Welcome to the boux-doir - A 'Boux Avenue' review!

(Credit: www.walesonline.co.uk)

   With a background in property finance, investments in Ryman's stationery and a permanent seat on hit TV series, "Dragon's Den", it may come as no surprise that Theo Paphitis is estimated to have a net worth in excess of £170 million! (The Sunday Times, May 2011) Paphitis, however, is no ordinary 'dragon' and certainly knows a thing or two about ladies' undies!

  Perhaps one of the most interesting and lucrative of all of Paphitis' projects, is his contribution to the lingerie market. Having sold La Senza in 2006 for around £100 million, Paphitis embarked on a new mission to bring a new lingerie experience to the UK – one with a strong online presence, in addition to having 'luxe', french boutique-feel stores. The official 'Boux Avenue' site claims to be a brand that is “for everybody, no matter what your age, size or style”, and has clearly been engineered towards inclusivity, whilst being diverse enough to appeal to a wide range of clientele. Paphitis states:

  “Boux Avenue is about appealing to your moods – one day it may be sophisticated, another seductive. Boux Avenue will offer a fantastic lingerie and nightwear shopping experience for women who want to feel special.”

   With these prophetic words, it is no wonder that 'Boux Avenue' has garnered such attention right from its launch in early 2011. What I really wanted to know, however, was how 'Boux Avenue' measured up for a real life customer...

   I decided to go online to the 'Boux Avenue' site to investigate and I was met with a very well-developed web page (with easy to navigate sections) and a plethora of different products on offer; from lingerie to swimwear to nightwear to beauty products. Although 'Boux' does not stock 28 backs, I was impressed to see that the size range went from a 30A up to a 40G. After losing myself for an hour, captivated by the beautiful array of boudoir-inspired lacies and vintage-print babydolls, I decided to check out what was on sale. What better way to justify a lingerie purchase, than to snap up a pretty bargain?

   Whilst I was generally very impressed with the way that the bras were displayed on the 'Boux' site, I was slightly worried by the fitting guide, which resorted to the out-dated 'adding inches' method. For example, the model in their fitting video had a 69cm (27 inch) underbust and was advised to wear a 32 back. Similarly, in the pictures below, the models are said to be wearing a 34B and a 34DD, which would definitely be too big in the band for such small frames. Having around a 27 inch underbust myself, I know only too well that 34's and 32's are not supportive enough for my frame, let alone for the models in the photographs!

  That said, with no 28 backs available, I decided to chance a 30 back, in the hope that it might come up tight. I, therefore, purchased the 'Chloe Lace Plunge bra' in coral in a 30FF and the same bra in violet in a 30F and a 30FF, to try for size. There was a “3 for 2” offer on all sale items and free postage - 3 bras for £18 including postage – a cracking deal! I opted for a free gift wrap as well..because every girl loves a bit of luxury in her life!

   Although I opted for standard delivery, my parcel arrived within about a day or two of placing my order! Not only did I receive my purchases quickly, but on opening my parcel, I was met with a very glossy-looking box with 'Boux Avenue”' embossed on the front. Inside, was lace-print pink tissue paper wrapping, my three lace bras, a scattering of scented petals and a free lily, jasmine and elderflower scented hand cream sample! In terms of delivery and presentation, 'Boux' certainly scored 10/10!

  I really liked the colours of the 'Chloe' lace plunge bras. The coral and violet make for very girly and eye-catching tones - a welcome change from standard black, white and nude coloured everyday bras. The bras are very lightly padded in the DD+ style and the cups are overlaid with lace. The little bow in the centre of the bras and the lace scalloping also add some detail, stopping the bras from looking too 'basic'. I definitely drew a design parallel almost immediately to La Senza's 'Lullaby lace' bras that I used to wear. What I was desperate to know, above all, was the answer to the all important: "How does it fit?"

  I bought both a 30F and a 30FF in the lilac bra to compare the fit and was interested to find (similar again to La Senza), that 'Boux Avenue' bras come up a bit small in the cups. The 30FF was a slightly better fit than the 30F (which I would have assumed would be my size, given that I usually wear a 28FF!) One very marked difference as well, was the width of the straps on the 30F and 30FF bra. As you can see from the picture below, the straps are much wider on the 30FF and it is also a slightly more 'fuller cupped' bra style...

  Sadly, the 30 backs were too loose on me and even on the tightest hooks, the band was riding up. I was also a bit disappointed that the straps could not be tightened very much, leaving me feeling frustrated with the fit and lack of va va voom that I would normally associate with a plunge bra. Unfortunately, I have decided to return all three bras.

  To sum up, I would say that 'Boux Avenue' has quite a lot of similarities to highstreet giant, La Senza. 'Boux Avenue' is rather like a more 'boutique-y' rebranding of La Senza, driven towards a slightly wider age range with more varied lingerie preferences. In terms of improvement, I do think that 'Boux Avenue' could benefit from developing a more accurate fitting guide and  ensure that they provide consistent and standardised bra sizing. I am also hoping that 'Boux Avenue' will continue to update and expand their DD+ range to include their promised K cup! All in all, 'Boux Avenue' scores very highly in terms of its company ethic, user-friendly site, pretty designs, customer service and exceptional presentation!

  Despite not having much success on this occasion, I am keen to try out some 'Boux Avenue' nightwear and swimwear in future, to get a feel for some more of the 'Boux Avenue' range. There are a few things that I will definitely be buying though, and that is some of their beauty products. Both me and my mum loved the free sample of "White Chiffon" handcream so much, that I am going to purchase an array of their lotions and body butters! Boux-tiful!

Love,

Kitty xo

La Senza: Can the highstreet 'do' DD+ swimwear?

When I was a smaller bra size, bikini shopping was easy on the highstreet. I could walk into almost any shop and buy swimwear - from H&M to Topshop to La Senza or even Primark! When I found out that I was a 28FF, I began to buy swimwear online from brands such as Freya, who cater specifically for larger busts. Although I continue to love the quality and fit that these larger bust brands offer, I began to wonder if it was possible for a DD+ girl to buy a good bikini on the cheap from a highstreet retailer!

Years ago, La Senza was my number one bikini shopping destination, so I decided to put to the test their DD+ bikini range. The advantage of La Senza swimwear is that their bikinis come in bra sizes, so it is easier to pick a bikini that fits, rather than mixing and matching with your clothing sizes. With high hopes and my mind buzzing with excitement for my fast-approaching summer get-away, I set off for my local La Senza.

On entering, I was impressed to see racks of colourful bikinis, arranged in size order. The problem is that La Senza (like most other highstreet retailers) do not stock 28 backs, so I avidly looked around for a 30, to no avail! I decided that my only option was to go for a 32E, which is the size equivalent to my real bra size (28FF-30F-32E are the same cup volume).

The first two bikinis that I tried were the butterfly print halterneck bikini  (£22) and 'Sailor girl' bikini (£22), which both gave great uplifted cleavage, but felt a little too small in the cups.

 The next bikini that I tried was the stunning 'Monochrome dots' bikini (£22), which I fell in love with. Sadly there was no 32F available, but the 32E was a pretty good fit in this balconette style.

Part of the allure of the 'Monochrome dots' bikini is its classic look and sophisticated polka dot pattern. It is ruched at the centre, creating subtle pleats on the cups, whilst the adorning white and black detailed buttons prevent it from looking plain. The shape of the cups is very flattering, drawing emphasis to an amazing rounded and uplifted cleavage that the balconette style enhances. It feels comfortable and secure to wear, due to the clip clasp at the back and I love the way that the bikini looks on! Obviously the 32E sizing is not spot on for me (being slightly too big in the back and a bit too small in the cups), but I am willing to be slightly more lenient, as it is not something I will wear very often or for any long length of time! I ended up buying this set, along with the briefs (£12), which have matching polka dots and button detailing. This set is perfect for any pin-up girl that loves to look classic yet sexy on the beach!

Next, I tried the 'Hula Girl Hibiscus' bikini (£18), which has a stunning tropical flower print design. Again, there was no 32F available, so I settled for the 32E. 

Much to my surprise, the bikini actually fit perfectly in the cups - probably due to being more of a triangle style, rather than a moulded cup (like the 'Monochrome dots' bikini). The 'Hula Girl Hibiscus' is a more sophisticated and cup-specific take on the standard triangle bikini. Pretty ruffles run all the way along the edges of the cups and up the halterneck straps, which tie at the neck as tight or loose as you wish. The back fastens with a clip, so there is no worry that it will undo itself whilst you swim! The bikini is very slightly padded, enhancing your bust, without giving cleavage overkill. I fell head over heels in love with this bikini, due to its bright and eye-catching hibiscus print, girly ruffles and the great cleavage that it gives. I also bought the matching ruffle briefs (£14). One thing is for sure..this bikini is sure to turn heads on the beach!

With two highstreet bikini purchases, I called my DD+ bikini search to a close..or so I thought! I was so keen on the designs of the bikinis that I had bought, that I decided to have a quick look on ebay, to see if I could grab a La Senza bikini for cheap. To my delight, I managed to buy a brand new and tagged La Senza silver buckle navy bikini in a 32E - A 32F would have been better, but for £10.50 instead of £28, I wasn't going to complain! (The picture below is the white version of the blue bikini that I bought..)

The bikini I have is navy blue in colour, with a silver glitter design that will sparkle when it catches the sun-light. The bikini has a knotted tie and silver buckle at the centre of the cups and the plunge style is very flattering. One gripe that I have is that I would prefer for it not to have any graduated padding on the inner cups. The style alone lends itself to great cleavage for DD+ girls, without the aid of any extra 'help'! The shorts also have the same glitter design and boast a sexy belt and buckle design, giving the bikini a 'bond girl' finish! Although I love the design of the bikini, I feel that the colour and sparkles are a little bit garish for my liking. Nevertheless, for such a cheap price, I am willing to overlook its shortcomings and enjoy the va-va voom!

All in all, I am surprised and delighted by my La Senza bikini success. The 'Monochrome dots' and 'Hula Girl Hibiscus' are really gorgeous bikinis that lend themselves to great support and cleavage..even if you are DD+! The main disadvantage that I can see, in comparison to a brand like Freya, is that La Senza falls short in terms of the 'perfect fit' and its sizing range. Although many of the La Senza bikinis go up to cup sizes G and GG, sadly 28 backs are not stocked and there were not enough 30s readily available. I am, however, very impressed with their attention to design and detailing. Every piece in their swimwear collection is very fashion-conscious, with up-to-date patterns and appealing prints for a wide range of tastes. La Senza's swimwear is perfect for any girl who wants to look good on the beach and by the pool, so grab your beach towel and big sunnies and melt some ice creams!

Love,

Kitty xo

Part 1: Bust boosting bras for smaller busts

Petite or buxom in the chest department, every girl likes a bit of a lift now and again. Whether it's a padded bra to boost your assets, or a bra which gives a great rounded shape, there is a lot on the market at the moment whatever your bra size.

I've decided to share some hints and tips for finding a great bra to enhance your curves. This post is Part 1 of my blog series, which is dedicated to finding the best cleavage-enhancing bras for smaller busts. Brace yourselves, ladies, you're in for a treat!

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Boob-boosting bras for the smaller chest

I've said time and time again, that there is absolutely nothing wrong for a girl to wear a padded bra. Although the media tend to highly criticise padded gel and foam bras for being "false advertising", a primary reason for buying a padded bra is to make women feel good about themselves. The great thing about a padded bra, is that it is a great alternative option to surgery for smaller busted girls who want a bigger cleavage. If a padded bra restores confidence to women about their figures, then I am 100% for that. The good news is that there are tonnes of bras on the highstreet to enhance a smaller bust...

The XXX Triple gel bra (£25) from La Senza, for example, has caused such a storm that La Senza has recently brought out triple gel bikinis. The triple gel comes in a variety of colours and patterns; from black, white, red and purple to zebra and animal print - in sizes A-DD. The bra has multi-way straps and claims to be "ultra light", boosting your assets up two whole cup sizes with its foam and gel padding concealed in the cups! If that's not an extreme boosting bra, I don't know what is!

Although the bra seems to be everything a smaller chested girl could ask for, the bra does have its pitfalls. I have tried the bra on myself in a 32DD (which is a bit small for me as my real size is 28FF) and I found that it gives a very exaggerated shape - a little bit like you have fake boobs - and it is not desperately comfortable. I don't think that the extreme boost of the XXX would be as much of an issue for A-C cups, but I feel that perhaps D and DD cups may find the padding a little bit too excessive. Personally, I would definitely prefer something a little bit less over the top, but if you're looking for an extreme lift, this bra certainly does what it says on the tin!

If you are not a fan of such an XXX cleavage, there are many alternatives available in La Senza. I would be more inclined to recommend the 3-way gel bra (£18), which gives you a bit of oomph, without making your boobs look inflatable! Another option would be the La Senza ITEC bra (£25), which is totally seamfree, very soft and uses graduated foam padding to give a more natural cleavage. La Senza's soft Cotton lace bras (£10) are an inexpensive example of more natural padding and the Lulu lace bra (£16) is great, as the padding can be removed.

Aside from La Senza's cleavage enhancing bras, Ann Summers have launched their Kissing Cleavage - Instant boob job bra (£25 and A-DD), which is a top contender for La Senza's XXX Triple gel bra (and was brought out around the same time.)

The difference between the La Senza XXX and Ann Summers' Kissing Cleavage bra lies primarily in aesthetics. In my opinion, the Ann Summers' bra is sexier and more glamorous, with its lace covered cups in an array of pretty colours. The Kissing Cleavage bra is available in red, pink and nude (all with black lace) and more recently, orchid and teal (with white lace). Ann Summers claim that this bra boosts you up one-two cup sizes, using "innovative, lightweight ‘bean bags’ inside the cups".

I have tried this bra on in red in a 32DD (which is my favourite of the colour combinations) and I think it looks a lot nicer on than the La Senza XXX bra, as the padding feels a bit less extreme. Not only is the 'bean bag' padding softer and more comfortable than the La Senza integrated gel/foam padding, but the padding can also be removed! The bra is multiway, making it much more versatile for different outfits. All in all, if I were to recommend an extreme boost bra, for cup sizes A to DD, it would be this one!

This brings me to the end of "Bust boosting bras Part 1." Next time, I take a look into finding great boob-flattering bras for the larger bust..and don't you worry, busty ladies, there will be no extreme padding involved! We all know that smuggling melons under clothing is not a good look!

Until next time!

Love,

Kitty xo