Arabel Lingerie - Forget Me Not knickers and Sugarplum garter review

   "Pretty but playful. Naughty but nice." These are definitely dichotomies that I can live by when it comes to lingerie! Although I find myself drawn to the edgy, bondage-inspired designs that have filtered to the forefront of the current lingerie market, on discovering the delicious candy colours, girly frills, bows and delicate lace details of Arabel Lingerie, it was impossible not to develop a sweet tooth for the collection! 

   Arabel Lingerie was founded in April 2012 by the talented, Sarah Lister. After completing a foundation diploma in Art and Fashion Design at the University of Gloucestershire, Sarah began training in pattern drafting, corsetry and lingerie construction before taking on her long-held ambition to conquer the lingerie world with her whimsical and sugar sweet designs. Sarah advocates that "women of all sizes deserve beautiful lingerie"; an ethos that I wholeheartedly champion!

   Arabel Lingerie is all about making the wearer feel special - every garment is lovingly hand made in the UK (to your measurements, if required!), using high quality satin and lace. The Arabel Lingerie collection currently includes knickers, suspenders, garter bets and more recently, a 'camidoll' and soft cup bra! The sugar sweet colours, romantic designs and girly motifs really capture the essence of femininity and playfulness, so I was delighted when Sarah offered me a sample of her pretty lingerie to review. 

   I chose the 'Forget Me Not' knickers (£18) and 'Sugarplum' garter belt (in black) (£32) and emailed Sarah my measurements to ensure a perfect fit. The lingerie arrived beautifully wrapped up in a compact black box. To my surprise, on undoing the bow, the box unfolded like an origami flower to reveal my new lingerie - a lovely touch indeed! 

The lingerie was even prettier in the flesh than on the Arabel Lingerie website and I could not wait to try on my new underwear!

   The 'Forget Me Not' knickers are a gorgeous powder blue shade with a contrasting black elastic trim and a black satin bow at the centre. The bluebell shade is not a colour that I have much of in my underwear (or outerwear) collection, but it is a great nod to Spring/Summer pastels. Although pastels can sometimes wash me out, the pale blue of these knickers really compliments my fair complexion.

   I also love the 'peek-a-boo' effect of the semi-sheer lace and the floral pattern gives these knickers a slightly vintage edge. The 'pièce de résistance' of these knickers, however, is the delightfully girly tutu frill detail that goes all the way from front to back! The only down-side to the frill is that it can get a bit creased under trousers, but the stretch lace material lends to easy reshaping!

   As for the sizing, Sarah has a very handy size guide on her site, which tells you how to find the perfect fit for her garments. Her knicker sizing chart includes standard clothing sizes e.g. 10-12 but it also states a high hip measurement e.g. 34". This was very helpful when picking out my size as I could see which knicker size corresponded to my high hip measurement. It is also helpful for those that are not uniformly 'one clothing size' all over. (I am generally a size 10 in clothes, but my hips are wider and the 36" 12-14 Arabel knickers fit me beautifully.)

Dual knicker sizing chart:

 

30" 6-8

32" 8-10

34" 10-12

36" 12-14

38" 14-16

40" 16-18

42" 18-20

44" 20-22

   I am a huge fan of the stretch lace used in these knickers. The material is very soft against the skin and there is no digging in at all, making them really comfortable to wear everyday. I also think that these knickers would be ideal for bridal wear as 'something blue', paired with the 'Sugarplum' garter belt in blue.

   I was also impressed by how pretty and sturdy the garter/suspender belt was in real life. I went for a plain black version of the 'Sugarplum' garter belt (which is available in blue, pink or white on the website). The garter belt is made from a thick black elastic with a smooth underside, so that it sits comfortably against your skin without rubbing. 

   The garter belt features six adjustable suspender straps - a nice change from the more common four strap garter belts. The belt fastens at the back with a single hook and eye closure (with three tightness settings). Having six straps does make the process of attaching them to stockings a little more time consuming, but the benefit is that when attached, you do feel as though your stockings will stay securely in place all day. The 'slider' clasps are also decorated with adorable satin bows - a beautiful finishing touch!

   Once again, the 'Sugarplum' garter belt is a 'made-to-measure' garment, so I gave Sarah my measurement (a touch below my natural waist as I wanted it to sit slightly lower). It is very useful having the three rows of hooks as I can tighten or loosen it according to where I want the belt to sit. The pictures show the garter belt in two different positions, but it tends to sit slightly lower than my belly button as in the top picture.

   The garter belt was surprisingly comfortable to wear, holding my stockings up with no slipping. The garter belt is really versatile in black and it looks gorgeous with the Arabel 'Forget Me Not' ruffle knickers, as well as with just about any lingerie set in my underwear drawer!

***

   I am really thrilled with my Arabel Lingerie knickers and suspender belt and cannot praise enough how good it is to own lingerie that is exquisitely pretty, comfortable, excellent quality and made to your measurements! Sarah's bespoke service is great as you can order any of her designs to be made in a different colourway and you can even contact her directly if you fancy a made-to-measure lingerie creation of your own imagination. 

***

   Arabel Lingerie is set to introduce even more exciting lingerie pieces to its collections this year and Sarah has mentioned cup sized bras, swimwear, corsetry and even 'plus sized lingerie' (depending on the demand). Sarah recognises that "everyone has their own fit problems" when it comes to lingerie and her brand, Arabel Lingerie, seeks to cater to each unique individual with great fit, high quality and a sprinkle of sugar, pixie dust and lingerie magic!

(Next on my wishlist is the Gwenhyfar garter belt and knicker set!)

Take a look at Arabel Lingerie's current collections on the official website and follow the brand on social media.

What do you think of Arabel Lingerie?

Love,
Kitty xo

Halloween Style File: Corsets, lace and vampire fangs!

   Halloween is nearly upon us; a night synonymous with ghoulish goings on, trick or treating and scary movies! If, like me, you enjoy Halloween as a good excuse to 'paint the town red', then you will undoubtedly be excited to get costume planning!

   People tend to go to varying lengths for a Halloween fancy dress party.. witches, zombies, skeletons, cat women, devils, vampires and ghosts are quite common, but you also come across some very original outfits that are more kooky than blood-curdling..

('Barbie and Ken', 'Shark Attack', 'Sexy Corn' (what!?) and 'Rubix Cube')

(Couples costume via Tumblr)

   Whilst the above costumes are a great laugh, I decided to take a more 'traditional' Halloween approach to my outfit this year, choosing to be a vampire for the 'Lost Souls II' Halloween party at the London Aquarium! Whilst there's the temptation to buy a 'pre-made' Halloween costume from a shop or online, I decided that I was going to fashion a spooky costume from my existing wardrobe, incorporating my love of lingerie.

   One of the difficulties with Halloween outfits is striking a balance between looking scary and sexy at the same time.. particularly when lingerie is involved! I wanted to channel 'underwear as outerwear', rather than 'gone out in my underwear', so keeping things classy was a 'must' for my outfit choice.

   I started with my 'base' piece which was the black 'Vintage Stitch Corset' (size medium) that I bought from Playful Promises. This overbust corset is plastic boned with metal front fastenings and it boasts glamorous Art Deco style stitching at the hip. It features a traditional lace up back, which can be tightened as much as desired to draw in your waist, accentuating your curves.

   This Playful Promises corset gives a great hourglass shape and it is surprisingly comfortable to wear on a night out (I didn't need to adjust it at all)! As you can also see from the picture, there is a pop of red and black lace peeking out from underneath the corset and Curvy Kate aficionados may recognise this bra as the 'Tempt Me' (Scarlet and Black) from the 'Showgirl Range':

   Although it's not 100% necessary to wear a bra underneath a corset, I felt like I would feel slightly more secure and supported in a bra as well..especially for a night out that involved running through a 'scare maze' and busting some vamp-tacular moves on the dance floor! 

   I chose to wear the Curvy Kate 'Tempt Me' for a few reasons, namely that it is a great plunge style that lends itself to a lovely cleavage, but also because the seductive red colour and black lace detailing just screamed to be worn by a vampire on Halloween! The flash of red underneath the corset also gave a bit of contrast to the predominantly black outfit that I chose and also complimented my red 'Dorothy's friend' court shoes from Office, red lipstick and fake blood!

   I also wore a figure-hugging black 'fishtail' skirt from ASOS which has a slightly gothic looking lace overlay. I  accessorised with black earrings, a statement necklace from Topshop, some black satin gloves from Claire's Accessories and, of course, some Vampire-esque makeup and fangs!

(Black, blue, bronze and white smokey eye makeup with black liquid eyeliner and purple under eye liner)

(Scarlet red lips, vampire fangs and a little trickle of fake blood!)

I finished off the outfit with a long floaty cardigan/shawl to keep the chills at bay:

   I certainly had fun with this lingerie-inspired Halloween look, but what do you think of incorporating lingerie into your Halloween costume? 

Whatever you're planning, have a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN, LINGERISTAS!

Love,

Kitty xo

Sizing up Boux Avenue: An undie-cover 'fitting test'

   Since attending Boux Avenue's Autumn/ Winter 2012 collection showcase and seeing the array of boux-tiful new lingerie for the upcoming months, I have been itching to make a trip down to Boux Avenue's flagship store in Westfield. Back in September of last year, I made my first foray into Boux Avenue by way of an online order, without much success on the fit front. With any new lingerie brand, it is always a good idea to visit a 'brick and mortar' store to familiarise yourself with the fit of the products, so I decided to make a trip to Westfield shopping centre to get the complete Boux Avenue shopping experience.

   One of the things that I particularly wanted to try out at the shop was their fitting service. After reading quite a few varying accounts of this service and seeing the dreaded '+4 fitting technique' in action on their website, I really wanted to experience their in-store fitting for myself. I needed to make the experience as authentic as possible, so I dug out an old 34D La Senza bra which was much too loose in the band and too small in the cups for me. I packed my bag with a trusty camera and notebook and prepared myself for an undie-cover investigation... 

   The Boux Avenue store front was very inviting, with the 'Boux' logo in lights and a girly window display of pretty '3 for 2' knickers, a screen showing their 'Wiggle It' campaign video and their accessories showcased under a 'B Academy' logo.

   Walking into the store, I was greeted by a friendly sales assistant who welcomed me to the store. The interior was really gorgeous, well-lit and the products were beautifully arranged, giving the shop a boutique feel. Framed campaign imagery lined the walls, the beauty products were showcased on a 'cake stand' central table and some of the lingerie was even set out in a vintage style suitcase! 

   I also really liked that the shop made use of little lingerie cabinets, so that if your size was not available on the display rails, you could pick out your size from the drawers below. Boux Avenue is definitely all about the details.. 

   After a few minutes of looking around, I was approached by a sales assistant, who asked me if I needed any help, to which I responded that I would like to get fitted. She whisked me off to the changing rooms, which boast a 'Concierge' area with a few chairs at the entrance, giving it a very luxurious and high-end feel. The changing rooms had different names and I was directed to the 'Chiffon' room, which was spacious and chic with a large mirror and an adjustable lighting fixture. Boux Avenue does away with notoriously unflattering changing room lights with their three light settings (Day, Dusk and Night) which can be changed according to your preference!

(Picture from http://blog.bouxavenue.com)

   So, I hear you ask..how was my fitting? 

   My fitter was friendly and asked me to take my top off so that she could assess the fit of my current bra. She had a look at the 34D bra that I was wearing and stated that it wasn't right for me and that I would probably need a 32E. She then got her tape measure out and measured me three times underneath my bust at varying degrees of tightness and asked at each stage how it felt. I told her that I preferred the tightness of the tightest measurement that she did of my underbust, to which she responded "wow, you like your bands tight!"

   She didn't tell me what measurements she had ascertained from the tape measure but did say that she would bring me a few basic bras to try on. It was interesting that she didn't overtly do any +4 calculations in front of me as I had expected that she would do, instead relying more on what I thought of the 'tape measure band tightness test' that she did. She brought me a 32E and 30F pink microfibre t-shirt bra to try on, which I thought was actually quite a good start seeing as I had walked in in a 34D!

   When I tried on the 32E, I immediately fastened it on the tightest hook, which the fitter didn't actually pick up on. She asked me to "scoop myself into the cups" to see if the breast tissue was properly contained in the cups and told me that the gore should sit flush against my chest (which it didn't completely in the 32E as the cups were too small and band too loose). She then asked me how the bra felt, to which I responded "Ok I think..what do you think?" She then proceeded to tell me that "the customer's opinion is the most important". This is all very good and well, but if the customer has no idea what to look for in a bra and doesn't know how tight a bra should feel, how can a good fit be assessed? 

   After I seemed a little unsure on the fit of the 32E, the fitter suggested that I tried a 32F and she again came back to help me. She looked at the 32F bra on me and pressed at the top of the cups and said that I wasn't completely filling out the top. She suggested that maybe the 32E was better, but asked my opinion and said that it was up to me. The 32F actually did fit me better as the central wires were no longer sitting on my breast tissue, but the shape wasn't right for me. 

   When I suggested that the shape was maybe wrong for me, the fitter agreed and consequently gave me a 30F and 30FF to try on to assess for fit. One thing that I was slightly worried about was that after putting the 30FF on the loosest hook, the fitter then proceeded to fasten it on the middle hook and asked me how it felt! I was really confused as to why she did this as it doesn't really matter how a new bra feels on the middle hook as it loosens with wear! After she had fitted me, she said that I was a 30FF/32F depending on the bra and asked if I was "ok being an F cup?". I was a little taken aback by this question and murmured "yeah sure" before feeling slightly uncomfortable. 

   I imagine that it is a shock for a lot of women to be put in a much larger cup size than they go into a shop wearing and I too experienced this a few years ago going from a 34D to 28FF in Bravissimo. I remember that in Bravissimo, the girl who refitted me was not at all phased by such a cup size jump and didn't bat an eyelid at my new size even though I did. This actually made me feel totally normal and more comfortable to change size fairly drastically. I definitely think that fitters should be encouraged not to put too much emphasis on cup size in fittings. If I hadn't been a bra blogger, the response to "are you ok being an F cup?" may have been despair, confusion or embarrassment!

   Never-the-less, my fitter asked me what style of bras I preferred and if there were any that I would like to try. I said that I liked plunge bras and sheer unpadded bras and she consequently came back with a really nice selection in 32F's and 30FF's, all of which I liked! 

(Top 2 bras: Tori lace moulded plunge bra in black 30A-38F - I found that the back band was very loose in both the 30 and 32 backs!

Bottom bra: Loretta full support satin plunge bra in red 30DD-38G - Probably one of the bras that I liked the most of those that I tried. The 30FF was an ok fit, but I probably needed to go up a cup as I was getting some cutting in.)

Poppy full support balconette bra in black mix 30DD-40H 

(Tried in a 30FF and 32F. The 32F was much too large in the back and I didn't much like the shape in the 30FF unfortunately.)

   The fitter offered her advice on the fit of all of these bras, but I felt that most of the input came from me as the Boux fitters seem to be there more to 'guide' the customer. At this point, I decided to go solo as I wanted to see what other bras were on the shop floor. I ended up picking out a range of bras in a 30FF and a few in a 32F - the shop assistants were very happy to aid me in finding my size from the drawers and from the back room. I even tried out the fitting room 'Concierge' and found the assistant friendly, eager to help and very efficient.

(My hand-picked selection of Boux beauties..)

Lyla satin balconette bra 30C-40G 

(Sadly only the 32F was available to try and it was much too large in the back for me)

Carina padded plunge bra 30E-38G

(I tried this in the white colourway in a 30FF and the shape just didn't work for me and it gapped strangely..perhaps I need to try a 30F..?)

Nancie satin and lace balconette bra 32A-38F (includes 30 backs up to an F cup) 

(I tried this in a 30F, which was too small in the cup for me. Such a shame as it is a really beautiful bra!)

After a long time of wanting to try Boux Avenue's swimwear, I finally got to try some:

Cote d'Azur multiway bikini top 32A-38FF (includes 30 back: C-FF)

(Tried in a 32F - too large in the back but I love the print!)

Martinique multiway bikini top in turquoise 32A-38FF (includes 30 back: C-FF)

(Tried in a 30FF and I wasn't mad on the shape of it on me)

Miami frill bikini top in fuchsia pink 32A-38FF (includes 30 back: C-FF)

(Tried in a 32F - back too loose)

Almeria halter bikini top 32A-38FF (includes 30 back: C-FF)

(I tried this bikini in a 30FF expecting it to be spot on, but the band seemed a fair bit tighter than the other 30 backed bikinis that I tried and the FF was too small in the cups. Sadly this bikini doesn't come in a 30G and it is sold out online in a 32F and FF. I'd love to try it in 32F/FF though as I really fell in love with this bikini!)

   After trying everything on, I realised that I hadn't got a fitting card that is normally given to people after a bra fitting, so I asked the Concierge assistant if I could have one for future reference. She apologised and said that I should have got one and that she would tell my fitter off (oops!) On the plus side, it is clear that Boux Avenue strives for high standards, so it is good that feedback is being passed on within the team..

   All in all, my fitting at Boux Avenue, Westfield was quite successful and I was very pleasantly surprised that the fitter could see that my badly fitting 34D bra was wrong for me straight away. It was reassuring to see a highstreet store measure me as a 32F/30FF as this is a lot better than many other highstreet fittings that I have had in the past! 

   There are a few things that I would offer up as feedback though. Firstly, I would suggest that fitters are trained thoroughly and regularly to make sure that they become confident in their roles as fitters rather than just fitting 'guides'. Although it is important for a fitter to listen to the customer first and foremost, I would imagine that most women going into a bra fitting would want to have a large amount of imput from a fitter - customers need to know what to look for, how a bra should feel and also if a bra fits them correctly.

   Often asking a customer "what do you think?" instead of offering an opinion will result in a blank face because the customer has no clue as to how a properly fitting bra should look and feel. I really think that this assertive but empathetic standpoint from fitters will go a long way in helping refit women correctly. As mentioned earlier, I also believe that fitters should refrain from making or inferring any judgement such as "are you ok being an F cup?" or "wow, you like your bands tight!" - although these may just have been 'off the cuff' remarks, I think it'd be best to leave them out.

   Another point to mention is that I felt that the sizing of Boux Avenue's products was a little inconsistent from bra to bra - in some styles, a 30 back was way too big for me, and in others, it fit ok. This may be due to the use of different materials which have varying amounts of stretch, but it is important to factor this in in the production process. Just some food for thought and something to keep in mind...

    Aside from the points that I have just mentioned, I would definitely go back to Boux Avenue, Westfield (or any of their other shops for that matter) as it is absolutely gorgeous! It is superbly set out, well-organised and nicely lit. The décor is also original, chic and well-executed. The shop feels like a boutique and details such as the 'Concierge service', lingerie cabinets and fitting rooms with adjustable lighting fixtures make for great touches that elevate the highstreet shopping experience. It is a plus that the underwear and swimwear is really pretty and accessible to the masses, whilst also being very reasonably priced. I am also delighted to see 30 backs quite readily available in a highstreet store and really hope that other stores will recognise the need for them and follow suit. The Boux Avenue staff were very friendly and eager to help, which is great to see from a customer point of view too. 

    I am really looking forward to seeing what comes next for Boux Avenue as it sets up for global expansion. Boux seems to be quickly filling the La Senza shaped gap in the highstreet, particularly with regard to catering to DD+ sizes (which the new La Senza stores and Victoria's Secret seem to be neglecting) Next time I am in Westfield, I will definitely pop into the store to try on some more lingerie and swimwear..plus I might have to stock up on their delicious bath and beauty products too!)

Love,
Kitty xo

Flirty in 'Fiona': Parfait by Affinitas 'Fiona' camisole review

   If you have read my blog about the Affinitas Intimates A/W12 press event a little while ago, you may have noticed that I took quite a shine to the Affinitas fuller bust range, 'Parfait', which encompasses sizes 30D-40G.

   Although I feel lucky that the larger bust lingerie market is expanding and I can now get a range of beautiful and supportive bras for all occasions in my size, it is not always quite as easy to find a bustier, camisole or babydoll for larger cup sizes. Highstreet stores often sell them in standardised clothing sizes with no cup sizes, so finding a boudoir beauty to fit a 28FF is about as unsuccessful as trying to squeeze my bust into those very same standardised undergarments! 

   As you can imagine, I was thrilled to come across 'Parfait' as the current collection offers some really glamorous and sexy boudoir pieces in addition to flirty everyday bras and comfy basics. One of the designs that particularly caught my eye was Parfait's padded wired 'Fiona' camisole in peacock blue, which Affinitas Intimates kindly sent me to try out...

      As 'Parfait' starts at a 30 back (and I'd heard reports that the 30 backs come up tighter than other brands), I decided to go for a 30F (sister size to my usual 28FF) and a size M (10/12) in the matching boyshorts.

   The Parfait 'Fiona' is a beautiful camisole made from silky stretch satin in a jewel tone blue (also comes in wine purple, black or white), complete with black lace trim along the underwired cups. The peacock blue tone was even more glamorous in the flesh and the satin has a slight shimmer to it when it catches the light. I really love the attention to detail on the 'Fiona' too - it features subtle pleats on the straps, embroidered panelling down the torso of the chemise and stylish contrasting black lace on the cups and a little bow and sequin motif at the centre of the cups.

    Additionally, the 'Fiona' boasts an absolutely knock-out detail at the back - a decorative lace-up corset design with ribbon ties and double layered mesh back panels, giving this camisole added sex appeal.  

   Aside from this camisole's obvious aesthetic appeal, it is also very easy to take on and off. There is no fiddly lacing up to do as the 'Fiona' has a half zipper and clasp closure at the side.

   I was pleased that the 'Fiona' in a 30 back was a good fit - not too snug or too loose. The stretch satin and mesh fabric makes the 'Fiona' very comfortable to wear and the material follows the natural contours of the body without feeling restrictive like some shapewear can. The only downside to the fabric is that it rucks up a little bit when worn, but it does not distract from this garment's beauty. 

  I felt very glamorous in this striking camisole and the peacock blue colour really pops against your skin tone whatever complexion you have. The black contrast lace also gives a hint of old Hollywood elegance to the 'Fiona', which I absolutely loved.

   I also really like that this camisole has moulded underwired cups - it is nice to have a little bit of lift and the 'Fiona' gives a great rounded shape to your cleavage. It is worth mentioning that the straps are only part adjustable and I had to tighten them as much as they would go. Luckily, as the 'Fiona' is not an 'everyday' item, I should still get plenty of wear out of this camisole without the straps becoming too loose too quickly. My only real regret with the 'Fiona' is that I ordered a 30F not 30FF and I feel that the cups ran a bit small (although not very obvious from the above pictures). 


   I am glad that I went for the Medium boyshort knickers (roughly a UK 10-12) as they fit me beautifully. They remind me a little bit in style of the Curvy Kate 'Thrill Me' shorts, but refined with less ruffles. Again, made from stretch satin, the 'Fiona' boyshorts are really comfortable to wear and look great on. The black lace, grosgrain sequin bow at the centre and ruffle trim make these boyshorts exude seductive sophistication and are sure to make you feel a million dollars.


   It's worth adding that these boyshorts give quite full coverage to your derrière but are still very flirty thanks to the mesh panel at the back - a great example of how less (fabric) is not always more (sexy)! Additionally, I love that they come with detachable suspenders - they look fabulous with black stockings to mirror the black lace contrast on the 'Fiona' camisole and knickers!

   I am really excited to have found 'Parfait' by Affinitas and the 'Fiona' is a truly glamorous 'boudoir' set. I also have my eye on some of the babydolls from the upcoming A/W collection which are absolutely gorgeous!

'Parfait' is certainly 'one to watch' and I will definitely be exploring more of this exciting brand in future... 

Find out more about stockists of 'Parfait' by Affinitas here.

Love,

Kitty xo