Versace, Keep Your Size Prejudice Out of my H&M!

Once in a while I feel a need to hate on something other than frumpy bras and inept drivers/pedestrians, and when I do, it’s usually high fashion. As a disclaimer, I really am no expert on the topic. I mostly wear black, white and gray. In fact, I don’t even spend time trying to dress properly for my giant boobs. I just wear stretchy, tight clothing and throw on a cardigan if I start to feel like I’m offending people. My bra straps are usually hanging out. I like to think that I usually look vaguely normal for a college student, but I don’t think I ever look “on trend.”

Now that you know this, check out these bizarre pieces from Versace's collection for H&M! I personally do not know anyone who would feel a need to own these items for the low, low price of £99. That first one looks kinda like an apron to me (it's supposedly a shirt/skirt set). 

I kind of resent this invasion of a store I like by the mystifyingly overpriced, postmodern, mind-boggling experience that is Fashion. Fair enough, though--I'm sure there are plenty of fun, vibrant people who could pull off these pieces. I am sure there are lots of customers who won’t mind paying about five times more than what H&M clothes usually cost. In fact, people's desperation to do so has apparently led to bloodshed! So I guess I can't complain about the collection itself. My real problem is that I don’t want this normal store, which sells plenty of different sizes, to suddenly start endorsing the sizeist rhetoric of high fashion that makes women all over the world feel like crap about themselves. 

Here’s what happened: H&M, which kindly caters for more than one body type (though to be fair you wouldn’t know it from their web photos) tried to get Versace to let them model the collection on “real” women, that is, up to a size 6. Donatella Versace apparently threw a hissy fit because people that “large” cannot be allowed to represent her brand. That doesn’t exactly answer the question of why she sells her weird clothes in this size if it is so important that only size 0s wear them, but it also makes me wonder why people are still allowing her to perpetrate this idea. Please can we just be over this glorification of small women over all other women? If fashion is about pushing boundaries and celebrating extremes then why don’t we see the same number of curvy and plus size women on the runway? Who, exactly, has the self-confidence to shop a collection when they know the clothes are only “supposed” to be worn by the skinniest of supermodels?

Here’s one of the articles about Donatella’s freakout. There’s also a more scornful account, with more cursing, here.The best part is the comment pointing out that Donatella Versace really just looks like Keith Richards in a wig.  Mean but true. 

If anything, her massive amounts of plastic surgery prove that she has a great deal of body image issues of her own which might cause her to lash out at other women. But I’m still disgusted by what she stands for.

Lazy Girl Tip: Clean Your Face the Easy Way!

I think many of us have been there before... That time when we get too lazy to wash our faces at night, especially after a long night of partying or a great date night. I've been there myself a few times of course! When you don't remove your makeup by washing your face, it's like leaving a stain on your clothes without treating it. Failing to wash your face at night can make you prone to all kinds of bacteria, and can even cause your skin to break out. YIKES!

Yes, those little annoying bumps on your face, the dreadful blackheads, can be from your leftover make up. I try to wash my face every night, but there are those nights where I just want to hit the bed as soon as I lay eyes upon it. In these instances, I use an alternative for washing my face... Here's introducing one of my favorite makeup remover towelettes by Garnier. These towelettes leaves your skin feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.

Since I have sensitive skin I can't use some of the harsher products out there, but I happened to bump into these towelettes ended up loving them. The soft, napkin-like material, along with the right amount of makeup remover solution, equals the perfect product to remove your stubborn leftover makeup. Grab a few next time your out shopping, and give yourself that just washed face feeling on even your laziest nights!

Bravissimo's Parisian Plume and Demi Diva Review

I tried Bravissimo’s half-cup Demi Diva when it first came out in black last year, and I literally thought it was the most ridiculous looking bra I had ever seen. I mean, when they said half-cup they REALLY meant half-cup—it just went completely straight across my boobs, in comparison to how it dips down in the center on this rather inaccurate website photo.

Of course, I had always suspected that I would have liked the Demi Diva more if I'd tried it in a big enough size. Having tried on the new red Demi Diva in a larger size, I can say for sure that I just tried a size too small last time. The new red Demi Diva is also marketed a bit more accurately in their online photos:

I’m still not a fan of how high the center gore is on this bra (it would show above a lot of necklines I wear) but it seems like it needs to be that high for this particular shape and cut. And the shape is really good—very rounded, and it definitely minimizes the size of one’s boobs by keeping them so contained.

I did not, however, like the way they failed to continue the texture/pattern on the side support panel. I really don't think it would have been that hard to continue the stripes, especially as this panel took up about a third of the cup. 

The Parisian Plume bra is basically the same bra as the Demi Diva, but padded. I wore the same size in both and they gave the same rounded, minimized shape, although I think the center gore was even higher on the Parisian Plume. I was happy to see that this version of the bra is marketed accurately on their website; as you can see it looks more or less the same on me as it does on the model.

My overall feelings on this bra are positive. Although the super high center gore and unpatterned side support panel sort of put me off it, the shape means it would be perfect for tight but not super-low-cut clothes. And because it does sort of put boobs more in proportion rather than emphasizing their size, it might be good for… work? I feel silly saying that since so many people would consider this a bedroom bra, but it’s definitely one of those Ninja bras that looks fancy but is also practical. And this is definitely not a bra that's going to give you extra cleavage. 

It’s awesome that Bravissimo makes one version of this half-cup padded and the other unpadded, because many people have a strong preference for one or the other and this shape and cut of bra is accessible to both. Bravissimo seems to have really put some thought and energy into designing this bra. What's more, it's actually innovative; there aren't any other bras in these sizes that are made in this style. So if you find you don't mind the look of the center gore, I'd say this is a really worthwhile bra to try out.

Edited to include: Having talked to a few other people who have tried these bras, I've learned that some people don't fit into both--seems like the Demi Diva is an easier fit while the Parisian Plume has a shape that's wrong for some and ran small on some shapes. I guess I just lucked out for once with the shapes of both working for me!
So I just want to note that although the styles are very similar in construction, the difference in padding can make a big difference in fit, so it's worth trying both of them to see if one or both will work.

How to Get Full... The Healthy Way.

Lately, I've been forcing myself to eat healthier; it isn't always easy with some of the delicious, yet not-so-good-for-you, choices out there. With Thanksgiving behind us, there's no better time to start thinking healthy! I'm prone genetically to all kinds of health issues such high cholesterol. With that considered, it has become more and more important to find yummy and appetizing snacks that are also good for me. I've started on this healthier path by snacking on some awesome foods that actually suppress my appetite. Here are some of the snacks I enjoy eating on a daily basis:

 1. Almonds

  Almonds are an amazing little snack containing generous portions of antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamin E. In addition to these already healthy stats, almonds are a natural appetite suppressant. A serving is not especially high in caloric intake, and some of those calories are technically never absorbed as some of the fats in almonds aren't completely digested by the body.

2. Celery Sticks and Hummus

Celery is high in vitamins, but low in calories: a sure fire win for the healthy eater! By itself, celery may not seem like the most appetizing snack to some... Why not add a little something to spice it up? My choice is a nice hummus dip. Hummus is a very healthy dip, known to contain numerous minerals, amino acids, and vitamins.

3. Plain Popcorn

Plain popcorn is yet another wonderful snack for the health conscious eater. Popcorn is a great substitute to some of the greasier, less healthy snack options such as  chips. The most common problem is butter, a classic popcorn staple. Plain popcorn is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and has a high amount of dietary fiber. If you can bear to eat popcorn minus the butter, you'll find yourself full without the unhealthy extras that are typical of buttered or movie-style popcorn.

4. Dark Chocolate

 Chocolate is a classic sweet that is a vice for so many people. However, chocolate also has some healthy benefits, when eaten in proper moderation. Dark chocolate in particular is known to improve cardiovascular health, and is also high in antioxidants. Like with any food, healthy or not, moderation is key. Dark chocolate is great for you, but be careful not to get too carried away by this sweet treat!

There you have it, just a few of my favorite healthy snacks! Not only do they leave you full and satisfied, but you'll be happy to know that you've filled your body with necessary nutrients in the process. So next time you here a rumble in you stomach, stray from the chips and find yourself reaching from one of these healthy choices. Don't think that these are the end-all-be-all, though, as there are tons of other delicious, healthy options out there to fit every taste!

Bra Bands: In Which I Have A Lot Of Feelings

As we know, the band of the bra is supposed to provide the vast majority of the support, not the straps. That’s why it’s important to make sure your band isn’t too loose, and it’s the element of bra sizing that’s most important to not compromise on.

So why do I find myself gazing longingly at 30HH bras on ebay when I know I measure 27.5 inches around my underbust and should wear a 28J?

It’s because I’m so sick of my bras hurting me. And I remember that back when I wore a 30, they never hurt. But it’s the not the bras that changed, it’s me—I lost some weight around my ribcage and now there is nothing to cushion me from the underwires sitting right on my bones. These are my scars:

Not so sexy. And that's after NOT wearing a bra for a few hours. Please, bra manufacturers, do something about this! Lots of people, and not just in 28 and 30 band sizes, don’t have enough natural padding around their ribcage to protect them from the hard metal wires that are covered by nothing more than a single layer of fabric. By the end of the day, I feel like my bra is attacking me. But if I wear a band that’s too loose to avoid this, I get back pain from supporting the weight of my boobs.

Totally exposed.

This awesome blog post lists some of the features the author misses from her days of wearing Victoria’s Secret bras before she knew her size. I’m so with her. All I want right now is a super-soft, laser-cut Secret Embrace bra with the underwire completely encased in a comfortable foam channel. I just want it in my size. I truly think the cool pseudo-scientific bells and whistles Victoria's Secret uses in their bra construction are the reason lots of women are unwilling to switch to their "real" size even when they know it--because brands for D+ women don't bother to do any of that stuff (some brands do a little, but none past a G cup). 

Check out that concealed underwire!

Another problem, wonderfully documented here, is the rise of looser and looser bands. In my experience that’s how bra-hating starts: you find your 30s are riding up your back…you go down to a 28…that pushes you over the edge in cup-size territory...you suddenly find yourself relegated to a few boring styles, mostly in basic colors…you long to return to the happy land of 30 inch bands and OPTIONS.

The whole situation depresses me a lot. It's obviously something that D+ bra manufacturers put on the back burner as they think instead about fashion. Personally, I'd sacrifice a years' worth of floral patterns just to have a little more thought put into softening up the bands and underwires. It would make me so much more excited to put a bra on in the morning, and a little less excited to take it off at night.

Hang In There, I'll Be Back Soon

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to my readers and let you all know that I've been very busy with school, but new posts will start again after Thanksgiving. I should have quite a few things to tell you about at that point, because...

1. I have an Ewa Michalak HM Gold coming to me in the mail in size 32GG. From my experience with my HM Granotowy Motyl in 30GG, that's the size I'm guessing will fit me.

2. I've also ordered a Rococo Charm half-cup from Bravissimo in the ivory/ice pink color with hopes that it will really be a beige/nude color. I have been trying to find a good nude bra for ages... I had a nude Panache Harmony, but I'm sort of over the fit of the Harmony, so I then bought a nude Freya Deco, which I never wore because I hate padded bras and I hate plunge bras. The solution? An unpadded half-cup which will probably show no cleavage whatsoever because the center gores on those things come up basically to my chin!

3. Also on the way to me is one of Pepperberry's Button Trim Jersey Tops in the pale pink. This will be one of the VERY few Pepperberry items I've ever tried, so it should be an experience.

4. I also recently received the "And We're Live" dress from Modcloth, so there will be a review of that shortly. Modcloth's website has REALLY detailed product descriptions and reviews (with pictures!) which make it very easy to pick out the curve-friendly clothes. And a lot of their stuff isn't as expensive as you might expect (though much of it is rather more expensive than you'd expect)--I mostly troll the sale section.

5. Finally, I just ordered the Cleo Lucy in the navy/pink color using a Figleaves offer code. Maybe not so exciting to review, as I've reviewed the Lucy extensively in the past, but this will be my first Lucy in a 30H (my others are 28 bands). I'm attempting to revise my bra collection, gradually improving it over time while editing down the weak links. Part of this is phasing out too-tight bands.

Can you tell I had a bit of a shopping spree? It was my birthday recently, what can I say? Sorry to be such a tease, but I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, folks. See you after.

Why Doesn't Freya Think We're Sexy?

Have you ever been looking at a cute bra for sale online and noticed these words: “Additional lining in GG-J cups for extra support”?

The phrase seems harmless, but beware those words if you’re hoping to purchase the bra you actually see in the pictures. Check out the difference the additional lining makes in the appearance of the Freya Arabella, a bra practically mythologized for its sexy sheerness:

It’s still a cute bra with the extra lining, but the fact is that the lined version looks JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER BRA made for GG-J. It loses the one feature that makes the Arabella distinct: its sheerness.

The same is true of Freya’s Eleanor bra of a few seasons back...

...and the Lyla, which I already decried here for its inadequate size range. Bravissimo is kind enough to feature a picture of the double-lined version in their catalogue, but there is NO photo of it on their website, so I dug one up.

Looks like a totally different bra, doesn't it?

I know what they’d say in their defense: the extra lining is necessary to provide the support needed by GG+ cups. Here’s why that’s bullshit:

        1. Since cup sizes change proportionally to band sizes, a 30GG (which would get the extra lining) is the SAME CUP SIZE as the 32G (which would not get the extra lining). The ONLY DIFFERENCE between those sizes is the band. If the unlined version can support a 38G, it would also be able to support up to a 28JJ. I keep waiting for bra manufacturers to pay some attention to this fact. Do they just not know about it?

        2.  Even more significantly, the extra lining does not give extra support. Want to know how I know that? Back in the day, I was the proud owner of a 30GG Arabella that had the extra lining. It bothered me that I couldn’t wear the bra as it was designed (sheer) so I simply cut out the opaque inner lining. It wasn’t too hard, I just had to cut carefully to avoid puncturing the outer mesh. When I was done, the bra looked just like the D-G sheer version--AND it still gave the exact same level of shape and support. The outer see-through mesh on the Arabella has NO STRETCH WHATSOEVER, so it can support the structure of the bra all on its own. The inner lining, on the other hand, has slight 2-directional stretch; the only function it serves is visual.

So if the additional lining doesn’t provide any extra support in GG-J cups, why do they put it in? Well, I suspect it’s because Freya thinks women with GG-J cup boobs wouldn’t want a sheer bra—for the same reason they refuse to make longline bras, padded plunges, and most of their cuter designs in those cup sizes even though every other similar company does. They just seem to think that boobs that big wouldn’t look nice in their fancier designs—that boobs that big shouldn’t need anything other than the basics. Well, I think they’re wrong. As a J-cup, I do want a sheer bra; I think it would look just as good on me as it would on an F-cup. The upper cup sizes really do deserve to have the same cute options as the lower cup sizes, even if there is a slightly smaller group of customers that needs those sizes.  Shouldn’t we all get to be a little impractical with our lingerie once in a while?

Bravissimo's Lola Luxe Basque and My No-Good Day

So there’s this thing that happens to me a lot. I go into a shop. I try on a bunch of things that make me look weird and feel like crap. Then I’ll manage to find one thing that makes me look good. Filled with gratitude and relief, I’ll buy this one item at any price, without even considering whether I really want or need it.

It happened to me the first time I went to Bravissimo, when I bought the only thing that fit me, the Panache Melody. It’s a comfortable bra and gives good shape under clothes, but frankly I think it looks extremely hideous on me. The worst part? I could have bought three bras I’d really love on Brastop.com for the price of this one mediocre bra at Bravissimo.

Yesterday, I went to Bravissimo again, because I wanted to try on the Lola Luxe basque. 

I’ve never seen a basque that came in a 28J before and the whole idea kind of excited me; it seemed sexy and fun. But I couldn’t really think of anything that I would USE a basque for. So when I went to try it on, I really just wanted to satisfy my curiosity, and see if it was any good.

Well, it IS good! It’s great. It looked awesome on me. I felt awesome. I reminded myself I didn’t need to own it, snapped a few photos, and went to try on the rest of the bras they brought me.

Some were okay. Most were quite hideous. I’ll share my feelings on those bras in later posts.

My disgust with how I looked in the hideous bras made me reconsider the Lola Luxe basque. I felt so pretty when I had it on! It made me feel good! I needed to feel good! I brought it out to the women working in the dressing rooms and said “I really like this, but I just don’t know when I would wear it.” Partly, I wanted them to talk me out of it. But partly, I wanted them to REALLY TALK ME INTO IT—make me realize how many uses I could get out of the product, inspire me. They didn’t really do that. They said stuff about how some people use it as shapewear, how I could wear it under a shirt, how it would last for years. I tuned them out. I figured at this point it would be rude to refuse to buy it. I bought it.

On my budget, this basque is NOT something that I can comfortably afford. So instead of feeling happy, like I’d treated myself to something luxurious, I felt stressed out, desperate to reassure myself that I hadn’t stupidly wasted my money. At the same time, I wanted to think of a reason to keep it, because I wish I had the sort of budget that would allow me to own this just because it looked good on me, and for no reason other than that.

Instead I keep trying to think of practical uses for it. I thought it might be good under tight shirts because it wouldn’t leave any bulges from the back band. Nope—the boning shows under shirts. Then, in a fit of insanity, I decided to CUT THE BONING OUT. I tried it on again with a shirt. The channels where the boning went showed up just as much as they had before. What’s more, the non-removable suspender clips hang down far enough to show under the skirts I wear, and they look lumpy because ALL MY CLOTHES ARE TIGHT.

I started to really, really regret cutting the boning out. If I hadn’t cut it, if I could just have thought ahead a little, and been sensible, I could have just returned the basque, admitted my mistake, and saved myself the money I couldn’t afford to spend. But once again I thought it would be rude and awkward, that they’d be sad if I returned it, that they’d go out of business because of customers like me. GO OUT OF BUSINESS?? Bravissimo is a HUGE company. I’m too used to tiny boutiques in America that actually WILL go out of business if their customers are too finicky.

Now I’m being forced to face the fact that I can’t return the basque. I own it forever now. And I can’t wear it under my clothes; I can’t wear it to class. I still don’t know when I could wear it, and it’s really difficult for me to get used to the idea of owning a product with such limited uses. But that’s what I’m going to have to do. I’m feeling grumpy, annoyed with myself. The basque does look good on me. I felt so good that first time I saw myself in it. Now I just feel guilty when I put it on. I’ve shoved it into a dark corner of my closet until a time when I’m ready to face owning it. 

Where'd You Go, Vélo?

You could call this blog post rather out of character for VCG, but it's been rather out of character that I've not posted for a couple of months… and I feel I owe an explanation as to why. Things have been a little hectic on the other side of this screen, in a mixture of both good and bad...

The good stuff includes all things work related at Vulpine going incredibly well. A few months ago I became Operations Manager of the company, after first joining the team as Sales and Marketing Manager (gosh, that's coming up for a year now!) I'm really getting my teeth stuck into the role, and loving it: constantly on the go, something new is learnt everyday and above all else it's ALL about working in the cycling/fashion industry with a brilliant team… it's crazy-busy and it's making me crazy-happy.

The bad stuff? My wonderful and gorgeous Mamma Vélo was taken seriously ill at the end of September. 

Her health has been an issue for sometime, but she took a particularly crappy turn for the worse a couple of months ago, which involved the Police and an Ambulance team having to bash our front door down to get to her. The news of an unconscious Mamma being found at home totally f**ked me up. What followed was a spell in hospital, and me pretty much living there everyday and keeping lots of shit together for her while trying not to do my nut with worry. There was no time for anything else at at point.  All my thoughts were with her, and what was going on. Even after the hospital stay, that wasn't the end of the bad stuff happening with her health… hence me being on a blog hiatus for so long. 

Thankfully things are improving now - it's not perfect, but then again what is? (well, a long blissful ride on my bike somewhere beautiful without a care in the world is, and that'll be happening soon enough). I've missed doing VCG and REALLY getting out there on a bicycle and finally I'm getting back on both the blogging and bike saddle after being off it for what feels like an age! I've still been dipping my toe into Twitter and Instagram, and those of you who know me on there & knew about what was going on with me have been absolute lifesavers. You've kept me going with your kind words and support and believe me when I say it means a lot…. so thank you.

I've a sackful of CycleStyle reviews I'm desperate to get up on here and share with you, along with a tonne of emails to answer AND an exciting new chapter in cycling that I'm in the process of embarking on… there will certainly be more on that later.

I'm just so sorry that I ended up vanishing from here for a while, but I needed to deal with a lot of "stuff' that required all of my attention. I wasn't in a very good place at all, but as things are getting somewhere close to normal, VCG will be too… the last thing I want is for something I love doing so much to fade away.

So, that's my explanation for being a bit rubbish of late… hopefully if you're still reading this bit, you'll stick around for normal service, which resumes on VCG once again.

Lady V x

Taking My Boobs to France

       When I went on a school trip to France in 11^th grade, the (rather strict, and not at all French) French teacher who led the trip felt a need to relentlessly prepare us for the world of thievery and judgment that was supposedly France. Among her vendettas? “I don’t want to see any cleavage! Cleavage is not acceptable in French culture! Not an inch of skin!”

           
              Frankly I still have no idea if this is true or not; I suspect not, and I’m pretty sure there are prudes in every culture who dislike seeing cleavage on total strangers. But at the time, I didn’t want to make waves or send the wrong impression, so I packed my most hideous, frumpy clothes. I simply didn’t own anything that I felt cute in where I could guarantee NO glimpse of cleavage. Even in a well fitted, FULL-CUP bra, there always seemed to be a few inches escaping. So I only packed clothes in which I felt uncomfortable and unattractive.

                 I also brought a selection of hideous scarves, which I tied around my neck to hide any errant cleavage that might escape. I love scarves now, but back then I didn’t know what kind to buy or how to tie them, so the overall effect was quite unfashionable. Now I look back and regret taking the teacher so seriously; no one else took her seriously. I wish I’d had the courage to pack the clothes I felt the happiest in, even if my boobs were hanging out, because it would have felt extra-nice to feel beautiful in France.

             My flatmates and I just booked tickets for a trip to Paris in January. As we did, I felt a thrill of excitement knowing that this time around I'm old enough to make my own choices about how I present myself. I'm going to pack the clothes I feel the most comfortable in, and yeah, that's probably going to include a little bit of cleavage.

Freya "Marvel" Review

The long-awaited Freya Marvel finally arrived on my doorstep today. Ever since I saw this bra previewed on Stanikomania many months ago, I knew it was going to be great. Despite Freya's nervousness about the design, I wasn't nervous. I could see that this was a first step at bringing the innovation and genius of Freya Swim constructions into their bra collection. Well, I was right. It's great. You may all go back to your homes now, there is nothing more to see. Just kidding--here is the bra:

You may notice that this bra is slightly different from the bra that was marketed:

In this photo, the purple mesh at the top of the cups is transparent. In real life, it's sitting on top of the cups themselves. Some companies' product photos reflect this change, others don't. I like it better with the transparent mesh, but that's okay, Freya. It's a minor detail.

What really matters is the most important photo, the side view!

YUP, THOUGHT SO! This bra gets a solid gold A+ for shape. It combines a few features of 'good shape' that are rarely found together: it is simultaneously

a. very rounded and slightly minimizing
b. very uplifting
c. 'perky' in shape (that tiniest touch of elf shoe)

Most bras that are very rounded and slightly minimizing tend to sit a little lower on the chest, while most bras that have extreme uplift tend to give a different, more projected shape. The elusive but delightful 'perky' shape is hardly ever found on a bra that is also slightly minimizing. The subtle mix (elements of each) is enchanting.

This bra is very open on the top, which makes it well suited for full-on-top ladies who need space there. I am convinced that it will also work well for full-on-bottom boobs. The shape is not stiff or tight/closed in any area, which is a good sign of potential versatility. The fact that it has that little hint of a 'green shape'--the perkiness--is another clue that it may be FOB-friendly as well as FOT-friendly. I really encourage anyone with that shape who tries it to comment and let me know if this is the case.

I got the Marvel in a 32H, which is pretty much my size in everything right now.

The band on this bra is great. It has a healthy level of stretch, which means it won't feel too stiff for those of us who like looser bands, and it won't feel too loose for those who like firmness. It's made of a lovely thick material, not the crappy mesh you find in most bra bands.

Who is this bra NOT suited for? Anyone who hates wide wires. The patterned part is ALL cup, so you can see that the wires do go pretty far around. (That's what bending them is for.) It will also not work for ladies who need a lot of projection and depth in the cup. It's not as shallow as the padded half-cups, though. A mid-level of projection should still be okay to try this bra.

In the photo above, you can see the feature that makes this construction a little unusual: a side-sling, typically found on some full-cup bras to add uplifted. I know these photos suck, but the feature I'm referring to is the seam that goes straight down the side of the cup. It's my professional opinion that this seam functions fairly similarly to the vertical seams in a half-cup and, as such, doesn't put this bra in a separate category from your standard half-cup construction. I don't mean that as an insult, though. There is very little selection in the unpadded half-cup category, and this is a really strong contribution to it--likely the best that currently exists. 

I want to note that I am aware this review is more 'gushing' than what is typical for this blog. That tone comes from a place of long-standing frustration with Freya's nervousness regarding newer, better styles. They always tread carefully with innovative, exciting designs, while continuing to thoughtlessly produce their generally weak GG-K balconies with flimsy wires, weird bands, extremely full coverage, and disappointing appearances. They have no fear about releasing something that is known to be not-great, but they always tremble with terror at the release of something that is practically guaranteed to work better. Their expansion of the padded half-cups to H ended up taking on the tone of some sort of cover-up, it was so little marketed. The Marvel also doesn't go above an H, though it would work well past that. There have been times recently when I've gotten the sense that Freya is being run by the underpants gnomes:

...that or they have just grown too big and bureaucratic to allow new ideas to have their moment in the sun. To be fair, I feel the same way about Panache (though the Jasmine was a big breakthrough for them). It seems like there is a lot of red tape to get through and playing it safe has become the norm. That's why I'm writing such a gushing review of this new, excellent design. I want people to be able to benefit from bras like this--first because I think a lot of people will like it, and second because I want THIS kind of design to become the norm.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now. Please, anyone who tries this, comment to let us all know how it goes--whether good or bad. Every piece of information helps!

My Favorite Fall Perfume

 I am totally obsessed with this fragrance! I have gotten so many compliments on it lately; even strangers have come up to me to ask what I was wearing... I love using this scent during the cold fall/ winter months. It's pretty strong compared to other perfumes, so one to two sprays will do the job. I am so drawn in by the sexy, amber scent and its hint of sweet sandlewood. It's a very fresh smell, with a sassy side to it! Me explaining this does not do it true justice, so you'll have to smell it for yourself.

 It was definitely not a cheap perfume, so save up and be patient; it is most DEFINITELY worth it! When I  wore this scent to work, one of patients came up to me, and I noticed his nostrils become enlarged. He asked me what it was, and I told him it was Gucci; his reply made my day, when he exclaimed, "oh... That's a very Hollywood smell." That, in a nutshell, is why Gucci Guilty is my favorite fall perfume. Save up now, and get a little Hollywood glam in your life!

Manicure Monday: Penny Talk

It's Manicure Monday! Today, I'm wearing a beautiful shade of rose gold. This nail polish is called Penny Talk by ESSIE, and it's from their new fall collection. Every time I wear this nail polish, people always say it looks like a shiny new penny on my nails. It really does, explaining its monetary namesake! The best results come from using two coats of; that gives a fuller, overall better look. Go out and get yourselves some shiny nails, and y'all have a great week! 

NARS Orgasm: Review & Swatch!

I think I may have found my new favorite blush for a while: NARS Orgasm!

 As you can see, it is a beautiful shade of pink, slightly on the darker side of the spectrum. It strays from the bright and hot shades of pink, but doesn't go quite so dark as to appear bland.

I love the way it pops against my complexion, and has just that right amount of sparkle to it. The problem with some blushes is the amount of sparkle they have; too often, a blush goes overboard with the glitter and shine... I want to pop, but not look like a Liberace outfit! The perfect blend of color and shine gives you enough of a glow to stand out, without being too loud.

NARS is typically a pretty safe bet when choosing a blush, as their products tend to hit perfection pretty often in terms of pigment and sparkle. This product is no exception! Now, as a disclaimer, it did appear a bit light when I started a  swatch on my arm, but I did go a bit light on my first brush to avoid overdoing it. I suggest that everyone do a swatch in store before purchasing, just to make sure that this shade agrees with your complexion. For some paler complexions, the darker pink may stand out to much, but perhaps a lighter coating and proper blending can make it work for you!

Panache "Confetti" Review

Panache's Confetti bra is discontinued and has been for a couple of years. But I decided to do a review of it for two reasons—first, it is still widely available on eBay, and second, it’s the bra against which I judge all other bras.

When I first ordered the Confetti, I had been wearing exclusively the Panache Harmony, which I’ll review in a later post, for about a year. Although the Harmony is a reasonably good fit on me, I was much more impressed by the fit and shape of the Confetti. Even my boyfriend declared that it suited me much better than the Harmony. You know you’re obsessed with bras when the males in your life can rattle off the specifics of a good fit!

I love the rounded shape the Confetti gives me. I have found very few non-molded/non-padded bras that give a shape this good, and since I prefer non-padded bras, it immediately became a favorite. It gives me the same shape as the legendary Freya Deco, but with a better fit in my size. I also love the fact that the Confetti isn’t “a lot of bra.” It looks really good even in the highest cup sizes. The Confetti is very low cut--the center gore is an inch shorter than the one on the Curvy Kate Ella. And because there is no seam or ribbon across the top of the cup, I still fit well into a 28HH in the Confetti, despite needing a 28J in nearly all Cleo and Curvy Kate bras.

Unfortunately, there is one big problem with the Confetti which is the only reason I haven’t kept ordering more and more of them—it doesn’t have a very tight band. Part of the reason for this is that I wore it so often over the summer and wore it out, but that was only a few months. For the sake of wanting the bra to last longer, I would go down a band size if I could.

I really believe the Panache Confetti is one of the best bras for larger cup sizes that’s ever been produced. The wires aren’t quite as wide as on the Harmony or Melody, so even if you don’t normally get on well with Panache, this might be a great bra to try out, especially if you find it for a good price on eBay.