Cosmopolitan #fashfest Lingerie Show 2014

    Following the successful launch of Cosmopolitan FASHION (Cosmo's new stand-alone fashion magazine), Cosmo have launched the UK's first fashion festival, #FashFest! Running from the 15th-19th September, Fash Fest delivers a spectacular line-up of events, kicking off with a live lingerie catwalk show, followed by a celebrity fashion masterclass, online shopping evening, Cosmo fashion awards night, culminating in the Cosmo wrap party on Friday 19th. 

   In the throes of London Fashion Week, #fashfest presents the very best in high street fashion and with sponsors such as ASOS, Very and Brand Alley, Cosmo seeks to give its readers the "ultimate fashion experience", showcasing key A/W14 trends and translating them into wearable styles that can then be purchased post-event. Unlike many LFW shows (which are limited to industry insiders), #FashFest is special in that it puts the fashion-loving consumer firmly in the front row and tickets are available to the public from just £30! 

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

    Having already heard great things about the Cosmopolitan lingerie show last year, I was delighted to be invited as one of Cosmo's VIP bloggers to the sell-out lingerie show this year, which took place at the grand-looking One Marylebone.

   After meeting Cheryl from Invest in Your Chest in the queue, we were greeted by Taylor, the editor of Cosmo BODY, who gave us a tour of the stylish venue. With a glass of bubbly in hand, we ascended the spiral staircase to the galleries to explore the many delights that were on offer; from hair styling by Paul Mitchell to 'face-mapping' by Dermalogica, makeovers by Urban Decay and manicures by Barry M! 

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

 (Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   Aside from the array of complimentary pampering delights on offer, there were (of course) rails upon rails of a lingerista's dream-come-true; beautiful lingerie from names such as Wonderbra, Triumph and B.Tempt'd!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

I loved B.Tempt'd's flirty lingerie offerings! Paintbox brights, playful sheer lace bralets and contour bras with cute polkadots, lace and bow motifs!

Wonderbra (Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

I spent quite a lot of time nattering to the Triumph team - their 'Magic wire' bra really caught my eye with its buttery soft fabric and lightweight silicone underwires!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   I was also happy to see that the Freya booth had made an appearance, giving Cosmo readers the opportunity to get a personal bra fitting to ensure that they were wearing the right size!

(Pic credit: Coppafeel)

   I also stopped by the Coppafeel 'boob booth' and met the team behind the amazing breast health and cancer awareness charity. Coppafeel's #brahijack campaign involves lingerie brands placing a 'breast care' label in their bras as an all-important daily reminder for women to check their breasts.

***

   Next, Cheryl and I were lucky enough to be invited backstage to experience the pre-show set-up and take a peek at the looks that the models would be sporting on the catwalk! There was a sense of excited anticipation as the event organisers and stylists added the finishing touches and the models prepared to hit the runway...

   

   After seeing exactly what goes on behind-the-scenes, we headed into the main hall; a breath-taking 27 foot high room with beautiful mosaics, stained glass windows and majestic columns and arches - the perfect backdrop for the Cosmo lingerie show!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   We took our seats on the front row and before we knew it, the hall had filled with hundreds of people! The show kicked off with an introduction from Cosmopolitan's editor, Louise Court, followed by a talk by Kris Hallenga of Coppafeel - the overarching message being that lingerie is a stylish and essential foundation that has the ability to support and empower the wearer (hear, hear!)

(L-R: Kris Hallenga of Coppafeel and Louise Court, Editor of Cosmopolitan)

   Before the catwalk show started, canapés arrived and guests were treated to a special performance by 'The Voice' runner up, Leah McFall (Will.i.am's protegée). As a fan of Leah's from the TV show, I was delighted by her live performance and impressive vocal runs!

***

THE CATWALK

   After a quick trip to the bar to grab a delicious 'Cosmopolitan' cocktail, the lights dimmed and the hotly-anticipated Cosmopolitan #fashfest Lingerie Catwalk Show began! Models strutted their stuff on the runway in a show-stopping array of lingerie from highstreet favourites such as ASOS, Pour Moi, Triumph, Brand Alley, Very, Wonderbra, B.Tempt'd, Gossard, and Accessorize.

   Autumn/Winter 2014 trends were grouped into 8 categories, making for a cohesive and fluid catwalk show that really made sense to the viewer. From cleavage-enhancing push-ups to bright lace triangle bras, embellished basques and kimonos, feminine floral nightwear and cut-out detail strappy bras and bodysuits, there was indeed something for everyone...

COLOURFUL BRIGHTS

   Although neons seem to have faded along with Summer, lingerie is staying bright for A/W14 - cue rich jewel tones in purple, blue and raspberry alongside dusky pinks. Both padded and unpadded styles featured strongly, with lace overlays, trims and bow motifs being the order of the day.

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

WICKED WHITES

   Classic, crisp white lingerie never dates and brands gave white a modern update through the use of layered lace, edgy strapping and cut-out detailing (Pour Moi) and sexy sheer fabrics contrasted with delicate embroidery (ASOS). Whoever said that white lingerie was boring!?

ANIMAL PRINTS

   Lingerie goes into the wild this A/W14, with models appearing in a range of soft cup bras, padded plunges, sexy basques and floaty kimonos.. all in leopard print! ASOS and Pour Moi set off their bold leopard prints with contrasting black trims, whereas B.Tempt'd and Brand Alley took a slightly softer approach to animal print, with a palette of muted browns and greys.

EDGY BOUDOIR

   Definitely one of my favourite A/W14 trends from the catwalk show, these designs embody the ultimate in sexy, fashion-forward boudoir lingerie! Models sashayed down the catwalk in heart-stopping shapes made from chiffon, lace and sumptuous satin; cinched-in strappy bodysuits, simple-but-sexy padded and unpadded bras, floaty babydolls and retro high-waisted knickers.
 

SMOKY TONES

   Models smouldered in smoky hues, with chic black and and slate grey dominating the catwalk. Wonderbra, Triumph, ASOS and Brand Alley proved that shapewear can be sexy, showcasing a range of lingerie designs; from slip skirts to bodies, strapless bras to high waisted knickers. Mesh inserts, lace trims, strapping and sequins were added to classic shapewear pieces to give them the 'wow factor'..and wow us they did!

FLIRTY FLORALS

   Although I normally associate florals with Summer, Monsoon & Accessorize presented some gorgeous transitional nightwear pieces to take us into Autumn. Fabrics were light-weight (predominantly satin, chiffon and lace) and colours were muted and feminine, with an abundance of dusky pinks, greys and purples. Prints ranged from floral blooms to birds, butterflies and even bicycles!

FLATTERING FLESH TONES

   'Flesh tone'/ beige lingerie is often seen as 'practical' rather than sexy, but brands really pushed the boat out with a gorgeous selection of satin, lace and chiffon pieces in rose, beige and creamy hues. Longline bras, boleros, bras and nightgowns were embellished with lace, embroidery, beads and diamantés, for a touch of luxe sophistication!

RED HOT

   Sizzling, racy and undeniably glamorous, red lingerie is here to stay for A/W14. Brand Alley, Triumph and Gossard at Brand Alley showcased sophisticated shapes that exuded retro appeal, whilst B.Tempt'd took a playful approach with their unpadded red lace longline. Very and Pour Moi ramped up the sex appeal with strappy, cut-out lace bras and bodysuits, whilst ASOS made the audience go weak at the knees with their plunging scarlet bodysuit and raunchy embroidered mesh triangle bra.

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

***

   The evening concluded with a live DJ set, more cocktails and an unbelievable goody bag, packed full of lingerie, fashion and beauty goodies from the show's sponsors!

   The Cosmopolitan #fashfest lingerie show was a truly fabulous event from start to finish and I feel incredibly lucky to have been invited to attend. #Fashfest is definitely a celebration of fashion and femininity and I love that Cosmo are consumer-centric. Cosmo gave guests a unique 'VIP experience', whilst making the catwalk fashion accessible and wearable. All of the looks from the catwalk are available to purchase online from:

ASOS

Accessorize

Pour Moi

Wonderbra

Very

Triumph

Brand Alley

B.Tempt'd

To find out more about #fashfest, check out the official website and keep your eyes peeled for tickets for the next show - it really is an unmissable event for fashionistas and lingeristas alike!

What were your favourite catwalk looks? Are there any pieces that you have your eye on?

Love,

'notnaked' and the Masquerade 'Anise'

   As you can guess, being a lingerie-a-holic is not always an easy job. There are so many bras that I fall in love with, that lingerie discount sites are now my 'holy grail'! My recent find is the website, notnaked, which I blogged about briefly in an earlier post...  

   Run by dedicated duo, Simon and Michele, notnaked was created with a view to providing quality brands at discounted prices. Notnaked buys directly from UK manufacturers to ensure great value, meaning that you won't have to think twice about snapping up that pretty bra set! 

   I was delighted to find a wide range of well-loved names on notnaked's website, such as Wonderbra, Triumph, Lepel, Charnos, Sloggi, Panache, Curvy Kate, Royce, Berlei, Gossard and Playtex. Most exciting of all, is that notnaked offer sizes from a 28 band up to a 46 band and cup sizes from AA-KK. It is even possible to order in your size if it is not available!

   The notnaked site is very easy to use and well organised into categories, so that you can pick the lingerie that best suits your shape and requirements. Notnaked also have the option to browse by your favourite bra or brief style or choose from different lingerie styles (such as basques, bridal wear and shapewear). There are also categories for nightwear and swimwear...or you can simply shop by your favourite brand. From balcony to push up, post-surgery, nursing, strapless, sport or soft cup, notnaked has you covered! 

   A great advantage with notnaked, is that they sell both new stock and old season products. I am often frustrated when products that I love sell out in my size before I have time to snap them up, so it is great to find old favourites that I want to repurchase and styles that I have missed out on! 

   One of the bra sets that I have been after for a long time, is the Masquerade (by Panache) 'Anise' set. I was thrilled to find my size on notnaked at £18.95 for the bra and £9.95 for the matching thong. Reduced from an RRP of £33 and £14, notnaked's price is a steal!

   Notnaked sent me the 'Anise' bra in a 28FF and a size 10 thong, which both arrived just a day later. Notnaked continue to impress me with their speedy postage - a real plus if you need something quickly! Additionally, my goodies came nicely wrapped up like a present...perfect for Christmas, or for a cheeky gift to yourself!

   The Masquerade 'Anise' bra is a stunning, lightly padded underwired balconette that oozes vintage glamour. With its eye-catching coral hue, the 'Anise' is transformed into a modern classic that stands out from the crowd. The moulded cups are almost flesh-tone, making the floral-patterned coral eyelash lace overlay 'pop' - a really interesting take on the nude and lace trend that has been all over the catwalks recently!

   The stand-out feature of this bra is undoubtedly the sexy triangle cut-out at the centre of the cups. It gives a little peek of skin, whilst enhancing the bra's boudoir appeal. The 'Anise' also features contrasting satin along the back panel and bra straps, which adds a high-end, sophisticated touch. I love the intricate flower and bow motif at the centre of the cups, which boasts a tiny pearl bead too - just gorgeous!

   I found my usual 28FF size in the 'Anise' to be a great fit in the cups, but surprisingly tight at the back. I ended up exchanging the 28FF for a 30F, to give me a little extra room to breathe! The underband elastic and straps feel quite rigid compared to some of my other Panache bras, but the tight back band is great news for those that are sub or towards the smaller end of a 28 inch back! 

   Thanks to its moulded cup style, the 'Anise' gives fantastic uplift and shape to your bust, giving you a real 'Marie-Antoinette' cleavage. True to Panache as a whole, the Masquerade 'Anise' delivers no less than fabulous support, which is so important for ladies with a larger bust.

   The matching thong is also beautifully detailed, with its luxurious coral satin and lace panel. The eyelash lace makes this thong look delicate, but oh so sexy...

  Back detailing:

   In terms of fit, I felt that the thong was slightly towards the generous side and I probably could have got away with an 8. It is worth noting that the lace is quite sheer and with only a thin layer of pale mesh underneath, this thong leaves little to the imagination. This is great for those that are partial to saucy smalls, but not for those that prefer more coverage! 

Like the 'Anise' bra, the matching thong also has a pretty bow and pearl detail:

  All in all, the 'Anise' would make a perfect Christmas present for the glamour puss that loves a bit of elegance and luxury in her life. Seductive bras for the larger bust are hard to come by, but the Masquerade 'Anise' delivers sumptuous fabrics and exquisite detailing in abundance. The bright coral colour sets the 'Anise' apart from other bras on the market and would look great against a range of skin tones (even on a very pale lady, such as myself!). What's more, for £28.90, you can get a whole lingerie set, with money left over to go towards your Xmas turkey!!

   Thanks to notnaked's super-quick delivery (a real testament to their brilliant customer service), you can be sure to get your goodies in ample time. It is worth snapping things up quick though, as items don't stay around for long! With new stock added weekly, there is always something that I have got my eye on at notnaked and with Christmas approaching, I might have to start dropping some not-so-subtle hints...! 

Love,

Kitty xo

Simply curves - A virtual tour of 'Simply Yours'

  As a self-confessed DD+ lingerista and shopaholic, it is always exciting to find a company that stocks brands that I love and covet. I had previously heard a lot about Simply Yours (particularly in relation to the Gok Wan range), but I didn't realise quite how much Simply Yours spoils us for choice with their lingerie range! Simply Yours not only have their own products, but also stock the amazing; Freya, Curvy Kate, Fantasie, Panache, Pour Moi, Masquerade, Wonderbra, Gossard and Miss Mandalay - to name but a few of their curve-friendly lingerie brands!

  Simply Yours sell lingerie, swimwear, nightwear, shapewear and clothes, making it a real haven of shopping delights ready to tempt you! The best thing about Simply Yours, though, is their sizing range - with band sizes 30-50 and cup sizes A-JJ, so many ladies can benefit from the fantastic array of products on offer. Simply Yours also boast a small selection of 28 backs and some styles even go up to a super curvy, L, cup!

  With so many large sized bras from Simply Yours to choose from, I could not wait to investigate what styles were suitable for busty girls, such as myself...



  I was very impressed with the Simply Yours website - it is extremely visually exciting, with its girly colours and photo-story layout, complete with thought bubbles. The categories (Bras, Knickers, Lingerie, Shapewear etc) are carefully organised into headings with drop-down menus, making browsing much easier and more efficient.

  Within the bra section, it is also possible to select what type of bra you are looking for (balconette, full coverage, longline, moulded, multiway, strapless, nursing, soft cup etc), select your bra size and even specify which brand to search within.

  With online shopping's growing popularity, it is a dream to be able to go online to a store like Simply Yours, make an order and receive your products a few days later..but what if you don't know your size? Luckily, Simply Yours don't leave you on your own to make wild guesses!

  You can check out the Simply Yours 'Bra measuring guide' here. The measuring guide is an interactive fitting experience, where the Simply Yours fitter, Sarah, takes you step by step through the stages of discovering your correct bra size. I loved Sarah's informal yet friendly tone, as she gives the listener the virtual advice of a real life bra fitter, but in the comfort of your own house! The listener is informed as to the signs of a badly fitting bra (semi-circular ride up, breast tissue not encased properly in the cups etc) and is offered suggestions as to how to correct them with a well-fitting bra. Most importantly, Simply Yours highlights in this video, the importance of ordering and trying on different sizes, as bras can vary across (and within) brands and your bra size can fluctuate depending on your weight. 

  Another aspect of the Simply Yours fitting guide that I really liked, were the videos showing models with different body types. As a 28FF (small back size and larger cup size), the video of slim but curvy, Kiki, gave me some helpful hints as to what bras are available for me on Simply Yours and could suit my figure:

  The only thing that I was not so keen on, was the use of the 'back band measuring table', which follows an antiquated measuring model of adding inches. I have investigated a lot of fitting techniques and have found that the most accurate way to find your band size is by measuring directly under your bust. I measure 27 inches under my bust and find that the best fit for me is a 28 band. I have many bras from brands stocked on Simply Yours, such as Freya, Panache, Cleo and Curvy Kate, which I all own in a 28 band. The one exception is my Wonderbra strapless, which is fairly snug in a 30 band. In my experience, 32 bands have always been too loose. With this in mind, bra measuring has no 'magic formula', so the best place to start is by measuring under your bust and trying the band sizes around that measurement.

(Simply Yours measuring table)

  I was, all in all, impressed by the effort that has gone into the Simply Yours measuring guide - with interactive videos, fitting problem advice, bra care tips, a lingerie glossary and a bra style guide, there are many reasons as to why Simply Yours is ahead of other brands in making women aware of the pitfalls related to bra fitting, as well as the benefits in persevering in getting a bra that fits correctly.

  Simply Yours make the bra buying experience easier for customers by having a flexible payment scheme, so that you can buy on credit or purchase items straight away. With a free returns system, it also means that you can purchase a range of sizes to try, with no worry about extra costs for returning items...now, there really is no excuse for keeping a bra that doesn't fit perfectly!

   To conclude, I am very impressed with my first tour of Simply Yours and am hoping that time will also see an expansion of their 28 backed bra selection. Simply Yours have a great range of products to suit a variety of tastes and they succeed in providing some top quality brands geared specifically towards girls with curves. I am also thrilled to see Simply Yours using gorgeous, curvy models: Erika Elfwencrona and Laura Catterall to model their products. There is nothing better than seeing models with real curves and a bust, looking fabulous in stunning underwear!

  Finally, here is a selection of Simply Yours 'lust-haves' that I am desperate to get my mitts on! Let me know what your favourite pieces are - they may even get a review...

Love,

Kitty xo