Countless times I’ve heard the phrase “but a DD is huge” or “a G-cup is glamour model size isn’t it?”, and often, these phrases come from women.

Both men and women need to be more bra-aware. How do cup sizes and band sizes relate to each other?
The most imporant thing to remember, is that a cup size means nothing without the band size. A 28DD and a 38DD are vastly different sizes. The volume of a cup from a 28DD bra is equal to the volume of a 34B. If you held those two bras side by side, they would look the same size (excluding the band).
If you wear a 34E, and you find that the band is a bit loose, the next step is NOT a 32E. Each time you decrease the band size, you must increase the cup size – so a 34E with a smaller band becomes a 32F and vice versa.

DD+ cup sizes have somehow become taboo. There are jokes made about women based on bra size, and implications that if a woman over DD does not look like Christina Hendricks in the bust area, that surely she must be wrong about her size. These jokes and ignorant assumptions are so outdated, especially when there is so much more information about bra sizing available to us. Despite this, many women still insist on wearing the wrong size.

Christina Hendricks

It is precisely this sort of thinking that bothers me – as I have blogged about before, Christina Hendricks is apparently something like a 38DD or 38DDD according to the media. Now whether she has confirmed this or not, I don’t know, but I don’t see why a woman in the public eye should let us believe she is a size that is actually incorrect. Frankly, that’s just being a bad role model for all the women out there unsure of their correct size. I have heard many a woman say “but I’m not as big as Christina so I can’t be over a DD”, and this really skews our perception of women’s bodies. (I speculated at the time that she was probably a 32H/32HH).

But, Christina is not the only one, she’s just a more obvious one. There are many more celebrities who really need to do a little more research to find out their correct bra size. Here are a few that come to mind:

Beyonce:

Beyonce

Beyonce is the ultimate independant woman, which is why this one stresses me out so much. She’s been both slimmer and curvier through the years, but always seems to be in the wrong bra size. Her gorgeous figure looks squished in that yellow bikini, and even in her very popular ‘Best thing I never had‘ video, she is wearing a basque where the wires are pretty much lying directly on her breast tissue; it’s even more obvious when watching the video. She is probably around a 30E.

Liz Hurley:

Liz Hurley

What can I say, Liz just never looks supported in the bust area. All her bras seem far too big in the band and small in the cup. Famously an advocate of diets and being slim, she is well known for once saying “I’d kill myself if I was as fat as Marilyn Monroe”. She claimed that having seen Marilyn’s dresses, she wanted to get out a tape measure to check the vast size. I get the feeling that as her breast size has increased over the years, she has refused to accept that she’s bustier than she once was, as quite clearly the label matters more to her than what she actually looks like; some role model.
A well fitting supportive bra could do wonders for her shape, my guess is that these days she’s more like a 30FF or 30G.

Tyra Banks:

Tyra Banks

The gorgeous model claims that she is a DD, but with what looks like a back size of about 28, it’s quite clear she’s bigger than a DD. More likely a 28GG or 30G. On the left she’s squeezed herself into a very small bra, and on the right, you can see that the band of the red bra is loose and not supporting her.
Tyra has embraced her curves as they grown over the years; I really think if Bravissimo could get their hands on her to measure, that she would be very surprised with the outcome. She could be a great role model with the correct size.

Sofia Vergara:

Sofia Vergara

With roles such as Gloria in ‘Modern Family’, it’s hard to know whether Sofia creates this big cleavage-y look on purpose. I get the feeling she doesn’t know her real bra size, but I’d guess quite similar in size to Christina Hendricks. In my opinion, Sofia looks to be a 30HH, but most likely if she wore her correct size, she wouldn’t have her beloved chin-high cleavage effect.

Kelly Brook:

Kelly Brook

The bra on the left has a band that is far too loose, not giving her any lift or support. On the right, it’s a cup that is far too small, cutting into her breast tissue on the side (I’m certain that minus the airbrushing on that one, it would be far more obvious). I’d put Kelly at a 28H, possibly 30GG.

Katherine Heigl:

Katherine Heigl

Gorgeous, but often wearing a bra or bikini that is a few sizes too small. I’d put her as a 30FF/30G or similar.

The fact is, whether these women know it or not, they are putting out a really distorted idea of breast sizes. It’s no wonder 80% of women don’t know their own bra size, because these are the sort of references we have.

Take a look at the following picture of D/DD sized women, with varying band sizes:

D-DD Cup Sizes

And next, a picture of G/GG sized women with varying band sizes (65 = UK 30 and 70 =UK 32).

G-GG Cup Sizes

It just goes to show that you cannot estimate a cup size without estimating the band size too. There are far more sizes out there than A-DD, and we all need to be more bra-aware.

If you think you are wearing the wrong size, try putting your measurements in Curves and Corsets bra calculator (the most accurate one I have come across) and see what you get: Bra Calculator

A great place to go and get measured professionally, is Bravissimo, I highly recommended them for both the fit and service.

Love

Sophia xxx

]]> http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/are-celebrities-bad-bra-role-models/feed/ 26 sophiajenner Christina Hendricks Beyonce Liz Hurley Tyra Banks Sofia Vergara Kelly Brook Katherine Heigl D-DD Cup Sizes G-GG Cup Sizes http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/the-winter-blues/ http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/the-winter-blues/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:24:27 +0000 sophiajenner http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/?p=806 ]]> As some of you already know from previous posts, blue is my favourite colour. Blue clothes, blue shoes, blue ring, blue nail-varnish (blue hair if I could), and of course, blue lingerie.

In the cold weather, for me, blue is even more wonderful to wear. The child in me feels like a snow girl when I wear blue in the cold, so I’m always trying to get my hands on new blue bras.

I purchased two blue bras recently that I hoped could be great everyday bras this winter. The Flirtelle Vineyard bra (or possibly Viniard, because they have two different spellings on the Brastop website), and the Fantasie Elodie bra from Leia Lingerie.

So far I have loved the Flirtelle bras, the Sublime bra is made of very sturdy material and is a real winner for me. The Vineyard, while not so sturdy, was lovely in a completely different way.

Now, while the Sublime bra fits me best in a 30GG, I had heard that the Vineyard was a little tighter in the band. I decided that to be on the safe side, I would order a 32G. It’s good thing I did too, because the 32G fits perfectly.

Flirtelle Vineyard Bra

The bra is made of a lovely delicate mesh material all over (similar to the Freya Arabella), and has beautiful detailing on the cups. I loved it at first sight, the pale blue was just the sort of colour I had been looking for.

Flirtelle Vineyard Bra

It fit me the same way the Curvy Kate unpadded bras usually do, which is generally good if you are quite wide-set. It’s a very naughty but nice bra all at the same time – it looks cute and girly, but it’s also a little see-through; there’s no hiding what’s underneath!

Definitely a winner in my opinion!

Next we come to the Fantasie Elodie bra.

I absolutely love the fit of a Fantasie bra; they are really supportive and really beautiful at the same time. The Elodie has the same shape as many other Fantasie bras I’ve tried, and felt like a similar fit to the Sylvie bra that I have written about in the past.
Online, the colour of the blue Elodie bra looked gorgeous! I was really excited to get another lovely blue bra, especially a Fantasie one.

Fantasie Elodie Bra - Blue

Sadly, as great as the bra was, it didn’t look very blue in real life. As there is a grey version too, originally I thought there had been a mix-up, and I had received the wrong colour by accident. However, it soon became clear this was the blue version. Such a shame given how lovely the colour looks on their model version.

Fantasie Elodie Bra - Blue

The fit, as with most Fantasie bras, was great, and it is a beautiful and supportive bra. Fantasie bands generally run slightly looser, so I got this in a 30GG, which was a perfect fit. Unfortunately, I was after the kind of blue that makes me want to gaze at the bra lovingly all day, and this one just wasn’t it for me.

In the meantime, I’ll continue on my hunt for blue lingerie!

I’m planning to write a post soon about celebrities in badly fitting bras, whether they know their size or not, and how this affects the way society views larger sizes. If there is a celebrity that comes to mind when I say this, feel free to mention it in the comments below. I have no doubt there will be quite a few I haven’t remembered .

Love

Sophia xxx

For those of you who don’t already know, I entered Star in a Bra last year, and was lucky enough to make it through to the final 10.

Now let me tell you a bit about it.

Star in a Bra is run by the lingerie company Curvy Kate. Every year they begin their quest to find a curvy DD+ girl to model for the brand. The idea behind it is to have models that represent the public, and women we can relate to. It’s no good having a B-cup girl modelling a bra for someone who is a J-cup – how can you know what the fit will be like on a larger size? Curvy Kate start their bras at a D, and a 28 band, and go all they way up to a 44 band, and a K cup.

Be the next Curvy Kate!

You may be reading this and thinking “I’m not a model” or “I’m too shy to walk around in my underwear in front of anyone”, but from my experience, about 90% of the girls who enter feel that way. I thought that way too, but what have you got to lose? Be brave ladies, they are looking for curvy girls, women who are down to earth and willing to give it a go, and you certainly don’t need any previous modelling experience. If your friends or family see the photos, so what? This is for you, and you can encourage other women to be proud of their bodies, and show how a correctly fitting bra should look. That 80% out there still wearing ill-fitting bras need role models to help them, and no woman should have to struggle so much just to find a decent fitting bra. You could be that role model.

If anything, just being part of the competition is a massive confidence boost. Whether you get picked or not, you get to put on all your favourite lingerie, pose and have a little fun while you’re at it. The thing is, you never know, you might get picked. Be happy and confident in your photos, and they are sure not to miss your smiling face.

Star in a Bra 2011

My friend and current Curvy Kate model, the lovely Lizzie Haines, won the competition last year, and it’s easy to see why.

Lizzie Haines

You just need to look at her lovely smiling face in her entry photo to see she’s happy and confident. Even so, she’s publicly said she has body insecurities (not that we can see why of course) but the point is, everyone has them, even the most beautiful women.

Those of you who read my blog while I was still in the competition, know that I had a hard time accepting the final photos and the way I looked, but I don’t regret being part of it. You need to get rid of those old insecurities (easier said than done, I know) and just take everything in your stride. I am a different person to the girl I was when I entered the competition, but it is all for the better, and I hope I can encourage others to enter. It is a wonderful experience.

I made some great friends by entering Star in a Bra, and in fact, this blog wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t taken the plunge and gone for it. Those girls made it all worthwhile. The lovely Astrid Lopez and Kelly Parks aren’t in the photo below, but they are in spirit.

Hannah Rowe, Me, Lizzie Haines, and Georgina Horne

Details on how to enter the competition will soon be up live on Curvy Kate’s facebook page. ‘Like’ the page and keep an eye on it, the competition launches on the 23rd February. You will have to enter three full length lingerie or bikini shots, and two head shots – although make sure your head is showing in all the pictures!

Curvy Kate needs your Curves!

Go on girls, be brave and enter!

Love

Sophia xxx

Lovely girlies, I’m back after the delay in posting – I have now finally moved house, and can return to having regular internet and consequentially regular blogging!

A bra I bought just at the end of last year was the Bettie Mae bra by Bravissimo; the first padded plunge bra made by Bravissimo themselves. It comes in a much wider range than the deco which has been very well recived by bigger busted women. The band sizes run from a 28-38, and come in cup sizes ranging from DD-J which will definitely suit the smaller backed bigger busted of us out there, as well as many other difficult sizes.

The Bettie Mae Set

It has a very unusual colour, one which I wouldn’t normally go for, and something I might call a ‘burnt orange’. In real life, it is a very pretty bra, and has a slight sheen to it. It’s perfect for this cold winter with its warm glow, reminiscent of a warm cosy fire.

Bettie Mae - Bravissimo

It looks very shiny when using a camera flash, so I’ve taken a photo without flash so you can get a better feel for what it really looks like.
It’s lightly padded, so has a softer more squishy feel to it than a deco would, and the band has a bit of stretch to it. I would recommend perhaps sizing up one size in the cup, and choosing your smaller band size. I am wearing this in a 30GG, but I really feel a 30H would be more comfortable, as the GG gives me a little sideboob.
The plunge is quite nice because it gives a subtle cleavage, often the kind you might want for work. Not only that, but it’s a sexy bra too, and let’s face it, it’s not often you find a comfortable everyday bra that’s a gorgeous evening bra as well – a great mix.

The Bettie Mae also comes with the choice of briefs or a thong (I personally love the cute bow on the back of the briefs!)

The straps are fully adjustable, and the fit and comfort of it reminds me of Bravissimo’s Poppy bra (unpadded), and I would suggest that if you’ve tried the Poppy bra, that you will most likely be the same size in the Bettie Mae.

At the time the Poppy bra came out, I didn’t have the chance to review it – it’s actually a lovely everyday bra for me, and I wear it quite often. It’s an unpadded plunge bra, which is very soft, and very comfortable too. I also have this in a 30GG, but again, as with the Bettie Mae, I could really do with a 30H. The design is beautiful, and the black lace really works well against the beautiful poppy pattern.

Poppy Bra - Bravissimo

For comfort, Bravissimo bras are definitely 10/10.

Love

Sophia xxx

I was so excited to be chosen, and thought what better way to test out this lovely underwear, than review it on here. It’s no secret that I’ve often struggled with Gossard, and have previously had trouble finding the perfect fit. This is largely because they don’t make my regular size of 30GG. It is important to note that their bras go no higher than a G cup, and no lower than a 30 band although I do hope this changes one day.

Having tried only 32Gs in their styles in the past, and knowing that they were too loose all over, I felt confident enough to decide on 30G. It was a risk, but a risk I’m glad I took. All the styles I was sent are 30G, and all the pants are a Large.

When the very large box arrived, I was slightly overwhelmed by what a great gift it was. I opened it feeling like it was Christmas morning, to find an array of beautiful and striking garments. I have since been (not so patiently) waiting for my day off to test them out.

There are a total of 12 sets, and what seem to be 5 different styles.

Three Gossard Superboost Laces
Two Gossard Wild Prints
Two Gossard Superboosts
Two Gossard Fleurs
Two Ooh La La’s
And One Gossard Allure

Unfortunately the only full length mirror I have is permanently scuffed, so I’ve taken some more photos of each set on the hanger to give a better reflection of the colour and material. Please do excuse the shoddy full length photos.

Numbers 1, 2 and 3; the Superboost Lace bras.

Gossard Superboost Lace Sets

Superboost Lace - Jade

Superboost Lace - Rouge

Superboost Lace - Black

I found the Superboost Lace bra very sexy, especially with all that lace, but the cup felt a little more like a 30G than some of the others, which meant it was on the small side. Fortunately it’s not so small that I can’t wear it, but I definitely could do with wearing a cup size bigger. The back was nice and tight, definitely a firm 30. I preferred the comfort of the briefs compared to the thong, but I did think the thong looked great alongside the lacey suspender belt!

Numbers 4 and 5; the Wild Print Bras:

Gossard Wild Print Sets

Wild Print - Jade/Brown

Wild Print - Purple/Black

I very much love the Wild Print bras – I think every woman should own at least one animal print undergarment. I’ve tried this style of Gossard bra before, but in a 32G, and the fit was just way off. I’ve discovered it’s actually big in the cup, so to downsize to a 30G was actually spot on (phew!). The colours are bold and exciting, and the 30 back was just perfect, not too loose and not too tight, the briefs were comfy too!

Numbers 6 and 7; the Satin Superboost bras:

Gossard Superboost Sets

Superboost Celebration - Champagne

Superboost Satin - Purple

The Satin superboost bras actually fit surprisingly well. The back was very firm, and the cups were actually quite comfortable. I don’t often wear thongs, but these ones were very soft to the touch. The Celebration set has a little champagne bottle detail on the front instead of the classic ‘G’ detail – a nice added touch!

Numbers 8 and 9; the Fleur bras:

Gossard Fleur Plunge Sets

Fleur - Blueberry

Fleur - Rouge

Possibly my favourite sets out of them all. I am a sucker for blues and purples, so the Blueberry really caught my attention. The red with the black lace edges just looks divine – lingerie heaven!
I found again that the cups and the back fit very well – I definitely wouldn’t want this one in a GG, the G was actually perfect, the back felt very similar to that of the Wild Prints. This time I actually liked the briefs and thong equally. The thong was cut in such a way as to flatter curves rather than cut into them. A great set all round.

Numbers 10 and 11; the Ooh La La bras:

Gossard Ooh La La Sets

Ooh La La Longline Strapless - Ivory

Ooh La La Plunge - Ivory

I got on very well with The Ooh La La plunge bra, the back was tight but not too tight, and the cups just about fit, although I could do with a bigger cup. The strapless, which has some useful removable straps, is a full cup bra – because of this, it meant there was no way I could really fit in to it. It is a lovely garment, but the back was also much tighter compared to the plunge – I think this may be an instance where I could fit into one of their 32G’s, possibly! The suspender belt was lovely, but as I was wearing size large pants, the belt was also a large, but my waist isn’t. Now I know this, next time I order with them I will pick a different suspender belt size for sure!

And last but not least, number 12; the Allure Plunge bra:

Gossard Allure Plunge Set

Allure - Noir

A smouldering and beautiful set, the Allure certainly lives up to its name. There is a sort of nude underlay, which makes it more exciting than being just a simple black bra. I found the cups very small. They were quite stiff which made it less easy to squish myself in, I think even a 30GG would’ve been just about manageable, and probably even in that size I may have wanted to size up. For those who can fit into it, I would recommend it, it feels great on.

With all of these sets, I felt they were supportive enough for an evening, but perhaps not all day long. They wouldn’t be the bras I wear to work, but they would definitely be bras I would wear on a night out…or a night in.

So, after my twelve day rendezvous with Gossard, I am now convinced. They have really won me over…well almost. My few criticisms are purely about size. Why is it that they use a model who is at most a 28 band, or possibly something as small as 26 or 24, yet the smallest band available is a 30? If you compare my underbust to that of their models, it is clear we would not need the same band size. I would love for Gossard to factor in smaller bands and bigger cups, hopefully one day, my wish will come true!

Dear Gossard, thank you for the fabulous lingerie, and dear Simply Yours, thank you for choosing me!

Merry Christmas!

Love

Sophia xxx

At the other end of the spectrum, some women have quite a variation between the measurement around their chest, and the measurement around their waist. My measurements are 40-30, so finding a top that will be fitted in both those areas is more than a little challenging. It’s quick and easy to make simple box-shaped clothing, but to design a top that fits and clings to the contours of a curvy girl is no simple task.

Bravissimo, or Pepperberry as their clothing side is now named, were one of the first and few places I discovered that catered for a bigger bust. In addition to the standard clothing size, they allow you to specify a chest size as well; C – Curvy, RC – Really Curvy, and SC – Super Curvy (and lately they have been developing SDC – Super Duper Curvy). However, due to the cost of the clothes available, and the huge variance in their sizes, I do not often buy from them. My friend and fellow blogger Georgina Horne often writes about them, so you can find some much more detailed information about their clothes on her blog if you wish to know more.

It had been a while since I last purchased anything from Pepperberry, so recently I did. There was a lovely casual stretchy top on their website; the Button Trim Jersey top. I thought the two available colours – dusky pink and grey – were quite bland, but I decided maybe the pink could work for me. I have previously bought tops from them in a size 8SC (as I have often found their 8 fits like a high street 10) but I had heard some of their newer styles were tighter. I eventually settled on a 10RC, which was an OK fit. I think it was fine around the waist, but slightly loose in other areas.

Button Trim Jersey Top - Pink - 10RC

It’s a nice top, and I do like it, but it’s just not quite perfect. I was very keen on the button detail and the waistband strip, but I think the bland colours ruin it for me. If they had perhaps brought it out in two brighter shades as well, I very much think I would’ve purchased more than one.

Up until very recently, I was still struggling with my well-worn high street tops, and feeling frumpy because they just don’t fit me the way I want them to. Through some discussions with friends and other bloggers, I discovered BiuBiu; the Polish equivalent to Pepperberry. Ordering from abroad didn’t put me off, because as any regular reader of my blog knows, I often buy lingerie from the Polish company Ewa Michalak with much success.

BiuBiu have a lovely site, and it has a translate button into English; very handy for me given that I don’t speak a word of Polish!

Like Pepperberry, they have three different chest size options. They use the letter ‘B’ which stands for ‘biust’ of course meaning ‘bust’. They have B – similar to Curvy, BB – similar to Really Curvy, and BBB – similar to Super Curvy. Their size chart put me in a 36BB, which in my opinion seems to be the equivalent of an 8RC (or even SC). I decided on two tops in 36BB and two in 38BB, as I had heard the 36 was tight on some girls of a similar size who had already tried BiuBiu.

This is the Porto in a 36B/BB (with the stretchy tops they have either B/BB or BB/BBB, as there is more of a variation with the added stretch).

Porto - Burgundy - 36B/BB

I found the 36 quite tight, but then my waist size is more of a 10 than an 8. Of course in regular high street clothes, I rarely ever fit into a 10, because they don’t leave much room for the bust. I think if I were to get another Porto, I would opt for the 38.

This is the Pamir, also 36B/BB.

Pamir - 36B/BB

I love this top! It’s a little tight just as the 36 Porto was, but the pattern actually disguises that to some extent. I have a thing about my arms and shoulders being a bit bigger compared to the rest of me; this top is actually a great help, as the dark brown sleeves are slimming for those areas. This is definitely a favourite.

Next, another stretchy top, the Hue in a 38B/BB.

Hue - 38B/BB

This is an unusual pattern. It’s not normally the kind of thing I would go for, but I already have a fair few plain block colour tops, and wanted to go for something a bit more interesting. I very much liked this; it’s more modest than the Porto or the Pamir because the neckline is stitched a little higher up. I found the 38 a much more comfortable fit than the 36, so I think 38B/BB is my ‘BiuBiu size’.

Last but not least, I was excited to try one of BiuBiu’s fitted shirts. It’s been a long time since I had a shirt that fit around the waist and didn’t cause all the buttons to ping off over the bust, so I was interested to see how these would fit. With the tailored clothes rather than the stretch, the sizes stay as B, BB and BBB. According to their sizing chart I would be 36BB, but I decided to go for 38BB because of my previous experience with the 36.

Vanity Fair Navy - 38BB

This is the Vanity Fair shirt in navy. It is a perfect fit in the 38. I love the square buttons, I love the shape and the very careful stitching – I have no criticisms about this shirt. If you need a lovely smart fitted shirt, BiuBiu is the place to go.

I am really very impressed with BiuBiu, not only are the clothes great, but the customer service is fantastic; they are exceptionally friendly and helpful. While Bravissimo is definitely one of my first choices for Lingerie, Pepperberry definitely comes second compared to BiuBiu in clothing. Their sizing is very consistent, which is especially a good thing if you are buying from abroad. I can safely say BiuBiu is a new favourite for me, and I will certainly be buying from them in future. Fitted tops are elusive no longer!

Love

Sophia xxx

I have already reviewed the Curvy Kate Princess and the Panache Cleo Lucy in a previous post, but I will add the reviews on here amongst the others anyway. The reviews are posted in no particular order, and go from left to right.

First up we have:

Think Pink!

Curvy Kate Princess 32G – I found the Princess slightly tighter than some of their other unpadded styles (such as the Emily) so the 32 I have is just about right for me. I’ve always loved the pretty details on the cup, Curvy Kate certainly do a great job of making their underwear beautiful to look at; the embroidery is stunning. I’d give it a comfort level of  7/10.

Panache Tango Plunge 30GG – This is a very comfortable everyday bra. The 30 band is a bit too tight on me, but I’m sure after a bit of wear it will loosen up – it’s definitely tighter than Panache’s Cleo range. The Tango is undoubtedly a staple bra in many a busty girls’ wardrobe, it’s a well-loved favourite. Comfort I’d give it 7/10 (probably 8/10 once the band loosens up).

and

Panache Cleo Lucy 32G/30GG – The Cleo Lucy was a bra I already owned in a 32G, however, I got the chance to try out a 30GG which was a much more comfortable fit. Panache’s Cleo range does tend to be slightly looser in the band than their Superbra range, which is nice for me as it means a 30 is the perfect fit. It is a beautiful style and very comfortable. 8/10 for comfort.

Next up, we have:

Think Pink!

Freya Deco Lupin 30G – The Deco is one of my all time favourites of course. I do love the padded plunge style for a night out, but it’s probably not an everyday bra for me, even though it is for some. As I may have mentioned before, they run loose in the band and big in the cup. I bought this Lupin version in a 30G, and it was a perfect fit, although loosens quickly. The Lupin is an older style of the deco that I had never managed to get my hands on before, but luckily I found one in my size on ebay. Comfort level, 8/10.

Fantasie Evie Balcony 30GG – I love love LOVE this bra. It’s just SO comfortable. It’s made of a sort of mesh-like material, and the fit of this 30GG is just perfect. It very slightly gapes on my smaller breast, but not enough to cause any problems. Fantasie, like Freya often run slightly looser in the bands. I had a lovely fantasie bra a while back which I sadly had to give away because the 32 band was just way too loose after a month, however, I wasn’t so familiar with the brand sizes at that point in time. Comfort I’d give 9/10, verging on 10/10!

and

Keia Annette 30GG – This is both a bra and a brand I have never tried before, so sadly my size was a guess for this, and unfortunately I got it wrong. The 30 band was so tight I had to use a bra extender just to get it on. The cups would’ve been fine, but the straps were only partially adjustable (more like only 1/4 actually), which is usually fine for me, but it just didn’t work at all with this bra. I needed far more lift for it to fit properly. The one redeeming feature, is that is is very pretty; lovely embroidery. Comfort 3/10, with the correct back size probably only 5/10 because of the strap issue.

Following on from those bras, we have:

Think Pink!

Curvy Kate Thrill Me 28HH – This is an older version of the immensely popular Curvy Kate Thrill Me, which I managed to pick up in an odd size. As the Thrill Me is a little loose in the band and small in the cup, I usually wear it in a 30H, but this was the only pink one I could find, and it was a 28HH – amazingly it fits very well, tighter in the band than I’m used to, but lovely all the same. I usually don’t like pink and orange mixed together, but this bra does look very beautiful, as their Showgirl range often does. As much as I love them, even in the 30H I have never found them very comfortable, but definitely wearable. I’d give it a 6/10 for comfort as it’s more of a bedroom set.

Caprice Primavera Plunge 32G  – Veering off my regular track, I decided that it would be nice to delve a bit further into the bra world, further than just my tried and tested favourite brands. This is a bra by Caprice. Now, despite her appallingly amateur and badly photoshopped pictures that she uses to advertise them with, I decided that as a larger chested woman perhaps she could make a decent bra. Wrong. The one good thing I have to say about this bra is that is looks beautiful. The pretty pinks and satiny bits look lovely which gave me high hopes…until I put it on. It has padding in the lining, non-removable padding that is sewn in meaning it’s part of the cup. That made this G far too small, and I got the dreaded ‘four-boob’ syndrome with the cups. The back was 32 which was tight and felt like a 30, so that was fine. Generally not for me, but I’m glad I’ve tried it – it may work well for a smaller size. Comfort, 5/10.

and

M&S Per Una 32G – A surprisingly comfortable and nicely cut bra; the cups are cut quite low and wide, which is unusual but not in a bad way. It fits well in a 32G, which makes sense as I have heard M&S styles tend to be on the tight side. Although the bra is quite plain to look at, I think it’s value is in being an everyday bra. I would possibly consider buying some of their ‘per una’ range again, but so far this is my first experience with it. Comfort 7/10.

The next three:

Think Pink!

Panache Melody Balconette 30GG – Strangely even though the Melody is part of their Superbra range, I found the 30 to be as comfortable as the Cleo range. I really loved this bra; it’s very soft and silky and feels very nice on. After this photo was taken I adjusted the straps when I got to work and it fit even better. Definitely a favourite, comfort level 9/10.

Ann Summers Lamora 32G – While this is a very nice looking bra, I didn’t find it particularly comfortable. Ann Summers don’t seem to go below a 32 band, and this 32 was sadly too loose. Not only that, but the cups felt small, and the centre gore of the bra wasn’t sitting flat – G however is the largest cup size they make. A good idea in theory, but I think we all know Ann Summers really need to expand their sizes, vastly. Comfort 5/10.

and

Panache Cleo Bonnie 30GG – The first thing I noticed about the Bonnie bra, was the lovely pattern. It is very beautifully embroidered with lots of different coloured detail. I was really sad when this bra didn’t quite work for my shape. As with all the Panache Cleo styles, it fit just right for me in a 30GG. However, a mixture between where the seam lies between the top and bottom of the cup, and the type of material used, meant that the seam was too tight across the breast, causing a line in the middle under clothes. It’s important to remember this is probably more to do with my shape than the bra, because it really is a very lovely bra, and I was very sad that it didn’t quite work for me. Comfort 7/10.

Last but not least, the final three:

Think Pink!

Gossard Candy Camouflage 32G – Unfortunately I always ALWAYS fail with Gossard bras. It doesn’t stop me trying again on occasion, but so far, never any luck. This is a 32G; the band is far too loose, the cup is far too big, or actually ‘long’ (that’s how it feels) but yet the centre gore doesn’t lie flat (usually an indication of a small cup). In my opinion this style is really badly designed, and I don’t really know who it would work for – I would try it in a 30GG, but I’m not really convinced that would be any better. Comfort 4/10.

Freya Jolie 28H – As is very common with Freya bras, this band runs loose, so I got this in a 28H as it runs (in my opinion) even looser than the majority of their bra bands. That being said, I LOVE the Jolie bra. The cup is very comfy in this size, but as I’m fuller on the bottom than top there is a slight dimpling in the top of the cup, but not enough to cause discomfort. In fact, it’s so comfortable I can wear it all day long without any problems. Also, while I love the split cup pattern that most DD+ bras have, it has become increasingly hard to find an unpadded bra with the same pretty pattern over the entire cup, like the Jolie. Comfort level 9/10.

and

Freya Eloise 30GG – The Eloise reminds me of the Jolie bra, nice shape, comfortable, but again as I’m fuller on the bottom than top, I still get that slight dimpling in the top of the cup. This is a 30GG and it fits very well, although the band is still a tad loose, although not as loose as the 30 band Jolie was! I really love the pattern, it’s cute and girly, and really made me want to wear it. It’s also feels very nice on, comfort level 8/10.

So there you have it, 15 pink bras with 15 reviews…but which was my favourite? Well, to be honest I had 3 favourites, but I picked one in particular to wear for my last pink day, on Halloween.

The Panache Melody was my first choice for today, closely followed by my second; the Fantasie Evie, and my third; the Freya Jolie.
I would recommend Panache as a brand very highly, they really care about their customers and make some really fabulous lingerie as you can see.

I have loved doing this and being able to support Breast Cancer Care. I do hope more people will still donate to the cause; my Just Giving page can be found here: Donations Welcome.
Just because Breast Cancer Awareness month has come to an end, doesn’t mean they don’t still need your support. Think Pink, and don’t forget to Coppafeel every month. Here is my Coppafeel t-shirt, which as well as reminding me to check, I also love for lounging around in!

Coppafeel T-Shirt

Love

Sophia xxx

P.S I’m looking forward to a change of bra colour tomorrow!

All images used: © Sophia Jenner

At the end of this month, I will be writing another blog post with pictures and reviews for all the pink bras I wear.

Every little donation helps, so even if you can only spare 50p, please support breast cancer care this month. My Just Giving page can be found here: http://www.justgiving.com/Sophia-Jenner

Thank you!

Love

Sophia xxx

While their products are great, and the staff are always polite, they do have one big flaw. They are quite strict and rigid about returns, even just after their 10 day return policy has elapsed, even for someone in a different country, and even for loyal regular customers. However, when it comes to great lingerie, I can put aside my feelings about the person running the company (perhaps put it down to cultural differences), and admire the underwear for what it is – fabulous.

This is the HM Granatowy Motyl bra. I tried it in a 65GG (30GG) as I had heard the back band wasn’t one of their firmest. I’m very glad I went for that size as it does fit perfectly. 

HM Granatowy Motyl - 65GG (30GG)

I was immediately enticed by the colour and design whilst browsing their website, so I very much wanted to test this bra out. The cups are made with just a single sheer piece of delicate lace – so delicate in fact, I was concerned it would rip under the strain of my breasts! Lucky for me, the design of the bra, as usual, is perfect. Somehow not only does it hold me up, but it’s actually fairly supportive. I wouldn’t exactly run much in this bra, for fear of falling out of the top, but for work I would actually wear it all day long. It’s also wonderfully comfortable. 
To add to the very beautiful detail on this bra, there’s a little blue butterfly stitched onto one of the straps. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this bra was made for me!

The next Ewa bra is the Czarny Strapless (one I have been promising to try for a while!) Now unfortunately I got this is a 70G (32G) which was just too loose in the band for me, and for a strapless, that’s the worst thing to have.
Due to a miscommunication, I wasn’t able to return this to them within the allotted return period, and am now unable to send it back. I may sell it on ebay, so if this is your size, keep an eye out!

Czarny Strapless - 70G (32G)

It’s very comfortable, and surprisingly gives quite good cleavage and lift for a strapless bra. The inside looked a bit like polystyrene when I first saw it, but somehow, whatever material is used, it works wonderfully. 

CH Onyx - 65GG (30GG)

Last but not least, the CH Onyx bra, which is actually a multiway bra. The straps are removable, and it can be turned into a halterneck. I had heard again that the band was stretchy, so got this in the usual 65GG (30GG). It is a perfect fit, and very comfortable. It actually comes with padded inserts that are removable, so if you want a little extra va va voom on a night out, this definitely gives you that option. 

CH Onyx - Halterneck Style

As lingerie goes, Ewa Michalak is high up on my list of favourites. If you’re not overly concerned about returns or customer service, then definitely order with them. The quality of their lingerie is exceptional high, and I will continue to be a regular customer.

Love

Sophia xxx

In the UK, 50,000 people are diagnosed with Breast Cancer each year, and 12,000 of them die from it. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 35.

This year, I will be spending october with my mother who is flying over from France to exhibit her artwork in London. Every day I am thankful that she is still here. 

For the purpose of this post, I will give her the pseudonym ‘Sarah’.

Back in 2002, Sarah found a lump on her breast. She ignored it. 

She didn’t think it was anything more than a spot, and did not even consider going to see a doctor about it.

Months later, it was still there, bigger, harder, and painful too. Sarah finally went to a doctor with her concerns. They discovered that she had breast cancer, but it was already quite far advanced. The only solution was to have a mastectomy where one of her breasts was removed, and all the lymph nodes under her left arm were removed as well.
Afterwards she needed radiation and chemotherapy for years. Sarah lost all her hair, couldn’t eat, threw up constantly, spent most of her time exhausted in bed, and had terrible mood swings – it’s safe to say she wasn’t really herself during that time. The cancer seriously affected her, her life, and those around her. The chemotherapy gave her an early menopause, meaning she could never have any more children.

After the operation, the doctor told me she had a 30% chance of still being alive in 5 years. Now, here we are, 9 years later, and she’s still here and stronger than ever.

Sarah kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her experience:

Sophia: How do you feel about your mastectomy scar and what you went through?

Sarah: It’s very black and white. On a good day it doesn’t bother me, and I can go for long periods of time without even thinking about it – it’s just another part of me. However, on a bad day, it’s the worst thing in the world. It’s like a sinkhole dragging me down with it; everything bad happening seems to be because of that scar, and it hurts. It’s my real weak point.

Sophia: Do you feel like a different person since you recovered?

Sarah: Yes and no. Yes because I’m just so impatient these days, I can’t be dealing with the little things; I don’t have time to faff about. I’ve got to get things done, no emotions involved. The reason I would also say no is because inside I still feel 18 years old – I still have the same dreams and goals as I did then, and I think that girl is still in there somewhere.

Sophia: Are you particularly open about having survived cancer?

Sarah: I think so. With my friends and family, of course they all know what happened, and it’s not something I hide. With strangers, I wouldn’t bring it up unless somehow it was appropriate. I wear prosthesis so the question isn’t usually raised. 

Sophia: Have you ever considered having a breast reconstruction since you’ve become healthy again?

Sarah: I have considered it, but I still don’t really think it’s for me. The skin over my breastplate was pulled so tight; it’s already quite uncomfortable as it is. I don’t really fancy having any more surgery; I’ve grown to accept my scar the way it is. 

Sophia: What would your advice be for other breast cancer survivors, or others going through the same thing?

Sarah: Just remember that you’re still you. Cancer can’t take that away from you – you may feel the worst you’ve ever felt, but it won’t stay like that. Having family, friends and support groups is very important for moving forward and accepting what’s happened to you.

Thank you Sarah.

One of my very close friends lost her mother to breast cancer when she was just a little girl. Sometimes I wonder why I was so lucky, and she was not. It makes me both very sad and grateful at the same time.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month, I’m going to try and wear a pink bra, EVERY DAY! I think I can manage, but I may need to buy a few more pink bras before October!

Please visit my Just Giving page for Breast Cancer Care to make a donation. Every little helps, so if you can spare anything, please help the cause!

To make a donation, click here.

The first two on my list (currently my only two pink bras) are:

Curvy Kate - Princess Bra - Pink

The Princess bra is very true to size. It comes up very slightly tighter in the cup than the Emily bra, but otherwise is a very similar fit. Detailing as always is stunning, and it is very comfy once it’s been worn in a bit.

Panache Cleo - Lucy Bra - Pink

The Lucy bra I found slightly looser in the band, maybe not enough to size down, but if you are in-between sizes, pick the smaller one. Cups come up small, I would’ve preferred to size up one.  Very comfortable and it gives a lovely rounded shape – a much higher cut than the Princess bra above.

My plea to women everywhere, is that you all remember to check your breasts at least once a month! In fact, how about a free reminder? There is a great website called Coppafeel; you list the names of your breasts (mine happen to be Fred and George!) and they send you a monthly text message reminding you to check them.

Breast Cancer Awareness may only be October, but you must remember to check your breasts EVERY month. Be aware!

Love

Sophia xxx