FASHION | Curvy Kate Release World's First J Cup T-shirt Bra

Full-busted champions Curvy Kate have released the World’s first t-shirt bra that goes all the way up to a J cup.

In the past, big bosomed ladies have been subjected to a sea of ‘up to a G cup’ moulded T-shirt bras which leaves them very limited or even excluded from the popular style.

For years, fuller-figured girls have been crying out for ‘moulded’ cups. A recent Facebook poll revealed that only 14% of busty women have found a moulded cup bra that fits them well.

Curvy Kate’s customer feedback suggests that big boobs benefit from moulded cups for the coverage and smooth, rounded shape. With larger boobs the extra strength and structure of the bra mould supports and lifts the bust to give a gorgeous shape that looks incredible under T-shirts and tight clothing without compromising on fit or comfort.

With fit at the forefront of every product, Curvy Kate are passionate about producing pieces that curvy women enjoy wearing. Although the brand’s ranges always incorporate a fashion edge, Curvy Kate are keen to offer lingerie solutions for everyday wear – with the moulded cup being the first of many new innovations to be launched over the next few years.

Georgina Horne, curvy blogger of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust stated: 
“I’m a moulded bra addict but have struggled for years to find one which combines the perfect shape with the perfect fit. When you have bigger boobs it’s impossible to find a company which caters to larger cup sizes, and a moulded cup above a G is practically unheard of. To achieve the perfect T-shirt ready look, full-busted women often compromise either the shape or the fit – or even both! I’m delighted that Curvy Kate has brought out a bra that will cater to so many more women who long for the unrivalled smooth and sexy cleavage that only a moulded cup can provide.”

To satisfy both their customers who want a plain understated look and those yearning for something a bit interesting from their moulded bras they’ve designed the bra with a highly popular subtle black and slate leopard print.

Product Developer Adriana Olszewska continues, “Our Smoothie bra has been developed with the Curvy Kate customer in mind who looks for fashion as well as fit. The new moulded cup offers an amazing lift and gives a smooth curvy silhouette, and as goes up to a J cup it caters for many women who couldn’t find this smooth look before.”

The new Smoothie bra will retail at £29 and will be available from ASOS and Very from September 2012. The bra incorporates a two tone leopard print in black/slate, with cute silver centre pendant. It will be available through existing retailers and distributed worldwide.

FASHION | High street Swimwear Despair

Prairie Girl Underwired Halter Swimsuit	Curvy Kate Caribbean Curves Tankini Top
Pier Bandeau Bikini	Mirage Bikini
Sunkissed Bikini Top by Bravissimo	Casablanca Swimsuit by Ballet

As with bras, getting a swimming costume or bikini on the high street is close to impossible. I walk into New Look, Topshop etc looking at all there lovely swimwear none of which will ever support my chest. The tiny triangle bikini tops or the cutout swimming costumes are not designed for people with boob, well at least natural ones that need supporting. Before I heard of Bravissimo, I would just got to which ever shop sold an underwired bikini top big enough to offer the tiniest amount of support and would wear it under my tankini or swimming costume.

Luckily I am now aware of loads of places you can get proper supportive swimwear, and the ones above are some of my favorite costumes. Bravissimo and Bra Stop both have sales on at the moment too, the Ballet swimming costume is just £19.00 which is a bargain!

I have bought the Prairie so that I can go swimming on the beach, if the sun ever comes out again! I also hope to be comfortable enough with my body and have lost enough wait to be able to wear a bikini in Spain when I go in October!

Love Lilla xx

FASHION | Curvy Kate Third Birthday Blogger Event

I was lucky enough to be invited to Curvy Kate's Third Birthday and I had a fantastic time. When we got there we heard some great stuff about the brand, including how it came about and also how they work with De Monteforte University, who have a design a Curvy Kate module! It was really interesting to hear how Curvy Kate has evolved but has kept very much a family business. It's great to hear that everyone has input into designing the bras and the relationship between the models and the girls at Curvy Kate is amazing.

The second I walked in to the room I felt comfortable with everyone and as if I already knew a lot of them (even the bloggers). We got to meet a few of the Curvy Kate models who gave us a sneak peek of some of the Autumn Winter range which I might add is lovely, there are some really lovely pieces that I can't wait to buy!

After having a look at the range (and a few glasses of bubbles) we started playing pass the parcel so that we could all get to know each other! It was hilarious! We then got fitted! I went there wearing the 36E I got from Boux Avenue, that I blogged about a here. Although I loved the bra and said it fitted at the time, having worn it for a bit longer I realised that the cup was too small and I was bulging round my armpits, the bra did however support me better around the band than my old ones. Curvy Kate fitted me at a 34G and even replaced the Princess Bra that I reviewed here. The new fit is amazing. 

I get to choose one of the bras from the collection to review, it's a tough decision but I'll let you know once I get it!

Love Lilla x

LIFESTLYE | Discrimination Of The Breast Kind

Despite having a relatively large chest since my early teens, it was only a year or so ago that I started wearing properly fitting bras. After spending years squeezing my E/F cups into ill-fitting Marks and Spencer's bras, and listening to their awful fitting advice (I was once told I had an A cup), I finally learnt how bras should support me and will never turn back.

Not only does a well fitting bra support your breast better, but it also can change your shape, make you look slimmer and be more comfortable.

My problem however is the amount of places that actually stock DD+ bras. Yes there are loads of retailers online but do I really need to go to each suppliers website individually to buy Bras (Freya, Curvy Kate etc)? Also I'd like to know for sure that the bras are going to fit me when they arrive.

1. Yes Marks and Spencers stock them, but I feel reluctant to purchase bras from a company who can't even fit their models properly for their marketing and advertising campaigns let alone advise women on what bra size they should wear. This is actually a real sore point for me as Marks and Spencer's are a British institution know for their quality service, yet they are consistently failing to fit women correctly.

2. My lovely O/H bought me some bras in LaSenza for Christmas (40E), I went there this weekend to get refitted (as I've lost weight) only to find out that since they went into administration and reopened, they have changes suppliers and now only go up to DD. I'm very disappointed with La Senza, stocking larger bras at affordable prices made them my go to shop, but alas no more.

3. Bravissimo, are fantastic, they have a great range of DD+ bras and swimwear. The only issue for me is the price, even in the sale a bra will cost over £20. Obviously it is important to invest in decent bras, but I don't have the money to buy a good collection at £30-£40 each, especially while I'm losing weight.

4. Debenhams is a safe place to shop for Bras, they have a large range of brands, the problem is that my local store does not generally hold a large amount of DD+ bras.

5. It was pointed out to me that I had forgotten Ann Summers. My personal opinion of Ann Summers is that it's bras are cheap and nasty looking. In my experience, their bras are quite ill fitting, even when fitted correctly I find that the underwiring digs in. Thats not to say that everybody will have the same problem.

I have ordered some bras in the sale from Boux Avenue who are reasonably priced and do a large range of DD+ sizes. Fingers crossed they fit well.

If you would like to get some good advice on bra fittings and DD+ ranges or clothes for a fuller figure, I definitely recommend reading Georgia Horne's Blog.