Tag: basque

Night Lily Basque review header

[Lingerie Review] Lovehoney Night Lily Basque

Published on by Amy

I don’t often request basque-style lingerie pieces to review, simply because they’re usually underwired and as we have proven again and again and again, wired lingerie doesn’t tend to be friendly to my body. So when I noticed that Lovehoney’s Night Lily range consists entirely of non-wired pieces, I had to try one out. I received the Night Lily Basque in my latest Lovehoney delivery.

Night Lily Basque: Details & Look

The Night Lily Basque reminds me a lot of the Twilight Rose range (remember the waspie I tried?) in that it’s the kind of aesthetic my younger, goth-er self would have absolutely swooned over. Its black and wine red, lace-trimmed aesthetic is classic femme-goth.

I do like the overall shape of this one. I’m insecure about my stomach, so something that covers it entirely – while drawing attention to my chest and waist – works well for me.

Lovehoney Night Lily Basque

The Night Lily Basque is made of a stretchy polyester/elastane blend in red, and trimmed with black floral lace detailing. There’s criss-cross detailing across the chest, a ribbon, and a bow with the Lovehoney heart insignia in the centre of the cleavage. It also features suspender straps a cut-out to show off your skin at the back.

I would have preferred the suspender straps to be removeable. Many Lovehoney items feature removeable straps, so it’s obviously not a hard thing to incorporate. I just don’t really wear stockings very often and can’t be bothered with them most of the time, but they’re really necessary with this piece otherwise you just end up with stray dangling straps.

The Night Lily Basque also comes with a matching thong.

Black and red lace thong

Fit and Comfort

Though its lack of wires makes it easier for someone with a large bust to wear, the Night Lily Basque was still a bit of a struggle for my G-cups. I can fit my boobs into it, but I have to position the cups and waist belt quite carefully if I want anything to stay in place. My chest felt a little squished, but I have to admit the cleavage from this basque is excellent!

Quite a few other reviewers on the Lovehoney site have also noted that the Night Lily Basque runs small. If you’re between sizes or unsure, I’d definitely recommend sizing up for this one. I’m normally a size 12 and Lovehoney’s Medium usually works well for me, but in this instance I might have done better with the Large.

The fabric is soft and stretchy, making it easy and comfortable to wear. The under-bust band is also elasticated, and both the back slider and shoulder straps are adjustable. As long as you get the closest to your size that you can, most people will be able to get a decent fit from this piece. The bra-style straps and waistband give your breasts some gentle support and lift without wires.

I noticed that the Night Lily Basque tends to scrunch up a bit at the sides on me, especially around the waist. Including some light boning would have given it a bit more structure.

I found the back strap almost impossible to fasten by myself without looking. Either put it on backwards and then spin it around, or ask someone else to fasten you up.

The thong has an elasticated waistband and fits true to size.

Verdict

A nice little set that’s genuinely very pretty. I like the soft gothic look, the soft fabric, and the overall shape. I’m unlikely to wear it very often because of the slight fit issues and the necessity of wearing it with stockings, but it’s pretty enough that I’m sure it’ll get an outing once in a while!

It’s nice to see a basque-style piece without wires but, ultimately, this set is probably still going to work better for those with smaller chests than me.

The Night Lily Basque set retails for £32.99 ($39.99 US).

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this piece in exchange for an honest review. All views, as always, are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.

Header image for review of Lovehoney black lace waspie red and black underbust corset

[Lingerie Review] Lovehoney Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie

Published on by Amy

[Update 10/05/24: this product has been discontinued. I have removed dead links but left the post up for reference.]

I’m extremely into corsetry, basques, and everything else in that general category of products. I love how they make my body – my waist, my boobs, my hips – look and how sexy I feel in them. Lovehoney kindly sent me the Black Lace Waspie from their new Twilight Rose Christmas lingerie collection.

In case you don’t know, a waspie is essentially a shorter under-bust corset. Obviously it varies slightly depending on your body, but on me, the top of the waspie hits an inch or so under my breasts.

Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie: First Impressions

I took this one out of the packaging during a lingerie try-on session with Mr CK, the purpose of which was to choose an outfit for a party we were attending. When I saw the Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie, the first thing I said was “this is something that 18-year-old goth Amy would have gone mad over!”

The Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie is made of “microfibre”, in this case a synthetic blend of polyester and elastane, as well as mesh and lace, with ribbon trims. The microfibre parts feel soft to the touch, while the lace is a little coarser (though not problematically so, at least for my skin). Its structure is supported by six plastic bones. It is adorned with a wide band around the waist, red and black lace panels, and red ribbon detailing as well as a little gold Lovehoney heart. It comes with four removeable suspenders so you can wear stockings with it if you wish.

The Waspie closes with a row of hook-and-eye clasps down the back. Pro tip: put it on backwards and then spin it around once you’ve fastened all the hooks (or ask someone else to do it up for you).

Fit

The Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie is available for UK sizes 6-24. I received the medium (UK 10-12) which is usually a good fit for me. However, the Waspie was actually just a little small when fastened on the loosest setting. It closed, but it looked and felt slightly too tight.

I’m trying to lose a few pounds at the moment and I think when I’m done, the Waspie will fit beautifully. But if you’re thinking of getting one of these and you’re between sizes or unsure, I’d suggest sizing up for this one.

The plastic boning gives the piece structure and holds it in place, while being less rigid and constricting than the steel bones found in true corsetry. Plastic boned pieces are a good in-between if you want a garment that offers gentle support and shaping, but also enjoy being able to breathe and sit down!

The main thing I’m not sure about is the lace trim at the top, which is 1.5″ wide. On the model pictures, this sits neatly against the skin. On me, though, it tended to bunch up and roll down in a way that I found distracting. If I’m going to wear something, I don’t want to be adjusting it all night.

Aesthetic and Sex Appeal

I do like this piece, overall, despite the slight issue with how it sits on me. The black and red colour combination is a winner, the lace and ribbon detailing is pretty in a goth-femme sort of way, and I like the way the wide band nips in my waist.

Interestingly, wearing the Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie feels a little like stepping back into an earlier version of myself. I’ve moved away from goth style in recent years, not because I no longer love it but simply because I am older and tireder and have more sensory issues that tend to nudge me towards greater comfort. Wearing something I’d have swooned over 10 or 15 years ago is bringing back some memories and reminding me what I loved about those fashions in the first place.

I doubt I’d wear the Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie by itself, because I don’t like how my naked breasts look over underbust corsets. I’d likely pair it with a floaty shirt, a suitable bra, or even an unwired bodysuit to give the whole ensemble more shape and structure. It’s quite a versatile piece and works just as well as the centrepiece of an outfit as it does as lingerie.

I think I might be wearing it when I go to The Rocky Horror Show with part of my polycule in a few months’ time…

Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie: Verdict

The Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie is a pretty and well-made basque that can function as underwear or outerwear. While the slight issue with the fit and lace trim means I doubt I’ll be wearing it frequently, it’s fun for when I want to let Goth Amy Circa 2008 out to play.

The Twilight Rose Black Lace Waspie retails for a great-value £29.99 ($36.99).

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this piece to review. All views and pictures are, as always, my own. Affiliate links appear within this post.

Header for review of Lovehoney Lingerie Fierce Diva faux leather bustier

[Fetishwear Review] Lovehoney Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier Set

Published on by Amy

[Update 10/05/24: this product has been discontinued. I have removed dead links but left the post up for reference.]

Sometimes, I know that an item is going to be a YES for me the moment I take it out of the packaging. The Diva Faux Leather Bustier Set from the Lovehoney Fierce range was one such piece.

Details and First Impressions

Close up of woman's butt in lace lingerie
Back of Lovehoney faux leather bustier
sexy faux leather thong crotchless knickers

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier Set comes with two pieces: the bustier and a pair of crotchless thong knickers. As with the other Fierce pieces I’ve tried recently, I was immediately impressed by the shiny wet-look material. These pieces are a great alternative if you don’t like the animal origins (or price tag) of leather, or the care and complexity (or sometimes price tag) of latex!

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier is plastic-boned for light structuring, and has a plunging neckline with lace-up detail. It’s adorned with a floaty lace “skirt” and matching floral lace detail on the bodice. It comes with removable suspenders, so you can wear it by itself or pair it with some sexy stockings. The back piece is semi-transparent mesh, designed to show just a hint of the skin underneath.

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier is just really, really my style. The soft fetish aesthetic of the black faux leather and structured shape, combined with the flirty and femme lace detailing, is exactly my jam. I think it looks sexy as hell, don’t you?

Fit and Comfort

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier fastens with a row of hooks and eyes up the back. The easiest way to get it on is to put it on backwards and fasten these at the front, then twist it around and pull the shoulder straps up last. (You could also theoretically pull it on over your head, but be careful not to snag the soft mesh or lace if you do that!)

It’s fairly comfortable to wear, as the fabric is soft and the mesh at the back increases the breathability. Definitely a less hot and sweaty option than actual leather!

This bustier set is available in sizes small (UK 6-8) up to 5x (UK 26-28). I wear a size 10/12, and the medium fits me well. The hook and eye fastenings offer three different size options, and the material is quite stretchy, so it will accommodate different bodies within that size range well. The shoulder straps are also adjustable.

Fierce is probably the most big-boob-friendly range Lovehoney have done yet. The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier contains my G-cup chest easily, and enhances my cleavage without making me feel as though I’m about to fall out of it. With no wires and adjustable lacing, this bustier will accommodate a wide range of breast sizes.

The accompanying knickers? Honestly, I just don’t think I like either thongs or crotchless underwear very much. They’re not made for people with pubic hair or for people who don’t like fishing a string out of their butt crack all night long. I’ll probably never wear them again, if I’m honest. Instead, I’ll team the bustier with either some lacy knickers for a night in, or a pair of faux leather trousers and some high boots for a night out.

Versatile and Sexy

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier sits in that middle ground between clothing and lingerie where it could feasibly be either. I’d wear this in the bedroom with my partner or to a play party, but I’d also wear it for an alternative club night or even as a more risqué Halloween costume.

Just absolutely beautiful. I’m going to get a lot of wear out of this one.

The Fierce Diva Faux Leather Bustier Set retails for £59.99 ($74.99 US).

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this piece to review. Pictures and opinions are mine! Affiliate links appear in this post.

Header for Lovehoney Beau Basque set review

[Lingerie Review] Lovehoney Beau White Lace Basque Set

Published on by Amy1 Comment

[Update 01/11/23: Beau by Lovehoney has been discontinued. I have left this review up for information.]

I generally don’t really think of white as being my colour. I’ve certainly never owned a set of white lingerie before! But I’m all about broadening my style horizons and trying new things, so I was only too happy to accept the Lovehoney Beau White Lace Basque Set and give it a go.

Beau-tiful

Beau is a new lingerie range from Lovehoney. There are three basic styles: the basque, the bra set, and the cut–out body. Each is available in standard and plus sizes, and in white or red, making 12 pieces in total. All the pieces are non-wired.

I received the Beau basque set in white. This two-piece set comprises the basque and a pair of thong knickers.

The basque is a non-wired all-in-one piece in delicate white floral lace. It has a deep V-neck design and a thick centre band that accentuates the waist and is adorned with the Lovehoney heart insignia. The cleavage, stomach, and waist feature criss-cross detailing and the shoulder straps cross at the back. The Beau basque also has non-removeable suspenders.

Look

I’m surprised at how much I love this basque! Again, I don’t generally think of white as my colour. (“It’s a bit… virginal?” my partner said. Which, lol, I write about dildos on the internet for a living). And given that I’m super pale anyway, white tends to wash me out even more.

With that said, I actually think it looks better than I expected! I like the way the waistband emphasises my curves, and the criss-cross detailing is really sexy.

I’m kinda tempted to wear it out to a sex club (whenever we can go to those again.) Darker colours like blacks, reds, and purples are much more common in those spaces, and I think turning up in something white and then being an absolute filthbeast is kinda fun in a subversive way?

This set also brings to mind all kinds of innocence-and-corruption fantasies. It makes me want to look sweet and pretty and then let a hot Dominant (consensually) absolutely fucking destroy me.

If you think traditional, the Beau basque definitely has a bridal aesthetic. If you’re getting married and looking for some white wedding night lingerie to wow your new spouse, the Beau basque is an affordable (and comfortable!) option.

Since you can’t remove the suspenders, you really do need stockings with this basque. These lace-top thigh highs will look gorgeous with it!

Fit and Comfort

The Beau basque comes in “one size” (which is designed to fit sizes 8-16, while the Plus size is designed to fit sizes 18-24.) I honestly really struggle to believe there’s much out there that will fit a size 8 body and a size 16 body equally well.

All bodies are different and it is pretty adjustable, but… yeah, “one size” stuff is a minefield.

I’m a size 12 and the Beau basque set was a pretty good fit for me. The back straps and suspenders are fully adjustable and the stretchy waistband has a decent amount of give, so you can adjust it to fit to a certain extent. The waistband of the thong is also fully adjustable. As it’s non-wired, the Beau basque also contains my G-cup boobs surprisingly well.

Verdict

A surprising winner! This piece is unlike anything I’d pick for myself if it wasn’t being sent to me for review, but I love it far more than I expected to.

The Beau basque set retails for £34.99. Use code AFF-COFFKINK10 at checkout to get 10% off this piece or anything else at Lovehoney!

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me the Beau basque to review. All views and pictures, as ever, are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.

A curvy woman in lingerie. For a post on plus-size lingerie and body image

Plus-Size Lingerie and Body Love [A Review, of Sorts]

Published on by Amy7 Comments

Update 02/03/22: Belle Amour and Rendezvous now been discontinued but you can check out Lovehoney’s extensive and growing plus-size lingerie lines here.

This post contains frank descriptions of body image issues and weight loss (no numbers) and discusses external and internalised fatphobia. Please look after yourselves and skip this one if this is likely to be difficult for you. This one is quite vulnerable for me – please be kind. Thank you.

A pretty curvy woman in the Rendezvous plus-size lingerie set from Lovehoney

I am currently fatter than I have ever been in my life. And I am not, truth be told, okay with this.

To be honest, I feel bad even writing that. I don’t know if I am allowed to complain that I experience fatphobia at this size – where I never have before. Plenty of people who are bigger than me experience far worse. But there we are. These things exist on a spectrum. And many people, from men who might want to fuck me to service staff, treat me noticeably worse now than they did 50lb ago.

A pretty curvy woman in the Belle Amour plus-size lingerie bra set from Lovehoney

Even though I’m frequently attracted to gorgeous babes of all sizes, fat and thin and everywhere in between, I really struggle with seeing my body like this. I have to be in a lot of photos at my day job, and I’ve often ended up going to the loos to have a sneaky cry after seeing a photo of myself. It’s probably fair to say I currently hate my body most of the time.

I’m on a long journey right now of getting back to the weight where I felt good about my body, while also trying to love it as it is on the way. Part of the problem is that a lot of my clothes, and especially a lot of the clothes I used to feel good in, don’t fit me at the moment. This includes all the gorgeous lingerie I’ve accrued in two years of sex blogging. (Small mercies, I can still get into the catsuit of joy, but just barely.)

So when my pals at Lovehoney announced they were launching two new lines of plus-size lingerie, I agreed to try it out. Still at a place of being reluctant to call myself “plus-size,” I nervously selected a couple of pieces and waited for them to arrive. They then sat on the sofa for several days, staring at me. Making me feel guilty for not trying them and scared to try them in equal measure. What if they looked awful? If they didn’t fit? If I ended up just hating my body even more?

Eventually I did try them, when I was alone in the house and there was no-one but me and the mirror to judge me. (Not that my sweethearts would ever negatively judge me, but internalised fatphobia is strong, y’all).

Meet Belle Amour & Rendezvous

Belle Amour and Rendezvous are Lovehoney’s two new lines of plus-size lingerie. Unlike their other offerings, these ranges are exclusive to Plus and cover sizes 18-28 (that’s UK sizes).

“Belle Amour” is a red-themed range (two of the sets also have black accents) which is bright, bold and sexy as hell. The two “Rendezvous” pieces are inspired by fetishwear and characterised by black fabrics, gold studded collar and belt, and fishnet lace. Woof.

The pieces I chose & my experience

I decided to go for one basque and one bra set, to get the best overall sense of the range. I chose the Rendezvous Studded Fishnet Basque and the Belle Amour Longline Bra Set.

When I first got lingerie from Lovehoney, I was really pleasantly surprised at the quality. Unlike what you get from a lot of sex shops and online retailers, this stuff is fantastically made and uses real high-quality materials. These pieces were no exception. The satin looks anything but cheap, and the lace is unbelievably soft.

I tried on the Rendezvous set first. I’m a big fan of fishnet and I love the floral pattern interspersed with the netting – it gives the set a gorgeous kinky/femme edge. The studded belt is my favourite part, though. I love how it accentuates the curve of my waist.

Sexy lingerie, including plus-size lingerie, is not designed for comfort, so I won’t pretend it was the most comfy thing in the world. But the material is soft and non-scratchy enough that I could wear it for a few hours at an event without too much trouble.

I think this one is coming out at the next kink event we go to…

Next up was the Belle Amour set. I was initially less sure about this one. For starters, it shows off my stomach which isn’t a part of my body I am particularly fond of.

But the longer I wore it, the more I loved the shape it gives to my breasts and the way the garter belt hugs the curve of my hips. I also think the long line bra style, which hits just at the top of my waist, is a super flattering cut for me. The whole aesthetic is delightfully femme.

This is definitely the more comfortable of the two – again, I cannot overestimate how soft this lace is!

Now I just need to get me some wonderful stockings to complete the look…!

Some reactions:

I think it’s safe to say the reactions from my partners and sexy friends were overwhelmingly positive.

“Woof!” – anonymous friend

“*heart eyes emoji*” – other anonymous friend

“So ridiculously hot.” – the Artist

*Drags me into the bedroom for immediate sex* – Mr CK

A note on sizing

As ever, femme clothing sizing continues to be a mystery. Lovehoney’s plus-size lingerie comes in three sizes: 18/20, 22/24, and 26/28. However, each basque and bra has three rows of hooks-and-eyes and some stretch, making them adjustable to a reasonable degree.

Regardless of what size I’ve been at, I have always had disproportionately large boobs compared to the rest of my body. I don’t normally do bras so I haven’t had a measurement done in years. But at a guess I’m probably an E or F cup right now. This means I often have to go a size up in tops and anything with a built-in bra.

I requested these pieces in size 18/20. I’m wearing a 16 in most things at the moment, occasionally an 18 on top thanks to the aforementioned tits. However, on the tightest hook setting these pieces fitted like a dream. Even the cups were a perfect size and actually covered my nipples properly! All the straps are adjustable, from the bra straps to the pieces that attach the collar to the basque. The collar, though not adjustable, is stretchy enough that I can pull it over my head so it will fit the vast majority of neck sizes.

The knickers on both pieces were very, very slightly big on me but really nowhere near enough as to be problematic.

Care and Cleaning

Unfortunately, these pieces – as with most sexy lingerie – are hand-wash only. We actually do put them through the washing machine, in a net bag on the most gentle cycle and they’ve been absolutely fine, but your mileage may vary.

The Verdict

I love both of these sets, and these whole ranges! Interestingly, both my partners agreed that the red set was their favourite, but the black feels like more “me” when I wear them. Perhaps I’m just not very used to bright colours! Black feels much more comfortable, much more… safe?

More than anything, I want to emphasise how goddamn sexy I feel in these pieces. I cried when I’d finished trying them. The whole experience reminded me how it feels to love what I see in the mirror. That’s been… a while.

So what now?

Whatever size you are, if you’re struggling with how you see your body, I recommend getting something to wear that you feel absolutely gorgeous in. This might be lingerie or it might not – what makes us feel good is very personal.

This experience has not cured my body-image issues by any stretch of the imagination. I’m not sure that’s entirely possible. Body image is more complex than the availability of plus-size lingerie. We live in a society that hates fat bodies, that encourages women to hate themselves, and that profits off insecurities and imperfections the media has convinced us we have.

But putting on this this gorgeous plus-size lingerie, taking photos and letting my lovers tell me how sexy I am, has reminded me that my body can still be hot and desirable and perfect, exactly as it is right now. And that has to be worth something.

Thanks to Lovehoney for providing me with these pieces to try. As ever, all opinions are my own. If you purchase through my affiliate links, you send a small commission my way at no extra cost to you. Professional product photos are property of Lovehoney and used with permission.