Clothes for curves: Made in Preston dress review

"Style must be adapted to the woman and not vice versa. The same can be said of clothes." Sophia Loren

***

   Clothes shopping can be a hugely enjoyable and exhilarating experience; I, for one, love nothing more than to stomp up and down Oxford Street, peruse the rails at my local shopping centre, rummage for treasures in vintage markets and bargain-hunt online. That said, for many women, 'retail therapy' is a far-fetched concept, especially after shopping for hours to come back with nothing other than blistered feet and a sartorial headache!

(Photo credit: mybeautyboxreview.com)

   According to a survey, 41% of women find it hard to find clothes that are both 'fashionable and flatter their body shape'. Clothing must therefore deliver on multiple levels - it must suit the individual's body type, appeal to their personal tastes and fit with their lifestyle and budget.

   Shopping on the highstreet can be a particular frustration due to discrepancies in sizing between stores - I even picked up a size 8 and a size 16 in the same store once! Standardised clothing sizes can also only go so far in catering to the wide variety of different body shapes that exist and it comes as no surprise that women are tired of a 'one size fits all' approach..

 

(Picture credit: bustygirlcomics.com)

   Having a larger bust can also pose its difficulties when clothes shopping; shirts with gaping buttons, dresses that fit at the chest and not at the waist, tops that hang from the bust and swamp one's shape..the list goes on! With an estimated 'third of UK women say[ing] that they have to buy a bigger dress size just to accommodate their breasts', it seems apt that clothing manufacturers should respond to the demand.

   Although there are already some great specialist clothing retailers that cater to the larger bust, such as Pepperberry by Bravissimo, DD Atelier and Saint Bustier, the market has been crying out for younger, trend-led, curve-friendly fashion at affordable price points.    

   If you struggle to find fashionable clothes to fit your curves, Made in Preston may just answer your prayers! Throw out those shapeless smock dresses and gaping shirts and take a look at what MiP has to offer...

    Made In Preston is a clothing, lingerie and swimwear company, created by entrepreneurial young mum, Nikki Hesford, who spotted a gap in the market for a trendy, fuller-bust-friendly fashion brand that picks up where the highstreet leaves off. With a focus on 'creating well-fitting, beautifully made, affordable fashion', the whole Made in Preston range is ethically UK-designed and manufactured in their Preston-based factory.

   Made in Preston immediately struck a chord with me in that they offer a varied sizing range and their lingerie and swimwear collections begin at a (hard-to-find but much needed) 26 back and go up to a 38 back, DD-J cups. Even more excitingly, perhaps, is that Made in Preston have responded to the need for tailored clothing that accomodates for a larger bust. Their clothing range comes in UK sizes 6-16..but that is not where it stops! MiP take into account an additional bust measurement ('Fit', 'Foxy' or 'Fab'), in order to deliver a perfect fit all-over:

   When Nikki reached out to me and asked whether I would like to a review a piece from the collection, I did not have to think twice before accepting excitedly. After consulting the Made in Preston sizing guide, my measurements suggested that an '8 Fit' would work best for me. I double-checked my size with Nikki (as I currently wear between an 8-10 on the highstreet) and a few days later, my Made in Preston parcel arrived on my doorstep!

   The parcel was beautifully packaged in branded tissue paper, sealed with two heart stickers - a lovely touch that really makes the customer feel special! 

   The piece that I opted for was the Made in Preston green leather bodycon dress (£45), a sophisticated, forest green midi dress with faux-leather side panels and a bust-flattering sweetheart neckline..

    After unpackaging my dress, I was immediately impressed with the look and feel of the fabrics. The green bengaline material is stretchy, meaning that the dress is easy to pull on and very comfortable and lightweight to wear.

   I absolutely adore the design of this pencil dress - it is form-flattering and elegant, with just the right amount of modern edge, thanks to the faux-leather details. The 'trompe l'oeil' side panels are a particularly ingenious design feature as they really flatter curves; not only do they emphasise an hourglass shape, but they also give the illusion of an even smaller waist - what's not to like!?

   What I love most about this dress is that it feels as if it has been tailor-made to my measurements and the bust accomodates for (and flatters) my 28FF bust. The sweetheart neckline has always been one of my favourite necklines and the sweetheart cut on this dress is really flattering, delivering just the right amount of cleavage!

   Made in Preston seem to have carefully considered the construction of the bust section of this dress, using diagonal seams and stretch fabric to allow for extra chest room, with a double-lined interior for reinforcement.    

   Although the chest area fits me beautifully, my only gripe is that the stitching is slightly bumpy/ uneven (see picture below), but it luckily does not detract from the look and feel of the dress when worn. 

   Despite the shape calculator stating that a 'Fit' bust measurement is the 'same fit as you'd buy on the highstreet', I do often need to go up a size to accomodate for my bust, so I really appreciated the chest room in this MiP number.

  

 

   Other clever design features of this dress are the concealed zip at the back and the adjustable shoulder straps. The zip closure makes this dress very easy to slip on and off (say goodbye to uncomfortable wiggling and shimmying!), whilst the 'bra style' straps of this dress are ideal for delivering an even more tailored-to-you fit!

   As for the overall sizing of this dress, the '8 Fit' really was my perfect match and the dress hugs my body in all the right places, without feeling too restrictive. As a tall girl (5ft10), the midi length of this dress was an added bonus, as the dress finishes conveniently just above my knee! 

   I have now worn this dress out twice - once to a dinner date and once to an evening work event. The dress picked up compliments on both occasions and I can attest to the fact that this dress is comfortable to wear all night long (although the faux leather panels can get quite hot in this Summer heatwave). If you need more proof as to how awesome this dress is, it even survived a moderately competitive game of table tennis!

   This dress is an incredibly versatile piece that suits so many occasions and it is so easy to 'jazz up' with accessories. For my blog pictures, I have kept things simple by adding my black, faux-leather cuff heels from Sfera, a vintage St Michael's gold chain belt and a pair of gold and black metallic earrings that I bought a few years ago (from Miss Selfridge, I think). 

   The little flashes of gold add glamour to the overall look and I didn't even need to add my usual statement necklace, as the sweetheart neckline speaks for itself. The finishing touch was a bold, red lip - perfect for taking this look from day to evening!

   Overall, I am very impressed with my first taster of Made in Preston clothing and this bodycon midi dress was a total triumph for me. The dress really feels as if it has been constructed with curves in mind; from the seams at the chest and waist, to the bust-flattering sweetheart neckline, adjustable shoulder straps and optical illusion panelling. The dress comes in at £45 and is available in both green and 'winter berry' purple.

  It is fantastic to see a new curve-friendly, trend-led brand on the scene that marries fashionable design with a 'combined-size' fit. I cannot wait to see what Made in Preston has in store for fashion-loving, curvy girls next and I am definitely looking forward to trying more from MiP in the future!

   If you're looking to try Made in Preston for yourself, head to www.madeinpreston.com - you can get 20% off your first order with the code: "FIRST20" and don't forget that MiP have a Summer sale on at the moment - the ideal time to grab yourself a busty bargain!

Love,

A curvy girl's guide to work fashion: Review of the Moda jersey dress by George at Asda

   When it comes to fashion, I love nothing more than to get dressed up and experiment with my style. One of the most exciting things for me to buy is a new 'party' dress, but special occasion dresses are not something that I can wear on an everyday basis and are most certainly not appropriate work-wear!

   My gripe with work wear is that it tends to lack excitement and it is too easy to fall into the rut of a black pencil skirt/ black trousers and a blouse. As a girl with a 28FF/G bust, fitted blouses and shirts can be a nightmare to find and my highstreet blouse purchases tend to be oversized. 

   What I look for in workwear is something that is stylish but easy to throw on in the morning - there is nothing better than looking professional and feeling comfortable without having to make too much effort!

   Bring on George at Asda! I stumbled upon George at Asda clothing by complete chance - I had never bought clothes from a supermarket before, but when I spotted the Moda mono print jersey wrap dress for £16 on my weekly shop, it looked perfect for filling my workwear wardrobe gap!

Unfortunately my size was not available in store, so I went online and ordered a size 10. (Due to the stretchy nature of the fabric, I thought that it would be more likely that it would fit me given that I had not tried it on before buying..)

   As you can see, the Moda jersey dress is a wrap/ cross-over style dress that features a bold monochrome dogtooth print, giving it a great deal of scope for dressing up or down according to preference. It also boasts a 'V' shaped neckline, ruched sleeves and a pleated waistband to add interest and flatter curves.

   Fit-wise, I found that the size 10 came up quite generous and I think a size 8 (if it came in this size) would have been my 'ideal' fit. That said, even in the size 10 it looks and feels lovely on and I am thrilled with the length of the dress, which comes to just above the knee on my 5ft10" frame. The dress has a 97% viscose and 3% elastane fabric content, making it incredibly soft to the touch and the material drapes nicely over my bust and hips. 

   One of the great things about this dress is its wrap-over style, which really flatters a larger bust and curves. The 'wrap-over' meets at a fixed waist seam, so the dress stays in place all day without revealing too much flesh or shifting with a freak gust of wind. I am also very impressed with the amount of space at the bust - there is plenty of room for a bigger bust and it will certainly accomodate for a chest much larger than mine too. (Caroline from Curvy Wordy also sang its praises after I recommended it to her and her 30KK bust looks fantastic in this dress!)

   In the pictures above, you can see that the dress displays a fairly modest amount of cleavage, but for work I tend to pop a black camisole/vest top underneath as in the picture below. Due to the dress being slightly too big for me, I also add a belt to emphasise my waist and give a more 'hourglass' look. 

   Thick black tights with this dress are ideal for keeping me warm in the chilly weather, but in the warmer months of the year, I would be happy to go bare-legged or wear nude tights with this dress. I am also wearing black patent shoes (from Dorothy Perkins) and a set of pearls in the picture above, which lend to a sophisticated and polished finished outfit! 

   Whilst the look that I have talked about here is quite a conservative work/ everyday look, it would be easy to add colour to this outfit with bold accessories and a dramatic lip colour - perfect for taking you from office to bar!

   All in all, I am pleased with my first supermarket clothing purchase. The only real criticism that I have of this dress is that the fabric is quite thin, so you may need to be a bit careful to avoid snagging it on things - I have found that after wearing it a few times, the fabric at the waist band has frayed a little and has created a small hole (which is ok if you're a dab hand at sewing), but for £16, I can't complain too much..

  I would definitely buy more dresses from Asda in future and I am excited to have found such a bust-friendly dress on the highstreet at such a bargainous price! Although the dogtooth jersey dress has since sold out, Asda have an identical Moda floral jersey wrap dress in stock at the moment in a blossom print, available in sizes 10-24. I hope that Asda will bring out more of these wrap dresses in different prints in future as I would love to buy some others for my work wardrobe..

To shop more of Asda's clothing range, click here. (There is also FREE delivery available on all orders over £40 until 8th Dec))

Love,

Kitty xo

Sexy in shapewear: The Charnos 'Corselette'

    When you think of shapewear, what first comes to mind? 

   Shapewear is often thought of as being a rather 'basic' item in our underwear drawer and you can probably be forgiven for not seeing it as synonymous with 'sexy'!  Shapewear generally comes in plain shades, such as nude or black and tends to lack the aestheticism of other lingerie - it is a primarily functional underwear item.

   Although shapewear does the job of smoothing out lumps and bumps, why can't it also be elegant and sexy? The stigma with shapewear, is that too many people associate it with 'granny pants' or as being a secret 'figure fixer' that is just a reminder that we over-indulged at Christmas and need to hit the gym!  

   Luckily, shapewear has seen a much-needed makeover over the years and thanks to trends such as 'Underwear as outerwear' and 'Mad Men', it has become fashionable again! High-waisted knickers, patterned slips and bodysuits have made a real come back, leading many lingerie designers to build on these classic shapes, adding a modern twist!

   A brand whose shapewear really stands out for me, is Charnos. Charnos lingerie, which was created in 1958, offers elegant and luxurious designs from 30-42 backs and cup sizes up to a G. On browsing the Charnos site, I came across the 'Hourglass' range and its gorgeous shapewear products, which set my heart a-flutter immediately! The product which had me weak at the knees, was the eye-wateringly sexy 'Hourglass Corselette', which comes in Black, Blush and Gold...

   I particularly liked the gold version, which just oozes old Hollywood Glamour! Although I was disappointed to find out that the smallest band size in the 'Corselette' was a 32, I was so enamoured with it, that Charnos kindly offered to send me a 32E to try (the equivalent cup volume to my usual 28FF bra size). 

   As predicted, the Charnos 'Corselette' was everything that I had hoped for and more in the flesh. The 'Corselette' is rather like a corset, girdle, bra and slip all-in-one, giving all over shaping and support.

   Made from stunning nude-gold satin and floral-print black lace overlay, the 'Corselette' is a luxurious and elegant piece that is sure to make any lady look and feel a million dollars...

   The bra cups are 3-sectioned and the fuller cup style flatters your bust, keeping you looking sultry yet demure. The cups are lightly padded, apart from the semi-sheer scalloped lace panels at the top, which give a cheeky peek of skin underneath. The cups are fully under-wired, to keep you feeling fully supported and comfortable.

   The beauty of the 'Corselette', above all, lies in the attention to detail: zig-zag stitching, an ornate central panel, vintage floral print lace, subtle frill-edged straps and a beautiful bow ribbon and bead motif at the centre of the cups...

The back of the 'Corselette' is plain gold satin with black zig-zag stitching down the panels... 

   The back features ten hooks and eyes, which give firm support and help to keep everything securely in place. The only disadvantage with this type of fastening, is that it is quite difficult to do up and undo (and therefore get the 'Corselette' on and off), but such is the nature of shapewear... 

So, I hear you ask, what does the 'Corselette' look like on and how did it fit? 

   As you can see, the fit of the 'Hourglass Corselette' is rather fabulous. The 'Corselette' pulled me in subtly, whilst smoothing and streamlining my curves, thanks to the inner panels. I also loved the centre lace panel, which adds a 'trompe l'oeil' effect, defining your waist and giving you the 'hourglass' figure that its name suggests!

   Due to the nature of shapewear/ controlwear, the materials used tend to make the fit slightly tighter, which really worked to my advantage with the fit of the bra cups and 'band'! I was pleasantly surprised by the 32E cups, which felt perfect on my 28FF's and gave good lift and support. The back felt nice and firm, the wires sat flush against my chest and the cups encased my bust perfectly. I also really liked the shape that the bra cups gave me and there was no empty space or wrinkling on the lace panels at the top of the cups. 

   Another added bonus of the Charnos 'Corselette', is that it comes with detachable suspenders, to further ramp up the sex appeal! 

Together with some black lace stockings, the 'Corselette' gives a glamorous and seductive look that would appeal to all ages. Charnos definitely proves that shapewear can be worn in the bedroom and the 'Corselette' is almost too gorgeous to stay hidden!

   The last question that remains, is whether the Charnos 'Corselette' works underneath clothes...

    I tried the 'Corselette' on under one of my body-con dresses and was delighted with the overall silhouette and support. In the picture below, you can see a cheeky little peek of lace from the 'Corselette' at the bust, which I think is rather lovely!

   I was really thrilled with my first experience of Charnos. The 'Hourglass Corselette' has definitely changed my views towards controlwear, proving that shapewear can be seductive and stylish, as well as figure-enhancing and functional. The 'Corselette' really is 'sexy' defined, with its luxurious satin and lace trims, fashionable yet classic colour combination of black and gold-nude and, of course, its stunning fit. 

   I feel that shapewear is streamlining and flattering to all shapes and sizes. The 'Corselette' gives an hourglass shape to those with less curvier frames, whilst flattering the lines of a curvier figure. Thanks to the inner corsetry, panels and underwiring, the 'Corselette' delivers a silhouette that is truly sultry, providing great support and shape to any figure. Charnos is a brand that prides itself on creating 'the perfect fit' and I felt that the 'Corselette' was a real testimony to this philosophy. 

  The Charnos 'Hourglass Corselette' comes in back sizes 32-38 and cup sizes from B-F and is priced at £50, available from their website: www.charnos.co.uk. As I mentioned earlier, as a 28FF, I found the 32E a really good fit, so this is great news for smaller band sizes!

   I am looking forward to trying more from Charnos and already have my eye on the other beautiful products from the 'Hourglass' collection, such as the waist cincher, waist nipper and stunning long line bra. I am also keen to try out their lingerie, to see how it comes up for fit. 

   One thing that is for sure, is that Charnos is definitely a brand to watch - their lingerie and shapewear is luxurious and elegant, but affordable and great quality. 

   To find out more about Charnos, take a look at their website to see their current collections.

Love,
Kitty xo

Coffin on Cake Press Launch, October 2011

  On the 19th October, I was lucky enough to be invited to Coffin on Cake PR's press launch at The Vinyl Factory in Soho. Press days are always a great opportunity to see the latest brand showcases and I was excited to get a sneak preview of Coffin on Cake's choice of key-pieces for Spring/Summer 2012!

  The showroom was divided into collections and the 'walk-through' tour, given by the Coffin on Cake team, was akin to taking a mini holiday, stopping off at different fashion hot-spots along the way! Check out the faux airport signs, deckchairs, surfboards and wooden beach huts...

  There were some great brands on display, so it is with great pleasure that I bring you the highlights of the Coffin on Cake showcase! 

(Surfdome's impressive brand list!)

  I was introduced to the Surfdome showcase, which presented key lifestyle pieces under the headings of "From Bondi to Brighton" and "From St Tropez to St Ives". Given that Surfdome stocks over 500 brands (see picture above), the collection of bikinis, swim shorts, beachwear, rucksacks, bags, shoes and leisure-wear that was selected by Coffin on Cake was very varied and the key pieces built upon different trends. There were tie-dye bohemian prints, nautical 'French Riviera' designs, summery bright colours, muted 'vintage' floral patterns and edgy tribal prints. After the launch, I went to the Surfdome website to have a look at some of the items stocked and was so impressed with the number of popular brands available and the brilliant 70% off sale on at the moment. Definitely worth a look..I may have made a sneaky purchase too! 

  Popular aussie brand, Ripcurl, had a great array of swimwear pieces on display. Ripcurl combines its classic surf-friendly designs with bold tropical prints, nautical stripes and eye-catching bright colours, so you not only stay comfortable, but also look great!

  One of my absolute favourite parts of the Coffin on Cake showcase, was the bikini beach hut! Inside, were different 3D 'look boards', which were organised by body-shape and featured key characteristics, celebrity body matches and tips for picking suitable swimwear. 

HOURGLASS:

RECTANGLE:

TRIANGLE:

INVERTED TRIANGLE:

  I was really excited to spot that Freya was featured in the 'Busty Bella' category and my eye was immediately drawn to the striking tribal print and fun mix of colours (coral and green shades, set in contrast with black and white). The bikini featured is the 'Marinella' Rainforest band-less triangle bikini, which will be available in back sizes 30-38 and cup sizes from D-FF in this particular style. 

  Finally, I bring you my new-found love, Pull-in:

  Pull-in is a premium French underwear, swimwear and lounge-wear brand that is well-known for its graphic prints and bright colours. I am usually more drawn to underwear and swimwear that is quite glamorous, sophisticated and a bit understated, but I really fell in love with the stunning 'look-at-me' prints of the Pull-in collection. In my next post, I will write about my favourite Pull-in pieces, as there are just too many to put into this blog post!

  I had a fantastic time at the press launch and want to say a big thank you to all of the team at Coffin on Cake, who were extremely friendly, well-organised and put together a brilliant showcase. The goody bag was also totally fab!

Stay tuned for my next post on 'Pull-in'!

Love,

Kitty xo