Posts in category "reviews"

You Get What You Pay For: An Adore Me Lingerie Review

Disclosure: The lingerie in this review was provided by Adore Me. All opinions are my own.

adore_me_pinup_lingerie

Adore Me Lingerie

In the lingerie industry, there’s a bit of a taboo against actually saying something negative about a brand. Everyone’s awesome to work with. Every design is amazingly perfect. Every collection is the best one yet. Even when a brand is doing something that’s obviously a problem, no one wants to be the one to actually say it. Today’s review of Adore Me probably won’t make that company very happy. But there are some things I’ve noticed about the way Adore Me does business that concern me, and I feel that other customers should be made aware. As a result this review is broken into two parts: my commentary on the issues with the way Adore Me brands itself and a review of the product sample I was sent.

For those who haven’t heard of it, Adore Me is a lingerie version of sites like ShoeDazzle. You sign up to become a member, hand over your credit card info, and every month a “curated” selection of products is placed in your showroom. All the products are the same price ($39.95 if you’re an Adore Me member; $49.95 if you’re not a member.), and that amount is automatically charged to your credit card each month…like a subscription service.

In their various press releases and marketing materials, Adore Me pitches itself as a place to get “designer lingerie” for less money. This article about Adore Me published on The Lingerie Journal says the company works with a “team of designers.” This Business Week profile says Adore Me brings the “best in French, UK, US, and Brazilian fashion” to their customers. This letter, enclosed with a blogger’s review sample from a year ago, says Adore Me provides the “finest lingerie, created by prestigious designers.” Finally, in this TechCrunch article from a year ago, Adore Me makes the claim that they design and manufacture all their lingerie sets in house.

The only problem? Adore Me’s lingerie is neither designed nor manufactured by them. It’s not designer, and it doesn’t come from the finest houses of anywhere. The lingerie Adore Me sells is sourced from the same brands I see at the International Lingerie Show every year – brands like Parfait by Affinitas, Jezebel, Felina, Rene Rofe, Leg Avenue, and Seven ’til Midnight. Now there’s nothing wrong with selling items from these brands. Nordstrom Rack sells items from Rene Rofe, and Macy’s sells items from Jezebel. However, I do take issue with a company using buzzwords that imply high-end, expensive, luxury lingerie when they’re really just relabeling items and selling the same stuff everyone else does.

In the TechCrunch article mentioned earlier, I tweeted at Sarah to tell her none of Adore Me’s designs are made in-house, and the article was revised to say the following, “”Adore Me designs and manufactures its own products. This is (and from far) the essence of our business. Then, it is true that we also have a few partners amongst some of the finest brands across the U.S. and Europe, but we unfortunately have strong non disclosure agreements with these selected brands so we can’t quote them publicly.”

I still believe that statement is somewhat less than true, but it shouldn’t take a blogger who’s familiar with what’s goes on behind the scenes “calling a brand” out to get them recant a lie. Most women aren’t going to know any better, and for a company to claim they’re doing something they’re not (working with a team of designers to sell luxury lingerie for less) strikes me as incredibly dishonest. Plain and simple: be open about what you’re selling and where it’s from. Don’t try to feed me a line about how it’s actually really expensive, designer stuff from Europe when it isn’t.

adore_me_seven_til_midnight_red_black_lace_bustier

Seven ’til Midnight bustier sold at Adore Me.

adore_me_seven_til_midnight_black_lace_teddy_1

Adore Me ‘Harriet’ teddy on left. Seven ‘tl Midnight ‘On the Prow’ teddy at right.

adore_me_seven_til_midnight

Adore Me ‘Breanna’ bustier on left. Seven ’til Midnight ‘Simply Stunning’ bustier on right.

adore me seven til midnight basic instinct corset

Adore Me ‘Bagheera’ corset on left. Seven ’til Midnight ‘Basic Instinct’ corset on right.

Seven 'til Midnight teddy sold at Adore Me.

Adore Me ‘Jodie’ teddy on left. Seven ’til Midnight ‘Parisian Lace’ teddy on right.

Adore Me 'Nalani' Bra Set on Left. Parfait by Affinitas Leslie Bra Set on Right.

Adore Me ‘Nalani’ Bra Set on Left. Parfait by Affinitas Leslie Bra Set on Right.

Adore Me 'Kandi' bra on left. Affinitas 'Sydney' bra on right.

Adore Me ‘Kandi’ bra set on left. Affinitas ‘Sydney’ bra set on right.

Adore Me 'Emily' Bra on left. Affinitas 'Serena' Bra on right.

Adore Me ‘Emily’ bra set on left. Affinitas ‘Serena’ bra set on right.

Adore me Evalina on left. Affinitas Fiona on right.

Adore Me ‘Evalina’ bustier on left. Affinitas ‘Fiona’ bustier on right.

adore_me_leg_avenue_corset

Adore Me ‘Effie’ corset on left. Leg Avenue ‘Jesse’ corset on right.

The 10 pieces shown above are just the first handful I got around to making comparison photos of me; there’s plenty more. In addition, I noticed that several of the pieces Adore Me sells are significantly more expensive than they’d be from other websites selling the same brands (like Yandy.com). So not only are you not actually buying designer lingerie, in some cases, you’re even paying more for the privilege.

For my review, I ordered the sheer chemise shown at the top of this post in size M/L. I had no issues with either the ordering or shipping process. Though the lingerie came with an Adore Me label, the item was actually made by Rene Rofe and is a knock-off of another garter dress made by Trashy Lingerie (a piece I actually own in leopard print). The camidress also came with a g-string, which I promptly threw away (I’ve never viewed those flimsy g-strings as much of a “bonus”).

adore_me_rene_rofe_camidress

Adore Me ‘Cadeisha’ Sheer Chemise on left. Rene Rofe mesh camidress on right.

adore_me_camidress_trashy_lingerie

Rene Rofe Mesh Babydoll and G-String on left. Trashy Lingerie ‘Corazon’ garter chemise on right.

Despite the seaming details, this lingerie is strictly for the bedroom only. Unlike the Trashy Lingerie piece it’s a derivative of, Adore Me/Rene Rofe’s mesh camidress offers neither shaping nor support…just plenty of stretch. The mesh and the lace aren’t terrible (I’ve worn worse), but they aren’t remarkable either, and the quality is about what I would expect for lingerie of this price point. Surprisingly, the garter grips are metal, however, they’re not removable. The garters are slightly adjustable, but the grips were still more or less at my knees (which doesn’t make this an ideal piece to wear with stockings either, in my opinion). The medium large did fit, but I was definitely on the outer edge of the size range, and I’d say this item maxes out at around size US10 (maybe a 12 if you’re not especially curvy). The hem of the camidress hit about where it does on the model – right around the fullest part of my hips

If I didn’t know who actually made this camidress and who it was inspired by (i.e. if I thought I was getting designer deal on the cheap), I would probably think this was a fairly inoccuous piece of lingerie. It’s cute. It’s retro. It’s inexpensive enough that you’ll get your money’s worth after only a few wears. Aside from the pin-up and retro details, there’s nothing really “special” about it, but it’s harder to get specialness at this price point.

I have to say though, I would never pay $50 for this item (Adore Me’s non-member price) or even $40 (the member price). It’s selling for around $20 in a lot of places, and I’d pay around that much. I might go as high as the mid to low $30′s, but no more than that. If you’re really digging the retro style, I honestly think taking that $50 and putting it towards a Rago corselette would be a better use of your money.

Some of you may be wondering why this review is somewhat harsh compared to most of my reviews. As I said above, the issue isn’t that Adore Me is selling cheap lingerie (assuming the cheap lingerie is being made ethically, of course). And while I happen to personally dislike knockoffs and relabeling, but this article isn’t about those things, either. Lots of places, from Bare Necessities to ModCloth to Nordstrom Rack are getting into the cheap lingerie game. It’s an easy money maker for them. And lots of companies, from Hips & Curves to Frederick’s of Hollywood to Secrets in Lace, play the relabeling game (which, for the record, I think is really unfair to customers). Some of the pieces Adore Me sells are nice, and I know fully well that many women cannot afford to drop 3 or 4 figures on their lingerie. So this article isn’t about them selling cheap goods.

What I don’t like, though, is when a brand acts like it’s scouring the streets of France, England, and Brazil looking for exclusive deals when really they’re just hanging out at the same Las Vegas tradeshow I go to every season. I understand the value of a story; I know that branding and marketing and PR are important to the success of any brand. But it’s not okay to pretend to be something you’re not.

I think part of the reason I feel so strongly about this is because I remember how little I knew about designer lingerie when I first started writing this blog. If I had run across a site like AdoreMe back in 2008, I would have genuinely thought I was getting a great deal on lingerie from “prestigious designers.” Because I simply wouldn’t have known any better. Not only would that have skewed my opinion on what designer lingerie is and how it should feel and how much it should cost, I probably have felt taken advantage of once I wised up (assuming I ever did wise up, of course). Most customers aren’t in a position to do the kind of research I do on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean brands should take advantage of their ignorance.

You can’t have it both ways, Adore Me. Either find honest-to-goodness discount designer lingerie to sell, or just be honest about where you’re getting these fabulous “deals” from.

Have you tried Adore Me before? What did you think of them?

Cora

Cora

Founder and Chief Editor of The Lingerie Addict. Sugar Junkie. Lace Lover. Sci-Fi Geek.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestGoogle PlusFlickrStumbleUponYouTube

Indie Designer Spotlight & Review: Majo Rey

Amanda II fringed set by Uruguayan indie designer Majo Rey.

Amanda II fringed set by Uruguayan indie designer Majo Rey.

Majo Rey is a handmade lingerie designer from Uruguay.  Her designs are modern, accessible, and stylish.  Sold on Etsy, her profile boasts that all items are crafted in-h0use.  She reached out to The Lingerie Addict, and after perusing her web store, I jumped at the review opportunity.  Though the following samples were sent to me free-of-charge, all opinions below are my own, and let me start by saying that I was very impressed.

The construction of both the bras and panties I received was very tidy, sturdy, and well-finished.  Designers like Majo Rey really showcase the difference between [what my instructors would call] “home sewing” and “handmade.”  All the stitching was clean and regular, and nothing felt too delicate.  When I tried on the first piece, my opinion only continued t climb.

"Lujan" set by Uruguayan indie designer Majo Rey.

“Lujan” set by Uruguayan indie designer Majo Rey.

I was sent two sets: Lujan and Santa Selva.  Lujan is one of Majo Rey’s most popular designs, with a simple halter lace bra contrasted with ruffle butt panties ($75 on Etsy).  I’m a softie for soft bras, but I was actually surprised by just how much I liked the Lujan bra.  I expected the semi-seamless halter to be basically useless.  I’ve certainly seen gravity-defiant boobs and I also certainly don’t have them.  Still, the Lujan bralette provided comfortable lift, though somewhat minimal support.  At a 30C, of course, I don’t need much in that way.  I did find the strap a little long (3″ shorter would’ve noticeably increased the support), but I imagine anyone taller than my 5’3″ might not notice that issue at all.  The back was very adjustable, which is nice.  I love simple design like this, made powerful through skillful execution.  My final issue with Lujan is that the halter is, naturally, simply not practical for more than occasional wear.  In honor of this review I wore mine today, paired with the collared romper I got from Underprotection, which is a slightly unexpected combination that has worked out rather well in terms of conspicuousness.

Lujan panties by Majo Rey

Lujan panties by Majo Rey.

I love the Lujan panties ($45).  The cut is mildly cheeky in the rear and the lace and ruffles are both fun and sexy.  Frisky, if you will.  My only minor concern with them was that the front waistline felt high compared to the rise at the sides and back.  Personally, my figure tends to do best with styles that are either very low-rise or on the natural waistline, so aesthetically it was a bit high for me, but even with that in mind the front was a smidge high.  All told, of course, that’s probably the most minor fit complaint I’ve ever noted in one of these reviews.

Ruffled Panties "Selva Santa" by Majo Rey

Ruffled Panties “Selva Santa” by Majo Rey

By comparison, the Selva Santa Ruffled Panties ($43) are much cheekier (yay) with a more comfortable rise at front.  Since they are less textural, they could be a bit more practical for daily wear.  The bright yellow of Selva Santa is super fun, and sexy, especially paired with the light ruching details.

Majo Rey Selva Santa bra

“Selva Santa” bra by Majo Rey

For me, though, the star was definitely the Selva Santa underwire bra ($60).  Despite being sized in S-M-L, I found that the fit both lay and looked well.  Too often I find that bras are too deep in the cup but not wide enough for the breast tissue.  This bra comfortably framed my breasts and gapped only minimally on my smaller side.  The band wasn’t overly wide or stretchy and seemed to lay pretty straight across my mid-back.  (For reference, I am a 30C American/30D UK.)  The straps had a lot of flexibility in the adjustable sliders.

Black and red Fringed Garter Belt by Majo Rey.

Black and red Fringed Garter Belt by Majo Rey.

As much as I love cute, sexy, exciting garments, I am quite practical at heart since I do a lot of juggling and running around in my day-to-day life; I think Majo Rey fits my needs very well in that sense.  There were several other styles that I would have loved to test out, particularly the fringed styles such as the black and red garter belt shown above.  I highly recommend Majo Rey for the quality of design, construction, and fit.

What do you think of Majo Rey’s designs?  Have you tried Majo Rey already?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Review: Fräulein Annie – Fit, Function, and Fashion

This bra and panty set was sent to me by Fräulein Annie. All thoughts and opinions are my own. All photos courtesy of Fräulein Annie.

Fräulein Annie, the London-based brand inspired by a German-born designer, was recently brought to my attention. So naturally, I was excited for the opportunity to give this vintage-inspired brand a test run for my infamous trifecta of fashion, fit, and function. Those three elements are essential in my assessment of what I like vs. love, admire vs. buy, and acknowledge vs. rave review. Particularly given that the fuller cup sizes haven’t always had the same level of variety in fashion, this has become increasingly important in my searches.

Fraulein Annie Falling in Love Mulberry

The Falling in Love set arrived and while I could have tried it out on any given day, I did wait for the right opportunity for a debut. That’s because my lingerie is my secret weapon! In a world of managing crises, closing deals, and online dating, my most powerful pieces are reserved for those moments when I need that instant boost of confidence and invincibility. Naturally, a first date the perfect excuse to give this set a whirl (even though I knew I’d be the only one to see it!). Would the set prove to be a keeper? (Would he? That’s another story…)

Well, you can’t judge a book by its cover, just like you can’t judge fit by looks alone, but boy is this set quite a looker! I’m a sucker for eyelash lace so I was immediately drawn to that detailing.  The slate lace contributes to the overall opulence of the set which also features a contrasting satin cup in a vibrant mulberry. Delicate stitching and darling bows add to the sweet complexity of the bra. The matching panties utilize many of the same details to provide a smooth and unified look. This colorway (Mulberry/Slate) is a good match for my skin tone and I imagine it would be for many others. However, if this colorway doesn’t strike your fancy, it also comes in Pearl Grey/Ivory, Chestnut/Black, and Cinnamon/Almond.

I am also impressed by the true to size fit. The construction of the non-padded bra creates a natural lifted and supportive shape that is also comfortable to wear throughout the day or night. The soft, silky fabric is glorious against skin and the lace lies flat to make it a perfect choice to wear under a variety of items in your wardrobe.

For me, Fräulein Annie is a keeper! The 1-2-3 punch of fit, function, and fashion make the brand a winner in my book and I’m looking forward to expanding my collection with some of the other lovely styles. The only challenge is that I have had a hard time finding the collections in the U.S. Currently, only one item is in stock at Figleaves, so my hope is that they refresh their stock soon. Another retailer that may be an option is the UK-based site, Fusspot. This is my first time seeing their site, so if any readers have experience with the site, or if you know other places where Fräulein Annie is sold, please let us know.

Fraulein Annie - Falling in Love Bra Fraulein Annie - Falling in Love Thong

Tutti Rouge Review, Part Two: The Betty Bra

Image via Bravissimo

Image via Bravissimo

This bra was sent to me by Tutti Rouge. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After falling in love with the Lilliana Bra, I was thrilled when my new Betty set showed up on my doorstep last week. Tutti Rouge has released their first line bit by bit, which has only helped build anticipation among lingerie fans and bloggers. It’s a smart strategy and one that seems to have paid off in terms of social media chatter, so I was extra eager to see the second release from the much-hyped Tutti Rouge line.

Look and Feel:

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook

This set feels silky and incredibly well made, especially given that the price point is $49.99. The floral fabric is beautiful and fabulously girly without making me feel like I’m 12 all over again. This feels like a much more expensive bra than it is, which makes Tutti Rouge a great addition to the full bust budget line world. If you’re a frequent Cleo or Parfait by Affinitas customer, these bras are of similar quality. I ended up loving the pastel colors much more than I anticipated and I’m really excited to see the jewel tone version come out for Autumn/Winter.

Fit and Support:

This bra is built very differently than the Lilliana, which means that if that bra worked for you this one may not and vice versa. In my case, I have a clear preference for the Lilliana. Having said that, I believe that the Betty will be great for loads of women who aren’t me. The Lilliana is built for women whose breasts are narrower set and who have more solid breast tissue. Women with soft breast tissue may have the same issue with it as they do in other plunge bras – it’s easy to puddle out into the middle of a plunge bra. The Betty Bra is perfect for people with wider breasts and softer tissue. The build of the Betty Bra is much wider and the half cup design means that softer tissue will fall into the cups beautifully. If you have denser tissue or more natural forward projection, you may find your breasts fighting the bra and winning like I did.

While the Lilliana band ran tight, the Betty band is fairly standard. I’d advise most people to go up a band size in the Lilliana and stick with their regular band size in the Betty. The cups in the Lilliana ran small, while the cups in the Betty are also fairly standard. If this had been the right shape for me, I would have fit into it in my regular Panache size of 34HH, while I’d be tempted to try a 34J (and ideally a JJ if they made one) in the Lilliana.

The Verdict:

I think this bra is going to be a godsend for lots of women, since there’s a sad lack of half cup bras out there. If you’re bored with balconettes and plunges, this bra is going to rock your world. It’s supportive enough to be worn as an everyday set but also pretty enough to be worn on a special occasion, which makes it extra budget friendly. The half cup shape produces a supported version of that “cakes on a plate” look that isn’t too extreme for every day wear. Even though it didn’t work for me, I think the Betty is a great option for those of you with the right shape and breast tissue type. In the meantime, I’ll go back and wait to buy up the Lilliana in all of the different color combinations.

Holly

Holly

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

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Lingerie Review: Sonata ‘Aida’ Classic Lace Bodysuit

Disclosure: I was sent this piece free of charge for review purposes by Sonata Lingerie. All opinions are my own.

Sonata 'Aida' Lace Bodysuit Front View

Sonata ‘Aida’ Lace Bodysuit Front View

There’s a lot to love about Sonata.

Named after the designer, Sonata Rapalyte, all of Sonata’s lingerie is ethically handmade in Lithuania. They’re well known for their gorgeous laces, and they’ve managed the impressive feat of creating a signature, easily recognizable style – The Sonata Bodysuit. Beautifully crafted and a joy to look at, this bodysuit is made of 100% polyester lace and 100% silk satin trimmings.

The bottom half is a full brief style, and the snap-fastened guesset is also lined with silk. Cap sleeves, an underbust seam, and nine front buttons complete the look. I was sent a customized size M (I fall between M and L on the Sonata size chart) to review.

Sonata Lace Bodysuit Closeup

Sonata Lace Bodysuit Closeup

Sonata really understands that first impressions matter for luxury lingerie, and I loved how they sent this bodysuit in its very own silk pouch. That sort of detail makes you feel special and excited, which is exactly how you’re supposed to feel about your intimates. I found the bodysuit very easy to slip on, and had no issues with either the buttons or the gusset.

The bodysuit is very unstructured and contains no wires or support of any kind. While the seaming under the bust was enough support for me, I can see how it’d be a concern for women with larger or less firm breasts. While it looks undeniably beautiful on, I ran into the same issue with this bodysuit that I run into with most others I’ve tried. The back, shoulders, and chest are cut very small. I found myself feeling a little reluctant to move  in any direction lest I tore a seam or even ripped the lace outright. If you’re muscular, athletic, or have an “inverted triangle” body shape, you may have similar fit issues with this piece. However, I wasn’t put off by the cap sleeves, which was a surprise. I tend to not wear cap sleeves as they make my already broad shoulders look even broader, but I didn’t feel that way about these; it could be that the deep plunge neck with its scalloped detail helped draw the eye away from that part of my body. Another note about the material, there is no elastic in this garment, so it does not stretch. If you’ve worn 100% nylon stockings before, I’d liken the wear of this to that; any stretching that happens with this bodysuit means it won’t “bounce back” to its original shape.

Sonata Lace Bodysuit Back View

Sonata Lace Bodysuit Back View

Tightness around the back and ribs aside (which probably won’t affect most of you reading this), I really do like this piece. I completely adore how simple it is, especially since so much of lingerie today seems geared towards “fixing” your body. I also love how Sonata can custom make bodysuits for a wide range of sizes, including plus sizes. So many of my plus size readers lament how they can’t get the truly gorgeous lingerie in their size (and rightly so), but with Sonata, you can. Women with a high waist/hip ratio (12″ or more of difference) will likely want to go the custom route. Ditto for plus size and full bust women. The care tag says dry clean only, but you should be fine with handwashing this in lingerie wash. I definitely wouldn’t throw a Sonata bodysuit in a washing machine though, not even in a lingerie wash bag. Because the lace is a bit delicate, I see this as more of a special-occasion only piece, but I also think it’d be really cool if someone rocked it with layers as an underwear/outerwear sort of look.

Me in the Sonata Lace Bodysuit

Me in the Sonata Lace Bodysuit

So what you do think, fellow addicts, have you tried any Sonata Lingerie before? What did you think of them?

Cora

Cora

Founder and Chief Editor of The Lingerie Addict. Sugar Junkie. Lace Lover. Sci-Fi Geek.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInPinterestGoogle PlusFlickrStumbleUponYouTube

Review: Shapewear by Rhonda Shear

Rhonda Shear is a brand with which I am familiar through Dollhouse Bettie, where I have both worked and shopped.  However, I’ve never actually purchased, nor tried on, any of their products.  When they offered The Lingerie Addict a review opportunity, I was immediately interested.  Two samples were sent to me, free of charge; all opinions presented below are my own.

Pin Up Girl set by Rhonda Shear, via Dollhouse Bettie

When I first looked through the Rhonda Shear product line, I saw a lot of things that interested me, in a range of styles.  After narrowing down those that seemed the most practical for my own purposes and for review, I was sent the following pieces.  As a reference point, my current measurements are 33-26-38; I am a pretty true size small, but occasionally an XS in tops and/or M in bottoms.

Rhonda Shear “Smooth Tootsie” High Waist Legging

Being a San Francisco girl, I wear leggings several times a week.  Leggings that are also shapewear, with a waist that’s not only high but longline, sounded like a dream come true, so I was quite pleased to receive the “Smooth Tootsie” High Waist Legging ($37.90).  First things first, these run REALLY small.  I was sent a Medium and found them quite snug; my girlfriend (also hourglass/pear shaped, but not so petite), with whom I can share some clothes, found them impossibly tight.  I would recommend going up at least one size, if not two.  On the bright side, the vertical stretch is very giving.

The construction is very seamless, which is nice.  There’s an inseam and crotch gusset only.  The bottom hem is so wide as to look almost like a cuff, which is a nice design detail on such a streamlined aesthetic.  The sample I was sent was the “Navy” colorway – not the most practical for me, as I tend to stick to monochrome and pop colors like pink, but it was a decent shade with a pleasant grey hint.

As for the high waist, I found it didn’t stay up very well.  While it would sit at my ribs when I first put the leggings on, it tended to roll down to my natural waist pretty quickly.

Rhonda Shear Diamond High Waist Brief

May I remind you that I love sexy granny panties?  Rhonda Shear’s Diamond Collection features a special contour fabrication technology.  The Diamond High Waist Brief ($39.90) has a butt shape knitted into its seamless form.

Sizewise, the Diamond Collection (or at least, this piece of it) has a better fit, though I found the legline ran a bit tight (perhaps because of my large hips?)  If you have full hips or thighs, I would still recommend at least considering going up a size.  The butt contour was actually ever so slightly baggy on me, which is somewhat surprising.  The waist stayed up much better than that of the Smooth Tootsie Leggings, but I have to say that the crotch also tended to ride in an upwards direction…  Lastly, I thought that the legline was a bit on the high side, at least for my boyshort-loving tastes.  Anything above my actual legline is too high for me.  I think these may fit best on someone with a longer torso than that of my 5’3″ frame, who carries most of their hip measurement in a bubble butt.

I ran into a bit of trouble trying to style the panties.  As I said, I live in San Francisco, city of fog, intermittent wind, and microclimates, and I also happen to get cold very easily.  What that means for our purposes is that I tend to wear leggings or at least tights most days, so I had a bit of trouble trying to wear the panties with something that would not conflict with their smoothing abilities, but also not leave me frozen.  As I tried them on with a fitted tank dress, I also realized that the diamond texture at the front showed through the tight-fitted, lightweight material!  Since corsets are my shapewear of choice, I wasn’t much impressed with the smoothing ability of these panties along my waist and hip, but I still like them as a fancy longline panty.

I received the panty in Silver (shown above), a grey so pale that it practically borders on white.  I think the collection’s signature Plum Blossom color is the prettiest of the options, personally.  That pale a grey seems almost bridal to me.  Even though my girflriend thought the extreme high waist was “weird,” (she’s only slowly converting to appreciating a good high waist), I do really like the style and detailing of this panty.  I will probably try to dye them to help them fit into my wardrobe (the navy leggings may suffer the same fate.)

Rhonda Shear “Glam Girl” Mesh Dot Leisure Bra

While ultimately I wasn’t blown away by the shapewear aspect of these styles (swayed, perhaps, by my corsetry bias and experience), I definitely respond well to the accessible, casual style and feminine touches of the Rhonda Shear line.  The quality control and fabrication quality of both pieces was very good.  The pricepoint for the line, with lots of pieces around $40, isn’t too exclusive, nor is the size range (XS-4X).  Both the fiber technology and the price point are outside the abilities of the independent, handmade designers I tend to favor, though Rhonda Shear also has a great brand story.  I saw lot of other pieces in the line that I’d like to own, and I would definitely buy from Rhonda Shear again.  Aside from their lingerie and loungewear collections, Rhonda Shear also makes some daywear – I am particularly fascinated by the convertible Ahh dress, which seems the perfect travel companion.

Have you worn Rhonda Shear before?  What was your experience?

Taking the Custom Lingerie Plunge: My Review of Nearer the Moon

Image via Nearer the Moon

All items reviewed were purchased by me. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love having matching lingerie sets, but I also love buying from interesting indie designers. Since most indie designers don’t make bras in my size, these two desires can often come into conflict. I felt this way when I first saw the Hyper Floral Collection by Nearer the Moon – I knew I had to have a full set and none of the bras would come close to fitting me. Luckily Nearer the Moon also offers a custom lingerie service, so I decided to take the plunge and try out my first piece of custom lingerie. While I’ve had indie designers alter some patterns before for me, I’d never gone through the custom design process to create something truly unique. I was a little intimidated at the start: What if it didn’t work out? Would it be hard to fit my body type remotely?

When I initially contacted Nearer the Moon, I was very clear about what I wanted. I wanted a piece that would fit me that also had the look and detailing of some of the gorgeous Hyper Floral bras. Tilly, who is the designer behind Nearer the Moon, immediately suggested either a robe or a shorter camisole design. I’m addicted to pretty robes, so predictably I picked that option. Tilly asked lots of questions about my body type, what parts of my body I liked defined and what sorts of details I liked on my lingerie. After a few quick email exchanges, she sent over some sketches of the robe.

Image via the Nearer the Moon Facebook

Once I approved the sketch, all I had to do was pay through the Nearer the Moon Etsy shop and wait! I also went ahead and bought the Hyper Floral Spanking Shorts to make a complete set with the intention of pairing them with my white Satine bra to make a three piece set.

Image via Bravissimo

Image via the Nearer the Moon Facebook

It took about three weeks for my lingerie to be made and shipped to the US, which is incredibly reasonable considering the work and time it can take to ship from the UK. When it got here, I was blown away by how perfect everything was. The robe highlighted my bust and hips and not my stomach like I had asked and the eyelash lace on the spanking shorts was comfortable and gorgeous. It’s really the kind of lingerie that deserves to be seen as part of a boudoir photoshoot or something, but I haven’t gotten around to trying one of those yet. Instead, I’m having lots of fun lounging around the house and feeling totally glamorous in my matching stuff. I got the Spanking Shorts before I saw The Great Gatsby and now that I’ve seen the movie I’m even happier I got them – they’re right on trend for this season and I’ll treasure them for ages.

I completely recommend Nearer the Moon for all of your lingerie needs, including the stuff that’s just in your head! It can easy to feel like you’re missing out as a full busted woman, but between custom lingerie and all of the full bust bra options out there it’s easy to cobble together some gorgeous sets. I will definitely be buying more from Nearer the Moon in the future and doing something similar to create a whole new set.

Have you ever had custom lingerie made for you? Would you try it in the future?

Holly

Holly

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

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook