Review - Leia Lingerie and Freya Ellie

Lingerie retailers are ten a penny but there's not many that stand out from the crowd.  Now in the midst of the UK's recession it takes a lot more to attract customers and keep them coming back.  Expert advice and excellent fitting is one way to stay ahead of the game and selling a good range of lingerie by well respected brands and at prices to suit all pockets will always get shoppers interested.  As I've recently discovered, Leia Lingerie is a lingerie store that ticks all the right boxes.

When I came across Leia online I was pretty impressed.  The website was visually clean and enticing and I found it really easy to navigate to where I wanted to be.  When I saw the wide range of bra sizes including backs from a 28 and cups up to a K cup, I knew I was in a good place.

www.Leialingerie.com

I hadn't realised that Leia is actually a high street name too, so if you're daunted by the idea of buying bras online, which can be a tricky thing to buy, you do have the option to pop by your local branch and try the bras out (and benefit from Leia's expert fitting service!)  The stores are dotted around the UK including a branch in York which is fab news for anyone living in the North of England like I do!  I will be calling into the store next time I'm in the area.

Leia sent me a gorgeous Freya Ellie set in the post which I was delighted to receive.  It's one of Freya's new season ranges that recently made it into Glamour magazine, and if it's good for Glamour it speaks volumes for Freya's trendy bras for bigger boobed girls.

Freya's official promo image

Glamour Mag Snippet (Ellie on the left)

The design and colourway is both vibrant and fresh.  The zingy lime green lace trim and bows make this bra stand out with pink accents against the white base colour.  The floral pattern looks like a mix of tropical flowers such as hibiscus while the tiny flowers remind me of elderflowers (which has inspired my thinking of making yummy elderflower cordial which is in season right now!)

Having a funny experience with Freya's 28 backs being on the tight side, I decided to go with a 30H.  Sadly it didn't fit so well but Leia were very friendly and accommodating and sent me a replacement 30GG.  I got the knickers in a size medium short which to me are a 12, fit well and super comfy.

Me wearing the Ellie Balcony Bra and Short

I'm glad I opted to go up in the back to a 30 because it's a really good fit and I know the 28 would have been very tight.  I wore it for a day and decided to try hooking onto the middle hook because I didn't want the back to feel loose.  I know this means losing one of the adjustments over time but it's not too bad.  It's comfortable and supportive so I'm happy!

The GG cups fit really well.  I was concerned at first about some puckering to the cups but after a good shuffle of the boobage I fit into the cups perfectly.  There's no gaping or empty spaces, and no bulging over the cups at all which I'm really pleased with.  I've found with my Panache bras I need a 28 with an H cup but it's looking like for Freya I'm best in a 30GG (apart from my 28H Freya Jolie for some reason.)

The vibrant Ellie

I was expecting Ellie to feel the same as Loretta from a few seasons ago but it feels different, not so silky but still a smooth fabric.  What do I love about it is its wider hook and eye fastener like my Jolie, with a 3 hook set.  It makes it feel reassuringly supportive which is essential with big boobies.

I've enjoyed wearing Ellie so far; it's comfortable and doesn't dig in anywhere and it's a fun design, allowing a cheeky zesty flash to peek out of low summer tops.

The only disadvantage would be more to do with me than the bra, as the centre gore shifts a little up onto one of my boobs but that's only because I suit plunge styles better.  (Close set boobs often don't agree with balconettes.)  Having said that, Ellie is one of the best balconettes I own.

I really, really want Freya to change some of their bras ever so slightly to fit more like a plunge.  The only true plunge bra that Freya does is the Deco (and its Ashlee and Taylor offspring) but the smallest back of a 30 doesn't fit me so great and I would actually require a 28 (just my luck!).  If Ellie was cut a little lower on the bust the fit would be spot on.

I'm really pleased I found Leia Lingerie because I now have a reliable lingerie shop that not only sells my favourite brands but is personable, helpful and accessible, whether I want to make a swift online purchase or fancy an enjoyable browse in my nearest store.  Oh and if you're a magpie for bargains like me, the outlet department is the must have destination!  Happy bra buying.  :-)

Becky x