Posts in category "camis"

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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Reviews: Honeydew Intimates, sleepwear & hosiery

Disclosure: All samples were provided free of charge from Honeydew Intimates for review purposes only. All opinions written here are my own.

I have been a fan of Honeydew Intimates ever since they helped reincarnate the sassy rumba trend a few years back. Their modernized retro silhouette in mesh with cheeky prints & colors made for the cutest cover up under my flared skirts & dresses. So when I heard of a request to review some of their new styles I jumped at the opportunity.

The first set I received was the Rayon & Lace Cami Top & Hipster Boy Short. The fabric was a rayon spandex blend that was super soft and felt great against the skin. The hipster will be a great everyday basic stable in my underwear wardrobe however the cami was cut small and was a little too snug. Though it will still be comfortable to wear in warmer months it didn’t make for a very flattering look.

Next I tried the Jungle Hunny Rayon & Lace Brief, again in Honeydew’s signature rayon spandex blend. This every day hipster style was played up with leopard printed lace trim & hot pink bows that added an extra flirtiness & fashion to a reliable basic staple. With its mix of comfort & style this hipster has quickly become one of my favorites and I plan to order it in more colors soon.

The coordinating Jungle Hunny Rayon & Lace PJ Set coordinates back to the above hipster and therefore can be mixed & matched for a couple of different looks.

The cami top has an adjustable hook & eye back with elastic at the empire seam which adds a little bit of support to an otherwise non-constructed cami. However I would prefer a softer, plusher elastic for that sensitive area under the bust.

When paired with the hipster this set is very cute & perfect for lazy summer Sundays lounging around the house. In colder temperatures the pants make for a more practical sleepwear option. While it does not have any of the fashionable leopard lace trim, it does manage to coordinate back to the cami top with its leopard print drawstring. The rayon spandex jersey keeps you comfortable for a full night’s sleep while the drape of the fabric allows for easy movement & flexibility.

Then came the Enchanting Modal & Lace Bralette & Hipster. Also in super soft jersey fabric, this set fit nicely on the body and had a very pretty look.

The bralette with its delicate lace detailing on the neckline, back wings & straps looked flattering on & is offered up to a size Large. However I imagine fuller busts will not get much support from this style, as it is unlined & wire-free.

The hipster was also flattering with lace & pin tucking details at the side of the legs. I loved the cheeky cut in the back that offered just enough coverage for all day wear while still remaining cute & sexy.

The Buttoned Up Nylon Gel Padded Extreme Push Up bra was one of the few constructed bras offered by Honeydew and it definitely lived up to its name. Extreme push up is what you get with a heavily padded cup to give the illusion of an extra cup size. Available up to a size 36DD, the back band made for a smooth silhouette (no bulges here) and the touch of lace added a little bit of girlish charm. I especially loved the custom designed metal slides on the back straps donning the logo “dew”. I would have liked to see a softer quality pad with a bit more flexibility as well as longer straps for adjustment. But overall the bra is constructed well and has that va-va-va-voom factor.

And lastly the Crest with Buttons Over the Knee Sock was an extra treat that I received as I wasn’t previously aware that Honeydew even made hosiery. These socks were the perfect length, long enough to not slip down to below your knee, which is a common problem I have with other similar styles. The fabric has a good amount of stretch to it – not too tight or too loose. But the most unexpected detail on these socks was the honeydew logo print on the toes, which I thought added a cute & quirky touch.

Readers: What is your experience with Honeydew Intimates? Do you wear their styles as basics or fashion?

Kristina

Kristina

Lingerie Designer specializing in fashion & trend.

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Lingerie as Outerwear: 9 Camis to Wear This Summer

via: Farr West

Camisoles are the perfect summer fashion. Light, effortless, and more than a little lingerie-inspired, they add that little extra something to even the most basic pair of jeans. I’m a huge fan of cotton camis for everyday, and silk camis for special occasions (like date night!). But the most beautiful thing about camis is that no matter what you wear them with, you’ll never be wrong.

What do you think of the camisoles below, and where do you like to buy your camis? (Click the image to be taken to the site.)

Gold Hawk Silk Cami via By Langley - $105.00

Trashy Diva Silk Cami - $70.00

Farr West Vintage Silk Cami - $105.00

Lola Haze Screen Goddess Cami (includes short) - $194.00

Hanky Panky Lace Camisole - $48.00 (also in plus sizes)

Mary Green Cotton Camisole w/ Lace - $28.25

Hips and Curves Lace Trim Camisole - $19.95

Ohhh Lulu Satin Cami - $65.00

Honeycooler Handmade Silk Cami w/ Vintage Lace - $190.00

Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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