Reviews

Last year, British retailer Bravissimo asked me if I’d like to have an online bra fitting so in place of a straightforward bra review, I’m splitting this article up into two main parts: a review of the fitting experience and, of course, a review of the lingerie itself.

Lounge is a very trendy brand with pretty affordable, high street-level pricing (£25-£45 for bras), so I was interested to learn whether there was any emphasis on quality and fit or only aesthetics.

Studio Pia was launched in 2017 by Pia Harpur, and I was an instant admirer of the brand. Right from the debut collection, the brand’s now-signature elements were present: bespoke embroideries, cruelty-free peace silk, and the silk-wrapped straps with gold-plated hardware that allow for a highly adjustable fit.

TKC Design Inc. is a small brand based in Vancouver, Canada, headed by Indian-Canadian designer Taranjit K. Cheema who studied at Parsons New School of Design in New York. Her brand is characterised by bold tones, rich embroideries, and sparkle! She describes TKC as “creators of Indian inspired lingerie”.

The Layneau collection specialises in couture-level craftsmanship and garments dripping in French lace. It’s priced within the highest range of commercially-available designs, with with garments starting at $450 (approx. £355 / 410€) and robes reaching $4299 (approx. £3,385 / 3,940€).

I have purchased numerous sets from Karolina Laskowska, most recently the Eos re-release in Aubergine which retails at $1,079 for the two-piece set. The Eos designs are available exclusively through Jane’s Vanity, a US-based boutique that curates lingerie and home goods from a variety of luxury designers.

Designed in South Wales, Emiah by Alycia specialises in bespoke bridal, corsetry, and boudoir lingerie. I reached out to the designer in January of 2022 to commission a piece for my bridal trousseau. This began a yearlong luxury experience full of decadent textures, fantastical delights, and quiet extravagance.

As a late eighties baby, the original Lucy Jones Lingerie was before my time. It was founded by Lucy Jones in Liverpool in 1980 and went on to what I can only describe as phenomenal success for a small, independent brand, being stocked in leading department stores including the likes of Harrods.

Pagan Poetry’s aesthetic is, I think, different enough to be interesting. This is a gothically-inspired lingerie brand. However, it doesn’t feel costume-y, which means you can still appreciate these pieces even if you just like black lace underwear.

Allow me to introduce you to my most-worn bra set of the past twelve months: the Clara by Panache. The way the sheer floral motifs are surrounded by more opaque fabric, sometimes in a different colour, gives the impression of delicate appliqué work which makes this bra look rather more expensive than it actually is!