FASHION | Boux Avenue - Gift Buying Guide For Men

Boux Avenue has released this great lingerie buying guide for men! I don't know about you but I often dread to think what my OH has purchased me for Christmas (this year I think I am getting a skateboard - I do kind of want it, but only so we can go out together more often on them).

In our romcom delusions we often imaging that our spouse will treat us to some beautiful lingerie that will make us feel really confident and sexy. In reality if this was to happen it quickly becomes apparent that our idea of sexy silk and delicate lace is not the same as his idea of hideous stripper wear! Even without images of red PVC there is always the dilemma of size and comfort! You may not be a thong girl, but he might want you to be! Not to mention cup sizes are complicated enough for women, without men trying to work it out!

This guide will help even the most hopeless man buy you a suitable gift just by answering the questions in the infographic. Not to mention that there is free delivery on all orders over £50! If the thought of your partner buying you underwear makes you nervous, you could always suggest he buys you a gift card, there are three different designs and range and start at a balance of £10.

Mens Buying Guide

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 | @BouxAvenue Brodie Embroidered Bra

Brodie embroidered full support plunge bra*

Ever since I got my bra fitted at the Curvy Kate Blogger Event I have been desperate to re populate my bra collection, so when Boux Avenue offered me a bra set of my choice from their website I was not going to say no! 

I previously reviewed a Boux Avenue bra I bought from them which I found so supportive compared to the 38Fs I'd been wearing, but in reality the bra was too small in the cup and too big in the brand ( I have since bought the correct size as I loved the fit.)

As I'd been fitted as a 34GG in the Curvy Kate Entice, which I know comes up small, so browsed the 34G bras on the website. Even though I knew that Boux Avenue did DD+ bras, I was surprised at how many of there bras come in a 34G, but I was disappointed to see that none of their swimwear went past a FF. 

I eventually chose the Brodie, one reason I chose it was because I needed a white bra, and, I'm not a big padded bra wearer. I also like the embroidery detail.

It arrived very quickly and as before came in the lovely Boux Avenue box covered in rose petals ( which smell soo good). I tried the bra on but the cup was slightly too big so I sent it back for the 34FF ( the exchange was simple and very quick). The 34FF was a perfect fit. I also like the shape it gives my chest, it's very natural and the support is great.

The additional plus is that now that I know that I am a 34FF, I now fit into their DD plus Swimwear range. Every time I have used Boux Avenue the customer service has been really good, the delivery quick and the quality of the bras is really good, especially for the prices, I will definitely continue to buy bras from them and probably a load of swimwear for my holiday 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

FASHION | Curvy Kate Pink 'Princess' balcony bra - Review

Pink 'Princess' Balcony Bra*

After my post where I complained about how difficult it was to buy DD+ bras I got in contact with Curvy Kate about getting a sample, so that I could see how well there bras fitted and they very kindly said I could choose a set and they would send it out.

Literally the next day it arrived! I choose the Pink 'Princess' Balcony Bra* and matching undies. I decided to get the 36E and the bra fitted perfectly. What I love about this bra is that it is so comfortable and it also separates my boobs so they don't feel so big and bulky, who know it might even mean that I can wear a shirt without it gaping.

I decided to go for this set because I usually buy very 'sensible' bras and wanted to feel a bit sexy. When I was bigger as I felt  really unattractive in my underwear so wanted to draw as little attention to my body - that is however not to say that I don't think larger women can't be sexy Georgia Horne and Mia Tyler are two very sexual curvy ladies. I just personally felt unhappy at my old side despite my O/H loving me regardless.

Anyway thank you so much Curvy Kate for sending me this set to try and making me feel sexy :) I will definitely be buying Curvy Kate in the future.

                                                                   Love Lilla xx

FASHION | @BouxAvenue Bra - Fit Review

As I mentioned in my previous bra post I ordered some bras in the Boux Avenue sale. I ordered two Bridgette embroidered unpadded balconette bras as I had to finally admit that none of my bras fitted me anymore. All my other bras were a 40E and they just offered no support and basically made me look larger than I am and were awful. This need is what provoked me to go into town and resulted in my first ever bra post. 

First things first, I decided that I would work out my bra size myself. I originally used the stupid +4/5 method, which I will tell you now is NOT ACCURATE. I then tried the more accurate way that I got from one of my favorite bra blogs and came back with a 36E.

I was still skeptical about this size - partly because I couldn't believe my band had gone down so much in such a small time. But when I got my sports bra at She Active the amazing sales assistant, Robyn, confirmed I was indeed a 36E. So my bra search started and again the really helpful lady at La Senza measured me as a 36E before confirming nothing in the shop would fit me. So I decided to order some from Boux Avenue. 

I ordered the bras in a 36E ready to have to send them back and get another size, but they were true to size! We missed the delivery in the morning as we were both at work, my O/H called to rearrange and the courier dropped them round an hour later! The bras were packed beautifully in a lovely box (shown above) and scattered with petals, which I loved!

The bra itself is really comfortable and the fit is perfect, the band is firm around my chest/back, the wires at the front are flat against my chest, I have no quadraboob and the cups aren't too big! I would definitely buy more from them again. With a bit of luck they will open a store in Brighton too!

The only problem I had with my order is one of the bras was damaged when I received it, so I've had to send it back. This was very easy to do and Boux Avenue offer free returns, lets hope they have it in stock.

Love Lilla xx