Late Summer Wishlist

As I’m making appointments to visit with brands at Curve NY to see the Spring/Summer 2014 collections, some of the Fall/Winter 2013 collections I saw in February are starting to trickle into stores!  I’m waiting on two new bras to come from Bravissimo (one to replace my beloved Starburst plunge, which popped a wire recently, and the other a Cherry Fling, to replace the one I reviewed that developed a fault), which will give me around six really well-fitting everyday bras, so I don’t REALLY need new things, but goodness I want to try these.

From Curvy Kate: Portia and Romance

I’ve only tried one unpadded Curvy Kate bra, and that was the beautiful blue Emily last year.  I thought the quality and design were gorgeous, but the fit was way, way off for me– wide wires at the sides, a wide center gore that wouldn’t tack, and shallow-ish cups.  I mentioned this to Curvy Kate’s designer when I spoke with her at Curve, and she advised me that the 2013 collections feature a new and improved fit.  The color scheme for Romance reminds me strongly of my Lola Luxe basque, which I adore, and Portia would add a welcome cheery note in my darker, more subdued lingerie drawer.  Curvy Kate offers some of the prettiest full-bust bras around; I’d love to give these a try and find out if the fit is good for me!

From Panache: Jasmine

A great bra, or the greatest bra?  I tried it for the first time back in April and loved it so much I immediately set about tracking down the previous season’s colorway on sale.  A firm back, deep cups, three rows of hooks, a narrow center gore, and wires that don’t reach around my back?  This bra ticks all of the boxes on my preferred-fit checklist.  Add in pretty prints and the amazing stretch lace on the top of the cups?  Perfection.  I really wish Panache would introduce a slightly higher rise matching brief, but that’s a quibble.  The pale dusty rose isn’t necessarily a color I’d gravitate to, but I’m hoping it will act as more of a neutral color for me under lighter-colored clothing, and I can’t wait for the “Envy” range, supposedly based on Jasmine, to arrive later this year.

From Elomi: Roxy

Well, not precisely Roxy.  This particular print does nothing for me, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.  It’s not that it’s “too young” or “too old” or dated or too flowery, or that the colors are unflattering, or that denim print bothers me (hello, Cherry Fling), but it’s just … not me, and it’s not what I gravitate towards in my lingerie.  However, I got to try it on when I was in Virginia earlier this month, and IT IS A GREAT BRA.  It is a vast improvement over Freya’s longlines: it’s unpadded (which I know is more of my personal preference than an actual improvement), the band is nice and deep, and finally and most crucially, the band is boned at the front and sides so it doesn’t scrunch up or flip.  There are still only two columns of hooks, which I don’t get, but overall it’s a wonderful, wonderful bra.  It comes in an unusually small size range for Elomi, and I keep hearing that the print has been polarizing.  Dear Elomi: please give this style another chance.  Bring it back with colorblocking, or lace, or polka dots, or some design that complements the vintage/retro cut instead of fighting it, and I will buy it.  I will buy the hell out of it.

From Cleo: Marcie Babydoll, aka The Precious

Six months of pining over this thing has not dimmed the flame of my love.

From Tutti Rouge: Frankie in Cornflower with Frenchie Knicker and/or Suspender Skirt

I have NO idea when or where this set will be available, but it was hands-down my favorite set from the very first glimpse of the collection we saw back in January.  The color, the print, the non-padded-ness, and the adorable knickers made this one of the sets I’ve most wanted to try this year.

Tutti Rouge is still new, so I’m still figuring out fit and size, but if these work for me I will never want to take them off.

From Hopeless Lingerie: All of The Things

Not really ALL of the things.  Just most of them.  Ever since The Lingerie Addict and The Lingerie Lesbian each featured Hopeless Lingerie earlier this year, I can’t stop thinking about the collection.  While some of the bralettes aren’t necessarily full-bust friendly, the GARTERS and the KNICKERS and the SUSPENDERS, oh my!  All the pieces pictured are available in sizes XXS-XXL and are handmade in Australia.  I tried to narrow down my list to the items I wanted the most, but I could only narrow so much.  I recently bought an adjustable choker strap from Esty Lingerie that can be worn with any bra, and it’s really making me want to try out some edgier, strappy lingerie pieces.

Has anything caught your eye this summer?  What’s on your wishlist?

July 26, 2013 by Sweets | 9 Comments