A Review Of The BiuBiu ‘Portofino’ Top

I am very much a flouncy dress person, but sometimes I do like to rock an outfit that doesn’t blow up with the slightest gust of wind! And I have the ideal skirt from New Look, but it can never hurt to have a few more tops to go with it…

One perfect top has to be my 44BB/BBB BiuBiu Portofino top.

I have tried many a BiuBiu top in the past, but I’m always happy to add a few new styles to my wardrobe!

The Portofino top ticked many many boxes for me. The length was perfect on my longer torso, and the clingy fit was flattering enough to show off my shape without being too tight.

The way it ruched across my stomach was fabulous, as that is an area that I struggle with when things are too tight.

The v neck was cut rather low, but the fabric crossed over in such a way that meant that that top was still very modest. I could easily have sized down to a 42BB/BBB or maybe even a 40BB/BBB, and in those sizes I may have found myself spilling out a little more. But this top fit me well, and I liked the way the neckline sat.

This top does come in several more colours, and ideally I would go for something a little more stain friendly. But I do love the way the white looked against my skin tone and hair.

The sleeves were perfect. Loose enough to not give me sausage arms, and tight enough to not add extra bulk.

This top will go perfectly with jeans, trousers and skirts, and with the right layering (probably another BiuBiu top underneath it!) this top will be perfect during the cooler seasons as well. A big thumbs up from me!

In these photos I paired my top with an old skirt from New Look, my trusty Maidenform shapewear, a plunge bra from Ewa Michalak and my old Marks and Spencers high heels.

Special thanks goes to the beautiful patient CurvyWordy for taking these photos for me.

Being Fat.

I apologise in advance for what is going to be a very selfish post all about…me. My life, my experiences and my views.

I’ve been bigger for most of my life.  Not as large as I am now, but compared to my peers I was a heavyweight.  I must have been, or else why would they and my family have constantly found new and interesting ways to bring it to my attention? ‘Heffalumpa’, ‘tree trunk thighs’, ‘Georgie Podgy’ and all manner of other creative terms were flung my way throughout my teenage years.  I sometimes wonder whether I would have loathed my body had no one brought my larger frame to my attention on an almost daily basis, or whether I would have still compared my shape and size to those around me and despaired at it’s apparent heftyness.

These days I have a healthier approach to my body.  Just because I am a larger lady, it doesn’t mean that that is all I am.  I am Georgina.  I am someone’s best friend. I am someone’s girlfriend.  I am a blogger.  I work in marketing.  I have done the odd bit of modelling. I have fat on my body, but I am not fat – a mere lump of the stuff. And so what if I do have a bit of chub? What has my extra wibble stopped me doing? I’ve travelled, bungee jumped, sky dived, danced all night long. I’ve gone swimming in rivers, pools, streams and oceans. I’ve been flirted with, hit on and chatted up enough for me to safely conclude that I am not just an undesirable blubbery mess with no other attributes. I go running sporadically, I can climb several flights of stairs without collapsing and although I could be fitter, I’ve never felt hindered by my physical abilities. I fit comfortably into bus, train, plane and rollercoaster seats, and I’ve never capsized a boat. I have never experiences any ailments or illnesses due to my size. Diabetes? No, I am not a silly nonsensical cliché. Raised blood pressure? Only when people push onto a tube that I am getting off (you think they would see me…) Cholesterol problems? Give me a break! I could go on and on with a smug self important things that I have achieved DESPITE my weight and a list of problems that do not go hand in hand with squishy frame, but I think you all get the picture!

There are only ever two occasions that my lardy body gets my down. The first is when I catch a glimpse of myself in photos not looking my best. I am generally happy with my appearance, but when someone with a camera catches me off guard the end result can be monstrous. I do accept that they are capturing me as I look at that time, but I still get hung up and ‘detag’ myself in photos! Likewise, when I sometimes look in the mirror in something that doesn’t suit me or is too small for me, I feel horrid. I feel ashamed. However, would I still feel that way if I were smaller, but just about other parts of my body rather than my fat? And would I still feel that way if I didn’t live in a country that is obsessed with diets and cellulite and the idea that the only way to be perfect and happy is to be slim? Who can say.
The other thing that gets me down is… other people’s reactions to my size. Because as much as I want to make friends with the word ‘fat’, being branded a ‘fat lazy slag’ or any other random throwing together of seemingly negative words DOES hurt – how can it not? Sometimes I dwell on that hurt for days, sometimes I laugh it off within seconds, but it does make a mark on me and make me mentally regret every bite of chocolate and drunken burger I ever scoffed down. I curse myself for allowing my body to take on this vast form and I wonder how anyone could have ever liked me, loved me, seen me naked and felt anything other than nausea.

However, I do bounce back, more determined than ever to carry on with my life, doing all of the things that most other people do, unhindered by my size. I would like to shed some flab, as I do think that I would feel a little more content with some weight off. But my life will not stop until that point, and nor will the opportunities and amazing experiences that I have had and will encounter. I am not my weight. I am not simply ‘fat’ and every negative connotation that goes with that word. I am so much more than that, just like every other person out there who constantly gets reduced to being nothing more than a body size.

‘Being fat’. It’s not a disability, or the worst thing someone can be. It’s not an adequate singular way to describe a person. It’s not a term for a life half lived. It doesn’t call for the faux concern brigade to start firing out phrases like, “I just worry about how their weight will impact their lives in the future.” It’s just the way some people are.

Get over it.

A Review Of The BiuBiu ‘Marsala’ Dress

Many of you will know that I am a huge fan of BiuBiu. They make bust friendly clothing at very reasonable prices, and I have always found the fit to be excellent and consistent.

I was recently sent two dresses in sizes 44BB/BBB – which translates as ‘size 16 with huge boobies’ – check the BiuBiu size chart for more info on how their sizes work.

The Marsala dress in red.

The Marsala dress in blue.

I found the dresses to fit exactly the same, despite them being different colours.

They have a wonderful high neckline – not so high that create a ‘shelf boob’ look, but high enough to be modest in situations that call for it.

The length is perfect on my 5’7 frame, hitting me at that magical point just below the knee.  The capped sleeves didn’t cut in or make my arms look any bigger than they already are.

The stretchy cotton helps accommodate my figure, and is a nice cool material to wear in this amazing hot weather. I can see me adding a long sleeve tops underneath them, and some leggings and boots in the winter – versatile dresses, perfect all year round.

I wore the red dress to work yesterday, and it really is a perfect office dress. If I were going out after work I could have changed my flat shoes for some heels, instantly the look of the dress.

I did of course add a belt when I wore this dress to work.  As you can see the dress fits amazingly well, but I just wanted that extra bit of definition and something to break the outfit up and match the  dark shoes I had on.

I found that the tulip shaped skirt added a bit of puff to my stomach.  I don’t mind this too much as it also helped conceal it somewhat, but at certain angles it did add some bulk. However, the adding of a simple waist belt did help draw attention away from the puffiness.

In conclusion, I love these dresses.  They really do accommodate my bust whilst still being flattering on my body.  In these photos I paired them with my trusty Maidenform shapewear, a plunge bra from Ewa Michalak and my old Marks and Spencers high heels.

Special thanks goes to the beautiful patient CurvyWordy for taking these photos for me.

If you want to check out another view of the Marsala dress then visit A Sophisticated Pair for her review of the dress.

Win Tickets To ‘Loving your Curves’

Loving Your Curves is a plus size UK event like no other!

“Expo ~ Saturday 21st September

Loving Your Curves has partnered with some of the UK’s most innovative and unique Plus Size designers and retailers to bring you an exciting and relaxed atmosphere of size acceptance for Curvy Women to experience a truly enjoy unique day out.

Visitors will enjoy an entertaining day with Plus Size Fashion shows, workshops, entertainment and a Curvy beauty lounge. You will also be able to meet Plus Size, Health and Beauty experts providing an intimate platform of motivation, inspiration and education all under one roof, specially designed for you.

With over 50 exhibitors at the show, you will find a lovely mix of Plus Size designers, jewellery designers, make-up artists, shoe designers, bags, accessories and much more.

Wedding Fair ~ Sunday 22nd September

Loving Your Curves Wedding Fair has partnered with some of the UK’s most unique and luxurious independent designers and retailers to create a platform for Plus Size and bespoke suppliers of wedding essentials to showcase their work and create an exciting and relaxed atmosphere for Curvy Brides-to-be and their wedding party to experience a truly unique day out whilst being introduced to suppliers in every are required for planning and adding the finishing touches to their special day.

Visitors will enjoy an entertaining day with Plus Size Fashion & Bridal shows, workshops, entertainment and a Curvy beauty lounge. Brides will also be able to meet Wedding and Plus Size experts providing a complete wedding shopping experience under one roof specially designed for Curvy Brides-to-be.

With over 50 exhibitors at the show, you will find a lovely mix of Plus Size designers, jewellery, photographers, cake makers, make-up artists, henna artists, florists, caterers, DJs and much more.”

If you would like to win two tickets to one of these London based events then please leave a comment below this post. Please use your real name and email address (so I can contact you in the event of you winning) and please let me know this:

Why do you love your curves?

The lucky winner will be announced on August the 15th. Good Luck, and I will hopefully see some of you there!

Click here to find out more about the ‘Loving Your Curves’ event.

Women Are Back

If you have been following my social streams as of late you will have seen me gushing on and on and on and on and ON about the fact that I was in Milan! I was flown there by Marina Rinaldi, as myself and eleven other girls were due to spend four days together working on an exciting project – more will be revealed in a few months!  All I can say is that I ate gelato, met some babes, tried on some amazing clothes and had my hair and make up done every day.  It was like a dream!

It was amazing to meet some of my blogging idols, and I absolutely adore every woman I had the pleasure of spending time with over those four perfect days.

I’d love to introduce you to these women if I may, I will go from left to right.

Katya Zharkova. What can I say about this girl!? I’ve wanted to meet her ever since I saw the spread she did for Plus Model Magazine.

She looked so fun and so beautiful, and meeting her proved that she was that and then some! She has fought and fought and fought to become a plus size model for so many years, and she has such a great attitude towards body image and body confidence, and I felt truly inspired to be around her. Plus she was a dream to watch in action on one of her shoots and I can’t wait to meet her again.

Tanesha Awasthi aka Girl With Curves.

Wow is all I can say. What a beautiful graceful woman she was! She had the ability to make everything she wore look sublime, and was always so composed and perfect looking!

Melike Çarpatan was a complete darling.

She brought everyone good luck bracelets from Turkey and looked amazing in her sophisticated outfit choices.

Ditte Vallø – my booby twin! A mother of three who looked too young to even have one! Ditte was so funny and amazing to be around, a really positive effervescent woman.

Roberta Scagnolari was wearing a Marina Rinaldi dress when we met, and seeing how good her busty petite curvy frame suited the garment made me even more excited for the following when when I got to try on everything and anything! This buxom beauty had a knowledge of make up that blew me away!

Iris Tinunin – I love this girl! She was so fiery and fun, a pocket sized Italian beauty.

Gabi Gregg. What plus size blogger doesn’t want to meet this voluptuous legend!? Gabi was so down to earth and fun to be around – and the fact that she is my body shape twin didn’t hurt either!

Shila Kreuzer was an complete babe. She wore the best accessories and had the most beautiful lips.

Stéphanie Zwicky – wow!

I have to say she was a little intimidating at first, but I soon got to know her and discovered a very sweet warm loving woman. My favourite moment from the trip happened when a little old lady in the Marina Rinaldi store asked me what us girls were doing in the store. She mentioned that she read a blog by a French lady called Stéphanie, and I excitedly told her she was in the store! Stéphanie could not believe that this lady in Italy read her blog, and moments after meeting her she burst into emotional tears. ‘This is why I do it. This is why I blog. I get told I’m fat, too fat to wear nice things. But I don’t care. I blog for women like her.’ – I think we all started crying at this, and Iris summed it up with ‘Your emotion; it’s beautiful.’ Stéphanie recently launched her new collection, and she looked amazing wearing a few of the items from it when in Milan.

Marie Denee – it was so good to see her again! Marie and I first met when we worked together on the Evans campaign, and I was so glad to see her name amongst the others, as I was a little dubious about meeting so many new people. She was as fun and beautiful and sassy as ever, and seeing her work it for the camera was something really special!

Edith Dohmen – the girl with the lost luggage! I felt so sorry for Edith, turning up to Milan to find her bags a few hours behind her! Luckily it arrived, and so did she looking as beautiful as she does on her blog. I really enjoyed her attitude and outlook on the plus size world. She is more of an ‘inbetweeny’ at her size, something that she covers a lot on her amazing blog, and with her amazing brand of clothing.

So there you have it! The eleven women I spent time with last week! The Marina Rinaldi gang were also a dream to be around, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Milan, exhausting as it was! I ate great food, had my photo taken by Riccardo Vimercati and Max Cardelli. These photos and accompanying interviews will be appearing on huge posters and in magazine in a few short months, something that I’m even more excited about!  And best of all I finally got to try some beautiful Marina Rinaldi clothes – the links and reviews of which I will also post in a few months. I caught myself crying several times during the trip, and on the way home. I feel so lucky to have been given such a wonderful opportunity with some truly fabulous women, and although I can’t reveal everything about the trip just yet, I can share a few photos with you. Enjoy!

Top Of The Tights

With the weather hotting up every day in England, it doesn’t seem right to be blogging about tights! However, we only have a few months of delightful weather left before we’re back to breezier climates, and it’s best to be prepared!
Luckily for me I have been sent a few pairs of tights, hold ups and stockings to try out recently, and in this post I will be showing you the ones that worked well for my size (around a UK18/20) and height (5’7).
Please bear in mind that these I tried these tights on in my rather toasty flat, and therefore it was a little hard to get them on and looking picture perfect and so I do apologise!

The first pair I tried were the 15 denier Pretty Polly Curves Superfit ladder resist tights, XXL in ‘Barely Black’.

They fit me extremely well, and as you can see sat very high on me, which is perfect! They were easy to get on and didn’t snag or catch easily. They were a chocolatey brown colour, and will be perfect on darker skinned girls.

Next up I tried the Nylonica Linea Classica Sheer 15 stockings in XXL.

These stockings were incredibly soft, and felt like air to put on! They were easy to pull up and didn’t cut into my thighs. The colour is not one I would wear unless going to a fancy dress party, but I would definitely get them in a darker colour.

Hold ups are something I struggle with. they often won’t stay up on me, or they’ll dig in uncomfortably. And so I was intrigued to try the Nylonica Linea Classica sheer 15 lace top hold-ups in XXL.

These fit me excellently, and stayed up successfully for quite some time. They were easy to roll up and felt great on.

These Cette Oslo tights, size L were something a little different…

I have to say that the red and black colouring is NOT something I am a fan of at all, and these will sit firmly in my fancy dress box! However, I liked the fit and the thick comfy material that was easy to put on, and meant the tights stayed up. The fit over my bottom was rather questionable as you can see, but if these came in black I would love them!

Next up I tried two pairs of Sonsee tights, one pair in 60 denier, and one pair in 100. My size 18-20 puts me as a size ‘Flawless’ in Sonsee, and I really love the way the brand is dedicated to making larger women feel and look amazing!

“If you’re a Sonsee-sized woman, you know how difficult it can be to find sexy, luxurious hosiery that truly fits your body. Until now, plus size hosiery has been tight, controlling, restricting, uncomfortable, sold in bland colours and generally thrown out after one wear.
Not anymore.
Sonsee has discovered the best thing to come out of Italy – next to Sofia Loren, that is.
Italian materials and manufacturing have married to create hosiery that stretches beyond your imagination.
It’s comfortable, sexy, durable and fits your body.”

My friend was over as I tried the tights on, watching in amusement as I road tested them all. When I put these tights on her mirth turned to amazement, as she admired just how well they looked and how good they fit! I am so impressed with these tights and I can’t wait to see more from this company.

Last up I tried some products from another brand new brand – Lida.

All of these products were a size 4XL and once again I was impressed with the wonderful fit and look of the products. The hold ups were once again prefect on my chubby legs, and the lighter tights will serve me well during Autumn. Dominik from Lida was absolutely brilliant and patient with me when it came to ensuring I had the right size of product, and I adore the fact that this company are investing time and effort into making hosiery to fit and suit larger women.

Have you got any favourites when it comes to plus size tights, stocking and hold ups? Do you also struggle to find the perfect fit? Let me know in the comments.

The Bra Fitter Is Not Always Right

When we visit places like airports, restaurants and shops we tend to assume that the people that work in those places know their trade. We trust what they say, as surely they, as professionals know what they are talking about. I believe that this is why so many women wear the wrong size bra – a lack of knowledge from some individuals whose job it is to help women build the foundation of their outfits.

This is not meant to be a snobbish know-it-all jibe, and I do not profess to be superior to anyone who works as a bra fitter. But ten years of owning tits, seven of which were spent oozing out of cups and yanking on my back band has made me realise that the lingerie world still has a long way to go before everyone is up to speed.

Don’t ever be scared to go for a bra fitting. Don’t think for one second that your body is not worthy of being seen in a state of undress by a stranger. That your boobs are too big/small/saggy/uneven and therefore something that the fitter hasn’t seen before. Bra fitter are like doctors – they see so many bodies, and their focus is not on how the body looks as a whole, but more on how the specific part they are dealing with needs their assistance. If a bra fitter ever makes you feel anything less than comfortable and at ease then it is NOT your fault or problem, and you should report them to their company as they are not fit to deal with something so sensitive and personal as bra fitting. You are in a vulnerable situation and they need to act professionally and respectfully.

A good bra fitter should ideally assess the bra you have on and work from there. Some may use tape measures, but that is only part of the process. A well fitted bra isn’t some equation that can be solved by knowing a measurement, it’s something that is so personal depending on the person being fitted. They should firstly check your band back and see how well it’s fitting you. They will probably need to know how old the bra is and how often you wear it. They will then check how the cups fit you and bring you a few styles and sizes to try. Should they feel that they do not stock something in the size you need they should relay that information in the nicest manner possible without judgement, and possibly even refer to you another store. A good bra fitter does not cram women into any old size just to get them out of their changing room and to the tills, just like a shoes salesperson wouldn’t cram your size 7 feet into some size 5s and dismiss the discomfort that you will inevitably feel.

A good bra fitter should take the time to ensure you are fitted correctly into a bra and you know exactly what to do with it. They should bring you a size that you can fasten on the loosest hook, explaining that the next hooks are there so you can fasten the bra snugly as the brand stretches out over time. They should ask that you scoop all of the breast tissue from under your arms into your cups so that the bras underwires sits flat against your torso, and not on any breast tissue. They should tighten the shoulder straps enough that they stay up, but not so much that they take the strain of the weight of the bust – the band should be doing 80% of the work. And everything they do in order to fit the bra should be explained to you. It sounds so obvious, and maybe implies that women do not understand what bras are for, but it should just be a simple helpful fitting process to give the person getting the fitting the best chance of comfort and value. Ideally you should try a top on over your bra and move around, just as you would walk around a shop in a pair of shoes. Bras can be expensive, and as they are worn for most of the day they need to be as perfect as possible.

In my experience and from the comments left by my readers, so many bra fitters seem to body shame women and give them poor service. It makes me sad to know that these women are out there, making other feel bad about their bodies and causing them discomfort. Just remember: the bra fitter is not always right and as long as you go to a fitting armed with the knowledge of how a well fitting bra looks and feels and what you should and shouldn’t be told with regards to your body, then there is nothing to worry about.

If you have had any outstandingly good or bad bra fitting experiences then share them in the comments.

If you are unsure about how a bra should fit then why not check out my ‘Bra Fitting’ tab, where you can find videos, explanations and much much more.

Debenhams ‘Gorgeous’ Range Revisited

I’m always quick to recommend that my British readers visit Bravissimo for an excellent fitting service and a great range of bras, but they are not the only place on the highstreet that offers a service to large cupped women. Enter: Debenhams.

I first tried Debenhams lingerie last year and so I was very pleased to be given the change to try out two more out their bras.

First up was the orange spotted non padded DD-J balcony bra in a 36H, with matching briefs in a 20.

I probably don’t need to tell you again that non padded bras don’t really do it for me, but I am starting to wear them more often. Some of my dresses require my bust to take up a little less room, and when that happens I do like to don something sheer.
This bra really and truly blew me away. Even before I put it on I was in love! The fiery chilli pepper colour was amazing and unlike anything else I own.

I loved the greeny yellow details that can be seen on the edge of the cups and on the bows at the gore and on the straps. They really pop, and offset the fiery orange.

The gorgeous polka dot details add another cute dimension to the bra, and really appeal to me – I’m a sucker for a spotty pattern!

The bra is made of a three part cup construction, and the top third is sheer, and the lower two are made with a double layer of fabric. This helps offer support and projection whilst still being undeniably sexy. The bra didn’t feel rough or itchy, but it wasn’t silky smooth either. It didn’t rub me uncomfortably at all and it will be a great every day bra.

I found that the cups gave me an amazing projected rounded shape. I would have liked the sides to be a teeny tiny bit higher to contain my rampant side boob, but other than that I could not fault the bra.

As always, the three hooks and eyes and fully adjustable straps were a welcome feature, and the fit was pretty much perfect. I sometimes have trouble filling bra cups all the way to the bottom, and with this bra that was the case with my right tit. However, it didn’t show through my clothes and I didn’t spill over the top of the cups.
The size 20 briefs were dreamy! The frilly part over the thighs was a cute touch and they fit my ample bottom extremely well. I could probably have gone for an 18 as they were very true to size.

The next bra that I tried was the natural moulded multiway bra.
Strapless bras are not something I can wear unless the dress I have on gives me a huge helping hand, and so I was dubious about trying another one.

This bra reminded me a little of the Freya Deco. It fit true to size, unlike some strapless bras that come up very tight.

I was thrilled when I first put the bra on as I felt instantly boosted and aloft. However the bra didn’t keep my chest up for long, and it was only a matter of moments before I felt the weight of my bangers almost crushing the cups!

The inside of the band is lined with an almost rubber type of substance that helped stick to me without causing discomfort. However, even they could not support the weight of my chest.

I did love the smooth moulded cups and just how rounded my boobs looked, despite that only being fleeting!

The bra has additional boning around the band to help keep it aloft, and three hooks and eyes – two great features.

I feel that if the cups had more structure than being simply ‘moulded’ they would have maybe stayed up a little more. And if worn with a halterneck dress or a strapless dress with some inbuilt scaffolding it would no doubt work rather well!

I decided to try the bra as a halterneck as well.

The support was marginally better and I loved the shape it gave my chest.

The strap felt surprisingly comfortable on my neck – although any tighter and my neck paid the price of an even better cleavage!

Due to the fact that the bra still wouldn’t stay up, I did have some overspill. I think that the 36H is the best fit for me, however my boobs need a bit more help!

This bra has some very high ratings on the Debenhams site, and I think that ladies with a lighter firmer chest will get on very well with it.

So far this is the best strapless bra that I have tried, and I will be using it with any future dresses I find that work with it. I’ve pretty much given up hope of ever finding one that truly works in my current size on it’s own but who knows – maybe one day.

Curvy Kate: The Princess And The Portia

I first became aware of four year old ‘Curvy Kate’ two years ago when I partook in their annual ‘Star In A Bra’ competition. The concept behind it is simple: their customers wear their underwear, so they should become their models. Although I didn’t win, it was that brand ethic that stuck with me. The fact that everybody and every body who fits into the Curvy Kate range IS a Curvy Kate girl. A girl who deserves gorgeous flirty underwear in delicious exciting colour ranges, with bows and frills and flowery details. Over the years I’ve watched Curvy Kate evolve and change to suit their customers. They’ve extended their cup sizes, changed the shape of some pieces that they received a great deal of feedback from, and their amazing brand ethic means that I will always champion them.

Sheer cupped bras are often a tricky area for me, as I love a round projected shape, and as a 36H that can sometimes be hard to come by without a little extra oomph. That being said, when I do rummage through my lingerie drawer for something that isn’t padded or moulded, I often go back to my same old faithful Curvy Kate bra, as the shape and comfort are unbeatable.

I was recently given the chance to try out two other styles – the Portia in Seafoam/Pink and Princess in Orchid/Purple, both in my most visited size of 36H with size 18 matching briefs.

The first bra set I tried was the Portia.

The Portia is actually a style that was re worked by their designer Charlotte following the feedback from their customers. I’m a sucker for anything aqua, and the pop of pink was a bonus touch. Being that it FINALLY is the summer, I’m blessed with a slight tan, and this set looked wonderful against my skin tone. The bra comes with fully adjustable straps which I barely had to touch, and three hooks and eyes which offers the most amazing support.

The band is stretchy yet firm and I don’t feel I could have sized down just yet. The shape it offered my bust was fabulous. I felt sufficiently pushed in and up, although my boobs did feel slightly conical – something that did not show through my top.

Whether it’s the ribbon detailing or the shape, this bra did cause me to bulge a little over the top, and as luck would have it I attended a Curvy Kate event where their talented staff who not only make and market the bras, but are also expert fitters. I was able to try a 36HH Portia and the fit worked far better for me. I do have to wear a 36HH in some less generous styles, and so I would say that if you are between cup sizes you should go up one, especially if you have top heavy boobs like I do.

I was VERY dubious about trying the size 18 briefs, as I find Curvy Kate bottoms can come up a little small – unlike my own. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find them to be a really excellent fit. The sheer back adds a little stretch and drama to them, and there’s that gorgeous pink ribbon detailing again! I think I would be happier in a 20 as I felt that the embroidered detail did dig into my hips a little, but I was impressed at how well they fit me in the 18.
The Portia is a very gorgeous set. It’s a bra that could be worn every day that will give you that confidence of knowing you’ve got something quite beautiful lurking under your clothes.

Next up I tried the Princess, which looked absolutely sublime in the gorgeous purple colourway.

This bra was heavenly! Like the Portia it had fully adjustable straps and three hooks and eyes – two huge ticks in my book, and something that is another great thing about Curvy Kate.

The 36H felt spot on, and I was fully encased in the cups with no bulging from the front or sides. My boobs took on a glorious rounded appearance that reminded me of my old favourite, and I mentally added it to the top of the sheer cupped pile.

The briefs also felt a lot better on me, and I think that the Princess may be made out of a slightly more generous fabric. They also have sheer detailing on the bottom, something my boyfriend approved of!

Overall I preferred the colourway of the Portia, as aqua is my favourite, but this beautiful mix of purples was by no means a disappointment, and I adored how beautiful the two purple shades looked together, especially on the rose detailing.

Curvy Kate lingerie is now available to buy at BrandAlley, and they are really worth trying if you haven’t already, or revisiting if they are an old favourite.

A Little Lovedrobe In My Wardrobe

SUMMER IS ACTUALLY HERE!!!! I can’t quite believe it! And that means Pimms, beer gardens, and a spot of sun bathing! I’m lucky enough to have a communal private garden that no one else in my block of flats cares to visit, and so last weekend I threw on a bikini and set off to my little spot of sunshine to settle down with a good book and some iced water. And what better dress to throw on over my bikini than this one:

The Lovedrobe beige antique inspired lace and floral dress.


I went for a size 20 in this dress, and it didn’t look overly generous in the bust. I was spot on with this prediction, and even in a 20 it proved touch and go size wise.

I think a 22 may have been better in this dress, but with my non padded bikini and loose fitting belt, the 20 sufficed nicely.

The dress is a gorgeous floral print with pretty lace detailing. The lace around the neckline did feel a little scratchy and rough, and I feel like it may have irritated me had I wore it for much longer than I did.

The length was ideal for a casual day of sunbathing in my garden with very few people around, however, I would probably start to feel paranoid about my legs if I were out and about somewhere busier.

The sleeves are nice and spacious and not at all restrictive.

The dress has three buttons on the bust, making it perfect for showing a bit of cleavage and ideal for breast feeding mummies.

The skirt hung nicely, and didn’t blow up and overall the dress was nice and light. It really was a perfect dress for a hot summer’s day!

If you also fancy trying out this dress or anything else on the Livedrobe site then you have until the end of the month to get 15% off. Use the code ‘FFFB’ at the checkout.