Undercover Lingerista's big bloggiversary competition!

   It is with great excitement that I write this blog post because it was exactly one year ago today that I began my foray into the world of lingerie blogging - a journey that has ultimately given me the chance to share my love for lingerie with people from different countries, ages and walks of life.

   I started my blog last year in March, coinciding with the run up to my university finals and it was a bit of a therapeutic sideline activity, but over time it has evolved into something that I am truly proud of and dedicate a lot of time to.

   I owe thanks to a lot of people for helping me get to where I am today and I am so appreciative of the love and support that family, friends, fellow bloggers and lingerie brands have given me over the past year. A special thanks goes out to Bravissimo who re-fitted me and got me out of my badly fitting 34D's into 28FF's, which are so much more comfortable and supportive. This refitting opened the door to the discovery that a larger bust doesn't mean that you have to compromise on style. Consequently, I have found some amazing lingerie brands and retailers that cater to my size AND offer gorgeous designs!

   Most importantly, I want to extend my gratitude to all of my readers and Facebook and Twitter followers. It has given me a lot of confidence and joy to know that people are interested to read my reviews and share in my passion for lingerie, swimwear and fashion.

   As a thank you to everyone, I have decided to launch a big bloggiversary competition! There are some amazing prizes on offer, thanks to the lovely, supportive companies that have kindly sponsored me!

You can see what is up for grabs below...

I regularly write about Freya to share my love for their unbelievably comfortable and pretty bras and swimwear pieces that are ideal for the larger bust. Freya are kindly offering the winner:

 1 lingerie set and 1 swimwear set of their choice!

Curvy Kate are another brand that I love for their supportive and stylish lingerie, as well as for their great ethos of celebrating womanly curves. They will be offering the winner:

 1 lingerie set of their choice!

Playful Promises stock some seriously gorgeous boudoir lingerie, quirky swimwear and pin-up pieces that are sure to make you feel like an old Hollywood starlet. They will be offering a generous:

 £75 voucher to use online or in store in their boutique!

Affinitas Intimates is a new and exciting find for me, catering to a wide range of sizes, occasions and tastes. Their stunning designs would make any woman feel a million dollars! They are generously giving away:

THREE Affinitas Intimates lingerie sets - from either the 'Affinitas' or 'Parfait' collections!

Charnos is every bit the stylish lingerie brand, bringing its customers elegance, exquisite design and a great fit. After falling in love with the Hourglass corselette, I am delighted to say that Charnos will be offering the winner:

The 'Cherub' lingerie set (in the colourway of their choice)!

Frauke's lingerie brand Fraulein Annie is already kicking up a storm with its feminine and glamorous lingerie pieces. The lucky winner will receive the much lusted after:


 'Falling in Love' bra and brief set in Chestnut/Black!

Miss Mandalay are well-known for stocking stylish, flirty and feminine designs all the way up to a GG cup and  are establishing quite a following of fashion conscious lingerie lovers. They are giving the winner:

 1 lingerie set of their choice!

Lepel is a fashionable brand that prides itself on its comfortable and stylish lingerie, swimwear and nightwear. From eye-catching prints to everyday essentials with a twist, they have some lovely, trendy pieces. The winner will receive one of their most popular styles, the:

Lepel 'Fiore' in the colour of their choice!

Simply Beach are one of my new favourite lingerie and swimwear shopping hotspots! Thanks to their recent site makeover, they stock an amazing array of well-known brands and DD+ styles to suit your every need. They are generously offering:

£50 to spend on anything from their swimwear section

and

1 Wonderbra of the winner's choice!

Large Cup Lingerie is a fantastic lingerie retailer, stocking a variety of curve-flattering lingerie and swimwear pieces (often with great discounts), that are ideal for the fuller bust. They are kindly offering a fabulous:


£50 gift card to use online!

Leia Lingerie is another of my long-standing favourite lingerie retailers. Leia stocks fabulous new season collections from top brands and the outlet section is a favourite of mine too! The lucky winner will receive a:

£50 voucher to spend online! 

If You Please is a chic online lingerie boutique that specialises in unique, stylish and quality designer underwear that is beautifully wrapped for the receiver. They will be offering the lucky winner a stunning:

'What Katie Did Cabaret Torsolette' and a pair of retro seamed stockings! 

notnaked is a new site that stocks fabulous lingerie, swimwear, nightwear and more, from a growing list of popular brands. I am a fan of this site because it offers some of my favourite brands and products, but at a snip of the retail price! The lucky winner will receive:

1 lingerie set of their choice from the website!

My Smarty Pants is a lovely underwear website that offers the latest in top quality designer lingerie to suit every occasion, as well as swimwear, corsetry and much more. They are generously giving the winner a:

 £50 gift voucher to use on their site!

Lazeme is a great online shop that offers luxurious sleepwear, exclusive beachwear and designs that are ideal for lazy living. If you've read my blog about the Freya 'Gracie' Chemise, you will be excited to know that they are offering the winner:

 1 'Gracie' chemise in either black, lupin or teal!

Violet's Knickers  provides cutting edge lingerie labels to customers that are looking for something a bit special. The brands are carefully picked to offer luxury, romance and style in abundance. Violet's Knickers are giving the winner a pair of:

Ell & Cee high waisted 'Panther' knickers!

Lingerie Please is a great resource for lingerie lovers who want to find hand-picked branded lingerie names in a range of sizes and at great prices. Lingerie Please is giving each winner:

 1 pair of Jonathan Aston suspenders (from a choice of colours) 

So, the question that you have all been waiting for...

HOW DO I ENTER?

As I have mentioned before, being refitted into a bra that was actually the right size for me and supported me was a big turning point. This competition hinges on the importance of lingerie in making you feel comfortable, sexy and supported...

All you have to do is write a short piece under the title: 

"The bra that changed my life" 

You can be as creative as you want with the post and, of course, feel free to use pictures if you like. It doesn't have to be a piece of prose either - it could be a poem for example.. 

I am, above all, looking for someone who writes engaging content and conveys their thoughts with passion. 

*NOTE: There will be several winners!*

Terms and conditions

* Competition is open to the UK and internationally.

*Please email me your entries at undercoverlingerista@gmail.com

*Please state: your name, what country you are from, and ideally what your size is (so that I can check that the sponsor brands cater to you)

*Entrants must be willing for content to be published online on my blog or related sites.

*The deadline for this competition is: 30th April 2012.

*When you have entered, please 'like' me on Facebook, by clicking here.

If you have any queries, don't hesitate to get in touch - I check my Facebook and Twitter regularly!

GOOD LUCK!

Love,

Kitty xo

A toast to the Masquerade 'Capella' bra

   Last November, I was delighted to get the opportunity to attend the Panache Spring/Summer 2012 press day held at the Sanctum Hotel. As a lover of sumptuous lingerie and beautiful patterns, it comes as no surprise that 'Masquerade' by Panache had me head over heels at first sight and the press day only served to confirm this!

  I viewed the Spring/Summer 2012 collections of Panache Superbra, Cleo, Panache Swimwear and Masquerade and although all of the ranges had pieces that I loved, it was Masquerade that stood out by a mile!

   Discovering the Masquerade range was akin to entering an Aladdin's cave of lingerie and the pieces had strong influences from Arabian antiquities and Persian exoticism - something reflected both in the patterns used and the rich fabric choices.

  

   With my taste for luxury, it was only to be expected that the Masquerade 'Capella' caught my eye, with its soft champagne satin sheen and exquisite contrasting black lace print! Since the Press day, I knew that the 'Capella' had to be mine, so when New Year came around and I saw this beauty discounted at Debenhams, I snapped this bra up quicker than you could say "2012"! 

(The 'Capella' bra comes in sizes 28-38 back and cup sizes D-G, whilst the short and thong come in sizes 8-18.) 

   The 'Capella' is a stunning underwired and moulded bra that is crossed between a balconette and plunge bra, with a 'sweetheart' shaped neckline. It is an extremely stylish and sophisticated bra and its champagne colour would suit a range of complexions, whilst appealing to a diverse age range. The rich satin and lace combination makes this bra very luxurious and opulent looking, without the extortionate designer price tag. 

   The 'Capella' features all over satin in a breathtaking champagne gold colour. The rich satin cups are set off by a delicately embossed intricate black floral lace pattern, which adds to the decadent vintage feel of this bra. To top it off, the 'Capella' boasts quite narrow satin wrapped straps and a pretty little black lace bow which adorns the centre of the bra.

(Close up showing the lace print detail, with the champagne satin peeking through from underneath)

   The 'Capella' is very cleverly designed, with its soft satin fabric and unusual printed lace cups, which give the bra a smooth finish. As a result, the 'Capella' remains fairly seamless under tight clothing, which is quite rare for such a pretty and ornate bra! 

   I was very impressed with the fit of the 'Capella' and my usual 28FF size was spot on. The back band felt snug and supportive (characteristic of Masquerade by Panache bras) and the shape it gave me was uplifted, rounded and with a nice cleavage to boot! My one criticism of the 'Capella' is that the straps are only partially adjustable, meaning that the strap 'lifespan' of this bra is greatly reduced.

   I was amazed at just how comfortable the 'Capella' was and I could happily wear it as an everyday bra, without feeling any digging in or discomfort at the end of a day at work. When it comes to comfortable everyday bras, I am usually a Freya 'Deco' girl, but the 'Capella' and its moulded cups, supportive fit and beautiful design would definitely encourage me to wear this bra everyday, as well as for 'special occasions'.

   At £39, the 'Capella' is not cheap, but it is very good value for money given its rich, quality fabrics and fantastic support. What's more, if you're tight for cash, you can snap up the 'Capella' for £27.30 on Figleaves at the moment. The 'Capella' also comes with the choice of an elegant satin and lace print short or thong (depending on your preference!) 

   The 'Capella' has quickly become one of my 'go to' bras of the moment and I love how silky soft the satin of this bra feels against my skin. This bra definitely makes me want to crack out the champagne and propose a toast..

"To Masquerade's 'Capella', for delivering comfort, support and style in equal measure!"

Love,

Kitty xo

Illusion Inking: Tatu Couture

   Over the centuries, tattoos have become an increasingly popular type of body modification. Although the reasons for getting a tattoo range from person to person, tattoos can transform the human body into an artistic canvas - tattoos may symbolise a rite of passage, symbols of identity or just be designed to look aesthetically pleasing!

   I have from time to time considered what it would be like to get a tattoo (something small like a rose, a bird or some written text), but I have never felt quite able to commit to something so permanent! Temporary tattoos are all very well, but wouldn't it be fantastic to have something that won't rub off to leave half of the design on your skin? 

   My prayers were answered when I came across Tatu Couture - a brand that combines tattoos with my first love..lingerie!

   Tatu Couture is a new luxury lingerie brand which made its debut at the Lingerie Collective in 2011. Designed and developed by Luisa Sidoli, Tatu couture merges lingerie with 'trompe l'oeil' tattoo motifs, printed on to mesh panels.

   Luisa is no stranger to the world of lingerie design, possessing 15 years of experience in the lingerie industry after graduating with a first class honours degree in Fashion and Textiles from De Montfort University. In the years following her degree, Luisa designed for a variety of well-known names such as Marks & Spencer, Knickerbox, La Senza, Next, Victoria's Secret and also worked for three and a half years as Senior Designer at Ann Summers. With this impressive resumé, Luisa's strong commercial and creative background led her to create something that she had always dreamed about...her very own lingerie line: Tatu Couture.

   Recently I met up with the lovely Luisa to find out a little more about her exciting new lingerie label. When asked what inspired her, Luisa mentioned Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2012 ready-to-wear show, whose models sported tattoo-inspired fashion garments on the runway. Luisa has fused the idea of faux tattoo prints with statement body wear pieces to create an innovative and stand-out new lingerie line.

   In creating Tatu Couture, Luisa has given full reign to her creativity, stating that "Tatu Couture's unique vision is to push the boundaries of design and innovation with its trend setting lingerie and body wear." Whilst developing the range, she also worked alongside professional tattoo artists, which has been key to the authenticity of the tattoo designs used in the finished collection. 

   The collection comprises 8 different lingerie styles; from bodysuits to high waisted knickers, to a basque  and boy shorts. The pieces feature cut-out panels in nude mesh (which come in light and dark tones to suit different complexions). The panels boast printed tattoo motifs with graphic floral designs and elegantly calligraphed inspirational mottos, such as "Give your heart and soul to me and life will always be La Vie en rose" or cheeky slogans such as "Being good isn't always easy."

   Keen to see some of the designs in the flesh, Luisa kindly lent me two of my favourite pieces, which were packaged up in a sleek black box with 'Tatu Couture' emblazoned on the front:

   One of the garments that I chose as a 'stand out' piece from the collection was the 'Grace' high waisted knicker:

   High waisted knickers are a big lingerie trend at the moment, so the 'Grace' knickers are right on point. However, these knickers steer away from convention with provocative sheer mesh panels, which reveal a tantalising hint of skin beneath!

 The 'Grace' knickers also feature a 'suspender belt' style detail at the waist, which adds to their boudoir sex appeal. I loved the tattoo script writing: "We love only what we do not wholly possess" on the lower back mesh panel - an understated tattoo that retains both visual (and philosophical) impact. 

 As you can see from the pictures below, the 'Grace' knickers look even better when worn. The stretchy polyamide and elastane combination with power mesh act as shapewear fabrics. The knickers are smoothing and follow the lines of the body, whilst the 'belt' detail nips you in at the waist to define your curves.

(Although the colour of the mesh panels is slightly darker than my skin tone (which is paler than most), the effect is still very visually arresting.)

This brings me to talk about my absolute favourite piece from the Tatu Couture collection...the 'Talitha' bodysuit:

   The 'Talitha' bodysuit is a stunning black one piece with black mesh on the chest area and contrasting nude mesh cut-outs running from below the bust to the lower stomach and hips. The design of the bodysuit draws emphasis to the waist and hips with 'wrap around' cut out sections. The cuts-outs mimic the illusion of skin, giving a risqué edge to this piece. 

  The 'Talitha' body channels the 'underwear as outerwear' trend, being sexy enough to wear in the bedroom on its own, but working equally well as a fashion piece to be worn on a night out. I would style the 'Talitha' with skinny jeans and a pair of vertiginous heeled shoe boots - the bodysuit would do all the talking (and definitely turn some heads in the process!)

   Unlike many bodysuits that are just slipped on and off like a leotard, Luisa has thought one step ahead by adding popper fastenings at the crotch - a big triumph for design and function! 

   The back of the 'Talitha' is largely made of nude mesh, featuring a stunning dramatic blue and black shaded crysanthemum tattoo print running from shoulder to lower back - a testimony to true tattoo artistry! Although the tattoo print is quite large, the elaborate swirls and artistic shading makes the design very feminine and beautiful. The 'Talitha' is undoubtedly a piece to be worn with confidence - the back mesh panel dips quite low at the back, so be aware that you may flash a little derrière when the body is worn on its own!

   The Tatu Couture collection has made a very impressive debut and the range of garment styles is  comprehensive (with something that will appeal to many different people), whilst the tattoo prints are immaculately executed. 

   Not only are the designs a feast for the eyes, but thanks to the 80% polyamide and 20% elastane fabric content and powermesh panels, the pieces are also sculpting and flattering to the curves of the body.

   Tatu Couture pieces are luxury items and come in sizes S, M and L and range from £45-£190. The quality of the garments is of a very high standard, meaning that you can see exactly where your money is going. There is also no doubt that these pieces will gain you huge style points from fashionistas everywhere!

   I am very excited by Tatu Couture and love Luisa's play on 'illusion dressing' with 'trompe l'oeil' tattoo prints and sheer mesh panelling. The range is versatile as both underwear and outerwear and in my opinion, the designs are too good to keep covered up!

   If (like me) you are the indecisive type with regard to getting a real tattoo or just want to channel your inner 'rock chick' for a night, this collection is ideal. Tatu Couture delivers style in abundance and although a new label to the lingerie market, its directional shapes and edgy prints make it a brand to keep firmly on your radar!

To find out more about Tatu Couture, visit: www.tatucouture.com 

Love,
Kitty xo