My first Ewa Michalak (Effuniak) review - PL Violet

   Ewa Michalak (Effuniak) is a brand that I have wanted to review ever since I discovered it about a year ago. Ewa Michalak is a Polish lingerie company that offers bras in an extensive range of sizes; from a 30 (European: 65) band to a 46 (European: 105) band, with AA-O cups (back size dependent)! It is possible to order custom size bras, including back sizes 24 (50), 26 (55) and 28 (60), which is fantastic news as sub 28 bands are next to non-existent in most other lingerie brands. 

   The eponymous designer, Ewa 'Effuniak' Michalak, is a lingerie industry expert, having worked as a lingerie designer for 15 years. Ewa prides herself on her company mission to provide affordable and attractive lingerie, dressing "every woman's [bust] beautifully, regardless of [her] size or shape". Ewa Michalak's bras cater to a wide spectrum of tastes and her collections boast plunge, half cup, maternity, strapless, soft cup and padded bras, as well as matching coordinates. (Additionally, the site has a small selection of swimwear.)

   One of the things that really excited me about EM bras was the fact that they offer something unique to the lingerie market - Ewa is not afraid to experiment with unusual colours, patterns or motifs and the level of detail on some of her bras is astonishing for the price. As you can see from the pictures below, Ewa also uses models of different sizes in the promotional pictures - something that is extremely refreshing to see:

   I will admit that the main reason for holding off on ordering directly from Ewa Michalak was because I was nervous of postage costs and losing money if I needed to return my order to Poland. Fortunately for me, I was able to purchase my first Ewa Michalak bra from an American friend in a 30FF (European: 65FF).

  Given that I had never tried an EM bra before and I had heard that the bands can sometimes run small, I thought that a 30FF would be a great place to start. (At present, I tend to fluctuate between a 28FF and 28G in other lingerie brands.)

   The bra in question is the 'PL Violet', a lightly padded plunge bra which I had previously admired on the Ewa Michalak site. The bra cups are white and feature a beautiful lavender lace overlay with pretty floral embroidery. The straps and middle of the cups are adorned with contrasting white bows and the white straps are accented by pinky/purple ruched ribbon detailing. As a fan of lace and plunge style bras, the 'PL Violet' seemed to be a combination that was too good to miss!

   It is quite difficult to capture the true colour of this bra in my photographs, but the most accurate colour representation would probably be that of the promotional picture (below):

      Aesthetically, this bra looks just as good in person. I was slightly worried that the violet shade might not suit my pale skin tone, but it actually looked very pretty indeed. I am also really impressed with the level of detail on this bra - the lace overlay is stunning and I love the slightly scalloped lace effect along the cups:

Whilst some manufacturers do not continue bra patterns along the bra wings, Ewa has made sure to keep the lace overlay running right along the back wings too, which is a nice touch:

   Having read many rave reviews in the lingerie blogosphere that praise the superior construction and fit of EM bras, I had high hopes for the 'PL Violet'. I must admit that when I first tried on this bra, I was astonished at just how tight the band was! 

   Although the label states that it is a 65FF (30FF), it felt much more like a very tight 28 back or even a 26 band. The band did not feel as if it had much stretch to it, so I decided that my best option would be to buy my first ever bra back extender, which I could wear until the band loosened enough for me to wear it comfortably. 

(This is a picture of the 'PL Violet' with a 30mm white bra back extender that I bought on Ebay for a few pounds!)

   Another issue that I had with this bra was that the straps were only partially adjustable (due to the ruched ribbon detail) and I needed to tighten them as tight as they would go straight away. I really needed more strap space, so I set about doing my first ever bra alteration. 

   I am by no means an adept seamstress, but I managed to shorten the straps quite easily by cutting out approximately half an inch of the ribbon strap section and then resewed the elasticated section to it. 

(The red box is where I cut out some of the strap fabric and resewed)

   After my strap alteration and after wearing this bra with an extender for several weeks to allow for the band to loosen, I was able to wear the 'PL Violet' comfortably and the fit was so much better on me. The band now feels firm but not suffocatingly tight and my only criticism is that the straps sometimes dig in to my shoulders after prolonged wear. 

   What I really love about this bra is the deep plunge, which is perfect for clothes with low necklines. The cups are very lightly padded with foam and the shape that it gives is rounded and uplifted, but still very natural. This style would be perfect for ladies with larger busts who want lovely cleavage and uplift, without the extra boost that moulded plunges sometimes give.

(The cups lend to a natural, rounded look even on my mannequin!)

   I am quite pleased with my first foray into Ewa Michalak bras and the 30FF 'PL Violet' was a great place to start. After doing further research online, I have found out that other people agree that the 'PL Violet' comes up tighter in the band than other EM styles, so I will probably stick to ordering a 30 band in future (28 backs are unfortunately classed as 'special requests' and have to be made up from scratch, so cannot be returned).

  Whilst I am still in the early stages of finding out what my Ewa sizes are (which can reportedly vary depending on the style of bra), I am very excited to buy more from this brand and aim to order directly from Poland next time around!

   The 'PL Violet' is currently on sale on the EM website (79 zloty = about £15) and is still available to buy in limited sizes. Click here.

   To find out more about Ewa Michalak, visit the official website here: http://www.ewa-michalak.pl/ (click the English language version for a translated webpage!)

Love,

Kitty xo

Trend report: Brighten up your Summer with the Freya "Cabaret"

  Although the English weather is proving to be somewhat fickle at the moment, that should be no reason to shy away from one of Spring/Summer 2011's hottest trends...and we're talking colour, colour and more colour! What better way to feel summery, than by wearing eye-catching brights and colour-blocking (if you dare)..?

As showcased by Jil Sander, Gucci, Christian Dior and Diane von Furstenberg, the current catwalks are awash with paint-box brights, with purple emerging as one of this season's leading shades. With this in mind, Freya's swimwear collection for Summer 2011 and their "Cabaret" bikini is right on point...

Freya "Cabaret" triangle bikini top - £26 (left) and plunge bikini top - £29 (right)

It is often extremely hard for curvy girls to find well-fitting swimwear that also looks good, so the Freya "Cabaret" bikini is any fashion-conscious curvy girl's dream come true! The "Cabaret" comes in a sumptuous vivid purple, making it an absolute stand-out piece for the beach this summer and will suit a wide range of skin tones. I was sent both the "Cabaret" triangle bikini top (above left) and plunge style (above right) to try for fit. The triangle bikini top comes in back sizes 30-38 and in cup sizes D-FF, whereas the plunge version comes in a wider range of sizes, from 28-38 and cup sizes D-GG.

Freya "Cabaret" triangle bikini top

I originally received the "Cabaret" triangle bikini top, as I am a big fan of halterneck styles and loved the cut-out detail in the centre of the cups - sexy but understated. Due to the lack of a 28 back in this style, I went for a 30F. Although in some brands, bikinis can come up small in the back, the 30 in the "Cabaret" was too big for me - a shame, as it is such a pretty style.

I then tried the 28FF (my true size) in the "Cabaret" plunge and unsurprisingly, the fit was absolutely perfect! I find that Freya sizing is often a lot more accurate than other brands, so if you are thinking of purchasing this bikini, order your true size and your bust will thank you!

Freya "Cabaret" plunge bikini top

Most of the support from your bras and bikinis should come from the underband, so I noticed the difference in fit straight away when I tried on my true size in the "Cabaret" plunge. The plunge style is very comfortable and curve-friendly - perfect for posing, swimming, playing beach volley-ball and taking on the waterslides! This bikini is versatile in that it will appeal to a wide age-range, due to its vibrant colour and sophisticated style. The little glass-effect beads on the straps are great for adding a touch of glamour too! The Freya "Cabaret" is the perfect balance between sexy and modest, due to its cleavage-flattering, fuller cup style and supportive underwire, which provides support where you need it most!

To compliment the bikini tops, Freya have brought out matching shorts (£16.50), a classic brief (£15.50) and tie-side briefs (£13.50), depending on your desired level of coverage! My personal favourite are the tie-side briefs, which I got in my usual size small - they certainly have leg-lengthening 'wow' factor!

Once again, I can't recommend Freya enough! They score very highly on comfort, fit and practicality, but most importantly, Freya succeed in updating classic styles by tapping into current trends. True to its word, this bikini is bound to make you the star of the show wherever you wear it!

Love,
Kitty xo