The Tremendous Tiki!

When I first discovered Collectif around a year ago, I fell in love with the Tiki print Sarong dress, but it was sold out in my size. I toyed with getting the next size up but decided against it, and put those longing thoughts to bed. Le sigh. 

Then, whilst idly browsing Ebay, I came across Collectif's Ebay shop and found one in a size 8! I didn't pay a lot for it, I think it was £15 or thereabout. Luckily, nobody else was bidding against me. The listing said the print was slightly imperfect but once it arrived, I had a good look and couldn't find anything wrong!

It fits on the large size, so I'd recommend sizing down. As it's a halter neck, you'll need to find a multiway bra that doesn't show. Here I'm wearing a Panache Inferno Plunge. The fabric belt that comes with it isn't the best, and doesn't flatter the dress as well as it could, but that's not an issue when you have as many wide belts as I do. My red one is a firm favourite and it contrasts the turquoise blue of the Tiki print perfectly! What do you think?

So the moral of the story is, don't give up looking, and ALWAYS try Ebay!

My Winning Entry For FullerFigureFullerBusts Competition!

Back in February, Georgina of FullerFigureFullerBust ran a fabulous competition with loads of amazing prizes. I was lucky enough to win 5 sets from Panache and a dress from BiuBiu, as reviewed in my two previous posts. 

So here's a quick post about my entry,in case you haven't seen it already. I chose the 'design a bra' category, and my idea quickly snowballed into actually making my design! 

I love The Rocky Horror Picture show, especially the character of Columbia. She's feisty with bright red hair, and wears sequins! My bra design is based on Columbia's costume in the Time Warp scene; multi-coloured sequin corset, gold sequin tailcoat and striped shorts.

Alas, my idea was born! I used an old bra that didn't fit, cut off the mesh overlay and trim, and got to work. It took around 10 metres of multi-coloured strung sequins, about 3 metres of other trims, a few metres of various coloured ribbon, half a bottle of fabric glue and a number of hours! It almost didn't happen. I ran out of sequins at this point and it took me a few weeks to find a new supply to match exactly!

.....And here it is...The Columbia!

What's more, it fits me!

I really enjoyed making it and it was well worth the effort as the prizes I won were amazing! Thanks again to FullerFigureFullerBust for choosing me as a winner!

My shiny new Panache collection!

As mentioned in my previous post, I won some fabulous prizes from the gorgeous Georgina Horne of FullerFigureFullerBust. This post is about the massive 5 Panache sets I won! Yes, 5 sets, how generous!! I was astounded by the generosity of both Georgina and Heather Kipling of Panache. As you know, big bras aren't cheap, and I think myself very lucky! After a number of weeks of too-ing and fro-ing to get the right sizes, I finally have 5 lovely new sets in my drawer! Heather chose my sets from their current range, and although they're not all styles I'd normally choose, I'm very happy with the selection.

Firstly I'll mention that I was originally sent a lovely red 'Veronica' swimsuit that reminded me of the Kellogg's Special K adverts. Sadly, my rather large derriere didn't agree with the swimsuit idea. I always struggle with swimsuits because, as you will all know if you've been reading my posts and not just looking at the pictures (I know it happens-shame on you!), my bottom half is somewhat bigger than my top half, so the swimsuit sent to me in a 30G (Panache don't make 28 bands as yet in their swimwear) fitted better at the top than at the bottom, and rather than the usual '4-boob' effect us women often rock (get fitted girls!), I was getting a '4-buttock' effect instead! The lovely Heather replaced the swimsuit for a gorgeous bikini. More on that later.

First up for the bras, the much coveted Masquerade Rhea in black. I was sent a 28GG and it's perfect. The band is snug and has very little stretch, an issue I was already aware of, so if you're looking for comfort, the Rhea may not be right for you. However, if you're looking for luxury and gravity-defying boobs, then go out and get a Rhea! It's quite expensive to buy, at around £35, but the silky fabric and materials used lend themselves perfectly to the price tag. The Rhea is a padded balcony bra, so if you struggle to stay in plunges, this is a style that could work for you. I was sent matching shorts in a size 14, which fit beautifully. There's just something about Masquerade lingerie that makes you feel a million dollars! Definitely worth buying for that special night in ;)

Next we have the Panache Sports Bra. When I first saw this, I loved it but not being a sports fan, watching or taking part, I had no need to buy it. It's a very different style to the other sports bras out there, and very much lends itself to be worn as a work out top. It has a built in racer back clip, which can be useful if you want to hide your straps under racer back tops. If you're feeling (very) brave, the shorts (here in a size 14) are also suitable to be worn as outerwear too! I had a little bounce around my room in this and my boobs stay firmly in place, doing exactly what it says on the tin. It seems pretty high impact, and is more 'solid' than my Shock Absorber sports bra, which is unpadded and lacks the engineering that the Panache has. Don't get me wrong, it's a damn good sports bra, but the Panache one just pips it to the post. The Panache Sports Bra has the style that other sports bras lack, and would certainly be my go-to should I ever decide to get off my lazy arse and do some exercise!

Boasting on the tag 10 years of being Panache's best selling bra, the Tango has clearly been a favourite in a lot of women's lingerie drawers for a long time. I was sent the special edition 'Ocean' colour unpadded balconnet bra, which has a touch of diamante at the gore, offset perfectly by the turquoise of the bra.At first I tried this bra in a 28GG, which was too large in the cups, so it was replaced with a 28G, which could fit better if I'm being honest. The cup is fine at the front, but I have a bit of 'side-boob' where breast tissue is being pushed under my arms.  think the underwires need to be a little less u-shaped to combat this. Sadly I don't think I'll get much wear from this bra as I don't tend to wear unpadded bras, and with the fit being slightly out I fear it may be uncomfortable. Tango also comes in a plunge bra, so if you like the Tango balcony but don't get on with it, there's another option for you to try. Again, the briefs were perfect in a size 14, no complaints there!

The most troublesome of my 5 sets is the Alexa by Cleo, a colourful unpadded balconett. I tried 3 sizes; 28H, 28GG and 28G. The 28G fits best, but still not quite right. Like the Tango above, the wires are very u-shaped giving a touch of side boob, and the fabric above the seam on the front of the cup is slightly large, similar to the Cleo Juna I previously reviewed. The fit isn't perfect, but it's definitely wearable and not uncomfortable and boasts incredible uplift! The shorts are a size 14 and fit perfectly. My favourite thing about this set is the colours and pattern. Panache have really pushed the boat out with their Cleo range, aimed at the younger market of busty girls. I adore their choice of bright colours and styles. Take a look for yourself!

Last but not least, the Page halterneck bikini! I was delighted when I opened this parcel, I can tell you! I'm a little disappointed that Panache haven't extended their size range in their swimwear, but to be honest, I'm less picky about wearing the correct size when it comes to bikinis. I was sent a 30FF and it fits really well. The back is a tad loose, as expected, but it's not really an issue. The fold-down briefs are a 14, and again perfect. The reason I love this bikini so much is because it's nautical-looking and has a retro feel about it. It's so cute!

So there we have it, 5 gorgeous sets by Panache! Again, many thanks for Georgina from FullerFigureFullerBust and Heather from Panache for their generosity and help :)

Dabbling with BiuBiu; Vanity Fair and Green Ponti dress

Back in February I was delighted to receive and email from fellow busty blogger Georgina Horne from FullerFigureFullerBust saying I'd won some prizes in her amazing giveaway competition! One of my prizes was a dress from Polish company BiuBiu who specialise in clothes for women with a larger than average bust. My other prize was a very generous 5 sets from Panache, which I also blogged about here.

I was put in touch with Kinga, who runs the company and immediately felt at ease! She's absolutely lovely and helpful, considering she's giving away stock, free of charge! I chose the Green Ponti, a tulip dress with 3/4 sleeves and unusual collar. I wasn't sure which size to order, so she took my measurements and recommended a 36 BB/BBB. I also wanted to try one of her Vanity Fair shirts, so I ordered one in white in size 36BB. A week or so later, my parcel arrived, beautifully wrapped in pink crepe paper (I'm a sucker for wrapping!). I tried the Green Ponti first, which came up a bit too big. However, the fabric and design of the dress were amazing. More on that later with the correct size. I tried the Vanity Fair shirt and again it was too big. Kinga promptly offered a replacement and helped me with the correct size again. So off my parcel went to Poland...

Left: Green Ponti in 36BB/BBB and Vanity Fair in 36BB, both too big

Obviously the exchange took a while, going to and from Poland plus the processing time, but there was no rush, and I trusted it was all fine in Kinga's hands! A few weeks rolled on and I got my replacement. This time I ordered the Green Ponti in a 34B/BB as the 34BB/BBB was sold out, and the Vanity Fair in a 34BB.

The Green Ponti dress is beautiful, and thankfully a perfect fit! The colour is a deep forest green, the fabric a nice quality ponti and the design of the dress is gorgeous! It has a tulip bottom, which is friendly for both those with hips and those who'd like to create the illusion of having hips. The top half has 3/4 fitted sleeves and plenty of darts for shape, but my favourite feature is the unusual funnel collar with a deep, but not too deep plunge. On me it shows a teeny hint of cleavage, but not so much that it becomes a NSFW dress. When the weather has warmed up a bit, I'll be wearing this for work with some sheer patterned black tights, black heels and a black skinny belt. It could also be worn for a night out by adding different accessories, or dressed down with knee high boots, blazer and scarf for an autumn stroll in the park. It's really quite adaptable!

The Green Ponti dress in 34B/BB. Perfect!

The Vanity Fair shirt also fits beautifully! Again, it has plenty of seams and darts showing how much tailoring has gone into it. The neckline is a safe for work mid v-neck, and it has well-structured cuffs, which can be worn down or flipped back if, like me, you have short arms! My only criticisms of this shirt are that the sleeves are a bit too long for me, and the fabric. It's just that little bit too see-through. I usually wear a camisole underneath my shirts, so it's only really an issue if you don't (and wear brightly coloured bras!). The Vanity Fair makes a much cheaper alternative to the Pepperberry shirt I previously bought. I have to admit, I preferred the quality and fit of the Pepperberry, but I'm a sucker for a bargain, so if I wanted any more shirts, then I'm more likely to head to BiuBiu.

3 ways to wear Vanity Fair in a 34BB

BiuBiu are definitely worth a try if you have a bigger bust. Don't be afraid because they're a Polish company, Kinga really values her customers and her English is perfect. While it may take a little longer to receive your item and returns will be more costly, it STILL works out cheaper than Pepperberry's inflated prices. Do it!

Thanks to Georgina Horne of FullerFigureFullerBust for the fabulous competition prizes and to Kinga from BiuBiu for all her help :)

Lady Vintage London; ALMOST perfect!

Whilst browsing my favourite curvy girls group, someone posted this little gem of a link: Lady Vintage London. Being a fan of vintage style dresses I immediately jumped on it and fell in love with the White Floral/Blue Tit Print Swing Dress, £30. I adore anything with a bird print, and the Blue Tit is a favourite of mine. Combined with red flowers on a white background, it's perfect for all those garden parties I don't go to!

Looking at their size chart, my bust comes up at a size 12, waist 8-10 and hips 8-10. I usually wear a size 8, and was very disappointed that the dress isn't made in my size. Not wanting to miss out, temptation got the better of me and I ordered it anyway, in a size 10. Shipping costs just £2.95, which isn't bad in my opinion, and I found a discount code on their Facebook page for an extra 10% off.

A day and a half later, the little beauty arrived! The first thing I noticed was the quality of the fabric. It's 100% cotton, is soft and hangs well. If I wasn't suffering from mild vertigo, I would have spun around my kitchen in it like a little girl! The dress has a lightweight lining, making it great for summer, and the bottom half of the lining isn't sewn to the hem, so it's like a built-in petticoat, if that makes sense? If you wanted extra volume, a frilly petticoat in red would be perfect with this dress. The dress has a zip right up the back, which is again, good quality. My only issue regarding the fabric is that it doesn't stretch, which could be a problem for a fellow busty gal.

Onto the fit. Because I'd ordered a size bigger than my usual size, I expected this dress to be too big, and it is, I won't lie. A size 8 would have been perfect, but since I love it so much, I plan on getting it altered to fit me. It also comes with a tie belt made from the same fabric, which I might use as a hairband instead as I like to wear thick belts with dresses like this. Once I tried the dress with my own belt, the fit became much better, but still had a bit of extra fabric here and there, which is nothing a little tweaking on the exsisting darts won't fix. I'd suggest ordering in your usual size with this, as the size chart seems to be an across the board thing as opposed to being style specific.

As you can see on the left picture, there's quite a bit of extra room in the top section. The bottom doesn't matter so much as it's a swing dress. In the picture on the right, I'm wearing my own belt, which came from a Chinese seller on Ebay and was dirt cheap. Yes, I realise I should be wearing a different bra too!

Although I'm disappointed at the lack of a size 8, I would still highly recommend Lady Vintage for their quality and range of beautiful fabrics. It is also worth mentioning that a lot of the dresses are limited, the one I chose is one of just 50, meaning you're less likely to see someone else wearing the same thing, and for the low cost and high quality, Lady Vintage dresses are well worth the risk.

Bye for now beauts x

A little post about Star In A Bra 2012

Hi all, Just a very short post about Curvy Kate's Star In A Bra competition 2012. As you know, I made it through to last year's top 10, and this year I thought I'd take a chance and try again. Sadly I didn't make it through this year, but that won't stop me entering again next year (as long as I haven't lost my curves, that is!). Here are my entry photos I used... like them so decided to show them off! I hope you like them too!

Now....here's where I want your help! You can vote for three girls to get through to the top 10 in this year's competition. I voted for Jesse James, Alice Rose Rayman and Rachael Kirby. Jesse and Alice are both absolutely stunning young ladies, and Rachael gets my vote because she's 40 and looking amazing with it! 

Jesse James

Alice Rose Rayman

Rachael Kirby

So, you can either vote for the same three as I have by clicking the their names or you can choose your own three by clicking here. f you look closely, you might see a familiar face in the background montage too ;)

Happy Voting!

x

Some of Pepperberry's latest offerings for SS12

Last Friday, me and my OH were lucky enough to have a day off together so we decided to take a trip to Chester. Of course, my ulterior motive was to pay a visit to Pepperberry/Bravissimo while I was there. Some time later, I emerged, clutching a pile of clothes with no intention of buying ANY of them. The store assistants must have been so annoyed! I was quite taken with one item, which I tried in a different size and actually bought! I'll get to that later though.

Okay, let's roll...First up, the dress I have a love/hate relationship with, the bold stripe maxi dress, £69. The bottom photo shows one I sent for, that had yellow stripes at the top. This totally didn't work for me and made my boobs look bigger, but the one I tried in store had white/purple stripes over the bust and looked much better, but the white/purple stripes on the waistband and bottom half kind of ran into each other in a strange way, so I didn't like this one either! I'm too picky, I know. I also didn't like the single stitch that holds the top together as a kind of modesty measure. You can see it better on the second photo, looking down my cleavage! The stitch makes it gape below.

The dresses I tried were both 8 C/RC and seemed a little too big for me in the bust. I would prefer this in single sizes rather than dual sizes. I'm adamant to find the perfect pattern placement in this dress because I LOVE it

Now for another striped dress, this time short, it's the bright stripe dress, £65. This dress is made from a thick stretch cotton/elastane mix, and is fully lined, what I'd expect for the cost. I tried this in a 8C, which turned out to be too small in the bust. It's a beautiful dress, well tailored, young and fun but I've also seen ladies older than myself wear it well. It's not something I'd wear a lot so it went back on the rack.

When I first saw this pretty red floral tea dress, £45, I was reminded of one of my other favourite brands, Cath Kidston. I have to say, when I pulled this on, however, my dreams of looking like a pretty English country girl were dashed...

This first shot shows how the dress looked as soon as I put it on. I was horrified! It was too big on the bust, again a dual sized 8C/RC, so I kind of expected this after trying the maxi dress. It appears to have too much fabric on the cross over top section, and made for a taller person.

I gave the dress a little tug up at the shoulders and it fitted a bit better...

 Then I messed about with the extra fabric around the neckline and it finally looked normal! I still wouldn't buy it though as I don't tend to wear dresses and I'm pretty certain I could find something equally as nice elsewhere. A jersey dress is an easy thing to get to fit, I don't need extra bust fabric because it stretches anyway!

Next up, two occasion dresses. The colour block dress, £69. This one is WAY too bright for my liking! This is a 8C and too small in the bust and on the hips, but is perfect on the waist. The fabric does not stretch and it is lined, so it's not the most comfortable of dresses. It's not the most flattering of dresses either, now I come to think of it!

The navy lace full skirt dress, £79 was the most expensive item I tried. Again, I needed this in a 8RC, as it was a little snug in the bust. I like the idea of this dress but I feel it's missing some detail in the top section. I feel it would have been better if it had a wrap style top. The vast space of nothingness just adds to the big boob effect in my opinion. I did love the way the lace overlay falls longer than the dress itself, and that it has a built in petticoat for extra volume. It would be perfect for a summer wedding.

....and on to the tops...

I didn't like the black saddle stitch cardigan, £39 AT ALL. I thought it looked messy if truth be known! This is a 8C, which might be a reason it looks messy as it doesn't quite fit, and the buttons gape. The idea is nice, but I think it would work better for someone with less curvy hips, as I found it bunched up. Apologies for the terrible picture, it was quite difficult to photograph with it being black. The 10C may have been better.

I liked the unusual style of this next one, the pleat knot red jersey top, £32. This is another jersey dual sized top in size 8C/RC. This fitted nicely and would be a good staple item for your wardrobe. It also comes in a multi print.

Next up, and my favourite, the washed denim tunic, £49. The one I tried was a 8C, but I needed a 8RC as it gaped a little at the bust. It's lovely! The fabric is soft and it has a lovely pin tuck detail. If it didn't cost a pound shy of £50 I would have snatched this one up! I'm sitting it out for this one to come up in the sale without a doubt!

.......and finally, the one that didn't get away! As I work in a professional environment I was looking for something a bit smarter than my usual jersey scoop necked top under a jumper. Thankfully Pepperberry's offering of the blue stripe shirt fitted the bill perfectly!

Firstly I tried on the 8C and found it gaped a little, so I then tried the 8RC, not holding out much hope because the 8C didn't seem too far off. The 8RC was absolutely perfect! It was as if it was made for me. I was so delighted that I forked out the princely sum of £39 for the pleasure! 

Here, the first photo shows the 8C, and the second shoes the 8RC which I purchased. I wore it for the first time today and it felt wonderful. I wasn't having to tug at the front to prevent gaping or check for buttons that open themselves, it just fits! Amazing! I will point out that this is the current blue stripe shirt and not the one from last year. That didn't work for me at all.

8C, a little gaping

 8RC, Perfect!

And if you're interested, this is my usual style, which is why I generally don't buy from Pepperberry...

I hope you enjoyed my round up of some of Pepperberry's Spring/Summer 2012 collection as much as I enjoyed trying it!