Pepperberry Has Problems, Part 2

Time for some good old-fashioned hating on the biggest full-bust clothing brand! Now, Pepperberry, you know I love you and what you do, but sometimes you just frustrate me so much…

Why are there no buttons on the bottom part of this cardigan?

Cable Knit Cardigan

Really, for £39 (on sale from £49) I daresay you could at least slap some on there, even if you leave them unbuttoned for the product photo.

Is it just me or does the decoration on this top look like a line of people with very small heads holding hands? I just can’t get over it.

Slub Jersey Tunic 

And Pepperberry, why so much BLING????

Beaded Flapper Dress

Embellished Check Top

Beaded Detail Tunic

Jewel Neck Top

Deco Beaded Silk Dress

Embellished Tie Back Dress

Bling layered on other bling:

Beaded Knit Shrug

Petal Trim Dress

Lurex Swing Dress

The Border Print Cotton Dress, otherwise demure, features sneaky surprise sequins woven into the skirt:

Border Print Cotton Dress

Quoted from reviews of the Stripe Sun Top: "There's too much bling on the front and it's just big and fluffy!" "Also not a huge fan of all the spanglies around the collar, but that's just my personal taste."

Stripe Sun Top

Now, I like a little sparkle as much as the next girl, but the vast proportion of blinged-out Pepperberry clothing continues to alarm me. I’m surprised they haven’t yet started to weave sequins into their collared shirts. But somehow, still no sequined bras from sister company Bravissimo! This is just reversed and wrong and I would like a sequined bra, please. Bras are sequins’ natural home.

Finally, Pepperberry, WHY this print? Why?

Abstract Print Kimono Dress

And make sure to notice that this top features a fake cami to make up for the too-low-cut construction!

Related: Pepperberry Has Problems, Part 1

Cycle Style - The Book...

Do you remember that Photo-Shoot that me and my Pashley took part in last Summer?

Well, it was for Horst A. Friedrichs third book, 'Cycle Style', which celebrates the brilliant and varied fashion in London's cycling scene. I'm very pleased to finally be able to tell you that I'm going to be in the book, along with featuring on the back cover too!

"Cycle Style" Book Cover courtesy of waterstones.com
Photo by Horst A.Friedrichs

Horst and his assistant Filip Milovac contacted to let me know the news, and to ask me to be in the promo-video for the book launch. I was over the moon to know I'd made it into 'Cycle Style', and was bouncing off the walls about the cover... that's something I never expected to happen.

I met up with Filip last month for the video shoot on Columbia Road. It was a gorgeous Friday afternoon in December - a bit chilly but very bright... perfect winter cycling weather! It also meant I could wrap up warm on the bike, and not be smothered in heavy & plain clothing... 

Photo by Filip Milovac* 

Scarf: See by Chloé

Leather Biker Jacket: Topshop

Black Jumper: M&S

Bag: Vintage Mulberry

Tweed Shorts: Mango

Big Ben Tights: Henry Holland

(I had to wear those tights - celebrating London's cycle style, right?)

Brogues: Topshop

The adorable Filip - photo thanks to a kind passer-by who clicked the button! 

I can't wait to see the finished video & of course the published book. It's been a wonderful experience and a fantastic project to be a part of... roll on March for the launch!

*Thank you to Filip for these shots of the day for the blog.

Product Review: Weekender Bag by Michaux Club...

I first met Rachel Bonney at the launch party for Cycle Style at LMNH last April. She was friendly, full of energy and hyped about cycling and fashion = an ace vibe. I recognised her from her photos in the book; if you wear Brogues (which I have an addiction to) that are cool enough to have a page all to themselves, that will get my attention. She also had on a rather nice looking bag in her portrait and on the night which caught my eye... and it turns out it was all her handy work.

When she got her bicycle, Rachel decided to make a handbag for herself that would work while cycling. It needed to look good while being safety conscious on the roads, and be functional. Her designs went down pretty well with her friends, and then her bags started to get public attention... leading to Michaux Club being born.

I respected the fact she made her own to solve the problem. But what really got my attention? It was HANDBAG for cycling! Not a rucksack or rack bag - Rachel created a handbag that would be practical while commuting in the city. Of course panniers will always have their place (both on the bike and in my heart), but it's not that easy to find a handbag that is stylish, feminine and cycling specific.

When one comes along claiming to be this, my interest is going to be piqued.

Michaux currently have two styles of bag in their range: the Commuter, an all leather bag and the Weekender, which is a combination of canvas and leather. After meeting Rachel again at the last London Nocturne and seeing both styles, I was taken with the Weekender and she kindly sent me the medium sized Tan & Navy one for a review on VCG...

The bag is made out of water-resistant canvas which forms the main body of the Weekender. It's a hard-wearing material, but isn't rough to the touch. 

There is no compromise on functionality over feel which was immediately pleasing, especially regarding how close the bag will be to your body when riding.

As described by Michaux, the leather details on the bag "keep you looking stylish". Indeed they do, as a very stunning feature on the bag... but they are so much more than that. This is where the true genius of the design kicks in, with the 3M Scotchlite reflective detailing! 

Integrated into the front flap of the bag, the reflective details have a pretty brogue-like pattern to them (not sure if that was deliberate, but that's how I see it). It's subtle in the daytime and has a high visibility factor when cycling in the evening - wearing the Weekender on my bike, I found it to be perfectly positioned on my back to catch the lights of motorists.

The medium measures in at W33cm x H23cm x D9cm - this for me was still a decent size for use on and off the bike. When using the bag while on the Clubman, I was able to carry both my D and Cable Lock in there along with my usual diary, notebook and other essentials with no issues. It was comfortable on my back due to the sturdy adjustable body strap and the detachable anti-swing strap, stopping the bag from swinging around while cycling.

Michaux have been generous and thoughtful with the pockets in this bag. There is the standard internal pocket with a zip fastening, a separate front pocket which is secure with main the lobster-clasp fastening of the bag and an additional front-zip pocket in the flap. On a convenience level, the front zip pocket is fantastic - deep enough to keep my phone in securely and to reach it (obviously when stationary on the bike), I don't need to remove the bag.

A hidden gem about Michaux Bags is the Liberty Print lining used in them. Even though I knew the bag came with this, it was still a lovely treat when I opened it up and saw it.

The Weekender is definitely a bag that works on and off he bike: ON the bike, it stands up to the elements, doing very well in wet conditions. It's not a heavy bag, and I didn't feel bogged down with it full of my usual bits and pieces. The body strap along with the anti-swing strap kept in place nicely & it was comfortable. The reflective detailing is extremely well though out and executed in the design, marrying safety and style together in a very impressive fashion. 

Yes, there are Messenger Bags for bikes out there, but in my opinion, the Michaux Weekender really is 100% handbag. Thank you Rachel for your DIY skills - you've given the cycling world a rather lovely gift with your bags.

The Weekender and Commuter bags, along with a range of accessories can be bought directly on Michauxclub.com or from these stockists.

*This bag was kindly gifted to VCG by Michaux Club for a review.

Revamping My Skincare Routine

      I usually don't follow through with my resolutions, but this year I'm determined to stick to them... REALLY! One of the things on my list was to find a skincare routine which I could easily follow. I've noticed that I have way too many skincare products in my beauty cabinet. I hardly use all of them! So, I decided to do a complete product detox. I got rid of over 20 different types of products, keeping only a select few around. It's officially been five days since New Years, and I've already noticed an enormous difference in my skin. No more pimples on this girl's face! I also started to cut back on my sugar intake while drinking more water. Healthy skin is happy skin, and that's definitely what I am aiming for this year! Many of the products in my beauty cabinet are drugstore-brand with the exception of a couple. The majority of these products are a pretty affordable, helping even the frugal fashionista keep her skin radiant. Here's to a New Year and a new face!

Step 1: Remove all makeup from your face.

For a very long time now I've been using Neutrogena Makeup Removing Towelettes. The towelettes leave my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated every time. $4.99

 Step 2: Use an exfoliator twice a week.

This scrub is a classic! I even used it back in my tween years. The St. Ives Apricot Scrub is the perfect product to get rid of any dead skin leaving you looking glowing and smooth. $3.99










Step 3: Use a cleanser to wash face twice a day.

I've tried the top-notch cleansers and the bargain basement cleansers; to be honest I couldn't notice a difference. So instead I went straight to the drug store and purchased the Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser... And yes, this does leave my skin feeling astoundingly fresh. $5.99

Step 4: Seal the cleanse by using a toner.

I adore Mario Badescu's skincare line. The Cucumber Cleansing Lotion toner is definitely one of my favorite must-haves for any skin routine. The toner helps lessen your breakouts, which in my case are large cratered-looking pimples. $15.00

 Step 5: Moisturize, Moisturize, and Moisturize.

With the crazy cold, harsh weather a girl has to be careful. This weather can really damage your skin, leaving it feeling dry and cracked. I tend to use my Danielle Laroche Active Day Cream moisturizer in the morning and at night. $34.99

Book Review: 'The Girl's Guide to Life on Two Wheels' by Cathy Bussey...

The new year is upon us and if you're thinking about getting on a bike in 2014 or looking for advice on cycling, 'The Girls Guide to Life on Two Wheels' by Cathy Bussey is a great place to start. I set aside time between work and the Christmas rush to settle down and read 'The Girl's Guide…' and wasn't disappointed. Cathy's "handbook for the chic cyclist", is bursting with information for ladies who like to ride… or would like to start.

Cathy (who is also on twitter - certainly one to follow) is a keen cyclist herself, which clearly comes across when she talks about her own her own personal cycling journey in the introduction. This for me is a really nice touch: she comes from the heart, and even mentions those little excuses not to cycle, which I admit crossed my mind before I started riding again!

There is a great range of bike-topics covered in the book; split into seven chapters, it addresses questions and concerns for both the novice cyclist to the more experienced rider. Starting off with the common question most of us have pondered before getting on a bike, chapter one asks "Why Cycle?" There is no one right answer to that, but with quotes from everyday women who explain why they cycle and the joy it brings them, to great interviews with competitive Olympic cyclists like Dani King, it certainly gives encouragement to women to get on two wheels.

Choosing the right bike for the kind of cycling you want to get into (with a handy guide to the different types of bike out there) and making it work with your budget are covered by the book too. Cycling can sometimes be an expensive business which may put some women off riding, but chapter two of the book aims to show that biking can be done without having to spend a small fortune.

True to the tag line, 'The Girl's Guide…' is a handbook for the chic cyclist, and of course has a dedicated chapter on looking good while cycling. Featuring a round-up of some cool brands (and a few VCG favourites) to check out, you'll find links for cycle clothing, lights, panniers and accessories so that your bike can look the part too.

Even after four years of being back on a bike, I took away practical and helpful tips from the book. I really liked the section on "Keeping Your Bike Healthy", with its maintenance and repairs guide and illustrations on looking after your bicycle.

'The Girl's Guide…' is a lovely introduction to cycling, with a friendly, straightforward and down to earth approach. It's layout with beautiful photography and styling makes it a book you'll want to refer back to. Cathy has created a great and encouraging guide to getting on a bike, which VCG certainly recommends.

The Girl's Guide to Life on Two Wheels by Cathy Bussey is £14.99 ($21.95 US) and is published by Cico Books. It's available to buy from rylandpeters.com

What Exactly is a "Good" Shape?

The more I interact with others interested in lingerie, the more I realize that even the most basic concepts are subject to opinion. One of these concepts is what defines a “good shape.” I feel like I spend a lot of time talking about that on this blog without having ever defined what I mean by that. There are a lot of different shapes that could be considered “good shapes” for a bra to give you:

The shape that I personally prefer as my “best” shape is rounded and a bit lower, even slightly minimized.

I find I get this shape in low-cut bras with somewhat looser upper sections. They don’t give as much support to the top half of the boobs but are often an easier fit on people with full-on-top boobs (like me) because the bra isn’t even messing with the top of the boobs. In fact, people with full-on-top boobs might even find they can size down in these bras. Another kind of bra that often gives this shape is the bra with vertical seams, like Curvy Kate’s Tease Me and Thrill Me bras. However, in my experience people with full-on-top boobs usually can’t size down in these.

Bras fitting this description include: Panache Harmony, Sienna and Confetti, Cleo Brooke and Frances, Bravissimo Demi Diva, Curvy Kate Tease Me and Thrill Me. I have not tried the following, but would venture to add the Cleo Eleanor and Bonnie. Also, according to Curvy Wordy's reviews, I feel comfortable adding Ewa Michalak’s “HP” bras.

Bras fitting this description somewhat include: Panache Melody, Curvy Kate Ella.

If you’re shopping online, you can usually recognize these bras by the lack of a ribbon or tight detail along the top of the cup. They also tend to appear to have a more round or horizontal shape across the neckline if you are just looking at it on a model online:

Bras with this shape can be good for anyone, even those without full-on-top boobs, and are an easier transition from poorly-fitted “normal” looking bras to the world of well fitted bras, especially for people who were used to Victoria’s Secret, as the shape is more similar.

Drawbacks to this shape include the fact that it often comes hand in hand with wider underwires which can tend to put your boobs in your armpits. Personally I prefer this because it balances my visual shape from the front and minimizes my boobs from the side:

However, lots of people find wider underwires very uncomfortable, while others dislike the lower, rounded shape and prefer an upfront look with more lift and projection:

This shape puts the boobs front and center. The look can be achieved by slightly higher-cut bras where the top section actually curves back in, and is meant to cover and support a greater proportion of the boobs. These bras can be a nightmare for anyone with full-on-top boobs as they curve back in right where the most stubborn part of the boob is and can cause epic quadraboob. However, they can also be more supportive and if well-fitted, are often LESS likely to shift under clothes and start to cut in and leave a line. These bras are more likely to give a fuller-coverage but lower-cut appearance when seen on a model—a V-neck shape:

People with full-on-top boobs can sometimes still wear bras like this but may need to size up and/or alter the center gore to get a better fit if they are seeking this shape. I know many people who prefer this shape as the gold standard of a well-fitted bra. Other bras giving this shape include the carefully structured Ewa Michalak padded bras, again according to Curvy Wordy (I have no experience of Ewa Michalak bras).

Bras fitting this description include: Bravissimo Alana and Dotty Spot, Freya Arabella, Lyla, Eleanor etc, Ewa Michalak’s “PL” bras.

Bras fitting this description somewhat include: Bravissimo Boudoir Beau, Cleo Lucy.

This shape makes the boobs look much more streamlined from the front, because it pulls them to the center and up. They look more dramatic from the side:

Although I think these two shapes tend to be the ones most sought out by women, there are a lot of other shapes, and many bras seem to give a shape that falls in between. There is this more relaxed, natural look, which is often achieved with full-coverage bras:

There are also a thousand shapes in between these extremes. I’m becoming more and more interested in what other women want and what shape they search for in a bra. If you like a shape that I haven’t mentioned, let me know in the comments!

Ewa Michalak "HM Gold" Review

You might remember my review of Ewa Michalak’s HM Granatowy Motyl. That was my first Ewa bra, and I was impressed with the uplift of the vertical seam structure, which suits my shape well, and the technical brilliance of the band. But the 30GG I tried was too small in the cup, not surprising considering that’s a cup size smaller than I normally wear. I also felt the band was very firm even though the bra had been heavily used by its first owner, so I figured a 32GG (70GG) would be the best fit for me in the HM style from Ewa.

I didn’t order the HM Gold directly from Poland, but rather secondhand from an acquaintance, so I can’t report on the direct ordering process. I was excited to be able to get this bra for a reduced price and, in fact, to be able to get it at all, because the HM styles are fairly few and far between.

The fit of the cups is great. I also like the shape from the side. It's a classic half-cup bra shape, the same shape I get in the Cleo Juna-style bras (like the Rihanna, reviewed here and the Sadie, reviewed here) as well as the Curvy Kate Showgirl bras (reviewed here). It's very rounded, with not much forward projection. This shape tends to look like it is pointing down a bit on boobs that have a lot of upper fullness and not much lower fullness. I don't mind this very much because this mirrors the actual shape of my breasts.

As a vertical-seamed half-cup bra, it does tend to enhance center heaviness, uplifting the boobs so dramatically that they end up pushed to the middle with a very bulky cleavage. You can see that happening in the front view, but the effect is not nearly as dramatic here as with the Curvy Kate Showgirl bras, so I feel more comfortable using this one as an everyday bra. I believe the reason for the diminished center-heaviness is the triangular panel that connects the straps to the cup. 

Widening the strap at the point where it connects to the cup allows the strap to provide some lift that pulls outwards, away from the center and toward the shoulders. It helps to balance the shape of the cups.

As someone who can’t stand to wear padded bras, the sheer lace cups are really nice. I imagine I would feel very overexposed if I was used to a greater level of coverage, but I really like the fact that it feels very light and insignificant in the cups, like I’m barely wearing anything. And because the fabric is very lightweight and has the slightest stretch, it forms to my shape rather than cutting in.

On to the negatives… unfortunately, the band on the HM Gold has utterly lost all the technical genius that the band on the HM Granatowy Motyl has. The Motyl’s band sits at a lower angle, wonderfully eliminating discomfort and bulges:

It is also thick (3 hooks) and made of a heavy, extremely stretchy material. It’s the best bra band I’ve ever experienced.

I was really disappointed that the HM Gold (a later bra) no longer features this glorious band. Instead, it has a band that’s basically the equivalent of a Cleo band—2 hooks, too thin, and sitting at too high of an angle. It’s made of a scratchy mesh instead of the wonderful soft material of the Motyl’s band.

The HM Gold’s band also runs very tight. The 70 band (theoretically the equivalent of a UK 32 band) measures 25 inches unstretched, and stretches to 32.5 inches. For comparison, a Cleo Lucy with a 30 band (one size 'smaller') measures 25.5 inches unstretched and 34 inches stretched.  So the HM Gold is both tighter (even though it’s a 32) and less stretchy than my usual bras. Running small isn’t a huge issue because I could always just try a larger size, but I hate bra bands with so little stretch. Whether they are too big, too small, or just right, they never feel good, and they always cut in and cause unattractive bulging. So far, I haven’t made a final decision on whether this (and the narrowness and bad angle of the band) ruin the bra for me. I wore it a few days in a row before Christmas and ended up in such pain and frustration that I started to hate my boobs again. When I stopped wearing it, everything felt better. I am going to try it with an extender and see if that helps; otherwise it may be best to avoid wearing it two days in a row.

The HM Gold is definitely a great bra cups-wise, but the band is a serious drawback, and I’m not ultimately sure whether I feel positive or negative about it. Of course, bras tend to be a situation where a draw is the same as a loss. I personally wouldn’t buy another HM bra unless I was sure it had the nice, thick, stretchy kind of band that the HM Motyl has, and not the thin, rigid kind that the HM Gold has. If readers are looking to buy it, I would definitely recommend sizing up in the band unless you like a really tight, firm band without much stretch, in which case this bra may be your dream come true. Cups-wise, I wear the equivalent of the same cup size in the HM bras by Ewa Michalak that I wear in Cleo (32GG for Ewa, 30H for Cleo; I wear a cup size bigger than that in Curvy Kate and Bravissimo bras). The HM style is very open on top and so it's well suited to those who struggle to find bras that don't cut in on the top edge. 

The Visual Effects of Poor Band Construction

In a past post, I revealed how bra manufacturers have literally scarred me for life. But there’s also the mental scarring that comes from seeing an unflattering photo of yourself online. Here’s one that cropped up recently:

See the way the elastic at the bottom of my bra band is cutting into my flesh and leaving a deep impression that is visible even through a shirt AND a cardigan. This isn’t happening because the bra is the wrong size, or because of whatever “back fat” I may have—I know because I have a few bras that don’t leave a thin mark like this. Plus, it is only the strip of elastic at the bottom that is cutting in, not the whole band--I'm not bothered by the teeny-tiny bulges at the top.

I personally find I can mostly avoid this look if I stick to bras that have three hooks rather than two. But some of my best-fitting bras (Cleo’s Brooke and Lucy bras) only have two hooks.

I also find that the cutting in gets much worse when the band is too big, because it rides up and sort of sits just above where the back fat is:

But I think it would prove possible to greatly reduce this cutting in by improving the construction of the band—rather than using a weak mesh for the band and tightening that up with a thin strip of much tougher elastic at the bottom, why not make the whole band out of the tougher material? This would reduce the appearance of a thin line cutting in, in the same way that a flat lace band like this:

…cuts into anyone’s hips less than a string on a bikini or thong, regardless of size.

Making underwear lie smooth under clothes doesn’t have much to do with women’s bodies or size; it has everything to do with fabric and construction. Although I recognize that a bra band has to do a lot of work and is probably always going to cut in a little, I still think a wider section of elastic could reduce a lot of the visual effects of that. If the problem was removed, I suspect fewer women would be scared off from wearing their right size by the threat of visible bra lines. 

New Year...

Happy New Year everyone! 2011 was a brilliant year for Vélo-City-Girl. A lot of great stuff that I never expected happened and I met some fabulous people along the way. Thank you all for being such a major part of it and coming along for the ride... and I hope you'll join me this year too!

Suitably holidayed out, I'm getting ready for new adventures on Frankie in 2018. I'm rather pleased that some of the festive treats I got at Christmas will be powering me and the Pashley (and the blogging) along...

... first up, this wonderful book I got from The Boy's Mother

'Britain by Bike' accompanies the BBC Four series of the same name, and includes cycle routes around Britain (which I'm planning on trying if possible), excellent cycling nostalgia and some wonderful photographs and illustrations.

Of course, this section of the book caught my eye, especially learning the origins of the term "loose woman" came from women's cycling fashion!

The next festive-fashion treat which will feature on VCG without doubt is this gorgeous Tatty Devine Owl Necklace, which came from The Boy...

I've got a bit of a thing for Owls on jewellery & clothing AND I've had my eye on this for ages, so top marks to him for remembering. It's been pointed out to me that the Owl's eyes look like bicycle wheels... how on earth did I not pick up on that first?!

My blogging fuel usually consists of Cakes, Coffee or Tea... and this has already been put to use (while I'm writing this actually)

I adore the tea-sets by V&A (another thing The Boy's Mother picked-up on!) and this lovely Bone China Mug now sits long side my mini teapot set I bought early last year

So, expect a lot more cycling, fashion, blogging and everything else that comes in between... 2018 - Lady Vélo is ready for you!