Ready [Saw This on Tumblr]
November 21st, 2012
Sexy Red Babydoll Set
February 20th, 2011
Sexy Red Babydoll Set
This is an archived review of a discontinued item.
You know how sometimes a unique element can attract you to an item but that same element can actually be a deal breaker? This was the case with the Sexy Red Babydoll Set from MyPleasure (the fine retailer of sex toys). I’m totally still on my lingerie kick (although I’ve received some awesome sex toys lately), and this bright red set caught my attention right away. The black details contrast nicely in pictures. The camera flash also makes this image look almost shiny or metallic but it’s really not. One thing you can’t see is that the set is pretty sheer because of the mesh, and because the weave is super fine, it’s really soft and silky to touch.
Another detail that is easy to miss is the heart-shaped black trim that runs as the waistline of the babydoll across the blindfold and panties. The cut-out hearts attach to each other in a row and are made from firmer lace. This isn’t as attractive as I expected on the baby doll, but it is downright confusing on the panties. The row of hearts extends along the top front of the panties and keeps going off the side, until it attaches to the black ribbons that you tie around yourself to create the panty effect. I think it would make more sense to simply sew the ribbon to the edge of the red fabric, instead of extending the hearts past the edge because then you’re worrying about twisting or even breaking them (the hearts attach at a rather narrow point)..
In fact, even if the design made more sense, I’d still struggle with this. I guess I never realized how difficult it can be to lace up a pair of panties. I still haven’t found a method that isn’t completely ridiculous and results in attractive bows, like the one on the model in the picture. The ribbon-tie design offers no stretch and will really only be flattering if your hips and abs are fairly flat. If you carry extra weight around the midsection, I wouldn’t expect it to be flattering. Lastly, the panties are a weird style. They’re sort of a wide thong or maybe super thin cheeky style. The strip along the back is much thicker than normal but not thick enough to count as briefs. In case you’re wondering, the piece includes a cotton-lined crotch.
The babydoll is absolutely the redeeming piece in the Sexy Red Babydoll Set. As I mentioned, the red mesh is super sleek and is sheer but tints the skin in a sexy way. I ordered the queen size, figuring the one size fits all would run small, and the queen probably runs a bit large on me, considering how roomy a babydoll is to begin with. Still, the adjustable straps help with this, and the same elastic runs around the back of the waistline (the front does not stretch) for added comfort and customization. One last piece of elastic makes up the piece’s rounded neckline, and there’s a ruffled piece of mesh that extends above this. I’m not sure how I feel about the ruffle yet. It could be flirty or it could just be grandmotherly.
I’m also not sure if it’s because of the lace hearts, but this piece offers some support for the breasts through reinforced stitching. There is a pretty ribbon bow sewn into the middle of the lace at the center of the waistline. The rest of the piece free falls to approximately hip height.
The seams and hems seem quite secure (unlike the other pieces), and I’ve even slept in this piece quite comfortably without issue. Although the instructions say to hand wash in cold water, and I would advise this for the other pieces, you could probably toss the babydoll in the gentle cycle or normal cycle in a lingerie bag. I’ll wind up doing the former because I’m so dangerous!
The accessories of this piece would have been a disappointment if I had been looking forward to them. The “cuffs” consist of mesh sewn to elastic to complete that ruffled look. There is a single red ribbon attached to each cuff so that you could tie them together (in a bow?) but offers absolutely no realistic bondage function for several reasons. One, the elastic is quite loose and easy to slip out of, and two, the sewing is utter crap. I put on one cuff and immediately noticed the ribbon was ripping and becoming detached from the cuffs. These are absolutely for fashion only. Present yourself as a pretty present to your partner, then ditch them.
The quality of the blindfold is slightly higher, but it boasts a design that reminds me of a sanitary napkin and, just, eww. It’s also asymmetrical in a really weird way. Even if the elastic weren’t so loose as to render it virtually useless, the cut would make it impossible to block out all light and sight. The sewing is also very angular, so while the black-hearts-on-red may look cute from a distance, it looks sloppy and amateur up close. Luckily, the sewing on this piece is more secure than the cuffs, and you could potentially shorten the elastic with a few stitches of your own. For whatever reason, Dreamgirl opted to make the backside (that touches your face) satin-y but the front is a rougher, less shiny material.
Basically, I have a babydoll that feels great on my skin and offers a lot of support. Because I can easily pair it with a basic black or red thong or pair of panties, I’d call this one a success, but if you really want to love the whole set, you’ll probably be disappointed.
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Kinklab padded leather blindfold
October 16th, 2009
Update: I have even accidentally put this through the washing machine, and it’s held up pretty well!
Since my husband’s return, I’ve made more of an effort to get into BDSM which meant I needed a quality blindfold (and more “hardcore” cuffs but that’s something else entirely). Kinklab’s Padded Leather Blindfold seemed to fit the bill. It was contoured to fit the face better than cheap “sleep mask” type blindfolds and was affordably priced in the $20 like many leather blindfolds.
The padded leather blindfold arrived in a functional plastic tube container. On each end is a black plastic cap, while the tube itself is clear. There is a paper insert with the product name and a picture of a woman wearing it, which isn’t explicit but does indicate the nature of the product. I thought I could pull off the top of the container by the little loop, but it broke. Instead, I had to press in the sides to break the seal and then pop it off. It’s very secure, which is good but a little bit of a hassle if you want to use it for storage; however, it’s a decent storage solution because the loop (if you don’t break it off) makes it able to be hung.
As the name suggests, this blindfold is padded and leather. The front side is a stiffer leather and you can see the stitches, in black, around the edge. The sewing is well done without any loose threads. The back, which sits against the face, has a softer padding where it would sit across the eyes. The edges are flush and flat feeling; they’re not silky soft or uncomfortable. The elastic strap is securely stitched to either side; on one side is also a clothing-style tag with the Kinklab label, which also says it’s made in the USA.
During use, I found my eyes to be comfortable but the edges above the nose and toward the side applied pressure to my face. I could feel the stiffer leather around the edges where there was no padding. My husband did not experience this problem, however; I would attribute this to specific facial builds and the fact that the blindfold seems to be pretty big; at its widest, it’s nearly 3″ tall, which seems pretty big to me, and the bridge is over 1″ thick which I think is the cause of my personal discomfort. Of course, I do have a smaller face than some. This mask is bound to fit some people better than others.
This is especially true because it is secured by a simple elastic strap. Lying flat, the blindfold measures in at right around 20″ and I’d say you can get 4″ or so stretch from it but anyone who falls out of that range is out of luck. The blindfold could probably be sewn or otherwise manipulated for smaller headed folks but it’s not meant to be adjustable. Otherwise, this 3/4″ thick strap is made of a soft, elastic that’s fairly comfortable.
This blindfold is pretty effective at blacking out light. Because it is contoured, I can pull it a bit lower on my nose, and I cannot see any light or movement around the eyes or nose. I could see the vaguest light toward the side of the blindfold but it’s really not enough to detect movement. Unfortunately, it’s more comfortable for me to wear this blindfold higher, which negates that property, but my husband didn’t experience that as an issue.
One issue I do have is that, no matter how you cut it, this blindfold is not foolproof. Because of the give in the elastic band, my husband was able to rub his head against the bed to remove the strap. This is perhaps not the best blindfold for a feisty partner. Then again, this freedom can work well for someone who is a bit anxious about playing with a blindfold. A buckle style blindfold might work better for my purposes.
Overall, the Kinklab padded leather blindfold is good quality and effective at blocking out light. I found it to be a little stiff initially so I hope it softens over time; this will definitely improve the comfort issues I had. Although it’s not super secure, it’s generally a good multipurpose accessory for BDSM play.
