Wonderbra Limited Edition 'One & Only' Bra

If you read my earlier post WIN a Wonderbra with National Cleavage Day, you'll know by now that I'm, you guessed it, an official ambassador for Wonderbra's very own National Cleavage Day towards the end of this month.  You'll also have noted that I'm giving away a Wonderbra to one lucky winner.  I was asked to select my favourite bra out of the entire Wonderbra range to offer as the prize and the decision was so difficult.  There are so many sexy and cool designs that Wonderbra do, even in the larger cups, that I was spoilt for choice.  Needless to say, I made the pick and chose the 'One & Only' bra from the Limited Edition collection.  As with all limited ranges though, there's usually only a select number made, so you may, depending on the size you request, be sent an alternative colour or style.  If you haven't get entered the giveaway, you can check out the Rafflecopter here.

The Wonderbra Girls wanted to send me the One & Only for myself to wear and as the cups are available up to a G I asked for a 32G.

The Wonderbras I'm most familiar with are typically lace or satin (okay, there was a dubious sparkly one in the noughties but we won't go there) so it's pleasantly different to try out a totally new fabric design.  The One & Only is predominantly a spot mesh trimmed with narrow ribbons of satin.  Although it is a glamorous, sumptuous collection I can't help but think it has a kinkier edge with echoes of bondage strapping.  This collection surely has to be the naughty sister of the more normal Wonderbras: the fetish inspired Wonderbras.

The larger cups of the One & Only don't boast the same amount of padding as those under a D cup but I wouldn't want it to.  The cups are still more than adequately padded to provide a smooth shape without size enhancement.  The low and close central gore creates an effective cleavage with an exceptionally rounded shape.  The look is boosted and ample but remains in the natural, effortless territory.

I did find the band was a lot longer than I'd have preferred.  For a more close fitting it is best to use the first (loosest) hook and eye but I needed to use the last.  The 30 back would have been a better option.  The wings have a very slight plastic boning and then the band is a minimalist design, featuring only elastic strips which extend to the closure.

The straps are semi adjustable elastic with front satin and a mesh trim which is pretty different.  The adjusters and rings are metal which look and feel more quality than regular plastic furnishings.

The One & Only has both met and surpassed my expectations.  The design and build is solid and substantial which is an important factor in large cup bras and it looks sexy and feminine too.  If I could change one thing about this bra it would be the band.  I don't think it's appeal depends on the narrow quirky band and it would be a good firm foundation if the band was deeper and more rigid.

I've seen that you can also get the One & Only in a cream shade which looks pretty in a wearable neutral colour.

Which has been your favourite Wonderbra over the years? 

Becky x

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Esty Lingerie: Shop of Delights

Esty Lingerie are currently holding a fantastic competition which will see one lucky winner receive a whopping £100 to spend in their online shop.  Entry into the draw is simple: all you have to do is subscribe to the Esty Lingerie blog and/or the site newsletter, and with options to tweet and comment on the competition too, there's ample opportunity to boost your chances of winning.

I personally (no surprise) love perusing lingerie departments and online shops, it's rather like rummaging through your own underwear stash, loving old favourites and coming across delights you forgot about.  And, if like me, lingerie is more than grabbing any old pair of knickers to wear for the day, you'll appreciate just how exciting it is to discover new designs and brands in a place like Esty, and agree that £100 is a rather tempting shopping spree all too readily enjoyed and well spent!

I would absolutely relish the opportunity to trolley dash Esty Lingerie, and with their virtual racks full to bursting with corsets and other equally tantilising lady garments, there's a LOT to choose from.

I would be torn between this delicious little lot >

The beautifully intricate 'Marlene' bra by Louise Ferdinand Lingerie, crafted from Britain's finest Nottingham Lace and available in 28 backs and cups D-KK (Yippee!)

The cute pale blue lace 'Forget Me Not' Tutu Knickers by Arabel, with it's flirty frill and oversized bow is crying out for boudoir love (my boudoir)

Anyone who really knows me knows just how much I love a cheeky pair of pasties.  The Pink Swarovski Crystal Pasties by Sass A Frass Designs have to be the most decadent, naughty and yet innocent pasties ever.  Must.  Have.

This Faux Leather Corset by Madame Dee is total dominatrix.  Hot with added cute appeal with its lavish purple satin bows.  I love the shape I get when I wear a corset and this look amazing.

So this is what I would pick if I won.  Get yourself entered and you could be winning £100 to buy some of these beauties!  Good luck!

Becky x

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WIN a Wonderbra with National Cleavage Day

There's something inimitable about Wonderbra that's proven the test of time.  Generations can share stories of a personal Wonderbra experience; parents saw the introduction of the first push up bra and we couldn't wait to get our hands on the mother of all sexy bras in our teens.  The 'Hello Boys' tag line that had us all gawking at the monochrome Eva Herzigova image of the 90s is still true to the word today - that Wonderbra are the kings of cleavage!

In 2002 Wonderbra decided to turn our obsession for and love of cleavage into a day worth celebrating by introducing National Cleavage Day: a lighthearted holiday which celebrates every woman, irrelevant of chest size and regardless whether you like minimal cleavage or fully embrace it.

I'm honoured to have been asked by Wonderbra to represent National Cleavage Day as an official ambassador this year and I'm bringing you the chance win some lovely lingerie!

I've worn some stunning Wonderbras over the years.  There's one thing that Wonderbra never fail on - aside from delivering an awesome cleavage - and that's the consistently on trend and gorgeous designs. 

My current favourite collection is without a doubt the limited edition One & Only bra with it's funky fetish inspired satin trim detail.

So, personally selected by yours truly, you have the chance to WIN this stunning Wonderbra for yourself!  All you have to do to enter is complete the simple tasks in the rafflecopter below.  

Sizes from a 32-38 A-G (padding up to a D cup, 30 backs DD-G).

*As the 'One & Only' Bra is a limited edition style, you may receive an alternative style or colour subject to stock levels.

Terms and Conditions apply (see Rafflecopter).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Becky x

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DD+ Bra Review - Bravissimo 'Dixie' Plunge Bra

When I couldn't make Bravissimo's Boob School launch last month I was really disappointed, but I was soon cheered up with the news that I could still review a piece from the new Spring collection.

The only Bravissimo own brand bra I'd been able to try on before now was the Paradiso Plume on my recent trip to their Newcastle store, and I hadn't had a very good experience with it despite falling madly in love with it's appearance.  I wasn't sure whether the size or the balcony shape made my fit such a failure and I wondered if that was an example of how Bravissimo bras would always be like.  Being offered a style of my choice gave me the perfect opportunity to try something possibly more suited to my own bust shape, and it proved the right step forward.

Figuring that some balcony styles are a case of hit or miss, depending on where the gore finishes, I decided to opt for a plunge.  It wasn't long before I was told I had the new 'Dixie' collection in the post for me, which I requested in my normal 28H.

I hadn't realised that a hot pink bra had been missing from my lingerie drawer for a few years, and it was a refreshing sight to see how deep in pretty colour Dixie's fuschia shade was.  It's a very simple style; a scalloped self coloured lace trims the cups and little white bows spotted with pink are positioned  at the centre gore and to the fore straps.  The unpadded triple section cups are smooth and silky feeling both sides of the fabric which lends to it's comfortable sensation.

The band has a good firm tension; it's perfectly supportive and fastens with rows of triple hooks and eyes.  The straps are fully adjustable and elastic, possibly more stretchy than I feel they need be, but not particularly a problem.

The cups totally encase my boobs with absolutely no bulging or falling out, and I have a good cleavage without the cups being push-up.  There are no signs of fabric wrinkling, creasing or unfilled areas, in fact the cups are perfectly smooth and mirror my own shape.

I am really, really pleased with Dixie and totally impressed with the fit.  I'm amazed at how comfy it's been wearing Dixie for long days without any need to adjust or move wiring.  I feel Dixie is like a second skin, and dare I say it, leading ahead in my list of favourite bras.  :-)

The briefs, which I was sent in a size 12, were exactly how I like them, not too low and with good bum coverage.  The same lace and bow detailing trims the briefs, with the back of them and the front side panels being an easy to wear mesh, so they're super comfy.

Dixie is a really cute set to own - perfect if you're a pink lover, have close set boobs and suit a plunging style and want to update your lingerie with something a little more youthful and girly.

Becky x

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Spring D+ Bra Hot List

It's always an exciting time for a lover of lingerie to see the new season collections.  This Spring is no exception, with some pretty and fresh designs already making their way into the shops.  Colours are vibrant, marine inspired with hints of retro throw back in the form of polka dots and tartans.  This season is all about being girly and embracing the pin up in you.

Here's some of the hottest bras I've got my eye on.

Cleo 'Marcie' in Aquamarine D-J

Freya 'Totally Tartan' B-K

Panache 'Jasmine' in Floral Print D-K

Bravissimo 'Pretty As A Pin Up' DD-K

Boux Avenue 'Jenny' in Gingham - A-DD

Ewa Michalak 'S Fresh' E-GG

Which new collection have you got your eye on this month?

Becky x

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Bravissimo Boob School - Educating Britain's Boobs

There's a bra revolution going on and if you've not had a proper bra fit recently, you need to get back to school - Boob School!

Bravissimo, the D+ bra specialists long championing the 'no tape measure' bra fit, have just launched Boob School, a lighthearted bra education guide that simply shows you whether you're wearing the correct bra size and how to recognise the signs of a poorly fitting bra.  Why is this so important?  As a nation we've long been suffering bras that just aren't right for us.   Bras 'gone bad' are to blame for health problems, discomfort, poor posture and unsightly lumps and bumps, so you see, we need to get these bra boobs sorted out once and for all!

Bravissimo's cute polka dot print 'Pretty as a Pin Up' Bra Set

I was asked by Bravissimo to attend the launch event of Boob School at the end of February which I sadly couldn't make, but it's such a brilliant concept I just had to pass the word on.

With lingerie now available in our supermarkets and online, bra buying has become a no brainer.  At the very least, you see a bra you like, you find your size and you throw it in your basket.  At the most, you try it on in the shop's changing rooms and have a brief tousle about the straps and check yourself out in the mirror.  But, how many of us actually know what to look for when deciding if a bra actually fits as it should?  Judging by the over keen cleavage and bouncing boobs so many women sport these days, most of us don't know a thing.

Bring in Boob School's Seven Classes to 'avoid the common bra faux pas'

The Quadraboob is a beast I've been guilty of myself in the past.  Commonly experienced - and seen - when a bra's cups are too small to contain the boobs, creating a 'four boob' effect.  

To see if you're a victim of the quadraboob, look at yourself sideways in the mirror and see the outline shape of your bust and bra.  The quadraboob is also evident beneath a tight top.  You need a bra with a larger cup.

The Super Drooper is a very sad bra; no lift, no support, no life.  Your bra may be sitting too low on your body to support your boobs.  

This is usually down to a wider band than is necessary, inadequately adjusted straps and sometimes too large a cup.  This bra really doesn't want to be there.

The Ledge is severe, full frontal and literally in your face!  There's cleavage and then there's the ledge, where boobs sit too high in an unnatural, pushed upwards direction.  

A combination of a too small cup size and a small band is usually to blame.

Side Boob is not a pretty sight and not very comfortable.  You may be guilty of side boobage if you have visible bulging of flesh beneath or around your armpits.

Side boob happens when cups are not large or wide enough to accommodate all parts of the boob.  Boobs aren't always just to the front of the body; wide set boobs and larger busts often continue around the side of the body.  Increase your cup size to fully encase your boobs.

The High Rider is one of the most commonly seen signs of a wrong bra size.  Boobs are not supported and easily bounce when you walk or run.  

The band of a bra should always lie horizontally around your back to the direct opposite side of your cups.  A band that rides up, is loose and gives when you pull the band away from the body and sits high up on the back is too wide.  A smaller band number is needed for a proper fit.

 Wrinkling of fabric or empty unfilled spaces make for a saggy bra.  Saggy Cups can show through clothing as random folds and creases underneath clothing.

Bras come in different shapes and materials, as well as sizes.  Saggy cups can occur when the cup size is too big, but it's also not uncommon to find certain styles of bra may not fit your boob shape.  Try a different bra shape to see if the cups fit neater around the boob and a smaller cup.

The Big Stand Off happens when your bra literally stands away from your body; underwires won't sit directly beneath the boob against your ribcage and the central gore will stand away from laying flat against the sternum.

A too large band is guilty of the stand off.  Try a bra with a smaller band for a better, closer fit.

So, now you know what you look for in an ill fitting bra.  Go and have a look in the mirror now - what's your bra doing?  Better still, go and get a proper bra fitting for FREE at your nearest Bravissimo.

It will change your life, not just your bust.

Becky x

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Boux Avenue Lingerie Reviewed

Boux Avenue is very much the type of lingerie store after my heart.  If you've ever paid a visit to one of their boutique looking shops you'll know where I'm coming from; the huge, sophisticated black gloss doors which open to a glamorous treasure trove adorned with glass chandeliers and boudoir tables blanketed with lacy lingerie.  Boux Avenue is, in essence, affordable luxury.

I was asked to look at Boux Avenue's current lingerie collection and to choose some items which I could then review - an offer which was too good to deny!  I had a look through the website but it didn't take me very long to decide what items to pick because the choice was particularly tantilising and very quickly my basket bagan to fill up.  I found it really easy selecting what sizes I needed and adding to my basket but I did experience quite a big glitch attempting to view - and then proceed - my basket to checkout.  After some technical intervention with the 'better half' I soon found myself at the end of my online experience.  From the day I ordered to the day my package arrived it only took a matter of a few days which I thought was super quick!

My order arrived in a cardboard box which beneath that contained a Boux Avenue branded box.  It looked feminine and high end, and on opening the lid my lingerie was neatly folded within pretty pink tissue paper and perfume scented faux rose petals.  The whole box and it's contents smelled divine.

My first lingerie piece is the Angelina Strapless Bra in white (30G).  You can also get this in black but the white version stood out to me, looking very bridal and beautiful.  A complimenting mix of smooth satin and intricate lace trimmed with a centre pearl, this bra really is attractive to look at.  Half cup padded balcony styled with detachable straps means it's wearability is very flexible as either a strapped bra or strapless.

Sadly I found the 30G too small for me to wear properly, as you'll be able to see from my photos, but it still manages to look lovely.

I secondly chose to buy the Marilyn Girdle (size 12) as it's an item of lingerie I've never purchased before.  I do own quite a few suspender belts and similar garments so I was really keen to see how a girdle compared to my usual go-to attire.  I've always considered a girdle to be very old fashioned, something my late Grandma wore, but the Marilyn is more of a classical and feminine piece and supremely modern vintage.

Marilyn was easy to wear as it was just a case of pulling it on; there were no fiddly zips or buttons.  Normally I find attaching suspenders to be tricky but it was so easy fixing my stockings onto these.  My silhouette looked shaped and contained which I would happily wear underneath a dress next time I feel the need for shapewear.

Finally I purchased a pair of Frilly Milly briefs (size 12) as I just love the over the top girly look of them.  I wear knickers like these fairly often for boudoir modelling shoots and so these would be a great idea if you're looking for boudoir attire.

The pink and black alternate frills were cute but not overpowering to look at because of the muted pink shade.  They are styled highly cut across the bottom, like a cross between a thong and a short.   These are really cute and fun to wear just for the pleasure of it.

Boux Avenue are an attractive brand with a very recognisable and particular look which is a rarity for the British lingerie market. Their use of quality fabrics and refined designs make them desirable while their resonable prices attainable.  It's brilliant to see a high street lingerie store catering for the larger bust too and I look forward to seeing their sizing chart broaden to cover the scarcely produced 28 backs.

Becky x

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