Debenhams AW12 Lingerie Press Day

   As a blogger who is always on the look-out for great places to buy fuller bust lingerie, I am glad to say that my lingerie shopping needs are not solely limited to the internet. Whilst there are so many websites that I buy lingerie from, I have always championed the importance of going into a store and 'trying before buying'. This is where my love for Debenhams comes in! 

   Debenhams is well-known for their huge clothing and beauty departments, but their lingerie department is also brilliant. It stocks an impressive array of lingerie brands for A-DD and DD+, with designer ranges such as Janet Reger, J by Jasper Conran, Floozie by Frost French and Debenhams' own-brand lingerie. Debenhams sell some of my favourite fuller bust brands (e.g. Freya, Panache, Curvy Kate etc.) but also sell a 'Gorgeous' range which goes from 28-40 DD-J at very reasonable price points! (Great news for my lingerie addiction and 28FF bust!)

   I recently got the opportunity to attend a Debenhams press event to view the Autumn/ Winter 2012 collections. The event took place in one of the private apartments at 'The Soho Hotel' in central London and it was a very chic occasion indeed, with champagne, canapés and little lingerie-inspired cupcakes to enjoy whilst viewing the collections.. 

   Debenhams have some great treats in store for Autumn/Winter this year; from playful printed bras to vintage inspired shapewear to seductive 'special occasion' pieces such as basques and babydolls..there's a little something for everyone!

   Colourful patterns and quirky prints played strongly throughout the collections, with everything from floral print to butterfly print to polka dots and leopard print.. 

Reger by Janet Reger floral bra (£18.50) and knickers (£10.50) 

B by Ted Baker floral bra (£22.50) and briefs (£12.50) - This is a lovely quirky set from Ted Baker that looks very high end, thanks to its watercolour floral print and contrasting black lace.

B by Ted Baker grey butterfly printed balcony bra (£22.50) and knickers (£12.50) - Another beauty from Ted Baker, this balcony bra features a multi-coloured butterfly print with pretty grey piping and turquoise grosgrain bow and 'B' logo detail at the centre. (If only it went past a DD cup..!)

'Gorgeous' by debenhams floral polka dot bra (£24) and briefs (£9) - This set features a very unusual print combination of florals over red polka dots..but it works! 

'Ultimate' Debenhams pink polka dot bra (£20) - Just because Winter is coming, it doesn't mean that your underwear should fade into the background. This plunge bra looks set to add some colour to your bra-drobe and some great cleavage whilst it's at it!

'Gorgeous' Debenhams dark blue animal bra (£22) - Leopard print is set to stay and this blue mix bra is a fuller bust fashion must-have!

   Another theme was bright colours..red underwear in particular, with beautiful embroidery, lace and polka dots! It's the colour associated with passion and a colour synonymous with the Christmas season..what's not to like?

J by Jasper Conran red bra (£22.50) and knickers (£10.50) - this scarlet lingerie set oozes glamour and sophistication, plus the delicate embroidery and little centre charm give this set a luxe finish.

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams red and black lace trim bra - You can't go wrong with lipstick red and black piping, a bow and eyelash lace!

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams polka dot spot bra (£21) - Polka dots are back and how cute are the contrasting bows? A great fashion bra for the fuller bust!

Debenhams red polka dot maternity soft cup bra - Downsized polka dots, a lace trim and floral bows.. Debenhams keep things functional and pretty.

   Autumn/ Winter would not be complete without some sumptuous jewel tones. Take a look at these beauties...

Reger by Janet Reger green plunge bra (£22.50) and briefs (£10.50) - I love this emerald green tone - the lace overlay and bow really make this a special set.

Reger by Janet Reger purple plunge bra - Reger takes a luxurious purple hue and balances it with a subtle jacquard floral print and lace overlay.

'Ultimate' Debenhams bronze lace trimmed padded push-up bra (£20) - This satin push-up features a rose-bronze base and contrasting embroidered piping and lace for a girly but grown-up feel.

   There was one style of bra that I was particularly excited to see amongst the Debenhams A/W12 ranges and that was the longline! I have been a fan of longline bras for quite some time and it is great to see such a pretty array from Debenhams..

'Floozie' by Frost French longline bra (£20) and briefs (£8.50) - This bra features a quirky, graphic print of flowers, vines, swans and hearts. The black ruffles and satin buttons offset this design to keep it flirty and fun.

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams lace longline bra (£26) and thong (£8) - If you're fuller busted and love longlines, this bra ticks all the boxes..how pretty is the lace overlay and bow motifs?

'Ultimate' Debenhams dark pink mesh long line plunge bra - This dark pink longline will have anyone who sees it weak at the knees - the black polka dot overlay and bright pink trim give it added 'wow' factor!

   Debenhams' head buyer, Sharon Webb, mentioned that shapewear plays a key role in Debenhams' own  brand range for A/W12. Design and aestheticism are married to create pieces that sculpt the body and look good at the same time!

Debenhams shapewear body (£36) and high waisted knickers - I love the rich blue tone against the black panels - the lace trim makes it look very sophisticated too! 

Debenhams black invisible body shaping slip dress (£34) - this will be a secret weapon for your winter wardrobe! With its seamless design that smooths and shapes your body, it can be worn with your own bra underneath so it fits a range of sizes.

Debenhams black shapewear dress and high waisted low leg shapewear pants (£24) - The design is seamless and the fabric soft to the touch. The power mesh side panels have gorgeous floral embroidery for a touch of vintage elegance - great for streamlining curves in style.

   Last but not least, this brings me to talk about Debenhams' 'special occasion' lingerie pieces for AW12, which includes luxurious lace bras, basques and babydolls in rich but muted tones...

Reger by Janet Reger lace bra (£22.50) and briefs (£10.50) - This gorgeous vintage inspired balconette exudes 'Mad Men' appeal - the lace and piping make this bra very elegant and the little bow and rose motif at the centre is gorgeous too!

'Presence' white and black lace basque (£28.50) and thong (£5.50) -This lovely lace and mesh basque is both seductive and sophisticated - the mesh panels look really flattering too.

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams black bra - Never underestimate a black bra! This satin fuller bust option is classically gorgeous with its nude embroidery and ruffle trim.

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams blue and black lace bra - This midnight blue bra with black eyelash lace detailing is a real boudoir beauty!

'Gorgeous' by Debenhams fuller bust babydoll (£36) - If you're looking for a special lingerie piece this Autumn/ Winter and have a larger bust, this babydoll is perfect! The cups are underwired for support, whilst the body is made from soft satin and mesh. The ruffles, piping and bows are lovely finishing touches too!

'Floozie' by Frost French pink and black babydoll (£25) - This flirty pink and black number will certainly get hearts a-fluttering. Gathers, floral embroidery and a polka dot bow make this a girly but glamorous piece.

Reger by Janet Reger black lace babydoll - If you want something timeless that will take you through the seasons, then this babydoll is ideal. The satin and lace add to its decadent but understated appeal!

   As you can see, there is a lot to be excited about this Autumn/Winter at Debenhams, with many different prints and designs to tantalise lingerie fans of a range of cup sizes! Debenhams also recently scooped Lingerie Insight's award for "UK's Favourite Lingerie Retailer" and it is easy to see why they deserve this accolade. I am looking forward to viewing many of their new lingerie ranges in store very soon, but if you can't wait that long, keep your eyes peeled on their website for new additions!

Love,
Kitty xo

***

Notes: Size ranges talked about in this blog post:

Floozie by Frost French: 30B-38DD

B by Ted Baker: 32A-38DD

Gorgeous by Debenhams: 28DD-40J

Presence: 32A-38DD

Reger by Janet Reger: 32A-38E

Ultimate: 30A-38DD

J by Jasper Conran: 32A-38DD

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