As I say in my blog tagline, I am “Forever battling with diets, huge bras and high street dresses.”
I’ve written a lot about the bras and the dresses over the past year, and today I want to talk about the diets. This will be one of very few posts on this subject, and it is by no means meant to be a lecture or me telling you that to be happy you have to lose weight or any bullcrap like that, it’s just a subject I have been asked to share my experiences on, and if that’s not for you then you may want to sit this post out.

As cliché as it sounds I’ve pretty much always been that bit larger. I was fairly average sized in primary school, despite my huge bum that seems to have been around forever. And then I hit 11 and I got bigger. I was told it was puppy fat but the puppy fat never left, not that I tried very hard. I was always active, at school, I played on the girl’s football team for a few years, I was sports captain in my first and final year – more due to no one else volunteering to be honest, but it did mean that I had to do all the sports I couldn’t find participants for! The boobs arrived when I was about 15 and by then I got bullied pretty badly for being ‘fat’.
As I have said in previous posts I struggled to fit in – in every way. I struggled to fit in with my ‘cool’ college peers as I struggled to fit into size 14 TopShop dresses. I felt like I freak and went through phases of starving myself and then binging, but they never lasted very long. I come from a food loving family and anyone would find it hard to resist Sunday dinner cooked by my grandparents, or one of my Mum’s famous desserts! So I joined the college gym, visting between classes and at the end of the college day. I definitely looked and felt better, but I was still far bigger than most! I never had a problem with making friends or finding boyfriends and so it didn’t plague me, but the comments I got would, and sometimes it got a little too much.

Fast forward a few years and I find myself in New Zealand. I remember going for a bungy jump (it’s not something I’m likely to ever forget!) and they wrote my weight in kilos on my hand. I knew it was a lot but it didn’t bother me – at that point in my life I felt amazing.

I was travelling on my own, I had been surfing, hiking, sky diving, white water rafting, to the outback – my weight and size did not impact any aspect of my life whatsoever! That number was a number far higher than the one Bridget Jones gets in a tizz about, but why should my weight define me? I understood the implications of being obese – how could I not, gossip magazines were everywhere. But I didn’t feel obese. I didn’t struggle to do anything. I led an active life – yes I drank a lot of alcohol and didn’t always make the best food choices, but my weight never held me back.

After I returned home I once again became a cliché. I got a longterm boyfriend and the short story is I gained weight, a fair bit! At first I didn’t notice as it crept on, but slowly I started to cover my arms more, my size 14 skinny jeans lay untouched in the wardrobe, I started to need bigger t shirts. And I realised I was becoming a danger to myself. I remember a trip to the doctors and she weighed me. I couldn’t bear to look at the number, so much higher than when I did my bungy jump. The doctor then informed me that if I allowed my weight to increase any more then I would be at risk of preventing the birth control pill from working. She was very unpleasant about the matter and I felt awful! Sometime later at work a woman said to me “You’re a lovely girl, with a beautiful face. So when are you going to do something about the weight?”

And so I decided that, once and for all I needed to lose weight. I toyed with the idea of a quick fix, one of those liquid diets where the weight falls of. But I abstained for two reasons: I would not be able to stick to that way of life, and I feared the loose skin I would be left with.

It’s been four months since I made the decision to lose weight. To be honest it’s actually closer to 13 years, but I’m not that good at diets! So far in the last four months I have lost just over a stone, which is pretty poor progress but better than gaining weight!
Going to the gym has definitely helped me. Firstly I was so relieved to find out that, despite being ‘morbidly obese’ I am in fact very healthy. I have no risk of diabetes, something that I was very worried about. My glucose and cholesterol levels are perfect (it took a mere 3 months to lower my cholesterol levels from being just a shade above healthy to being well in the zone) and my blood pressure and fitness levels are spot on. I just need to lose some weight as I am still at risk of problems developing. I worry that if I fell I would break my arm and if I passed out I’d need an army to get me up. I don’t feel happy in my underwear – posed photos on the blog are one thing but the reality is not quite so kind. I fit onto train and bus seats but I don’t ever want to be at a stage where I can’t. And whilst I respect that some people are bigger than me and happy, I would also like respect to be shown for my own decisions and feelings. It doesn’t matter how many people tell me ‘but you’re not fat’, ‘you’re beautiful’ or all the other standard replies, what I see when I look in the mirror upsets me and I want to change that.

And now onto the true purpose of this post!
I try to go to the gym 3 times a week for at least an hour. My membership means that the pool and all of the classes are included and I take full advantage of everything. The PT who assessed me initially advised that I do around 30 minutes of cardio every session and finish up by doing some squats with weights, as well as attending a few classes.
Generally I got to a class every week. I like the classes as they are fun, I have no way out and I know that I am actually working hard as the routines are put together by professionals. Of course there is a worry that with classes you can feel embarrassed or do things wrong and possibly not benefit from them, but you just have to keep alert, keep pushing yourself and don’t be afraid – I’ve yet to see anyone get booed or laughed out the door! Sometimes I am the most unfit one there, sometimes I do struggle to do everything that the others do but that’s ok, the gym is there for progression. As a bigger girl I do find the bouncing around that some classes require to be quite a strain. I feel like I’m wobbling around and my trousers are falling off and I’m making a noise! But no one is watching, no one cares and I still get a lot out of being there.
When I don’t have an evening free or fancy my own company I hit the main gym. I try to pick a sports bra that is suited to what I have planned, but as I often change what I want to do when I get there it makes little difference! My Shock Absorber is fab if I want to run and it is magnificent at keeping my boobs still – in fact the only thing that bounces is my bottom! My Freya Active and Elomi Energise are the best for medium level activities – the cross trainer and hill walking. And as my Panache sports bra is a bit big for me I keep it for those lazy days when I sit and cycle.
When I go to the gym I like to stick to a piece of cardio and stay on for 45 minutes; a goal that is more often missed than hit! I try to use one piece after if I have failed or if I still have energy. I don’t have a favourite piece as it changes every time – I used to be able to zone out on my iPod for 45 minutes whilst my body did the work on a cross trainer, the next week it was all about the bike. I’m not a creature of habit! When I do use the equipment I do have to have certain distractions and items with me. I like to always have water as I drink a lot of water as it is – years of spotty skin got flushed away once my water addiction started and you will rarely see me without a bottle of water when I am out and about. I also like to have a towel to mop up the inevitable pools of sweat and my iPod. If my machine has a tv attached (and to be honest, I tend to go for those machines!) I will either watch something that looks interesting or has subtitles, or plug my headphones into it. The hardest bit of a work out for me is the ‘zoning out’, checking my time or calorie intake or who’s walking behind me really drags the session out. I do check my display every so often to see if I can push myself a bit harder or if I have done a good workout, but generally I just try to get in the zone and push myself, not so much that I have to stop every thirty seconds, but enough that I am benefitting. The tvs with the bikes are the best as they stop working if you stop working! As I have a fitted gym kit, great trainers and fab well fitted sports bras my work out is never hindered by them – unless I am very energetic and sometimes my leggings fall down a bit and my top rides up. I also like to mix things up, so if I am on the bike then I will pedal faster, then slow it down and up the resistance. The programmes on the machines are fab as well: the hill function is the best as it helps you work hard and slow in equal measures. The best thing that I have found it the hardest – hill walking. I up the incline on the running machine and speed it up to the point where I am a little out of breath and off I go. It does seem silly to come to the gym just to walk, but it helps me see how far I have gone, how many calories I may have burnt and I feel motivated.

Once I am done with the cardio machines I always move onto the weights and some floor work. As most machines that I use are leg based I do try to do a few things to target my arms as well. The best thing you can do with weights is reps. Yes you may be able to bicep curl 40kgs, but doing it once is no good, doing 20kgs 15 times and then repeating it a few times is far better. Doing weights is a welcome break from the constant slog of the cardio machines which can make it seem easy when it is in fact still hard – this is why I choose to do it after my cardio work.
I also like to play with the gym balls! My one at home lies untouched, but in the gym I seem to concoct all manner of things to do with the ball! I like to lie with my legs over it in an ‘L’ shape and do sits ups. I also like to put it between my feet, lower them out straight so they almost touch the ground and then bring the up and pass the ball to my hands, then lie straight again, hands and feel almost touching the ground and repeat. You’d be surprised at how much that works your tummy! You can just play around with the ball and often you will find some exercise that helps, whether it’s lying down with it under your feet and slowly elevating and lowering your hips, or lying on top of it and rolling yourself backwards and forwards. For me the ball is great to help me work on reducing the number or tummies I presently have, but it can be used for anything. The balls are strong enough to take pretty much anyone’s weight and I would recommend buying one for your own home if you are unlike me and can easily motivate yourself.
Occasionally I do use the pool, but like I said I need distractions and a soggy iPod isn’t a great accessory to have! I think the pool will be something I use more as the weight drops so that I can tone and also feel less terrible as I walk past the giant glass window next to the main gym room, thighs wobbling and bingo wings swinging around!

As I have said, I like the gym as it motivates me. I feel lazy if I don’t go and like I’m wasting my money, the staff there know me and say hi and that makes me want to go back as it’s a nice environment, and also so they don’t think I am skiving! If you are someone who can and does work out at home then a gym ball is a must. I also quite like skipping ropes and hula hoops as the do a great deal and are great fun. If you have a garden then get a trampoline and a fab sports bra as you want to be the only thing bouncing around. I wish I was a person who could use when it around me to lose weight, but I have tried that route and until now nothing worked.

Of course weight loss is two fold – diet and exercise. The diet has been such a hard part for me. If you saw me eating you might wonder why – my meals are veggietastic, I don’t tend to fry things or have carbs and if I do I try to have beans. But it’s my snacking that I need to keep under control. I never know if I am hungry or bored but suddenly I’m a chocolate bar down and feeling guilty. The best thing for me would be to fill my house with healthy options and up my will power. It’s a slow struggle, but I am not as bad as I used to be. Like I said I drink a lot of water, and that can sometimes satisfy my cravings, real or habitual. The best thing to remember with diets is that you don’t need to be hungry or bored or deprive yourself. Yes you may crave a pizza, but if you eat some steamed veggies and grilled fish instead you will suddenly be full and no longer crave. You can snack – just in moderation, choose healthy snacks that fill you up and satisfy what it is you want. And if you have gone a week or two without chocolate and it’s keeping you awake at night then buy a small bar and savour it! Otherwise you will be miserable and be more likely to go back to eating how you may have been before. It shouldn’t be a diet, it should be a lifestyle change. And that is the part that is proving hard for me, but slowly I hope to get my bikini body.

I wish you luck if you are also trying to make a change to your size and shape. There should be no shame in being whatever size you desire as long as you are not impacting negatively on your own life – and only you and a health professional know whether that is the case. If you are wanting to make a change then good for you. You can either be miserable at missing out on the foods you love, or saddened at what you see in the mirror. It’s great to feel empowered as a bigger woman, to say that scales don’t measure happiness and size is just a label, but if that is something that gets you down then do what you can to be happy.

Recently I was offered the chance to review a dress from Simply Be. As I have wanted to try Anna Scholz dresses out since I saw them on the catwalk at Curves In Couture I jumped at the chance to give this gold and black number a go. I’m a sucker for a pattern and this dress looked so versatile – amazing for nights out, casual days out or workwear.

Boombands Em and I are a very similar size and shape and I knew from her blog that I should aim to go for something in a lower size rather than worrying about whether my boobs and bum would be accommodated for. I therefore selected a size 18 in the dress.
The dress arrived and it was quite different to what I expected. I thought it would be made out of an unforgiving jersey ish material that would cling to my wobbly bits and require shapewear at all times, but it was actually made out of a lightish fabric that hung beautifully and didn’t appear to crease easily. Upon trying it out I found that the length worked well on me and my knee fearing self. As much as I would love to own a whole host of shorter styles I just can’t pull off the leggings look and the thought of showing my bare legs above the knee makes me shudder! For me personally the sleeve length is no good and so this will be something that I will team with a cardigan or shrug. The neck line is a flattering v shape that is cut just right for me. I love to crack the cleavage out but it’s also good to have dresses like this that give me the option. Sadly the overall fit of the dress looked awful on me – it hung off my boobs and made me look far bigger than I am.  Also, please note have left the keyhole detailing undone.

Luckily I am an expert in these matters and of course chose to add this belt to the dress to finish the look off. As the dress is black and gold I could dress it up with any colour of bag belt and shoe combo that I wanted to make the look a bit different every time.

Overall I liked the dress. It needed a little Georging to make it work for me but that’s pretty standard! It will no doubt make an appearance at a variety of events and venues and become quite a staple piece in my ever expanding wardrobe.

When it comes to bra fitting and selling on the highstreet in the UK I am quick to recommend Bravissimo and Leia. I have had some rather bad experiences with shopping at other stores that offer a fitting service – my tale of woe with painful photos can be seen here.

One place that I have not had a chance to try out is Debenhams. I have heard a few things from other people saying the service is ok/great/not good but I have never had the chance to give it a go myself – until now! Oooh this lingerie blogging business gives me a lot of excitement!
I recently attended a lingerie press event for Debenhams and after being given a glass of bubbly and a cake I was offered a fitting – not a bad start to the day! I went to the room with the fitter and after awkwardly extracting myself from my dress I stood there in my undies getting ready to flinch at a tape measure. I could not have been more shocked when she looked me up and down and said ‘36H’. Just like that, the magical boob whisperer spoke and she spoke my language! I do fluctuate a bit, especially with this mega slow weight loss that I am indulging in at present, but she soon had me in this 36H bra and it was spot on. Not only was it spot on, she told me how to put it on, she jiggled my boobs into the cup (note to men reading this: no, you cannot get a job as a fitter) and she explained what everything was for and should do when it comes to a bra. She made me try my dress back on over the bra to admire the shape and lift and talked about other styles that I may want to try. It was amazing, a perfect fitting experience! Of course I fully understand that Debenhams brought a top fitter with them to the event, but to have a woman like that in their company, training others is fabulous. Bra fittings should be fairly hands on and explanatory, you should come away feeling good about yourself and your size and shape, not miserable and freakish like how some places can make you feel.

Debenhams do have a fantastic range of bras. They stock their own brand, the ‘Gorgeous’ range, as well as brands like Freya and Fantasie. They recently started to stock Elomi, an amazing success for the full bust full figured brand – hey, I know someone with the body type…

Elomi are part of the Eveden group (Freya, Fantasie, Huit 8, Goddess) and their bras do fit like those brands. They cater for 34-46 bands, and D-K cups in selected styles. I used to not care much for them as their bras were a little dull and it saddened me to think of all the funky Freya bras and then the frumpy plus size range from Elomi. But they have changed things, responding to the requests from their customers to bring out some funner flirtier prettier styles and now they are an outstanding brand.

Maggie

Betty

Briony

Debenhams usually have damn good sales and reduced bras by the hundreds in their stores and online, and so if you haven’t checked them out I urge you to do so!
Nice work Debenhams, we can finally start to trust big high street chains stores to give us great service and options.

Being a larger girl I really struggle to find tights, hold ups, fishnets and stockings that fit me. I’m not overly tall or long legged, however my average height and over average sized legs do prove a problem, and I often rip holes in my tights in a bid to get the crotch up higher than knee length. And even when I am successful I often find they work their way downward throughout the day and it is almost better to go bare legged than spend my time hoiking them up.

Recently I came across a site called Tights Please. They stock a huge variety of tights and leggings and stockings in many sizes. Browsing the website brought me a lot of joy – I couldn’t believe how many awesome plus size options there were – I just had to try a pair! And so after careful I decided on these Pamela Mann hold ups.

The hold ups arrived very quickly and in a parcel that could be posted through the letterbox, an added bonus for those of us who despise those post office slips. The length of the tights worked well on me and I didn’t have to struggle to pull them up high enough. The lacy tops were nice and thick and although it took a while to get them into a position that didn’t make them roll down, once I did they felt secure and comfortable. They did dig in a little more than I would be comfortable with in a tight skirt, but they would work perfectly under something less fitted.

I will definitely be using TightsPlease again. I’ve got my eye on these funky coloured tights – perfect for fancy dress parties or jazzing up an outfit. Hopefully my hosiery woes will now be a things of the past!

As soon as I saw the Autumn Winter pieces from Panache I knew I would be in trouble! There were so many sumptuous pieces in the collections, especially from Cleo:

Not long after the pieces were released a few reviews popped up – one from Invest In Your Chest one from Undressed To Impress and one from Elena Davies and they all sang the praises of this gorgeous number, the Marcie bra:

Beautiful red underwear in a large range of sizes is NOT something to be sniffed at and so I decided to give Miss Marcie a go.
As I had been measured as a 36HH at a recent Panache event I asked to try that size during a recent trip to Bravissimo. Sadly they only had a 36H which, as expected, was a bit too small. Not to be put off I went ahead and ordered a 36HH online.

Strangely enough the 36HH was just too big for me. The upper part of the cups gaped slightly and it was slightly visible under clothing.
However, the bra itself is stunning and the fit elsewhere was spot on. The cup detailing is extremely pretty, and the cute contrasting blue bow is divine.

Marcie has half adjustable straps that I didn’t even need to alter. The two hooks and eyes felt ok, as you may know I do favour three.

The cups gave me a jaw dropping uplifted rounded shape – I can see why my fellow bloggers thought so much of it!

Sadly, Marcie and I are not meant to be, which is a great shame as I heard a rumour that a turquoise version of the set is to be released next year, and as some of you may know turquoise is my absolute FAVOURITE colour! However I would still give Marcie a go in your usual Panache size, although you may find you need to go down a cup size depending on how it sits and fits.

Panache – you know how to make us larger breasted women feel special, supported and sexy.

Sometimes I feel that every other dress in my wardrobe is red. For this I blame my boyfriend as it is his favourite colour which indirectly makes me want to wear it a lot, and also the fact that red dresses are just so damn gorgeous! My complexion really suits the colour as well, and so why fix something when it’s not broken, right?
Right!

Recently I was lucky enough to get my grubby mitts in TWO amazing red dresses in the space of as many days, and naturally I compared and contrasted how they looked and felt on me – as did my boyfriend

The first dress I received was from The Big Bra Bar. When Nikki Hesford of BBB kindly asked if I would like to try her brand new dress I was chuffed! Just like Pepperberry and BiuBiu the products she sells are made with extra bust room. However when she mentioned that it would be a size 16 I was a little dubious as I can range from a 14 to a 24 in outfits. I needn’t have worried…
The dress fit me like it was made for me! It had enough fabric to cover my bust, it nipped in at my waist, it flowed over my hips and stopped at that dream spot – just below my knees. The fabric is a stretchy satin and it has a stretchy thin net lining inside to stop it being static and clinging to every dimple. It was a little unforgiving on my stomach sadly, meaning I will keep it for those days when I haven’t just eaten a takeaway! It is easy to zip up on my own and feels very luxurious. As it is not a fitted wiggle to the knee it has no need for a slit and is easy to walk and sit in. Being sleeveless means that I don’t have to worry about my chub chub arms trying to fit into it, but it also means that it will not be worn without a shrug.
True to form I had to try it on with one of my trusty thrifted belts just to see how it looked – and surprisingly it didn’t help nip me in anymore, but it broke the outfit up nicely and meant that my pairing it with red shoes looked a little more matching.

So if you are busty and around Pepperberry’s size range I would definitely recommend this! It’s a little slinkier and sexier than a lot of Pepperberry styles and fits curves extremely well. It is a very decent price for something that looks and feels so lovely. If you have any questions about this or any other Big Bra Bar products then do not hesitate to contact Nikki on her Facebook page.

The next dress I received was this vintage style dress from Dollydagger, the Dita dress.

Dollydagger sell many items, including my personal favourites, 1940′s and 1950′s style dresses.

Again I was somewhat concerned that I would fail to fit into the dress – my bust and hips are almost 50 inches around and the measurements for the size 18 fell a little short of that. However, as it is made with very high quality bengaline I was hopeful that the power of s-t-r-e-t-c-h would allow me to rock this dress…
Phew! I got it on and I felt so glamourous and foxy! Once again the length was perfect and the slit at the back didn’t show off too much above the knee. The fit across my bust and the sleeves were both a little too small, but still manageable. Again it is something that will also require a bolero or shrug to hide my bingo wings, just like most dresses in my wardrobe. I felt a lot more confident about my wobbly stomach as it seemed to pull it in and skim over it in a flattering way.
It is a fairly pricey dress but it’s definitely a worthy top quality investment piece – perfect for that wow factor. Always keep an eye on the Dollydagger Facebook page for discounts and offers that will make shopping a bit more rewarding.

Of course I once again tried adding a belt to see if it changed things…
And once again it really didn’t make much overall difference.

With both of these dresses I was wearing a Freya Deco bra and the shapewear is from Maidenform.

It’s dresses like these that highlight just how far I have come in my quest to get clothes that fit me. I went from baggy, to Pepperberry ‘Designed with Your Boobs In Mind’, to this – a dress so perfect it’s like it was made for me! It can take a bit of searching but there are items out there for those of us who are busty and don’t want to have to stick to one or two stores and their ranges. Personally – and this may come as a shock to you – I ADORE pinup style outfits and I find they are often cut for curves or at least have a decent amount of stretch to fit everything into them. It shouldn’t have to be a struggle to find items that fit well and I myself am finding it easier all the time.

My adoration of the pinup look has given me an amazing opportunity – I have designed a pinup style dress for Simply Be that will be out next Summer. I will keep you informed of how things progress with that!

So tell me – are you also a red dress fan? Which dress in this post was your favourite and why? What is your preferred style or colour of dress?

I was recently offered the chance to try a dress out from Sienna Couture.

I decided to try out the Gold Sequin Dipped Hem Dress.

Dipped hems are so popular right now and they appeal to someone like me who is paranoid about her legs, especially the back of them. The elastic under the bust looked like it would be flattering on my waist, and gold sequins – why not! I chose a size 16/18 as I the item looked to have enough stretch in the bust to handle me!

The first thing I noticed about this dress was how scratchy the sequins are. I would never wear the dress without a shrug anyway which will help shield me from them, but they really are quite lethal! They look stunning but they are a tad impractical.
The length of the skirt at the back was great, however the front was a little too high for my personal leg hating preference, and this dress would need to be worn with black tights to make me feel comfortable. It would be absolutely perfect for a leg loving apple shaped lady as the skirt skims the tummy area perfectly and is really flattering. The bust section was an excellent fit and I helped accentuate my waist with one of my many thrifted belts. I could easily zip the dress up on my own and the v neck back of it looked and felt great – mainly because the sequins had no chance to wreak havoc!

I would probably wear this dress on a fancy night out or to a dinner date. The gold sequins make it look quite special and the occasion would need to suit. My huge collection of turquoise accessories would compliment the gold and black perfectly, as would my red items, especially as we approach the festive season. It is a statement dress, and one that will not be easily forgotten by those who I wear it around. I would also like to think that it will be quite unique within my circle of friends, and that is always a bonus!

Overall this dress is one I do quite like. Tights and a shrug would solve my main issues with the sequins and length and make the dress very wearable. It is not my usual pin up style, but it does mean I can give the shapewear a night off!

It’s safe to say that Cleo by Panache’s Autumn Winter collection is bloody gorgeous! And their Meg bra is no exception.
Bird prints get a huge thumbs up from me and I was so happy to get my hands on this bra. The red detailing and scalloped edge cups are quite unique, and I especially adored the swallow charm on the central gore. The cups are made out of a fairly thickish material that still manages to be sexy and sheer. I initially tried this bra in a 36HH but found the cups a little too baggy, and so this is a 36H.Sadly, no matter how much I tightened one strap over the other I was somewhat lopsided in the bra as you can see. It may have been because the cup construction thrust me very much forward and pushed me in at the sides.
However, I was left with some puckering of material at the very tip of the cups, although it was spot on elsewhere. The shape that I was given was very rounded and projected, as I mentioned, and I felt very secure in the cups.The back band was firm, almost to the point of being too firm which is no bad thing, but I would have preferred three hooks and eyes.

In conclusion, sadly Meg is not for me. The wrinkling cups show slightly under my clothes and I am unhappy with the overall shape it gives my breasts.  It is a stunning bra and one that I wish came out in of the padded balconette styles that Cleo do so well.  But I can’t have them all, sadly!

Click here for a review from Invest In Your Chest, and here for Undiegamer’s review.

My love for the Deco bra by Freya is one that is so strong and all consuming, it makes me break bra rules! I squeeze my 36H chest into their 36GG bras because of the unrivalled cleavage and oomph they give me, and I’ve yet to find a bra that fits properly and does the same.

Some time ago, Curvy Kate released a moulded plunge called the ‘Smoothie’, a bra that was actually named by Curvywordy! It followed the Showgirl sizing, meaning that it only went up to a 38G/36GG/34H and so on with the sister sizes.

Of course, I just had to try the Smoothie out. I decided to go for a 36GG and crossed my fingers that it would be a little more generous than the Deco.

The Smoothie has three hooks and eyes, which gives it one over on the Deco in my book. It has fully adjustable straps that were easy to self adjust and didn’t appear to slip. The bra is subtly leopard printed, and both it and the thong have a small leopard print pendant at the front centre. It’s been a while since I felt a brand new Deco, but I did think that the Smoothie was a tad stiffer than the Deco.

I took my Smoothie on holiday with me so that I could try it out underneath my pretty summer dresses. Here is how it fared…

I was impressed by the shape and lift the bra gave me – it was extremely similar to the Deco in terms of fit and comfort.

I did feel like it contained me a little more that my Deco both at the side, and the top. And so I decided to compare it to my 36GG Honey Deco – and lo and behold:

The back band fit well, although I may try a 34H with my next Smoothie as I felt there was a little give in the band.

The matching thong was an optimistic size 18 and sadly it didn’t quite cut it on me – or should I say, it DID cut it – my love handles that is!

I’m pretty excited at the way this bra fits, and even my anti pink rule can’t resist the lure of this little number:

I’m hoping that Smoothie may answer a few ladies prayers. I know that those who are sized out by the sister sizing system will be disappointed, but fingers crossed that this exciting development in the Deco rivaling stakes means that other companies will follow suit – or that Freya/Curvy Kate will expand their size range.

Why not check out Cheryl’s review here and Kelly’s review here.

What do you think of the Smoothie? Have you tried it or would you like too?

Recently, there has been a stirring amongst my fellow lingerie bloggers. Images from trade shows and press releases have been shared of a brand that is due to start hitting stores next month. I have seen images of laughing smiling models, wearing brightly coloured gorgeous sexy lingerie that appears to be available in larger cup sizes. Models that are slim and slender with curves, with smaller and larger back, augmented and natural breasts. Who is this magical brand? The answer…

“We would like to introduce you to a cute, curvaceous, fun, flirty and frilly lady ‐ Tutti Rouge.

Tutti Rouge will get the party started with one of the most exciting brand launches of the year, offering a stunning, fuller bust collection of coordinating lingerie available in DD – HH cups with 28” ­‐ 38” backs. The range has been lovingly created by lingerie designer Jessica Prebble. Previously Jessica has consistently delivered best styles for selected European brands and High Street retailers.

Tutti Rouge has already successfully trialled in several independent and online stores in the UK for AW12. The SS13 collection will debut with lingerie leader Bravissimo.

The emphasis for the brand is on fashion, fit and affordability. As Jessica says ‘Tutti Rouge will break a few hearts, but she won’t break the bank’.

Tutti Rouge calls to curvaceous, vivacious, fashion-­forward girls with attractive price points of £26 -­ £32 for bras and £9.50 – £17.50 for co-ordinates. Complemented by a vibrant marketing campaign, the word on every girls lips will soon be Tutti Rouge.”

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some Tutti Rouge lingerie!
Luckily, my wish was granted by the arrival of a gorgeous looking box some weeks later. The ‘Tutti Rouge’ label on the packaging made me instantly rip the parcel open, and inside was the most gorgeously presented box of lingerie and goodies.

I had been sent the ‘Liliana’ set in a size 36H/XL and she was gorgeous! And who can resist a stick of rock and some lip balm!?

I hurriedly tried Liliana straight on, marvelling at the fact that it was a gorgeous pretty pink PADDED bra in my size – yippee!

The set fit me almost perfectly! The cups were spot on with no bulging, the 3 hooked band was nice and snug, the fully adjustable straps with the cute heart adjusted didn’t dig in painfully. My only qualm was that the knickers were a bit too small. An XL roughly translates to a size 16, and these hips aint no 16! However, the soft stretchy material didn’t create too much of an unflattering silhouette, and they are certainly wearable. Fingers crossed that once the company launches and becomes popular they will consider introducing larger sizes.

The bra does give me a gentle cleavage. It’s not an overly projected shape, making it perfect as a more casual bra, or as a prettier bra to wear out under a fancy dress. I wore it to work underneath my white shirt, and I was very comfortable in it as I moved about during my 6 hour shift. I didn’t experience any digging in under the arms, any movement or any other discomfort.

Pink is not a colour I tend to favour, however, this softer bubblegum pink is undeniably gorgeous and very suited to my colouring. I love the white lace details seen on the cups and briefs, as well as the beautiful bows.

As I mentioned, the shape the cups give me is gorgeous. The bra is made out of a three part construction, and I find that even with padded bras that can sometimes give way to a pointy shape. However, Liliana keeps my boobs looking perky, rounded and gorgeous.  The top part of the cups is unpadded, which helps it lie against the bust rather than cut in.

The bra band is not overly rigid, meaning it was easy to fasten and nice and snug. I found that the sizing of the Tutti Rouge Liliana reflected that of Panache.

Tutti Rouge will start to hit stores from May onwards, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information, and more product photos. They will also be launching their website at around the same time.

I am excited to see what the future hold for Tutti Rouge. They may not stock as many sizes as full busted women would like, but give them time and I am sure things will change. To start off with 28 bands and padded bras up to an HH across all the band sizes is amazing, and I feel sure that they will soon become a favourite for many large breasted women who are crying out for flirty fun bra styles.

What do you think of Tutti Rouge and the Liliana bra? Will you be trying them out for yourself? Let me know in the comments

I first became aware of four year old ‘Curvy Kate’ two years ago when I partook in their annual ‘Star In A Bra’ competition. The concept behind it is simple: their customers wear their underwear, so they should become their models. Although I didn’t win, it was that brand ethic that stuck with me. The fact that everybody and every body who fits into the Curvy Kate range IS a Curvy Kate girl. A girl who deserves gorgeous flirty underwear in delicious exciting colour ranges, with bows and frills and flowery details. Over the years I’ve watched Curvy Kate evolve and change to suit their customers. They’ve extended their cup sizes, changed the shape of some pieces that they received a great deal of feedback from, and their amazing brand ethic means that I will always champion them.

Sheer cupped bras are often a tricky area for me, as I love a round projected shape, and as a 36H that can sometimes be hard to come by without a little extra oomph. That being said, when I do rummage through my lingerie drawer for something that isn’t padded or moulded, I often go back to my same old faithful Curvy Kate bra, as the shape and comfort are unbeatable.

I was recently given the chance to try out two other styles – the Portia in Seafoam/Pink and Princess in Orchid/Purple, both in my most visited size of 36H with size 18 matching briefs.

The first bra set I tried was the Portia.

The Portia is actually a style that was re worked by their designer Charlotte following the feedback from their customers. I’m a sucker for anything aqua, and the pop of pink was a bonus touch. Being that it FINALLY is the summer, I’m blessed with a slight tan, and this set looked wonderful against my skin tone. The bra comes with fully adjustable straps which I barely had to touch, and three hooks and eyes which offers the most amazing support.

The band is stretchy yet firm and I don’t feel I could have sized down just yet. The shape it offered my bust was fabulous. I felt sufficiently pushed in and up, although my boobs did feel slightly conical – something that did not show through my top.

Whether it’s the ribbon detailing or the shape, this bra did cause me to bulge a little over the top, and as luck would have it I attended a Curvy Kate event where their talented staff who not only make and market the bras, but are also expert fitters. I was able to try a 36HH Portia and the fit worked far better for me. I do have to wear a 36HH in some less generous styles, and so I would say that if you are between cup sizes you should go up one, especially if you have top heavy boobs like I do.

I was VERY dubious about trying the size 18 briefs, as I find Curvy Kate bottoms can come up a little small – unlike my own. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find them to be a really excellent fit. The sheer back adds a little stretch and drama to them, and there’s that gorgeous pink ribbon detailing again! I think I would be happier in a 20 as I felt that the embroidered detail did dig into my hips a little, but I was impressed at how well they fit me in the 18.
The Portia is a very gorgeous set. It’s a bra that could be worn every day that will give you that confidence of knowing you’ve got something quite beautiful lurking under your clothes.

Next up I tried the Princess, which looked absolutely sublime in the gorgeous purple colourway.

This bra was heavenly! Like the Portia it had fully adjustable straps and three hooks and eyes – two huge ticks in my book, and something that is another great thing about Curvy Kate.

The 36H felt spot on, and I was fully encased in the cups with no bulging from the front or sides. My boobs took on a glorious rounded appearance that reminded me of my old favourite, and I mentally added it to the top of the sheer cupped pile.

The briefs also felt a lot better on me, and I think that the Princess may be made out of a slightly more generous fabric. They also have sheer detailing on the bottom, something my boyfriend approved of!

Overall I preferred the colourway of the Portia, as aqua is my favourite, but this beautiful mix of purples was by no means a disappointment, and I adored how beautiful the two purple shades looked together, especially on the rose detailing.

Curvy Kate lingerie is now available to buy at BrandAlley, and they are really worth trying if you haven’t already, or revisiting if they are an old favourite.

I’m always quick to recommend that my British readers visit Bravissimo for an excellent fitting service and a great range of bras, but they are not the only place on the highstreet that offers a service to large cupped women. Enter: Debenhams.

I first tried Debenhams lingerie last year and so I was very pleased to be given the change to try out two more out their bras.

First up was the orange spotted non padded DD-J balcony bra in a 36H, with matching briefs in a 20.

I probably don’t need to tell you again that non padded bras don’t really do it for me, but I am starting to wear them more often. Some of my dresses require my bust to take up a little less room, and when that happens I do like to don something sheer.
This bra really and truly blew me away. Even before I put it on I was in love! The fiery chilli pepper colour was amazing and unlike anything else I own.

I loved the greeny yellow details that can be seen on the edge of the cups and on the bows at the gore and on the straps. They really pop, and offset the fiery orange.

The gorgeous polka dot details add another cute dimension to the bra, and really appeal to me – I’m a sucker for a spotty pattern!

The bra is made of a three part cup construction, and the top third is sheer, and the lower two are made with a double layer of fabric. This helps offer support and projection whilst still being undeniably sexy. The bra didn’t feel rough or itchy, but it wasn’t silky smooth either. It didn’t rub me uncomfortably at all and it will be a great every day bra.

I found that the cups gave me an amazing projected rounded shape. I would have liked the sides to be a teeny tiny bit higher to contain my rampant side boob, but other than that I could not fault the bra.

As always, the three hooks and eyes and fully adjustable straps were a welcome feature, and the fit was pretty much perfect. I sometimes have trouble filling bra cups all the way to the bottom, and with this bra that was the case with my right tit. However, it didn’t show through my clothes and I didn’t spill over the top of the cups.
The size 20 briefs were dreamy! The frilly part over the thighs was a cute touch and they fit my ample bottom extremely well. I could probably have gone for an 18 as they were very true to size.

The next bra that I tried was the natural moulded multiway bra.
Strapless bras are not something I can wear unless the dress I have on gives me a huge helping hand, and so I was dubious about trying another one.

This bra reminded me a little of the Freya Deco. It fit true to size, unlike some strapless bras that come up very tight.

I was thrilled when I first put the bra on as I felt instantly boosted and aloft. However the bra didn’t keep my chest up for long, and it was only a matter of moments before I felt the weight of my bangers almost crushing the cups!

The inside of the band is lined with an almost rubber type of substance that helped stick to me without causing discomfort. However, even they could not support the weight of my chest.

I did love the smooth moulded cups and just how rounded my boobs looked, despite that only being fleeting!

The bra has additional boning around the band to help keep it aloft, and three hooks and eyes – two great features.

I feel that if the cups had more structure than being simply ‘moulded’ they would have maybe stayed up a little more. And if worn with a halterneck dress or a strapless dress with some inbuilt scaffolding it would no doubt work rather well!

I decided to try the bra as a halterneck as well.

The support was marginally better and I loved the shape it gave my chest.

The strap felt surprisingly comfortable on my neck – although any tighter and my neck paid the price of an even better cleavage!

Due to the fact that the bra still wouldn’t stay up, I did have some overspill. I think that the 36H is the best fit for me, however my boobs need a bit more help!

This bra has some very high ratings on the Debenhams site, and I think that ladies with a lighter firmer chest will get on very well with it.

So far this is the best strapless bra that I have tried, and I will be using it with any future dresses I find that work with it. I’ve pretty much given up hope of ever finding one that truly works in my current size on it’s own but who knows – maybe one day.

I was recently sent the ‘Birds Of A Feather’ set from Tutti Rouge. The set was a size 36HH/XL, which seems to be the best fit for me.

This bra felt very similar to my Tutti Rouge Betty bra in a few ways. Firstly, my boobs once again had the ‘orange in the glass’ effect, meaning that no matter how much I scooped and tucked and shook them, they wouldn’t sit in the bottom of the bra.

The construction of the cups with the lace upper section seemed to give my bust a rather pointed shape. This was slightly noticeable under tight fitting tops, but perfect under slightly bust restrictive dresses as it gave my boobs an orb like shape that was enhanced by such dresses. I adore the way the straps start from within the cup. It help push my boobs inwards and lessen my side boob situation.

The pattern of the bra is just stunning. As a big busted girl it is amazing to have something so pretty as this in my size. I loved the pink lace at the top of the cups, and it didn’t itch or feel rough. The only slight discomfort that I felt from this bra was at the top of the central gore. It seemed to prickle me, for want of a better word, and so I slipped a tiny bit of tissue in against my chest to help solve the sensation as I wore the bra out.

The half adjustable straps suit my broad shoulders and rather low bust, however they may not be ideal for everyone. The adorable heart shaped adjustable straps are, as ever, a really cute unique touch. The band sported three hooks and eyes, and felt rather stretchy. I felt like I could maybe have sized down in this bra, but it did feel a little firmer than the Betty.
The knickers that came with the set were meant to be worn lower as a ‘skirt’. However, I found them to be a lot comfier sat higher, although the crotch region is a little risqué! The see-through bum section is forever appreciated by Robbie, and I found these to be a very generous XL. They are some of the comfiest knickers I own and had ample room for my ample proportions!

In conclusion – this is a beautiful set. If you are looking for something feminine, gorgeous and comfortable then Tutti Rouge is your girl.

FINALLY after months of lamenting about having a Blackberry and therefore no Instagram, I have managed to get Instagram! Here’s to making my meals look more appealing, my skin glow and documenting everything I do with my day! Follow me here!

I must admit, I have never owned a really luxurious piece of lingerie. Truth be told, I’ve never ever seen anything in my size! And so when Sandra Palmer of Louise Ferdinand Lingerie offered to custom make me a set it really was a no brainer!

Here is a little more about the company and collections:

(Taken from the About section of her website) – “Louise Ferdinand Lingerie is the brain child of Sandra Palmer who has a fresh outlook with innovative and creative designs for the market.

The name Louise Ferdinand is a marrying of her mother’s name and father’s middle name.

This company is dedicated to her dad who was taught tailoring as a trade as a young man in Jamaica and used this skill to make uniforms and dance outfits and other clothing for her and her siblings and gave me my love for design, who died in 1999 RSVP. And her mother who is still alive, who is her muse: Louise a very classy woman who has excellent style and elegance, it’s what she feels all women should be when wearing her lingerie.

Sandra’s lingerie is designed also inspired by 1950’s glamour and the images of glamorous women of that period including Betty Page, Lana Turner and Sophia Loren and she wanted to create collections that incorporated the look of vintage with the feel of the modern. With this in mind at present her collections just includes bras and knickers; therefore bringing in the modern factor in the freeness of the silhouette.

She also wanted to create collections that could be worn by the larger cup sizes something she knows only too well about having an ample figure. Therefore she is offering bra cup sizes from 28-38 D-KK cup catering for women who have smaller to larger back sizes.

Louise Ferdinand Lingerie is designed for a very classy, sophisticated and individualistic and a woman who has a love for glamour of the 1950’s when women could celebrate their curves with the modern shapes associated with the 21st century.

Sandra’s signature is incorporating the look of vintage with the modern silhouette.”

Jessica and Emma

Edie

Louise Ferdinand Look Book 13 PDF

Louise Ferdinand Press Release PDF

I was lucky enough to meet Sandra at her recent trunk show, and she told me a little more about her exquisite line. Sandra and I have very similar figures, and after graduating at DMU she decided to persue the larger cup lingerie avenue, as she knows only too well how tricky it is to find lingerie for a larger bust. And so she created Louise Ferdinand Lingerie, a high end luxury bespoke lingerie brand. Realistically, she can make lingerie for any size of bust, and she hand makes everything herself. I was lucky enough to see several of her pieces in the flesh, and every single one is absolutely stunning to look at.

The set that she made for is called ‘Kitty’.

I gave her my bra and knicker size and she set to work on a gorgeous custom set for me. I must admit, I was really chuffed when I discovered that it would be a leopard print set!

The bra fit me perfectly! It’s not a style that I have ever tried before, and I was really pleasantly surprised by how the set looked.

The cups are made of a two part construction, which gave my bust that more retro shape.

The straps start from the centre of the cups, which helped maintain that more pointy retro look. It also makes this a perfect set for women with narrow shoulders who find that the straps fall off easily.

The leopard print detail is handstitched onto the mesh cups, and it’s extremely beautiful to look at. The pale pink trim is really offset by the black of the cups and is very striking.

The straps of the bra are fully adjustable, and the band has three hooks and eyes by two.

I must say that I found the briefs to be a little too brief due to the size of my ample derriere, something I neglected to warn Sandra about! However, the were very comfy, just a little too skimpy!

I’m really excited to see what the future holds for Louise Ferdinand Lingerie, especially after being told a few exclusives by Sandra. Her bridal lingerie pieces are my favourites from the collection as I know that so many large busted women struggle to find gorgeous pieces to wear on their special day.

So if you are after some custom made luxury lingerie then look no further than Louise Ferdinand Lingerie.

Click here for a review from The Lingerie Stylist.

It’s been a year since Panache Lingerie started their retail website My Curves & Me, and to celebrate I was recently offered the chance to spend £50 on the site on any items that I wanted.

I went for the Arquette bra and matching Arquette thong in sizes 36H/18.

I have tried several Masquerade products before, and so, as expected, the 36H was spot on.
Check out my previous review of the Masquerade Rhea bra.
I have to say that Panache do have the best track record for sizing consistency between bras and in house brands, and I am ever grateful for that!

The band was spot on – firm yet fair! If you are inbetween band sizes I would recommend you go for your larger size and don’t expect the band to loosen up all that quickly! The band has two hooks and eyes, and semi adjustable straps. I only had to adjust them a tiny bit, and so I expect they would still work for women with smaller shoulders.

Balconette cups are perfect for giving that orb like wench cleavage, and Arquette was no exception. I felt supported, uplifted and completely comfortable!

The pattern of this bra is so unique and beautiful! It is really rare to find such a fabulous pattern in larger cup sizes, and I loved the tassel details on the gore and on the thong.

My one gripe about this bra would be that the cut under the arms is slightly too low for me, meaning I spill out slightly. I don’t think that this would be rectified by going up a cup size, it feels like it’s purely the cut of the bra.

The size 18 thong was a pretty good fit. I think a 20 would have been more comfortable on my hips, but the white material was really accommodating.

All in all the set was a great fit on me, and it looked amazing, if I say so myself! What a great way to celebrate the first Birthday of My Curves & Me!

*These products were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are 100% my own*

If you want to know more about Panache and ask the brand any questions, then head to their Facebook page later on today (August the 23rd, 2013) between 3pm and 4pm GMT as they are having a live Q&A!

I get a lot of women asking me about the best way to store their bras to ensure that they last a long time and aren’t damaged. Truth be told, I may not be the best example of someone who takes cares of her bras because, well…

However, I was recently offered the chance to keep and review an item of furniture from Out There Interiors and so after a big of umming ahhing I went for this:

I thought it looked beautiful, and it could be the solution to my ever growing sofadrobe. It IS meant to be a besdside table, but visitors to my flat will know that I rarely use furniture for it’s primary intention. Coming soon in this post: my bookshelves!

I currently own an even amount of padded and moulded bras and non padded bras, and this storage unit would be for the latter, as these bras need to be stored differently to their more robust counterparts.

The best way to store non padded bras is like so:

You can fold the cups into each other without fear of ruining the shape or stretching the material. I always find it best to tuck the straps and band up into the cups so avoid them catching on anything – there’s nothing worse than going to grab a bra in the morning and retrieving some sort of Magician’s handkerchief bra formation!

The drawers on my new nifty piece of furniture were the perfect size for my bras.

They come out completely, which is great for packing the bras into it in the first place, and they are nice and deep. I decided to put only my matching briefs (ok, that’s pretty much all of them!) into the draw, as it meant I could store the matching knickers in the drawer below – perfect!

I now have my eye on this chest for my moulded and padded bras, as sadly they take up a little more room. They need to be stored as if you have them on with concave cups pointing the right way, stacked one on top of each other.

If you were to store them with one cup inside each other you may unwittingly stretch one cup too much and reduce the life of your bra:

So be careful with how you store padded and moulded bras.

How do you store your bras?

One thing I get asked a lot is: as a bigger and bustier woman, what options are there for some fun sexy bedroom attire that doesn’t leave the boobs flailing about like a man being chased by a hoard of wasps.

I myself have been known to cram into Ann Summers babydolls and outfits that were made for someone with considerably less bust than I possess, nervously trying to hold onto my breasts in a sexy way, to avoid them flopping out onto the floor. What I craved for so so SO long was something besides my normal undies that I could wear in the bedroom. Something sexy, but not too revealing…

Enter Lola from Curvy Kate.

Lola is a babydoll that is based on the ‘Daily Boost’ bra from Curvy Kate. She comes in UK sizes 28-40 D-K which is just amazing. Curvy Kate quite often stagger the sizes on padded and moulded items, but Lola is available up to a K cup right acrposs the board. The babydoll retails at £39 on Brastop.com which is another shocker. Some babydolls that I have seen are double the price of bras, which I find absurd as surely the bra is the pricey bit, and the extra fabric should be a little extra?

Babydolls are not items of clothing that are made to be worn outside, unless perhaps you are off to a themed party, and yet you still want them to be practical as well as sexy.

I tried Lola in my generic size of 36H, with the matching size 20 thong. The bra comes with three hooks and eyes and fully adjustable straps, and it needs to be wiggled on over the head – something that I didn’t struggle too much with. The mesh skirt had the perfect amount of stretch to it, and was see through enough to reveal my thinly veiled butt cheeks, but not so see through that I’d have to leave rooms backwards in it. I love the satin trim along the bottom, and found that it flowed nicely over my body without adding too much bulk to my already generous stomachs.

The design on the cups is very pretty, but sadly the cups themselves just didn’t work for me. I tried to adjust my boobs, the straps and the band to see if the problem could be solved, but nothing seemed to work.

I do often come across the problem known as the ‘orange in the glass’ – where my boobs won’t reach the bottom of the cups due to the wires being too thin for the shape of my bust, and from what I can see this is possibly the problem here.

It didn’t leave me with any discomfort, and it’s not a feature that is visible until you’re close up and scrutinsing the fit, but it was a little disappointing for me and my wide boobies.

As with most Curvy Kate bras, the back band was stretchy yet firm, and the 36 felt good on me. I may have been ok in a 34, but when I put the bra on the tightest hooks I didn’t feel any better or worse, however, I did notice an explosion of back fat – not sexy! If this were a bra worn for a few hours at a time a few days a week, not a babydoll that possibly won’t spend too long on, I might look at trying my sister size of 34HH, but as it stand the 36 was good.

The size 20 thong was not a great fit. I was a little short on me, but I blame my huge bottom on that, and a 22 would probably have been more forgiving around the love handles.

If I were to wear this in an actual, ahem, bedroom situation I would probably add something that is every man’s weakness, and very fitting given that it is National Stocking Day…

Ta da! Being bigger and finding a suspender belt and some stockings that fits and doesn’t turn me into a string of girl shaped sausages is not an easy task, but with the help of scouring eBay for ‘plus size suspender belts’ and cutting up some old tights, I have a look that works for temporary occasions! The reason that I cut up tights instead of going for some of my suspenders that fit, is that, well… I don’t want to wear anything that I would cry over if it got hastily removed and ruined in the process, they don’t cut into my thighs and they are very easy to put on and take off! I have been known to wear them for photo shoots as well, and as much as I love the stocking and hold ups that I own, my cut up tights and my eBay suspender belt are still my go items for this look.

I’d love to see Lola in different colourways and hopefully in larger back sizes. Lola in ivory would be such a perfect bridal pieces – maybe by the time my own wedding comes around there will be one on the market!

What do you think of the Curvy Kate Lola babydoll? Will you be indulging?

Check out Curvywordy’s review here.

Today’s review comes from one of my best friends Heather, who will be reviewing a smaller cupped bra from Wonderbra.

After being friends with Georgina for just over a decade now I have discovered that not only is she hysterical and full of filthy jokes, but that she can provide you with a constant stream of underwear advice. Last month after a rather heavy night we both were sat around discussing her latest press event where she had been approached to review a bra from Wonderbra’s latest collection.

As most fuller busted ladies will know, Wonderbra’s size range is mostly A-G, and this posed a slight problem for Georgina, so she kindly asked me to step in. As a smaller busted lady and having done a review for FFFB before I was more than happy to help.

I opted for the ‘Glamour Linear Structure’ Bra in black and in a 30C or a 32B the sister size, the Bra arrived last week and in a 32B with a very sweet note. Obviously as an absolute underwear addict I tried it on straight away! After some adjusting I was good to go and pleasantly surprised.

The Glamour Linear did not disappoint and the stripe & fishnet detail adds something to what would be a plain bra otherwise, the shape of the cups and subtle padding meant that I was supported and placed into a more natural looking boost.

The three part construction of the cups meant that I was given a lovely rounded shape though I did have a little overspill but once placing a top over this went unnoticed.

The Linear has a subtle detail on the back which adds to the design, this is one of my favourite parts of the bra and I love how simple it is, the only down side of this is that I would definitely feel a little more secure with two hooks and eyes rather than the one.

The Glamour Linear is described as ‘elegant but sexy’ and I would definitely agree that it does exactly that, I felt great in the bra and as someone that loves a matching set went out and bought the briefs to go with which were true to size and equally as comfortable, after asking my boyfriend for his opinion on the set I think that he managed to sum it up pretty well and after sending me several open mouthed smiley faces (he’s travelling at the moment and can’t see it for himself) said it was more ‘plain and subtle’ than the other Wonderbra sets I already have, which I would completely agree with and I definitely felt amazing in the set.

It feels like only yesterday that Tutti Rouge launched, and yet they have quickly become well known and well loved by bloggers and customers alike – and check out their wicked website!

I recently received a beautiful parcel from Tutti HQ. Inside the signature pink wrapping was some sweeties and some lingerie – big thumbs up!

The set in question was the lovely Evelyn in a 36H. She was everything that I have come to love and expect in a Tutti Rouge bra – gorgeous, feminine, cute print and fabulous details and of course those cute heart shape strap adjusters.

The cup construction of the Evelyn reminded me of the Tutti Rouge ‘Birds Of A Feather’ set. A three part construction with a sheer upper section of the bra.

I adored the print on the Evelyn – brightly coloured parasols on a charcoal grey background.

As with the ‘Birds Of A Feather’ bra, I found that I didn’t completely sit in the bottom of the cups, and the wires sat a little low on my body. The back band was stretchy yet snug, and so I don’t believe that sizing down would have helped. I didn’t spill out of the cups at all and the wires sat on my torso rather than on my breast tissue.

I found it interesting that this bra was a size smaller than Birds Of A Feather, and yet it seemed to fit the same. As my bust hasn’t changed all the dramatically, I can either assume that Evelyn is cut differently, or Tutti Rouge have changed their grading slightly.

Fro the back and side you can see how the wires sit on me. The do seem to edge down a little on my body, which isn’t uncomfortable, nor does it affect how the bra fits as far as I can tell. The straps are half adjustable, which may be a slight issue for slimmer shouldered ladies. The are also fairly wide set, which again may pose problems for some women. The back band has three hooks and eyes – big thumbs up!

Evelyn is almost certainly my favourite Tutti Rouge bra to date. The colourway is stunning and the fit and shape is pretty good – I am given a nice round shape with a rather good cleavage. Obviously it’s never ideal to have issues with the wires as I do. I believe that my breasts are a little too wide at the root, meaning that they won’t drop to the bottom of some cups, and that possibly contributes to where the wires sit on my body. As I said, this has never posed a function or comfort issue for me, and the only solution would be to wear bras with wider wires.
As you know, I usually review the matching knickers with every set. The knickers that I received with Evelyn were the largest size of XL, and they were a rather skimpy and tight and a little… indecent! I would love to see some XXXL knickers from Tutti Rouge, as my arse is rarely a size 16! Hopefully one day

What do you think of the Evelyn bra from Tutti Rouge? Will you be adding her to your wishlist?