Brands and Shops for Small busts: Petite Brassiere and The Little Bra Company

Okay so today i come bearing a bit of a double whammy of a review. I was contacted by a new boutique that specialises in lingerie for ladies who fit in the small band, small cup category. We're sorely lacking in boutiques and brands that do cater to our size range so i am incredibly happy to see Petite Brassiere crop up. I'm really hoping that this little boutique thrives and expands. 

Anyway, PB asked if i'd like to try out one of the brands they carry; The Little Bra Company. I've been aware of these guys for a while but couldn't find any UK stockists that i was happy to buy from. PB currently have three styles from The Little Bra company available and i opted for the ridiculous Erin push up bra. I've yet to own a push-up bra that actually fits me so i was excited at the prospect of finally owning one. 

My package from Petite Brassiere arrived within a couple of days (although thanks to my useless postie, i had to wait a full week to actually get my hands on it) and was beautifully packaged. I'm a sucker for a giftbox. I despair when lingerie arrives without one. So this beautifully designed, simplistic, sturdy box was such a pleasant surprise.

As for the actual lingerie; 

One little issue, and it's more an issue with myself than this bra, is that i've been increasingly aware that on a lot of my 30B bras, whilst they fit nicely, the cups seem to be too small for my torso and kind of sit somewhere in the middle. After deliberating over this for quite some time (and receiving no help from bra fit experts), i've deduced that it's probably because i'm a true 28C as opposed to a 30B. So it's a shame i didn't realise this fact before i requested the Erin bra in a 30B.

The bra has the most padding i've ever come across. It's actually a bit of struggle getting my nipples and attached jewellery to fit in and stay in the cups. However a small portion of this padding is removable and the bra still fits nicely without it. I do get a very nice lift in this bra, and for a while i certainly look like i'm occupying a space in the average sized bust club. But as with all padded bras, no matter how much i swoop and scoop when putting the bra on, eventually my breast tissue migrates underneath the padding and the effect is lost. However i will say that the gape that happens as a byproduct of this is not particularly bad with this bra, so i might be tempted to wear it with a low cut top (although i'd probably have to tit tape myself in just to make extra sure). The band on the bra measures 24" and stretches to about 31" so i'd say it's pretty close to being true to size, although i feel most comfortable wearing it on the tightest hook (yay for being ridiculous and dumb and not realising my actual size). The straps on this bra are removable, which i see absolutely no reason for. But this seems to be the only design flaw i've come across. 

As for the knickers. Where on earth do i start? I hate them, with a serious passion. They are hideously unflattering and i feel like some kind of gladiator in them. I requested them in an XS as i'm currently a UK 4/UK 6 and whilst they do fit, these knickers kill my confidence and they'd probably make anyone look 3 sizes bigger than they actually are. As well as that, one of my biggest pet peeves is when a bra is designed to have a base colour with a lace overlay but the matching knickers are just lace. It makes the set look mismatched, like you've just thrown two kind of similar items together. Luckily i have some similar knickers that i can wear with my Erin bra so i'm probably going to throw these in with my period pants because everything about them looks cheap enough to bleed on... 

Overall i'm super happy with the service i received from Petite Brassiere. All my fellow small band, small cup gals need to head over there and support them. They're only carrying a few items right now (including a few out of season Mimi Holliday bras that i know you all want) but hopefully with our support they can expand and we can finally have somewhere that caters to us and isn't american or kind of shady (not naming any names). As for The Little Bra company, i would REALLY like to try out some more of their bras, definitely in a 28C this time but i might give their knickers a miss. 

*These items were sent to me free of charge by Petite Brassiere for the purposes of this review but all opinions are my own.

Tis the season: What i'd be getting for Xmas if i had someone rich and impressionable in my life...

As the title suggests, i'm not actually getting any lingerie for Christmas, instead i'm getting wholly practical and uninspiring presents that i don't actually want, but adulthood denotes that i kind of have to get. So anyway, i thought i'd throw together a little wish-list of all the things a Lamb in an alternate universe, with a fabulously generous clique, would be gifted. I will hopefully also be compiling a list of much more affordable pieces that a Lamb in this universe might get as stocking fillers or buy herself once she's stopped spending all her money on others (insert floods of tears emoji here)

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I want a lot from Hopeless Lingerie right now but these three items are top of my list. I am craving the Lucy Bralette so much it's almost painful and i know it would look so incredible layered over the Amanda Top and paired with the Andie Skirted Suspender.

Mimi Holliday are sneakily still producing a few bras in my size so this Cookies and Cream Bra is a complete necessity and the matching Thong and Suspender wouldn't go amiss either.

As far as Agent Provocateur goes, i NEED a great deal from their current ranges. The Demelza is next on my list as a must buy, but the Ambrose, Abbey, Love Demi, Gloria, Cassia and their respective knickers/suspenders are coming close second. Even in the January sales, i doubt i'll be able to afford to get my hands on some of these before they disappear forever.

This La Perla Freesia Bra actually comes in my size and the matching knickers kinda seal the deal, but how could i also resist the Pizzo Bodysuit?

As you can tell, i'm all about the delicate black lace this year. Kiki de Montparnasse will forever be outside of my budget but the Le Reve Soft cup bra and knickers would be such a worthwhile investment.  

I go backwards and forwards on how i feel about For Love and Lemons but their Cut to the Chase Bra is basically my dream sports bra.

This basque, suspender belt, bra, in fact anything from Selena Bond would be much appreciated. I'm currently in love with her designs and i'm absolutely certain they would look really perfect on the smallest of small busts and it's a bit of a shame they only come in sample sizes.

This handmade matching set of sheer crop top and high waisted knickers adorned with religious symbols are basically calling my name.

I'm all over this Bluebella Viviene Suspender Waspie although it's a shame the matching bra only starts at a 32B. Typical.

I've had this Betty Blue Lace Teddy on my Christmas list for a couple of years now. So far no one loves me enough to indulge this whim. But my life is seriously incomplete without it.

Of course when it comes to Sonata Bodysuits i'd just like one in every colour, especially the Opaline, Aria and Aida (why is everything white automatically labelled "bridal"? Come on now, brides have eyes, they're perfectly capable of choosing something to fit their colour scheme, you don't need to push your archaic values and materialistic traditions on the rest of us).

Again with the "bridal" but i digress, I've been after the Ludique Lustful Bra, Suspender belt and matching Knicker for a while, but the sizing has massively put me off. I just can't afford to invest and take the risk in something luxury that doesn't have a size chart for comparison right now.

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Sorry that everything i post seems to just be in list form recently. I'm hoping to eventually have some reviews to post but for now, i'm hoping this will suffice!

Agent Provocateur Classics on a Budget: Fifi

Arguably the selling point of the AP Fifi is the ruffles. In particular, the tiered ruffles on the suspender belt are a thing of beauty. You'll have to excuse the knickers in these photos though, they are, in fact, from the AP Petronella set as i seem to have misplaced my Fifi knickers somewhere at my mother's house (hopefully i haven't left them in Paris!). But anyway, with these ruffles in mind, i've compiled a little list of lingerie that won't cost you as much but will still enrich your life with the ruffles you crave:

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This Tutu Belt from Creepyyeha is possibly the most adorable belt i've ever seen. Not a suspender belt but it has that three tiered ruffle going on and can be worn both under and over clothes. It will also only set you back £62.50.

This Double Layer Garter Skirt from Creepy Little Girl replaces tulle with layers of broderie anglaise. It comes in at £31.25.

This Lingerie Set from Arabel couples a tulle layered garter belt with tulle layered knickers giving a tiered effect. Handmade in the UK and costs £75 for the set.

This Espirit Bra is a stripped back version of it's Fifi counterpart. With a plain black base and a delicate lace overlay at the top of the cup. Everyday practicality for £23.

The Pintuck Underwired Bra from ASOS is almost an exact dupe for the shape of the fifi bra. Available in sizes suitable for small busts (yay!) and at a wonderful £16.

This Coquette Suspender Belt has all the ruffles you could want but is slightly maturer than all the overly delicate and feminine pieces posted above. Better yet, it's only £13.95.

Likewise this Scarlett Suspender Belt goes easy on the ruffles to tone down the femininity and ramps up the allure with sheer polkadot mesh. Available in both black and white for £20.02.

These Frilly knickers from Playful Promises are a classic and a fun way to incorporate ruffles into your lingerie collection without breaking the bank at £10. You'll also be supporting an indie UK brand too!

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As always, comments are very welcome. This week was a lot harder to find similar styles so let me know if it was worth the effort!

Agent Provocateur Classics on a Budget: Annoushka

Whilst i was in Paris i picked up one of my dream Agent Provocateur sets from their flagship store just off Rue St Honoré (I totally recommend popping in if you're in the area. The sales assistants are a total pleasure to be around, a big difference from the snotty UK staff). The Annoushka bra set me back £160 but it was way worth it.

Naturally i posted it onto my main social media (instagram) and it became a firm favourite with my fellow lingerie lovers. However i was reminded multiple times that Agent Provocateur isn't a viable option for many. It's an unusual person who can justify such a large spend on something as frivolous as lingerie and AP have such a limited size range that many (including me a lot of the time) are sized out. 

So i kind of got the idea to maybe do a series where i pick out some of my favourite AP classics and scout out/link to some slightly more affordable bras in similar styles. Starting with my newest acquisition (thats a lie, i've bought more AP since but shhhh), Annoushka:

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The Anastasiya Bralette by Julie K lingerie is similar in shape and also made out of sheer lace but has the added bonus of being handmade in the UK and looks a little more durable than the Annoushka. This retails for £32 and can be shipped internationally.

This ASOS Fishnet Croptop mimics the shape of the Annoushka but offers more coverage with a non sheer fabric and has some interesting strap details. This bra comes in some pretty small sizes so is definitely suitable for small busts (yay!) and retails at £18.

The Venus Cage Bra from Agashi by Christina O actually shares an identical silhouette to the Annoushka with the halterneck and the shoulder straps, but is significantly more daring and definitely not just to be worn under clothes. This bra comes in at £92.13 but is entirely handmade and a potential wardrobe staple (if you're anything like me!)

This handmade mesh halter comes with a matching fluffy bra (i die, i have such a thing for faux fur lingerie) looks perfect under or over bras and is just as sheer as the Annoushka.  It's made in the UK and retails at £20.

This Vintage Black Lace crop top with built in bra is a more wearable version of the Annoushka, definitely more outerwear than lingerie. It's available in a 34D but looks like it'd be easy to adjust to smaller sizes with a few cleverly placed darts and costs £19.06.

This Asymmetric Bandeau Bra from Topshop isn't a halter neck but has the exposed underwire that takes the Annoushka to the next level. It's delicate, sheer and retails for £20.

The Transit Bralette by POUTFITS has a halterneck design with an open back and sheer panelling. It bridges the gap between lingerie and outerwear, being suitable for both and costs £26.69.

This heart cutout bra top shares its shape with the Annoushka but is ultimately much more fun. Made out of velvet with a giant heart cutout in the centre and the option of ruffle trim, it's kind of a no brainer boudoir piece. I desperately want the black and white one pictured in the final photo. Starting at £22.87, this is fully customisable and made to order. 

The Vixen and Femme Fatale bra from For Love and Lemons are very similar to the Annoushka (which is no surprise since FLaL actually make a living from very closely copying designs) but come in at a much more affordable £63.84 and £51.45.

And finally, if you're lucky enough to live near a Victoria Secret, keep an eye out for the limited edition almost perfect dupe of the Annoushka, but with the addition of a plunging slit, as reviewed on Write Me Bad Checks.

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As always, i fully appreciate and desperately want your opinions and comments regarding this kind of post. Would you guys like to see more in this series? 

Chantal Thomass and a few little updates

Wow, has it really been almost three months since i've blogged? Time flies and sometimes running a blog takes more than it gives back. I adore this blog and being in touch with other like minded people, i also adore knowing that i might be offering a different perspective to people on certain issues or possibly inspiring them. But naturally i do this all myself and it takes an input of an awful amount of time and an awful amount of money. So i really really do want to be more regular with my posting but most of the time, i just don't have anything to post whatsoever. There are very few options out there for small busts and even fewer that are affordable to purchase just for the sake of having something to post (and i'm loathe to start buying every beige t-shirt bra that crops up in "our" sizes either). So whilst i've always wanted to focus this blog around the small busted and the lingerie available to us, i'm failing miserably and it might just be time to go back to "regular lingerie blog" status. 

But i digress, i still don't have anything to post. I've pretty much exclusively been buying Agent Provocateur recently just because i consistently find their designs inspiring and invigorating. 

BUT on a recent trip to Paris i had the pleasure of seeing Chantal Thomass lingerie in the flesh and my love for a particular style of bra offered in a few styles is probably post worthy. And if it isn't, at least it might motivate me to try harder to find things to post?

Also massive apologies for the low quality/boring vibe of these photos. I'm equally as despondent with my photography skills and with myself as a model so i tried my best and fell a little short.

If you've been around for a while, you'll know that balcony and balconette styles just do not work with my shape. Even if i size down i often can't fill out the cups. It's something i've come to accept but i still like to pretend and waste money occasionally. Even six months or so i clear out my everyday lingerie draws and throw out countless balcony bras that have charmed me into submission. So when i picked out this Encens' Moi set and the incredibly stunning (but not pictured) Rendez Vous set to try on in a 32A, i remarked to my mother (who begrudgingly followed me around the Bon Marché lingerie department for a good hour) that there was very little chance my shallow, 30B bust would actually fill out the cups and so there was borderline no chance i'd be spending lots of money that day. Boy was i wrong. Seemingly known as the "bandeau padded bra" style, this fits incredibly. The interesting padding design and the slope of the cups means i get a dreamy shape with no gape, the ultimate success. Inside the cups, rather than having just a layer of padding at the bottom, or to one side that small busts are oft to slip under throughout the day, there's what looks to be like a little shelf of padding that holds the breast up and in place. I get that nice rounded lift that comes with balcony bras and it stays all day. The actual design of the bra is so simple and chic. The folds of fabric adorning the cup add to the minimalist feel but take this bra from plain to rather beautiful. 

The matching thong is also something to admire, the layers of fine tulle/almost chiffon are really flattering on the hips and super comfortable. I picked it up in an XS for comfort but i could happily wear the XXS too. There doesn't seem to be a vast difference between these sizes but i prefer to size up to minimise my muffin tops (i have 32" hip and a 35" bum measurement for reference). 

It's such a rarity to come across a well established luxury lingerie label that works for my sub 32A bust, and whilst Chantal Thomass doesn't cater to the sub 32A sizes, i do find that the band runs a little small and thus i can size up to my sister size so comfortably that i do intend to be a return customer. 

Chantal Thomass has a handful of online stockists although many don't offer the full range of sizes or even her full range available but you can browse through the entire collection at her website here and then it's just worth a google search to scout out the best place to buy (London and it's surrounding counties seem to have a decent amount of physical stockists but as usual, the rest of the UK is pretty devoid).

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to what kinds of posts or certain brands they'd really like to see featured on oflambsandlace, then please drop me a comment below because i'd really love to hear them! 

An Announcement about Mimi Holliday: A brand no longer for the smallest of small busts

Mimi Holliday don't owe their customers anything, i want to stress this. I'm not throwing all my toys out of my pram because i think i'm something special or that i deserve any special treatment. I'm not claiming that Mimi Holliday should keep producing bras that don't sell. But i am upset about the way they went about this and the notion that they believe all we need are triangle bras. That's upsetting because i truly believed that they understood small busts and they were aware of our needs. I'm upset because i had to find out in such a quiet, blunt way. And most of all i'm upset because now i cannot think of any UK brands that regularly produce beautiful, affordable bras for small busted women.

I took this photo a long time ago and it never occurred to me that i'd end up using it for such a sad occasion.

I'm actually not pleased to be writing this but i feel it needs to be documented somewhere and i'd like to alert all my readers to this new development vis-à-vis Mimi Holliday sizing. 

It came to my attention when Mimi Holliday's AW14 collection was released that not a single bra was available in my usual size, a 28B. If you're unfamiliar with Mimi Holliday then now is a good time to tell you that their bras, ever since AW12, run large and sizing down a band or cup is completely necessary to get a decent fit. So whilst i am a comfortable 30B in most other bras, i find the fit on a 28B to be the best for me in Mimi Holliday. After mentioning it on twitter the other day i received this response:

which is odd because i am fully aware that Mimi Holliday phased out their 28 and 30 backs in the A cup when they also phased out their AA cup option completely (sometime after SS12). Today during a conversation about the sheer lack of brands catering to the small back small bust combo on twitter, i happened to mention that again, Mimi Holliday was once my favourite for this but they seemed to have stopped altogether and this is what happened:

So, no public announcement or warning, they just stopped producing bras for 28 B and C cups, having already discontinued 28 and 30 A and AA cups quietly a while back. 

I have been a huge Mimi Holliday fan, i have bought almost every bra in my size that was suitable for my shape. If they still made 28A or 28AA bras then i would have also indulged in their balcony styles. I have promoted Mimi in every way i could to both the small busted, average busted and relatively large busted as a great brand that was almost fully inclusive to all sizes. A brand that understood that there do exist the smallest of small busts outside of the early stages of puberty and that we do have needs for the support and shape you can only get from a proper bra. I have sent Mimi over to small busted friends in the USA because i was unwavering in the notion that everyone needed a bit of Mimi Holliday to make them feel good about their small bust. 

I could fully understand the lack of demand being a problem if, as one instagram user pointed out to me, they had actually ever promoted themselves as catering to small busts. They've never once made it a point to advertise that they are one of the very few UK brands that recognise our sizes and made beautiful bras for us. That's a pretty unique selling point that would have been sure to drum up demand. And if it didn't, well then it's understandable that they didn't feel it was economically viable to continue making those sizes.  

If you follow me on Instagram then you know all too well my love of Mimi Holliday

But wait, there's more. I am not only heart broken and very disappointed, i am also furious. They could've mentioned they were discontinuing these sizes due to lack of demand and left it there, but instead they went one further and insulted us, mentioning that they still catered for us with triangle bras. 

That's not catering for us.

Yes, i can indeed fit in a triangle bra in most XS sizes. But it gives me no support, no lift, no nice shape under clothes and most of all, it flattens me. I've been told time and time again that i don't need to wear a real bra (erm excuse me busty person or man, how do you know?) that a triangle bra, usually purely decorative or in the "pre-teen section" and adorned with minnie mouse and rhinestones, would suffice. It's not a solution. If you can no longer make our sizes then don't tell us that we should buy your triangle bras instead. A triangle bra offers me nothing that a proper bra, in my size and not a standard dress size, does. 

This all wouldn't be a problem for me if Mimi hadn't of changed their grading on all bras, a few years back, because people were complaining the cups fit too small. So now they run too large, which is fine for all of those who can size down, but now some of us, whose sizes are still made (and yes, 30B and 30C are not being discontinued as far as i'm aware) have been sized out. I can no longer purchase Mimi Holliday, a brand who made my all time favourite style of bra (that i own nine of), because of these reasons. 

And no, i don't want to buy another triangle bra.

Over all i'm so so disappointed that not once did Mimi Holliday try and reach out and drum up some interest for their smaller sizes. Not once did they contact a blogger or put out an advertising campaign letting all the small busted people in the world know that tits don't begin at 32A. And of course, not once did they make a public announcement before discontinuing sizes that it was going to happen. They did it quietly and i only found out because i kept mentioning it on twitter.

The sad thing is that the small busted community is such a quiet one that there won't be any outrage, there won't be any responses. It will just serve as another reminder that we're an abnormality, there's not enough of us to prove such a simple point that there is a demand for bras in our sizes, that we exist and we are normal. 

So not only am i writing this blog post to vent about how devastated i am, i'm also hoping it serves as an announcement to anyone wondering where their size has gone next time they want to buy some Mimi Holliday. 

There are still bras from previous collections available on ebay for those who don't want to go without their favourite styles, however sizing changes from like SS12 and before to SS13 and after and ebay sellers tend not to have returns policies. And of course, they won't be there in a few years time so keep an eye out and buy quickly. 

A wish list of sorts: Things i want but will most definitely never own and the various reasons why

Just a little update: My camera met with an unfortunate issue and i'm afraid it has been shipped off for repair. So i don't have an eta on when it'll be back in my possession. I'm also on a bit of a shopping ban as my electricity bill is due at the end of the month so i don't have anything to review right now regardless. Thus you're not missing out on anything anyway. 

Ohhh Agent Provocateur AW14 is as underwhelming as a collection can be. Lots of the same and 90% of it pretty dull or in a hideous colour. I do however have a soft spot for the Yoshie range. In true AP style, the bra doesn't come in my size or my sister size, it's irritating and i am irritated. But i do love the gown, it's beautiful, i want it, i can't afford it. Crying rivers. The Denver range does have a bra that comes in my size but it's boring and uninspired and a little reminiscent of my Roxie bra which makes my tits look truly terrible. However the gown, oh the gown. I'm big on boudoir wear right now and i could do fabulous things with that gown. But again, the same problems apply. 

Another gown, another upsetting price tag. This Lalilouche "Sophia kimono robe" has been around for some time and has appeared everywhere. But since my lust for gowns and robes and babydolls is a relatively recent one, it never really appealed to me before. I do love it but one couldn't do practical things in kimono sleeves.

There's actually nothing i love more than a surprise. I can not say no to mystery goodie bags, lucky dips or presents. This Surprise Vintage lingerie box is killing me. I want to indulge in the unknown but at that price (the prices vary and obviously the amount/quality of the lingerie you receive scales with this) i can just foresee a lot of disappointment when i don't get exactly what i want. I love surprises but i'm not so good at keeping my expectations realistic...

I've got a firm eye on this particular etsy store. I've been following the creator on instagram and she's been blowing me away but unfortunately none of the pieces i'm lusting over have made it up for sale yet. I do however love this Knicker Set, it is so cutesy and adorable. It's a shame i'm saving to snap up some of her other pieces, when they finally surface, otherwise i would think long and hard over this one. 

I could actually produce a full Creepyyeha wish list but it would be pretty dull for you guys as i'm sure i'd just be repeating myself. I love all of her work and this Tutu Suspender Belt in white is such a dream. I keep buying her pieces for other people and then never getting around to indulging in myself, but i'm afraid i just don't believe i am worth £88 of suspender belt.

Asos have been boring me lately, whilst i am excited they've started producing their own lingerie in 30 back and small cup combos, i just haven't really ~needed~ anything they've designed. There's a very popular image of a similar bra (that i'm sure ASOS have cheekily jacked the design from) in white and with a large cream fabric halter neck which i'd prefer in my collection. But i could happily make do with this Kitty Satin Tie bra. And believe me when i say i am tempted. But £18 for an ASOS bra just strikes me as kinda steep and i doubt the quality will be exceptional. 

And finally; i saw it on instagram, i wanted it, i recognised that it would look terrible on my body type, i still wanted it, i saw the price, i still wanted it BUT my electricity bill and a multitude of other outgoings (thank you camera, dermatologist and driving lessons) put a stop to that. This Strawberry Rosary set is by the fabulous brand Alexandrea Anissa, whom i intended to buy from and review the moment this blog was conceived but never actually did. For shame. 

eLai

The eLai "Back in Time" collection is truly one of the greatest lingerie collections of all time in my opinion. I was enamoured with the lookbook the moment it appeared on my radar but alas, i somehow never got around to purchasing a piece from it for myself. This collection embodies how fun and exciting lingerie can and damn well should be. So i was over the moon to receive a little eLai made gift from the moon of my life, my sun and my stars, Amélie in our biannual lingerie care package swap. I do go backwards and forwards on eLai, it's something Amélie and i agree on, as they have a couple of incredibly inspiring collections but no lack of pretty dull, un-innovative pieces too. So when they're good, they're beyond exceptional but when they're bad, it's hard to believe all the pieces come from the same designer. It's not an out and out negative, as everyone has different tastes in lingerie and many do prefer the simpler basics but i'm a sucker for new and exciting details.

This peterpan collar playsuit in blue is now sold out, but it was the first piece that sold me on eLai as a brand, way back when this collection was first released. I'm a sucker for light blue for sporting reasons, with this being a shade or two shy of my team colours. And a broderie anglaise collar on it's own would have sealed the deal but the choice of sheer fabric and elastic strap detailing (connected by an o ring at the belly button, what a majorly pleasing design feature) goes above and beyond, "shut up and take my money." So yes, it is surprising i've shown so much restraint. 

Amélie picked out this playsuit in an XS for me, and as usual (with almost all XS knickers) it fits perfectly across my hips but there is apparently too much junk, in my trunk, and we get a nice bit of quadrabutt making an appearance. It's something i'm used to and i've learnt to love my quadrabutt. So whilst the XS is perfect for my hips (they measure approx 32"), the strap detailing around my mid torso and waist (which falls just over my lowest floating rib and is approx 24") is not ideal. Alas these straps are unadjustable, a "one size fits all," job but they are just too large for me and won't stay put. It's not the end of the world, the straps look just as cute when they're kinda pooling together and i could easily add a little stitch in the back to adjust them to fit properly. 

The collar is fully adjustable and damn cute, it's currently making appearances all across my summer wardrobe (where white babydoll style dresses reign supreme when i can bring myself to brace the heat). It's a nice little touch that makes this "playsuit" a playful piece of outerwear too.
One minor negative is that i, personally, prefer a cotton gusset as it's a breathable, hypoallergenic fabric that all in all is better for vaginal health. But since this isn't really an everyday piece of lingerie, i can survive without it. As far as the construction goes, i am very impressed, all the seams are finished neatly and there's no loose threads/wonky stitching.

 My love for eLai has been reinspired and i'm hoping to get my hands on the Anglaise set when i'm not sodding poor and hopefully before it sells out or is discontinued (although it might be a while as my current priority list is: rent, bills, Mimi Holliday, food, anime figures, train fare to visit my family and then eLai, in that order). But i'm interested to see if the bras are the smallest of small bust suitable so y'know, maybe family and food can wait...

As ever, if you'd like to purchase your own eLai you can do so from their official store here where you can find all their collections, including previews of their upcoming Constellation collection (which looks amazing and i am devastated to say i was offered first dibs with a decent discount but couldn't afford it at the time so hopefully will be living vicariously through other bloggers).

What Lamb's Wearing Wedesday

As you can see, my wardrobe doesn't get any more colourful come summer time. A folly of my youth was to cut deep plunging sides out of my favourite hand-me-down DFA1979 shirt. It now means that half the day i have at least one tit out and about, if not both. So it's a job for either something exceptionally architectural and exciting in itself, or something that covers my nipples and isn't too boring. I opted for the second option and went with this simple bralette that was gifted to me by Amélie. The leather cat head applique just about covers my nipples if i position it correctly. Since i don't own matching underwear for this bralette and i'm all about matching right now, i opted for these cheap eBay (although they're possibly originally from Primark) leopard print knickers that have high rise lace back to them. The, almost thong, lace back is a good match for these definitely inappropriate, booty shorts that don't cover half the arse. It would look pretty ridiculous if my knickers had fuller coverage than my shorts...

I usually throw a big plaid shirt on when i'm wearing these shorts, to cover my bum as we don't yet live in a world where males understand that wearing revealing clothes does not mean i am consenting to having my body sexualised. I wore this outfit to go for lunch and drinks with some Uni friends, it was comfortable and with the big shirt, modest enough for my activities and naturally it was well ventilated so i didn't feel overly hot (praying summer will end soon). 

Kawaii Asian Lingerie

Pictured above can be found here for £6.90 and here for £5.89.

Aliexpress.com is a total treasure trove of adorable lingerie at some scarily cheap prices. From what i've gathered, Aliexpress works like an asian ebay where, as opposed to individuals, factories sell their mass produced wares direct at wholesale prices. It's a completely legitimate website and you as the buyer are protected from any potential scams or fraud but i thought i'd put together a little guide to make sure you're getting the best out of the website with regards to purchasing lingerie.

Pictured above can be found here for £7.03 and here for £7.58.

First off lingerie is situated under the intimates tag in the "Apparel and Accessories" category and if you're looking for the sets like those pictured in this post then you need to ensure you've clicked on the "bra & brief sets" sub category however just browsing through the entire intimates section can yield some great knickers and bras on their own. As per all sales websites, there are options to change the currency and to customise your search to narrow down the results. I like to put in a price range then sort the results with price low to high and then have a good browse. Just a heads up, there is the option to search by size but i've found it completely useless and it's really best to just set aside an hour to really have a thorough look through all that's available.

Pictured above can be found here for £5.84 and here for £5.68.

My best advice to you is that once you've found a set you really like, shop around, there's a good chance there's another factory selling the same set at a cheaper price. To shop on Aliexpress you have to make an account but once you do you have a wishlist option which i've found to be very helpful in saving listings to so i can compare prices later and not clutter up my browser window with open tabs. Some of the sets pictured and linked here are not the cheapest price i found but i chose to go for the listings that had AA cup as an option.

Flat out, don't fall for paying more for an AA cup, or in fact any cup size. It appears to me that most of these bras are a B cup as standard and really it's only the band size that varies. However, those with A cups up to C cups in each band size (and all the sister sizes, yes) can fit into these bras. It just won't be a perfect fit. Seemingly in the vast majority of asian designed bras, there's a truly champion amount of padding so they're either going to be slightly too large and gape or give you one hell of a cleavage. 

Be aware of the shape of bra that suits your bust however, if you don't fill out balcony bras in western lingerie then you're still not going to fill them out in asian lingerie. The plunge styles personally work best for me and any real fit issues i've had with these bras has been the ones in styles that don't suit my shape. 

The knickers that come with each set are only in one size, i would place it around a UK 6/8, and i've yet to find a listing for a bra & brief set where the buyer is offered a choice in the size of the knickers. It's worth remembering that these factories design and create this lingerie with an asian market in mind and so not to get upset if you do find the knickers a poor fit. These are great prices even just for the bras!

If there are reviews for the items available then check these but don't take no reviews as a sign of a bad product or seller, sometimes the listings are new and you can check the sellers complete feedback on their page.

Pay attention to shipping prices, most shops offer free shipping but lots will list an item at an impossibly low price and then set a higher shipping price to try and make a profit.

Pictured above can be found here for £3.91 and here for £6.21.

Once you've made your purchase, there's a few things you need to know. Make sure you opened your Aliexpress account with an email address you check often and a password you will remember. You need to familiarise yourself with your account on the website and make sure you know where and what everything is. 

In order to protect the buyer Aliexpress has a few rules in place. The seller is only given a finite period of time to process and dispatch the order and if the item hasn't been marked as dispatched in this time then the order will fail and you will be fully refunded. You as the buyer can extend this processing time if you feel the seller needs a little bit longer, although it's always advisable to contact the seller and enquire first. 

An email will be sent to you, once your item has been marked as dispatched and the seller will provide you with a tracking number which can be found if you click on the "view detail" option on your order and with this you'll be able to tell when the item is in your country and also when it has supposedly arrived at your address. 

Once the item has been received you need to click the "confirm order received" option and follow through with the feedback process to complete the transaction. If for any reason you don't receive your item and all communications with the seller have failed, you are protected for up to 39 days after the item is dispatched and you can open a dispute and apply to get a full refund. Aliexpress has a very comprehensive and easy to understand help section which explains all of this in more detail, should you need it.

All in all, if you're precious about your money or you only want to own lingerie that fits like a glove, doesn't have a few loose threads or lace that won't sit flat, then Aliexpress lingerie isn't for you. For the price, what you're getting is phenomenal especially in quality but it's not perfect and you have to be prepared for the occasional dud that just doesn't fit at all. 

Personally i love these additions to my lingerie collection and i have plans to continue buying. These are just too cute and i cannot resist. 

Sacha Kimmes Lingerie

Just a little PSA: I'm no longer editing my nipples out of blog photos so if nipples offend or arouse you, get lost.

Do you gals follow me on twitter? Do you gals even exist (are you there readers? It's me, Lamb). Sometimes i get the distinct feeling i'm talking to myself and even i'm bored of what i have to say. Anyway, i digress, if you do follow me on twitter (or happen to have conceded to giving me your phone number without realising the extent of my neuroses, sorry Amélie) you'll have witnessed my very public break down with regards to receiving this lingerie.
Now i'm the first person to seethe that any adult who has pondered upon and chosen a favourite colour must be vapid and in need of an extra job to keep them busy. But colours that make you feel physically ill? Well i have one of them and it's un-surprisingly, the colour purple. The most offensive shade of purple, being lilac. Unfortunately my utter hatred for purple goes beyond being socially acceptable, as i've refused to associate with people once they've worn purple in my presence. Sometimes sacrifices must be made; it's me or the purple, choose wisely.
So imagine my surprise and disdain when my much anticipated parcel from Sacha Kimmes arrived, containing the only lilac set (and one of the very few non black sets) they do. There were crocodile tears and foot stamping and whines were heard across all social networks but i got over it. I'm a trooper, i put up with adversity and hard times so i can reap the benefits of cotton lace trim. Once i saw that trim, well i just couldn't bring myself to send the poor lingerie away. I reasoned i could learn to love it, in spite of it's revolting colour. No, no, don't claim me as a selfless God and erect a statue in my honour, i am but a humble human being.
And so begins the story of how i came to be in the loving possession of the Lilac Helena Set from Sacha Kimmes.

The Helena Bralette came to me in an XS, a pretty failsafe size and it fits. So no worries there. Something i'm huge on at the moment, is any non padded bras that don't make me look pointy. I've developed a big hate for being reminded that i am mostly nipple and my nipples may well be disproportionately large (when you take photos in lingerie you suddenly become hyper aware of all these tiny flaws that usually no one sits and stares at for like an hour at a time), so i like to avoid anything that makes me look like i'm wearing the world's smallest bullet bra. Luckily this bralette kind of flattens my bust into a nice rounded shape, which i am totally digging. The straps are fully adjustable and there's no fastening at the back, it's a bralette that you put on over your head, so keep that in mind just in case your shoulders are greatly larger than your underbust (although the polka dotted fabric has a great deal of stretch).

The matching Helena knickers arrived in an XS, a size i'd usually think long and hard about before ordering because i usually fall somewhere in between an XS and a S. Generally, i find it's nicer to have a little extra room than lose a cheek due to lack of circulation, but going by the size chart on the Sacha Kimmes website, XS seemed to fit my measurements. However, i wish i'd sized up. My arse is doing its very best to eat as much of this fabric as it can and i either have my arse crack peeking out of the top of the waistband or suffer with quadrabutt (it's a thing and it's not pretty). They're by no means uncomfortable, but they are unflattering in this size, alas my arse must be too large for XS because they fit my hips just fine. So maybe i won't roll them out next time i want to look my best in my skivvies (still working on it, but i am perpetually alone) but as an everyday pair of knickers, i am down with that. Another big plus is that the little bow embellishment and the overlap of the lace trim is perfectly central, i could probably take a tape measure to it and only find a minimal deviation and that to me shows that real care has been taken when constructing these.

Something i always like to do, when i'm reviewing a bralette and knicker set is put them to the ultimate test. I'm an irritable sleeper and for some reason i can't sleep fully nude but yet i can't wear anything more than a certain style of knicker, without being kept awake. So i wore these for a nights sleep and i actually got some sleep. It were as if i hadn't deviated from my usual bedtime attire. So even with the knickers being slightly too tight, they didn't keep me awake and i didn't feel the need to shimmy out of them at some obscene hour. This is a fact that should be taken as a true compliment, even the comfiest of pyjamas or babydolls usually end up traded in for a pair of cheap knickers at 4am when my discomfort has become too irritating to bare. 

I do love Sacha Kimmes lingerie, i want everything they make in black but i'm open to other colours too. Will i be adding more lilac into my lingerie collection? No. But i adore this set, It's cutesy without being sickly and it's different. A real pleasure to own. 

If you want to purchase some Sacha Kimmes lingerie or buy your own little slice of lilac heaven/hell then pop over to the official website

*These items were sent to me free of charge to review. All opinions are my own

I Can't Live Without You: A Social Experiment of Sorts

I posed the question, "What four pieces of lingerie can't you live without?" to women on my social media and this is what happened. 19 women, across 5 countries, spanning 17 years of age and 76 pieces of lingerie that mean something to someone. Compiling this has been completely fascinating and it's been a big eye opener to the kind of relationships that can be had with a lingerie collection.  

A big thank you to everyone who took part and gave up a small portion of their time to show off their collection!