review

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!

Ever since I first moved to Spain, I’ve regretted leaving my fluffy dressing gown behind. I guess I thought I wouldn’t need it but the reality of living here is that it’s not all sunshine, all the time. Stealing my husband’s hoodies was no longer cutting it, so this Christmas just gone, a cosy robe was top of my wishlist.

I love that even after almost a decade of blogging about lingerie, I am still discovering new styles to covet. One shape that I’ve been seeing rather often lately is this type of bandeau bra with underwires that are separated from the overlaid fabric, and visible through it.

A name that has been very popular recently for a number of reasons – among which, their willingness to consistently increase their size range – is UK brand Edge O’ Beyond. Their flexible size range covers UK 6-18 and 30B-38G, the concept being that one size covers 3 to 4 sister sizes thanks to adjustable back straps.

Fréolic London is a premium brand that’s focused on making the experience of buying luxurious, semi-bespoke lingerie more accessible and affordable. They offer pre-designed garment shapes that can be ordered in a (very!) wide array of colour and fabric choices.

Earlier this year, I wrote about Beba Lingerie, a Serbian brand that I had at the time just discovered – and it was love at first sight. It was giving me strong Honey Birdette vibes, with maybe a little Bordelle thrown in too, and the prices seemed pretty great for the designs on offer. I simply could not get the brand’s Becca bodysuit out of my head.

Avocouture (formerly Avocado) is a brand I have been wearing regularly since I discovered it in 2015. Not only does their aesthetic align with mine, but the cuts of their bras work incredibly well with my outerwear clothes. The HCQ is what the brand calls a “fusion” between a half-cup and a full-cup bra.

As always, I am blown away by the level of detail in this Love & Swans lingerie set. What may from a distance appear to be a print is actually an embroidery, which gives it a wonderful depth of texture when seen up close. On top of all this is that other signature design element of this brand: lavish hand-beading.

Lately, I’ve found myself wearing slips more than anything else in my wardrobe – including bras! Like robes, they’re easy to throw on in the morning as loungewear, and I also style many of them as outerwear simply by adding a strapless bra underneath and a skirt on top.

One of the few good things to come out of 2020 was TéAmore. With a size range focussed on fuller busts (up to a UK FF / US H) and designs that are breathtakingly beautiful, it seems that they’re doing for the US full bust market what Harlow & Fox has done for the UK one.