What Katie Did + Sarsparilly = Swoon

I have always been naturally blessed with a very hourglass figure
Regardless of that, I have always loved corsets, ever since I was a little bity baby quirky Jasmine.

I have owned many over the years but have always had the issue of getting one that fit me well with my already very curvy shape, I love extreme curves and some of the first I ever owned that just fit so well off the rack, were my corsets I brought from What Katie Did.

Recently I was blessed to a part of a collaboration with What Katie Did and the amazing Sarsparilly so I was able to wear two of my all time favourite corsets and have some amazing pictures taken by the ever talented Suz Forrester Photography.

What Katie Did is a faux vintage lingerie brand from the UK. 

I have always lusted after What Katie Did underwear but being a plus size girl, I was anxious if it would fit. The corsets did of course but would anything else. Lets just say I was very happily surprised. it all fit so well.

The corset of course I knew would be amazing.

this is my baby the Vamp Corset – I think it is WKD's most extreme curve corsets. it has hip gores that help give more room in the hips, that way I can really reduce my waist without it being too tight on the hips or ribs.

I am wearing -
Maitresse Curve Bullet Bra, 40 F - £35
Maitresse Nouveau Deep Suspender Belt, UK 18 - £37.50
Maitresse Nouveau Deep Knickers, UK/AU 18  - £26.50
Vamp Corset, 32” reduced Waist Sizes - £169.50
Black Glamour Seamed Stockings, M/L - £10

The dress in the background is the stunning Violetta Jones dress from Sarsparilly.

Sarsparilly is an Australian based handmade clothing company that specialises in vintage inspired women's dresses with fun prints.  They have everything from classic florals to kitsch and pop culture reference prints.

I have a few of these amazing dresses and love them all. I even had two specifically made for me in Zelda inspired gaming prints for my trip to PAX Aus last year.

We styled it with some Red accents. This dress has a double layer skirt with a purple and white polkadot under layer. it is just darling and hugs my curves perfectly. 

Oh and it has pockets !!

I added some Red Glamour Seamed Stockings for a extra little red pop

 The second outfit was a much softer look, much like the previous set. I was very happily surprised with how well the underwear all fit.

I am wearing - 
Harlow Curve Bullet Bra, 40F - £35
Harlow Nouveau Suspender Belt, UK/AU 18 - £37.50
Harlow Nouveau Deep Knickers, UK/AU 18 - £26.50
Lily Corset, 30” Reduced Waist Sizes - £169.50
Blue Glamour Seamed Stockings, M/L - £10

The lily corset is slightly less curvy  than the vamp but still provides and amazing shape. It is just so soft and elegant.

The final dress is the absolute daring Sweet Sadie Dress

it is a super soft pink gingham cottom with the most adorable daisy detail on the waist and hem.

and you guessed it...POCKETS.. 
This dress made me long for a soft spring breeze and warm sun.

 I hope you will all agree with my title..

What Katie Did + Sarsparilly = Swoon...

every damn time 

Credits: 

Model: Me (Quirky and Curvy)

Photographer: Suz Forrester

Hair and Make-Up: Melinda Wenig

Other Pieces: 

Jewellery by Pzella Acessories

Beaded necklaces by Debstar Designs

The Nylon Swish Queen size stockings - Size and fit

Finding stockings that fit comfortably when you are a bigger size is honestly, well...

 there is no subtle way to say it... 

A total bitch

I am very happy to say that the new Queen Size stockings from The Nylon Swish are just what we asked for.

I am sure it is no surprise to anyone, that I am in love. They are the most comfortable stockings ever..

I pretty much wear them daily.

When you are unsure, I know it can be so hard to tell if they would fit, size charts can be confusing..

I thought I would share with you, a few of my stats and numbers.

That way you have an idea of my size and then what size stockings I wear. 

A comparison to help that size choice to be a little easier.

My numbers are -

Dress size - 18 (Aus)

Height - 5 ft 7 inches or 169cm

Upper Thigh Measurement - 30 inches or 76 cm

Inseam - 31.5 inches or 80cm

I am a mix of both bigger thighs and tall / long legged. 

This means the stockings have to stretch both up and wide. 

To find ones that fit, are soft, comfy are a total win.

In the Queen Size stockings from The Nylon Swish, I wear and buy a 2XL

They come in a large size range - from a Medium to a 4XL

On the size chart I am on the border between the XL and 2XL

I personally choose to wear the 2XL because I like my stockings very long..

I have long legs, and lets face it... chafing is real and very unpleasant..

In this size they sit very high up my thigh, all the way to the top. therefore covering the area likely to be effected by chafing..

Also basically I love the look of very long stockings so these are a big win 

These stockings are super soft, super stretchy so are very accommodating. 

They are a 20 denier Stocking so super comfy regardless of climate. I wear them in both hot and cold weather.

I know that trying to pick a size can be daunting.. 

Then often add the fact that stockings may be out of your comfort zone or something you have always wanted to try but all previous attempts have never fit..

Don't let that stop you, you deserve to feel sexy. 

Size or shape have nothing to do with it, they are just numbers...feeling sassy and sexy in stockings is for everyone.

Go forth and knock their socks off 

Trusst Yourself - Review of Trusst Bras

So you may have noticed... i have a big bust... 

Shock horror i know ..

I have ever since i was a young teen. 

So i have chronic issues of neck pain, back pain, chafing, red welts from bra straps and bands digging in...

Underwires trying to kill you... with the metal stabby evilness....

Over a year ago i was intrigued by a Kickstarter that caught my attention right away.. 

Being the geek i am for tech and my obsession with underwear..

there was no way it was not going to look..

It was for Trusst Lingerie..

The brain child of co-founders Sophia Berman and Laura West

 They were approaching the bra from a entirely different way. A bra that wasn't just made for a big bust but was engineered for one. Approaching the 'Underwire' in a entirely different way. Trusst uses a 3D structure (the BAST system) that supports breast weight from under the bust. Based on architectural concepts of a truss and cantilever system. 

The concept of a bra that took the strain off my shoulders and moved it back to around the band on the bra and into the core, while being supportive grabbed me right away and i backed it immediately. 

Fast forward a year to November 2016...and it arrived.. 

***WARNING***

Serious fan girling and gooey eyed lovey doveyness is about to ensue..

I was completely sold with the first try on.... dear god it was so so damn comfy. 

The fit was almost perfect.

After posting how much i loved them online... many times...the wonderful team at Trusst asked if i wanted to review the others as well, there was no way i was saying no.. 

I am seriously in love with these bras.

Okay, so let me tell you the details

First off my size.. 

My size varies depending on brand but typically i am a 38G to H.

For Trusst, i used the sizing calculator to help me workout my size. 

It came out as a 38I. 

A basic word on the fit is....DEAR GOD COMFY...No welts, no digging it..

So let me introduce you to the ladies.. 

Now a little FYI, all three bras are a very similar fit on me. so i will discuss the full fit details with the first and then any differences.

First the lovely

The Marjory..

The cups are a molded foam cup and they completely encompass the BAST system, you cannot feel it against your breast at all. In the below picture i am pointing out where the high point of the BAST system comes to on the cup. It is so cool, like a little shelf.

 The cups fit me very well. It completely encompassed my breast with no spillage or under arm bulge. I have quite close set breasts, so the center gore doesn't complete tack against my breast bone. But i am very happy to say it is minimal, it does not effect the comfort or fit and shape in anyway. 

Just a side effect of my boobies..

The shape under clothes is just awesome, on me it is a very lifted, rounded pointy shape if that makes sense.....hmm ok maybe not..You be the judge.. 

on its own..

Then with the clothes over..  

For the Marjory, the band was a perfect fit right away on me, it is a wide band with three hook closure on the back. The straps are lined, padded and it has a hook to convert to a racer back style if wanted.

All Three bras have the same lining, it is some form of magical super fabric. 

It is as engineered as the bra itself. 

The lining is GARMATEX Kottinu™ fabric, a high tech cotton-like fabric that wicks moisture and is antimicrobial.. 

oh boy did i put it to the test

I live in Sydney, Australia.. it is Summer now so basically..

But not a bit to be seen, i have worn all three of these bras on very hot days and then to my 3 hours of dance class, no sweat marks on my clothes or drips.. nor did the bra feel soaked after.

Hallejlujah!!!

So now we have covered all the basics, the other two bras..

The Jessica

the Jessica is a limited edition style in the Trusst range

The fit is almost identical to the Marjory, the cups have a ever so slightly higher line on my bust. 

It is a beautiful Heather gray with black lace. 

The lower band and eyelash lace details gives a lovely long-line look to the bra. It has a 5 hook closure on the back. the band is super comfy and does not dig in at all like i get with some long-line styles. 

the silhouette under clothes and the support is just as good as the Marjory

and last but definitely not least the sassy and sexy 

The Suzanne

The same amazing fit but with a gorgeous lace detail. The band on the Suzanne did run a little bit firmer that the other two. For me however this was not a problem. it still fit like a dream and looks amazing on. It has a three hook closure on the back.

Under clothes it is just as good as it's sisters..

a smooth clean line and shape without digging in at the back or shoulders. 

So a word on the all important figures..

The Bra's cost -

The Marjory - $82.00 USD 

The Suzanne - $88.00 USD

The Jessica - $98.00 USD

when you consider the cost of a good bra that is very comparable and honestly a price i would so again and did pay for this comfort. 

for non US based people, you have to add international postage on top of that but for those of us who are constantly on the hunt for that ever elusive bra that doesn't make you want to cry....

Yes soooo worth every cent.

So i am sure you are seeing the trend here.. 

I am completely smitten. I have my new go to comfy as all hell bra and i am head over heels...

Now the amazing ladies at Trusst, have given me a code i can share with you all so you can get $10 off your first purchase..

Just enter - QUIRKY10 at checkout 

Now the question, what do you all think, have you tired Trusst or do you want to???

Let me know in the comments 

Ayana Print Bra review from Plus Size Bras

I am always on the look out for new affordable, comfortable and pretty bras. No matter how many i have, more is always welcome.

Finding something that fits all those criteria can be few and far between.  When the wonderful people over at Plus Size Bra's offered to send me a set I could not resist. 

Their range is great, there are so many pretty items and so well priced.

I chose the lovely Ayana Print Bra and Panties.
It was slightly away from my normal colour preferences but it was so pretty I just wanted to try.

The Ayana Print Bra is a lightly padded full cup contour bra. 

With that in mind I went for my usual size a 18G. G is the highest cup in this bra.

When it arrived the cup was a bit too snug for the shape so I returned it for a 20G which is pretty much spot on

For reference my numbers are 

Bust: 49 inches or 124.5 cm

Waist: 36 inches or 91.5 cm

Hips: 51 inches or 130 cm

The bra was super pretty, the fabric was soft and silky satin style finish with black lace details on the side of the cups. It has a black powermesh back with a 3 x 2 closure.

the cup is a full coverage so pretty much completely covers the breast. It provides a pretty decent rounded shape with a slight point and is nice and supportive.

the front gore sits nice and flat against my breastbone.

The fit of this bra on me was good. I was a little worried with the full padded cup as i have had others of those before that have not worked and caused the dreaded "quad boob" 

But once i got the correct size for me in this bra it was good. the fit under the arms was nice and the underwire did not dig in.

I usually prefer a 3 or more hook closure at the back but the two is sufficient. 

the shape of cups provide under clothes is great. a lovely softly pointed rounded silhouette.

The Panties were a good fit also. I ordered these in a 20 to accommodate my bubble butt and hips

The Ayana Print Brief is a full cover briefs.

The front panel is made of the same satin as the bra, the back a soft black stretch fabric with a cotton gusset. The lace detail on the front is very sweet without being too overdone or too girly. The fit was very comfortable. They do not ride up or down or dig in. 

With the Bra costing $39.90 AUD

and the Briefs $15.95 AUD

making this set at  is also so very well priced and affordable.

I do believe then this is a set that checks all three boxes for me

Pretty - Yes

Comfortable - Yes

Affordable - Yes

While the print and colour is a little out of my usual comfort zone, I really like it and am glad it gave it a try.

What colour or print is out of your comfort zone?