All I want for Christmas…

This is not just lingerie; this is M&S lingerie...

The bra I have up for review this time is the Perfect Fit Underwired Extreme V PlungePush-up by Marks and Spencers.
I chose this bra as one I would like to receive myself as a Christmas present! (Here’s where I hope my boyfriend is reading)

I chose this bra because I’m a bit of a tomboy – I wear a lot of t-shirts, so needed a bra that was pretty enough to look at alone, but smooth enough on the cup to wear underneath a t-shirt without it becoming lumpy.
The cup of this bra is nice and smooth, with a little lace detailing towards the bottom of the cup, which flows seamlessly into the lace on the back band.
It’s also a great colour for wearing under a white top, for example, as the colour is described as ‘fawn’ a pink-beige colour.

The back of the bra is gorgeous, and the lace means that it can be worn as a luxury item, and looks gorgeous underneath a sheer blouse or shirt.  

It’s a genuine all-rounder to be honest, and is comfortable to boot!

With regards to the fit of the bra, there isn’t much negative to say at all.
The cups are well shaped and fit me very well, despite having two different sized boobs! Generally I get a fair bit of gaping on the right cup, but both cups on this bra fit me well, and there was only a tiny bit of gaping on the right hand side (which was barely noticeable and certainly not an issue).

I did expect the lace to be a little irritating, as this can happen with a lot of similar bras, however I was pleasantly surprised that even after wearing it for a while, it was still as comfortable as it was the moment I put it on J
This pleased me no end, because it’s so beautiful that anything less than perfect comfort would be an injustice!

The straps were also sufficiently well-built to withstand holding even the largest pair of twins, and they didn’t dig in at all in the time that I was wearing it (and believe me, I gave it a thorough testing!)

The bra was described as an Extreme V Plunge Push-up and it really did live up to that description.
Trying the bra on with my most revealing of dresses, no an inch of bra could be seen in the V of the dress, and the push-up effect really was amazing.

I always get a little wary of bras that claim to be extreme plunge, as it normally means that the padding is on the outer edge of the cup and I end up looking ridiculous with a gap the size of the Grand Canyon between my breasts.
However.
The Extreme V Plunge Push-up did retain some of the padding on the bottom of the cup (in its rightful place) and so I actually ended up with a decent cleavage for once. A miracle considering the meagre quantity of boob that I actually possess!
The quality of the padding is also pretty good. Sometimes you find the weird bean-filled sacs in the bottom of bras, or really heavy, poor-quality ‘foam’ type padding that does nothing more than weigh you down. Again, 

I was pleasantly surprised, as the padding was lightweight and comfortable, with just enough there to do the job, without there being too much.

As a result, the shape that the bra gave me was also very natural. With it being a plunge bra, a lot of what makes up the shape of your boobs while wearing this bra is, in fact, your own breasts.
On occasion, the padding takes over, and all you see under your clothes is what appears to be half a tennis ball stuck onto your chest; however this was not the case here.

As I said, the shape this bra gives is very natural, and does look as if there is no padding there at all, especially with the plunge feature leaving a lot of breast uncovered.

Testing

I gave this bra all my usual tests…

I wore it for a number of hours, and did a fair bit of jumping around to see how well it would stand up to that (In all honesty, I did a few star-jumps, but it’s a worthy test nonetheless!)
Safe to say nothing fell out or over-spilled, though I did have to pull the back down once or twice.
My argument for this is that I had the bra on the loosest hook (which you should always do when trying on a new bra). While I could have got a smaller back size, after putting on the middle hook, all my troubles ceased and I had a fully functional, supportive bra.

Lifting my boobs into the cups proved no problem. They fit in perfectly, and didn’t over-spill or gape (I’ve already mentioned my issues with differing cup sizes between my boobs) so that was all good!

During my trademark ‘shake test’ the bra also stood up well. Hanging upside down while frantically trying to shake my boobs out of the cups amounted to nothing, as this bra held me in with no trouble at all, despite having a fairly low plunge at the front.

Just take a look at my fitting guide to see what size you need to begin looking at. Of course, this doesn’t give a definitive answer, it’s merely a guide to get you started.
To be honest I always find that once you find your back size, getting the cup size is really a matter of common sense and trial-and-error. Getting the back size isn’t usually too hard either; it’ll be roughly the measurement (in inches) around your ribcage just under your breasts (this is always a good starting point). 

Always try on bras on the loosest hook, and if you feel it’s too tight, go up a size. If it’s too loose and the back is riding up, make sure you go down a back size, or you risk not getting the support you need, which can lead to back problems in the long run, among other things.

With the cup sizes, as I said, there’s a bit of trial-and-error involved, but once you’re started its really very easy. If in doubt, most stores now have trained professionals to help you anyway. For this, I highly recommend Marks and Spencers, Ann Summers and Debenhams – these are the best from my experience.
If you’re experiencing a bit of overspill from the cup or under your arms, go up a cup size. If there’s gaping, go down.

So to summarise…

I’m going to rate this bra in four categories, with stars being awarded out of five for each category:

Comfort: ★★★★★
Fit: ★★★★
Support: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★

In summary, I gave the fit 4 out of 5 stars because of the slight issue with the back size, though that wasn’t a major issue and it was easily sorted by just tightening the band a little.

Every other aspect I was immensely pleased with to be honest, and I think I would be hard-pressed to find a better bra for the same purpose anywhere else J

Anyone that wants a link to this bra, here you go! Just click on the image below. It comes in three colours and is very reasonably priced at £22.50 :) 

Haych xxx 

Shape-tailored swimsuits - by popular demand!

And so, by popular demand, I'm extending my feature on this seasons swimwear for all shapes and sizes. I've had suggestions of including swimsuits in the feature, so I shall take heed!

I'm sticking with the same categories, as this is in essence an extension of the bikini feature!

Booty Babes


For those on a budget...

This gorgeous red swimsuit by Lepel at Figleaves.com is a mere £35 and comes in sizes 32B to 38FF, making it a must-have for all sizes!

By Mantaray at Debenhams this bikini is £32 and is available in sizes 8 to 18

The Taylor swimsuit by Panache  at Bravissimo is only £45, and is available in sizes 30D to 38G. The stripes around the waist give a 'cinched-in' appearance, and enhances your curves!

If you're going for a blow-out, try these beauties!

By Seafolly, this vintage style swimsuit is £92 and comes in sizes 8-14 which unfortunately, may not be suitable for everyone. It's gorgeous all the same, and can be bought at ASOS.com

Again from ASOS.com this Marc by Marc Jacobs swimsuit is £156 and comes in sizes small to extra large:

Curvy Girls

At New Look this swimsuit is designed by Kelly Brook and costs £24.99. Coming in sizes 32B to 36DD, this is one for all, and with padded cups, a cute design and halterneck strap, what could be better?!

From ASOS.com this swimsuit has detachable halterneck straps and padded cups, and can be yours for £30. It's available in sizes 6 to 14:

This Isla swimsuit by Lepel at Bravissimo is available for £35 and comes in sizes 32D to 38G:

On a bigger budget? Check these out!

The Soprano by Hoola Swimwear at  Bravissimo is £65 but is well worth the money! Again with halterneck straps and underwired cups, this swimsuit also has a bra back fastening!

The Pin Point Oceanus Control swimsuit by Miraclesuit is available from Figleaves and is £134. Available in 2 colours (black and pink) and sizes 16-20 (shame they don't do smaller though)

Sexy Straighties

Named 4 your curves by Triumph at Figleaves, this swimsuit is fully lined to enhance your curves, and is £38. It is available in sizes 34DD to 42E, and in 2 colours:

At Freemans.com this swimsuit is fully lined, and costs £30 in sizes 12 to 28:

From New Look this swimsuit is a halterneck, with a feather print. Priced at £22.99, it is available in sizes 8 to 16:

For those with a bigger budget:

By Ted Baker at House of Fraser this swimsuit is gorgeous! It is priced at £65 and is available in sizes 32 A/B, 32 C/D, 34 A/B, 34 C/D and 36 C/D. Not the best way of sizing, but it really is yummy!

Again from House of Fraser this swimsuit is by Pistol Panties and is priced at a staggering £180. Available in sizes 8 to 14:

Lean Queen

From New Look this Floral Frill swimsuit is £21.99, and is available in sizes 8-12:

By Floozie by Frost French at Debenhams, this swimsuit is adorable! Cleavage enhancing frills and detachable halterneck ties, and a price of only £34 make this a must-have for everyone! Sizes 8-18:

From House of Fraser this swimsuit is by Linea and is priced at £40. It is available in sizes 10-18:

Got more to spend? Try these!

By Seafolley at House of Fraser this swimsuit is £95 and comes in sizes 8-14. With the detailing on the front, this is a must-have!:

Again by Seafolley at House of Fraser this swimsuit is bandeau style, and features crossover straps at the back. It is priced at £90 and comes in sizes 10-16:

And now, the second part of this tailored swimwear post is complete!
This swimsuit section was by popular demand, so I hope it's helpful. I would definitely say to go and check out these sites, as there really are some lovely swimsuits for all shapes and sizes!

Haych x