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.
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.
Put 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.
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.
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.
