Lovehoney Plus Size Adore Me Bustier

March 20th, 2015

Lovehoney Adore Me Bustier
$49.99 from Lovehoney

You guys, I love black and red. Obviously. The color combination is great. Given that it’s the palette Lovehoney decided to go with for their new Adore Me line of lingerie, I instantly fell in love with almost every single piece. No lie.

So I left it pretty open when it came to choosing which piece to send me, and I got the Adore Me bustier. I opted for plus size because standard sizing has no XL. This might be a mistake on their part, but I think the design takes into consideration different body shapes and sizes by being stretchy and adjustable in multiple places.

This might be might first bustier. I generally choose babydolls that are more loose fitting around the midsection. So how did my first experience go?

I liked the feel of the Adore Me bustier as soon as I put it on. The microfiber bustier is super comfy. It slides right across your skin and isn’t much of a barrier between your body and your partner or even your own hands. You could probably sleep in it.

But like any bustier, it’s going to show any bulges or whatnot. If you’re worried about your tummy, you might look for something other than the G-string it comes with to prevent panty lines and bulges. As a whole, this is the more revealing piece when compared to the Adore Me Chemise, which is a little longer, features a straight laced hem all the way around and covers the breasts with a layer of microfiber. The chemise is still pretty form-fitting, even though it’s longer and covers your butt, so these pieces might not be up your alley if you’re working on body issues.

The chemise might offer a little bit more support to the chest. Although neither of these pieces of lingerie have underwire, the lace cups on the Adore Me bustier are definitely on the low end of support. My breasts needed a little adjusting to be ideal. Because I need more support from the side, this wasn’t perfect for me.

However, the straps are a thicker fabric, which should be good if you’re more well-endowed. You can adjust both the length of the shoulder straps as well as the two straps that cross in the cutout at the back. This enables you to choose how much skin you want to wear and even adjust the fit. Because the plus sizes cover a range 1x/2x or 3x/4x, this is important and a smart decision on Lovehoney’s design team’s part.

So how does sizing run on this piece? I am barely plus-sized and it was comfortable. There’s a lot  of stretch so you could definitely fit up to a a 2x, but it likely wouldn’t be as flattering. I took a couple measurements. These are flat measurements:

  • Empire waist: 17.5 inches
  • Center waist to bottom hem in front: 12.5″
  • Side waist to beginning of garter: 17″
  • Distance from bottom of cutout to lace hem edge along ruching: 7″
  • Minimum shoulder strap length: 5″
  • Max shoulder strap length: 9,5″
  • Min garter length: 2.5″
  • Max garter length:  5″
  • Length of cups in center: 9″

Obviously, 35 inches for the waist line isn’t super plus sized, but I was easily able to stretch it to 25 inches. It may not wear comfortable that way, but there’s a generous amount of give in the fabric. In the product photo, its stretched much more so that it will cover the taller-than-I-am model’s tummy and some of her pubic area.  I stand only 5’2″ and this is about how long it is on me, unstretched, with the bra straps about 1/2 longer than the minimum.

Aside from the cups, pretty much everything on the Adore Me Bustier is adjustable, and I think many people will find they’ve gotten their money’s worth with this piece.

lovehoney-adore-me-bustier-details

Adjustable straps, Lovehoney charm and twisted strap

The detailing doesn’t just stop with adjustability. I enjoy the lace details at the empire waist and along the back hem, which isn’t as drastic of a curve as the front. Beneath the open back, there’s vertical ruching in the center of your lower back/butt, which brings the lace hem upward. This allows your butt to peak out from beneath it, as you can see in product photos.

There’s a tiny Lovehoney charm between the breasts that I initially didn’t even notice, but I quite like it! In fact, the attention to detail really shows through. It’s not a groundbreaking design by any means, but the lace, ruching, ribbon and charm all make it feel very “complete.”

However, one thing I did notice was that one of the shoulder straps was sewn incorrectly, so that one side of the strap always twists and won’t lie flat. It’s not a deal breaker, but it is something I would notice.

Like any set that comes with a G-string, this one was much too large for me. If sizing is an issue, you could consider the Adore Me garter panties, which have removeable garters and come in both standard and plus sizes, for a better fit.

I might have liked the Adore Me Chemise a little better in hindsight, but I definitely enjoyed my first experience with a bustier overall. If the attention to detail and general quality — minus the one twisted strap — is any indicator, Lovehoney’s doing a good job with their lingerie!

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

Kissable Lace Babydoll & G-string

May 7th, 2012

Kissable Lace Babydoll & G-string

Kissable Lace Babydoll & G-string

This review has been a long time coming and.. well, er.. I don’t know why. I think it’s because I just really didn’t like it in person and, in hindsight, I’m not sure why I thought I would like it. I guess I thought the Kissable Lace Babydoll & G-string looked kind of elegant in the product image but, in person, that lace just looks cheap and tacky. It’s all “I’m a Halloween store up in here? Would you like some black lipstick with that, Adriana?” And I’m all “Shut up about my teenaged years, you’re a hunk of fabric.”

Not much fabric, really ,which is my second problem. This is one size but, like my recent Coquette experiments is too small around my 38″ ribcage. In fact, this one seems smaller than the other chemise. I’d recommend it for 36″ at the most. I’m thinking that someone in the 32-34″ range would be better. Because the waistband is just a thin piece of elastic, it cuts into the skin as you get closer to the top of that range and, “fits up to 48-inches”? Coquette, you’re a fucking liar. There is NO way in hell this is going to fit beyond 40″. This is truly a one-size-fits-few piece.

So, I do like the cups. I love the black lace over the red triangle pieces and they’re less discount-Goth feeling. The lace extends on the side in a way that I could do without but don’t hate. There’s a cute little red bow in the center. It’s definitely feminine. They’re also pretty small, at least, they seemed smaller on me than the model. With just the thin elastic, you can’t much count on any support. Again, Coquette has made the mistake of using in inflexible ribbon for the straps, which I don’t feel is really going to stay put when you move the adjusters. In fact, I like elastic straps; I feel like they support me better.

The lace from the waist down is free flowing, so ideally it would suit different body shapes if, you know, the top wasn’t so damned tight. It’s not very long at all, though. It really barely meets the hips, as you can see on the model. It’s this giant floral and mesh motif that is just not pretty.

The G-string isn’t the cheapest thing ever. It features the same lace overlay on the front panel, with a centered red bow. The G-string runs just as small as the babydoll, however, and is mostly elastic. I didn’t spend enough time with either piece to have to launder it, but I don’t think you’ll want to put it in the machine unless you at least use a lingerie bag. Hand washing would probably be preferable. The set is 100% nylon, which the Internet says can be washed in warm water and tumbled dry on low. I threw out the box because.. it’s lingerie and it doesn’t need to come in a fucking box that is made of more material than the product in it!

So is this kissable? If it’s some sort of kissing my ass on the way out the door, then yes. If you’re the 1% you might like it but, if you have any reservations, please get something less shitty than this.

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

Kissable Chemise

April 14th, 2012

Kissable Chemise

Kissable Chemise

In a recent review, I talked about how I am in between Coquette’s OS and queen size. It’s frustrating. The leopard babydoll was too big, but this chemise just runs too small on me. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be available in plus size, so I was really hoping to make this one work. I should have known better as it’s form fitting, but I really like the design.

The Kissable chemise actually doesn’t look quite as bad as I’d expect, and that’s due to the material around the midsection and behind. It’s a slightly sheer nylon material that’s thicker than it looks in the pictures. On me, it’s not nearly as sheer. The material has some stretch, but it’s also thick enough to hug my curves like a dress and is slimming. Even though my curves still show in a somewhat less-than-flattering way, I was far less self conscious than I expected.

Then there’s the boobs.The lace that covers the boobs is cut flat along the waistline and it looks SO much bigger on the model than it actually is. At the tallest, the cups measure just 6″. I need far more material to cover my C-cups. The result is that they’re squished to my chest, making me look much smaller than I actually am. This is a shame, because it’s really the top portion of this that attracted me. There’s three vertical stripes of ribbon that add a bit of visual flair over the floral lace. This is arranged to cover the model’s nipples, but in real life, it’s less practical than that. I feel like my boobs would have looked better if they were perfectly round implants.

Let me give you an example of sizing. Flat, this measures 13″ at the bust and 18″ at the bottom hem, which is the widest part. To say it fits a 40″ hip is a stretch, literally. From the waist band to the hem, it’s 18″ long, give or take half an inch. This is pretty common, but it definitely seems to sit higher on me than on the model. It’s a barely-covering-my-ass kinda deal. This might not be the case with less curvy women, of course, but the material is probably stretched pretty far on the model. Although this piece stretches a bit past that, but not as much to truly make this one size. A 26″ bust is actually smaller than Coquette’s XS. If I had to resize this, I’d call it a S/M. It’ll work on very proportionate larges but it’s definitely cut far smaller than the OS label suggests.

So the quality on this is better than I expected, considering how much I had to struggle to get in and out of it. I wouldn’t bother hand washing it if you have a lingerie bag. However, it seems like the entire kissable line used thin ribbons instead of elastic shoulder bands, and I hate this! The adjusters on the straps slip because there’s no friction on the straps, and the straps don’t offer the stretchiness that I like.

This piece comes in a box, FYI. Hate that. So wasteful.

This is one piece that I’ll probably keep around a while, in hopes that I drop some weight and can pull it off. I might even consider wearing it as a slip, beneath a dress. I would absolutely buy it in queen size, though. For now, I hope someone who is considering buying this will be steered in the right direction because of my frustrations.

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

Pink Lace Babydoll

June 17th, 2011

Pink Lace Babydoll

Pink Lace Babydoll

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

Like my wardrobe, my lingerie collection has expanded in color. My newest addition is a pink lace babydoll, again from the manufacturer Seven Til Midnight. Their designs always catch me eye, perhaps because they are relatively simple but use unique patterns, colors or textures. To put it plainly, they’re not boring yet not so fancy that I don’t feel like I can pull them off. I’m not quite so adventurous that I would wear lingerie in public nor do I think I have the perfect body. Seven Til Midnight pieces always seem complimentary, at least at first.

If that sounds a little ominous, it’s because I don’t love this piece as much as I’d like. I don’t hate it, I’m just not tickled pink. Pardon the pun. You see, the lace on this one stretches around curves and the reality of bodies which is a good thing but it does so without offering any shaping. It’s a bit hard to see in the images but, when I took this out of the package, I saw seams on the sides that almost implied it would help hold me in. It doesn’t, not really. This wouldn’t be a problem if the trim fell right about the hips, to camouflage my problem area (the spare tire) but this piece lands over my thighs, instead. I’m a fairly short lady so it may appear shorter on you but if you’re trying to de-emphasize a larger middle, I just don’t think the pink lace babydoll is the piece for you. However, I think it would look fantastic on anyone who may be larger but fairly proportionate. I’m hoping to get to that point as my mid-section is slowly shrinking. I’m just not quite there.

On the plus size, the wired cups do offer some support. I found the XL more than adequate for my C-cups, offering nice contours. I imagine ladies a little larger wouldn’t have a problem but this isn’t intended for those extremely well endowed ladies, sorry. One thing I do like is that, instead of a full band that goes around the rib cage, there are two ribbons that you tie in back. The ribbons are thick (two inches or so) satin that are sewn into either side of the back, where there is a cut-out and you tie them together to secure the piece. I’m not always a fan of ribbons but these are large enough to be functional and you can secure the babydoll tighter or looser, depending on your size and preferences. Plus, it adds to the whole “unwrapping the package” show.

The shoulder straps are also adjustable–the typical elastic kind that most lingerie features. Where the traps meet the top of the cups, there are pink bows. In the picture, these seem to blend nito the piece but I find them to be distracting and perhaps.. gaudy in person. I feel a little silly with all the frills. There’s also a ribbon bow in between the cups but this isn’t something that I mind. The cups themselves have shaping seams up the front, like a bra, and the tops of the cu pare outlined with the same frills that you find along the bottom of the babydoll.

I find the lace to be more see-through in person. This may also be due to the fact that the piece fits more snugly against my skin. The larger floral pattern is pretty but the lace isn’t as soft as I’d like. This issue may resolve as I watch the piece several times but it definitely makes it a little less comfortable than some of my other lingerie. The back of this piece consists of a super soft mesh that is comfortable, however. Nevertheless, I couldn’t feel comfortable wearing this to sleep. I would worry about the cups being uncomfortable and ripping the ribbons in back as I’ve had bad luck with ribbons in the past.

Per usual, the thong is pink mesh with elastic sides. The fit is hit or miss. This one seems rather large for me but I’ve always been to get away with medium to large panties.

For its price, the pink lacy babydoll really is a steal–even if you don’t completely love it.

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

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Babydoll and Coat Set with Matching Panty

November 28th, 2010

Babydoll and Coat Set

Babydoll and Coat Set

This is an archived review of a discontinued product. 

This is my first experience with lingerie called a coat “coat.” Really, I’d call it a robe, but that’s semantics! Of course, I picked black. I bet you didn’t see that coming!

The included babydoll features shaped cups with underwire, adjustable straps, and more lace than you can shake a stick at. The coat lacks ties that most robes have. The bulk of it is a nylon, mesh material while it is trimmed with lace around the sleeves. The sleeves are generally pirate-like in feel. With the sheer mesh and lack of closure, the coat isn’t the most functional piece but the additional layers could contribute to a stripping scene.

I actually really enjoyed the fit of the babydoll. The underwire cups offer more support than reinforced stitching and were incredibly flattering to my C cups. While the adjustable straps allow you to wear the cups higher or lower, depending on your preferences and shape, I wouldn’t invest in this piece if your breasts are any larger than mine. It’s kind of odd, sizing-wise because I don’t consider a B or C cup to be plus-sized lingerie. On the other hand, if you’re like me and sport some extra weight around the midsection and not so much in the chest, this is a good thing.

The free-flowing waist of the babydoll is flattering to all sorts of shapes and does not highlight trouble spots such as your tummy. The larger designs (floral-esque) on the lace are also awesome as camouflaging certain spots. Do note that the back of this is the same mesh as the coat, however. Additionally, this does not hook like a bra. Rather, the empire waist is elastic and could stretch over time.

As a shorter person, I found this fell to around my hips, and it would be even shorter on most. On the model, the sleeves also look a bit long, but they fit me perfectly. In fact, I would really warn you against buying this set if you’re much taller.

However, the lace is really scratchy. It’s not comfortable at all right out of the bag, and even though I let mine soak in the sink with some baking soda (as prescribed by the Internet), it did not soften up. Unfortunately for folks like myself who have to pay to wash their laundry, I wasn’t about to waste my quarters on a single piece of apparel to see if this would improve. Plus, the delicate nature of this piece makes it ideal for washing by hand or in a pillowcase or lingerie bag. The instructions actually say to hand wash only, without bleach, in cold water, but if you’re like me, you probably ignore instructions like those. d=

Of course, like almost all lingerie sets, the included thong is ridiculously basic and cheap. You could pair any sexy panties with this set and have it match fairly well. Because I opted for the plus size, the thong I got is unrealistically large for me to wear, even with my plush derriere. To complete the look, I would definitely swap out something I already owned.

When it comes to washing, I’d toss the thong in with my regular laundry, but with such thin strings, I expect it to stretch and eventually rip. Not like that’s not something that I haven’t had happen with other thongs.

Having owned more than one mesh piece, I have to warn that the tags on the coat and babydoll are generic white, not custom, and plain to see through the mesh. If that bothers you like it does me, you’ll want to cut off the tags carefully.

I sometimes have difficulty with lingerie with underwire so I was pleasantly surprised at the overall fit. Besides the straps, I didn’t find myself having to adjust anything for comfort or visual appeal. This babydoll set is just extremely easy to wear so if you’re new to lingerie, you might consider it or something similar.

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

Sheer Pleasure Chemise

October 6th, 2010

Sheer Pleasure Chemise

Sheer Pleasure Chemise
$5/63 from Amazon

First, I have to say thank you for 7 Til Midnight for sending two pieces, including the Sheer Pleasure Chemise.

As the name suggests, it’s a sheer chemise, a lingerie staple if you ask me. It’s available in red or black, and I like the design so much that I’d love to own both. For now, I have the red. It’s a mesh and lace chemise with spaghetti straps in a vibrant red.

The body of the chemise is made of a fine mesh that is comfortable to wear all day long–and I did! The cups have lace detail that shows some skin but isn’t as sheer as the rest of the piece. Both fabrics offer a lot of stretch.

During use, I found that the backside of the chemise had a tendency to ride up my ass. Not a huge deal, especially if you don’t wear it for that long. I’m a shortie–5’2″–so it hits between my mid to lower thigh when it’s in position. If it didn’t ride up, I’d consider hemming it a few inches so it were shorter all around. It will be shorter on taller folks, of course.

The spaghetti straps are adjustable, like a bra, and the triangular cups are quite stretchy. I could make them look decent, but not perfect on my C cups. A D or double D cup might be more suited for this size. Of course, I’m sure I notice the less-than-perfect fit more than anyone else would. There are seams around the cups, but not wires. This will offer some support and shaping but you can’t expect too much from it.

The Sheer Pleasure Chemise comes with a thong as well. They’re both pretty well made, and the thong is super stretchy, but the sizing varies between pieces. The one I got with my other set was fairly accurate size-wise, but the red thong with the Sheer Pleasure Chemise is much larger than the chemise size I tried. I can pull it halfway up my back, and the front panel nearly reaches my belly button. It’s kinda hilarious but not something that is a huge deal breaker. Those who are so inclined could sew it or pair the lingerie with anything else.

I wore one of 7 Til Midnight’s thongs all day and found it to be comfortable and stretchy without cutting into my flesh. The straps are super thin, however; they will eventually wear out through use and washing. The front panel consists of the same mesh material as the chemise.

I did wash both in the normal cycle with the rest of my clothes. The piece did not bleed, and it came out without any damage. I actually wore the chemise to bed for a couple of nights to test its durability. It was comfortable and passed the test with flying colours.

I really feel something, maybe sexy, in the Sheer Pleasure Chemise. It doesn’t hide or shape the problem areas but the comfort it provides was unexpected. It’s something that people of all body sizes can wear.

I considered taking some pictures of this, but, I have to say, the pictures in Yandy’s shop really show it well. I really don’t think there’s anything that I could add to this review with an image of me. Sorry, y’all. d=

You can get the Sheer Pleasure Chemise for under $20 right now as it’s on sale. It’s a great price for a piece that is made so well and so comfortable.

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Categories: Lingerie, Reviews

lingerie

Devine Toy Box in Wine with Lace Overlay

January 25th, 2009

Devine Toy Box

This is an archived review of a discontinued product.

When I first saw this toy storage container from Devine Toys, I fell in love. It was exactly my style and the red with black lace was gorgeous. It looked classy with perhaps a touch of gothic style, well made and the ability to lock away my most personal items from prying eyes was definitely a plus.

When it arrived, the shipping box was smaller than I expected, but there was not a lot of wasted space or packaging. The Devine Toy box comes with some promotional material as well as a sample of Afterglow wipes which are made by the same company. One of the flyers is folded in three parts, and with some organizational creativity, you see a different message depending on whether or not the flaps are open or closed. The inside of the flyer includes information about Devine products, and the back introduces Devine’s “new” Afterglow wipes. Another promotional piece focuses on the Afterglow wipes themselves.

Lockable Sex Toy CaseThe Devine Toy box, as described in the flyer, is 10″ by 5″ by 5″ and made of faux leather. There are six style options total, 2 of which are made with lace, including mine. (The other colour listed is purple but I have seen blue so I wonder if it has been discontinued).

The lace parts seem to be sort of pillowy and I suspect have another layer of fabric and foam beneath the fabric which is visible. Black lace is laid over red fabric on the top, back and front panel which folds over and through which a small metal loop is placed to lock this box. When the box is opened, the top does not fall all the way back. Rather, it’s held open with a ribbon sewn into the inside of the box which is lined with a red satin material.

The rest of the box (top, bottom, front and sides) and is made of a very nice faux leather. On the bottom of the right side, toward the back, the Devine logo is stamped/etched into the material but this is not overly noticeable nor does it take away from the appearance of the box.

Put it all together and you have a fine looking storage solution for your sex toys. In fact, I was really blown away by the aesthetic appeal of this piece. It was the main reason I wanted it and I certainly wasn’t let down when I gazed at it, face to face. My husband was even impressed and it was immediately obvious that this box would not be shoved under the bed nor tucked in the closet. Its size and appearance make it perfect to sit atop a bedside table, and the lock provides extra security if that’s an issue.

The padlock and 2 keys Devine provides with this toy box are a polished silvery metal which matches the hardware o the box itself. The flyer depicts the Devine logo on the lock, but this is not true. This set isn’t exactly an impenetrable force. I was able to pick the lock with 2 paperclips and the keys are rather generic. The bad news about this is that it means it doesn’t take a lot of effort to break into your toy box. If security is an issue. I would buy a stronger lock (although not all sizes may fit) The good news is, if you lose the keys, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to break into your toy box.

Lockable Sex Toy Case And losing these keys is probably easier than I’d like it to be. Although there are holes in the keys so that they can be slid onto your keyring, they’re rather small. I found it more difficult than usual to slide the tiny key onto my keyring and think a necklace or ball chain might be a better option especially because a smaller key becomes a little hard to use on a ring full of keys.

Lock and keys aside, because I honestly may never use them besides for show, I really enjoy this box. It works perfectly on my nightstand. Now, this isn’t the box you used to store every toy you use, nor is it the box you cram as full as you can. No, this is the box you use to display and keep the best of your collection close at hand for those moments, both expected and unexpected. It will have a permanent home next to my bed.

In order to easily access all my toys, I do not want to overload the Devine storage box. I have only one layer of items in it, save for a packet of toy wipes, which move easily out of the way. I can comfortably fit these items inside the box:

Lockable Sex Toy Case I think this is a fair assortment of toys to always have at hand. If the box were just a tad larger, I could fit my Miracle Massager in it but I am only a bit disappointed. The Devine toy box will also not fit taller bottles of lube and bigger vibrators and dildos comfortably, but this is okay for me. The one reservation I do have is I’m not sure how sturdy the ribbon that holds the top of the box is, and even its existence is a bit sketchy. I am constantly pulling the box open too far because I forgot about the ribbon, and I think I could break the ribbon or possibly damage the inside lining. I personally wouldn’t mind if the top of the box went further back, so I don’t think the ribbon is necessary.

However, that concern was misguided because while the ribbon has remained intact, the lock mechanism has come apart, and I cannot fix it because I lost some of the tiny pieces. This means I cannot fully close the box, although it still works well on my nightstand. I just wish that it was in pristine condition. Nevertheless, I’ll keep it because it’s no longer available.

 

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Categories: Reviews, Storage

Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.