Le Curvy Kitten

Whilst browsing my favourite curvy girls group, someone posted this little gem of a link: Lady Vintage London. Being a fan of vintage style dresses I immediately jumped on it and fell in love with the White Floral/Blue Tit Print Swing Dress, £30. I adore anything with a bird print, and the Blue Tit is a favourite of mine. Combined with red flowers on a white background, it's perfect for all those garden parties I don't go to!

Looking at their size chart, my bust comes up at a size 12, waist 8-10 and hips 8-10. I usually wear a size 8, and was very disappointed that the dress isn't made in my size. Not wanting to miss out, temptation got the better of me and I ordered it anyway, in a size 10. Shipping costs just £2.95, which isn't bad in my opinion, and I found a discount code on their Facebook page for an extra 10% off.

A day and a half later, the little beauty arrived! The first thing I noticed was the quality of the fabric. It's 100% cotton, is soft and hangs well. If I wasn't suffering from mild vertigo, I would have spun around my kitchen in it like a little girl! The dress has a lightweight lining, making it great for summer, and the bottom half of the lining isn't sewn to the hem, so it's like a built-in petticoat, if that makes sense? If you wanted extra volume, a frilly petticoat in red would be perfect with this dress. The dress has a zip right up the back, which is again, good quality. My only issue regarding the fabric is that it doesn't stretch, which could be a problem for a fellow busty gal.

Onto the fit. Because I'd ordered a size bigger than my usual size, I expected this dress to be too big, and it is, I won't lie. A size 8 would have been perfect, but since I love it so much, I plan on getting it altered to fit me. It also comes with a tie belt made from the same fabric, which I might use as a hairband instead as I like to wear thick belts with dresses like this. Once I tried the dress with my own belt, the fit became much better, but still had a bit of extra fabric here and there, which is nothing a little tweaking on the exsisting darts won't fix. I'd suggest ordering in your usual size with this, as the size chart seems to be an across the board thing as opposed to being style specific.

As you can see on the left picture, there's quite a bit of extra room in the top section. The bottom doesn't matter so much as it's a swing dress. In the picture on the right, I'm wearing my own belt, which came from a Chinese seller on Ebay and was dirt cheap. Yes, I realise I should be wearing a different bra too!

Although I'm disappointed at the lack of a size 8, I would still highly recommend Lady Vintage for their quality and range of beautiful fabrics. It is also worth mentioning that a lot of the dresses are limited, the one I chose is one of just 50, meaning you're less likely to see someone else wearing the same thing, and for the low cost and high quality, Lady Vintage dresses are well worth the risk.

Bye for now beauts x

Back in February I was delighted to receive and email from fellow busty blogger Georgina Horne from FullerFigureFullerBust saying I'd won some prizes in her amazing giveaway competition! One of my prizes was a dress from Polish company BiuBiu who specialise in clothes for women with a larger than average bust. My other prize was a very generous 5 sets from Panache, which I also blogged about here.

I was put in touch with Kinga, who runs the company and immediately felt at ease! She's absolutely lovely and helpful, considering she's giving away stock, free of charge! I chose the Green Ponti, a tulip dress with 3/4 sleeves and unusual collar. I wasn't sure which size to order, so she took my measurements and recommended a 36 BB/BBB. I also wanted to try one of her Vanity Fair shirts, so I ordered one in white in size 36BB. A week or so later, my parcel arrived, beautifully wrapped in pink crepe paper (I'm a sucker for wrapping!). I tried the Green Ponti first, which came up a bit too big. However, the fabric and design of the dress were amazing. More on that later with the correct size. I tried the Vanity Fair shirt and again it was too big. Kinga promptly offered a replacement and helped me with the correct size again. So off my parcel went to Poland...

Left: Green Ponti in 36BB/BBB and Vanity Fair in 36BB, both too big

Obviously the exchange took a while, going to and from Poland plus the processing time, but there was no rush, and I trusted it was all fine in Kinga's hands! A few weeks rolled on and I got my replacement. This time I ordered the Green Ponti in a 34B/BB as the 34BB/BBB was sold out, and the Vanity Fair in a 34BB.

The Green Ponti dress is beautiful, and thankfully a perfect fit! The colour is a deep forest green, the fabric a nice quality ponti and the design of the dress is gorgeous! It has a tulip bottom, which is friendly for both those with hips and those who'd like to create the illusion of having hips. The top half has 3/4 fitted sleeves and plenty of darts for shape, but my favourite feature is the unusual funnel collar with a deep, but not too deep plunge. On me it shows a teeny hint of cleavage, but not so much that it becomes a NSFW dress. When the weather has warmed up a bit, I'll be wearing this for work with some sheer patterned black tights, black heels and a black skinny belt. It could also be worn for a night out by adding different accessories, or dressed down with knee high boots, blazer and scarf for an autumn stroll in the park. It's really quite adaptable!

The Green Ponti dress in 34B/BB. Perfect!

The Vanity Fair shirt also fits beautifully! Again, it has plenty of seams and darts showing how much tailoring has gone into it. The neckline is a safe for work mid v-neck, and it has well-structured cuffs, which can be worn down or flipped back if, like me, you have short arms! My only criticisms of this shirt are that the sleeves are a bit too long for me, and the fabric. It's just that little bit too see-through. I usually wear a camisole underneath my shirts, so it's only really an issue if you don't (and wear brightly coloured bras!). The Vanity Fair makes a much cheaper alternative to the Pepperberry shirt I previously bought. I have to admit, I preferred the quality and fit of the Pepperberry, but I'm a sucker for a bargain, so if I wanted any more shirts, then I'm more likely to head to BiuBiu.

3 ways to wear Vanity Fair in a 34BB

BiuBiu are definitely worth a try if you have a bigger bust. Don't be afraid because they're a Polish company, Kinga really values her customers and her English is perfect. While it may take a little longer to receive your item and returns will be more costly, it STILL works out cheaper than Pepperberry's inflated prices. Do it!

Thanks to Georgina Horne of FullerFigureFullerBust for the fabulous competition prizes and to Kinga from BiuBiu for all her help :)

As mentioned in my previous post, I won some fabulous prizes from the gorgeous Georgina Horne of FullerFigureFullerBust. This post is about the massive 5 Panache sets I won! Yes, 5 sets, how generous!! I was astounded by the generosity of both Georgina and Heather Kipling of Panache. As you know, big bras aren't cheap, and I think myself very lucky! After a number of weeks of too-ing and fro-ing to get the right sizes, I finally have 5 lovely new sets in my drawer! Heather chose my sets from their current range, and although they're not all styles I'd normally choose, I'm very happy with the selection.

Firstly I'll mention that I was originally sent a lovely red 'Veronica' swimsuit that reminded me of the Kellogg's Special K adverts. Sadly, my rather large derriere didn't agree with the swimsuit idea. I always struggle with swimsuits because, as you will all know if you've been reading my posts and not just looking at the pictures (I know it happens-shame on you!), my bottom half is somewhat bigger than my top half, so the swimsuit sent to me in a 30G (Panache don't make 28 bands as yet in their swimwear) fitted better at the top than at the bottom, and rather than the usual '4-boob' effect us women often rock (get fitted girls!), I was getting a '4-buttock' effect instead! The lovely Heather replaced the swimsuit for a gorgeous bikini. More on that later.

First up for the bras, the much coveted Masquerade Rhea in black. I was sent a 28GG and it's perfect. The band is snug and has very little stretch, an issue I was already aware of, so if you're looking for comfort, the Rhea may not be right for you. However, if you're looking for luxury and gravity-defying boobs, then go out and get a Rhea! It's quite expensive to buy, at around £35, but the silky fabric and materials used lend themselves perfectly to the price tag. The Rhea is a padded balcony bra, so if you struggle to stay in plunges, this is a style that could work for you. I was sent matching shorts in a size 14, which fit beautifully. There's just something about Masquerade lingerie that makes you feel a million dollars! Definitely worth buying for that special night in ;)

Next we have the Panache Sports Bra. When I first saw this, I loved it but not being a sports fan, watching or taking part, I had no need to buy it. It's a very different style to the other sports bras out there, and very much lends itself to be worn as a work out top. It has a built in racer back clip, which can be useful if you want to hide your straps under racer back tops. If you're feeling (very) brave, the shorts (here in a size 14) are also suitable to be worn as outerwear too! I had a little bounce around my room in this and my boobs stay firmly in place, doing exactly what it says on the tin. It seems pretty high impact, and is more 'solid' than my Shock Absorber sports bra, which is unpadded and lacks the engineering that the Panache has. Don't get me wrong, it's a damn good sports bra, but the Panache one just pips it to the post. The Panache Sports Bra has the style that other sports bras lack, and would certainly be my go-to should I ever decide to get off my lazy arse and do some exercise!

Boasting on the tag 10 years of being Panache's best selling bra, the Tango has clearly been a favourite in a lot of women's lingerie drawers for a long time. I was sent the special edition 'Ocean' colour unpadded balconnet bra, which has a touch of diamante at the gore, offset perfectly by the turquoise of the bra.At first I tried this bra in a 28GG, which was too large in the cups, so it was replaced with a 28G, which could fit better if I'm being honest. The cup is fine at the front, but I have a bit of 'side-boob' where breast tissue is being pushed under my arms. think the underwires need to be a little less u-shaped to combat this. Sadly I don't think I'll get much wear from this bra as I don't tend to wear unpadded bras, and with the fit being slightly out I fear it may be uncomfortable. Tango also comes in a plunge bra, so if you like the Tango balcony but don't get on with it, there's another option for you to try. Again, the briefs were perfect in a size 14, no complaints there!

The most troublesome of my 5 sets is the Alexa by Cleo, a colourful unpadded balconett. I tried 3 sizes; 28H, 28GG and 28G. The 28G fits best, but still not quite right. Like the Tango above, the wires are very u-shaped giving a touch of side boob, and the fabric above the seam on the front of the cup is slightly large, similar to the Cleo Juna I previously reviewed. The fit isn't perfect, but it's definitely wearable and not uncomfortable and boasts incredible uplift! The shorts are a size 14 and fit perfectly. My favourite thing about this set is the colours and pattern. Panache have really pushed the boat out with their Cleo range, aimed at the younger market of busty girls. I adore their choice of bright colours and styles. Take a look for yourself!

Last but not least, the Page halterneck bikini! I was delighted when I opened this parcel, I can tell you! I'm a little disappointed that Panache haven't extended their size range in their swimwear, but to be honest, I'm less picky about wearing the correct size when it comes to bikinis. I was sent a 30FF and it fits really well. The back is a tad loose, as expected, but it's not really an issue. The fold-down briefs are a 14, and again perfect. The reason I love this bikini so much is because it's nautical-looking and has a retro feel about it. It's so cute!

So there we have it, 5 gorgeous sets by Panache! Again, many thanks for Georgina from FullerFigureFullerBust and Heather from Panache for their generosity and help :)

Back in February, Georgina of FullerFigureFullerBust ran a fabulous competition with loads of amazing prizes. I was lucky enough to win 5 sets from Panache and a dress from BiuBiu, as reviewed in my two previous posts.

So here's a quick post about my entry,in case you haven't seen it already. I chose the 'design a bra' category, and my idea quickly snowballed into actually making my design!

I love The Rocky Horror Picture show, especially the character of Columbia. She's feisty with bright red hair, and wears sequins! My bra design is based on Columbia's costume in the Time Warp scene; multi-coloured sequin corset, gold sequin tailcoat and striped shorts.

Alas, my idea was born! I used an old bra that didn't fit, cut off the mesh overlay and trim, and got to work. It took around 10 metres of multi-coloured strung sequins, about 3 metres of other trims, a few metres of various coloured ribbon, half a bottle of fabric glue and a number of hours! It almost didn't happen. I ran out of sequins at this point and it took me a few weeks to find a new supply to match exactly!

.....And here it is...The Columbia!

What's more, it fits me!

I really enjoyed making it and it was well worth the effort as the prizes I won were amazing! Thanks again to FullerFigureFullerBust for choosing me as a winner!

When I first discovered Collectif around a year ago, I fell in love with the Tiki print Sarong dress, but it was sold out in my size. I toyed with getting the next size up but decided against it, and put those longing thoughts to bed. Le sigh.

Then, whilst idly browsing Ebay, I came across Collectif's Ebay shop and found one in a size 8! I didn't pay a lot for it, I think it was £15 or thereabout. Luckily, nobody else was bidding against me. The listing said the print was slightly imperfect but once it arrived, I had a good look and couldn't find anything wrong!

It fits on the large size, so I'd recommend sizing down. As it's a halter neck, you'll need to find a multiway bra that doesn't show. Here I'm wearing a Panache Inferno Plunge. The fabric belt that comes with it isn't the best, and doesn't flatter the dress as well as it could, but that's not an issue when you have as many wide belts as I do. My red one is a firm favourite and it contrasts the turquoise blue of the Tiki print perfectly! What do you think?

So the moral of the story is, don't give up looking, and ALWAYS try Ebay!

For the first time ever, Curvy Kate have packed their suitcases and headed off to the USA to launch their increasingly successful Star In A Bra competition!

The Star In A Bra competition has been a massive success here in the UK, projecting your average girl next door into the limelight as a lingerie model! The modelling contest has produced such beauties as Lizzie Haines, Laura Butler, Lauren Colfer and from the Australian competition Julia McLean, all seen below.

Now it's time for the USA to get their turn! As we all know, America has a HUGE diversity of shapes and sizes and this is reflected in the Star In A Bra USA Top 30. Of course there are a fair few wrong bra sizes, but that will be rectified at the top 10 stage I'm sure!

You get three votes at this stage, and I've decided on two of mine but can't decide on a third as yet. So here are my two favourites. Firstly we have the absolutely gorgeous Brittany Jencks of Thin and Curvy. She has a beautiful figure, and wears a 28H which is a cup size bigger than myself, so I can totally relate to her struggle to find well fitting bras.

Vote for Brittany!

My second vote goes to the gorgeous Cristyén Elaine Fowler of Red Hair & Girly Flair. Not only is she a fellow red head, but like me, she's also lost a whole chunk of weight to get where she is now: In the Top 30 of Star In A Bra!

Vote for Cristyén

Now GO VOTE! x

Back in January you may recall me winning Brastop's Model Of The Month competition for December. On May 4th I attended a professional photo shoot for the overall Covergirl competition with 4 other Model Of The Month winners. The winner gets to feature on the front cover of Brastop's summer issue of their magazine.

As I knocked on the door of the London house, I could hear lots of girly giggling! I was greeted by Becky Mount, one of Brastop's resident bloggers, with a huge hug! Firstly the hair stylist got to work on my stubborn hair, setting it in large rollers...

Arrgh! No make up!!

Then I had lots of free time to roam around the unbelievable £5 million house(!), so I took a few shots, naturally:

Then, after snacking on cake, crisps, etc, I was whisked into make-up. Soon after that I got to try out my first lingerie set of the day, the Freya Erin. I loved this set but sadly it's not availible in my size. All 5 of us girls were then asked to do some fun shots, such as all five of us piling into a wardrobe, using kid's toy cakes as makeshift boobies, that kind of thing! We had such a laugh, I had tears running down my face!

All five of us all glammed up and ready to rock! Good luck girls!

I must admit, being around these 4 gorgeous girls (and they really are stunning) made me feel so old! I think I managed to hide my 30 years though. Or should I say, the make up artist did! After the fun shots I was asked to change into three different sets for my individual shots. The photographer was he lovely Alison Webster, the same one I'd met last year for the Curvy Kate Star In A Bra 2011 top 10 shoot. A fun (and manic) day was had by all, and the 5 hours I was there flew by way too fast! I could have stayed in that house for a long time just exploring each floor!

Here are a few of my shots from the day:

Curvy Kate Emily in Lavender

Curvy Kate Princess in Pink

So....Now the important part. Time for your input!

All I need you to do is CLICK HERE and LIKE my photo. This photo in fact:

Freya Flamingo Bikini

Voting ends on Friday 18th May 2012, So if you'd like to see me on the front of Brastop's magazine, please take a few seconds to vote for me. I'd really appreciate it if you could also share the link after you've voted to help me even more! Since I missed out on winning Star In A Bra last year and id't get chosen this year, I'd love to win this competition.

All the gorgeous lingerie featured in this post is available from Brastop.

Please cross all fingers and toes for me, and VOTE VOTE VOTE! Thank you! <3

xxx

Today I ventured into a shop I don't normally go into; New Look. I initially went in to drool over their shoes, as they're always amazing, but found myself with four dresses from Kelly Brook's new collaboration with New Look that I wanted to try on!

I'll bang through these quickly as I don't want to bore you!

Dress number one, the Orange Poppy Peplum Dress, £39.99. I tried this in my usual size 8, and it was quite a struggle to squeeze into. I didn't hold much hope of it looking nice, or fitting my the bust, but lo and behold, it doesn't look too bad, and fits like a glove. A rather snug glove. I have a feeling the size 10 would probably be too big, particularly on my waist. The peplum seems to be a bit too long for me, and makes my butt looks even bigger than it really is! I think this is one for the less curvy women out there...Anyway, here it is;

Dress number two, the Bardot Scenic Print Dress, £39.99. Again, a size 8, this time an even worse fit! You can't tell from the photo but I couldn't get this zipped up over my bust. AT ALL. It would probably be perfect in a 10, but I'm not that keen on the neckline as it means I'd have to wear a strapless bra with it, and quite frankly, strapless bras are always uncomfortable!

Dress number three, the Blue Belted Dress, £34.99. A size and a MASSIVE fail! It fits perfectly on the waist and zips right up, but the bust was, as expected, a terrible fit. It has cup details stitched in, so the chances of it fitting a lot of women is very slim as the 'cups' are quite small and very wide set. No hope for me and my 28GG's! I knew this dress wouldn't fit but I was curious since Kelly Brook has a sizeable rack, so I hoped for a better fit. On the plus side, the dress is a nice colour for me and my red hair, has a matching belt and a cute keyhole detail on the back. Please excuse my bra being shown so badly, it's the wrong size and rides up my back.

Last but not least in any sense of the word, my favourite of them all, the White Floral Bow Shoulder Dress, £39.99. This time, the size 8 fitted as though it was made for me! Perfect! Again, excuse the badly fitting bra. If I wore my real size it wouldn't be seen. I love the bow details on the shoulders and the keyhole in the back, it makes a difference to everything else out there at the moment. I won't be buying this dress as I have too many already, but I can highly recommend this one from the Kelly Brook range.

So what do you think of the Kelly Brook collection? Will you be buying anything from the range?

Bye for now :)

So it seems the latest initiation to the world of lingerie blogging is to go for a fitting in either Victoria's Secret or Boux Avenue. Today I opted for the latter due to a lack of the former.

The Boux Avenue store in question is the Trafford Centre store which opened a little over a year ago. The store itself is beautifully laid out, with drawers under each rack of bras containing each back size and multiple cup sizes. Boux Avenue stock bras from a 30 band and cups up to H, sizing me and my 28GG's out from the offset. But me being me, I thought I'd play devil's advocate and go for a fitting so see what they came up with.

I went in wearing my 30G Freya Deco that rides up at the back and just about encases my boobs and made sure it looked worse by jiggling my boobs to the point of being close to spillage. I grabbed a 30G red gingham bra I liked from one of the drawers and ask for a fitting. The girl who fitted me was as lovely as fitters always are, but I didn't hold out much hope for her from reading the experiences of Cheryl and Becky from investinyourchest and Georgina from Fullerfigurefullerbust. She came armed with a tape measure, whcih she wrapped around me VERY tightly and told me I'm measuring up at a 30 back. Now I know this not to be true because I'd measured myself a few nights before and came up at 27" meaning I should be in a 28 band. She told me that the G cup I was wearing was clearly too small and that I should be wearing a 30GG. After a few fails, the fitter suggested I try a 32G to get the correct cup size. A 32 band is a massive 5 inches larger than my actual band size!

Here is the first bra I tried, a red gingham number in a 30G. I'm a sucker for red gingham! As you can see, it's too big in the band. The fitter agreed that it didn't fit, but didn't seem to notice how big the band was.

The next two are both 30GG's and both fitted much better than the last, but still were too big on the band. When I fastened them I used the loosest hooks and then adjusted the straps to fit. The fitter told me this is wrong and that I need to create a 'perfect circle' around my back. She then apologised for using training talk and explained that the band should sit parallel around your back and not ride up. Correct. She told me the way to do this is to fasten the bra on the tightest hook and THEN adjust the straps. This way the band won't ride up. Erm...what?

In this coral 'Poppy' bra, there was a little extra fabric above the top seam which made it not sit flat, and he correctly said this is because my boobs are bottom heavy, but she didn't suggest I try a smaller cup. The fit in this was isn't too far off, but the gore didn't sit flat and the band was too big when I pulled it away from my body.

In this floral 'Taliah' bra, the shape was all wrong, and didn't completely encase all my breast tissue like it should have, so she fetched a 30H for me to try, which was of course, far too big. The band wasn't sitting parallel as you can see, so I wasn't getting the support I needed.

Finally, the fitters' stab in the dark. Two 32G's. The fitter said that the central gore was sitting away from my chest because the cup isn't big enough. Now this interested me, as I was told the same thing by a customer service representative when I rang Bravissimo once. I'm almost certain this is not the case, and it's all down to band size as normal. Check out the length of the fully adjusted straps in this electric blue 'Chloe' bra!

The fitter said that I need a wider central gore to prevent spillage, and chose the 'Loretta', a black silk bra for me to try, saying it runs smaller in the band than their normal range as it doesn't have a lot of stretch. This was not the case...

As lovely as the fitter was, I expected more from a self-proclaimed 'Fitting Ambassador'. After she realised none of the bras weren't going to be suitable for me, she asked if I'd heard of Curvy Kate. This made me pretty happy because it's nice to know they're becoming well known. She also suggested Caprice's range, available from Littlewoods, but again, my real size of 28GG is not catered for.

While Boux Avenue have some really pretty bras and a store interior to die for, I wouldn't suggest you go to them for an accurate fitting. I still haven't found a decent fitting outside Bravissimo sadly!

Have you had a fitting at Boux Avenue? How did they do?

Totally forgot to thank you all for voting for me in Brastop's Cover Girl competition. I won!

If you're a Brastop customer, you have probably already received your copy of their magazine with me on the front and an exclusive interview inside! Eek! Exciting stuff! If you're not a customer, you can read the magazine online here, but (at the time of writing this), 'my' issue is not online to view yet.

So here's what the finished product looks like, along with the postcard that was sent out to customers for my Model Of The Month win back in January.

Thanks again, I wouldn't have won without your support :)

Back in April, you may remember my post about a newly discovered company, specialising in Vintage reproduction dresses called Lady Vintage London. The dress I bought from them is absolutely beautiful, but didn't fit in a size 10 sadly. However, I couldn't bear to return it as I'd fell deeply in love with it, so I asked my mum to tailor it to fit and she did it brilliantly! After much hassling via twitter and Facebook, Lady Vintage finally announced that they would add size 8's to their range! I was delighted at this, but couldn't choose a dress until I finally caved last week and ordered three beautiful dresses. Without further ado, here they are!

Black & White Polka Dot Hepburn Dress. At the moment, it has £10 off, making it £30. Be quick if you want one! This is a size 8 and sadly too big. I mean sadly, because I wanted this dress to wear for work. It's eye-catching without being sexy and I love the high neckline (supposedly a no-no for a big bust) and the huge amount of fabric in the skirt. The dress comes with a thin black patent belt, as seen in the first two photos. It would easily work for a day in the office, night out, wedding or even as a day dress, it's so adaptable! My only other criticism in the length. At 5'2", it's a little bit too long, but when I slipped on my petticoat (details at the bottom of the post), it looked much better. My advice; Size down in this, but it's WELL worth it.

If only this came in a size 6...

My next choice is a fairly new addition to Lady Vintage, in a size 8, the Beautiful Cat Print Shawl Collar 50's Dress, £35. As soon as I tried this on, I knew it was something special! The fabric is so soft and floaty,and the print is adorable! Just look at the little kitty! I love the Peter Pan collar and the matching fabric tie belt too. The bust is just about big enough for me, so if you're reading this because you have big boobs, bear it in mind that I'm a 28GG. Again I tried this with and without a petticoat and with various belts. With the petticoat I felt a little like a lampshade, but with a less full petticoat, I'm sure it would look much better. It's very slightly see through, but this can be tackled by wearing nude underwear. Here, I'm wearing blue and you can see it showing through a little, but not too badly.

Lastly, the dress I was most looking forward to trying after my campaign to get size 8's made; the Vintage Blue Floral Summer Swing Dress, £40. I really didn't want to fall in love with this as I've still not worn my other Lady Vintage swing dress, but boy have I fallen for it! Firstly, the fit is so perfect it's as though it was made for me! I was spoilt for choice at which swing dress to try because admittedly, I wasn't overly keen on any of the patterns, and even when I first slipped this dress on I wasn't so sure. With my nude belt and shoes, it's safe and understated, but a little 'meh'. Then I went and tried it with red. WOW. Who'd have thought that red would be the most complimentary colour for this dress?! I thought I'd be buying the cat dress but this one has me smitten so I'm going to have to make a tough decision...

So as I mentioned at the start of this post, my mum altered the dress I'd previously bought from Lady Vintage, and here it is. I'm sure you'll agree that she did an amazing job! Unfortunately this colour dress is no longer available but you can still get it in black and red, £30 or in black and pink, £30.

...and here's what I was wearing underneath. for the square necklines, it's best to wear a balconette bra like this one; Tease Me in blue by Curvy Kate, £29. My petticoat is from Collectif, and is the Lola Puffy in red, £38.

You might also want to check out Lady Vintage fans and bloggers Miss Kathryn's Misstakes, Big Girl's Browse and Fuller Figure Fuller Bust. They all look amazing in their Lady Vintage dresses!

So all that's left to do is decide which dress I'm keeping. Thanks for reading!

*Firstly, I'd like to say that I was sent the following items to review by the company in question. I blog honestly and will not lie about a product just because it was sent free of charge.*

We've all seen those late night shopping channels advertising miracle products that you simply can't live without, right? Sometimes they can grab your attention...

"Tired of hooks, wires straps and underwires?" Sounds interesting, go on..."Say goodbye to the barbaric torture of traditional bras and hello to technology made perfect!" Riiiiight...."The Ahh Bra...." Oh, that thing...

Like I said in the title, to me the Ahh Bra (affectionately know as the Argh Bra by some bloggers!) is like Marmite; you either love it or hate it. I'm a firm believer in the need for wires, hooks, straps and a solid band to support the breasts, so I'm in the 'hate it' camp. So when a representative of Rhonda Shear contacted me to see if if I'd like to review the Ahh Bra, I was reluctant but in the interests of my blog, thought it would be an ideal product to try.

Rhonda Shear, the designer of the Ahh Bra is undoubtedly a passionate and inspirational businesswoman, having won numerous entrepreneurial awards since the launch of the Ahh Bra 2002. Rhonda was an all-American beauty pageant kind of girl, later posing for Playboy, then moving onto TV, movies and stand-up comedy. Wanting a new project, Rhonda decided to embark upon designing a revolutionary new bra; and the Ahh Bra was born! Rhonda's range has since expanded to include nightwear, outerwear such as leggings and secret support vests, dresses and shapewear, which I was hoping I'd get to try out.

The ever glamorous Rhonda Shear (photo courtesy of Up All Night)

The Ahh Bra has no hooks, wires or adjustable straps and comes in sizes XS-2XL without the 'need' for cup sizes. It's supposedly guaranteed to fit perfectly. We'll see about that...!

Beautifully presented. But never judge a book by it's cover...

I was sent four items from Rhonda's 2012 collection; the original Ahh Bra, an Ahh Bra with removable pads, the 'Sweet Tart' butterknit gown and the 'Pin Up' bra.

The Original Ahh Bra:

I received this in the Raspberry colour, in a size medium, based on my overbust measurement of 36" (I think). The underbust measurement isn't taken into account therefore I found it a little loose in the band.. The other major problem is that the straps aren't adjustable, and needed to be about 4 inches shorter. You can see in the picture below how the fit of the Ahh Bra is improved simply by shortening the straps, which also encased the 'armpit boobs' I was experiencing, an issue the Ahh Bra boasts to eliminate. Even then it's not something I'd be comfortable wearing outside the house.

I can't argue that the construction of the Ahh Bra isn't well designed, with it's tight knit in place of traditional wires, and looser knit to accommodate the bust. This is not an exclusive design though, as there are other bras on the market that sport a similar construction.

The Original Ahh Bra is unsuitable or use as a functional bra in my opinion, as it does not support the bust in a way that a wired and adjustable bra can. I'd only suggest the Ahh Bra to be worn as a sleep bra or for slobbing out on the sofa.

The Ahh Generation Bra (with removable pads):

This one is virtually the same (looks and fit) as the Original Ahh Bra, except it has removable pads and is in the Blush colour. The fit in this one was...interesting, the pads far too small for my GG cups. However much I tried, I couldn't get my boobs NOT to look wonky, so I don't really have much to say on this one that I haven't said already. Er....enjoy?

The Pin-Up lace metallic leisure bra:

I so badly wanted this to work as I hadn't had much luck with the first two. But the only positive thing I can find to say about this non-wired, soft cup bra is that it has LOADS of hooks and eyes, see? I wish other bra makers would follow suit, although they were quite fiddly to fasten, so maybe not.

This bra was a Small yet the band stretched right up to 40". Yes, the fabric is that stretchy. Bearing in mind my underbust measurement is 28", you can see why this particular style doesn't work for me. Again, the straps were far too long and coupled with the very loose band, the bra offered no support whatsoever. Yes, that's my natural shape in the first picture. Also, check out the HUGE arm holes!

The Sweet Tart butterknit shelf gown:

Possibly the most disappointing of them all. I was hoping to at least salvage this to sleep in, and on unwrapping it, it was instantly my favourite of the package. The nylon/spandex mix is beautifully soft and stretchy, and the black lace over nude is a nice touch. Although the straps are adjustable, I didn't find this helped at all, since they are very thin and flimsy, completely unsuitable for supporting GG cup boobs!

Again, this is a small and again the band was extremely stretchy, offering no support, so my boobs sit as though I'm not wearing a bra at all. I think the pictures speak for themselves:

All in all, I wouldn't recommend any of the products I've reviewed if you have a fuller bust. They might work okay for a woman with a smaller bust than myself I guess, but since you're reading fuller bust blog, then I can't say I'd be able to guess. Apparently, the Ahh Bra is hugely popular and has sold millions of units, so I guess a lot of women have had success with them. What works for one might not work for another, so who am I to argue?!

Have you tried an Ahh Bra? What did you think?

Amongst the many dresses my curvy pals have tried, there is one that stands out above the rest. One that seems to enchant every woman who's tried it, whether they are a size 6 or a size 20. That dress, ladies and gentlemen is the Heidi by Pinup Girl Clothing!

A few months ago I finally caved in to my desires and bought a Heidi dress in leopard print from buy-unlike. After a lot of comparing measurements with other Heidi fans, I bought the dress in a small, and much to my delight it fitted perfectly, as though it was made for me! I paid £47 for it in the sale, and sadly they don't stock it any more but it can be found on Pinup Girl Clothing for £60 (plus shipping).

The neckline is quite daring and somewhat lower than I'd usually wear, but boy do I feel good in it! It's sweetheart shape is complimented by a black trim which is also echoed around the cap sleeves. Included is a high quality skinny fabric belt in black. Here I teamed it with a wide bow belt from Primark, spike heelless shoes from my local market (can also be found on ebay) and the 'Lola Puffy' petticoat from Collectif.

A close up on my shoes because I think they're amazing! I admit I've not worn them yet but I couldn't face taking them back for a refund because they're so different.

I'm glad I caved in as this dress is gorgeous, fits like a glove and is available in plenty of other colours should I get bored of this one. I've already go my eye on the cherry print Heidi.

The Heidi might cost a bit more than other dresses I've tried, but it's totally worth it as the quality, fit and rockabilly styling are perfect. I'd be hard pushed to find something off the rack that fits as well as the Heidi. It's quite simply perfect!

*This product was sent to me by Gossard for me to review. This in no way clouds my judgement*

I saw the Glossies collection by Gossard a few months ago on Twitter, and pretty much came to the same conclusion as everyone else I know; it looked HIDEOUS! I mean, really...ew. It's shiny and see through and that Mocha colour...? I quickly dismissed this bra as something I'd never wear, or even contemplate trying on.

Glossies bra in Mocha

Then I was contacted by a lady from Gossard who wanted to send me some products to try, and to my disappointment, what turned up? I Glossies set in Mocha!! Cue a horrified look/gasp!

Gossard don't make 28 bands at all, so I was sent a 30G. I had a feel of it and the fabric is gorgeously soft but I didn't think it would support me. Then I noticed the panels on the outer sides of the cups designed to shape and support the bust. Then I tried it on...and it REALLY pains me to admit that it's actually a lovely bra and DOES support me! The fabric feels beautifully soft against the skin and although I still think the colour is pretty vile, the Mocha shade would be perfect for someone with darker skin who's looking for a 'nude' bra, because nude bras tend to cater for Caucasian skin. The Mocha colour in person is quite different than in the stock photos.

I was very surprised it worked on me because normally in a plunge such as this, the seam over the top of the bust usually cuts on, but in this bra that doesn't happen. I don't tend to wear unpadded (and particularly sheer) bras, but (and again, it pains me to admit it) I would actually consider wearing this, just as long as I could find a way of hiding my nipples. The other issue I had, although I realise other women wouldn't, it that you can see the creases in the skin on my boobs when I 'tuck' them in when putting the bra on. As I said, it probably won't affect a lot of you, unless you have post weight-loss boobs with some loose skin.

My main bugbear, and it is a biggie, is that the straps are so thin! Why, Gossard, why?? Also, it could use three hooks instead of two, so the combination of thin straps and a thin band aren't ideal in larger cup sizes.

The shorts were sent to me in a Large, and are perfect. No muffin top!! I actually love these! They are ideal for slipping on under tight fitting clothing and feel great. I imagine I'll get a lot of wear out of these because they look and feel really nice.

The Glossies range is available in various colours, in sizes 30 D-G and 32-38 A-G. The shorts comes in sizes XS-L and cost £12.00. Both can be purchased direct from Gossard here. I'd really like to see Gossard expand their size range to include 28 bands and cup sizes over a G. They are a very well established company now and I think it's about time they moved with the times and their customers.

Well I've certainly learnt my lesson; never judge a book by it's cover! Would you try Gossard's Glossies range or do you think they're too ugly?

Thanks for reading!

*This item was sent to me by Gossard to review. This in no way clouds my judgement*

As soon as I saw the Ooh La La range from Gossard I fell in love to the point of buying an entire set that didn't even fit purely on the basis that it looked gorgeous! I consider it the set that won me Brastop's Model Of The Month competition in December 2011. To recap, here's the set; plunge bra £30, deep suspender £22 and shorts £14.

Since then, I've lusted after the Ooh La La corsele £59 and thong £12 in it's different colours, particularly the most recent in Scarlet.

You can imagine my delight when the lovely Jade from Gossard offered to send me the very corselet and matching thong I'd been admiring from afar! As soon as I unpackaged it I was in love, but at a 30G (again, sent because Gossard don't make a 28GG) I was doubtful that it would fit.

The colour is more of a raspberry red rather than scarlet, with pinkish undertones. The vintage styling, pin tucks and lace really add to the luxury of this piece, making it ideal for bridal lingerie in the Ivory colour.

Firstly, Gossard boast this corselet has an 'easy-on, easy-off' side zip and hook and eye fastening. Let me tell you, easy it is NOT! I fought for quite a long time trying to fasten the damn thing, and eventually had to unhook the bra strap and spin it around! The zip is concealed and virtually invisible. Here's the fastening with the hook and eye part of the bra band fastened already;

The unique side hook and eye fastening with a concealed zip

The 30G padded cups were a perfect fit on me, but as expected, the band was on the large side, as was the body. I can imagine this fitting a 30G size 10-12 perfectly. Sadly it was an inch or two too big on my waist. It would be suitable for wearing underneath that little black dress as a sexy alternative to shapewear, but you also need to take into account the seams which may appear bulky under anything particularly tight fitting. I'm unable to comment on it's 'pull-in power' as it's loose in the body on me. This begs the question; how much pinning did they have to do on the model to get it to look so good?!

The addition of suspenders is both practical and drop dead sexy too! This corselet is a multi-way, enabling it to be worn under a strapless, halterneck, asymetrical or normal strapped dress. Sadly, as it was a bit big in the band, I can only wear it with straps.

Regular readers will know I like to buy my thongs in larger sizes to reduce 'muffin top' and in the Ooh La La, I was sent a Large, which fitted perfectly without any lumps and bumps.

Be warned, this corselet will make you feel like a real-life Jessica Rabbit!

At £59, it's a lot more than I'd be happy to spend, but if it fits and you have a use for it, I'd certainly recommend buying it. It's sexy, practical and well made. The corselet is available in sizes 30-38 D-G for £59 and the thong XS-L for £12. There's no denying it's one of the sexiest sets I've reviewed so far, it's just a shame that Gossard don't cater for more sizes.

What do you think? Would you pay this much for a corselet? Should Gossard branch out with their sizes?

When I first laid eyes on Curvy Kate's Fleurty from their 2012 Spring/Summer collection, I knew I had to have it. Its pretty but unusual combination of a coral base with blue overlay and circular cut-out pattern really hit a chord with me but with me being a bargain hunter, I knew that this set would eventually surface in a sale or on Brastop, stockists of big bras from past seasons for low prices. So I waited, and eventually there it was! It's currently on offer for £18.95 for the bra and £9,95 for the shorts.

The strikingly pretty colours of Fleurty

As always, I consulted my trusty team of busty friends to find out how the Fleurty fitted in size compared to Curvy Kate's Tempt Me, which I wear in a 28H, and it was agreed that I try a 28HH. wo cup sizes larger than my 'usual' size of 28GG.

The Fleurty is a balcony bra and unusually for the Showgirl range the band seems true to size! Since there is quite a lot of detail on the cups, the lumpiness of the pattern and pleating at the bottom of the cups can be seen quite easily under tight fitting clothes. This can be remedied by wearing a seamless cami over the top. The back of the bra is plain.

A close-up of the detailing on the bra

As for the shorts, after a spot of trial and error, I ended up with a size 18. To be honest I was somewhere between the 16 and 18, but the 18 offered less muffin top, so I went for those. I don't mind what the label says as long as it fits, but I am concerned that this kind of sizing may rule out a genuine size 18 lady from getting comfortable pants to match the bra. The front of the shorts echoes the design of the front of the bra and the back is a double layer of blue mesh.

The amazing detail on the shorts

So, here's the set, aint it gorgeous?! I couldn't be happier with the fit, it's spot on!

Tah-dahhhh!!

In my opinion, this is the best fitting Curvy Kate bra I've tried yet, and sadly, it's the first and last of the Fleurtys! Apparently it didn't sell too well. Perhaps it was the unusual colour combination or the bulk of the detailing. Either way, I'm gutted. Please, Curvy Kate, consider reintroducing Fleurty, even if it meant a few tweaks in the details. It's a stunning bra!

Do you like the colour combination?

*This set was sent to me by the kind people at Gossard to review*

Apologies for the break in blog posts, I've recently stopped spending so much on clothes and lingerie on account of paying for my Maldivian holiday next month! Thankfully, the lovely folks at Gossard sent me another set to review, so I didn't have to spend a penny! Phew!

I was sent the Retrolution set of the half padded bra (£36) in my 'sister size' of 30G with a waist cincher (£40) in a large, but neither fitted. In the bra the cups run small, as does the band, so ideally a 30GG or 30H would have fitted, but sadly Gossard don't produce bras above a G cup. The large cincher was too big all round, so I returned the set for a 32G and a medium cincher.

The Retrolution range boasts tags saying 'VIP' which instantly makes you feel you're getting something special, and the 'hardwear' is in a striking shade of rose gold as opposed to the usual silver.

Each design in the range has high quality lace panels combined with a stretch satin type fabric, again of a high quality. The Waist Cincher benefits particularly from the stretch satin as it really holds it's shape and can help smooth out any lumps and bumps. The little details and stitching add to the 'VIP' feel of the range.

The back of the bra features the classic Gossard gate back, which I love, and a nice thick band of hooks and eyes as you can see here. Great for support in larger cups.

So, how did it fit? Well, it could be better. The bra, as I said was a 32G, a far cry from my 'real' size of 28GG which meant the back was on the large size, but not so much that it would cause any major issues. It fitted more like a 30G, so I'd recommend going up a back size but keeping your cup size the same as it runs small in the cup. The coverage of the bra is full and not something I'd normally go for, but is certainly something I'd wear as there's no risk of any spillage from the centre of the cups like I usually experience in plunge bras. I will need to take the band in a little to get the perfect fit, but I must say, this bra does seem to be a very wearable day-to-day bra.

The waist cincher was ideal for me in the butt in a medium, but an inch or so too big in the waist. This is perfectly understandable as not everybody is as curvy as me, with my waist measurement of 26.5" and hips at their widest at 38". The cincher could really work as decent shapewear on someone with more 'normal' curves I'm sure. I wouldn't recommend wearing this under a slinky dress as the seams are relatively bulky so you'd get a VPL.

So you want to know how it looks, right? Here you go!

Admittedly I wouldn't have bought this set as I like a PERFECT fit and something I know I'll wear regularly, and the price is a little more than I'd pay at £76 for the set. The thing I loved about this set is that it really hit the spot in making me feel like a Retro Goddess. I teamed it with seamed stockings and black heels (not seen) and felt every inch the Pin-Up, see?!

What do you think?

Hey all, please could you all do me a huge favour and vote for me to win Curvy Kate's next swimwear collection?

Just click this link and click VOTE, or failing that, go to the gallery and find my design (see below) and simply click vote!

Also, while I'm on the subject of voting, please could you vote for fellow Star In A Bra 2011 contestant Georgina Horne of FullerFigureFullerBust to win Tesco's Winter Wishlist blogger competition. She's number 3 and looks something like this:

Thanks lovelies! x

As you may have realised by my previous posts, I LOVE Lady V London's dresses. Recently on their Facebook page they announced the arrival of the new Wiggle dresses, a prospect that filled me with sheer joy!

The Lady V Wiggle dress comes in 7 colours and 3 different prints in sizes 8-20/22. It costs £40, or £30-£40 at the time of writing this since it's on offer. I opted for the Red/White Polka Dot and the White/Black Polka Dot as they popped out to me most. As for the sizes, my measurements are; bust 36", waist 26.5, hips 38" so I ordered sizes 8 and 10 in both colours to ensure I didn't miss out on the introductory offer. Here's the size chart for this particular dress:

Two days later a pink package arrived containing the lovely dresses! My first observation was that the red isn't a bright poppy red but more of a wine red, which isn't what I was expecting, but is really nice nonetheless. The dresses are of a nice quality and don't feel like they'd fall apart or lose their shape easily.

The fabric of the skirt part is quite a thick, quality stretch cotton/elastane mix and designed to cling to your curves, but does seem to be prone to creasing. The top part (the patterned bit) is made from a non-stretch viscose so I wasn't sure how the fit would work out on a fuller bust. The other design feature I was worried about was the 'apex' between the bust, which creates a kind of cupped dress. I've always steered clear of this sort of feature as all women have differently sized boobs, so I think a lot of women might not look quite right in these dresses as a result. A more preferable design in my opinion would be to have a high waisted design without the bit between the boobs. Something like this. I've added the collar and bow using my amazing MS Paint skills, but you get the idea! The original dress is from Ebay, apologies but I can't find the listing now!

The 'apex'

As I said before, I ordered both size 8s and 10s to try and find the perfect fit. The 8 fitted better in the body, if not a little more snug than I feel comfortable in but the top part of the dress was too small, hence the mega cleavage. The 10 was perfect at the top but too big at the bottom, which you can clearly see in the photos below. This problem could easily have be solved by a minor and relatively simple alteration.

The one thing I noticed when I laid them flat was how 'hippy' these dresses are, making them ideal for those curvier ladies who don't go straight up and down. If I were to have kept one, it definitely would have been the white/black polka dot dress in a 10 and have it tailored to fit.

White/Black Polka Dot:

Red/White Polka Dot:

Be warned, the plunging neckline is not for the faint of heart and exposes lots of skin (and cleavage if you're busty). You'll need to wear a balcony bra, such as Curvy Kate's Tease Me or Masquerade's Rhea for the bra not to be seen. In my photos I'm wearing a Freya Deco plunge bra that I had to fold to make the cups less visible (you can see them in the red dress) and a shapewear 'Wear Your Own Bra' (WYOB) slip from Primark's Secret Possessions range to smooth out my silhouette.

I love the pin up style of the wiggle dress and the fact that it has a wide collared neckline, polka dot pattern, high waist and a bow really pushes my buttons. The 'apex' I discussed is something I would normally have overlooked for such a nice dress but I can't really afford another at the moment, so I've had to send them all back, sorry Lady V...I'll always accept gifts y'know ;)

So ladies, what do you think?

Hi guys, I'm so sorry I've not posted since November! My December holiday then Christmas got in the way and I stopped buying clothes and lingerie so I ran out of things to review.

I looked through some old albums on my laptop and found a few bra pics that I hadn't posted. The following are both still very much available at Brastop so I feel this is a relevant and up to date post.

Please excuse the photo quality, I only took quick snaps as I was packing for my holiday at the time and I had to get both sent back for a refund asap.

Firstly we have the Curvy Kate Rio Ruffle bikini, currently at just£12.95 for the top, and £6.95 for the bottoms! The Rio Ruffle bikini was from Curvy Kate's very first plunge into the sea of swimwear and when I first saw it I fell instantly in love. The colours are beautiful, a rich jade with a cerise trim, and it has RUFFLES! I love a ruffle! I ordered a few different sizes on the recommendation of my busty pals, as this bikini is a tricky one to get right. In the end I settled on my usual size of 28GG for the best fit.

Personally I found this bikini was too east/west for my breasts, and cut across slightly, giving me a spot of quadraboob. It would suit those who usually have success with lots of Curvy Kate bras, such as Emily as the Rio Ruffle is based on the Emily shape ut with lightly padded cups. I better suit their balcony shape (Fleurty, Tease Me) so it didn't work for me. I'd have preferred something a bit more cleavagey with more forward projection.

Rio Ruffle bikini by Curvy Kate

Next I tried the Audrey by Flirtelle, sister company of Curvy Kate. Priced currently at £12 and £6.95 for the brief, the pretty simplicity of the textured floral fabric attracted me to this set. It's certainly no show stopper but better suited as an everyday bra. It is lightly moulded and is very supportive, but again it's an east/wester on me, and again slightly cuts into my breasts across the middle, although this can't be seen in the photo below. The Audrey bra seems to me to be the same shape as the Curvy Kate Daily Boost bra.

Audrey bra by Flirtelle

I'm so sad that neither of these worked for me as I really like the look of them both. Oh well, at least it gives me a better idea of what to look for in the future!

Lady Vintage London; ALMOST perfect!

Dabbling with BiuBiu; Vanity Fair and Green Ponti dress

My shiny new Panache collection!

My Winning Entry For FullerFigureFullerBusts Competition!

The Tremendous Tiki!

Star In A Bra across the pond!!

Help me WIN! (And see me in pants again!)

Kelly Brook for New Look

Boux Avenue. A boob of a bra fitting.

By the way...I WON!

Lady V London Revisited...and I'm in LOVE!

The Ahh Bra...The Marmite of bras?

Pinup perfection! The Heidi dress by Pinup Girl Clothing

Glossies by Gossard

Ooh La La LOVE!

Get Fleurty with me!

Bringing out the Retro Goddess in you with Gossard Retrolution!

Sorry to ask AGAIN but I need your votes!

Lady V's Latest Offfering: The Wiggle Dress

A quickie review of Flirtelle's Audrey and Curvy Kate's Rio Ruffle bikini