Lace and Haze

Tag: silk

  • Introducing Overture Lingerie

    Introducing Overture Lingerie

    Whenever there is a new lingerie brand I get very excited. Now imagine that excitement when I find out that new brand is a small band/fuller bust specialist based in the UK. Overture lingerie is a boutique London based brand that has just launched.

    They specialise in band sizes 26-34 and cup sizes F-HH. While that may not seem like a very large size range, for a small brand it is a huge investment to create 30 sizes. They have launched with two colour ways, with a brief and thong as well as a robe. Overture is definitely a luxury brand but the attention to detail in design is well worth the price tag.

    I was gifted the thong in a size 16 and the bra in a 32HH in the Espresso range. I’m definitely more of a size 16/18 so the thong is a bit on the small side but definitely wearable. One thing you should know about this brand is that it is manufactured in Poland. If you are well versed in the bra world you’ll know what that means straight away.

    For those that don’t know, Polish bras are known for their narrow wires and deep cups giving a much more lifted silhouette. It is the opposite of a minimising effect and its great if you are looking for a rounded shape.

    Comparison of wire shape between Overture and Panache. Overture wire finishes at the same point but follows the natural shape of the breast root more.

    So lets be honest, this brand is all about the bra, the knicker and robe make a nice outfit but the bra is the star of the show. It’s made from Bespoke Swiss embroidery and has non stretch silk straps. It’s finished with rose gold hardware that is very subtle.

    Here I’m wearing the initial bra in a 32HH.

    It has an Illusion cup, a 3 part invisible tulle base layer overlayed with two part cup of the abstract Swiss embroidery. It also has a sling made of the same illusion tulle to help with forward projection. This bra has used a balconette wire but has a 1cm illusion drop so it looks more plunging than it actually is. The lower embroidery gives the wearer the option to wear more open necklines with only the invisible tulle on display.

    Full disclosure, I was sent a bigger bra after wearing the first bra a few times. I found I needed more space mostly in the height of the cup and the 34HH which has been modified into a 32J gives me better results. Unfortunately I still had the same issue with this bra so we decided to try the other colour way in the modified 34HH=32J. Something I didn’t realise while looking on the website is that the tulle between the different styles is different. The tulle on the black bra is much softer. It great for those who find tulle can be a bit scratchy or irritating. Unfortunately if you are a bigger cup size like me it doesn’t offer the support that is needed and can easily be stretch and warped out of shape.

    32J in the affogato range

    Something I would change is the overlocking of the tulle cup. It faces outwards but because of where my tissue sits in the bra it shows on the espresso range. The reason its not this way is so its smooth against the skin. So no irritation from the stitching. One other thing I’d change is the straps or more specifically the length/adjustability. I find the neckline appears quite long without the amount of tension that is need from the straps so it can appear to gape.

    One aspect that I really love about this bra is how light it is. It’s something very unexpected for a fuller bust bra, as some can resemble scaffolding. When I first unboxed it I thought there was no way something so delicate could hold up my boobs. It really does achieve the mission the brand set out to do, a bra you can forget you are wearing all day yet luxurious enough to wear out again all night.

    The thong is simple but comfortable

    I’ve worn both styles of bras a number of times and there really is a large difference between colour ways. The bigger the cup I’d definitely go for the lighter colours, if a smaller cup size the espresso will work well. I’m actually very surprised how much I’ve worn the lighter colour bra. Those colours are not normally my first choice but it has been so nice to wear and I’ve ended up preferring the embroidery.

  • Studio Pia – Naga Review

    Studio Pia – Naga Review

    These items were purchased by myself, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

    It’s hard to believe Studio Pia has only been around for 5 years. With a strong brand identity and a commitment to sustainability, they have found a loyal legion of fans across the world. And It’s easy to see why. Easy fit sizing, the use of peace silk, iconic embroidery and unusual colours, there is something that would appeal to nearly every luxury lingerie consumer. I’ve purchased from studio pia multiple times at full price and in the sales, directly from them and through select boutiques that have stocked them. This order in particular was via the wonderful Garnet District.

    Suspender styled as a harness brief.

    I had this ordered in for me in sizes 9 for the bra and Large for the thong and suspender as these are my usual sizes. It’s important to note that this version of this set is the new and improved version. The bra is now a 3 part cup compared to the original version which was only a 2 part. The 2 parts are still in some boutiques across the world and on resellers pages online so make sure if you are on the top end of the size chart that you get the 3 part, the fit is much much better.

    The thong fits very true to size and there is no diversion from how all their thongs fit. The suspender does feel slightly bigger in this style compared to some of my others ones. There isn’t much to be said about the suspender and thong as they are classic silhouettes from studio pia so they are as expected.

    Here you can see the suspender is tightened as far as it can go.

    The bra on the other hand is quite different to styles I have had previously from them. I do have a longline bra from them previously but it was in silk and the cradle of the bra was lacking as was the depth in the cups. This bra the cradle has improved greatly and the 3 part cup has created more depth so the wires can sit flatter. The shoulder straps are fully adjustable and they are also detachable at the back to change it from regular shoulder straps to cross over ones. The 3 part cup is very delicate. The top of the cup uses clear elastic tape to keep the embroidered edge in place. The cradle and the lower parts of the cup are lined in a very fine tulle.

    Fine mesh reinforces most of the bra.

    It is key to mention, technically I’m two cup sizes bigger than what this bra can fit. It is the life of a big boob owner trying to squeeze into the luxury lingerie that’s available. Trying this bra on and taking photos was great but wearing it out for a day was torture.This it wasn’t anything to do with it being too small. It was to do with the boning used.

    With long line bras you do have to use boning most of the time to keep the band in place, otherwise it tends to roll up. The problem is boning In the wrong place or placed in the wrong direction can be very painful to wear, especially on bigger sizes. If you have protruding ribs or belly I’d warn against wearing this for any long period of time or if you expect to bend or sit at all.

    I’m not a stranger to bra injuries but this was next level discomfort.

    Another thing I will note is that I thought the proportion of the set was a bit off. I think it’s perhaps because I have seen so many beautiful people wear it but without even realising they were all wearing very small sizes. It hadn’t even crossed my mind but obviously the scale of embroidery looks different when the body wearing it is bigger. I felt like it looked messier and less obvious, like the snakes got lost on me. I do also think this set would benefit from a highwaisted thong. Because the suspender and thong are so small and sparse on embroidery, the longline bra seems quite unbalanced and too heavy when worn together.

    Overall it’s a beautiful set and definitely one for any lingerie addicts collection but I wouldn’t want to wear it for any long period of time unfortunately. Great for photos and short wear or all day wear if you have a straighter body shape.

  • Luxury loungewear, Emma Harris Lingerie

    Luxury loungewear, Emma Harris Lingerie

    This item has been gifted by Emma Harris lingerie, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

    Emma Harris is a brand you may know the name of but cannot place. It’s a luxury lingerie label that flies under the radar. With a small presence on social media and a classic take on lingerie it can be easy to miss in a culture focused on trends and tech development. Emma Harris is focusing on quality materials and luxury finishes. It’s understated, elegant and definitely deserving of some more attention.

    The size range is fairly standard for a lingerie brand, I’m sized out technically and I was very sceptical if this robe would fit. Their sizes range from an XS which is a 6-8 up to a XL being an equivalent of 14-16 UK. They do have a bespoke service as well however if a new pattern is required to achieve the perfect fit, this will be at an extra cost. An example given by the designer is that to amend slips to cater for a larger bust ie. a size small with a 32FF bust, the increase to cover the pattern work would be £25. All of the products are made in house and made to order so if you have any questions their in-house technical team will be able to advise on customisation best suited to your needs.

    This is the Cleo Kimono in an XL. It retails for £440 and comes in both black and this glorious garnet. This colour is truly amazing in person, it’s the perfect shade for autumn and really conjures up thoughts of luxurious lounging. The colour combination of the Garnet silk an Gold lace have worked effectively to achieve a sense of regal elegance. I honestly can’t say enough about how beautiful this colour is in person, it’s a stand out of the season for me personally.

    Deep silk band on the collar.

    I find the design of this Kimono robe very interesting. The use of the thick bands of silk on the collar and sleeves add weight and shape to the garment as well as being a nod to the traditional kimono it is styled after. The thick bands also balance out the gold pattern matched lace insert on the sleeves so one isn’t overpowering the other, all elements are well balanced. This is quite a short robe, the images on the website can be misleading as its styled with a longer slip underneath. On me at 5’9 its just covers my bum. It is described as being oversized but on me (someone who is 2-4 inches bigger than what’s recommended on the size chart) it fits fairly standard. If you are within the size range it will have the luxurious feeling of being encompassed by silk. The fabric composition is 97% silk and 3% elastin. So its not 100% silk but this is actually my personal preference as I like my loungewear with a bit of give.

    So £440 sounds like a lot of money and it definitely is but you may be surprised to hear that this is actually at the lower end of the scale for price in luxury loungewear. One of the biggest names in Luxury lingerie will sell their robes from £500-£1000 and the quality is average. There are many plain silk robes on the market at around the £400 price point but this one from Emma Harris really is a standout in construction and design.

    So how do they have superior quality but still remain at the accessible end of the luxury market? They hold no stock, when an order is placed it is then made in the atelier in England by the team. This means there is no over production and no need to price higher to account for the left over products that then normally would go on sale. Personally I prefer to buy at full price knowing its not going to go on sale in a months time for half the price.

    I’m so grateful to have been gifted this by Emma Harris lingerie, it is truly the most beautiful robe I now own and will be something I treasure for years to come. It has been packed into my suitcase for every weekend trip I’ve done since its arrived so that’s saying something in itself. Although this item was gifted, I can definitely see myself purchasing from this brand in the future, both for myself and as a beautiful gift for a loved one.