Large Cup Bra Review - Freya Ivy

Wow, first post of the new year!  Let me take this opportunity to thank you for supporting my blog and I hope you'll stick around for 2013.  The blog changed direction slightly and picked up it's pace pretty quickly last year, so I'm keen to progress and develop further, bringing you, my friends, some cool offers and incentives.  :-)

Even though it's January now and everyone's slowly opening up shop again, I'm hanging on to Christmas by it's last glittery thread.  My beautiful tree is still here standing proudly in front of me with my very retro paper chains still very much in place (bar the odd naughty one that keeps unfastening a loop and falling down.)  It'll all have to be packed away for another 11 months come the weekend, so it'll be very sad... and completely refreshing!  The house will suddenly look bare but so much more spacious!

If you're like me, reluctant to say goodbye to Christmas yet, or you just dread the grey and slow month that is January, Freya's Ivy collection is probably worth checking out.  Boasting colour and lace in firecracker red, glowing berries against a contrasting blue and green base of ferns, Ivy is the most festive nod to the season.

At first I wasn't sure if I liked Ivy, I couldn't decide if it was too brash, too full on.  But then I realised how clever it is and how well the colours work and actually brighten your mood.  Ivy isn't a Christmas bra but delivers the same feeling of the season - vibrancy and awe.

Ivy is the same construction and fabrication of Spring/Summer's Ellie.  I loved Ellie but ended up struggling with the size which was a 30GG.  I decided to try Ivy in a 28H, as I recently found fit success with 28H Freya Gem, and it's the best size.

I really like the fit; the balcony cups feel extremely supportive and encasing, and the three set hook and eye fastening was a good decision.  The straps are like a woven criss-cross pattern than the more conventional diamond pattern, and I prefer it to the latter.  I would like to see the straps a little narrower, as I can't help but feel humungously wide straps spoil an otherwise young and modern bra.  A couple of mms less in width would be interesting.

I got a matching thong with the bra in a size S which is about a 10.  It's easy to wear in a very light fabric and the red lace runs all the way around the waist band.

Does the colour of Ivy work for you?  Do you think it's too bright and in-your-face, or is it a welcome spirit lifter at this time of the year?

Becky x

Read More

My Curves and Me & Cleo Meg

There's one rule I fastidiously live by and it's always be a bargain hunter.  I'm thankful for growing up in a household which meant our family had to watch the pennies because it taught me to be thrifty and wise with my cash.  I hate to pay the RRP on anything and always hunt high and low for the best price on the smallest of things.  This explains why it makes me so happy when I find out about a new bargain bra shop on the block!

When My Curves and Me got in touch to tell me about their launch I was so excited.  The brand new web store is a much needed addition to the small pool of large bust bra retailers we have to choose from.  We're often bombarded with sales offers but it's refreshing when a shop's ethos is already with the mind of low pricing.  Browsing through My Curves and Me using the simple navigations, it's quick to see both old and new collections of popular brands are available in many, often difficult to source, sizes.

I hadn't had a Cleo for quite a while so when the autumn winter style, Meg, appeared on the screen in a 28H I was tempted into ordering it.  Listed for £20.25 there was an already huge saving on the RRP of £27.  You can save so much more than this though, with the vibrant red Cleo Marcie selling for an amazing £15!

Meg is a really pretty bra but not overly girly so perfect for anyone who dislikes pink and frills.  The swallow print is on trend and contemporary, set against a navy blue base colour, highlighted with bursts of red.  It's a perfect look for a dark winter wardrobe and quite festive looking too.

The fabric is an all over fine mesh with fully adjustable straps that are the just the right width preventing the bra from being anything close to frumpy.  The back fastens with just a double hook and eye but the wings aren't particularly narrow so you still get ample enough support from the band.

Sadly the cups were very disproportionate to my figure and didn't fit me in the cups.  The under wire and centre gore were not a problem but there was so much bagginess to the tops of the cups.  I feel this style would suit a fuller up top bust better, so to fill the entire cups which are very rounded all over.  I was so disappointed Meg didn't fit because I was so hopeful and I love Cleo bras so much for their modern styles.  Thankfully I know Lucy is a good fit so all is not lost with this young at heart brand.

Over at My Curves and Me there's a free delivery promotion going on so now is probably a good time to get ahead with your Christmas lingerie list.  ;-)

Becky x

Read More

Wonderbra Haul of Fame Campaign - Part 1

Strapless bras, multiway bras, push up and plunge.  For something so small, bras sure know how to bewilder us!

You shouldn't have to possess a science degree to know which bra you could be wearing with your little black dress.  But never fear, no matter what you choose to pull on today there's a bra best suited to your outfit.  Wonderbra has done the hard work for you and developed a clever little mobile app called the Decoder that demonstrates what style of bra is best worn underneath your clothing, whether it's a simple tee or sexy little number.  Your bra fails need never happen!

To show you the theory behind the Decoder app the folks at Wonderbra have enlisted the help of celebrity stylist Sophie Stevens.  I will be speaking to Sophie later on in my series of Haul of Fame blog posts and will be finding out more about how to match the right bra with your outfit plus loads more tips on dressing a curvy figure!

Sophie Stevens
Image courtesy of Wonderbra

I was approached by Wonderbra to take part in their Haul of Fame campaign.  In the same way the Decoder app shows you, I've picked a few outfits of my own and selected the best Wonderbra to wear them with.  Don't think the fun's just on my part though!  Wonderbra's running a Facebook competition and invites YOU to style your own outfit for the fantastic chance of winning a cool £1000 shopping spree along with personal style advice from Sophie Stevens herself.  How amazing is that?!


So, what's my first outfit and bra pairing of choice, I hear you wonder.  Well, here it is  -

My first outfit is a smart casual style; something I'd wear for going shopping with the girls and having a drink down the local.  I'm wearing a silver grey lace skirt with a black cap sleeved top that's slightly speckled with lurex yarn.  Adding a hot AW12 trend to bring the style bang up to date: a pearly white sequin collar necklace.  To keep the look relaxed I'd wear my cream and silver leather pumps (no pounding the pavements with high heels here!)

The Wonderbra I chose to wear underneath my top was the super smooth T-Shirt Bra.  It's available right up to a G cup so brilliant for those of us fuller up top.  I received the 32F in error but it actually wasn't too bad, considering!  It was supposed to be a 32G but to be honest I felt a 30G would have been the best size.  I LOVED the straps on this one, really soft yet sturdy and absolutely comfortable!   It felt supportive and most importantly for your outfit, didn't show through.  My top looked smooth and unspoiled thanks to the seamfree cups.

Keep an eye out for my Haul of Fame Part 2 post later this week for the next installment in my Wonderbra bras and outfits decoded!

Becky x

Read More

Hello Autumn! Cute Cake Tins for Winter Baking

Autumn has officially landed this weekend and I've been thinking nothing less of getting the house all snug and attractive for the forthcoming months of Winter.  Christmas is never far from my mind either, I'm afraid to say, even though we're still only in September.  But if you're really into Christmas like me and a religious festive baker, you'll know that it's around now that you should be baking your Christmas cake for optimum yumminess!  This year I'll be making four Christmas cakes so I'm just preparing all the ingredients and equipment I'll need so I can take on this mammoth cake challenge.  

I wanted to get some nice, new cake storage tins so this week I've been browsing around baking departments online and in town.  The vintage look is still a huge theme so I found myself bookmarking several websites and with the dilemma of which pretty tins to go for.  

Dotcomgiftshop has this absolutely adorable Pantry design trio cake tin set for £12.95.  I just love the powdery colour scheme and retro wording.  This set would look amazing with my other cream kitchen storage accessories.

Something a little more vibrant for the kitchen yet still retaining the retro look, the Argos Living cake tins (£9.99) are another really cute set.  The bold cherry red and white polka dot design is really stylish.

I love those vintage metal advertising signs and old adverts from yesteryear.  It makes me think of a sweeter era, romanticising the thought of rosy cheeked housewives baking tasty treats all day.  I know the reality wasn't quite like that in the 50s but it doesn't stop us admiring the looks of that bygone time.  

This set by Martin Wiscombe that I found on Mollie and Fred (£18.99) would really brighten up my cupboards.  How cute can that cupcake tin be?!

I bought a fantastic set of 3 cake tins by top baking brand Tala that I found on Wilkinsons website for only £10.  I got the set today and they look just as pretty in real life!

The biggest tin which would fit tons of cupcakes or a big celebration cake is baby blue with white stars.  The medium tin, the perfect size for a tea time victoria sponge cake, is candy pink and white striped whilst the smallest tin, for finger cakes and goodies, is apple green with white spots.  All the tins are topped with cream lids decorated with fancy words of tasty treats such as 'crumbly cookies' and 'scrummy chocolate cake', all of which will of course be making an appearance inside my tins!

What kind of cake and biscuit tins do you use?  Have you seen any other super cute retro kitchen accessories which would match perfectly with these tins?  

Are you planning on making a christmas cake?

Becky x

Read More

AW Freya Deco Hatty - More for the 28s!

Earlier in the summer Freya finally released the infamous Deco in a 28 back, much to the delight of many, myself included.  My first foray into the Deco family began with the pretty sorbet pink Ashlee, when as much as I adored it, I knew I needed a 28 back.  Being able to get my hands on a 28GG Deco has been a godsend, so if you're smaller backed and you've not yet experienced the Deco, now is the time to try.

This month saw the arrival of the cool and crisp Deco Hatty.  Hatty landed on my doorstep this week which was a lovely surprise to receive from the very friendly Lingerie Heaven.  A smart and sexy design for the autumn, Hatty is a more refined Deco with its gentle pinstripe print and centre double button detail.  The straps of Hatty are more luxurious than the Deco's heavily embroidered straps; Hatty's are smooth and silky which add sleekness to the overall smooth line of the bra.  The colour is a very light, icy aqua green which looks striking against the jet black stitching.

It reminds me of a bracing fresh glacier mint!

I'm not the only one to have noticed the arrival of Hatty.  This gorgeous bra made it onto the page of Glam Happenings of Glamour magazine's September issue.

What I love about the Deco family is how the plunge style really suits my bust.  Having close set boobs, the low centre gore sits nicely in place.  It's not too low though, not like many plunge bras can be, so if you prefer a higher cut more like a half cup you'll be happy with this one.

Hatty has the same smooth line foam cups as the original Deco so aside from the different straps and pattern, this is still a trusty Deco.  A plunging, uplifting t shirt bra for the bigger boobed all rolled into one.

Wearing the Hatty, I'm pretty sure it fitted even better than my usual Decos.  I love wearing the Deco but I can get a very, very slight gape.  With Hatty I didn't get this.  The cups filled and fitted well instantly and remained that way, which was great.  I didn't roll out at all either, so I wouldn't say that the cups are any smaller.

Hatty has only just been released for sale and you can buy it at Lingerie Heaven with the benefit of a lower than RRP price.  Also don't forget your loyalty points you'll be earning too!

Becky x

Read More

Pin Up Mermaid

What did I tell you about the weather? It's hard to believe it was only last Saturday that I was on the beach in my smalls (and less than smalls) when the hot spell came for one last belter. The day after it was like the heat and sunshine hadn't existed. I was assisting Sean J Connolly on his fashion editorial shoot on the Newcastle Quayside and it was raining and windy like Autumn felt it needed to remind us what month we were in now. Yes, October, and don't I know it.

To help us remember the gorgeous weather we had not so long ago I now have the pictures of the shoot I did, which was a mermaid beach themed shoot with Sean J Connolly. We couldn't have wished for a better forecast and the images show it. I've never modelled less than a bikini on a shoot before so it was actually quite fun and challenging working with nipple tassels and pasties. The ones I used this time, again provided for by Intimate Jewellery Designs, were some aqua colour cockleshell pasties embellished with glittering sequins, and some shimmering blue sequins circular tassels. I wore with them a pair of lacy green shortie knickers and brought a blue sheer voile to play around with. We were lucky the beach we found we had quite free reign of, and I was able to do quite a bit without having to clammer for my top every five minutes. I'm not a prude but I am conscious of people who don't exactly want to see a half naked lady on their day out, and especially not to expose myself where families are concerned. The only person I didn't prepare for was a gentleman walking along the sea shore when I was posing against a large rock formation. I quickly and untimelessly put my hands to my boobs and said 'hi' which was a comical moment. Luckily I hadn't offended him and he continued on his jaunt, not without taking a second appreciating glance. That was funny!

Anyway, I'm very pleased with how the images turned out. We tried a variety of poses with different backdrops; crawling out of the sea, perched upon pricking barnacled rocks. I was even adorned with drapes of salty sandy seaweed. Mmmm, the glamorous world of modelling!

A few of the pictures are still going through editing, but I do have some of my favourites to show you now. Do let me know what you think!

x

Read More