Review

Review: Carissa Rose’s Glenna Wide Strap Camisole

December 17, 2009 by Kelly

If you have a larger chest you know how frustrating it is to shop for lingerie and tops. You often have to resort to wearing stretchy knits, having woven tops tailored to fit you, or simply going without the best fit. Finding a great top can wind up being time consuming and expensive! And even after all that, it’s often hard to look appropriate in the office or any other time you don’t want to flash cleavage. Carissa Rose knows our plight, which is why the clothing line is devoted to providing well-fitting garments that fit a larger bustline and a smaller waist. Carissa Rose by Bratique Helene has just recently released the Holiday ’09 collection and sent me their Glenna Wide Strap Camisole to try.

Carissa Rose Glenna Camisole — Glenna Camisole by Carissa Rose

Carissa Rose sizes aren’t like normal sizes – they take your waist and bust measurement into account. The main sizes (small, medium, large, and extra large) all come in two variations – for example, there is a MW (medium well endowed) and a MR (medium really endowed). There are instructions on the size chart in case you’re unsure of how to take your measurements. As soon as you receive your camisole you can tell that it isn’t like other tops – there is room for your boobs! It’s also designed to show off your waist, so it nips in at just the right spot and then flares out a bit so it’s not too fitted on your stomach. True to the name, the straps on this camisole are wider than those on most tanks. I can wear any of my regular bras with it and I didn’t have to bother with strapless or convertible styles. The neckline is higher than most other camisoles, and paired with the wide straps that means this is a modest option which is fine layered under other tops (like any other camisole) or on its own. I wore mine under a shrug because it’s getting cold where I live, but I’m sure I’ll wear this on its own when the weather warms back up again! The material is a gorgeous, silky chocolate brown (the camisole is also available in black.)

Carissa Rose is by the same designer as Bratique Helene. The brand is in the middle of a transition to the new name, so the web address (CarissaRose.com) currently redirects to the Bratique Helene website. The official Carissa Rose website will launch at the beginning of the new year. If you are interested in ordering your own Glenna Wide Strap Camisole, or seeing any more of the Holiday ’09 collection from Carissa Rose, visit the label’s blog at this link for contact information. The Glenna Wide Strap Camisole will also be available on the website early next year.

The Joys of Commando Hosiery!

October 25, 2009 by Krista

I recently told you about the great new hosiery options at Bare Necessities for fall. I mentioned my excitement about Commando venturing into the world of hosiery. I assumed that their tights would be great based on the impeccable design talent that created their legendary thong . Now I can tell you that they actually are! I tested out the tights the other day and I am totally hooked! I can confidently say these are the most comfortable and flattering pair of tights I have ever worn.

My favorite part of the tights is the waistband. In true Commando form, the wide, laser-cut waistband lies flat against your body leaving no lines under your most snugly fitting dresses eliminating those unsightly bulges that typical, elastic band tights leave. The tights themselves are soft, smooth, and sleek. To add a little pizzazz, the waistbands of the black and brown tights are not only available in solids, but in paisley as well. My wish is that the hosiery will be so successful that they branch out into patterns, textures, and more.

Retailing at $34 (and worth every penny!), Commando hosiery is available online at Bare Necessities and on the Her Look website.

Review: Bendon Sport

February 16, 2009 by Kelly

When I wrote about the importance of a sports bra last month, I mentioned that I’m a fan of Shock Absorber bras, and that my bra size limits my selection. When people at Bendon Sport read that, they wanted to change my mind! Bendon sent me the Extreme Out High-Impact style, and asked me to try it instead of my Shock Absorber next time I hit the gym because it is specifically made for DD-G cups. I learned that Women’s Health brought a Bendon Sport bra (the Max Out style) on The Today Show in the US last year, where it was crowned “the Porsche of sports bras.” Bendon bras have been worn and tested by many high profile athletes, including the entire Australian netball team, and a variety of runners (including Allison Roe, the former marathon world record holder). So I have to admit, I had pretty high expectations for this bra before I even received it.

When I put the bra on, I noticed right away that it is very comfortable – there are no itchy seams or pinchy bits. There are tags on the band, but they are long and silky, so I didn’t even don’t even notice them. I actually was thinking that the bra was tagless until I specifically checked! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that that the Bendon Sport bra gave a very natural and seamless silhouette. It shaped my chest more like an everyday T-shirt bra than than a lumpy, unattractive sports bra. I know that the gym isn’t a fashion runway, but it was still nice to know that my assets looked their best! I went to the gym with my boyfriend that day, and even he commented on the difference and improvement my new bra made in my appearance. The fabric was light and quite breathable, so I was comfortable throughout my workout. Another happy surprise was when I found that the straps are convertible, so I had the option to wear them normally or to crisscross them – perfect for wearing underneath racerback workout tanks! It actually wouldn’t be so bad if the straps were to poke out a bit, however, as they are relatively slim (compared to some other fuller-figure sports bras) even though they were comfortably cushioned.

The only disappointing thing about the bra is that it doesn’t come in my size. I wear a 30 band, but Bendon Sport’s size range begins at 32. I was optimistic when the bra came in a size 32, and wore it on the tightest hooks. But the Extreme Out bra seems to run true to size, and was just too big for me. I was comfortable in my yoga and Pilates classes, but an incorrect bra size is very apparent when you want to run on the treadmill! You guys know that I’m very particular about wearing well-fitting bras, so I will sadly have to retire mine. Don’t let that deter you, though – if you are within the size range of the Bendon Sport bras, I think they will work wonderfully for you. The sports bra is very high-quality, and has a sturdy three-row, three-column band to anchor firmly to you. I was also glad to see that the cups had comfortable foam-covered underwires for extra support, and busty ladies know how critical support is!

To get your own, you should act fast! Between now and Tuesday, February 24, Freshpair is offering 10% off all Bendon Sport items. Use the coupon code FPBENDON at the checkout. As always, if you have any more questions about this product, just leave a comment or make a post in our forums and I’ll be glad to help!

Review: Evlove Intimates’ New Lounge Pants

September 4, 2008 by Kelly

We’ve shown you Evlove Intimates before: custom-designed lingerie and home parties that help you bring your own style and creativity into the boudoir! Now, The Lingerie Post readers are some of the first to learn of Evlove’s latest style which, until recently, was only available at a few private home lingerie parties. I’m talking about Evlove’s new lounge pants! Once these were available to the general public, Evlove sent me some to try and I just had to let all of you know how heavenly they are!

When the Evlove e-mail newsletter declared, “You’ll want to sleep in them, lounge in them, run errands in them…you’ll want to live in them,” I will admit that I was a bit skeptical. Truth be told, I’m usually hanging around my house at night without any pants at all, for comfort’s sake. I don’t own much loungewear because I thought that nothing could possibly be more comfortable than wearing nothing at all. But I was dead wrong.

I knew I needed some loungewear for the cool autumn nights ahead, and I was excited by Evlove’s unique custom-design process. After some thought, I decided to go with ivory modal accented by rich blue lace waistband and trim. Within just a couple weeks, my handmade creation arrived (gorgeously wrapped, I might add). The first moment I tried my lounge pants on, all I could think was, “WOW.” Like I said, I was pretty convinced that walking around without anything on was the most comfortable way to lounge, but I was proven wrong within seconds of slipping into Evlove’s buttery soft and sumptuous creation. That feeling hasn’t worn off, either – I’ve been home sick for the past few days, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I have been wearing my pretty creation day in and day out. I love, love, love them. And apparently, I’m not the only one. Here are some comments from other Evlove customers:

They are the most luxurious items of clothing I own. They are so comfortable – I feel like I could stay in them all day! They fit great and feel great.
~ Janet N.

My new lounge pants put all others to shame. I don’t want to wear anything else. They are so soft, have no uncomfortable elastic or annoying drawstring. I’m tall and they are the first pair I’ve had that don’t hang at my ankles. Yea! I want them in every color.
~ Ashley C.

When I review products for The Lingerie Post, I always try to be brutally honest and admit to the things that I don’t like about a product (otherwise, what’s the point of reviewing it?). But I cannot think of a single thing that I don’t love about these!

I chose the regular length for my pair, but they are also available in a cropped style. For especially tall or petite women, custom inseams are available. This style is so new that you can’t even find it in the design studio yet, so click here to reach the exclusive lounge pants design page. You can also purchase pre-designed styles if you don’t want to design your own. While you’re at it, you can create a bralet or cami to coordinate with your new lounge pants.

If you have any questions about my fabulous new pants, leave a comment or visit the forums and I’ll be happy to discuss!

Bring It Up’s Plus-Size Breast Lifts

June 5, 2008 by Kelly

Backless, strapless tops are tough. They look sexy enough if everything is in its place, but bras were invented for a reason, right? Some things need a little help to look just right. However, as a 30FF, I had basically given up using any backless/strapless bras. They always seemed to be designed for more petite builds, and couldn’t support me the way I needed. So, when I got my hands on Bring It Up’s Breast Lifts, I’ll admit I was skeptical. I went into this review expecting to be unimpressed.

Surprisingly, I am delighted to report that they work! At the recommendation of Bring It Up, I tried the Plus Size breast lifts since I have more to, ahem, lift up. The product does just what it’s supposed to – it supported me from the top, which is a unique but effective design. I was concerned that this uncommon top-support wouldn’t be very secure, but my boobs didn’t move nearly as much as I thought they would. It was difficult to get used to the feeling, but after a couple minutes I was comfortable and impressed. I wore the transparent Bring It Up Breast Lifts for hours that night without a problem. The only thing I was less than thrilled about was that there is no nipple coverage, so I still had “headlights” sometimes. Although I didn’t try it, I’m sure that problem could be remedied by wearing separate nipple covers. I just think it would look a bit odd! Bring It Up’s Breast Lifts can’t replace your bra for everyday, but they are a great for a night out and can even be worn with a strapless bra for a little extra support on special occasions!

If you want to see the Bring It Up Breast Lifts in action, you can see a video on the website.

Mandolina tested these too and will be reporting on them soon!