Review | Silver Satin & Black Lace, Oh my!

If you’ve read any of my recent lingerie reviews, you might have noticed that I’ve been on a bit of a corset and bustier kick lately. I’ve tried an Irish inspired corset, a Playboy bunny style bustier body-suit and a pretty Victorian style corset that made me feel like I belonged in a Royal court. I’ve been on a exploratory lingerie mission, trying new things in hopes of discovering what I like & don’t like. When the fabulous people over at Lovehoney sent me over the Silver Satin & Eyelash Lace Overlay Corset, I knew I’d found a winner.

The Silver Satin & Eyelash Lace Overlay Corset is a bustier style corset made with soft silver satin with a delicate black eyelash lace overlay and trim. Like your typical corset, it has plastic boning to help shape your curves, while the bustier-like underwire cups help give your bust lift and support. It comes with a set of black detachable straps and garters, as well as a matching silver satin thong. The corset also comes in Plus Sizes. I used the photo of the Plus Size corset because it gives a full frontal view of the garment. I also love how strong, sexy and confident the model looks! 🙂

When it comes to quality and fit, ordering lingerie online can sometimes be a bit of a crap-shoot. I’d never tried anything by iCollection before so I had no idea what expect. However, when I opened my package from Lovehoney, I gasped audibly. Simply put, this is a gorgeous piece of lingerie. The silver satin is really nice quality without being too stiff and the black trim is so incredibly soft. The whole garment is lined with ultra-soft material. What I love most is how the black trim contrasts against the silver satin. As someone who owns a lot of brightly coloured lingerie, I really love how simple, elegant and classic this piece is.

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The corset laces up from the back with black satin ribbons. One of the great things about this piece is that it is highly adjustable. When I first pulled it out of it’s package I was worried that it might be too small, however after loosening the ribbons a bit I was able to find the right fit for me. As you can see from the photo, there’s also a modesty panel that you can either leave in place or push to the side, depending on whether you want your bare skin to show through behind the laces.

Now for one of my favourite features of all…a side zipper! You may remember me mentioning my lingerie woes and how it can be difficult to put on a corset by yourself. The side zipper on the Silver Satin & Eyelash Lace Overlay Corset definitely helps with this issue. Instead of having to deal with awkward hooks & eyes, you can adjust the ribbons to get the right fit & then just zip yourself up. Easy! I also like how the exposed zipper adds to the vintage inspired look of this piece.

The only thing that I don’t completely love about this piece of lingerie, is the matching thong that comes with it. The thong is made of the same material as the corset and basically consists of a small triangle with pieces of elastic attached. The thong does not have a gusset, which means it’s not suitable for extended wear. I know these panties probably aren’t meant to stay on very long, but it would have been nice if they were something I could wear anytime. Instead, these will probably end up at the back of my lingerie drawer & eventually migrate to the great big lingerie pile in the sky. Including this thong with the set just seems like an odd choice because it doesn’t live up to how awesome and gorgeous the corset is. Even Grumpy Cat thinks so.

Despite the minor thong fail, I really, really love this piece- so much so that I think it’s definitely going to find it’s way onto my list of favourite products I’ve reviewed in 2013. However, the final question is – what does it look like on?

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Show & Tell | Keep Calm and Wear a Corset

Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate to work with some really great brands from the UK like Rocks Off and Lovehoney to name a few. Vibrations Direct is another fab UK brand based out of London. From bondage kits and lingerie to designer sex toys— Vibrations Direct carries 1000’s of products to tickle your fancy and get the most out of your sex life. When they asked me if I would like to review one of their pieces, I was immediately drawn in by their selection of sexy lingerie – in particular the corsets.

I eventually settled on this gorgeous nude coloured, “Victorian” inspired Ivory Grace Corset by Sweetstreak. Since most of my lingerie is either dark colours or vivid brights (like red or pink), I loved the subtle colour and delicate details of this piece.

The Ivory Grace corset is a Victorian inspired corset made with white and gold jacquard material and decorated with frill edging at the top and bottom, along with pretty bows. The material is 90% polyester and 10% spandex to allow for some give. The corset features flexible boning and a lace up back to shape your figure and  create an hour glass effect.

The corset is really pretty in person, however as you can see by the photos below, the fabric isn’t a nude or blush shade at all, but rather yellow and white with white ruffles. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing (it’s still a really pretty piece), it’s just completely different than what I expected based on the product photo.

Now for the moment of truth! Here is what the corset looks like on. The corset fit great and was very good at hugging my curves in all the right places. Although I could have cinched in the waist more to give more of the effect shown in the product photo, doing so wasn’t very comfortable. I wanted to still be able to breathe 🙂

When it comes to lingerie, I’ve discovered that corsets generally aren’t the most comfortable garments. However, you sacrifice comfort for the look. This piece made me feel sexy, supported and definitely helped me stand up straighter (ha!)

Back in the day, women of means would often have a maid who would help them get into their corset. Now I can see why – putting on a corset by yourself is a bit challenging. The Ivory Grace can either be done up by lacing up the back or by using a series of metal hooks & eyes located on the front. To get the best fit, I would suggest putting it on then using the laces at the back to adjust the garment. Once you have the perfect fit, you can leave the corset done up and then just enter/exit the garment from the front.

I had a lot of fun playing dress up in this piece. Maybe it’s the yellow & white jacquard print, or the fact that it was sent to me from jolly old England, but I felt regal in this piece…almost like I was ready to go hang out in Buckingham Palace & have tea with the Queen. Instead, I just had an awkward tea-party for one in my underwear.

Now, for the bad news. Unfortunately sometime between when I received the corset and wrote this review, Vibrations Direct stopped carrying it on their website. The good news is that they have lots of other sexy lingerie. Here’s a few pieces that I’ve been eye-ing.

1. Seven Til Midnight Scene Stealer Bra Set.

2. Seven Til Midnight Naughty Little Secret Bustier.

3. Seven Til Midnight Veronica Bustier. 

Which one do you like best? 

*Thanks to Vibrations Direct, this lovely corset was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest assessment of the product. All views are my own because that’s how I roll. 

Show & Tell | Ruffles, Lace & Bedhead

As a lingerie addict who is trying to stick to a budget, I’m always on the lookout for affordable, cute lingerie that’s also nice quality. I was super excited when I stumbled across Blue Bella Lingerie – a lingerie line from the UK. Their pieces are gorgeous and sexy, without being over the top. Most of the pieces have that vintage inspired look that I love so much.

I was thrilled when the nice people at Lovehoney offered to send me one of their pieces to try out. The whole line is really pretty so it was hard to pick just one piece, however I eventually settled on this Anais Cami & Shorts Set. As someone who often blogs about things like oral sex simulators, this may seem like a really “safe” choice, however I’m really happy I chose this set. As I’ve mentioned before, I love sleeping in lacy, sexy things. Even if I’m sleeping alone, wearing something comfortable that’s also pretty makes me feel good. This is the kind of set that I could easily wear solo or with someone else.

The Anais Cami & Shorts Set is made of crinkled, light pink, sheer polyester trimmed in black lace. The camisole is lined with a silky soft non-crinkly fabric which makes the piece ultra-comfortable. The shorts are not lined, but instead feature two thin layers of the crinkle fabric which meet at the bottom to create the ruffle effect. The shorts are a “hipster” cut which means they sit comfortably below the belly button.

Although the shorts have a built in cotton gusset (which means you could wear them as panties if you wanted to), I still prefer to wear them with a pair of my favourite hipster or boy-shorts for sleeping. The shorts are quite sheer, so unless you live alone, with your partner or are trying to establish your reputation as the roommate/family member that’s always flashing everyone, you’ll probably want to pair them with some panties! For the purpose of this post, I wore a pair of black bathing suit bottoms underneath.

I really like this lingerie set. It’s fun, flirty and just slightly retro. Although it’s named “Anais” (I assume after the famous French writer?) this sleep set feels way less like 1930’s Paris, and more like a toned down version of something Barbara Streisand would have worn in The Owl and the Pussycat or the girls from Grease would have worn at one of their sleepovers.

In other words, it’s the kind of thing I imagine guys think we wear at sleepovers when really we’re rocking our flannel PJ’s.

To give you guys an idea of what the set looks like in person, I snapped a few photos last Sunday before heading out to meet my Dad for Father’s Day brunch. Since I rarely wear makeup and do my hair on the weekends, the theme of this DIY photo-shoot is “bed-head.”

Et, voila! Although I look a little depressed in this photo, I’m actually really excited about the forgiving cut of this camisole. I did a lot of eating and drinking in Vegas, and I’m still trying to get my abs back in shape. This top cleverly disguises any tummy insecurities you may have.

As you can tell from the photo below, this set was way more ruffly in person than it is in the product photo. The ruffles are fun, however if you are trying to draw attention away from your hips, they do create a lot of extra volume in that area. On the flip side, if you want to create more curves, this outfit will definitely do the trick.

Whenever I’d stay in hotels with my parents as a kid, my favourite thing was jumping up and down on the ultra-bouncy hotel beds. I’m pretty sure it drove my parents nuts. Sorry Mom.

Overall, I give this lingerie set by Blue Bella two Skinny Dip thumbs up. I love the gorgeous pink and black colour combo, I feel cute in it and it’s comfortable. The problem? Now I want to try everything Blue Bella makes. Ahhhh!

Thank you Lovehoney for this review and for fuelling the fire of my lingerie addiction 🙂

Lovehoney.com The Sexual Happiness People
*I received this garment free of charge in exchange for my honest review of the product. All opinions and awkward confessions about over eating in Vegas are my own because that’s how I roll. 

Review | Panty by Post

I can think of very few things that I enjoy more at the end of a long day than coming home to pretty lingerie that’s been sent to me in the mail. My underwear drawer is pretty full these days, but I never, ever, tire of a new pair of pretty panties.

Meet Panty by Post  – a monthly subscription service for luxury panties. Every month Panty by Post sends you a new, gorgeous pair of panties based on your personal preferences  (you can choose thong, boys-cut or the bridal collection). When I first heard about Panty by Post, my thoughts were “Yay! A subscription service for people like me who love receiving pretty, lacy things in the mail!” So, when Panty by Post offered to send me a pair of their panties to sample, I was pretty excited!

Panty By Post started in Paris in August 2008 and is based in Vancouver, Canada (yay for Canadian companies!) Owner and founder Natalie Grunberg has always been inspired by Paris and it’s no surprise she’s built a company that has distinguished itself as a unique brand with a very French twist. She’s since made it her company’s mission to spread the pleasure of French lingerie all over the world. Each gorgeous Panty by Post package is meant to send a message of love and joie de vie!

Looking at Panty by Post’s gallery of photos, there’s a definite luxurious vibe (with just a hint of French flair!) to everything they carry. Featuring brands like Blush Lingerie and Hanky Panky, these are definitely not your run of the mill panties. Anyone who has ever worn a pair of Hanky Panky panties (which feel almost like you’re wearing nothing at all) can attest to that.  FYI, one of my best friends swears by their stretch lace thongs.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Blush Lingerie, it’s another fantastic Canadian company based in Montreal, Quebec. I adore their lingerie because it suits my style perfectly: it’s comfortable, a little bit retro and sexy without being over-the-top. To get an idea of what you can expect from their panties, here are a few images I pulled from the Panty by Post gallery.

(I’m totally obsessed with the black and white polka dot pair!)

I was delighted when I opened my Panty by Post package and found these beautiful violet hued satin panties with black lace trim.

 

Made of super soft stretch satin, the panties feature delicate stretchy black lace trim along the front and back, with a subtle black bow detail on the front.

To be honest, these are some of the nicest panties I have ever owned. Not only are they gorgeous, the quality is excellent and they feel luxurious as soon as you slip them on. I thought because of the cut in the back that these would be wedgie central, but you actually don’t really feel any of the seams when you have them on. Sexy and comfortable? I call that a Win/Win! The only downside (for my wallet) is that now I’m intent on tracking down the matching bra 😉

I should also mention that the panties arrived beautifully packaged. They were shipped in a Panty by Post envelope printed with a delicate floral design and sealed with a silver sticker. Inside the panties were wrapped in gorgeous tissue with a cream and gold angel print. Along with the panties was a personal note from Panty by Post. The package was so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself to recycle it, so I kept it because I’m a nerd like that.

Panty by Post offers a variety of different subscription options which range from $15-$25/month. You can also purchase one or two panties a la carte. When I told my best friend about the service her reaction was probably the same as many of you are having: “That’s a lot for a pair of panties! Wouldn’t it just be easier to go to the store and buy a pair?!” Yes, in theory it would be, and I realize $15+ for a pair of underwear is on the expensive side for a lot of people (me included). However, part of what you’re paying for is the shipping and the element of surprise. It’s definitely an indulgent purchase, however when it comes to subscription services I’d much rather get one luxury item that I’m going to *love* adding to my collection, versus a whole box of small sized sample products, some of which I may not use. When you look at it that way,  Panty by Post is a nice way to pamper yourself.

I’d recommend Panty by Post to anyone who is looking to build a collection of high quality lingerie or as a bridal shower gift for one of your best friends.

Have you ever tried any lingerie subscription services?

Show & Tell | With Love from Canada

Sadly the word “Canadian” is not internationally synonymous with “Style” and “Sex Appeal.” Although we have some amazing Canadian designers, Canada is also associated with things like toques, hockey hair and the “Canadian Tuxedo.” When I mentioned to an American friend that I would be reviewing a piece from a Canadian lingerie line, I wasn’t surprised that their first question was “Is it plaid?” However, contrary to popular belief, when given the opportunity, us Canadians can be a stylish and sexy bunch.

Homegrown, Canadian company With Love Lingerie is proof of that. I’m always looking for new and unique lingerie, so when I found out that one of my favourite online boutiques, Ohhh Canada,  was carrying some items from the With Love  I was super excited! I was even more excited when the fabulous Katrina offered to hook me up with their black lace floral bra to try.

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The Black Floral Lace Bra by With Love is a gorgeous, beautifully made soft cup (underwire-less) bra with a lacy, vintage inspired look. The bra is made of delicate nude mesh with black mesh and lace overlay. Trimmed with black satin, the Black Floral Lace bra has a cute gathered detail in the front and a hook & eye closure in the back.

I was really excited to try this bra for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s totally gorgeous. As I mentioned before, I have a serious weakness for lingerie that has a vintage or pin-up inspired vibe and this piece definitely fits the bill. The lace and mesh combo give this bra a retro feel but with a modern twist.

Secondly, I wanted to try something new. Although I have a few girlfriends who swear by the cute, lacy, “bralettes” that are super trendy right now, I’ve always favoured more structured lingerie. I like bras with an underwire and usually a thin layer of padding to conceal my nipples from showing through. Sport bras aside, this is the first bra I’ve owned since middle school that doesn’t have an underwire. Crazy right?!

Sidebar – Has anyone else noticed that bras have become totally insane over the past few years?! Walk into any Victoria’s Secret and you’ll find an endless amount of extremely padded bras that promise to do things like “increase your cup size by three sizes!” – because apparently it’s not enough to have boobs, they need to also be pushed up to your chin. When it comes to lingerie, I can see why a lot of women are embracing a softer, more natural look. Lingerie like the Black Floral Lace Bra by With Love is a welcome respite from this insanity. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s really, really pretty.

with-love-lingerie-black-lace-braPut on this bra and basically feels like you’re wearing nothing at all – it’s that comfortable. However, keep in mind that the bra offers very light support. If you’re a bit on the bustier side, this might be an issue for you. It’s also very sheer so, your nipples will show through. This is why I’m not modelling the bra for you guys today. To quote a conversation I had with my friend yesterday,

“Are you going to take photos of yourself in the bra?”

“No, because I don’t want to spend my Sunday night photoshoping out my nipples”

FYI. How it looks on the model is very true to how it looks in person.

This is the perfect bra to wear in the bedroom or for those days when I’m lounging around or writing and want to feel glamorous. However, I wouldn’t wear it under a fitted t-shirt or to do any kind of semi-strenous activity. Perfect for a retro-styled seduction? Yes. Hiking, jogging or dancing the night away? No.

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The bra comes in three different sizes –  small (A cup), medium (B cup) and large (C cup) – however, it’s important to note that this bra runs big. I’m a 34 C  and ordered a size Large thinking it would fit, however when I tried it on I was swimming in it. The Large is definitely made for someone who is bigger than a 34 C. However, Ohhh Canada was super awesome about it and promptly exchanged it for a Medium. For this piece of lingerie I would definitely suggest going a size down.

 

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Now for the big question – do I feel sexy in it? 

Yes! Although it’s definitely a change from my usual underwired, cleavage producing bras, I do feel really pretty and sexy in this piece. Because it is so comfortable, this is a great piece to wear in the bedroom. Unlike some of the other lingerie I own, you could easily wear this while you have sex without ever having to worry about chafing or accidentally jabbing yourself with an underwire when you change positions.

However I think my favourite thing about this piece of lingerie is that it is designed and made in Toronto, Canada! It feels really special to have something in my lingerie drawer that’s not only beautiful, but that’s unique and literally handmade With Love in Canada.

What do you guys think – do you have a favourite lingerie brand?

This review was brought to you by Ohhh Canada. I received the Black Floral Lace Bra free of charge in exchange for my honest review of the product. All opinions are my own because that’s how I roll. 

 

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