Xelestial Curves

First of all, it seems that (using only the 70 band as a reference to make it easier) sizes 70L - 70P will be custom order, and it’s equivalent sister sizes. I’ll paste the full size range from their comments at the end of this post, but it pretty much means that the additional four new sizes will be custom ordered only. However, this seems to mean to me, that they regularly get a high demand for the sizes up to that point, even the ones that have had to be custom ordered in the past or don’t exist in some models. They seem to feel safe enough to pre-make those sizes and keep some in stock.

When asked if they would be making other models/colors than what was shown in the FB shown on Facebook, I was told “There will be the black strappy ones” I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I am thinking they meant that there will be a basic black bra, possibly with interchangeable straps like the PL Onyks and the S Diament Multiway. 

(S Diament Multiway above)

So, let’s take a look at the new FB bra! They have shown us two iterations so far, this being the final one that will actually be sold.

This bra really seems to resemble the cut of a CHP to me, but with an extra top half of stretch lace. It looks padded to me, but I could be wrong.

(CHP Gazeta above)

But the first image of FB that we were shown (which may have just been a work in progress) looks a lot different to me: 

It looks a lot like the Jasmine...

I always thought would be brilliant if EM ever tried a model like the Jasmine. For full busted women, having a stable, sturdy under-part and a stretch lace top that provides fuller coverage is pretty much as perfect as it gets. It ensures support from the bottom, and an easy fit on the top, as well as ensuring that breast tissue won’t fall out over time. 

It’s an easy fit for any breast size or shape, but in larger cups with close set and soft breasts women pretty much NEED a bra of this style to feel comfortable and look good under everyday pieces. And leaving out padding means a smaller look (if less shaped) and it’s easier to wear.

On days where women need more vavoom, the S style bra works well under lower cut tops and offers lots of lift and shape from the padding. But EM lacked a good basic everyday bra before the BM. But the BM did not go up to a high enough cup and as the entire thing is made of stretch lace, it offers less lift and support.

The only thing this bra seems to have different from the Jasmine is a lack of a side-sling for a more forward shape. 

It almost has a side sling effect but lets out at the bottom, unlike the Jasmine.

(You can clearly see the fourth panel on the Jasmine above)

The lack of a side sling in this kind of bra worries me a bit, as the last BM bra I tried felt a little bit wide set - not quite under my armpits, but something like that, unlike the upfront look I get with EM’s other bras. But I expect EM to improve the design over time, like she has done with every other model and style.

If the bra is truly unpadded, I expect it will follow close to the BM size range. I say this because the stretch lace top will add a lot more room for variation unlike the unpadded SM range which is fully stable fabric. I had always asked when they were going to increase the SM range and they always said they had no plans to, and now I think it’s because they were working on this design for bigger breasts! 

I had began to wonder if EM was going to forget about us at the end of the range and larger but it looks like she was secretly preparing a whole new design to better fit our needs. The FB will be available on June 1st and I plan to be an early adopter despite the fact I just got an order in (two months after I ordered it!). I plan on trying the bra in a 75KK, the end of their non-custom range, out of curiosity mainly. I have been looking for good everyday t-shirt bras forever and this bra seems to do decent under them.

Stretch lace is definitely a blessing to boobs and it’s no surprise that bra manufacturers like Bravissimo (Urban Rose) and Curvy Kate (Ellis, out next fall) are getting in on them too. 

Here are the size ranges as posted from Facebook:

Non-custom sizes 

80K-KK 85JJ-KK 90J-M 95HH-LL 100H-L 105GG-KK 110G-K 115FF-JJ 120F-J 125E-HH 130E-H 135E-GG 140E-G

Custom sizes

Hi, I am just stopping by to say how pleased most of the bra community is with CK's recent design improvements. I was also hoping if it might ever be possible that CK will introduce current cup sizes to lower bands. I.e. I am a 32 back but I must wear CK in a 36K for a good cup fit and I run into other issues with doing that (such as too tall underwires that are painful) as it was meant for a 36 back. I know quite a few people who could wear the cups that CK already provides but need much smaller bands (I even know someone who is a 28M, which would be equivalent to CK's 36K cup and 28 band).

I am hoping to let CK know on their behalf that there is definitely interest in bras up to an L cup (or as big as possible really :) for those with small underbusts and full busts. Even a limited trial run would be terrific. We are also very pleased to see the newest model who is a 32JJ and we hope that CK will continue to improve and expand. Hopefully we can become long time customers of CK. Thank you for your time.

Curvy Kate sent back this:

Hi, Many thanks for your email and for taking the time to make some suggestions and provide us with some really useful feedback. Going into larger cup sizes is a point that is discussed quite frequently. I know the design team have worked on some designs and size grading for KK and L cups. We know there is a degree of demand from consumers but are retailers convinced enough to purchase these sizes on the chance that a customer walks into their store or comes across their website and purchases?  As we only sell wholesale and not direct to the consumer and with our core size range between 32-36 DD and GG you can imagine the challenge we face. However, we do still keep talking about it to retailers and consumers alike, so we’re not saying never! Just – not yet. Thanks again for your message and thank you for getting in touch! Kind regards, [redacted] Customer Service Executive - Independent Accounts

First of all. Yay! They actually have been thinking about it and not only thought about it but have done some actual design scaling (which in and of itself proves they know what they’re doing or at least are trying to learn). Second of all, booo. It seems like this is the problem a lot of bra manufacturers are encountering. If they want to break the mold, they’re scared of the financial risk. 

It’s not that 30L’s don’t exist, it’s that most women fear going up in cup size and aren’t properly fitted. Bra makers and retailers are aware of this fear and it creeps down to them. However, I feel this is somewhat of a moot point, because a woman who is already wearing 30K but is popping out is certainly not going to avoid trying the lovely KK or L in front of her. 

How can we fix this? What can I say? I have no answers at this time. 

Their wires are now between narrow and average

There is a lot more inner space for inner fullness than any UK brand that I can think of

The shapes are generally more projected and when not, generally have some functions that can allow you to rearrange tissue and not spill out (like lower gore and depth near the gore which allows it to tack and thus allows your boobs to stay where you put them)

They also are pretty damn comfortable and in my opinion, are more comfortable than EM’s bras on average (but I find almost all of the bras I have from her somewhat uncomfortable and rough)

The straps are also reminiscent of Bravissimo’s which is one area where EM has always failed at for me. She typically uses scratchy stretchy straps where Bravissimo uses wider, silky straps. CK uses average width silky straps and while I’d prefer wider, it works fine.

The models are all really different looking and beautiful! CK has never lacked for looks, and I now have three bras I really like and that are comfortable and actually look good under shirts.

The models I tried were the Cascade (shown on the new 32JJ Star in a Bra winner!), which has a rounded shape, the Bardot, which is a semi-projected, semi-rounded shape much like the SM and the Arizona, which is a shallower rounded t-shirt bra. 

The Bardot fits my natural breast shape the best out of the three, and requires the least adjusting. And it’s truly sheer! I actually feel a little self conscious about that. I love them too much and I’m keeping all of them. The only one I didn’t keep was the Jewel, which for me was awkwardly designed even though it was very similar to the Jasmine in shape I couldn’t find a good fit (you can read my review on it on Bratabase). Their tankini Moonflower worked fine too. I didn’t buy the Madagascar because I am not a fan of the color or print but there’s an aqua/teal color coming out next season that I will try because I am pretty sure from looking at it that it will work.

Madagascar AW 2015

Looking Forward

CK’s Autumn/Winter 2015 catalog is already out and they have said they’re remaking the Daily Boost into the Daily Dream and I’m betting it will be based off the Arizona. The Arizona isn’t perfect as it’s a bit more shallow and a bit more bra on the sides than I’d like but it does work and does look good under shirts with a good deal of lift from the padding which is what I’ve ALWAYS wanted. 

They also have the bra that I think everyone will be looking forward to the most, the Ellace. It is going to have the top part made of stretch lace with a sturdy bottom base. And, with the design improvements of previous bras, I’m betting it will have narrowish wires and at least a semi-projected shape! CK is already betting on this being a best seller so it’s clear to me that they’ve either been doing research on Polish bras, or on actual women or listening to customers. Hopefully all of the above! 

Ellace above

My Stats:

UK cup size: Somewhere between 32KK/34K and 32L and 34KK. Overbust: 48 in. Horizontal perimeter: 48.5 in Underbust: 32.2 in.

Bra Stats:

Brand: Anna Pardal by Comexim Country of origin: Poland Model: Sabine Size: 34KK 

Best for: Close set breasts, those who need narrow underwires, firmer breasts

Design: This is a three part thinly padded underwired bra. It is very close to a plunge in design.

Fit: The fit is inconsistent, or rather, dependent upon how I am wearing the bra. If I have just put the bra on and separated my breasts to fit the cups (which are more separated than they are, as with all bras) then the fit is really nice. My boobs look great and there’s no overspill or threat of them spilling out. But if I don’t adjust them or if it’s over the course of the day, they eventually come together because the bra isn’t firm enough to keep them separated like an unpadded might, which conforms to the breast. When they come together, they don’t spill out in the middle surprisingly, but rather I get some quad boob and they need to be readjusted. Please view my example below:

Not adjusted below.

Adjusted to fit the shape of the bra below:

Fit issues which persist despite how I wear it is that the bra cups are too tall for my shorter roots. You can see the gaping in the pictures at the front/sides. It does probably prevent the bra from being more secure; if it were more secure it may be able to keep my boobs from moving around as much during the day. The gore does not ever tack, but it does get significantly closer to tacking when I adjust my boobs to fit the bra. That in itself proves that it isn't tacking because the wires aren’t strong enough to push against my center fullness. My boobs want to be together as always and bras have to be pretty tough to deny them of that. 

The band at first, I thought was too loose, but it’s actually pretty comfortable and seems like a 34 to me. It even has four sets of hooks. I wear it on the loosest to the third hook depending on how I’m feeling. I am a little curious about a 32 band but it depends on how much this stretches. It is difficult to grade the cups on size because they are rounded and padded, but it seems perhaps akin to a 34K, which would mean it runs a cup size small, but I don’t feel really comfortable saying that because it has it’s own unique shape. It seems comparable to an EM 75L though. 

The straps are still too wide but not as wide as Ewa Michalak’s (EM) and they don’t fall off or anything, but they do contribute to a feeling of a lack of support and help to cause that gaping (which also causes support issues). The sides do not come up high at all and the underwires don’t rub, which may be a result of the alterations I requested, which are below:

Significantly reduced cup height - It seems like this one went through because it’s quite low on the sides which is good for me.

10 cm gore - I’m not sure that they did this because my gore is measuring shorter. Perhaps it wasn’t possible. But my boobs aren’t spilling out over the gore, possibly because it doesn’t tack, so perhaps it doesn’t matter.

Straps moved in 2 cm. Not sure if they did this or not, the straps don’t seem extremely wide like EM’s but they are still a little wide, which is probably just going to happen with this style of bra. Considering moving the straps myself but it will change the shape of the cups so maybe not.

Comfort: The thing I noticed was how small the straps seemed. I like my straps a smidge wider and definitely made out of a smoother material. Sometimes the excess strap around the adjuster loops and becomes irritating, which is an issue I get in my EM bras. I adore wider, smoother, softer straps, and these straps are somewhat stiff, not too stretchy, and not so wide. I think they are a bit more comfortable than EM straps for some reason. The band doesn’t dig in and roll too much like my EM bras. It could mean that my EM bras are too small in the band but I think even my 36 EM band bra does the same thing. So I find the Sabine much more comfortable than my EM bras because of the band. Still not as comfortable as Bravissimo, but pretty good. The cups aren’t too bulky and nothing is itchy or pokey, but nothing is particularly smooth and comfortable either. So comfort is average to good.

Quality: The quality seems quite nice. It seems comparable to EM bras but the detail and less itchy materials make it a step up to me, comparing strictly padded to padded. Still not quite as luxurious as Kris Line but they can probably justify the extra $20 they cost over EM bras because of the level of detail in the sewing. I cannot compare it to Comexim’s quality because I haven’t tried theirs yet.

Aesthetic: I think this bra is really pretty. It gave me an Asian-influenced feel which I’ve always been a fan of and I also knew I needed to own a red bra for variety’s sake, so that’s why I chose it. I wouldn’t call it stunning because it needs a bit more glam for that but the design is really intricate and I love looking at it. I also prefer the aesthetic it gives my boobs over EM’s. I think it gives a less rounded look, more natural but gives a good deal of uplift too. It gives a surprisingly light silhouette from the side but, like all padded bras I’ve tried, a larger one from the front, but not too bad. I prefer all of AP’s bras aesthetics to EM’s when it comes to padded. 

Concerns: I’m not sure how often I’ll have to readjust the bra throughout the day. It will depend on how much bending and whatnot I do I think. Just sitting here with the bra on I’m fine and they won’t shift or spill out. I’m a little nervous about the strap issues and I am contemplating trying to replace them one day if I like the bra enough. I don’t like my straps to be the most uncomfortable part of my bra. I do worry about some kind of boob sweat though because my boobs aren’t separated but it doesn’t seem too bad currently.

Final Thoughts: I like this bra. I like that it’s a bit different to EM’s. It kind of has a “bikini top” cut which makes me feel sexier. I really didn’t think it’d work at all because it looks so low cut but somehow my boobs don’t fall out in the usual way. They don’t fall out in the center and they don’t spill over the tops (except perhaps over the course of the day). 

The lift is very good and the bra is way less bulky than my EM padded, which is crucial living in a warm climate that is starting to get hot. I feel like I can’t even wear my padded EM bras because there’s just way too much bulk, so I think I will be swearing off EM’s padded bras completely and choosing these thinner ones if I want a padded bra. 

However, I’m going to hold off on purchasing anymore padded bras in general, even from AP because the fit isn’t perfect and I don’t like to deal with readjusting. I prefer functionality over a low cut look, though this bra is a great option for those who need a plunge but EM’s plunges don’t work for them (the S series is also pretty good for that). I crave support and security in my bras with my full soft bust, more than looks, and this bra really lacks support/security (NOT lift) just because that wasn’t the design intent. I am waiting ardently for their new collection so I can purchase an unpadded though, because that’s where Anna Pardal/Comexim could really win me over. I think this is a great first try for the size expansion and I applaud them and their great customer service and willingness to do alterations. 

But then the package got held up in customs. I had tracking so I emailed BiuBiu and they said they feared it might get sent back and then I heard nothing from them. For over a month in a half it was held in customs and I emailed BiuBiu repeatedly to see if they could go see about it. They would just say "we'll let you know if anything changes" if they replied at all. Finally the item's status changed to unclaimed and it is going to be returned to me. I emailed BiuBiu again and told them the situation and mentioned that it still hadn't left Poland so they could go and get it. I have received no response at all.

At this point, I'm guessing I'm gonna have to beg Paypal a special exception for a refund, and if they won't do it, have my bank do it in the best case scenario. I'm out of $40 and I'm not going to try to send it again. I'm also about to have a closet full of BiuBiu clothes that don't fit it seems. I will probably never buy from them directly again, as I'm not a huge fan of their clothes, prices or customer service.

I will take the time here to plug Urkye because I am a big fan of all of the previously mentioned. Let me add that I MENTIONED I would be sending a return back to them and they emailed ME back several weeks later saying they were afraid it had been lost; had I sent it? They offered to go to the post office and track it down. I had actually decided to keep the items and didn't think to tell them. I was so impressed I thanked them so profusely for their customer service.

Cassis in 42BB/BBB

This is my favorite out of everything and I'm surprised because I wasn't sure about ordering it as it looked more mature than I was sure I wanted to go. I didn't even recognize it at first, because it looks mint and brown and in the picture they say it's blue and grey? I'm honestly confused here, but I like the colors I got anyway (which are even more ambiguous in the pictures and bathroom lighting). This is a great dress for an hourglass figure because it hangs at a great length and has a good heaviness to it for a bit of a twirl without being overly heavy.

This is one of those dresses you pull out and it looks like a boring sack but fits really well on. I'm discovering with the best hourglass dresses they tend to look like a sack at first, but smart design means it will hang nicely. I'm only a bit unhappy because there is a bit of extra material under the bust and I'm considering going down to a 40BB/BBB if I make another order, but then I'm afraid it will be a bit too clingy where I don't want it to be. However, I highly recommend it as it's very easy to wear, slimming, and can be quite casual.

Lukka in cappuccino in 40 BB/BBB

This is one of those dresses I wish I had gotten a size up in, but it may have been the only size available. I got it mainly because it was on sale and my closet is lacking neutral earthy colors. I bought it with the intent to cut off the long sleeves and make it short sleeved which is good because they are too tight for me (surprise). I am not a huge fan of the neck line or where the breasts sit, but it looks the same on the model, so I can't say I didn't know. What I do like is that it is basically a skater dress and the skirt is a good length for tights or leggings and has a nice twirly weight to it. It will make a good base for me to practice altering on.

Millau in 44BB/BBB 

Because this one had a seam/belt/whatever under the breasts, I chose the biggest size possible. The fit is good but I was very disappointed with the material which is thin, and as you can see, very wrinkled. I also thought this would be an ivory color, not a pure white. Very disappointed in one style-wise as it's pretty boring in person. Maybe I'll sleep on it and see if it looks any better after it is unwrinkled.

Benvenuto in 44BB/BBB 

Another maternity item, I felt like this one just looked casual and cozy for fall. The fit is surprisingly good. Once again, I ordered in the biggest size because there was a seam/belt/whatever under the breasts. I was worried about the waist being way too big in this size, but compared to regular off the rack clothing, the fit is still very good because it is still bust friendly. The shirt inside is very nursing friendly, as it is like a little cut out piece of shirt. So nursing friendly in fact, that I'm concerned it won't stay in place, but we'll see. 

I really like this shirt. And the fit was oh so close! But in the end, as you can see, that evil button at the bust is gaping. The hip/lower belly was also a bit tight, so I'm absolutely sure a 44BBB would solve my issue.

Frontera in 42 BB/BBB

The arms are so tight! I apparently have really fat arms for my size or something, but it does seem that most people with my body shape carry all of their weight in the arms and thighs, so I guess this is to be expected. I thought this would be a really comfy, cute fall thing, but at the time I tried it on all I could think of was how hot I was and hot tight the arms were. I'm not normally a fan of high necklines either, so I'm not entirely sure if I'll keep it or not (depends on the price I paid, honestly).

Belissima purple and lavender in 44BB/BBB

This is technically a maternity thing, but I'm always on the look out for interesting looking tops for comfier, casual days, so I got it anyway. Besides that I am still nursing and it is supposed to also function as a nursing top. I had tried this in a size or two down in a different color, but I decided to try it in a bigger size. I'm a little nervous that the little jacket thing won't actually stay on (which would reveal my bra cups) because they actually seem a bit loose. I think it's kind of cute, but I'm somewhere between positive and neutral on this one because it gets all of it's shape from the jacket.

Liberte black in 44BB/BBB

The reviews said this one wasn't too great for various reasons, the chief one among them being bust room but I love ruching so I wanted to try it. I see what they mean with the bust room, but in black it's harder to tell (with my bathroom light and angle here you can definitely tell) and since it was on sale and is a good length, I will be keeping it.

This review will also serve for bras based off this shape (as far as I can tell). Differences where I notice them will be noted. At this time, those that I know of and own are the following:

Bloomsbury bra

Oriental Bloom

Pretty much every basic Bravissimo balconette

My Stats:

UK cup size: 30L/32KK

Overbust: 44-46 in. 

Hanging perimeter: 50 in.

Underbust: 31.3 in.

Bra Stats:

Sizing note: I choose 36K for all of my Bravissimo balconettes at time of writing. This is because the cups run about one size small for me (who would normally wear 34K in UK sizes). I am reviewing these bras worn on the tighest hook, unaltered. 

Design: The Boudoir Beau bra is a three part bra. The top part is made of stiff (not stretchy) lacy material.

Fit: This is quite possibly my best fitting bra. It is very supportive for a balconette.The upper panel isn’t particularly forgiving to full on top breasts, but it does not cause quad boob. But you must be careful to get the right size and may have to size up, as I’ve found I’ve had to do in all Bravissimo balconettes. You'll notice the wires are on the narrower side, at where I call "average". The gore is of an average height but is quite thin (it does not overlap however, which is ideal barring low gores for close-set breasts), so it pretty much tacks for me. The wires are of a comfortable length, so they do not dig in at all even on my high set breasts. The straps are made out of a slightly-strechier-than-I’d-like satin material, but are fairly wide and sturdier. However, because of their strechier material, I do get painless, non-red indentations in my shoulders.

Bloomsbury bra: This one fits a bit tighter up top than my violet Boudoir Beau but still fits well enough. Not sure if this is because of the darker colored material or not.

Comfort: Extremely comfortable. I can almost forget this bra is there. The straps could be improved a bit though, as I have said, to allow a little less pressure, but it isn’t noticeable for me. I actually am wearing the bra as I write the review and didn’t even want to take it off to measure it, as opposed to other brands like Panache where I am extremely relieved to take it off.

Quality: The quality seems very nice, and there are no frayed threads or anything, but I have had issues with Bravissimo bra underwires popping out at the gore, so I am wary. However those WERE machine washed bras, so we’ll see how this goes.

Aesthetic: Like all Bravissimo bras I’ve tried, the bra gives a natural shape. However, the shape is more uplifted and minimized. I enjoy that it makes my boobs feel and look much smaller and my silhouette sleeker. It isn’t just looks though – I can actually fit into some tops I could not in say an EM bra because of the minimizing effect. I really like this bra under tighter clothing, like t-shirts. It has a nice, lightweight casual look, so your boobs are more of an afterthought than the main focus (well, within reason). The actual aesthetic of the bra varies in my opinion, on the colorway you have. I am not particularly fond of the look of the violet shade I have, but I loved the navy shade (that I had to sell because it was too small). There is a gauzy bow that I will be removing because it peaks through clothing.

Concerns: The underwire problem I have had with previous machine washed Bravissimo bras. There is also that bow but can be easily removed by anyone. On fuller days, FoT girls may encounter some small bit of quadboob that is not too noticeable.

Dresses

Buy from a BFCM

Same thing about dresses as tops when it comes to buying from a BFCM. Do It if you can afford it.

Types of dresses

The same rules apply for dresses as for tops, so read those again if you’re looking for dresses. But you also have some added things to work about with the hips. So I’ll add some of I have found.

Length is extremely important

Make sure the dress hides anything unflattering and ends at a flattering part. For me, my thighs are the part I want to hide, so just below the knee is very flattering (as hourglasses tend to have smaller calves than thighs)

Wrap dresses

As long as they fit in the bust, like with tops, they’re an easy win, particularly if they drape down.

Tank and tunic dresses

Really long, form fitting shirts are flattering right? So it makes sense that they’re still really flattering when turned into a dress. Again, this is all about high lighting your curves.

Retro 50’s dresses

Just take a look at websites like pin-up girl. Because almost all of the fashions of that period were very “feminine” (i.e., all about nipping in the waist and flaring out) they’re almost all suited to the hourglass figure. The biggest issue I have with these dresses tends to be the material (it seems like a lot of it is stiffer), and the price. These dresses always seem extremely pricy, but if you’re looking for something to stun with, I think they’re a great way to go.

Skater dresses

Skater dresses (I believe they’re inspired from figure skaters, instead of the other kind) are kind of a new thing to me. They seem like they work off the same principal as 50s retro dresses that nip in at the waist and flare out until they hit that sweet point just below the knee. They are shaped like an actual hourglass, and unlike the 50s dresses I mentioned are meant for casual, comfortable days. Also unlike retro dresses, they tend to be made out of stretchy material which is a win-win to me.

In general, anything that looks similar to an hourglass, cello/violin, or otherwise nips in at the waist and allows room for the bust will be worth a try.

The worst dress for curvy figures: One of those retro dresses that are incredibly short, loose and hang off the bust. They look cute and dainty on a less curvy later, but a nightmare for us.

Skirts and pants

The good news here is that we finally don’t have to worry about our bust! Yay! So you can recoup some of your cost here. Here’s the few tips I have for bottoms:

Pants

Look for pants with the word curvy in them

Seriously. They may change your life. They’re not all made the same but they’re going to do a heckuva lot better at not being pulled down by your hips and thighs and actually may stay up at the waist.

Avoid skinny jeans/pants.

Well, try or at least make sure you offset them with a really form fitting top. They make your hips look larger, which would be good for less curvy figures. This leads me to…

Balance out your curves with flares

Like with the dresses, anything below your waist should flare out at some point. It brings balance to your figure. Get wide legged pants, or flared or bootcut jeans, or even yoga pants that flare out a little at the bottom.

The worst pants for curvy figures: Skinny jeans with flats. Not every trend is right for everybody.

Skirts:

I am just now getting back into skirts, so I don’t have a whole lot of information on this yet but…

Get a skirt that flares out at some length.

Same reason as above. Balance and proportion.

Or…

Keep the skirt straight and formfitting.

Once again ending around the knee area for short skirts and whatever you want (so long as it ends at a flattering, slimming point) below the knee. This rule also applies to shorts. Remember, our goal is to either balance ourselves out by adding a flare or to simply let the curves speak for themselves.

The worst pants for curvy figures: A very short mini skirt. Because it ends at the widest part of the thigh.

Shoes

Yes even these can help or harm.

Heels are your best friend

It doesn’t matter if it’s pumps or wedges or boots or whatever. You want heels because they enhance the shape of the leg and add an extra curve.

Avoid anything bulky around the ankle

This isn’t to say no bulky boots. It’s more like, no fur lined around the ankle boots or slouchy boots. Or no scrunchy around the ankle socks. Everywhere else is fair game. This is because your ankle plays the same role to your figure as your waist in slimming you down.

Boots are good

Boots look really excellent because they curve in at all the right places, and you don’t necessarily have to wear ones with really big heels to get that look. I absolutely love boots and all hi-top’d things, so I may be a little biased here, but I think you can get away with not having heels as long as you have some sort of ankle shaping.

The worst shoes for curvy figures: Well one time, I had some slouchy boots when I was a teen because that was the style…I couldn’t figure out for the longest why I suddenly looked twenty pounds heavier instead of hot haha.

One last tip…

Tights and leggings do wonders to enhance the curves of your legs. Plus you can get some really fun ones too. One of my most favorite combos is a long tunic or tank dress with tights!

Remember how our body goes? Curve out, curve in, curve out. If you add a curve in (by wearing something long and formfitting) it has to either end at a flattering point, or add another curve out for balance.

One bit of advice I read somewhere sticks with me when I’m doubt: “Ideally, the hourglass shaped woman should be the most simple, elegantly dressed one in the room.” I definitely by no means am saying that you should suppress your personality. I for one love prints and accessories and wearing art, but now that I understand so much more about my shape, I know how to balance things out.  

Now that we’ve gotten bras out of the way, I’ll move onto the actual clothing. For fun, at the end of each section I added in what I imagine to be the worst thing you can do for your figure:

Tops:

Get your tops from a bust friendly retailer, or at the least, get very stretchy tops

It is absolutely imperative in my opinion to have most of your tops be from a bust friendly clothing manufactuer like Urkye or BiuBiu or whoever floats your boat. Stretchy long tops work OK, but they in no way match the way a tailored item fits your bust. Plus they aren’t going to last. Eventually, they’ll thin or stretch out from always being stretched to the max.

However, I think it is really useful to have some cheap , long stretchy tanks and/or camisoles for layering. I hope one day bust friendly clothing manufactures (I’ll  just call them BF or BFCM) will offer these. Bravissimo already does, even with a built-in bra but they technically only going up to an H cup (while I was able to fit into these, I found it uncomfortable). Every curvy lady owes themselves at least a few BF clothing tops as great bases to clothing. These will slim you down and keep you feeling extremely comfortable because you won’t have to pull them down or readjust anything! BFCM also sell button up shirts, and they’ll make you feel incredibly clean and slim for the first time.

Types of tops

The best styles of tops for curvy women are a bit apparent when you visit a BFCM’s website. They are:

Anything with a low cut neckline.

It doesn’t have to show cleavage at all, but some skin needs to be showing to break up the space between your neck and where your boobs start. Ever seen yourself in a crew neck? Yeah. The more you show, the better it’s broken up – though again, you do NOT need to show even one bit of cleavage unless you want to) to achieve this effect. Sweetheart necklines, square neck lines, v necks, low scoop necks, …anything that shows skin instead of covering it up is going to make you look slimmer. I haven’t figured out where boatnecks fall however, but it’s probably not good.

Anything form fitting

You NEED to show off your curves. If you try to hide them, you’ll just look blocky and a lot bigger than you actually are. You can achieve a comfortable level of modesty by sizing up in BF clothing and/or picking clothing with thicker material if you have anything you want to hide. This is part of why wrap tops and dresses are so very popular (and a bit overused) as well as empire waist clothing. Because they cling to your bust and leave your waist apparent.

Vertical seams are your friend

Again, apparent in any BFCM’s clothing worth their salt. Nothing can really compare to the slimming effect these give. Also if you see the words princess seam, or darts, it’s probably a safe bet.

Viscose, elastane, jersey and probably any stretchy material is almost always safe

These materials naturally cling, so as long as the measurements are right for you, you’ve got a good chance of getting a more slimming fit. Knits tend to do so too, so as long as they aren’t too bulky, you can probably feel safe buying these.

The worst top for curvy figures The worst top I could imagine for a curvy figure would be short (ends at pant waistline), loose fitting, and high necked or crew necked.

Jackets/sweaters/blazers/etc

I love jackets. They look awesome and best of all, they can conceal your bra straps and make an outfit plausible. Unfortunately, as things are now, jackets have been my enemy. Jackets can conceal your waist and make your bust look bigger. But there is hope!

Buy a fitted jacket/blazer from a BFCM if you can

Do I really need to explain why? A jacket that contours to your curves, that will look good and be versatile with many outfits and keep you warm if need be!

Boleros and shrugs are your best friend

This tip I actually got from reading something from CurvyWordy a long time ago. You can get boleros/shrugs/cropped jackets from eBay for very cheap. And guess what? Size hardly matters! These do not cover the bust so you won’t need to worry about bust size. And they are very short so they emphasize your small waist. And best of all, they cover bra straps!! These are seriously your best friend. Have them in your closet for emergencies at the least.

Wear thin sweaters, or at least long ones

Sweaters can be a really great weapon in your arsenal, because they’re made of stretchy, knitted material. A long, fitted sweater enhances your figure.

The worst: The worst outerwear I can imagine would be a fat puffy jacket or a thick short sweater shirt (if you’ve seen That 70s Show, think about busty Midge’s infamous sweater shirts)

My Stats:

UK cup size: 30L/32KK

Overbust: 44-46 in. 

Hanging perimeter: 50 in.

Underbust: 31.3 in.

Bra Stats: Size is 32K. Sorry, haven't gotten around to the measurements and not sure when I will!

Design: The Jasmine is a four part cup with the top part being upper lace, which means it's very forgiving to everyone, but particularly sought after by those are are full on top. The side panel and deep cups help give it its projection.

Fit: It gave me the “Jasmine shape”, the gore did that thing where the underwires are so close together in the same channel that it instead twists and fits neatly in between my close set breasts. It didn't have a lot of lift though and even less support...my boobs felt kind of like they could swing this way and that. But the stretch lace was great, did its job and hugged nicely and prevented quad boob. But I still wish there was more stretch lace because I feel like I'm just on the edge. But I also feel like a 34K would be too big and not provide enough tension as I'm already lacking lift here. The fact that I'm able to wear a 32K pretty well means that this bra actually fits more like a 32KK i.e. seems to run about a cup size large. This seems to be on trend for all of the Panache bras I've tried since their rebranding (the fancy tag that just says Panache instead of Panache superbra).

Comfort: It's uncomfortable! The wires are of course, way too wide so dig into my skin after a few hours of wear, they also go up a bit too high for my high set breasts and I get occasionally poked. Plus the materials, while sturdy, in this white one at least, just aren't that comfortable. I find them a bit "crisp" and they start to dig in too. Also the fabric itself rubs under my armpit because of how high I have to jack the straps. This bra is NOT friendly to high set breasts.

Quality: The quality is SO much better than the pink one, they don't even seem like the same bra in terms of quality. The fabric is sturdy and so is the stretch lace.

Aesthetic: It's a pretty bra and I just enjoy looking at it. I love the contrast between the lace and the way the side panel looks with it.

Concerns: It doesn't look that great under most clothing. Not for fully covered clothing. There can be a tiny bit of quad boob as the boobs settle for my very soft breasts so not so good with t-shirts and things. Better for low cut tops but then…The gore is too high for wrap tops. So I can basically only wear it reliably with low cut tops of a certain height. The shape also isn't THAT amazing. Compared to other Panache bras, sure. But it doesn't have that much lift like I said so I don't really get a vavoom effect without having to hike the adjusters over the comfort straps which makes it very uncomfortable as noted previously. 

Panache

Colette

(Sorry no picture because it wasn't even wearable)

Way too big on me to even evaluate. Seems to run very large in the cups. Definitely a Cleo shape but nothing special I'd say. Quality seemed nice.

Floris

This is one of the strangest bras I've ever tried on. Just weird design and look. Ran two cups too large for me. Despite that, has this thing where the top part of the cup kind of pulls back abruptly and has more bottom than top. It also wrinkled a lot and just kind of hung there. The bra seems to have like no elastic or stretch in the cups, so that is good for support, but not really good when the shape is a no go. Decided against it because the shape seemed more for bottom heavy breasts which I knew and it had wide wires and a high gore as usual. I believe it reminded me of the Jasmine in terms of shape from the side. Not very cute from the front with how it split my breasts apart (that sounds dirty, doesn't it? Didn't know how else to write it XD) Was extremely pretty if you like the print, seemed really nice quality, pictures don't really do it justice. Sent back.

Rumeur

There is nothing exciting or special about this bra. Really standard Panache fare. Wide wires, wide/tall gore, loose cup that doesn't really do anything for anyone in terms of shape...gives standard shape like a tango bra. Top lining of cup came away from my breasts, didn't sit flat. Quality seemed average. I liked the colors and look though. Sent back.

Rhapsody

This is another ho-hum Panache bra...mostly. It is very stretchy (especially in the band), which seems to allow for better contouring to your body/breast in the cups as well. It isn't uncomfortable at least for the few minutes I wore it, and it gives a shape very similar to the Tango. The gore floats very far out for me though so I wonder if I would actually need to go up in the cup (to a 36K). It seems like basically an upgrade for the Tango in all areas. The wires didn't seem as wide as most Panache bras either.

Not a bad staple bra but I've got enough "good enough" bras around so I'll probably be sending it back to Bravissimo for an exchange. But there is something interesting - it seems to give my breasts this kind of perkiness while they sit in the cups and there is less of an east/west look than Panache usually gives, but it's probably actually from the cup being either too small or just the design of the bra smashing them into shape (the Tango works so well for so many I believe because they force you into their shape and don't really let go!) This bra has potential though and it would be great if Panache made this the new baseline.

Bravissimo

Lola Luxe

(if I ever find my pics, I will update)

The Lola Luxe runs true to size (for average UK sizing if you can even say that) and that's the best thing I can say about it. It was a little bit too long for me and the boning bunched up painfully. It seemed comfortable enough other than that but it didn't do anything spectacular for my breasts and the smoothing effect wasn't that great either. I couldn't see a single reason to want to spend $80 for it although I really hope Bravissimo will come out with a corset because it did seem fairly comfortable and well constructed, my issues aside.

This bra gives me a rounded, Cleo-like shape. Only it's stretchy. Everywhere. INCREDIBLY stretchy everywhere. The gore doesn't even dream of tacking as a result. I don't get quad boob but my breasts feel SO jiggly and unsupported I have that uncomfortable feeling of wearing 40DDD's again. The wires aren't extremely wide, but the cups do dig into my armpits a bit.

The straps don't adjust short enough for high set boobs without trying to hike it over the comfort plush material on the strap, which is possible but difficult. The cup is more wide than deep and would do best on shallower breasts. I have this thing with my boobs hang forward while the sides of the cup are empty. This stretch lace seems too delicate or low quality, as 2/3 bras came with a little string hanging off the stretch lace. The cups also just kind of dig into my belly because of the angle of the cups since my breasts are just falling forward.

Maybe this can work for shallower breasts, or smaller breasts but in general but I can't see this working on heavy, deep breasts because the cups are too wide and stretchy too really cradle the breast and if you try to size down enough to compress the breast, you'll eventually get quad boob. I also get little lift in all sizes. It's a shame because I love the way this bra looks aesthetically and the shape it gives when on it's intended audience. 

This bra feels low quality though and reminds me of the Tango II's quality, but less sturdy. In fact, one of the hooks came out whilst trying it on and I've never had this happen before. Not sure what I'm going to do there, but I think that's pretty pathetic.

Swoop and scoop. I really hate that phrase. Not to offend whoever came up with it, it just sounds so annoyingly catchy and cheesy, like most of the pop songs on the radio nowadays (but that's another story).

Also like a pop song, you can't go very far without hearing it at least once. So I was aware of the proper way to put on a bra - more or less. I just presumed I was doing it mostly right when I glossed over the details. I don't know why I was being so stubborn about taking the time to read it. I guess it was that silly phrase I don't like.  Stupid, I know. But then I read Kris Line's articles about bra fitting (which are written in Polish, and I hope to get some translated because Google translate isn't so great), and they talked about the proper way to put on a bra. And then I happened upon BrasandBodyImage's proper way to put on a bra complete with what happens when you don't. And THEN, the same day I happened upon this (which I'll be adding to my Bust Education page) by Bratabase user MilkAndHoney.

At this point everything clicked. Why my bra hangs around my midsection a lot of the time, despite the fact that it shouldn't. So I put my breasts into the cups first, bent over, and struggled to fasten the band where the underwires felt comfortable under my breasts, with somehow keeping them in the cup. No easy task, but then I put the straps on last and...ta da! Magically, I now have support under my breasts. The wires aren’t perfectly under my breasts because the bra I have on (Boudoir Beau) still has too shallow of wires or cup or something (haven't figured it out, but there's some wrinkling and empty space in the bottom of the cup as I usually get). But now they feel supported from the bottom as well, though I can tell they're going to slide down a little over the course of the day, but nothing that adjusting the cup can't help.

So here's the bad news: now I quad boob in my new bra! :( I've already destroyed the straps in an attempt to figure out how to put wide straps through tiny nursing bra clips so if I were to try and sell it, I'd have to completely sew the straps back together and knock off a bunch of money. I wouldn't mind doing this, but I feel uncomfortable selling such a bra to someone because I’m not sure of the integrity of the straps. So I have no idea what to do. 

But my bra woes aside, here's the thing that fixed it all – not just putting on the bra properly, but letting the band stay where it was after I had put on the bra properly, per MilkAndHoney's post. The band is high as all hell, but it's tight and doesn't move much, if at all. I had been pulling the band down toward the floor thus the cups up, which caused all the problems she detailed in her post. The band looks like it's riding up, but it's not, if you can believe me. I know that feeling all too well.

So why does it happen in my case?

Well, it's just that my breasts are so incredibly heavy and high set. Also, my ribcage is like an extreme V, very similar to CurvyWordy's (I'm almost exactly like her in body shape, except without all the firm, awesome boobs and awesome stomach and whatnot). So there's not really any way for the band to sit parallel to the floor on me. But then as MilkAndHoney said, "The floor has nothing to do with bra fit"!