Lace and Haze

Tag: review

  • Katherine Hamilton Abrielle review.

    Katherine Hamilton Abrielle review.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Elly x

  • Lovehoney lingerie

    Lovehoney lingerie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Every strap is adjustable.

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

  • Lara Intimates Clio review

    Lara Intimates Clio review

    Lara Intimates take two!

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

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

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

    The hipster briefs.

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

    The classic brief.

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

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

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

    Elly x

  • Amaella Review

    Amaella Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Avocado lingerie reviews

    Avocado lingerie reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

    Lara Intimates, The Ava review.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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.