Totally addicted to lace: Pour Moi Addicted bra review

   Ever since the '50 Shades of Grey' phenomenon, bondage-inspired lingerie has become my kryptonite. Although harnesses and bondage-inspired accessories are a great option for fuller busted ladies who do not want to compromise on bra fit (cue my review of the Esty Lingerie choker strap), I have been hoping that fuller bust brands will take the plunge and dare to incorporate the more risqué design elements of the bondage trend into their lingerie offerings...

   Whilst highstreet lingerie brands such as Ann Summers, La Senza, H&M, Topshop (and others) have been quick to integrate strapping, cut-outs, mesh and sexy tie detailing into their collections, fuller-bust-friendly brands have been slightly slower on the uptake of the trend - with the exception of Marlies Dekkers (whose strapping bras precede the '50 shades' trend) and the Figleaves Boudoir range (which seems to have sprouted as a reaction to the bondage trend).

        Marlies Dekkers triangle push-up bra                             Figleaves boudoir Carmen B-G Underwired bra    

                      (Pic credit: brasnthings.com)                   

   Imagine my delight when a press release appeared in my inbox from Pour Moi? Lingerie, introducing their new bondage-inspired lingerie range. Pour Moi? is a brand that has been on my radar for several years and it is definitely a lesser blogged about fuller bust brand in the blogosphere. This is surprising, given that they were established in 2005, are stocked by some of the most prevalent fuller bust retailers (e.g. ASOS, Figleaves and Bravissimo), have very reasonable price points and their sizing range goes from 28DD-44J!

   Pour Moi? are probably most well-known for their Swimwear, but their lingerie is definitely something to keep an eye out for. Whilst Pour Moi?'s earlier bra designs erred on the safe side, with highly commercial colours and 'staple'/'classic' designs, the 'Addicted' collection is a total game changer!

   The 6-piece 'Addicted' collection was inspired by the hotly anticipated '50 shades of Grey' film (due to launch in February 2015) and the range certainly delivers sexy, strappy, bondage-inspired, boudoir gorgeousness in abundance! The collection comprises a chemise, camisole, suspender, g-string, strappy brief (sizes 8-18 and S-XL) and a stunning half cup bra, which had me hook, line and sinker ever since compiling my fuller bust Christmas lingerie gift guide!

   Available in sizes 30D-40G, the Pour Moi? 'Addicted' bra is ideal for trend-led, fuller busted ladies who are looking to add something ineffably sexy and directional to their underwear collection. Aesthetically, the 'Addicted' bra is eye-catching and racy, both in the original black and even more so in the recent lipstick red shade! Having lusted after this bra for several months, I was over the moon to be offered the chance to try the bra and g-string out for myself...

   I was even more impressed with the 'Addicted' set in the flesh and the design is very visually arresting. I particularly love the intricate red floral lace pattern, which overlays a thin layer of nude mesh. I find this to be a clever design feature, as the layered soft cups give the illusion of delicacy. The mesh is semi-sheer, allowing for a subtle peek of skin to show through, yet the mesh adds to the bra's structural reinforcement.

   Given the half-cup design of the bra, the straps become a particularly prominent feature of the bra. With their cut-out/ upside down 'V' shaped design, the straps almost 'frame' the breasts, delivering a saucy, bondage-inspired sex appeal.

   Interestingly, the straps are made partly in a satin-finish elastic and partly in an almost 'felt'-finish fabric, giving them unusual textural contrast. A twisted rope bow adorns the centre of the bra and its little hanging tassels add to the bra's exoticism.

   Whilst the 'Addicted' bra is a visual treat, I found that the fit was a different kettle of fish. I received the 'Addicted' in a 30FF and I am pleased to report that as a 28 back, the 'Addicted' bra came up slightly tighter than other 30 backs that I have tried. When I first tried the 30FF on, I noticed that the central gore was very tall, which seemed to reduce the amount of lift that could be provided by the (very stretchy) straps. If you have high-set breasts, this bra will probably just encase your breasts, rather than provide a lot of uplift.

   It is also worth mentioning that the underwires are very wide; a feature that was incompatible with my breast shape, as they wrapped too far around my body. The picture below demonstrates the wideness of the 'Addicted' bra's wires compared to my Cleo 'Lucy' (which is also a bra with wider underwires). This leads me to think that wider-set breasts may be better-suited to the shape of the 'Addicted'.

   I also found that the mesh cups did not have much 'give' and were quite shallow, meaning that more 'full on top' or 'even' breasts can get a slightly flattened look from the vertical-seamed cups. I decided to order a 32F and 30G in the Pour Moi? 'Addicted' from Amazon for size comparison, finding that the original 30FF was the best fit for me as it encased the whole of my breast tissue and sat more flush to my chest (despite its slightly flattening effect).

   Pour Moi? continue the theme of mesh, lace and cut-outs in their risqué 'Addicted' G-string. The G-string is predominantly made from stretch elastic and the design is almost completely cut-out, save for a diamond of pale mesh overlaid with scalloped red lace. 

   The strappy thong looks gorgeous on, although it is definitely not for the faint of heart, as not much is left to the imagination! With regard to fit, I found that a size 12 fit nicely and the elastic straps felt soft against my skin and did not dig in. One of the features that I particularly liked about it was the attention to detail - I love the little circular slider where the elastic straps meet and the gorgeous rope bow with fringed tassels!

   To conclude, although this bra was not a huge success for my shape, it may work well for women with wider-set, shallower breasts. The 'Addicted' bra does, however, score serious style points, really hitting the mark with its fabulous cut-outs, lace overlay, rope bow detailing and interesting use of textures. Equally, the 'Addicted' is a great bra to incorporate into an 'underwear as outerwear' look - it is particularly striking under mesh tops, sheer blouses or peeking out from under a vest or evening top.

(Here, I am wearing the 'Addicted' under an old Morgan top - the pop of colour really jazzes the top up for the evening)

   Pour Moi? is definitely a brand to watch, as they seem to be taking note of trends, understanding that fuller busted women want edgier, boudoir lingerie that really packs a punch. At £28 for the half cup bra and £12 for the matching thong, this set is very reasonably priced and you can snap this set up for a reduced price of £22.40 and £9.60 in the Figleaves sale! 

What are your thoughts on the 'Addicted' set and would you try it?

What do you think that the fuller bust market is missing at the moment?

Love,

***

Take a look at the rest of Pour Moi?'s lingerie and swimwear ranges on the official website or shop the Pour Moi? 'Addicted' range at Figleaves.

Reviewed: Mimi Holliday by Damaris 'Bisou Bisou' non-padded bra for larger cup sizes

Avant-garde lingerie should be full of surprises. It must push design boundaries. Through lingerie a woman shows her true style. It is integral that my designs are luxurious, fun, interesting, intricate and essentially, functional." - Damaris Evans

   If you are in search of luxurious lingerie with high fashion impact, Damaris is certain to have any lingerista weak at the knees! With a background in Fashion Print design and a strong creative flair, Damaris Evans created Damaris lingerie in September 2001 after noticing a gap in the commercial lingerie market for a high end lingerie brand. 

   The Damaris brand was an instant hit and soon Press and celebrity clientele were clammering to snap up the gorgeous designs. Evans went on to win several awards (including the Elle Style Award for 'Young Enterprise of the Year' and the 'Inspire and Mentor' Marie Claire campaign award). Her stunning avant-garde designs continue to be received with great acclaim from both fashion and lingerie fields alike.

   As you can see, the attention to detail, luxury fabrics, high quality finish, swarovski embellishments and edgy designs are quite simply put..stunning! I am particularly enamoured with the Damaris 'Tutti Frutti' 'bum cleavage' knickers (below)..

   Of course, such craftmanship comes at a high price and Damaris lingerie retails at around £100+ for a pair of knickers and lingerie can go up to and exceed £3000 per piece! The good news for couture-lovers is that Damaris' diffusion line, Mimi Holliday (launched in early 2003), offers similar lingerie luxuries, but at more affordable price points! Mimi Holliday knickers come in at around £35-£40 and bras at around £50-£60, meaning that you can pick up some gorgeous luxury pieces for less! 

   Mimi Holliday differentiates itself from mainline, Damaris, in that the lingerie tends to be very playful, colourful and fun, whilst remaining sexy and boudoir in feel. I personally fell in love with Mimi Holliday lingerie due to the unique and edgy designs coupled with the fearless colour/print clashes and zingy colour cocktails of neon yellows and pinks. 

   I also applaud the design variations; customers can choose from padded plunge bras, shoulder bras, balcony bras, unpadded 'comfort' bras and matching coordinates including classic knickers, thongs, hipster briefs, boyshorts and high waisted knickers..plus there are some gorgeous slips, suspender belts, camisoles, bodies and babydolls for those in search of some boudoir sex appeal!

   Better still, Mimi Holliday's sizing range goes from 28-40 AA-GG, meaning that many women can enjoy the beautiful lingerie collections! It is fantastic to see such decadent and good quality lingerie that starts at an often-missed-off 28 back and which goes up to a GG cup! 

   A few months back, I went along to a lingerie sample sale that included Damaris and Mimi Holliday and I was thrilled to come across the Mimi Holliday 'Bisou Bisou' blush non padded bra for larger cup sizes in a 28G (which I snapped up for about £25!).

   I was particularly excited to try a 28G in this bra as I had previously been into Selfridges and had tried on several Mimi Holliday bras in a 30FF, which were all too large in the back for me, whilst correct in cup volume. The 'Bisou Bisou' also boasts other bra style options (including a padded plunge, shoulder bra, triangle bra etc.) but the particular bra that I bought is a non-padded plunge style, which is ideal for women with larger busts who prefer a more natural/unboosted shape...

   The 'Bisou Bisou' bra in blush is nothing short of beautiful and it oozes old Hollywood glamour! Its stunning pearly-champagne silk satin is offset by a glorious black cabaret eyelash lace overlay and the bow adornments and soft satin straps are further testimony to this bra's timeless appeal.

   The 'Bisou Bisou' boasts mesh back wings and two hook and eye fastenings. It also features a three piece cup construction, with a sheer top layer of scalloped eyelash lace over a very thin layer of mesh, allowing a subtle but seductive hint of skin to peek through.

   The 28G 'Bisou Bisou' fits nicely in the band and cup and I would say that if you are between sizes like me (I tend to vary between a 28FF and 28G nowadays), it may be worth sizing up in the cup. The shape that it gives is very natural and possibly a bit minimising. Although I tend to favour slightly padded bras over unpadded, I do appreciate a non padded bra if it is as chic and decadent as this lacey delight!

    The bra feels comfortable against the skin thanks to the soft materials used, which is always a bonus. I am really pleased that the top lace panels on the cups are slightly stretchy due to a thin mesh underlay, which allows for the cups to mould nicely to the breast shape. Similarly, care has been taken to make the top edging on the cups elasticated, which is a great design feature as it is comfortable and less likely to cut into the breast tissue.

(Even the shape of this bra on my mannequin is quite 'natural', following the contours of the 'breasts'!)

   I am a little wary of the straps, however, as although they are soft and satin-y, they are also quite thin. They feel very delicate and less reinforced than the straps on other bras that I own and after a whole day of wearing this bra, they do dig in a bit under the strain of a larger cup size. I also wish that the straps were fully adjustable rather than just partially, as it would give a longer lifespan to the straps as they loosen with wear.

   The 'Bisou Bisou' is such a stunning bra (demure and sexy in equal measure) and it is certainly perfect as a special occasion bra, but I'd hesitate to wear it as an everyday bra as it just feels too delicate - I'd probably worry about bouncing or that I'd snag the ornate eyelash lace on my clothing! 

   I love the attention to detail and the 'hand tailored' quality of Mimi Holliday bras, but I feel that the 'Bisou Bisou' bra could perhaps benefit from a little more reinforcement in its construction as it doesn't give a huge amount of support to a larger bust. That said, Mimi Holliday's decadent lingerie is definitely the sort of underwear that you can just slip on and feel a million dollars in and I'd really love to try more from this brand in future!

   The Autumn/ Winter collection looks set to melt hearts and for those of you that are interested in trying the 'Bisou Bisou', fear not, because it returns for the coming season in delectable 'Brulée' and 'Berry':

(The Mimi Holliday 'Elferine' lace comfort bra, £54 also looks to be a similar design to the 'Bisou Bisou'..and how pretty and unique is the green and pink colour combination?)

What do you think of Mimi Holliday? Have you tried their lingerie before?

Love,
Kitty xo

Poolside glamour in the By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini

   By Caprice is a brand that I have written about before in my reviews of the 'Audrey' and 'Kitty' lingerie sets, but never before have I tried the swimwear. Since the brand's launch in 2006, By Caprice lingerie and swimwear has picked up fans in the form of Imogen Thomas and TOWIE's Maria Fowler and Amy Childs to name a few.

   As a former glamour model, it may come as no surprise that Caprice's Swimwear is equally as sexy as her Lingerie collections. The Spring/ Summer 2012 Swimwear collection is no exception, with an abundance of  glam padded triangle bikinis, moulded push-ups, cut-out swimsuits and skimpy tie-side bottoms in black, metallic tones and vibrant blue, along with ruching, polka dot, stud, floral and ruffle details. 

   By Caprice's padded triangle bikinis have proved to be a particularly popular design for many years now and have been brought out in a range of patterns. I recently spotted a very cute pink and black heart print bikini from By Caprice on lingerie and swimwear e-tailer, Lingerie Please. Lingerie Please offer some very cute bra sized bikinis, so I was delighted when they sent me the By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini to try.. 

  By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' moulded bikini 
(Top: £23 and briefs: £15)

   As I have mentioned before, buying non-cup sized swimwear tends to be a 'no-goer' as I have to mix and match tops and bottoms to account for my bust, meaning that good support is pretty well out of the equation! Although the 'Colby Hearts' bikini does not come in bra sizes, the sizing works using a UK dress size and dual cup size e.g. Size 8-18, with cup sizes B/C, D/DD and E/F. 

   Although I generally wear 28 back bras, I decided to go for the 10 E/F in this bikini as I thought that the 8 E/F may come out rather like a By Caprice size 30 E/F, which would have been too small. (I wear a 30FF in By Caprice lingerie) I also went for a size 12 in the low rise bikini briefs as I have noticed that By Caprice briefs tend to run small due to their skimpier cut.

   It could probably be argued that this sizing system is a little confusing as dress size and band size do not necessarily (and often don't!) correlate. Before you get worried, luckily back size is not too much of an issue with this bikini because it has tie backs, which is great as you can tie the straps as tight or loose as you wish!

   The 'Colby Hearts' bikini top is a black moulded triangle style covered in ultra girlie hearts in bubble gum and lipstick pink. The bright dual tone hearts really stand out against the black base colour, giving this bikini a bit of a colour 'pop'. The low rise bikini briefs have an identical heart pattern and also feature an elasticated black waistband for comfort.

   I was glad that I went for the 10 E/F in the bikini top, as I definitely wouldn't have fit into the cups of the 8 E/F! The cut of the 'Colby Hearts' is much more revealing than most of the bikinis that I own, but boy oh boy does this bikini give you an impressive cleavage! Like the By Caprice bras that I have tried, the 'Colby Hearts' bikini also boasts hidden graduated padding on the inside of the cups.. 

   As you can see from the picture, the padding is quite significant and I definitely got a cleavage to rival a glamour model's in this number! This look may not be everyone's cup of tea (especially if you have a large bust already), but I'd recommend it to those who want to boost their bust on the beach, whilst melting a few ice creams (and hearts) whilst they're at it! 

   I was also glad that I went for a size 12 in the matching briefs as they do come up smaller and skimpier than some of the other bikini bottoms that I own. It is worth sizing up in these low rise briefs if you don't want to show too much derrière.. 

   

   The By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini is a very flirty and glamorous bikini that will boost your assets and your confidence in equal measure. It's worth mentioning that this bikini is more of a 'lounging' and 'posing' bikini and wouldn't be ideally suited to high levels of activity (unless you want to give onlookers an eyeful!)

   It does look great on, however, and I can imagine this bikini drawing many an admiring look on the beach or by the pool! If you're looking for a sexy bikini with 'wow factor', the 'Colby Hearts' has definitely got it. 

   You can see more of Lingerie Please's range of bikinis on their site. There is currently FREE postage for a limited time, with quick dispatches and speedy postage!

Roll on Summer holidays!

Love,

Kitty xo