Roses are red, violets are blue..Valentine's lingerie gifts that are perfect for you!

   The holiday of love is nearly upon us, which traditionally signals a flurry of chocolates, flowers, champagne and novelty card buying. One of my favourite aspects about Valentine's day is that it is the perfect excuse to treat a loved one (or yourself!) to a gift that can be appreciated for many occasions to come. 

   Buying lingerie for somebody else is no mean feat, so factoring in size and personal tastes is a 'must', along with considering the purpose of your gift - will the lingerie be wearable/practical/versatile or will the lingerie be confined solely to the bedroom? 

   Finding the perfect Valentine's lingerie gift for a fuller bust once seemed like an impossible task, but the D+ market is fast-expanding, bringing with it a wide range of fashionable and supportive bras, slips and babydolls to tickle your fancy! 

   If you're looking for inspiration this Valentine's day, these show-stopping pieces are sure to make anyone swoon!

   Curvy Kate 'Carmen' longline bra, £35 from Brastop

28-38, D-HH

The Curvy Kate 'Carmen' is everything your heart could desire this Valentine's day! This romantic and glamorous longline bra features half cups, for a knock-out, 'Marie-Antoinette' cleavage. The rose pink shade is offset by beautiful floral-embroidery and a pretty bow motif - you are sure to capture anyone's heart in this!

Lulu Tout Fleur Rose underwired bra (DD-H), £24 from Figleaves

30-38, DD-H

The 'Lulu Tout' Fleur Rose bra exudes seductive elegance and French charm. Exquisite rose embroidery adorns nude and black layered mesh cups, whilst the central gore is accented by a key hole detail and flirty bow. The Fleur Rose bra is sure to put romance on the cards this Valentine's! 

Pour Moi Addicted Half Cup in red, £28 from Figleaves

30-40, B-G

If you're looking to turn up the heat this Valentine's, then Pour Moi's strappy 'Addicted' bra is your perfect match! Its lipstick red shade, semi-sheer lace cups and racy strapping and tassel detailing will get anyone hot under the collar!

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Claudette Fishnet scoop neck bra, £57 from ASOS

30-36, A-G

Love is in the air! Be bold this Valentine's and 'wow' in bright pink! This gorgeous soft cup bra from Claudette features seductive, sheer mesh fishnet cups, accented by a retro trim of black velvet piping and finished with a velvet central bow. Prepare to be a knock-out in this..pink lingerie just got a whole lot sexier!

Figleaves Boudoir Carmen Babydoll, £55

30-36, C-E

Seductively suggestive and undeniably provocative, the 'Carmen' Babydoll from Figleaves is guaranteed to take your partner's breath away! Featuring sheer mesh underwired cups and unusual strapping detailing, support and sex-appeal are delivered in equal abundance! 

Hearts Amour Bra by Bravissimo, £34

28-38, DD-HH

Wear your heart(s) on your bra this Valentine's with this lightly padded half cup bra from Bravissimo. The fuchsia and black palette gives this bra a sophisticated appeal, whilst the black swirl and flirty heart embroidery are sure to make anyone fall in love in at first sight!

Gorgeous by Debenhams purple satin eyelash trimmed D-G cup balcony bra, £25.50

30-40, D-G

This purple, jewel-toned balcony bra from 'Gorgeous' by Debenhams is the ultimate in luxury for less this Valentine's. Its satin cups, black piping and pretty eyelash lace trim exude a glamorous vintage appeal that Dita Von Teese would be proud of! 

Playful Promises 'Lily' Open Cup Frilly Bra DD-F cups, £30

32-36, DD-F

Get pulses racing in this saucy open cup bra from Playful Promises, the brand's first bra to be extended to an F cup! This black satin number boasts sexy quarter cups and is completely open at the top - ideal for daring lingeristas who want to leave their loved one weak at the knees! Complete the look with decorative pasties or dare to bare!

Masquerade Athena plunge bra, £40 from Figleaves

28-38, D-H

Give in to seduction this Valentine's with the irresistibly enticing 'Athena' bra. Featuring eye-catching teal satin, mesh overlay and a sparkly bow and charm motif, this deep plunging bra delivers an enviable cleavage alongside opulent and sophisticated styling.

Gossard Retrolution Slip, £69

32-36, B-E

Ooze old Hollywood glamour in this retro-inspired Gossard slip! Featuring a deep plunge centre, cleavage-enhancing moulded cups and shaping side panels, this slip will flatter your figure whilst smoothing and contouring your silhouette. Its rich scarlet red lace, delicate bow detailing and detachable suspender clips will be impossible to resist!

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   What do you think of my lingerie picks? What lingerie will you be gifting or hoping to receive this Valentine's day?

Love,

Stepping into sophistication: Masquerade by Panache 'Amor' lingerie review

   Undercover Lingerista readers will likely be aware of my love for fuller busted lingerie brand, Panache and their Masquerade line. Masquerade lingerie is commonly characterised by sophisticated and elegant designs, sumptuous fabrics and ornate detailing, which combine to offer the wearer great fitting luxury lingerie at affordable price points. Masquerade tends to be slightly more expensive than Panache's other sub-brands ('Superbra' and 'Cleo'), but the Masquerade line is such a decadent approach to D-H cup lingerie, that it is hard not to fall in love with the collections! 

   When it comes to bras, I tend to favour moulded bras due to the great rounded shape and cleavage that they offer. One of my favourite bras from Masquerade is definitely the 'Capella' bra which I reviewed a while ago..so much so that this beautiful bra became one of my 'go-to' bras for both special occasions and under my everyday work wear (as it was so comfortable)! Unfortunately my 'Capella' is slightly too small for me at the moment, so when I spotted the new Masquerade 'Amor' sweetheart moulded bra at the Panache A/W12 press day, I couldn't help but lust after it!

   

   The Masquerade 'Amor' set consists of a stunning moulded underwired bra and brazilian briefs in a rich sapphire jewel tone. The bra comes in back sizes 28-38 with cup sizes D-G and the matching knickers come in sizes 8-18. In line with my current Panache size, I went for a 28G in the bra and a 10 in the briefs, courtesy of the lovely people at Panache..

   The Masquerade 'Amor' bra looks even more exquisite in the flesh and the play on detail actually resides in the contrast of the sapphire satin with the matte blue fabric sections. As you can see from the pictures, the satin has an opulent sheen to it when it catches the light, making this bra look very chic and high-end. The matte blue sections run across the cups and down the centre gore of the bra in a 'V' shape, drawing the eye down to a central cleavage point. The 'Amor' is similar to the 'Capella' in that it is a balconette-plunge style with a 'sweetheart' neckline, which gives a more subtle and 'natural' cleavage than a deep plunge bra.

   The straps are also fairly thin (compared to Freya bras for example) and measure about 1.5cm thick (the same as the straps on the other Masquerade bras that I own). Unlike the 'Capella', however, the 'Amor' bra's straps are fully adjustable, which is always a bonus in my book as it lends to a longer 'strap life' and is useful for those that need to tighten their straps considerably.

   The bra fastens with two hook and eyes and the back band is double lined with a matte blue stretch fabric and bordered by satin wrapped elastic. Initially the 28G 'Amor' band felt similar to the Masquerade 'Anise' and because it felt a bit too tight when I first tried it on, I exchanged it for a 30FF. I now wish that I had stuck with the 28G and worn it with an extender until it loosened up - the 30FF band loosened up very quickly and I need to go on to the middle hook after wearing it just once! 

   That said, the 'Amor' is a lovely bra and the satin is silky smooth. When worn, the bra gives a very rounded shape and a natural looking cleavage that is perfect for all occasions. Thanks to the smooth lines of the 'Amor' bra, it would work well under most clothing. I often reach for plain moulded bras for work (e.g. my Freya 'Deco' bras), so the 'Amor' makes for a more luxurious substitute. There is nothing nicer than going to work knowing that you're wearing comfortable and equally stylish lingerie!

   As for the matching brazilian briefs, I am glad that I exchanged the 10 for a 12 as they look more flattering in the bigger size. 

   The 'Amor' brazilian briefs are interestingly not a direct match to the 'Amor' bra and are instead made from a soft matte stretch mesh with satin-wrapped elastic edging. I actually quite like that the bra and briefs are not 'matchy matchy' as it makes the set a bit more unusual. The fabric is also very slightly sheer, meaning that they steer away from looking like 'standard' plain blue knickers:

   The briefs are very smooth feeling and practical as they are seam-free. Although they are comfortable, they are not my favourite knickers. The elastic borders dig into your flesh a little bit, which although not uncomfortable, is not hugely flattering or conducive to creating a sleek silhouette under clothing. 

   The 'Amor' is a lovely lingerie set and I can see the bra particularly being worn a great deal in the upcoming festive season - whether it is under a dress to a Christmas party or as an everyday set under work clothes or casual wear. It has an understated appeal that makes it a timeless set and the luxe satin and sheer matte fabric combination elevates it beyond being 'just a blue lingerie set'. 

   With Christmas approaching, the 'Amor' would also make for a luxurious gift. If you can't afford real diamonds and sapphires, the 'Amor''s jewel tone satin will be enough to seduce any lady and make her feel spoiled! There is nothing more indulgent than gorgeous new lingerie and the 'Amor' set delivers everyday luxury aplenty. 

   One thing that I have learnt in my bra journey is that beautiful lingerie makes me feel good, so why save it solely for special occasions? Whether you're at the office or just lounging at home, wearing that pretty lingerie set will make you feel like you really 'have it together'!

The Masquerade 'Amor' is available to buy from My Curves and Me and other retailers. (Now there is even more reason to treat yourself or someone else as the 'Amor' bra is currently reduced from £42 to £24.50 and the briefs are reduced from £18.50 to £10.79!)

(I have also heard that the 'Amor' is coming out in 'Berry' for 2013, so keep your eyes peeled!)

Click here to see more of Panache's Masquerade collections.

Love,

Kitty xo

Panache Autumn/Winter 2012 Press Event

   A while back I attended the Panache Autumn/Winter 2012 press launch, where the new collections from Panache Superbra, Panache Swimwear, Panache Sport, Cleo and Masquerade were put on display for lucky press attendees. Press days normally come about a few months before the launch of new collections in stores, so I am actually very excited to be reviewing the collections now as some of the products are just coming out in shops and online and will continue to do so in the upcoming months! Now there's no need to feel pangs of bra-lust and not be able to buy for months on end...

   The actual press day was held at The House of St Barnabas, a stunning Georgian building situated in Soho.

  After ascending an intricate staircase of wrought-iron balustrades, I reached 'The Drawing Room' which was a spacious room boasting impressive plasterwork, an ornate fireplace, hanging chandelier..and bed! The room was decked out with beautiful lingerie from Panache, which was hung from display rails and draped across the bed. The lingerie was also displayed on the lovely Panache models and was even mounted in picture frames..!

   After a delicious cupcake, I took a look at the Panache Superbra A/W12 collection...

   Panache Superbra A/W12 takes its inspiration from Art Deco and Art Decoratif patterns and prints. The collection is suffused with rich Oriental-inspired tones of ruby, orchid pink, opulent teal, purple and gold. Panache Superbra is all about functional sophistication and the A/W12 collection serves up nothing less...

A new introduction for this season, the Panache 'Jasmine' presents a delicate oriental-inspired bird and branch print. Its black base colour is complimented by flashes of colour in the bird print whilst the stretch lace and bow detail at the centre give this set a feminine finish.

The Panache 'Eden' comes in a lovely midnight blue tone and features mesh panels on the cups, which are decorated with blue, white and aqua floral embroidery.

The 'Andorra' is one of Panache's bestsellers, going up to a J cup in its full cup style and an H cup in its plunge. The new season 'lagoon' blue colour is a great fashion colour that will suit a variety of skin tones.

The Panache 'Fern' is a real stand-out piece from this collection, oozing Art Deco appeal with its midnight blue base and exquisite 'arabesque inspired' floral pattern. 

The 'Ariza' is made over for A/W12 with an eye-catching palette of black, pink and purple. It features beautiful Swiss embroidery in a floral pattern along the cups, for a look that is both elegant and bold.  

If you're looking for glamour, the 'Sienna' in 'lagoon' is perfect with its rich blue colour and ornate black lace overlay. (This bra is one of my collection favourites!)

The Panache 'Melody' comes in a lovely ruby tone and boasts a slightly scalloped edge to the cups with leaf-style embroidery.

Panache's 'Porcelain Viva' in Ruby - a basic that packs a colour punch!

Panache 'Tango' has reached its 10 year anniversary and to celebrate, the 'Tango Luxe' returns in this stunning orchid hue for the new season. I love the contrasting satin, which adds decadence to an everyday 'basic'.

 (Panache 'Tango' available in purple)

Next up, was Panache Swimwear:

   Panache's A/W12 Swimwear collection takes a dive into the popular nautical trend with red, white and blue striped prints and braided rope-style detailing. The collection also includes bold floral patterns and subtle animal prints with tribal inspired motifs in edgy colours. A great feature of this collection is the wide variety of swimwear styles; from swimsuits to bikinis to tankinis, alongside standard coordinates to retro style high waisted briefs with flattering panel details..ideal for stylish mixing and matching!

Panache 'Stella' range:

Panache's underwired bandeau bikinis have proved popular from season to season and the 'Stella' bandeau is equally chic with its red, white and blue colour block stripes. The navy blue rope detail motif at the centre adds a great nautical finish!

For those of you that like a little extra coverage on the beach, the 'Stella' plunge tankini is ideal for showing off your best assets in style. If you prefer a bikini on the beach, this balconette bikini is a great alternative. The matching 'fold down' briefs mean that you can vary your coverage depending on your mood!

How gorgeous does Charlotte look in this navy and white nautical plunge bikini? The plunge top lends to an amazing cleavage and the bottoms are perfect for lengthening legs!

Panache 'Lola' range:

If you want to wear animal print in an unconventional way, the 'Lola' is the epitome of edgy glamour. This new style comes in vivid pink with a faint animal stripe print and contrasting gold embellishments.

The 'Lola' also comes in utterly sophisticated black with stunning silver and turquoise stone embellishments. This is definitely one for my lust list!

Panache 'Veronica':

Best-seller 'Veronica' is updated for A/W12 in this rich 'lagoon' blue tone. The soft sheen fabric makes this set very luxurious and feminine and the ruching on the swimsuit looks ideal for hiding any lumps and bumps.

Panache 'Tallulah' range:

If you like a touch of retro styling, you will love the new 'Tallulah' range. Choose from a tankini, swimsuit or bikini in this stylish painterly floral print. 'Tallulah' also boasts a high waisted bikini pant with panels to flatter your curves, drawing attention up to your waist to give you an hourglass look!

(Heather models the high waisted briefs to perfection here!)

Panache Sport:

   As many of you know from my recent glowing review of this Panache sports bra, Panache are champions of great fit and superior support whilst exercising! Panache's sports bra (available from B-H cup) 'banishes the bounce' with cups that encapsulate the breasts, rather than compressing them. Panache have brought out a 'British coloured' version of their classic sports bra in blue, white and red and have also announced a collaboration with CoppaFeel! in aid of promoting breast care. Panache will be launching a pink colourway of their sports bra this October and will donate a percentage of the sales to the CoppaFeel! charity...

Cleo by Panache:

The Cleo by Panache A/W12 collection is certainly sugar and spice and everything nice! With its 'sweet treats' theme and gorgeous campaign imagery, the collection presents quirky abstract prints, bold colours and bows galore. Cleo has definitely cooked up some lingerie delights for Cleo fans.. 

One of my favourite pieces was the trendy and girly 'Leila' bra, which comes in a pinky/purple tone, complete with black mesh overlay, ribbon embroidery and pink bow motifs. The high waisted briefs are a great 'high fashion' alternative to classic briefs and look very curve-flattering thanks to the mesh panels down the sides.

Cleo's popular 'Lucy' bra gets a makeover in navy and pink for A/W12 - you can see my review of the pink version here.

The 'Marcie' balconette is a new addition for A/W12 and its vivid red hue makes it a great bra for flirting your way through the Christmas months. The delicate trellis embroidery, polkadots and bow and button motifs give this set a quirky and fun edge.

The new Cleo 'Meg' bra is a real stand-out piece with its striking blue and silver swallow print on a navy base. The scalloped edging and red ribbon and bow trims add to this set's trendy appeal.

Another new design to the collection, 'Natasha' mixes an animal/camouflage-esque print in a quirky purple colour palette with graphic style embroidery.

Upscaled polka dots are married with floral rose embroidery in the 'Zia' bra - the unusual grey, white and yellow colour scheme keeps this bra looking fresh.

 With its quirky charcoal coloured animal print and delicate floral embroidery, the Cleo 'Hazel' is perfect for making an statement. 

Based on the best-selling 'Juna' design, the 'Darcy' adds a fashion twist with its graphic heart print design and bold contrasting red trimmings.

The Cleo 'Jude' launches in feminine purple with fashionable navy lace trim and bows for A/W12.

(Also available in black)

Last but not least, this brings me to talk about Masquerade, whose collections were set up in the adjacent 'Silk Room' (which had a lovely vintage print wallpaper and Chanel illustrations on the walls!)

Masquerade A/W12 is nothing short of sumptuous and indulgent, taking its inspiration from 'unearthed treasures'. The collection is replete with glamorous and seductive lingerie styles made from Italian satins, complemented by lace, embroidery and rich jewel colours and earthy hues.. 

The Masquerade 'Harem' is an alluring vintage-inspired plunge available in black, nude and fig, featuring elegant satin coupled with panels of lace.

New style 'Amor' is a beautiful sapphire blue set that exudes opulence and glamour. Its sweetheart plunge bra looks ideal for creating a lovely cleavage!

The highly anticipated 'Deity' bridal range looks set to impress with its luxurious soft Italian satin and Art Deco style stitching.

The 'Rosetti' bra is sure to set hearts a-flutter with its racy scarlet hue, ornate lace detailing and beautiful satin cuff edges..perfect for the Christmas season and all year round seduction!

Popular style, 'Delphi' comes back this A/W12 in this gorgeous boudoir black and ivory colourway. This bra also comes with the option of stylish high waisted briefs for a flattering feminine silhouette. 

(Also comes as a stunning basque!)

 If you remember 'Persia' from last season, you will be delighted to see that it has been brought back for this A/W in a beautiful sapphire blue hue, complete with Italian satin and tassle trims. With its nude base and jewel blue lace overlay, this sumptuous set is sure to be a hit!

***

   Panache's Autumn/Winter 2012 collections are very strong and boast a really diverse array of lingerie and swimwear to suit different age ranges and tastes. It is always difficult to pick out collection favourites, but I really love Panache's swimwear range (which is particularly stunning this season), Cleo (for its fun prints) and Masquerade (because I can't get enough of these glamorous and luxurious lingerie sets!). 

   

   I am also already excited to see Panache's Spring/Summer 2013 collections as there are some new lines being added, including 'Sculptresse', Panache's new fuller figure range (sizes: 36-46 back, D-J cups and sizes 14-26 in co-ordinates):

(Sculptresse by Panache S/S13)

   Most of all, however, I am excited about the launch of Cleo Swimwear for Spring/Summer 2013! One of my long-standing wishes is that Panache Swimwear started at a 28 rather than 30 back, so I can't wait to try Cleo swimwear, which all starts at a 28 back!

(Cleo Swimwear S/S13)

Love,

Kitty xo