Bicycle Review: Series 01 by Milk Bikes...

Falling for bikes I see at the Bespoked Handmade Bicycle Show has become an occupational hazard for me, so you can guess what happened when I saw THIS by Milk Bikes on display in April! Founder Mark Meadows debuted his new Series 01 range with the 'Barra' model...

All photography by Ian James.

At first glance this was a beauty: the design, build and wooden features looked stunning and taking a closer look would reveal some subtle and lovely detailing. Already curious about this collection and how the bikes would actually ride, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to take this one out on its maiden voyage on the Tweed Run, and give it a whirl for VCG...

Milk Bikes has a unique approach to producing bicycles: all are made in batches of just 12, which is known as a Series. Those made in a Series are named together, and the Series 01 Bikes are named after Scottish Islands, with colour schemes inspired by the geography of those isles. A first for Meadows, the idea for a step-through city bike had been in his mind for a while, so it was brilliant to see the dream brought to life. Teaming up with some of the best names in the UK bike scene, the roll-call for the Series includes Fresh Fabrications (frame building), Rebecca J Kaye (colours and graphics), Argos Racing Cycles (frame painting) and Woodguards (all wooden parts, excluding pedals) 

Mark's concept for Series 01 was for it to be "functional, easy to maintain and amazing to ride". Meadows, who started the Chelmsford based company in 2010 holds these elements as the cornerstones of Milk Bikes' design ethos.

Function: Having ridden it for the last few weeks around London for the Tweed Run and to get across town for two photoshoots, I can certainly vouch for it being functional. The Barra isn't a very large bike, something that struck me when I first saw it. In comparison to my Pashley, this looked much more nimble & I felt that when I got on to ride. The wheels are smaller than usual, which in turn keeps the bike small. Designed for city living, Barra's geometry has been scaled back to be more manoeuvrable in a busy urban environment. 

In keeping with this nimble design, the only storage facility on the Series 01 is the wooden front porter. Initially I was concerned about how secure it would be: yes, the design looks beautiful and the wood felt sturdy, but I've gotten so used to chucking stuff in a large wicker basket with high sides, this rack seemed a bit open to me. And then I used it. 

The base is lined with skateboard gripper tape, and the silicone "cat's cradle" style cords can be strategically wrapped around the valuables to keep them in the rack. Combined, the two worked together effectively keeping my bag in place... it didn't escape! Notice that bit at the back which looks like a cup holder? It IS one! Grabbing a take out coffee or tea on your travels you have somewhere to store it on this bike...

My only wish for this is some kind of rubber/plastic adaptor to make the hole a little smaller if you're not getting a large hot drink, or want to pop a bottle of water in there. If you're not planning on carrying a lot around with you while you zip through the city, you really don't need more storage space than this and you won't miss having a back rack. 

Maintenance and riding: First things first - the Belt Drive. All Milk Bikes come with the Gates Carbon Drive system, and it feels like an utter joy when you get pedalling on it. I've always cycled on bikes with traditional Chains, but this feels very different....

A belt drive is incredibly low maintenance: no lubrication is required (so no grease - I'm not afraid of a bit of dirt, but it's nice not to have to get mucky), it isn't going to rust-up, and with the teeth of the belt completely engaging into the drive system, it feels like it rides a lot smoother. Clean, quiet and direct, there was a feeling of being a bit more connected with the bike. Along with the wooden belt guard, this gets a total thumbs up from me. 

The low maintenance theme continues through the Series 01with its lights. The front and rear lights (note the rear cable is internal, and built into the mudguard) are Dynamo powered, converting pure pedal power into electricity... green and clean, I love this!

They are bolted to the bike and with no charging of batteries or having to fuss about taking them off / fixing back on, this is quite a cool "fit and forget" system.

Overall I found the Series 01 a comfortable bicycle to ride: I'm a huge fan of the traditional sit up and beg riding position, and the angle of these bars is great. The bike does have a little bit of weight to it, but the Series 01 is NOT incredibly heavy, so riding doesn't feel like a labour. A mention must go to the saddle all the bicycles in this batch comes with - the Brooks Cambium C17s. I've been intrigued by these since they launched, so it was great to finally get a chance to ride on one.

"Ready to ride" as soon as they come out of box, Brooks state these saddles need no breaking in, and are incredibly easy to look after... the vulcanised rubber is already waterproofed, protecting it against the elements and doesn't require ongoing care. Although not exactly instantaneous (perhaps I'm too used to my B66s which has moulded perfectly to the shape my bum after 4 years!), the Cambium have proven to be a comfy saddle, and I'm sure with more rides over time it gets even better. 

The 3-speed hub gearing is enough for getting around the city, and as they're Sturmley Archer gears, this again ticks the clean / easy maintenance boxes of the S:01 design.

Milk Bikes have said of their bicycles "we want more people to get out and ride - if the bikes are not comfy or useful, people won't ride them... what's the point of a bike that isn't used?"  The Series 01 is definitely a bicycle that matches that criteria and is certainly a bike that I'd be more than happy to use. The craftsmanship, aesthetic and design of the Barra / Series 01 is beautiful, and with a majority of the bikes components being handmade and assembled in the UK, that's rather special. Retailing at  £2,495 the Series doesn't come cheap, but believe me when I say you get what you pay for with Milk Bikes, along with owning an extremely unique bicycle which is a little work of art.

Many thanks to Mark Meadows for loaning VCG the Barra for review, and to Ian James for all his excellent photography for this blog post.

More details on Milk Bikes Series 01 can be found here.

Further photography by Ian James of Milk Bikes can be found here.

The Weekend

Let me just say that I had one of the best weekends I've had in a long time! To update, I've been extremely busy with work and studying for my exam; so much so that I just needed a break from social media and the blog. With that said, I have some exciting news to share with y'all: this girl finally purchased a DSLR camera!!! It's been too long, but it was so worth waiting for. Anyhow, here is my weekend recap: 

 Poolside bound for the majority of my weekend! Finally got a nice tan :) 

Headed to Atlanta for the Virgina Highlands Summerfest... Ended up in Midtown instead. Mainly due to the rain, but overall it was a fun afternoon come rain or shine!

 Really wanted some authentic Hawaiian food, so we headed Waikiki Hawaiian Restaurant. This place is a must visit if you're in the Atlanta area. It really felt like I was in Hawaii... Maybe one day! I ordered the Pineapple Katsu Chicken; the pineapples on top added a tropical flavor that just melted in my mouth.

 On Sunday, Brian and I woke up extra early to go for a jog in the park before the day got too hot. It really is nice having someone to workout with, especially out jogging. It helps keep me motivated.

I've been eating really clean the past couple of weeks, but the key to my "eating clean" diet is that I allot myself a cheat day twice a week. So, Brian took me to the cutest cupcake cafe located in the heart of Cabbage Town: Sweet Cheats! Looks like I know where to go to on my cheat days from now on ;) Their slogan was right! The cupcake I had was so delicious, and it was totally worth it... No shame!

 Hope y'all are having a wonderful week!

Sunday Social

Hey y'all! This Sunday Social is all about bloggers talking about there own blog; it's a great way to get to know how other bloggers started. I'm excited, so let's get started!!!

1.  How did you come up with your blog name? 

After coming up with three different blog names, I found one that was just right.  braforme means, pretty much, a tour of my life. I love the word Couture, but this word was already used up (A LOT) in the blogging world. I wanted something unique, so I came up with braforme. The "C " stands for Catherine and the last "A" is my last initial. The middle section of braforme is actually "a tour." So, when put those key letters and words together you get braforme, a word that sounds an awful lot like Couture (see what I did there?). Hopefully, I can make this my own brand one day in the future :) 

2. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Meeting new bloggers (especially those who live in my home town Atlanta), and of course taking pictures and writing. 

 3. What is one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now can't live without? 

Oddly enough, a lot of websites I would have never really joined if it weren't for the wonderful bloggers out there. For example: Pinterest, Instagram, and Chalkboard 

4. Facebook or Twitter? and Why?

I like Facebook because I can connect to more of my fans over seas. Plus, I love it how my grandma says "hold on a second, I'm Facebooking." I thinks it's hilarious! I am planning to make a Twitter account for braforme soon, though, so stay tuned. 

5. If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be?

Maria Menounos, she is my inspiration! I finally found a celeb that I could relate to thanks to her wonderful book; because of her I did things I would have never done before, like pageants! 

 6. What is something you want people to know about your blog?

I want people to know that my blog is really an inside look at my life and dreams. It reflects my true passions and loves, from fashion to traveling to everything in-between. I only blog about things that I'm really passionate about...

 

Saturday Instagram Recap

I'm doing a new link for the first time! A lovely blogger named Pearls and Curls came up with this great link up (you have to check out her blog). Hope y'all enjoy my pics and have wonderful week!

Went gown shopping for Miss Mall of Georgia

Fell in love with this royal blue gown! What do y'all think?

... But really I wanted this gown instead ($3000)

Bought a pair of cheetah print heels :)

My favorite O.O.T.D

Got a little surprise from lush!!! 

My new Starbucks addiction (Very Berry with Lemonade)

Tried Creme Burlea for the first time...Um delish!!

Late night snack at Fellinis best pizza cafe in town

Pepperberry Has Problems

Pepperberry is probably the biggest and most mainstream brand purporting to make clothes for bigger busts. But they honestly drive me crazy with a lot of their designs. Half the time it seems like they just expand the breast area on clothing by adding pleats...

...or cinch in the waist by adding belts...

...or cover up excessive cleavage by adding a fake cami at the neckline (!?)...

...all without understanding what actually works for a curvy figure, or why. Pleats can be a decent way to add space for a bust but they also can add become bulky and add volume where volume is not needed. Waist belts can be cute--but they look best when they aren't necessary to draw in the waist of a garment, when they are just an accessory. When I do need to use a belt to draw in a top or dress without enough waist definition, I personally always feel annoyed about it. As for camis under low-cut tops--well those are just a solution we use when there are no options available other than trying to wear normal mainstream clothing that isn't cut for a big bust. I feel that Pepperberry should do better than that, since their prices are so high and their whole purpose is catering to a full bust.

I think this is going to be an ongoing series so I will just go over one item that is annoying me currently, and compare to a similar BiuBiu item that I feel is made better.

Check out Pepperberry’s gray Tie Shirt Dress.

Now, in general I like the idea of this: it’s a good color, it’s nice to have something shorter, and a shirt dress is an item that is hard to buy on the high street if you have big boobs, so it makes sense for Pepperberry to sell it.

I hate how it’s constructed though! The ‘boob space’ is added by those lumpy pleats at the neckline. 

The waist definition depends solely on the belt-like item that ties at the back—and as you can see, even on the model, there is tons of extra fabric in the back.

This is exactly what it would look like in the back if you simply belted a large men’s shirt—except with bumpy neckline pleats in the front. Now, I’m not saying this dress is hideous. I’ve seen it looking great on some people (though I've also seen it looking unflattering on other people); if you own it, I trust that you bought it because you know that it looks nice on you. I just feel like Pepperberry ought to have the know-how at this point to construct a garment like this without neckline pleats and waist ties.

To see what I mean, compare to BiuBiu’s Montparnasse gray shirt dress.

The construction here is totally different. The boob space is achieved by the seams down the front of the bodice—a much subtler, more flattering, and less lazy construction. There are no pleats to add bulk, the dress is just cut to have space where space is needed. The waist definition also comes from this seam pattern. 

The belt shown in the photo isn’t nipping in the dress at the waist—it is sitting a bit loose and not even on the waist, it is just there as an accessory. The waist of the dress itself is doing the nipping in! The dress would look good on its own, even without the belt, because it is constructed to fit and flatter an hourglass figure. 

I also find it hilarious how happy the BiuBiu model looks, in comparison to how miserable the Pepperberry model looks! I know that is just styling, but still...

Freya Siren Bikini Review

I recently become aware that the site Large Cup Lingeriealways has free international shipping, plus they have a great outlet section.They mostly just sell Freya and Fantasie items, but I was on the lookout for another bikini, and I was thrilled to see how low their prices were for Freya’s Siren bikini.

I’d had my eye on this bikini for awhile, having tried it on in a shop once and loved it. I am also pretty picky when it comes to swimwear designs, and this is one of the rare patterns that catches my eye.

The bikini top has a plunge shape and is constructed with two sections and a vertical seam—similar to Cleo’s Juna bra and several other Freya bikinis with the same plunge shape, including the Fusion, Fontana, Waves, etc.

Freya Fusion Bikini Top

Freya Fontana Bikini Top

Freya Waves Bikini Top

I think vertical seams are one of the best ways to construct a bra, especially for giving a round shape. I got the bikini top in a 32GG. It only goes up to GG, but as the equivalent of a 30H (the smaller of the two cup sizes I normally wear) I hoped this size would fit fine. You might remember that I don’t worry as much about a tight band when it comes to swimwear since I usually just lie out and read a book in my bikinis.

Don't make my mistakes--remember to reapply your sunscreen.

The 32GG ended up being perfect in the cup, which means it runs a little bigger than I was expecting. If you're sized out by just a half size or a single size, you might be able to squeeze into this one. It was big for me in the band, but I guess that’s no surprise since I cheated and got a 32. This one runs true to size in the band, unlike many swimsuits which run smaller because of all the Lycra. I will need to take in the band to feel more stable in it. I think the band runs a little bigger than the band on the Fantasie Ibiza bikini I reviewed earlier, since I felt that the 32 was an okay fit in that one.

The shape from the side is really great—very round.

I also like the fact that it is a bit lower-cut. Since it’s a bright white shade with sassy animal print, I was always intending this to be a flirtier, sexier bikini than my Fantasie Ibiza, and the extra cleavage plays into that. The gore also sits flat, which is a pleasant surprise considering the band is too big.

The biggest annoyance I have with the Siren top is that the seams are pretty bulky. It's not padded at all, but there seems to be a lot of stuff going on in that seam. It shows under tops and I noticed the seam became very prominent when I was lying down on the beach. I wonder if the cups were even too big for me and that's why the seam was taking on a mind of its own because it wasn't being pulled against my body. However, the cups are spot on when I'm standing so I wouldn't want to try a smaller cup size--although I find myself tempted by the notion that I MIGHT fit into a 30GG in this style of Freya plunge bikini, as I do in the Deco. I think the 30GG bikini would be about a half size too small, though. 

As for the bottoms, I was a little unsure what size to order. I normally need a medium for my hips, but a small for my butt. I didn’t want any cutting in on the sides, so I chose the medium. 

I think either size would have had some problems. If I got the small I would have had visible love handles. But with the medium, it is definitely too big on my butt. Swimwear also gets even bigger when it gets wet, so I’m going to have to work some magic to ensure I won’t find myself pantsless after a wave washes over me. The trick I usually use when I have this problem is to take in the crotch section a bit. This pulls down the back of the briefs so they sit where my diminutive butt is and won’t get baggy. Doing that also makes the briefs sit a bit lower on the hips, which I like. I think for people with a more average sized butt in relation to their hips, going with your normal bottoms size should be fine.

It’s hard to tell in photos, but the leopard print on the Siren actually has a border of silver glitter on each spot. 

I hadn’t realized that when I ordered it, but honestly, I’m down with it. I’d recommend this bikini if you want a bit of shimmer and glitz this summer. It really makes me feel gorgeous, which is pretty important when you’re half-naked on a beach, if you ask me!

Never Ever EVER Will I...

Yay! The very first "Never Ever Ever" Link up!!! I just had to participate on all the fun on Tuesdays! I pretty much listed things I will never ever ever do or say: 

 Never Ever Ever Will I:

•   Go to a tanning bed (premature wrinkles from a fake sun…ew)

• Wear something I truly don’t like

• Buy makeup just to buy it

•  Eat anything categorized as a delicacy (like for example chitlins, cow tongue, lamb brain and etc you get the point

• Finish a book if isn’t interesting enough for me to continue (yawning!)

• Go on a trip without an itinerary (but I will make some exceptions)

• Make a trip to the mall on Saturdays (Unless I absolutely have to… Did I hear 70% off?)

• Cross a bridge made out of wooden panels (Forget it! If I’m stuck in a jungle then I might as well find Tarzan to save me)

• Wear harem pants (I hate'em)  

• Stop cleaning when I get emotional

• Do something I’m not passionate about (love blogging!!!) 

Well that's all for now! My list was very long but I had to pick the ones that stood out the most to me. 

Hope y'all enjoyed it and stay tuned for next Tuesdays Link in :) 

 

Sunday Social!

Congrats to Ashley and Neely for their 52nd Sunday Social! I finally decided to join the fun on Sundays. Well let's get started! 

1. What is your favorite Social Media outlet? 

Instagram and Facebook 

2. Do you subscribe to any daily news reads? If so which ones?

Yes, Fox News

 3. What is your favorite magazine to have by the pool? 

I never go to the pool without a magazine in my hand! My favorite ones are: 

Glamour, Marie Clarie, Cosmo, Instyle, People 

4. What is your favorite summertime song?

Anything by Marina and the Diamonds 

5. What is the best summer concert you've been to?

Maroon 5

Well that's my very first Sunday Social! Hope y'all enjoyed it :) 

xoxo, 

Catherine

How Many Bras Do You Need To Own, Anyway?

From time to time, I come across blog posts that list the types of bras everyone needs to own. Of course, these posts are often put together by sites that actually sell bras. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’ve noticed that the lists usually focus on different bra shapes, suggesting that everyone own a balconette, a strapless bra, a moulded T-shirt bra, a convertible/halter bra, and a racerback bra.

I personally feel this is sort of excessive. In the G+ crowd (and even the D+ crowd), I doubt many people own a racerback bra or a halter bra, much less both. The fact is these bras don’t really exist for the high cup sizes and probably aren’t priorities for most of us.

I know lots of people own a strapless bra, but I’m sort of cynical about them. They never seem to be constructed well and usually don’t even go above G cups. The strapless bra I own is actually a sort of basque. It stays up, but it also makes my boobs about four sizes bigger because it is heavily padded and has a downward-pointing construction. So if I’m trying to wear it with a strapless dress, I usually can’t even zip the dress up once I have the strapless basque on. Plus, the really nice strapless dresses I’ve found all have boning and can be worn without a bra even with my H/HH/J cup boobs. So I’m going to go ahead and say that no one should feel that they ‘need’ to own a strapless bra unless they find one they actually like.

When I think about the right number of bras to own, I’ve always though in terms of color instead of shape. To start with, there are the basics: black, white, and nude everyday bras (padded, molded, or unpadded as per personal preference).

White bras certainly are not a ‘must’ for everyone because they usually show under white or sheer tops (hence the need for a nude bra) and therefore aren’t necessary unless you like them (I love them). Black bras are good to wear under black tops because lighter or nude bras can show in photos with flash, like this:

I like a little color in my life, so I’ve always liked to also own two colored everyday bras. The colors I’ve generally gravitated towards are light blue (or sometimes teal) and pink. This adds up to five bras, one for every weekday.

Recently, I’ve also come to feel that red is a great mental boost and a good basic, so I also consider red a bra color that I personally ‘need’ to own. 

In terms of practicality, it’s also useful to own a sports bra and a plunge bra. For some people, this category of practicality might also include a strapless and/or convertible bra.

Here we have 8 bras, which I would consider the basic amount of bras I need to structure my wardrobe around. But of course, it’s also nice to own a few “fun” bras—sexy bras, patterned bras, and other colors. And it’s very easy to suddenly find yourself with multiples of the basic colors if you take advantage of good deals when you find them. I definitely bought way too many bras when I was in the UK—I couldn’t resist all the cheap eBay deals, plus I wanted to stock up before my return to the US. And suddenly I find myself with this bra-splosion:

My collection at this point is massive and overwhelming. And actually, I find this kind of depressing. With so many options, most of my bras never even get worn, even if I like them. I always feel like I have no idea what to choose in the morning. And the bras pictured above are just the ones that I actually wear. I also have a sizeable stack of bras I no longer wear that don’t fit right or are getting too worn out:

Coming home to the US and seeing my old bras—the ones I owned when I first started my collection—makes me feel nostalgic. At that point, I really did own just one black, nude, white, pink, teal, and red bra. And those bras are well-worn but still in really good shape. I loved them and took care of them. In future, if my heap of floral and fashion bras ever thins out, I’m going to try to focus on just the basics when I replenish my collection. I don’t like to have a huge excess of clothing, and bras are no exception. If you’re just starting a bra collection, it’s worth taking some time to think about what you would consider a good ‘basic’ collection before you end up with a massive overflowing drawer, like me!

I also feel like it’s important to consider what matching undies you have. Some people buy the matching panties that go with the bra, but I personally prefer to buy cheaper cotton underwear (Victoria’s Secret Pink makes my favorite styles and they last a lot longer than all the other brands I've tried). Ideally, I would own five pairs of underwear to match each bra. But in real life, that’s not the case at all. I only have five pairs of red underwear to match my three red bras, only one pair of nude underwear to go with my nude bra, and many of the floral bras I have don’t match any of my underwear at all. This is another factor to consider as you build your collection.

How many bras do you own? What bras do you think are essential to form a basic collection?