Posts by Holly

Plus Size Lingerie And Swimwear for Your Inner Ballerina: Meet Lulu West

Image via Lulu West

Items for this review were provided by Lulu West. All opinions are my own.

My personal lingerie tastes tend to tilt towards the vintage or classically pretty side of things, so I was intrigued when Lulu West offered to send some samples. It’s not often that I find myself reviewing a brand that is previously totally unknown to me, but the extra feminine look and feel of Lulu West’s offerings had instant appeal. I loved both their vintage inspired pieces and their girly ballerina inspired swimwear, and consequently will be reviewing one piece from each category today. I was sent both the Jessica V-Neck Slip and the Sweet Bandeau Halter Top and Bikini for this review.

Let’s start with one of my common lingerie shopping difficulties: I’m one of the many women who is stuck in the lingerie and clothing size gap. As a size 12/14 woman, I’m frequently included in both regular size lines and plus size lines. This means I should have more choices, right? Ha, no. I frequently find myself fitting into the cut of “standard” size lines without being flattered by them or being flattered by the cut of plus size lines while swimming in their smallest size. Tons of women have similar issues, which is one of the reasons that I’m extra excited about Lulu West. If you’re right in that size gap, this brand may be cut perfectly for you.

Image via Lulu West

The Jessica V-Neck Slip:

This girly pink silk slip immediately stood out to me, but I fell in love with it even more in person. It’s hard to capture the gorgeous details with a camera – it’s honestly one of those pieces that is better in person than in a photo. The body of the slip is made out of pale pink silk and falls in a tremendously flattering way. The lace at the neck and shoulders is intricately detailed with art deco style motifs, but also provides lots of stretch for comfort. I had originally thought that I would use this as sleepwear, but the v-neck and the short length work perfectly under several sheer dresses that I have. I tried a size 14/16 and it draped flatteringly over me rather than drowning me, which is rare for a plus size brand. I suspect that I’ll get lots of wear out of this slip and would buy more colors in a heartbeat if Lulu West made them.

The Sweet Bandeau Halter Top and Bikini:

I was extremely nervous about the whole wireless swimsuit idea, as I tend to stick to bra size swimwear with serious underwires. I loved the cut of this suit though, and it was surprisingly good in terms of lift and shape! While I definitely wouldn’t go and play in the waves while wearing it, I’d definitely take it on vacation to ensure that I looked cute while hanging out in the pool and/or hot tub. I love the giant bows on the suit as well as the cut of the bottoms. I carry most of my weight in my stomach, so this helps cover it nicely while still feeling like I’m wearing a two piece swimsuit. This swimsuit feels thoughtfully designed – it’s clear that Lulu West has thought lots about what plus size women really want in a swimsuit as well as how to balance that with a delicate look that isn’t found often in plus size brands.

The Verdict:

Lulu West is a great brand for plus size women as well as those who fall into the gap between standard sizes and plus sizes. Their pieces are flattering, well made and priced well in relation to their quality. I’m thrilled to have discovered them and will definitely be back to purchase more from them!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Cotton Candy Indulgence: The Lilliana Set by Tutti Rouge!

This lingerie set was provided by Tutti Rouge. All opinions are my own. 

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook page

Several months ago, the internet bra blogger grapevine started buzzing about a new brand that was going to change everything. Tutti Rouge had it all: adorable commercials featuring cute lingerie and models baking treats, reasonable prices, as well as 28 bands and a DD to HH cup range. There wasn’t a ton of information out there when the brand was first announced, so figuring out the details became sort of a mass blogger obsession. People took screenshots of the commercials and deconstructed which bra was which and hovered around the Facebook page waiting for more information to appear. Some people even wondered whether the idea of the brand could live up to all of the hype that it had generated.

Image via Bravissimo

Part of the buzz has been generated by the gradual launch of Tutti Rouge’s first collection. The Lilliana Bra, Shorts and Thong have recently been released through Bravissimo and Esty Lingerie but the rest of the pieces will be released gradually throughout the rest of the summer. It’s a cautious approach from a new company  as well as a novel one.

I was lucky enough to get a sample from the first round of Lilliana sets and I suppose I can go ahead and start with my conclusion: despite some finicky fit issues, this brand is all that the hype has said it would be and more. I’m in love and I suspect lots of other people will be as well. It’s a worthy competitor to Cleo and in my opinion blows Curvy Kate out of the water. The fabrics,  the colors and the detail work is just perfect.

I asked for the Lilliana Bra in my standard Panache size of 34HH and a size L  in the Lilliana Short. When the sample package came, I was shocked by how pink everything was. Tutti Rouge is cleared aimed at a younger audience, but this was the brightest bubblegum pink I had ever seen.  I completely fell in love with the color as soon as I put it on. This color looks great on lots of people and really pops on my pale skin tone. The bra is sort of a half cup plunge, but has a lots of support built in so you feel secure. I’ve noticed that Tutti Rouge seems to favor half cup bras, which gives me high hopes that the rest of the line will be just as great in terms of looks and support.

The details on this bra are amazing: From the tiny polka dot ribbons to the heart shaped strap extenders, everything just works. The polka ribbon detail is carried through to the shorts, which have nice coverage but are sheer enough to feel extremely sexy. I’m usually the first to complain about the overused woven ribbon detail on the top of bra cups, but this element breaks up the pink nicely and works with the sheer section on the top of the bra. The materials used are firm enough to be supportive but also breathable and fun. I love the slightly sheer section at the top of the cups.

As others have reported, this bra does run small in both the band and the cups. This is the only bra in the line that comes in a J cup, so if you’re usually an HH I’d suggest sizing up. I’d also suggest sizing up in the band if you’re on the firmer end of a band size. For my next Tutti Rouge set I intend to try a 36HH, which I think might be perfect. As you can tell from the pictures, even a slightly too small size looks amazing in terms of shape and lift! I’ve worn this a lot with very few issues beyond some readjusting throughout the day, so the set still gets an A+ from me.

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook page

I’m scheduled to get a sample of the Betty set when it is released, so there will definitely be a second part to this review along with a size comparison. In the meantime, pick up the Lilliana while you can! Other bloggers have said this as well, but I think it bears repeating – this set thrills me as a 27 year old, but a brand like this would have changed my life when I was a 17 year old. I love the idea that younger generations full busted women won’t spend their time crying as they are stuffed into ill-fitting minimizer bras like I did. I think these sets are great for adult women, but would also be a great choice for someone’s daughter or niece as well. Tutti Rouge doesn’t have a website yet, but you can stay up to date on their gradual release through their Facebook page. I can’t wait to see what they come out with next!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Tell Us Your Lingerie Addict Story!

Today is my last day helping out Cora, so I wanted to put up a post to talk about The Lingerie Addict itself. Since this week is also the 5 year anniversary of the blog, it seemed like a good time to say some nice things about what TLA has done for us over the years. Despite being a regular contributor to TLA, I still find myself learning things from the blog all the time. It’s encouraged me explore subjects I never would have otherwise, like corsets or black mesh lingerie. It’s encouraged me to think of lingerie design in terms of how it works for my body instead of why my body doesn’t work for the design.

If you have a few extra minutes today and you’re a regular reader (or even a newbie!), please leave a comment about how you started reading and what you’ve gotten from the blog. I think it will be fun to share our experiences, as well as making a nice 5 year blog-iversary present for Cora!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Lingerie Review: The Deco Camisole by Honey Cooler Handmade

I purchased this lingerie myself. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I’ve made a rule to buy only quality lingerie pieces this year, so I’ve spent lots of time looking at custom items over the past few months. I’ve been a social media fan of Honey Cooler Handmade for awhile, but when I realized that I somehow didn’t own any decent camisoles I decided to take the custom order plunge! Part of what appealed to me about Stephanie’s Deco Camisoles was the level of customization that seemed to be possible – after all, if you’re going to pay for a custom piece you want it to be something that speaks to you.

When I emailed Stephanie, we initially talked about a musical note based lace design. I don’t talk about my non-lingerie life much, but in my spare time I’m a fairly serious amateur musician. I own almost as much sheet music as I do lingerie, as well as a 1939 Baldwin piano that is the best thing I’ve ever bought. I’ve also always loved artwork that incorporates music notation, especially early manuscripts from the early days of musical notation. Music wasn’t written down until around 900 and when it was it only showed pitch. All of the surviving examples are religious in nature because churches were the only ones who could afford the paper!

Image via Brebru.com

I sent Stephanie some examples of this type of music as well as a list of colors I liked.  I also sent my measurements. At this point, she sent me several sketches and I picked the one that really spoke to me. She also went out and grabbed several different fabric swatches for me in a variety of colors and patterns. Several days later I got a cute envelope in the mail that contained the swatches with the price for the completed camisole next to each swatch. I love the way she does this, as it makes it really easy to see the price ranges and make a real judgement about which fabric is right for you instead of having to guess. Once I picked one, I put down a $50 deposit to start the process. She also sent me an email asking if I had any final requests in terms of fit, which was lovely since it reminded me to ask her if she could make sure the armholes wouldn’t show my bra!

Image via the Honey Cooler Handmade Instagram

Stephanie put up photos of each step of the process on her social media, which was fun to see. Before my camisole was complete she even emailed to double check the armhole measurement (her guess was spot on, by the way)! By this time I was extra excited to see my camisole show up in the mail to see how it worked.

Image via the Honey Cooler Handmade Facebook

Stephanie put up a really amazing photo once the camisole was done which I was grateful for, because as you can see my photos tend to be a little less uh…professional.

All of the Deco Camisoles are bias cut, which basically means they look good on everyone. They drape beautifully! I’ve been layering a white camisole under mine for the contrast with the sheer lace, but you wouldn’t have to do that. I also love how the silk appears to be different colors under different light levels.

I tried to make sure that the camisole was long enough to wear with leggings or skinny jeans, but not so long that it would look weird under a jacket. And behold, my new semi-coordinating jacket from Target:

I haven’t tried it with a skirt yet, but I suspect that would work well too. It has finally gotten hot here, so it will be great to have a silk sleeveless camisole for the summer. I’m eager to find lots of different ways to wear this, as it’s really flattering and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it.

I’ll definitely be back for another camisole at some point from Honey Cooler Handmade! Stephanie’s work is top notch and she made the custom process extremely easy and fun. If you’re looking to pick up something truly unique and special, these camisoles should be at the top of your list.

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Autumn/Winter 2013 Lingerie Preview: The “Darkside Collection” by Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Tallulah Love has been putting out lovely designs for awhile, but their new collection represents a new look and feel for the brand. Along with a darker and more overtly sexy look, they’re also expanding their size range to include DD+ sizes for Autumn/Winter 2013. All of this means that there will be something for nearly everyone in the new collection! Images from the rest of this gorgeous collection can be found below.

Image via Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Image via Tallulah Love

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone: A Review of the Mosh Playsuit by Dottie’s Delights

Over the past few months, I’ve been doing research for a piece on burlesque lingerie for full busted women. I first encountered the Mosh Playsuit as part of that research, but set it aside as it didn’t seem to meet my usual lingerie requirements. It is completely sheer, has no underwire and I assumed it wouldn’t work for me at all. However, I found myself coming back to it again and again, at which point I decided to contact Dottie’s Delights to explore whether it would work for my figure or not. I’d met Stephanie, the owner of Dottie’s Delights, at a lingerie tradeshow awhile back and really like her. She was sweet, thoughtful and incredibly approachable – just the kind of person I like dealing with when I’m asking difficult lingerie questions. To my surprise, she emailed back and said that not only would it work for my figure, but that I would fit into the standard XL.

Image via Dottie’s Delights

The Mosh Playsuit is a collaboration between Dottie’s Delights and the burlesque performer Mosh, who can be seen in the promotional photos. Apparently this photo set was so popular that Mosh and Stephanie got together and decided to produce the bodysuit in it for sale. It’s been a great seller for them and they’re planning on releasing a chevron version in August.

All of this is to say that up until I actually put it on, I wasn’t sure that this playsuit would work for me. I’m short, busty and carry more of my weight in my stomach than I’d like – not exactly the typical burlesque model type! Once I put the playsuit on I couldn’t believe that I’d gone this long without one – I felt the most confident that I’ve ever felt in a piece of lingerie!

As you can see from the photo, this bodysuit is completely sheer. It’s made of an incredibly high quality mesh that hugs your body while still being soft and comfortable. I’ve picked up several black mesh lingerie pieces from various designers and this is the highest quality mesh that I’ve found. It hugs you enough to make you feel secure, which is nice given how sheer the whole piece is!

What truly amazed me was that this piece not only had enough room for my boobs but that it actually gave them some support. This isn’t going to replace your every day underwire bra, but it definitely makes you feel secure enough for the bedroom or for lazing around and feeling glamourous. I also suspect this would make it great for a boudoir shoot. The playsuit has a nice sweetheart neckline and a low back, which makes it an extra flattering cut. The promotional photos show it as a strapless piece but it also comes with a halter tie that adds extra support and helps everything sit properly. The sides of the playsuit have cute little black buttons and the legholes have adorable ruffles.

This playsuit is one of those pieces that I suspect will look good on everyone. Instead of feeling exposed in it, I feel confident and like I’ve put an extra flattering layer over my regular self. If you’re interested in burlesque style lingerie but aren’t sure if it’s the right style for you, this is a great piece to start with. I’d also recommend it to those of you looking for something out of your comfort zone – you might be surprised how well it works for you!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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Learning to Love My Small Bust: The Size Complex of a Petite Woman

Image via Meg At Midnight

Dana Givens is editor of My Little Vixen, a provocative fashion and sex blog dedicated all things lingerie. She is also is a freelance fashion and beauty writer with numerous online publications.

As an avid lover of all things lingerie, I love the feeling of wearing a sexy set of undergarments that hugs my shape and the pretty little detailing that make that perfect bra stand out. However no matter how beautiful my lingerie was, every time I look in the mirror my focus always fall on my tiny breasts. I can’t help but be self-conscious of their little size. I’ve always admired women with shapely bodies and envious of their supple cleavage because it was something I never had. In my mind, having full bust was a sign of femininity. I wanted to feel more like a woman but instead I felt trapped in a little girl’s body.

Between the pictures of glossy fashion campaigns and gorgeous celebrities under the spotlight, the average woman will always feel pressured to emulate what is perceived as the ‘perfect body’. As someone with a petite frame, I’m not gifted with full busty set of breasts; they are a size 34A and they’re not exactly the ideal when it comes to size. I’ve probably heard every flat-chest joke in the book now and while I try to block out the negativity, the constant scrutiny from my peers can still bother me. The worst part was when I did speak out, it always seemed like my cries fell on deaf ears. Being this size all my life made me learn that it was considered ‘acceptable’ by most people to pick on a smaller woman like myself but heaven forbid I say anything against a larger woman. Like most women my size, I have a slight complex when it comes to my small chest and have even considered getting plastic surgery to take care of the problem. I’ve come along when it comes to loving my body and finding lingerie that is designed for petite women was key in my journey.

Image via Huit

While lingerie can be a great confidence booster when it comes accepting your curves, petite women often have a problem with finding the right bra that flatters their small shape. It is important to find that bra give your bust shape with a peek of cleavage. Lingerie brands like Meg at Midnight, Huit, and the Little Bra Company specialize for women with a small chest. The specialty undergarments are a niche market just like their full-figure counterparts for women that often feel neglected from brands that offer what they consider ‘average’ sizes. It is important to find that brand that makes you feel best instead of feeling inadequate.

When I finally started to take the initiative and find bras that were better suited for women like myself instead of the traditional mass-market names, I started to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I started to discover more and more brands that made me feel less self-conscious of the size of my breasts and more on creating a positive body image for myself. I could finally shop for lingerie and not feel embarrassed when it came to saying what bra size I was. It was refreshing to know there was a place for me amongst the lacy undergarments I’ve come to love so much.

Image via The Little Bra Company

Even though I had discovered lingerie that caters to petite women like myself, it was only the first step when it came to overcoming my size complex. The biggest obstacle was being about to look in the mirror and say “You know what, I’m fine with my size”. I may not have the bouncy full breasts of my dreams but I had eventually learned to say I’m comfortable with my size. While I still may look at a woman with C-cup boobs in envy, I simply learned that I needed to accept my small curves. Maybe one day I will be the size I desire or maybe I’ll forever be the petite woman with small boobs. Despite the ignorant remarks I have heard in the past, being small made no less of a woman.

My curves didn’t define me. My intellect, my personality, my femininity, and all the love I had to offer – that’s what made me a woman. No matter how many brands I found with bras that fit me perfectly, if I didn’t learn to accept my body then I would never find peace. My small boobs were here to stay and that’s ok with me. At some point in your life, you have to learn to accept and embrace your curves no matter how big or small they may be and I’m happy to say I’m at that point in life.

My story represents countless others out there, not only other petite women but also full figure women who suffered from the same size complex wanting to be smaller. It’s true that a person will always desire something they don’t have and the same concept applied to the female body. As a woman, we will look at our reflection and focus only the flaws we wish we could change and never the beauty that shines underneath. While I may not be the average size, my small busts do not make me less of a woman and even though I do not have the curvaceous busty bosom of my dreams, my breasts are perfectly fine just the way they are.

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

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