. In my opinion, it could be a set for anyone, it blends the lines between markets.

    The colour of this set is something I was slightly surprised by. The advertised colour as of a softer pink and calmer blue. In actual fact it is the most vibrant pastel pink and a turquoise blue. I do not mind the colour, but it does look very different from what I thought I was getting. If you are quite particular about colour I would suggest getting in contact via the website to confirm, as I viewed this set on many different devices before purchasing and all of the computer screens did not match the colour I received.

    I do love my Fifi set and I think I would purchase from them again but I do not think I’m willing to pay full price again when some design details are not quite up to my standards. I hope my husband never reads this because this set cost $465 AUD. That’s about $150 more than I would pay if I was to purchase a two piece set again. It’s not great value per wear but I do have something beautiful to admire every morning as its in my pride of place in the top drawer of lingerie. For now…

  • Sukki by Tutti Rouge review

    Sukki by Tutti Rouge review

    The sukki bra has been high on my lust list since its release. This bra seemed to be the perfect addition to my lingerie wardrobe. It’s named after a mega babe. Winning. It features removable strappy detail so your bra can be work and date night appropriate. Winning. It also comes in a wide variety of sizes for the fuller bust market that I happen to fit into. Winning all round.

    It seemed to be a bra made in lingerie heaven so when a deal appeared before Black Friday that included a free brief and free delivery I couldn’t say no! I ordered the bra in a 28F and it cost around $60 AUD.

    It arrived quite fast considering the time of year. I was a bit disappointed with the overall packaging but at this price point you get what you pay for. I’ve seen a lot of babes totally rocking this bra but I’m sad to say this is not the bra for me. I’ve worn this bra 3 times before writing this review, hoping that I would change my mind over time. Sometimes a bra can relax and mould to your body after a couple of wears, but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case for this bra.

    The bra itself is a beautiful 3 part cut and sew Moulded balconette. The style is a little bit vintage with a nod to the strappy trend so apparent in the lingerie industry for the last few years. I love the idea of removable straps but unfortunately I don’t think its been executed that well. The straps are one length and are not adjustable. The loop where you can add the extra straps is also frayed so I can never get the hook all the way through to stay in place. Something that I do love about this bra is the heart shaped sliders! It’s a very cute detail but I also love how easy it is to adjust them. I like to adjust my bra straps when I’m already wearing the bra, so by having them placed at the front it makes it so much easy to do so.

    When it came to trying on this style and wearing it, I found it was a very odd fit. I’m not sure if I’m wearing the right size or if this is just totally to wrong shape for me but I have never experienced a worse fitting bra than this one. The cup is too shallow at the base of the bra, I have a fingers space of room between the wire and my breast root. I’ve readjusted myself until the cows came home but to no improvement. I checked the product photos on the Tutti Rouge website and it seems their model has the same issue leading me to believe that it is an overall product fit issue rather than an individual fit issue. The cup is quite deep in the centre and also quite open at the top. This is great if you are FOT but for me its a nightmare. Apart from that the gore tacked well and the wires felt like a suitable width for me.

    After wearing this bra to work one day I swore to myself I would never wear it again. This has been the most painful bra I have ever worn. When I first tried it on the wires felt ok. By lunch time that day I wanted to rip it off and burn it. Unfortunately I can’t go braless at work and my bank account told me no shopping, not even in an emergency. The problem was the side boning and the wires under my arm pit. It felt like they were both about to poke through their casing and stab me in the ribs. I finally understood that feeling of relief at the end of the day when you take off your bra and slip into something a little more comfortable. I had a close look at the bra and found no major issue apart for the wires and boning being slightly too short for their casing. I wore this bra two more times on shorter work days with the same result of terrible discomfort. The only time I’ve worn this bra and it felt ok was when I was sitting at home for a couple of hours and not moving around much. I really wanted this bra to work for me but it wasn’t to be.

    What about the free brief I hear you ask? Well unfortunately for me this offer was a complete fail. How the offer was advertised was “ free brief with any purchase”. To me this sounded like it was the matching brief to whatever you were buying. And I know a few other people read it that way. I guess this is a case of be specific about your offer to avoid customer disappointment. So I now have a useless purple brief and useless bra. They have learnt from their mistake and the offer after it specified if it was matching or not.

    I know this sounds like I’m hating on tutti rouge. As I customer I am disappointed in a few aspects of the experience. Would I shop with them again? Probably not. I feel you can get better value for your money elsewhere. If you are fuller bust and can’t find a good strappy bra, I suggest wearing any bra you love and adding a harness over the top.