Sunday 7 September 2014
Maison Lejeby Elixir Theodora review
I've been circling past my font door for the past week, eagerly urging that rattle on the letterbox or a ring of the bell. It seems so long ago that I placed an order for the Theodora from Maison Lejeby Elixir's latest range. My patience isn't good at the best of times, so ticking 'standard delivery' wasn't an intelligent moment.
And so eventually, this morning my ear's were alerted to the post van pulling up outside, at last! There was no finesse to my parcel opening, quick quick quick and out I pull a beautiful bright blue lacy set, heaven.
The colour is called cabalt blue, a nice change from black. The cups are made from non-stretch Guipure lace. It feels sturdy in my hands, it should be supportive on. A mesh bow sits in the centre, and arabesque lace runs along the top of the cups to the straps. Again this is non-stretch lace so if the fit is close it could dig in. The straps are wide and super shiny satin, this could mean trouble staying in place, I have had previous Elixir bras with straps that work themselves loose over the day, easily remedied with a few stitches to hold it at the right length.
The thing that strikes me most is on the back, there is a hook a few inches up the back of the straps to hook them together into a racer back style, this hadn't been shown on the retailers website and I'm not sure how I feel about it, certain sports bras are coming to mind and how awkward they are to get on and off. We'll see!
The straps are far apart, so I have to clip them together as intended. No chance of them staying on my shoulders otherwise. This is a feat in itself, the clasp is fairly low down in just that part of the back that gets missed when moisturising and scrubbing. Several attempts later.....it's on. It took a few hours to get used to the back styling, I did get used to it but it's always going to be a song and a dance to get it on and off without assistance.
My big disappointment of the day was the cups, they are huge! I ordered 30F, my usual size in bras and certainly in all of my other Elixir bras from their previous collections. The band is spot on though so I will re-order it in 30E and see how well that fits. Time for my patience to be tested again while I wait for it to be swapped :-)
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And so eventually, this morning my ear's were alerted to the post van pulling up outside, at last! There was no finesse to my parcel opening, quick quick quick and out I pull a beautiful bright blue lacy set, heaven.
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| Without straps clipped together. Very wide apart. |
The thing that strikes me most is on the back, there is a hook a few inches up the back of the straps to hook them together into a racer back style, this hadn't been shown on the retailers website and I'm not sure how I feel about it, certain sports bras are coming to mind and how awkward they are to get on and off. We'll see!
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| Straps clipped together. |
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| Very generous cups. |
Friday 5 September 2014
A couple of recent finds from Paule Ka
It's always nice to find a brand with some items that will accommodate my DD+'s that I hadn't tried before. These two recent finds are really gorgeous and tick all the boxes for me.
The first coral dress, who couldn't love this vibrant colour? The mock wrap style gives a bit of extra room in the chest without being too revealing and the waist is defined.
This little t-shirt really is a little glam, the bow is on a brooch pin and can be detached. The top is stretchy enough to go over my bust comfortably and the body part is very ruched,
ideal for hiding any muffin tops or bulges. Definitely a brand I'll be keeping my eye on in the future.
Another Figleaves Maxi Dress
This time I'm reviewing the Figleaves Midnight Grace Bandeau D-G Knot Front Maxi Dress, what a mouthful.
As figleaves promise you can buy your regular dress size without having to worry about your bust size, so I ordered my usual size 8. It fit well and is fairly comfortable, very easy to fling on in a rush.
My chest feels really supported in this despite the thin straps and lack of proper cup sized bra. The fabric is quite thick and heavy which has two drawbacks, 1)it can be too hot to wear, 2) the weight of the jersey pulls down very straight so I lose any hint of a waist and on the parts of me that the fabric hits you can see everything through, finding knickers to go underneath was a challenge.
The dress has some good and not so good points but I do like it and I have had quite a few nice comments while wearing it. £45 from Figleaves DD+ clothing section.
Am I the only one that gets frustrated with clothing? I feel stuck in a rut of jeans and stretchy tops and so far my few buys of specially DD+ clothing hasn't been a huge hit.
Thursday 4 September 2014
Pepperberry Lace Shoulder Top review
I picked up this top in 2 sizes and 2 colours for £29.00 each from Pepperberry's current range.
The blue is a size 8 Curvy/Really curvy. A few things to strike me, firstly the material is quite thin, my bra seams are clearly visible. Easily rectified with a seam free or moulded cup style but I do feel a slightly thicker fabric would have been good.
Secondly, it's a good length on me (5'7" fyi) And it does show the waist off, but the part directly under the bust looks a little lost. It fit's the hip, waist and top part of the bust but something is definitely not right in the centre of the chest and just below.
Then we have the 'oh dear' when rather a lot of back fat is visible, again a slightly thicker material would have been nicer or perhaps I really need to do a few more workouts.
I'm wearing a freya bra in my size, I can comfortably fit several fingers under the strap so I'm not wearing a bra thats too small.
I should have worn a different colour bra to illustrate my next point, the sleeves are lace and sheer, my bra straps are quite obvious, more so in real life than in the photos. Yes the lace is pretty but may have been better over an opaque fabric is being placed in the strap area. Wearing a pretty bra strap will make it too busy but the plain nude is still obvious.
The pink version is a size 10 curvy/really curvy. I had thought that some of my issues with the blue top could have been because it was too small so I tried the size up.
Unfortunately there is still visible bra seems under the top and that empty space below the bust. There is a lot less definition of my waist this time.
And yep, even in the bigger top the fabric still clings enough to show my bra band and back fat bulges so off to the gym I go and until then I'll have to find a good jacket to cover up.
Having said all this, I do quite like the tops, they are pretty and fun. I think the shaping is really good but the fabric weight does let them down a bit in my opinion.
Wednesday 3 September 2014
Prima Donna Perle Deep Plunge Bra review
This is a bra I dug out my drawer whilst looking for bras to review and I have to admit I haven't worn it before, but after trying it on to photograph it I can't think why it had been hiding in my drawer for so long.
Ok so it's a plain white bra, nothing exciting to look at, but it is really comfy and supportive and fits really well so would be a perfect bra under t-shirts.
The cups fit nicely and give a smooth line, no bulging or digging in and no bagging.
Ok so it isn't giving any push together cleavage, perhaps that's why I had overlooked it previously.
As you can see the moulded cups stand up by themselves but they are soft and more pliable than many moulded cups I've tried.
Simple but pretty adornment to the straps to jazz it up slightly.
I'm wearing a 30F which is fitting true to size. The Perle range comes in C-G in various shapes.
It was £69, and will be worn now I've 're-found' it.
Saturday 30 August 2014
Freya Deco Bra review
I bought this in 30F as thats my usual size in Freya. There is gaping at the top of the cups which can just about be seen in the side on photo. It's not noticeable under clothing but the fat I know its there makes me self conscious and I keep checking throughout the day so it hasn't been fun to wear and will most likely be returned even though it gives my wide apart boobs a bit of a push together that I like.
I don't think its the size of the cups that is the problem, I feel it is the shape of them that isn't quite right for me. I really wanted to like this bra and have it as an essential in my wardrobe but it isn't to be. I will try a cup size down but I suspect there will be a lot of boob poking over the top. Having read plenty of reviews I know I'm not the only one to have this gaping problem. The cups are narrow and shallow at the bottom and are wide and deep at the top, not a natural shape for many. It's only in the top 1cm that I'm not filling it out sadly.
It is a well contracted bar and is comfortable to wear, the straps are ideally positioned to stay up and not dig in and the band is soft and supportive so it's a shame that it isn't right on me.
Friday 29 August 2014
Seafolly shimmer Neon DD/E Bikini review
I stumbled across Coco Bay Beachwear online recently whilst doing a search for DD+ bikinis. Having recently found I loved a bandeau bikini from Freya I was looking specifically for another bandeau in a different colour and found it I did.
This doesn't come in specific cup sizes, most of the website are by dress size but there is a page of DD/E bikinis. The sizing is still by dress size so I had to consult the sizing guide to find out which size to order. I ordered the size 8 to start with being as it was for 30-32" bands and DD/E cups, although it did say to go a size up if you were an E cup and wanted more coverage but I assumed as I was usually a 30 I would be in the smaller end of the size 8 and the cup would be ok. Unfortunately I oozed out of it. (picture at the bottom). Coco Bay had a 'free post' sticker on the invoice to send returns back to them and the size 10 arrived a few days later in exchange.
Yes the colour really is this bright and shiny. It's a lovely vibrant colour that should look good on all skin tones.
Yes I know I still have the tags attached!
I've said it before, I'm a sucker for tie-side bikini bottoms, they are just more flattering when you can adjust them just right. Although these are small to size like the top. I have 35" hips and size 8 in jeans but Ive had to go to a size 12 in these bottoms.
The set was £94.00 from Coco Bay. DD/E is the largest cup size they do. If you are bigger it's still worth a look on their website as they have some lovely Kaftans, Wraps and Beach Dresses.
Panache Sports Bra review
On first try-on I was taken a back by the shape of this bra, it doesn't really pull you up but the shape slopes upwards making them look perky shaped without being higher on your chest (if that makes sense). It's also a thick and heavy construction at the front which was a little off putting to start with, however once I got over these two niggles I was hooked on it and it's now my go-to sports bra for high impact exercise. This is an encapsulation bra rather than compression and with the thick material it does add some bulk to my chest which is noticeable with a top over it, not that I'm complaining!
The underwires are unnoticeable under the padding and moulded cups. The top fastening to make it racer back adds a lot of support and easy to clip together yourself once the bra is on. I can bounce away happily in this one and it stays put and is comfortable to wear. Panache quote this as giving 83% less bounce and I'd agree completely.
I have the 30F which is slightly larger than my Shock Absorber bras in 32E both in the band and the cups.
It does have sweat wicking material inside but I don't find it really effective probably due to quite a thick structure at the front, but that's not a big problem to me as my workouts are only about an hour and then it's off and I'm in the shower.
The colours are lovely and cheery and haven't faded despite many washes, the brand lettering at the bottom has started to wear off though.
In summary, you may not love this bra the first time you try it but give it a chance and you may just fall in love with it as I did.
Sizes
28 DD-H
30 D-H
32 C-H
34 B-H
36 B-H
38 B-H
40D-GG
Cup sizes go B C D DD E F FF G GG H
Currently £38.00 and in several colours. I have my eye on the new geometric print which is lush.
Support 5/5
Price 4/5
Comfort 5/5
Style 4/5
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Panache Superbra Cami Top v M&S basic tank
I almost don't need to write anything here, the pictures say soo much! The first two pictures are of the Panache Superbra Cami Top in Navy, size 32E £26.00. It has a moulded bra inside to give shape and uplift. Hmmmmm The third picture is a basic tank from M&S £9.50, it makes no promise of super shape for larger busts, just a regular tank size 8.
So I ask myself why a top that is made especially for my size and shape looks so wrong? There is a lot of fabric round the middle and its quite stiff fabric so it doesn't drape well. It makes me look a good 7 lbs heavier (not good). What puzzles me is that there is a bra band inside and they know what size that is so they know that the top over it is far too big. I'm not assuming everyone would want it super tight but theres a lot of shaping that could be done to improve this. In all the places this is for sale online the pictures show a far more fitted shaped top so I was very disappointed to try this on. On a good note, yes you can wear a strappy top without having extra bra straps showing, but thats the only good thing I can find about it. One of the straps also came apart after washing it so I'm sorry Panache but the M&S tank is the winner for me, it may not have an integral bra but it's straps are just wide enough and positioned ideally to wear a bra underneath and it is far more flattering.
Simone Perele Amour Half Cup Bra review
I adore Simone Perele lingerie and can't resist the few bras they make in my size. I pray they soon do all their range up to an F cup or larger.
My pictures can't do this bra justice, its beautiful fine floral lace in the cups and beautiful decoration on the straps. who needs a strapless bra when you can buy bras with such pretty straps?
This colour is anthracite(greyish blue) but its also available in Cranberry(which is a bright red and cream mix), Peacock (navy and torquiest mix),Ivory and Black in sizes 30 - 38 C-F. However their sizes go C D E F, so if you usually wear a DD you'll need an E in this and if you usually wear an E in UK sizes you'll need the F. I do wish bra sizing was all on one universal system to make things simpler.
I'm wearing the 30F, the band isn't very tight, possibly similar to a 32 in Freya.
The straps are adjustable at the back but is limited as to the amount due to the decoration on the strap which goes to just past the top of the shoulder, my bust is quite low on my chest so this isn't a problem for me but worth considering if you sit higher on the chest. You may be able to see on my bottom photo that the strap would only go up about 1 more inch. The underside of the strap is lined with an almost felt like fabric making it soft on the shoulder and the straps stay put all day.
The back of the band and underwires are also lightly padded or lined making them really comfortable. The quality of this is wonderful, the sticking is so neat and there are no loose strays anywhere. It should only be hand washed but I've thrown it in the machine many times now and it has lasted (but I'm not recommending that of course).
The lace is very fine and thin with a slight stretch making it a really light comfortable bra to wear. Clearly it's not a big firm high support bra, but it is supportive enough.
To match the bra is a gorgeous Shorty Pant and Tanga.
It's not the cheapest bra at £67 but it's so worth it. I wear it a lot just because it's so comfortable and is cut low enough for most summer tops.
Triumph triaction Sports Bra
Firstly I like the colour of this, its a good colour to hide under sports tops and washes well. The cups are a grey / beige mix and the trim is pinky purple.
Its called a Triumph triaction Hybrid Star and is also available in black with a red trim in sizes 32-40 b-f cups for £40.
Support wise this is good but not fully bounce proof for really high intensity workouts. It can cope with a light jog and general gym work well. It's a shame it doesn't have an option to fasten it higher up to make it suitable for racer back tops as this always gives that bit more support in my opinion.
It's lovely and comfortable to wear, could easily wear it all day.
The fabric is really soft and not a hint of sports bra scratchiness. The moulded cups are very thin and soft giving a nice shape without squishing you into an unnatural shape.
This one is a 32E which is the same size I wear in Shock Absorber bras, the fit is lightly larger in comparison. The under band is very stretchy and I'm wondering if it will become stretched too easily in a short time, so far I've only washed it and worn it a few times so can't say for sure how long this will hold up over time.
Comfort 5/5
Support 3.5/5
Price 3/5
Look / style 3/5
Sunday 24 August 2014
Figleaves Midnight Grace D-G Twist Neck Maxi Dress
This is the Twist neck dress in lipstick, it comes in sizes 8-18 and is made to fit D-G girls.
When I first received it I wasn't that thrilled and thought I'd return it, the floppy style seemed to be a waste as it is for D-G and we can get baggy clothing easily, it's the fitted styles that are harder for us to find, but once I tried it on it grew on me. The colour is so vibrant it puts me in a good mood instantly and several people commented that it looked nice, so its found a home in my wardrobe.
There is a shelf bra inside in the same fabric as the outer, this is fantastic and is quite freeing to go without a bra, but it's not giving huge support so I won't be running in it.
The waist is elasticated with a tie in the same fabric. It's so comfortable to wear. I'm 5'7" and in flats its nearly at the floor so you'd probably need it taken up a touch if you are shorter.
My only fault is that the elasticated waist is very loose, I'd like it to sit above my hips by itself but I need to tie the belt to keep it from sliding down. Still a nice dress to wear.
It can be found in the fig leaves DD+ clothing section for £45.00.
DD+ friendly Monsoon Maxi dress
This is Monsoon's Rani scarf print Maxi dress. Absolutely perfect for DD+ ladies, made from stretch jersey with a waist tie and wide enough straps to cover your bra.
I do get excited when I find a high street dress that fits. Purple has never been my favourite colour but the fit was so good I couldn't leave it in the shop.
This is currently on sale in Monsoon for £79.00
I managed to fit into a size 8 thanks to it being stretchy enough, don't you hate having to buy the next size up and having the rest of it too large? The waist tie isn't necessary as the bodice part is shaped and fitted enough not to resemble a sack of spuds round the waist. It should tie at the back but I always tie it at the front so it doesn't poke me in the back when I sit down. This is a perfect holiday dress as it can be packed and the creases fall out at the other end. After several washes (at 30c) the colour has faded considerably, see the difference in colours in the photos but it still looks good and I'd still buy it again.
Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra - Sports Bra Review
The shock absorber ultimate run bra is great for running but also other high impact workouts.
Size worn is 32E, the bands on shock absorbers are quite tight and I find they don't give that much. For any of you that tumble dry sports bras and find the bands relax, please stop as the cups and support are also reduced when tumble dried. I always buy them tight enough to provide support but so I can still breathe and hand wash and air dry only to keep them performing well.
This bra is really comfortable for me, I like the two fastenings at the back rather than having one very squashed band around the back crushing my ribs, the higher clasp adds support and lifts the bra. Bounce is minimal even when doing plyometrics at full blast.
The cups are structured and separate well. It's not as sweat wicking as other bras but thats not as much of a priority to me than keeping supported comfortably, after all its only an hour and then its off and in the wash.
Under a top it doesn't look amazing, fairly shapeless.
At £38 it isn't the cheapest bra but I've had it for some time and it has lasted well so is good value for money.
Sizes are 30-38 DD-F
Comfort 5/5
Support 5/5
Looks 3/5
Value 4/5
M&S Extra High Impact Non-Wired Sports A-G Bra Review
My sports bra collection is rapidly growing and the hunt for the perfect one that comprises comfort, bounce proof support and looks good is a mission.
Here is the M&S Extra High Impact Non-Wired Sports A-G Bra.
Firstly I don't agree that this is extra high impact, not for DD+. I can do light impact workouts comfortably i.e. yoga, the cross trainer and weights but when it comes to running or HIIT there's enough bounce to make me stop in my tracks.
I'm trying out the 32E and also the 32DD. I wish they did a 30 band but I still feel there isn't enough support in the cups themselves to make a difference. They aren't as constructed as many sports bras and the fabric is very thin and stretchy. But on a good note the sweat wicking properties are great and its very soft and comfortable to wear. I may try to wear it over another bra as it does look good enough to use as a crop top in the gym.
At £22.50 this is a really good buy for lighter workouts.
The sizing is disappointing, not all of the bands go up to a G cup.
DD 32-40
E 32-40
F 32-38
G 34-36
Comfort 5/5
Support 3/5
Price 5/5
Looks 4/5
Saturday 2 August 2014
Freya Memphis bikini review
I'd never considered a bandeau bikini before mainly because I'd assumed they were too flimsy and not supportive enough but I was drawn to this one whilst online shopping. I'm a sucker for tie side bikini bottoms for the ability to adjust them just so and that was the deal cinched for this bikini.
On opening my parcel I was taken aback by how bright the flowers are on this, its a lot bolder than it had looked online and for a moment my heart sank a little thinking how 'not me' it was but when I tried it on it was love at second glance.
This is the Freya Memphis underwired bandeau bikini and it fits true to size. I had expected the tie round the neck to be uncomfortable but it's actually really comfortable, so much so I leave it on after the sun has gone in. I feel safe and secure in it, no worries about popping out at the wrong moment. Its fully lined and the underwires are well cushioned. The plastic clasp is really easy to do up and undo.
This was my first Freya bikini and I can't praise it enough, it is certainly the first of many. At £35 for the top and £25 for the bottoms it's a really good buy. It's available in 32-36, D-G which is limited for Freya but there is a Memphis plunge bikini in a bigger range of sizes however I usually wear a 30" but the 32" is fine on me, maybe it will stretch with wear but I will get the band adjusted if that happens, this bikini won't be getting lost at the back of the drawer for certain.
Friday 1 August 2014
Aubade Soleil Levant bra review
I love this bra from Aubade, it fits brilliantly and is so comfortable to wear. Its beautifully made and the lace is gorgeous. Some half cup bras give me a strange shape under clothing but this gives a nice shape. Available in sizes 30-38/B-F but note that Aubade sizing misses out DD cup so their E cup is equivalent to a DD and their F cup is equivalent to an E cup. Fantastic that we are seeing more 30" band sizes now. Aubade's UK website is currently selling this for £48 which is 50% off the original price, bargain.
Another blog for busty girls
Since reading Judy Blume's 'Are you there god, it's me Margaret' in middle school I wanted boobs and adopted the chant 'I must I must I must increase my bust' that is echoed throughout the book. It wasn't long before I was nagging my parents for a bra and being disappointed that the AA cup training bras weren't lacy or adult looking in those days, and there my love of lingerie started.
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