Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Online shops for Australians.

As an Australian that loves lingerie, my options are limited. I can pay $70-120 for a bra here from a limited amount of brands, which have a limited amound of styles and an even more limited amount of sizes in stock.... or I can buy online (which I do). 

I thought I would post my favourite websites to purchase lingerie from (and others that I haven't used), that will ship to us Aussies.


Tried and tested (and loved) websites

Probably my favourite. They have quite a large range and if you sign up to their mailing list, you are given promotion codes fairly often. Their sales are good, and their customer service is fantastic. Shipping is £5.50.

Another UK website. They have a great size range and some exclusive styles. Shipping is £7.95.

 Also UK. They don't have as big a range as the above, but they have great sale prices, good customer service and free worldwide shipping!

This one is quite well known and very popular. They have a large range of brands and styles and really good prices, but they often don't have all sizes available and the shipping is steeper at £14.95. If you spend over
£100, it is free, though.

A lovely Australian lingerie store. Their full-priced items are a little steep (despitebeing RRP), but their clearance section is awesome, as is their customer service.


Untried and non-tested (but promising) websites

They have a great range and really good sales prices - I plan on ordering from them soon. Delivery is
£4.95 (Airmail) or £11.95 (International Signed-For).

Having the same layout as BraStop and almost identical stock/sizes, it looks like their sister store.

Ewa Michalak stockist. They also stock some Panache and Comexim. 

I usually look here if I'm looking for something I can't find anywhere else or to check if it's cheaper. Postage to Australia is £5.95.

Terrible name aside, this place looks like a great Australian stockist of Masquerade and Freya (as well as some Fauve and Elomi). They seem on the expensive side, but they have a good range of sizes in stock if you're after a particular style that has sold out.

Another Australian website. They have a great range of Panache/Cleo/Masquerade and their clearance section is a must - it is a lot cheaper than many UK sale prices! I plan on ordering a few things from them in the next few days.

Charlie Girl Lingerie
Good range of styles and sizes, their sales aren't as good as I've seen elsewhere but I always double check before I buy something! Postage to Australia is only £3.95.

I found this site while searching for stockists of a Kiss Me Deadly girdle, but they have a fair range of G+ bras as well, which is worth a look. Postage is £8.

 Australian online lingerie stockist. It's not the best site to navigate, but there are some good sale items if you're willing to take the time to browse.

Another Australian online stockist. They have a wide range of brands and their sale prices are quite good. They don't always have all the sizes, though, but definitely worth a look for a bargain within Aus!

And another Aussie site! Brava Lingerie has a wide range of brands and styles, but their prices can't really compete with UK websites. However, if you live in Melbourne, they have stores in in Prahran and the CBD that you can physically go into and try on plenty of styles.


JM.x

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Beautiful lingerie I wish was made in my size.



I love fashion. I work in fashion. But there is something about lingerie fashion that leaves me in awe. I think it's because lingerie design is relatively new in the fashion world, compared to outerwear. 60 years ago, there were iconic fashion styles when it came to women's clothing. But lingerie? I daresay the only fashion trend for lingerie was the shape of the bust.  

But now, we live in a time where the lingerie market is bigger and better, and ever-growing (hopefully it also grows cup-wise). As someone with a bust that was probably a 30F when I was 14 (I wore a 32DD) and grew into a 32GG/H while I was still in my teens, I used to think there was nothing out there past an E cup for me except "old lady bras" - conservative white/beige/blacks with a full cup and pointy shape. But now, at 25, I find lingerie shopping a treat. Granted, it's mostly done online, but I love it all the same and I can't wait for the new season to be released. 

I've long been a fan of luxury lingerie. I love that something that is a necessity can also be what I consider a piece of art, and I can't wait for the larger-cup market to grow even bigger. Below I have posted and linked to several lingerie pieces I have fallen for (but have been sized out of). Why post bras that I can't wear, you may ask? Because you might be able to wear them, and even if you can't, designers won't make larger cups unless they feel they have the demand. 



Pleasure State is one of my favourite growing brands. I used to wear their 34DD when I was 19/20. They now go up to a G cup in one of their collections and although the prices are steep, they are a great investment and lovely company to deal with. Last year, I sent an email about their bra fitting calculator (which was wrong), and the HR dept contacted me wishing to speak on the phone - what ensued was a really lovely hour-long chat about bras and fitting and their offer to send me a free bra for more feedback. I was also made aware by the company that larger cups are in the works! HOORAY!
 
Couture Liquid Rose Balconnet bra
 Unfortunately, this bra doesn't even go beyond a DD cup and only between a 32 and 36 band. It's a shame that such a lovely bra has such limited sizing.


VIP Deco Fan Underwire Bra
This one has a better size range, with 30-38 band sizes and DD-G cups. Sometimes I can get away with a 34G on the tightest hook (I may have to invest in a rixie clip...), but I'm 99% sure the edge of the cups would cut into my boobs.

New Made by Niki:
Membranes Plunge Bra
This one may look odd, but once there's boobs in this bra, I think it looks quite stunning. I like the juxtaposition of the feminine soft silk tulle and the buckles on the straps. I'm not as bothered that this bra doesn't come in my size, as I'm not really sure the tulle would add too much volume to work with bigger busts, but I think it is beautiful nonetheless.


Beaujaus. OH, BEAUJAIS. Please, just one more cup size! I understand that lace cups can only support so many cubic centimetres, but really - we are not looking for cleavage up to our chin nor enough support for a full day at work. As a bedroom piece, I wouldn't mind if it gave me a more relaxed, rounded shape, so please, please bring this out in larger cup sizes, even if the lace has to be reinforced...
Sweet Nothings balconnette bra in Teal
 This bra comes in a few other colours and is just absolutely stunning. It is available in these sizes: 28DD-H, 30D-GG, 32D-GG, 34D-G and 36D-FF. It offers a better size range than Pleasure State, but it still excludes anyone with more breast volume than a 32GG/34G/36FF (all sister sizes).


Oh, Gossard. I have been lusting after you for so long, but
you only go up to a G.
Gossard Ooh La La Corselette
Size range: 30-38 bands, A-G cups. 



Parfait by Affinitas Charlotte underwired padded bra
For this bra, the size ranges from 30-40 bands D-G cups.
 I adore the simple, classic styling of the Charlotte contour bra. It's pretty, also a bit sexy... but I would still wear this to work.



Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless


Size range currently available: 32-38 bands, A-G cups.
Probably the most practical bra in this whole post. No matter what size I've been, I've always found that I haven't had the right support in a strapless bra, and I think it's because it needs to be akin to a longline bra to get the right stability. I think this bra is a fantastic and innovative piece - instead of padded or boned cups, it gets it shape and support from concealed polycarbonate hand-shaped structures within each cup. Brilliant.
Hopefully, with the success of this style, Wonderbra will incorporate smaller bands and larger cups.
My sister has ordered a 32F in this, so I eagerly await to hear what she thinks.