Lingerie Resolutions 2016

I'm quite a fan of setting (realistic) resolutions so I had it in mind to do this post as 2015 was coming to an end. However I had a very busy start to the year and thought I'd missed my chance. That was until I read that the new moon today was going to be joining Pluto in Capricorn; making it a good day to write down any ambitions for the year. My thoughts were, "hey, I'll take that!" So here we are...

'Bettie' Babydoll by My Retro Closet

#1

I've been enjoying reading my fellow lingerie bloggers' resolution posts as we've entered January, especially as some common themes have been mentioned in a couple. I loved the emphasis on buying ethically and independently in both The Lingerie Detective's post for Esty Lingerie, as well as Technicolor Lover's beautifully written Regrets. This is something I've been really aiming towards, as I mentioned in a previous post. As a feminist I feel really strongly about supporting independent designers in their practise, therefore reducing my contribution to big name corporations who can be a bit shady when it comes to standards of work and production. Which means that this year I am aiming to buy my lingerie from majority independant designers.

#2

In a similar vein, I'm in the middle of reducing my clothing selection down to a capsule wardrobe along the terms of the Unfancy blog technique. I've been having a lot of anxiety around getting dressed lately, relating to body image issues, and I'm hoping to reduce the stress by only allowing for a few fail safe outfits. This, combined with wanting to buy more independently (which restricts wardrobe size because of the prices involved) has led me to a place I never thought I'd be in with my clothing because I love shopping. In case you're wondering, Caroline of unfancy doesn't include underwear in her list of items to limit *phew*, so this instead means that I want to buy more items that I can incorporate into outerwear. Thus creating a few more potential outfits for myself.

#3

If I do manage to create some interesting underwear as outerwear outfits then I would love to write about them on this blog which leads me onto to my third resolution. I really want to diversify the kind of posts I'm writing on here. Reviews are great and all, but I want to incorporate my personality into this a bit more. I want you lovely readers to get to know me better! So if anyone has any requests for different types of posts comment underneath or reach out to me on social media. I'd love to hear from you.

#4

My final resolution is a smaller one but who knows, it may prove to be harder than it appears: I really want to stop buying quite so much black lingerie. It's just such an easy colour to fall back on, but I'd really love to incorporate some pretty pastels or whites into my collection.

So there you have it, my ambitions for the coming year. I also have a potential project in the making which relates to lingerie and also my university work but it's still very early days so I'm not quite sure how it's going to pan out. Just watch this space. Other than that I'm excited to see where 2016 takes me and this little blog, hopefully you'll all stick along for the ride.

Thanks for reading. x

Adina Raey's 'Fran' in Scarlet

Some may recognise this gorgeous set from my contribution to The Lingerista's October Wishlist. Well, it also made it onto my birthday wishlist over on pinterest. From there my ever so charming husband (who is also my talented photographer for this post) picked up on the hint and gifted me it for my birthday at the start of December. It arrived beautifully packaged in a dusky grey box with the Adina Raey name glinting in gold on top, and from that moment on I've been in love.

This is my first ever full set of red underwear since diving into the deep end of lingerie life. And this isn't just red, this is scarlet. It's a kind of scary colour for someone who's very attached to classic black but I have now been indoctrinated. My dear friend over at Of Lambs and Lace is a self confessed red lingerie addict and I fear I may now be following in her footsteps.

And it's not just the colour that I adore, but also that super soft tulle which feels feather light against my skin. It hugs all my curves without digging in in the slightest. For reference, I have the bra in a 30FF and the suspender briefs in a size Small. I was actually surprised at how supple the set is because it has such a structured look to it.

But here is where a couple of my problems with Fran lie. Now, they're only tiny problems but it does mean my expectations weren't quite met. Obviously the tulle is what gives the set that delicate, luxury look and it's spectacular that Adina Raey have managed to use it in this way for DD+ designs. However, it isn't really the most supportive of fabrics and I don't get much shaping from the bra. As my breasts aren't the perkiest these days I was hoping for a bit more lift and rounding. But alas, it's not to be.

Alongside this, you may be able to tell in a couple of my pictures that the upper band on the briefs is having a bit of a fight with my midsection. Because the fabric isn't quite stiff enough to hold it's own there's a lot of distortion that happens throughout the day as I wear the set. But I think that may be worth it to not have the band cutting in to my stomach constantly.

In terms of fit, both items seem pretty spot on. I would have preferred the bra in a 28G as I prefer a really snug band these days but I completely understand that Adina Raey have already started out with an impressive size range for such a high end brand (30DD-36G), and perhaps they'll expand in later years. Also, because this is such a luxury set it's most likely going to be saved for special occasions rather than day-to-day wear, so I doubt I'll have to worry too much about the band stretching out.

According to the size guide a small is a UK 8-10 which is my ideal high waisted pant size as it accommodates for my proportionately bigger waist compared to my hips. These are definitely well sized in that regard, and the tulle would comfortably accommodate any increase in stomach size from bloating or the like.

My only qualm with the briefs is the length of the removable suspenders. While I knew that suspender briefs are often a risky choice, I went with fashion over practicality when putting them on my wishlist. I don't mind that they pull the fabric of the briefs down a little bit, but I do think they're too long for me. Even if I adjust them to the shortest option.

The same could be said of the bra straps which are only partially adjustable because of some tulle encasing around the front of them. However, I am only 5'3" and what little height I have is in my legs, so I'm sort of used to things like this. I'd imagine a taller person wouldn't have any issues at all.

Even with the few issues I have with the set, I can't emphasise enough how beautiful I feel in it. It's rare that you find such innovative design, combined with luxury fabrics for a fuller bust and I feel so lucky to own these beautiful pieces. I'm very excited to see where Adina Raey take their brand and also if they will eventually expand the size range. If you do fall into their current range and are dissapointed by the lack of high end options for larger busts, then definitely consider Adina Raey's designs. If anyone's feeling generous then I have my eye on the Ava bodysuit in vintage pink....

Thanks for reading. x

Playful Promises Juliet Review

***Disclaimer: This lingerie set was sent to me free of charge. This in no way affects my opinions and/or views expressed in this blogpost.

A moment of silent reverence please, to the lingerie goddesses for bestowing this beauty among us. Or at least, to the team over at Playful Promises. Yes, it's here: from the second I heard whispers about their 28-36" DD-G collection I was on the edge of my seat. So I was jumping up and down shouting excited when Anna emailed and offered me a set to review. A quick perusal over what was on offer left me with only one real choice. I mean, they're all gorgeous but Juliet is just on another level in my opinion. This bra is the kind of design I would never have believed I could find in a fuller bust range. It is pure architectural, minimalist, sexy goodness.

That's right I said sexy. An important message I will happily argue with others over is that lingerie is not implicitly sexual. Society has needlessly fetishised it leading some to see it as having no function other than to turn men on *cough* patriarchy *cough*. But whatever, f*ck men! This makes me feel sexy. I feel powerful and confident while I'm wearing this set, and those are not emotions easy to come by for me nowadays.

I'm currently hovering between bra sizes but decided to risk it and go down to a 28G for this bra, while sticking to a size small (which is a UK 10) for the pants and girdle rather than my usual 8 because of their high waist. I'm really happy with the fit of the bra, although I could most likely comfortably have gone up a cup size (which would have involved going for a 30G because of the size range). Instead I get a nice level of compression and support. I would compare the shape it gives me to the Pour Moi 'Addicted' bra, if anyone happens to own that as well. My low density, bottom heavy breasts experience a little bit of cutting in which I suspect is unavoidable for my particular breast type in such shallow cups, but it's minimal and doesn't bother me.

In terms of the brief, it's made from such a soft, pliant mesh which means that I could probably have gone for it in an XS. I went up a size to avoid them being overly tight around my midsection but they're stretchy enough to be quite generous with the sizing. The roll on girdle, on the other hand, is made from a sturdier mesh like the bra. I assume this is to provide adequate support and a little bit of shaping in the case of the girdle. Because of its stronger material I'm definitely happy with my choice of a size S.

I actually wasn't expecting to be sent the girdle as well as the bra (with included harness) and the briefs, so I feel very grateful and spoilt by the lovely Playful Promises team. I really love how the girdle and briefs have been elevated from just basic black mesh pieces by that cut out design on the back. At the same time, I adore how easy it is to mix and match this set with other black pieces. I feel like this bra was made to be matched with Hopeless Lingerie pieces and I've really been enjoying experimenting with different combinations so far.

Although I feel the set can look a bit busy on me with the harness included (because of my short stature), I think it's so brilliant that Playful have included the harness with the bra while not attaching it. This allows it to be used with other sets or even as outerwear. The harness is fully adjustable around the waist and neck and has an almost plush underside so it is comfortable against the skin.

While the girdle suspender straps are not adjustable, they're not overly long so I didn't have much issue with them. The sturdy clips keep my stockings in place all day long, and the high waist ensures it doesn't slip down at all. I'm going to take this moment to comment on the fact that I have never owned a roll on girdle before and therefore hadn't discovered how much easier they are to go to the bathroom while wearing than regular girdles. It's so nice to just be able to yank it down without thinking twice! Then it's just a quick stocking readjust before heading back out into the big bad world.

This set is definitely worth the money for it's versatility and gorgeous design but if you're a bit more budget conscious then I think the bra is an excellent investment piece in itself. It'll match with any black lingerie while bringing an extra edge to any outfit. It may not be the most practical piece of lingerie in the world, but it sure is gorgeous. So if you're looking to treat yourself along with your friends and family this festive season, Juliet gets my vote.

Thanks for reading. x

Lollypop Nursing Bra Review

My 13th blog post going up on Friday 13th... oooooh! Sorry it's been a while, I underestimated how hard it would be to get pictures taken once British winter rolled in and the skies turned to a permanent grey. However it was getting to the point where I really needed to get something out there because I have a lot of reviews that I want to share with you lovely readers. So kicking it off I have my final nursing bra review. I weaned my son a few weeks ago (a story for another post, perhaps) so I am officially bidding adieu to nursing bras for now. And honestly, this bra was one of the only reasons I stuck it out for the last few weeks.

Because look at it, look at it. Is this not the most beautiful nursing bra you've ever seen?! I actually bought this many months ago from Cache Coeur, a French lingerie brand specialising in maternity and nursing styles. When I made it past the year mark with breastfeeding, something I had never previously expected to do, I decided to treat myself to a new bra. It was a hard decision to choose between the Lollypop design in bright pink, or the Magic bra in that gorgeous soft cloud colour. Lollypop ended up winning out because pink and also, its shape reminds me of some Chantal Thomass designs. Must be something about the French.

I struggled with deciding on a size to order because just before ordering I had a bad experience trying to figure out my European size for a Kris Line nursing bra. Also, for the life of me I could not find a size guide on the Cache Couer site. Eventually I ended up googling it which took me to this page on their site which includes a calculator. I inputed my size and it put me in a US 32D. Which 1) is not my size and 2) is completely useless when ordering from a site which uses EU bra sizes. I decided to risk it and order a 70H which should be the same as a UK 32G. I was then wearing my 30GG panache nursing bras and couldn't get a smaller back size than 70.

When it arrived it was far too big and the label actually stated that their 70H was equivalent to a UK 32H. So I emailed customer service and they told me to exchange it for a 70G. Long story short: I got the bra but not before weeks went by. I had to email them reminding them about the exchange after which they promptly sent the new bra out. Even then I could probably have sized down another cup size, and I definitely could now that I'm wearing between a 28G/30FF. But that is one of the wonders of wireless nursing bras! They are really flexible on sizing. Cache Coeur's in particular are made of material with a minimal of 15% elastin in the cups to allow it to stretch as you grow throughout pregnancy and nursing. There are also 4 rows of hooks in the back for extra adjusting. I wear mine on the tightest but would ideally have it a bit snugger as I prefer a super tight bra band.

One of the things which attracted me to Cache Coeur as a nursing lingerie brand was their incorporation of magnetic clips. Although these take a bit of getting used to, I found them much more secure compared to my other nursing bras which had a habit of occasionally un-hooking themselves throughout the day. Another innovation of this brand is a microfiber lining of the cup allowing the fabric to dry faster than normal if any leakages occur. This is something which I unexpectedly got to test out as I didn't realise you can start leaking again during weaning.

Which brings me to the main perk of this bra. Let's face it, it doesn't matter how pretty or scientifically enhanced a nursing bra is if it's not going to be comfortable. And this bra is so comfortable. I spent a good week being tender and engorged while weaning and this bra was so lovely to wear throughout that period. It's got just the right amount of stretch and the fabric is super breathable. Also, for a wireless bra it really does give excellent support which I think is in large part due to it's lightly molded cups incorporated with boning on either side.

And it's just. so. cute. The lace, the adorable little matching shorts (which I bought in a size S, by the way), the little bow on the gore which resembles a tiny frilly pom pom... I really just love it so much. So I'll be sad to put this away in my maternity stash, but I know that Cache Coeur will be my first stop for nursing bras if I ever get pregnant again.

Thanks for reading. x 

Transitioning Out of Nursing Bras: Part II

Hello again, and welcome to the second half of of my journey back to "normal" bras. If you remember correctly (and I know that's quite hard as it was written a few weeks ago, sorry! Life got the better of me for a bit there...) I left off Part I at the realisation that I would have to book myself in for a professional fitting in order to discover my current bra size. Now I'm a procrastinator so I put it off for a while longer until one weekend I had the most immense back pain by the end of the day. Changing out of my clothes I spotted my reflection in the mirror and realised that the band of my ever faithful Anita nursing bra was stretched up around my shoulder blades. Definitely not where it is supposed to be, and most likely the cause of my back ache.

The next morning I immediately booked myself in for a fitting at none other than Bravissimo. I love that they don't use measuring tapes, something that I've already shown to be useless in deciphering my bra size, instead just going off of how the bra you're wearing fits or doesn't fit in my case. I walked in wearing my Lorna Drew Alexa with tightened cup adjusters which allow the wearer to decrease the cup volume a small amount.

I think this may have thrown the fitter off a bit as I tried to explain that the adjustment meant I was much smaller than the 30HH the bra was labelled as, but she decided to just try a 30H to begin with. So below you can see me in the Alana Bra by Bravissimo. As I'd imagined there would be, there was a lot of gaping and puckering along the top of the bra so it was immediately obvious that I would need to go down a couple more sizes. I would also like to take a minute to explain why I didn't manage to get pictures of all the bras I tried on. My fitter often brought in 3 or 4 bras at a time and I obviously didn't want to take pictures with her in the room! So you, my dear reader, will just have to cope with the pictures I managed to snap while she dipped out to the stockroom. 

It's a no go I'm afraid!

The next few bras were trialled and we gradually moved down cup sizes and back sizes before settling on 28GG/30G as the one which would work the most for me, depending on how tight the bra band is. My hero buy was the Panache Porcelain Bra which I'm wearing in the first picture of this blog post. I love this bra. Can you believe I've never owned a t-shirt bra before? No, I can't either. It's so wonderfully smooth, supportive and minimalistic. It's padded enough that I don't have to worry about nipples showing when I'm cold; but it doesn't feel bulky under clothes. Seriously,  I can't get enough of how wonderful it is to wear a bra which actually fits. And yeah, it also doesn't have a bow on it's centre gore. #winning

Looking like a munchkin in a robe clearly designed for the more average height and size bravissimo customers.

So at this point I'm kind of on a high and decide that maaaaybe I can treat myself. I spotted the Cleo Breeze as I was first walking into the store and may have let out an audible sigh. So now that I have my basic bra I timidly ask if I could try the longline on. My fitter smiles knowingly and ventures off to retrieve it for me.

 After she returned and we resumed the process of cinching and scooping me into the bra. At one point I felt like Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Carribean, being laced into her too tight corset. I said, laughing but in all seriousness, that I may need the 32 back because I've got some upper belly pudge left over from my baby bump. And it is at this point that she informs me that she actually went for the 28 back, not the 30, but insists that it is doing up! Sure enough, she squeezes me into it but I can barely breathe and ask if I can maybe try the 30.

That is my slightly panicked expression FYI.

The 30 ends up working great, but is actually a FF cup because according to my fitter this bra runs large in the cup. In actual fact I have initial gaping along the top of the cups whenever I put this bra on but, going back to adjusting to my new incredibly soft breasts, as I wear it throughout the day my breast tissue migrates into the gap and even over spills slightly near the gore. This is kind of frustrating but worth it because I feel so damn gorgeous whenever I wear this bra.

...And that is a genuine smile because PRETTY.

This trip was definitely a lesson in figuring out which shapes work for me as the Cleo longline was not the only splurge I went for. While walking to the checkout I spotted the Freya Eden Bra, which I have been lusting over for so long, and immediately snatched it up. Unfortunately I may have been a bit too hasty as it's actually a demi cup and my breats just will not stay put in it if I wear it for any length of time. When it first goes on, all is well. Two hour later, my nipples are poking out the top. Not really day time appropriate.

I've accepted at this point that I'm on a learning curve when it comes to figuring out what's going to work for my new body. I'm glad that I now have a basic bra size to work from thanks to the lovely ladies at the Liverpool branch of Bravissimo, but I've also been taught that different brands, shapes, and designs will all result in sizing discrepancies. Also, it's going to be a bit of trial and error over the next little while figuring out exactly which bra shapes are going to reign in my breast tissue. For now, I'm happy rotating round my little selection which still includes a couple of nursing bras. I'm not ready to give up that wireless comfort quite yet!

Thanks for reading. x

Transitioning Out of Nursing Bras: Part I

If you follow me on twitter you may have caught some of my rants on recent bra woes as I find myself attempting to progress into "proper bras" after almost two years of wearing maternity and nursing bras. I've managed to wean my son down to only a nursing session first thing in the morning and last thing at night, a level I'm happy with and plan to keep at for as long as possible, and which means I can get back to wearing non-nursing bras during the day time. But this has proved rather problematic.

So let me take you on a little journey through my various attempts to figure out my own size, hopefully this may help any other mamas who are on the same journey as me.

So I bought a bunch of lovely bras off of @investiychest in anticipation of my breasts shrinking down after weaning in a month or so. They were so pretty that I couldn't resist trying them on and was surprised at how close I was so fitting into them. So I got out my old pregnancy bras and sure enough I seem to be fitting back into 30GGs! Yaaaas 🙌 #bloatedperiodbody #excusethemascarasmudges

A photo posted by E (@thighhighsandglitter) on Jun 25, 2015 at 8:12am PDT

Let's start at the beginning then shall we? A few months ago I figured out that I could actually fit into my 30GG nursing bras. This was exciting because "YEY! My uncomfortably large breasts are shrinking!" but also because I had a rather nice Bravado nursing bra alongside the Freya Deco Wireless Plunge that I hadn't been able to wear ever since my milk came in a postpartum. How great was my disappointment then, when they went on seamlessly at the beginning of the day, only to find myself spilling out of them within an hour or so of the usual mum-nastics and household upkeep.

The only thing I could imagine was that I wasn't actually a 30GG. So I ran the numbers... and they were confounding. When measured I found myself to have a snug 30" underbust and a 37" bust. Using the ol' reliable and ultra basic method for figuring out one's bra size (each inch subtracted between the two equals a cup size) that would have put me in a 30F. The A Bra That Fits calculator was slightly more helpful, suggesting I was a 30G/GG, but this didn't solve my conundrum of why I was then spilling out of 32G sized bras.

So this brings me to my main point of this post, being that online calculators don't work well at the best of times and definitely do not work when figuring out your bra size after over a year of breastfeeding. This I will demonstrate shortly, but beforehand let me just say that it was at this point that I read an absolutely brilliant article from the Secrets From Your Sister blog. I'd recommend anyone who's currently nursing, has in the past, or simply suspects that they have softer than the average breasts giving it a read. For any who don't know, you can loose a lot of breast density and skin elasticity due to changes in breast composition and size during pregnancy and then nursing. Now I've never had particularly firm breasts so this has now left me with very bottom heavy breasts which feel like they really don't have much to them. It was such a relief to finally find some guide lines on how I could go about buying a bra for my "new" breasts".

Which brings me back to the calculators. I thought it would be simple enough to just go back online, input my measurements and then buy a shape recommended by the SFYS post. It did not prove to be quite that easy... I didn't screen shot my original results but here are my current measurements (I've dropped another inch off my bust) inputed into a few of the top bra size calculators you will find while doing a google search.

First up is the 85b calculator. The first two calculators I'm showing here clearly use the +4 method in some way or another. This is the idea that 4" should be added to your underbust measurement and it is this number that should then be subtracted from your bust measurement to find your cup size. This originates from vintage fitting methods when a lack of elastic in the bra band required the extra inches to be added for comfort's sake. Contemporary bra design usually doesn't require this as the amount of stretch available can often lead to a lack of support, especially for larger busts, when the extra inches are added.

As you can see from the 85b calculator their use of this method led them to suggest a 34 band for me. Which would leave only 2" to be subtracted between my measurements, thus putting me in a B cup. 

Just, no.

Moving on to the bra size calculator found on calculator.net (sounds promising, right?) we find that they have placed me in a UK 34F.  This one is actually the closest to my current bra size in that if I sister size down I reach it. However a 34 band is no where near tight enough to provide adequate support for my breasts.

Finally, we have the A Bra That Fits Calculator devised by the clever ladies who run the subreddit of the same name. This is usually the calculator that I would recommend for those who really refuse to have an instore bra fitting but this time it didn't quite work for me this time around. To be fair, it's only a cup size off the one I have now discovered to work best for me, but it's still got to be said that it didn't work out correctly.

So my little theory as to why my breasts do not obey the rules of typical methods is this: my loss of elasticity and density has led to breasts which sit lower on my body and slightly flatter against my chest. This results in a circumference measurement that's smaller than it "should" be, but once they're piled up high into a regular underwire bra the actual volume is still there so they would spill out of most of the sizes these calculators put me in.

Angry, uncomfortable and just generally fed up I was left with only one thing to do: get fitted in store. And I will detail this experience in my next blog post!

Thanks for reading. x

What Katie Did L3015 Glamour Waspie

What Katie Did are a British lingerie brand who specialise in vintage styled designs. They are very true to the style and structure of by-gone eras, more so than any similar brands I have mentioned on my blog, and so are perfect for pin-ups and vintage clothing aficionados. An example of their commitment to the designs of the past is my L3015 Glamour Waspie which was inspired by a Victorian riding corset.

I have never got on particularly well with regular shapewear. Corsets: I love. They make me feel supported and like I’m being given a firm hug all day long. Shapewear on the other hand makes me feel like my midsection is being compressed in the worst way while all my fat is squeezed up and out. Not pleasant.

So when I spotted the glamour waspie in WKD’s summer sale I was intrigued. While incorporating traditional shapewear elements such as power mesh and a waist band, it also has spiral steel boning throughout. I loved the idea that these would help in keeping it’s shape because one of the most common problems I find with big spanx style knickers is that they roll over at the top (probably because I’m too small) creating a bulge of flesh where they meet my bra.

WKD’s designs are cut to vintage patterns which means they run quite small. Therefore it’s really important to consult their size chart before purchasing. I ended up confusing myself greatly while measuring myself as the numbers I was getting put me into a size 16 according to my waist measurement but only a 10 according to my hip measurement. Now, I’m used to the two measuring differently as my upper half is out of proportion to my lower half and I always have to size up for my waist when buying pants that come up higher than my hips. However this seemed a bit extreme. Thankfully at this point a chatbox popped up asking if I wanted to speak to a sales associate. They immediately got to the route of the problem by asking if I had measured my waist firmly 2” above my belly button. It turned out I had been measuring too low on my body and too loose. With that help, I decided to go for a size 12.

The 12 fits me perfectly, smoothing my stomach out and really emphasising my curves. I actually couldn’t believe the difference it made to my silhouette when I first put it on. The waist band really cinches me in around my waist and gives me a more defined hourglass shape. Because I’m only 5’3” it probably gives me a bit more coverage than it would the average woman and as you can see from some of the photos, a bit of back fat bulge is unavoidable. But I don’t notice this at all when I have clothes on so it’s obviously not too extreme. I also think the fuller length version would have been too long for me, but would work really well on someone with a longer torso.

On my first day of test driving the waspie I went out to an Italian restaurant with my in-laws and ate a three course carb heavy meal. It was super easy to slip to the bathroom after the main course and swap to the looser hooks to accommodate my expanding stomach and make room for dessert. The waspie was surprisingly comfortable and I happily wore it the whole day through, as it made me feel secure and smoothed out under my outfit.

I love that it comes with detachable suspender straps which allows me to wear it with a dress and stockings or with jeans and a top. I would have maybe preferred if there had been 6 suspender straps rather than the 4 as I like to wear nylon stockings which really need a good grip. However the suspender clips are super sturdy and actually keep most of my stockings in place throughout the day. I think the inclusion of suspender straps helps transform the waspie from boring shapewear into a beautiful inclusion to many of my lingerie outfits.

Other factors of the design that help with this are the satin panel which covers the front and contrasts with the black mesh of the rest of the waspie, as well as a row of tiny ruffles around the bottom edge. I really love this little detail which adds a feminine touch to what would otherwise have been a rather block-y piece of lingerie. I did notice a few loose threads dangling from the ruffles after a few wears but they were easy enough to snip off and there haven’t been any more since.

I am so happy with my purchase from WKD and am getting a lot of wear out of it because of its versatility as well as how comfortable it is. Unfortunately after taking the photos for this post I discovered it had actually been discontinued (my fault for thinking I could review something from a summer sale three months later…). However when I queried WKD on twitter they informed me that their L3018

Glamour Waist Cincher is the new and improved version. While I’m happy with the aesthetics of my own glamour waspie I will admit that the new design is indeed prettier! And if it is also similar or even better than my own then I would happily recommend them to anyone.

These designs are perfect if you’re like me and are too lazy for full time corset wearing but hate most modern shapewear. They also may be well suited if you’re postpartum and looking for something to encourage your stomach muscles to hold themselves back in again. I know that belly bands are very popular right now for new mama’s but I would imagine that structured designs like this with boning may actually be more comfortable than the more tubular designs. I myself considered waist training with a corset postpartum but then had to admit to myself that I was too lazy to commit to that.

So until I can work up the effort and funds to do that, I’ll stick to my glamour waspie. If anyone’s interested in this design rather than the newer ones, there are reduced listings of the longer versions in peach and black on Amazon. Otherwise it may require a bit of searching around online to locate one.

Thanks for reading. x

Bra by Peek & Beau, Pants by Made By Niki (the black is sold out but pink and yellow are available here), Stockings are Jonathan Aston, available here.