10 New Year Lingerie Resolutions that are easy to keep!

   With the start of every new year, the question "have you made any new year's resolutions?" is an inescapable topic of conversation. By mid-January, those of us that have made resolutions are either gloating with pride about the success of a new health kick or conversely feeling guilty about demolishing those Xmas choccies that were going to be given away..! 

   Whilst not everyone makes new year resolutions, this year (aside from setting myself some achievable personal goals), I have devised some resolutions that are much more fun to keep! No fad diets, no over-the-top life overhauls and (almost) no guilt...

   Yes, I can only be talking about lingerie resolutions and here are my top 10 for 2013...

1. Reorganise my intimates collection and donate to charity/ sell any pieces that do not fit  - I confess that I am quite the lingerie hoarder, so a Spring clean will definitely do me good.. besides, there is no point holding on to bras that do not fit just because they are pretty and I can't bear to part with them! With so many new lingerie collections coming out in 2013 (get a sneak peek here), there is no way that I will be short of pretty lingerie to fall in love with!

(Why not clear out your underwear drawers and donate to charity whilst you're at it? Find out about 'Bra Banks' and help to raise money for research into Breast Cancer)

2. Stop saving my favourite underwear for 'special occasions' - I think it's easy to fall into the rut of just wearing a small selection of your lingerie for everyday wear (everyone has 'go-to' bras for comfort and great shape..in my case, my Freya 'Deco' bras). If you find yourself 'saving' your lingerie luxuries for 'special occasions' like me, then remember the great feeling that you get when you wear gorgeous lingerie and start wearing it more often - it could be just the confidence boost that you need! There is certainly something wonderful about knowing that you're wearing beautiful lingerie underneath your work clothes..

(Some of my hoarded favourites that don't get enough wear!)

3. Be even more picky about the lingerie that I buy - I adore lingerie and love nothing more than a new set of lingerie as a 'pick-me-up', but when choosing whether or not to keep something, I vow to ask myself:  Does it give me the right support? Is it comfortable? Does it give a great shape? Is it the right fit and style for my body and needs? Do I have something like it? Am I really in love with it or is it a lingerie infatuation?

Figleaves Boudoir 'Entice' bralet - very enticing indeed, but not designed for my bust size!

4. Experiment with new brands and styles - It is easy to overlook new names and places, especially when you know that certain brands work well for you and you are accustomed to buying from particular retailers. I want to continue to look out for exciting new emerging brands that have so much to offer. I also want to keep an open mind towards different bra styles - I may be a plunge bra aficionado, but who knows, maybe that soft cup/ unpadded bra will be my new BBF (bra best friend)!

(Could the Spring/Summer13 Cleo by Panache 'Marcie' unpadded bra be my new BBF?)

5. Buy more from Independents - I think it's really important to support independent designers and non-'mainstream' brands - the benefits include finding some really original and quirky pieces that aren't found on the highstreet and the money that you pay is reflected by the craftmanship that goes into the design and production of the garment.

6. Become slightly more lax about handwashing - Yes, you heard right! Whilst many people are guilty of putting their lingerie in the washing machine, I actually handwash EVERYTHING that has a handwash label..or just if something looks a bit dainty! Sorting through my underwear drawers, I have overlooked that there are quite a few undergarments that are actually machine washable! It is easy to assume that anything lacey and delicate looking means handwash only, but this is not always the case, so check your labels! 

(Picture via: http://aprivateroom-blog.blogspot.co.uk/)

7. Buy what fits regardless of the size on the label - Vanity sizing is all around us, but do you know what? A little label doesn't dictate anything about your body or you as a person. If you try on a pretty pair of knickers but they are too small in your usual size, try the size up or the size after that. Look at how the garment fits you and only buy what looks flattering. Besides, if you buy something and feel funny about the size on the label, just cut it out! Problem solved.

9. Wear your curves with pride - When you have a larger bust size, the tendency (certainly for me, sometimes) is to cover up and be slightly conservative with regard to showing cleavage. Whilst I'm not saying that it is a good idea to go to work in a low cut boob-baring dress (that's just not appropriate!), I'd love to start showing off a bit more cleavage. Be proud of your boobs and be confident in your curves - body confidence is sexy in every shape and size!

(Being a bit more daring with my outfit choice on my birthday..!)

10. Keep on preaching great bra fit to anyone who will listen - Most of my regular blog readers will be aware of the importance of a well-fitting bra, but I'd love to push my blog message out to even more people this year (sharing is caring!). I am also keen to get more friends and family in to the right bra! The bra revolution shall continue at full throttle..

What do you make of my new year resolutions? Will you be following any of them?

Love,
Kitty xo

A curvy girl's guide to work fashion: Review of the Moda jersey dress by George at Asda

   When it comes to fashion, I love nothing more than to get dressed up and experiment with my style. One of the most exciting things for me to buy is a new 'party' dress, but special occasion dresses are not something that I can wear on an everyday basis and are most certainly not appropriate work-wear!

   My gripe with work wear is that it tends to lack excitement and it is too easy to fall into the rut of a black pencil skirt/ black trousers and a blouse. As a girl with a 28FF/G bust, fitted blouses and shirts can be a nightmare to find and my highstreet blouse purchases tend to be oversized. 

   What I look for in workwear is something that is stylish but easy to throw on in the morning - there is nothing better than looking professional and feeling comfortable without having to make too much effort!

   Bring on George at Asda! I stumbled upon George at Asda clothing by complete chance - I had never bought clothes from a supermarket before, but when I spotted the Moda mono print jersey wrap dress for £16 on my weekly shop, it looked perfect for filling my workwear wardrobe gap!

Unfortunately my size was not available in store, so I went online and ordered a size 10. (Due to the stretchy nature of the fabric, I thought that it would be more likely that it would fit me given that I had not tried it on before buying..)

   As you can see, the Moda jersey dress is a wrap/ cross-over style dress that features a bold monochrome dogtooth print, giving it a great deal of scope for dressing up or down according to preference. It also boasts a 'V' shaped neckline, ruched sleeves and a pleated waistband to add interest and flatter curves.

   Fit-wise, I found that the size 10 came up quite generous and I think a size 8 (if it came in this size) would have been my 'ideal' fit. That said, even in the size 10 it looks and feels lovely on and I am thrilled with the length of the dress, which comes to just above the knee on my 5ft10" frame. The dress has a 97% viscose and 3% elastane fabric content, making it incredibly soft to the touch and the material drapes nicely over my bust and hips. 

   One of the great things about this dress is its wrap-over style, which really flatters a larger bust and curves. The 'wrap-over' meets at a fixed waist seam, so the dress stays in place all day without revealing too much flesh or shifting with a freak gust of wind. I am also very impressed with the amount of space at the bust - there is plenty of room for a bigger bust and it will certainly accomodate for a chest much larger than mine too. (Caroline from Curvy Wordy also sang its praises after I recommended it to her and her 30KK bust looks fantastic in this dress!)

   In the pictures above, you can see that the dress displays a fairly modest amount of cleavage, but for work I tend to pop a black camisole/vest top underneath as in the picture below. Due to the dress being slightly too big for me, I also add a belt to emphasise my waist and give a more 'hourglass' look. 

   Thick black tights with this dress are ideal for keeping me warm in the chilly weather, but in the warmer months of the year, I would be happy to go bare-legged or wear nude tights with this dress. I am also wearing black patent shoes (from Dorothy Perkins) and a set of pearls in the picture above, which lend to a sophisticated and polished finished outfit! 

   Whilst the look that I have talked about here is quite a conservative work/ everyday look, it would be easy to add colour to this outfit with bold accessories and a dramatic lip colour - perfect for taking you from office to bar!

   All in all, I am pleased with my first supermarket clothing purchase. The only real criticism that I have of this dress is that the fabric is quite thin, so you may need to be a bit careful to avoid snagging it on things - I have found that after wearing it a few times, the fabric at the waist band has frayed a little and has created a small hole (which is ok if you're a dab hand at sewing), but for £16, I can't complain too much..

  I would definitely buy more dresses from Asda in future and I am excited to have found such a bust-friendly dress on the highstreet at such a bargainous price! Although the dogtooth jersey dress has since sold out, Asda have an identical Moda floral jersey wrap dress in stock at the moment in a blossom print, available in sizes 10-24. I hope that Asda will bring out more of these wrap dresses in different prints in future as I would love to buy some others for my work wardrobe..

To shop more of Asda's clothing range, click here. (There is also FREE delivery available on all orders over £40 until 8th Dec))

Love,

Kitty xo

Boux Avenue A/W12 press day & Robyn Lawley..Embrace your curves!

   A little while back I was lucky enough to be invited to Fluorescent PR's Autumn/Winter 2012 showcase, which included Boux Avenue. Boux has been all over the media recently after revealing Robyn Lawley as the new face (and curves) of the brand's new collection, 'Embrace your curves'. 

   Robyn is a stunning 6ft 2", size 14/16 (AUS) plus size model who hails from Austalia. Having graced the covers of Italian Vogue, French Elle and Marie claire, Robyn seems to be a great choice for the brand not just for her looks, but for her great outlook on body image. Robyn has mentioned that in the past she has struggled with eating disorders, but she has grown to love her body and her curves:

 "My body looks better as it is because that's the size I'm supposed to be, with curves. It's my natural body shape." (Australian Madison Magazine)

   It is refreshing to see her as the new brand figure head and it sends out a really positive message to women to be proud of their body, whatever shape or size.. 

   The Boux Avenue Autumn/Winter 2012 showcase was also nothing short of gorgeous, with an array of exciting new prints, colours and fabrics to make you feel fabulously flirty and feminine in true boudoir style. The 'Embrace your curves' collection is very size inclusive for a 'high street' name, offering sizes 30A-40H and sizes 8-20 in coordinates and nightwear. There was even a fabulous boudoir dressing table set up to display Boux's fashion and beauty accessories!

***

   Looking at Boux Avenue A/W12, three themes pervade the collection. The first is animal print, with everything from leopard print bras to bodies, chemises, loungewear, fluffy marabou mules and cat slippers!

(I love the black contrast piping on this body and bra set)

'Georgia' animal balconette bra, £26 (32A-36G)

Ruffle animal print camisole and pants set, £32

   Another key trend is luxurious jewel tones - purple, turquoise, raspberry pink and yellow chartreuse are married with opulent satin and lace fabric combinations...

'Lyla' satin balconette bra, £26 (30C-40G) - This raspberry coloured set makes fir a great update to traditional festive red and the delicate black contrasting lace gives a glamorous and seductive feel. This bra also comes with the option of 'fifties sex kitten' style high waisted shorts (£16)!

The unusual 'Carina' plunge bra in chartreuse, £26 (30E-38G) - I'm a sucker for a pretty plunge, so I'm keen to try this as I love the shape of it on the model (pictured above).

Lacey plunge bra in violet lace, £24 (30A-38F) (another rich purple tone bra)

   The third main theme of the collection was a vintage revival in the form of elegant balconettes in satin with sophisticated patterns of polka dots and vintage floral lace overlays, coupled with mesh, tulle, frills, bows and charms that hark back to bygone eras. These sets feel very 'old Hollywood'...

'Penelope' spot balconette bra, £28 (32A-38F) 

'Carmen' bandeau bra, £26 (32A-30E)

(Lace rosette bra)

Cutesy flock spot balconette plunge bra, £26 (32A-38E) (also comes as a babydoll)

'Nancie' satin and lace balconette bra, £26 (32A-38F) - One of my collection favourites, the 'Nancie' is a stunning peach tone satin and lace balconette bra that oozes vintage chic with its floral lace pattern, little frills and bow and cameo charm at the centre of the cups. This would make a great bridal bra alternative - if only it came in my size!

***

   The Boux Avenue A/W12 collection has some really gorgeous styles to suit a variety of tastes. I was a particular fan of the decadent jewel tones, satin and lace combinations and soft blush tones and vintage detailing. My only niggle is that not all of the lingerie starts at a 30 back and only select styles go up to an H. That aside, it's great to see more larger cup sizes readily available from a big name commercial brand! 

   Whilst I didn't have a great amount of luck with my first Boux Avenue try out, I am keen to try some newer styles in a 30 back as a few people have mentioned that some of them may work for a 28 back too.

Perhaps this A/W will see me 'embracing my curves' in some new Boux Avenue lingerie...

Shop the new Boux Avenue collection here.

Love,

Kitty xo

Sexy in shapewear: The Charnos 'Corselette'

    When you think of shapewear, what first comes to mind? 

   Shapewear is often thought of as being a rather 'basic' item in our underwear drawer and you can probably be forgiven for not seeing it as synonymous with 'sexy'!  Shapewear generally comes in plain shades, such as nude or black and tends to lack the aestheticism of other lingerie - it is a primarily functional underwear item.

   Although shapewear does the job of smoothing out lumps and bumps, why can't it also be elegant and sexy? The stigma with shapewear, is that too many people associate it with 'granny pants' or as being a secret 'figure fixer' that is just a reminder that we over-indulged at Christmas and need to hit the gym!  

   Luckily, shapewear has seen a much-needed makeover over the years and thanks to trends such as 'Underwear as outerwear' and 'Mad Men', it has become fashionable again! High-waisted knickers, patterned slips and bodysuits have made a real come back, leading many lingerie designers to build on these classic shapes, adding a modern twist!

   A brand whose shapewear really stands out for me, is Charnos. Charnos lingerie, which was created in 1958, offers elegant and luxurious designs from 30-42 backs and cup sizes up to a G. On browsing the Charnos site, I came across the 'Hourglass' range and its gorgeous shapewear products, which set my heart a-flutter immediately! The product which had me weak at the knees, was the eye-wateringly sexy 'Hourglass Corselette', which comes in Black, Blush and Gold...

   I particularly liked the gold version, which just oozes old Hollywood Glamour! Although I was disappointed to find out that the smallest band size in the 'Corselette' was a 32, I was so enamoured with it, that Charnos kindly offered to send me a 32E to try (the equivalent cup volume to my usual 28FF bra size). 

   As predicted, the Charnos 'Corselette' was everything that I had hoped for and more in the flesh. The 'Corselette' is rather like a corset, girdle, bra and slip all-in-one, giving all over shaping and support.

   Made from stunning nude-gold satin and floral-print black lace overlay, the 'Corselette' is a luxurious and elegant piece that is sure to make any lady look and feel a million dollars...

   The bra cups are 3-sectioned and the fuller cup style flatters your bust, keeping you looking sultry yet demure. The cups are lightly padded, apart from the semi-sheer scalloped lace panels at the top, which give a cheeky peek of skin underneath. The cups are fully under-wired, to keep you feeling fully supported and comfortable.

   The beauty of the 'Corselette', above all, lies in the attention to detail: zig-zag stitching, an ornate central panel, vintage floral print lace, subtle frill-edged straps and a beautiful bow ribbon and bead motif at the centre of the cups...

The back of the 'Corselette' is plain gold satin with black zig-zag stitching down the panels... 

   The back features ten hooks and eyes, which give firm support and help to keep everything securely in place. The only disadvantage with this type of fastening, is that it is quite difficult to do up and undo (and therefore get the 'Corselette' on and off), but such is the nature of shapewear... 

So, I hear you ask, what does the 'Corselette' look like on and how did it fit? 

   As you can see, the fit of the 'Hourglass Corselette' is rather fabulous. The 'Corselette' pulled me in subtly, whilst smoothing and streamlining my curves, thanks to the inner panels. I also loved the centre lace panel, which adds a 'trompe l'oeil' effect, defining your waist and giving you the 'hourglass' figure that its name suggests!

   Due to the nature of shapewear/ controlwear, the materials used tend to make the fit slightly tighter, which really worked to my advantage with the fit of the bra cups and 'band'! I was pleasantly surprised by the 32E cups, which felt perfect on my 28FF's and gave good lift and support. The back felt nice and firm, the wires sat flush against my chest and the cups encased my bust perfectly. I also really liked the shape that the bra cups gave me and there was no empty space or wrinkling on the lace panels at the top of the cups. 

   Another added bonus of the Charnos 'Corselette', is that it comes with detachable suspenders, to further ramp up the sex appeal! 

Together with some black lace stockings, the 'Corselette' gives a glamorous and seductive look that would appeal to all ages. Charnos definitely proves that shapewear can be worn in the bedroom and the 'Corselette' is almost too gorgeous to stay hidden!

   The last question that remains, is whether the Charnos 'Corselette' works underneath clothes...

    I tried the 'Corselette' on under one of my body-con dresses and was delighted with the overall silhouette and support. In the picture below, you can see a cheeky little peek of lace from the 'Corselette' at the bust, which I think is rather lovely!

   I was really thrilled with my first experience of Charnos. The 'Hourglass Corselette' has definitely changed my views towards controlwear, proving that shapewear can be seductive and stylish, as well as figure-enhancing and functional. The 'Corselette' really is 'sexy' defined, with its luxurious satin and lace trims, fashionable yet classic colour combination of black and gold-nude and, of course, its stunning fit. 

   I feel that shapewear is streamlining and flattering to all shapes and sizes. The 'Corselette' gives an hourglass shape to those with less curvier frames, whilst flattering the lines of a curvier figure. Thanks to the inner corsetry, panels and underwiring, the 'Corselette' delivers a silhouette that is truly sultry, providing great support and shape to any figure. Charnos is a brand that prides itself on creating 'the perfect fit' and I felt that the 'Corselette' was a real testimony to this philosophy. 

  The Charnos 'Hourglass Corselette' comes in back sizes 32-38 and cup sizes from B-F and is priced at £50, available from their website: www.charnos.co.uk. As I mentioned earlier, as a 28FF, I found the 32E a really good fit, so this is great news for smaller band sizes!

   I am looking forward to trying more from Charnos and already have my eye on the other beautiful products from the 'Hourglass' collection, such as the waist cincher, waist nipper and stunning long line bra. I am also keen to try out their lingerie, to see how it comes up for fit. 

   One thing that is for sure, is that Charnos is definitely a brand to watch - their lingerie and shapewear is luxurious and elegant, but affordable and great quality. 

   To find out more about Charnos, take a look at their website to see their current collections.

Love,
Kitty xo