Summery Stripes with Lilly & Lime

Sadly I've not been fortunate enough to have had a lovely beach holiday for a number of years now, so when Lilly & Lime asked me to review a bikini of theirs I agreed with a heavy heart. Poor me, I know!

Lilly & Lime are an Australian specialist D cup and up swimwear brand, launched in January 2016 and based upon an idea the two busty founders Emma and Ashleigh had during a champagne fuelled night out!

I'm a huge fan of nautical stripes so naturally I opted for the Blue & White striped full cup bikini top in my current size of 28H and Blue & White striped hipster tie bottoms in a size 14. I really wanted to try the balconette shape as I feel it would work better on me, but the striped bikini wasn't available in my size. Emma from Lilly & Lime was most helpful when it came to fit advice and suggested their sizes are similar to those of Curvy Kate and Panache, which I found particularly useful to know when shopping newly discovered brands.

The full cup bikini top has fully adjustable straps (a godsend!) and the band size is fixed, fastening with a white plastic clip at the back. The cups have non-removable pads and it is made from a double layered stretch swimwear fabric. I must admit I was slightly underwhelmed with this bikini top. Although it offers support and a good size range, I'd ideally like something a bit more...wow! Admittedly this is probably due to my choice of the full cup and my 34 year old boobs (that have seen better days!), so I am just speaking for myself here. One thing I would LOVE to have seen is a narrower gore. I just think it's a touch too wide for my liking and tends to flatten my boobs a little. If these are things that bother you, the balconette shape does seem to have a bit more of a wow factor and I kind of wish I'd made my decision based on shape rather than pattern so you might want to bear this in mind when shopping with Lilly & Lime. 

As for fit, it seems pretty darn good on first impressions, maybe a tiny bit small in the cup but not enough to warrant going up a cup. The band is nice and snug and I'd suggest going up a band size if you're on the upper end of your usual band measurement. My underbust measures 27" so the 28" is perfect on me.

Yes, I have cellulite, I'm a human.

The tie side bottoms are lovely! I LOVE tie sides, mainly because they give you the option of loosening them off if you're feeling a bit bloated and you don't need to worry about the sizing too much either. Again they're made from a double layer stretch swimwear fabric and the fit is spot on!

The Lilly & Lime bikini top range comes in band sizes 28-38 and cup sizes F-HH. Bottoms come in sizes 8-18 and run in UK sizes. Currently Lilly & Lime are producing bikinis in two colours (nectarine and black) and three prints (floral, chevron and stripe). Go forth and shop!

Thanks for reading ,

Le Curvy Kitten 

x

Make your cleavage illegal with Tutti Rouge's Jessica

As always, apologise for the radio silence. You know how life gets in the way? Yeah, that. Coupled with the fact that it's January and that means we're all recovering after having had a few months run up to Christmas.

In early December Tutti Rouge so kindly offered me their new Jessica set to review. I'd been hotly anticipating it's release and subsequent #illegalcleavage social media campaign featuring curvy redhead Lucy V. I was delighted when I received the set through my door! I initially requested the bra in a 28GG and thong in a medium but on arrival I realised that I'd underestimated myself and needed a size up in both, so a 28H and large thong, which I'm happy to say, fit beautifully. The matching suspender belt is a small. So if you're between sizes in both bras and pants, you'd do better to size up as I did.

What sets the Jessica bra aside from anything else I've ever seen on the market (particularly in plus bust brands) is that the bra has pockets on the inside of the cups for its padding. Now, this may not seem that unusual but the bra is unpadded and the padding is made in a way to give you multiple options. The band is accurately sized and the cups, Although not particularly supportive on myself, as my boobs aren't all that perky, are made from a stretch mesh are accommodating for asymmetrical boobs. If you're a fan of unpadded AND padded bras, then Jessica is worth a try.

The pads, or 'cookies' as Tutti Rouge like to call them, are a rectangular-ish shaped pocket (so a double layer of padding) containing another smaller pad. The idea behind this is that you control how much cleavage you want with the added benefit of being able to even out asymmetrical boobs should you struggle with that. The cookie system gives you, if you're not taking into account any asymmetry, 4 different levels of padding; unpadded, small cookies, cookie pocket and cookie pocket with smaller cookies inside. Are you feeling the urge to eat a cookie yet...no, me neither... ;)

I love the idea of effectively customising an OTR bra yourself, and as I touched on before, if you have noticeable asymmetry then this bra if definitely worth trying out. I estimate I have a difference of half a cup maybe, so it's not all that noticeable once I'm wearing a bra.

The thong in a large is perfect on me, as long time readers know, I'm well blessed in the hip/butt department and I like to make sure I don't get any bulges so I usually size up on what's recommended on your average size chart. The suspender belt is a small and is a little on the large side if I'm being picky, but works out fine. I just wish I could buy suspender belts and pants in the same size! Damn curves! That said, I don't ever wear suspender belts for anything other than photoshoots anyway, so ignore my whinging!

As always with Tutti Rouge, it's the details that make the sets that bit different from other brands, such as the heart strap adjusters, which I bloody LOVE! The fabrics, trims and colours have all been chosen with great care and tie in beautifully with one another.

Since I always have to have something to moan about it would have to be the bulk and particularly the shape of the cookies. Once you have all of them fitted inside your bra you will be able to feel your arms rub against them once you start moving around. The other issue is the shape. provided you're not wearing something *too* tight fitting, you'll be okay, but when you wear this bra with a slinky bodycon dress there's a very real risk of the chunky non boob shaped cookies being visible. Personally I'd have made the cookies in the traditional 'chicken fillet' shape.

Anyway, Overall I love how this set looks and how versatile it is with its multiple looks. Have you tried the Jessica set yet? Is the concept of customising the level of padding something that makes you want to try it?

As always, thanks for reading x

Through the Looking Glass with Parfait & Affinitas with Charlotte fromLazeme

Ever since Parfait & Affinitas released the Icy Blue version of their Charlotte set I've wanted to try it in an Alice in Wonderland themed shoot. I put the idea to the back of my mind until  the lovely ladies at Lazeme contacted me offering me the set to review!

I already own Charlotte in both red and peach and I have to say, they're by far the highest quality sets I have. Other bloggers have referred to Charlotte as 'scaffolding for the boobs' and they're not wrong! Not only is the bra very well constructed  but it also looks stunning too with a vintage pin-up feel.

Charlotte in red

The bra (£30) is a padded balcony shape with matte finish cups and satin side panels and wings, cut quite high under the arms so if you have problems with high wings then this might not be the bra for you. The back is wide and made from a black powermesh. The band is true to size, nice and snug, as is the cup. If you're between sizes then my advice is to size up. I wear a 28H in Charlotte, the same as my Curvy Kate size but a cup bigger than my Freya size of 28GG. 

Front (with high waisted brief)

Back (with high waisted brief) 

Side (with high waisted brief)

Back (with bikini brief)

The briefs come in a gorgeous high waisted style (£14) and a bikini brief style (£12). I'm wearing a large in both, but think I could wear a medium in the high waisted brief as they're a touch on the baggy side.

Charlotte bra (£30) with high waisted brief £14

Charlotte bra (£30) with bikini brief (£12)

Charlotte bra (£30) with high waisted brief (£14)

Charlotte bra (£30) with bikini brief (£12)

My only criticisms of the Charlotte bra are that it can become uncomfortable under the arms as its cut quite high and the black trim and edging can be quite difficult to hide under clothes both due to the contrasting colours and because they're slightly raised. 

One of the things that sets Charlotte aside from a lot of other fuller bust style is its size range in 28-40 D-K cups, all inclusive, which is 'praise the lingerie gods' lovely if you fall within those size ranges. Both styles of briefs are available from a XS (UK 6-8) to a 2XL (UK 18). The Charlotte range is currently available from Lazeme in Purple Wine, Dusty Pink, Wild Pink, Red and Icy Blue.

All in all I LOVE the vintage look of Charlotte and would recommend it as a staple in your lingerie drawer. Gets yours from Lazeme today! 

Lovely Longline; Carmen by Curvy Kate

A longline bra is something I've coveted for quite some time and have been unable to find in my size (28GG/H depending on brand). Over a year ago, Curvy Kate saved the day yet again with their Carmen longline in sizes 28-38 D-J. 

Initially the Carmen set was released in a gorgeous Rose Mix colourway as seen here on FullerFigureFullerBust and has since been released in Black/Boysenberry (what kind of berry is that??) which I'll be reviewing in this post.

Photo by My Boudoir

I purchased my Carmen set from Brastop. It's currently on sale for just £11.95 for the bra, £5.95 for the thong in the Black/Boysenberry colour (correct at time of publishing). Unfortunately Brastop didn't have the matching suspender belt in stock but I'm hoping to find one elsewhere.

I ordered the Carmen longline in 28GG and 28H and as I often find with Curvy Kate, the 28H fitted the best. To be perfectly honest, there's not a huge difference between the two, but I generally like to err on the side of caution and go for the bigger cup. The band fits nice and snug so there are no worries in that department indicating that Curvy Kate are getting it right nowadays despite earlier teething problems with loose bands. The thong I bought in a 16 and 18 and found the 16 fitted best.

I've not yet worn the set for anything more than this shoot, so I can't comment on the comfort for extended wear. I've read a few reviews on the Carmen and most say that the band tends to roll up during wear, but that it doesn't really affect their positive ratings.

Initially I wasn't taken with either colourway in the Carmen, but unfortunately Curvy Kate haven't released Carmen in any new colours so not wanting to miss out on the only longline I know of in my size I bit the bullet and went for the Black/Boysenberry. I'd have preferred less pink, however the detail in the embroidery is beautiful.

My only criticisms are that I feel the bulkiness of the cups might be visible under clothing and that having so many hooks to fasten can be very awkward, particularly for those with mobility problems. Other than that, it's a gorgeous set and I hope Curvy Kate will release more colours in the future.

If you love this set, you can still find selected sizes on Brastop, Amazon, Ebay and at Figleaves, all of which are selling it at less than RRP! 

Build me up, Buttercup! Made In Preston's lovely lace creation!

I was recently contacted by Nikki Hesford of UK booby fashion brand Made In Preston asking if I'd like to review one of their products.

Firstly, let's discuss the brand in question. Made in Preston was launched in June 2013 as a fashion house catering for larger cup sizes. "So what's new about that? We have BiuBiu, Saint Bustier, Pepperberry, Urkye and DDAtelier amongst others" I hear you cry! Well, let me tell you, none of those have real edgy catwalk fashion, which is why ex glamour model and young mum Nikki decided to pursue her dream of owning her very own label. The fact that Made in Preston takes inspiration from the catwalk really sets them aside from other bigger bust brands meaning younger women aren't tied down to squeezing themselves into dresses and tops that don't fit from high street stores, boring (but admittedly very useful) 'classics' and often styles that aren't age appropriate for the wearer. The other thing I love about Made In Preston is that, as their name suggests, everything they make is manufactured in Preston, and that can only be a good thing for the local and national economy.

Nikki from Made In Preston (photo from lep.co.uk)

Not only do Made In Preston produce clothes for the bigger bust, they also do a range of funky lingerie, of which I'm excited to be reviewing today! Nikki has designed the lingerie in order to stand out, and boy does it do its job! With neon patterned lace fabrics, and blah blah blaaaaahhhhh, you'll be sure to find something for your more adventurous side at Made In Preston!

 

More from Made In Preston

Within a few days my bra arrived, wrapped up lovingly in branded tissue paper with heart stickers to secure. I'm a sucker for nice packaging, it really feels like you're getting a gift and therefore makes it easier to justify the odd splurge on yourself.... Well that's what I tell myself anyway!

On opening the package, I found Nikki had very kindly sent me this awesome buttercup yellow unpadded bra (currently at £34, matching knickers £10) in a 28H. As you may know from my previous post on the Cleo Marcie Babydoll, my boyfriend is a HUGE fan of anything yellow, so he was pretty happy Nikki chose this for me! The shade of yellow leans slightly more towards neon/green tones than the Marcie, which I would call a true buttercup yellow.

I don't tend to wear unpadded bras for anything other than dossing around the house, so I was slightly apprehensive about trialling the bra. On fitting the bra I noticed the band is nice and snug, like a true 28" should be. I'm currently measuring 27" so this is perfect. In fact it's by far the best 28" band I own. I also notice that it gives a rounded shape, not dissimilar to my all time favourite, the Deco by Freya, only without the epic cleavage, which is a good thing if you like the rounded shape but don't fancy having a cleavage for whatever reason. I normally wear a 28GG Deco and this is a 28H so bear this in mind when ordering.

The bra has a black lining with a yellow lace overlay meaning that if, like me, lace makes you itch, the lining prevents this happening.

My only criticisms are that the band only has a row of two hooks where I'm used to having three, although admittedly this doesn't appear to have made much difference with regards to support, although it might with a larger band and cup size due to the weight of the bust. What I have noticed is that the band rides up a little, so I don't know whether that could be to do with it not being wide enough or if I need to use the tighter hooks. Also the straps are a touch too thin for my liking, again not what I'm used to in bras with larger cups.

Strap comparison with the Curvy Kate Ritzy (left)

Having worn the bra for a couple of days I'm happy to report that I'm very fond of it! Like I said, I'm not a fan of padded bras and avoid wearing them wherever possible but this wonderful yellow creation will be one I hope to get more use out of.

This style of bra also comes in Monochrome, Powder Pink and Black and can be purchased here.

My top Valentine's Day picks for 2014

Love it or hate it, St. Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Single or not, what better way to treat yourself than with a new lingerie set (and maybe a big tub of ice cream...)! Using my favourite online retailers I've put together a collection of my top picks for this February 14th.

1. Entice Alexa by Figleaves Boudoir 

The latest trend in lingerie seems to be straps. Straps everywhere! The Entice Alexa set from Figleaves Boudoir is a perfect example of this. It's strapping details hints cheekily towards bondage whilst remaining classy. The bra comes in XS-L suggesting it's not meant to be a functional piece and rather one for, ahem, 'bedroom wear'. 

Photo courtesy of Figleaves

Priced from £14 to 34 per piece in red or black and consisting of an unpadded bra, thong, brief and suspender belt it's above my budget for something that lacks functionality. However, for that special occasion it's rather stunning! 

2. Detachable Choker Bra Straps by Esty Lingerie

If the Entice Alexa from Figleaves is your kind of thing but you can't quite bring yourself to part with over £60, how about a detachable choker strap from Esty Lingerie? These straps simply attach to your bra band at the central gore and range from just £5.49 to £19.99. They add a subtly sexy rock/bondage look to any outfit and are really quite unique!

Photo courtesy of Esty Lingerie

Not sure? Check out the reviews from The Full Figured Chest, The Undercover Lingerista and Of Lambs and Lace.

3. Femme Fatale Slip by Gossard

Sadly this sexy slip is old stock and doesn't come in a large range of sizes (32-26 B-E) but if you're lucky or willing to sister size you might be able to find this at a bargain price. Gossard are currently selling this at £35 knocked down from £59.00. The slip can be paired with any black thong so you don't even have to buy the matching one.

Photo courtesy of Gossard

I love the contrasting lace bra section and the sheer polka dot slip. It's functional too, useful as shapewear and with foam padded plunge cups it'll boost your bangers for a WOW cleavage!

4. Charlotte by Parfait by Affnitas

The only set in my Valetine's selection I actually own is the decadent Charlotte. I bought her from LargeCupLingerie a few months ago and have only worn her a handful of times. I have this weird OCD thing about 'special' sets and sadly rarely get to wear them because of that reason! Although I've not yet reviewed the set, you may have seen my selfie on Twitter a while back.

The set is sexy, supportive and high quality, so you really feel you've treated yourself should you choose to buy it. I found the cups on the small side so I bought a 28H and the thong is a Large. The padded cups quite shallow and didn't give me any cleavage, which is forgiveable since the set is so nice! The band is firm and VERY wide as are the fully adjustable straps, which can only be a good thing if you have a large bust.

Photo courtesy of Affinitas Intimates

I bought my Charlotte set in Red but it's also available in Peach and Dusty Rose. Charlotte costs £30 for the bra, £12 for the brief and £14 for the high waisted shorts here at LargeCupLingerie. Charlotte comes in sizes 28-40 D-K, the best size range I've seen in a long time!

5. Tease Me by Curvy Kate

Long standing readers of my blog will know I'm a huge fan of Curvy Kate's Tease Me, and when they released the autumn/winter colour way of black and scarlet I knew I had to have it. 

Photo courtesy of Curvy Kate

At £29 for the bra, £13.50 for the thong and £15.50 for the shorts it's not the biggest bargain but I do love Tease Me so I'll be buying mine from Debenhams shortly. The set can also be found at Brastop for the same price but most sizes are now out of stock. *Don't forget that if you can, try a band size smaller and two cups larger. If it's not possible to downsize a band or you like a looser fit then just go up one cup size.* Tease me comes in sizes 28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG and 38 D-GG but the above retailers don't have all sizes left.

*Edit* Curvy Kate have kindly informed me that this version of Tease Me now runs true to size, so it's advised that you order your usual size.

6. Carmen by Curvy Kate

Brand new from Curvy Kate is the pretty pink long line Carmen. This is the first long line bra Curvy Kate have produced and with it's padded cups with pale yellow embroidery I'm sure it will be a hit! In sizes 28-38 D-J Curvy Kate have made sure all their usual customer base won't miss out.

Carmen is a three part set consisting of the long line bra £35, suspender belt £18, and thong £15 or shorts £16. All can be purchased at Brastop. If pink isn't your thing wait until AW14 range when Curvy Kate will be producing it in black. I'm sure you'll agree it's fabulous! 

7. Neon Yellow Contrast by Made In Preston

This may not be the obvious choice for Valentine's Day so let me explain. My boyfriend ADORES yellow. His bathroom is yellow, his kitchen is yellow including ALL appliances. He loves it. Yellow isn't a colour often found in lingerie, particularly in the market for larger cup sizes. When I came across this fun set from Made In Preston my heart skipped a beat on his behalf!

Photo courtesy of Petite & Plentiful

In a good size range of (yes, a 26" band!) 26-30 DD-J, 32-36 DD-H and 38 DD-GG, Made In Preston have really pushed the boat out to ensure a lot of large busted women are included. My only complaint about this is that they are charging a higher price of £38.95 for 26 bands! It seems ridiculous to charge for the smallest and most niche of band sizes when they already have the patterns cut for all the advertised sizes. All other sizes cost £34 and the matching knickers are £8.95. I don't know if the bra is padded or not and with Made In Preston being new to lingerie, I can't advise on fit I'm afraid.

Will you be buying yourself lingerie for St Valentine's Day? Let me know your favourites by commenting below!