Tag Archives: Curvy Kate

For a “Fuller Cup Gal” who loves lingerie there are so many different brands to choose from, but with the ranging costs, one could easily end up in the red. We all shop for different reasons, with varying budgets. However, any good shopper knows there’s no better shop that one with a bargain, and I love a sale!

Last Black Friday, I really felt the pressure to spend. I was at home, scrolling through the seemingly millions of retail emails, of which I just skim the titles. But the pesky push notifications got to me! After spending way too much on Zara’s 60% off sale, it struck me how much harder it is to get the same level of discounts in a lingerie store.

Not to say they don’t have good sales, of course, they do! I’ve found some great things, but rarely are all their styles from one season included, as they usually are at an end of season clothing sale. Especially when one is looking to expand her range of brassieres. A lady would like a range of options, to feel she has truly gotten a good discount. But in the world of DD+ bras, you need to know what you’re looking for. Where to go for which type of style, or just take a gamble to see what’s on offer.

Even though I did my shop during Black Friday, these stores have sales at any season. So, I thought I’d share with you the 6 places I usually see offers. So us big-boobed gals can ‘Ball’ on a budget. This is not to say these are the only places, but in my experience, I tend to find offers here. I’m based in the UK, so please check out the international delivery rates if you don’t. Here’s my list:

1. Brastop – This was the first place I brought from as a teenager, so it’s dear to my heart. Originally, I thought it was an outlet brand store, but they seem to have the new season styles in too, these days.
2. Figleaves – A huge online catalogue of intimates in cup sizes up to N, but in varying ranges for each brand. They have a outlet section of their site too!
3. Marks & Sparks – Good ole’ M&S! I’ve only found stuff online once, but they definitely always have a bargain in store. Although clothing retailers have closed due to National Lockdown, the underwear section in my local store is still open. My guess is they all are, so check yours out, because underwear is definitely a necessity, and they had a sale on last time I was in there.
4. Belle Lingerie – Another large catalogue, but stocks both new and discounted (out of season) bras.
5. Playful Promises – Never have I ever brought a bra from here before, but I’d been window shopping here for a while so I thought I’d try it, as they seem to always have some kind of outlet sale on.
6. Bluebella – I’ve brought gifts for my friends here, after stalking their range on insta. I’d always thought of them as a brand for DD and below, but after seeing G cups in their sale I thought why not.

Okay, so on to the shop! The first thing to know about me is, I only buy sets, (unless it is a multi-way bra). During this sale haul, I thought about some of the reasons we buy lingerie. We buy for the everyday, that bra we wear with almost anything, not caring if a strap or two shows because it’s so comfortable. We buy for special occasions, a wedding or hot date or birthday. We buy for practicality, the bra that goes with a particular style of dress, or for sports or after surgery. Then there’s my favourite… we buy for fantasy, to fulfil that idea we had in our heads, or to give us that little spark of joy.

For this shopping experience, I wanted it all! But I dialled back my eagerness and thought about what I actually wanted. I wanted one statement piece, one I want to ‘do’ myself piece, and one I can wear with anything piece; all within the budget of £100. So I hunted, I sought, and I bought it! Everything came from Brastop, Playful Promises, and Bluebella. And I can’t lie I relished the challenge! I tried to buy sets in a range of prices, but all were heavily discounted. I’ve showcased them below:

So let’s get in people…

The anything bra

Okay so disclaimer, I actually have this set already in black. I got the bra as a freebie when I was a fit model for Curvy Kate checking their sizing for 36GG (a few years ago). At the time I was between a 36H &GG, but it fit beautifully. I actually am now a 36GG, funnily enough, and it still fits. I love a mesh bra, as I wear them with anything. They don’t show seams through my clothes and are lightweight enough to wear all day. I couldn’t miss the opportunity for this orange version. I saw it as a sign from the Gods above, as neon colours always look great on me. So much so, I’ve since brought the Fuschia version too!

• Pro The colour perfectly suits me, but also looks a little nude so it hypes up the sexy factor.
• Pro The feel of the mesh on my body, is so light. It literally feels like I’m not wearing a bra, and the panties are so soft.
• Pro The support is unmatched. This bra manages to offer full support, with the underwire firm, but not rigid, so it literally just feels like your boobs have just perked up overnight.
• Pro The shape is very rounded, which I love. It’s always a challenge to get a teardrop shape in a fuller bust bra, but this comes very close.
• Con Only one! Be careful what you wear on top of this as it is light neon orange, it will show through white… so maybe it can’t be worn with anything!

Let me just ‘do’ myself set

Known for their sexy noire sets, I was trés excited to finally try a Bluebella set of my own. So I hit the search field of their site and entered 36G. To my horror there was absolutely nothing left in a 36G – it was all sold out. There was a basque in a 36FF, and I couldn’t resist the urge to just try it and see. And boy, oh boy was I glad I took that chance because it fit! Not perfectly, it looks rather booby, and I definitely couldn’t just wear it under a tee. However, under a cross-over dress or loose shirt – Yass hunni! Bedroom or Cocktails this oozes sex appeal. It just works, and not only does it work, the cut-out banded strap sides add a little Va Va Voom, and that’s always a positive.

• Pro Extremely sexy, with the bodice very comfortable and form fitting.
• Pro Low back and front, so great for plunging necklines.
• Con Stress on the straps due to my fuller bust (2 sizes bigger), so the rectangular ring on the apex, has already begun to twist from horizontal to vertical.
• Con As it is a couple of sizes smaller I’m worried the weight of my bust, will wane on the band length, and won’t be to wear this all day. I’m going to try it out and let you know in another post.

P.S. Since I brought this basque, I’ve been informed that they’re working on some more fuller bust bra styles that should be out soon.. so watch that space, I know I will.

It’s all about the statement!

This was the set I was most excited to try. You should know that I love a satin cup. I’ve not brought one since I was an FF cup, so I was super eager to try this half cup in lilac. Lilac in lingerie always pops, and this looked so sexy on. It was girly and fun, as well as soft – which is my type of lingerie. I loved the diamante body chain, that hung so nicely from the bridge of the bra. The bra sat well with the high-waisted knicker. However, this bra was not the best fit for me.

My boobs are quite weighty, as well as soft and oblong shaped. As most of the support for breast tissue is held in the underband of the bra, and the cup itself is extremely soft, the straps only gave a loose shape to my silhouette. The front straps pushed my boobs together to create a good cleavage, but my huge nipples altered the shape of the cup. It still looked nice, but I definitely want to try another bra in a full cup from playful promises/Felicity Hayward to see if it suits my boob shape better.

• Pro Super feminine, soft satin gives the bra a chic and sexy look, especially coupled with the knicker.
• Pro Feels soft, and smooth against the skin.
• Pro Diamante body chain, and gold accents, adds even more glamour to the set.
• Con Half cup not as suited for larger nipples &/or softer breast tissue.
• Con Nipple covers too small for my nipples and areolas.

As you can see I found a range of sets, starting from just £19. Buying bras in DD+ can be costly, and time-consuming, but it absolutely doesn’t have to be. I loved all the sets I purchased. It’s so important to think about what you’re looking for in buying a bra. It’s hard enough just looking through all the huge ranges in your size, don’t overwhelm yourself when you don’t know what you want.

What is helpful is that different bra brands tend to use the same pattern in different ranges across the seasons, so if you find a brand, or style that works for you, don’t be afraid to buy it again. Just like I did with the Lifestyle Plunge Bra. If you start off with the places I recommended and follow my tips below it will be a breeze.

Fuller Bust Bra Buying Tips

1. Set a budget, and stick to it.
2. If you’re buying with a purpose or occasion in mind, stay focused.
3. Think about the colours or textures or shapes you like.
4. Don’t buy it just because it’s on sale. If it doesn’t spark joy, leave it for someone who loves it!

Do let me know how you get on, and share with me any tips you have for fuller bust bra buying. Happy shopping!