The Belvia Bra

If I'm perfectly honest when it comes to bras I can be a little shallow and for me it's all about looks. This doesn't mean that it has to be particularly striking, but it does have to look good under clothes and provide support and lift that looks natural. So when I was asked to review the Belvia bra I was a little apprehensive. It essentially looks like a crop top or a sports bra and not something I would usually wear, but after looking at lots of positive reviews and reading that it promised to give great shape and comfort I thought I would give it a try.

The Belvia bra comes in a range of sizes from S to XL depending on your chest size (not cup size). I therefore chose a small even though I am a 32DD. The material is elastic enough to conform to your curves and give a snug fit. Ultimately this bra is exceptionally comfortable, so much so that I forgot I was wearing it. I love the fact that there are no straps or underwires to dig into any wobbly bits so it looks smooth and flattering. The material is stretchy, but firm enough to provide some support. As long as you are not wearing anything low cut or with thin straps it also looks great and almost undetectable under clothes as it lies flat to your back and is seamless.

For those who need a lot of support or are looking to get an extra boost this bra would probably not be ideal. However, if you are happy with your natural shape and are looking for a super comfortable t-shirt bra for everyday wear the Belvia bra is absolutely ideal.

The bra comes in three colours (black, white or nude) and is currently available here at £38.97 for 4 bras!

Have you ever tried the Belvia bra?

Rigby & Peller

Did you know that 80% of women in the UK are wearing the wrong bra size? Well, I had certainly heard that statistic before, but I didn't know that I was in fact one of them! A few weeks ago I attended the opening of a new Rigby & Peller store in the City to have my own fitting and try on some of their beautifully luxurious underwear and beachwear.

Rigby & Peller are synonimous with quality lingerie. After being in the business for over 50 years R&P are able to fit women from sight alone and without the use of a tape measure. It was very strange to be fitted by someone without any measurements being made, but the staff are incredibly professional and experienced. I was dumbfounded to see that in fact I was a whole cup size larger and one size smaller around the back than I have been wearing for years.

Rigby & Peller owner Mrs June Kenton comments: "Breast sizes have increased significantly over the past 50 years with an increase in demand for smaller back sizes, however there is a common misconception that only large breasted ladies need to be concerned about a well fitted bra. No matter their size or shape we want women to understand how dramatically they can improve their quality of life and general well being by having a bra that is properly fitted and well made – it is staggering how many women stick to one size throughout their lifetime.”

During my fitting I was shown a range of different styles and premium brands to try that were suited to my shape and the look that I wanted. R&P hold so many different styles of lingerie that it's easy to find exactly what you need. Plus every item is fitted perfectly so that it supports, lifts, shapes and smooths in all the right places! I was extremely impressed with the staff as they have such a great knowledge of their stock and know all the minute differences in the sizes of different brands.

I also fell in love with their swimwear, which is modern, flattering, yet functional. They have a fantastic range of slimming swimsuits too! My absolute favourite is the Maryan Mehlhorn one piece (£169 here).

Rigby & Peller caters for sizes from 30A to 48N, with the average Rigby & Peller bra containing 38+ components compared to just 16 in an average bra! I would highly recommend checking out R&P for a fitting and if you work near the City the new store in Bow Lane here is absolutely lovely!

Have you ever had a fitting at Rigby & Peller?

Showing some skin...

Even though sunshine still seems a distant memory we are heading towards the cusp of Summer which means that the best part of the year is almost upon us. Having recently booked flights for my Summer holiday I know that one can never be too prepared so the planning has already started, with bikinis being top of my list. I was recently contacted by Simply Beach to try out some of their swimwear and underwear and jumped at the chance of updating my bikini wardrobe! Simply Beach have a fantabulous range of brands to choose from so it took me quite a while to decide on a design, but finally I settled on a bright, vintage style from Red or Dead (£60 here).

I love my bikinis, but sometimes after a night of indulgence on holiday I don't feel tummy exposure is a necessity, so it's always great to have a one-piece stashed away in your suitcase. I love the cutesy ice cream pattern on this Red or Dead swimsuit and the fact that it's strapless, so you can really work on those tan lines.

The swimsuit comes in handy packaging, which is perfect for packing, or throwing in a sandy beach bag.

My favourite feature of this swimsuit is the pink bow belt, which adds a little bit of interest and defines the waist. The colour is also deeper and brighter than in the promo images, which is great as it can remain vibrant and not get bleached by the sun.

The other item I chose from Simply Beach is a beautiful lingerie set from Lepel (currently on sale here).

I absolutely love mint, especially as it looks great against tanned skin so I was immediately drawn to the delicate mint lace and bright floral pattern.

The bra has lots of cute little details such as rose buds on the straps and a satin trim and looks very flattering on, while still being supportive and comfortable.

 

This set is currently on sale here for under £30!

You can check out more designer lingerie and swimwear on the Simply Beach website. Let me know what your favourite styles are!

Have you planned your Summer holiday wardrobe yet? What pieces are you looking for to wear this Summer? xxx