[I purchased these pieces under my real name with my own money. Playful Promises is not affiliated with this post, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. ]
It’s hard to believe how much Playful Promises has grown since I started blogging in 2012. When I first learned about the brand through The Lingerie Addict, I fell in love with their retro-with-a-twist-of-modern-burlesque designs, but I always assumed that the core size range and A-D cup sizes meant that I’d have to admire them from afar. Flash forward to today, when they now offer lingerie pieces in over 70 bra sizes and dress sizes 4-24 (US). They are industry leaders in representation in their campaigns, they partner with popular influencers, they’re stocked at Nordstrom and other major retailers, and they’re one of my favorite brands around.
The collections feel joyful, fun, sultry, and bold. Not only do the shapes, colors, and embroideries stand out in a market where it feels like everyone’s trying to throw elastic strapping wherever they can, but even more than that, these are pieces that are so rarely offered outside core size ranges.
I’ve been avidly watching as Playful Promises have expanded their size ranges, hoping that a few pieces might be available over a UK G-cup, and I was delighted when some new GG-H cup (US J and K cup) styles came out earlier this year. I ordered almost every style to try out for myself, and my hands-down favorite and the only one I allowed myself to keep was Adira, a gorgeous satin-and-mesh bra with dramatic (and fully adjustable!) elastic frame details.
I find Playful Promises’ bands to come up quite firm, and I was worried the cups might be a touch shallow, as the other styles I’d tried had been, so I ordered both my usual 32H (32K in US sizes) and a 34H (34K in US sizes). The 32 band was so tight I could barely fasten it, so the 34 band was absolutely the way to go. I’m also glad I went up in the cups, as, indeed, the shape is a bit different from my natural shape, so having more room to negotiate that is helpful. It almost feels like there’s some shallowness in the bottom of the cup, which pushes my breasts up and out while leaving a bit of extra room near the underwires. The bra gives a very uplifted and presentational effect, quite apart from the dramatic straps.
The set is beautifully made, and I love the little details: the alternating panels of translucent mesh and shiny black satin, the adjustable elastics to prevent gaping or digging, and the deeper back to support a heavier bust. There are stays under the arms, which occasionally dig into my squishy bits, so this isn’t a bra I’d wear for a long, active day, but for a boudoir bra I find it astonishingly supportive and uplifting. The knickers are cut a bit low for me and tend to roll under my belly, but that’s pretty standard with smaller bikini cuts (I took an XL/US12 here). I’m a bit self-conscious about my belly in skimpier knickers, so I loved the pairing of the Adira set with the dramatic zippered Kendalle waspie from Playful Promises’ sister brand Peek and Beau. The XL fits me perfectly, the gold zipper is sturdy (and stays put when you zip it: no worries of it slowly unzipping itself with wear), and even though it obviously won’t give you any dramatic cinching, it does feel like it offers a little bit of hold and shaping.
It was at this point during photoshoot day that Gus was DONE with modeling
Also, because whenever I post strappy lingerie I get comments along the lines of “but you could never where this outside the bedroom”: here’s a self-portrait of an outfit from an evening event during last winter’s lingerie market week. Wearing the Adira bra with my What Katie Did Mae corset under a velvet wrap dress from Collectif (sold out, similar here).
Has anyone else in the GG-H (J-K in US sizes) tried Playful Promises’ G+ styles? Which ones did you try, and what did you think?
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Bra and Brief: Adira by Playful Promises. Bra ($58.50) in sizes 32-38 DD-K (US sizes) / DD-H (UK sizes). Brief ($32.50) in sizes XS-XXL (4-14 US)
Waspie: Kendalle by Peek & Beau by Playful Promises ($45.50) in sizes XS-XL (4-12 US)
Photos: Sylvie Rosokoff
