Hopeless Lingerie: Stella Bralette & Kira Leg Harness

Size: Custom, XXS / Material: Mesh / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

Hopeless bralettes can be grouped into two main types: the ones with a thick elastic underband for additional support (i.e. Stella, Lucy, Elaine, Suzy) and the ones without (i.e. Delphine, Rosemary, Rachel). As an owner of 3/7 of the available bralette styles that fell into both categories, you get a pretty good idea of what to expect. Following some of the minor fit issues I had with my Lucy, with the band being much too loose even on the tightest hook, I decided to email Gaby for a custom sized Stella made with a shortened band. It turns out that when laid flat the XXS band measures at 22" and stretches up to 32" (measurements do not include +3" bra clasp), whereas my own underbust measurement was only 27". Gaby suggested that I could have Stella shortened to 20" with it stretching up to 30", and the cups would remain as an XXS, so this was the measurement we went with.

Upon receiving my custom Stella, the first things I noticed was that the halter was less straining on the neck in comparison to Lucy and that the band was incredibly snug on the first hook – something which literally never happens to me. Although this level of tightness is not something I'm used to it's actually a good thing; as the elasticity wears over time it means that my Stella won't become so loose it's rendered unwearable. One thing to keep in mind is that the band is responsible for providing 80% of the support for your bust. Therefore, as a girl with not only a small underbust but also a shallow bust (i.e. my breast tissue distribution is more even throughout the bust and I have little to no projection), to finally own a bra with a suitable band measurement meant that my breast tissue was actually being lifted and 'centralised', thus giving a well-rounded shape with some impressive cleavage. However, as I had requested for a shorter band, I didn't anticipate that this would affect the coverage of the soft cups. The tightened band ended up stretching the cups sideways and outwards, which meant that my nipples were always on the verge of falling out (evident in the above photo) despite shortening the halter-neck straps to try and remedy the problem. Fortunately this should not be an issue for most people, as I also had a standard XXS Stella on hand for comparison (my girl Laura and I made a group order so her items were also posted to me).

The second Hopeless piece I purchased this time round was the Kira leg harness in XXS. As the satin elastic straps are fully adjustable it fits perfect without any edges cutting in, which is one thing I'm usually worried about. Though not the most practical piece of lingerie, I purchased Kira with the intention of wearing it slightly lower down my waist/thighs so it peeks out from underneath a mini skirt and as a layering piece with other basics. As you can tell, Kira and Stella look amazing together and will work as fully functioning 'underwear as outerwear' pieces, voilà.

Rating: 10/10

Layering & Styling: A Lesson in Sheers

Wanda Suspender Tank (limited edition blue mesh) – Hopeless Lingerie
Lucy Bralette – Hopeless Lingerie
Karen Knickers – Hopeless Lingerie
Contrast Backseam Stockings 1926 – Leg Avenue

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A while ago I asked my followers on Instagram if they would be interested to see a new series on my blog on how I style and layer my lingerie. I received a great amount of positive feedback, and someone noted it would be interesting to see my 'philosophy' behind my layering choices, which I will hopefully try and convey here today. Though, I am by no means claiming to be a professional stylist – any opinion or advice given is merely down to my personal taste, which you are more than welcome to follow and take inspiration from (or not).

As someone who's a bit obsessive about matching lingerie, layering different pieces – either in terms of different brands or material – can be kind of meh for me. So thankfully, Hopeless pieces always look great together and can be easily mixed and matched. However, I do try to match my lingerie in the same material and an all mesh look is a good starting point. Truth be told though, I don't really have any set principles behind lingerie layering and styling. More often than not I usually just feel randomly inspired to throw on certain pieces and have an idea of how it might look. Unsurprisingly, the way you envision something doesn't necessarily turn out as nicely in reality as it does in your head – re: the top photo. I first tried layering Wanda above Lucy and Karen but felt pretty anti-climatic when I saw the final look. The whole thing seemed messy to me with the black, blue and blue over black mesh. However as I had such a good feeling about this set in my head, I wasn't ready to give up on it; I took everything off and re-layered it the other way around. This time with Wanda under Lucy and Karen, the whole thing looked so much neater and just right. Under the black mesh, the blue mesh is less noticeable and blends in more with my skin-tone, hence highlighting the black contrast seams to give a geometric and minimal appearance. I also feel that layering opaque, or less sheer, over sheer materials gives a more striking and bold look. My main take home message is that you should really try and experiment with the lingerie you have – throwing on a bunch of mesh pieces is always a good starting point and if something doesn't look as good as you think it could the first time round, just try again until you're completely satisfied.

Hopeless Lingerie: Rosemary Bralette & Brenda Knickers

Size: XXS, XS / Material: Merino jersey / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

For Christmas last year, my boyfriend gifted me with the lovely Brenda knickers in XS, which is in a colourway that I would never pick out myself but I now adore dearly. Though the sides are fully adjustable, I have to wear them on the tightest strap and they are still slightly loose. This is entirely my fault as what I had previously referred to as my hip measurement was in fact my bum, measuring at 34", but Hopeless Lingerie's hip measurements refer to the hips (hip bone area) exactly, which puts me at a XXS for a 32" hip. Thankfully they aren't so loose to the point that they're unwearable and it's nice that the elastic edging doesn't cut in so there are no unfortunate quadrabutts. And because wearing un-matching lingerie is almost blasphemous for me, I picked up the Rosemary bralette in my usual XXS immediately with the 30% voucher code offered by Hopeless for the delayed orders placed around the end of last year. As the cut is much like the Delphine bralette, Rosemary fits similar in terms of its shape and I wasn't surprised at all that it did little to no job in rounding my bust. I also found that regardless of how much I tightened the back straps, they didn't really help in making the cups fit more firmly. Further, because of my shallow shape, there is little boob mass in preventing the bottom of the cups to ride up when I tighten the neck straps. Perhaps a silicone lining under the elastic edging, like on the Helmut Lang asymmetrical bralette or hold-up stockings, would be helpful in preventing this. Despite some of my fit issues that is entirely down to my own anatomy, rather than Hopeless's construction, the merino jersey on Rosemary and Brenda is extremely soft, making it one of my top go-to lingerie sets for lazy days lounging around.

Rating: 7/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Wanda Garter Tank & Abbie Harness

Size: XXS / Material: Mesh / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

Last December I was contacted by Hopeless to be featured as their first ever customer of the month. In return, I was gifted with a lovely $50 voucher that could be used on anything in the shop. A few weeks later All of Them Witches was released and the moment I laid eyes on the Wanda garter tank in blue mesh, I knew it had to be mine. My Wanda, the only ever XXS to be made, is one of the seven limited edition pieces in the prettiest shade of blue I have ever seen. After my patient 8 week wait, I finally received this in the post today and was completely surprised to find that Gaby also sent me a little something else – the Abbie harness. But first, let's talk about Wanda. Wanda is made with a pale greyish-blue mesh and has little stretch to it, unlike the black mesh Hopeless items. Fit wise, it's perfect. Not a single part of this garment rides or scrunches up; it's not too tight and not too loose, fitting snugly against my skin just how I like it. Wanda is also snug enough that it gives my breast a nice rounded shape without flattening too much. Although not clearly visible in this photo, when attached to stockings, the garment pulls down slightly and my nipples rest a centimetre or two from the black trims – this is not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation. Tightening the back straps also 'fixes' this a little. I initially suspected that this was due to my long torso, however looking back at the product page it seems as though this is how Wanda is meant to fit, but obviously this is also dependent on your body type. The garters also hold up my stockings fine and it's nice to see that they're made with metal, instead of plastic, clips. As for the Abbie harness, I was (too) kindly sent an XS and originally thought it might be too loose (XS fits a 29" underbust and 25" waist, I measure 27" and 23" respectively) but I was terribly wrong as it is fully adjustable on both the neck and waist straps. The only downside I have with this piece is that the centre strap scrunches up when I sit down, but since I'm planning on wearing this under tops I suspect it won't be much of a problem. I can't even begin to express my gratitude (maybe I should just downright creepily confess my love) and how truly wonderful Gaby is, thank you so so so much.

Rating: 10/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Karen Knickers

Size: XS / Material: Mesh / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

This will be my last Hopeless Lingerie review since this is the last piece I own in my collection... for now. The Karen knickers was one of the first pieces I desperately wanted and lusted over from Hopeless. When I finally decided to make my purchase with the store credit I had, there was no doubt that I was going to pick these up seeing I didn't manage to the first time round. This time I sized up as I didn't want to have the same complications I had with my Phoebe knickers, and also to ensure that there would be no sneaky quadrabutts making an appearance. I left my measurements for Gaby as well during checkout as my waist measurement is a few inches smaller than the XS. To my delight, these fit perfectly on my hips and waist – they aren't too tight or too loose that the material scrunches up at the sides, and the elastic waistband is fully adjustable. Style wise, I find that the Karen knickers are akin to a pair of high-waisted knickers and fit somewhat like boyshorts on the hips, both of which are my favourite types of undies. Although not pictured, the back of these knickers are almost identical to the front but covers slightly more, which thankfully covers my bum, showing no butt cleavage. I also love the newly upgraded metallic hardware on the newer Hopeless Lingerie styles and I'm glad I purchased these now rather than before. The Karen knickers are basically the most uniquely designed pair of knickers I have ever seen and I don't think I've even seen anything quite similar to it. All in all, I'm absolutely in love with them and with this picture as well. Who knew Photo Booth + deliberate lighting placement + VSCO Cam filter could look so good? Wahey!

Rating: 10/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Kelly Knickers

Size: XXS / Material: Bamboo jersey / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

My first purchase from Hopeless Lingerie consisted of these three items: Delphine bralette, Phoebe knickers and Selene harness knickers. Unfortunately, there was a small sewing defect on my Selene harness knickers so I contacted Gaby who kindly offered either a replacement piece or store credit to purchase another item, so this is how I ended up with my Kelly and Karen knickers. Never would I ever have thought that these would be the knickers I'd select out out of the other Hopeless items. I remember being a little girl, hating high waisted grandma panties, thinking bell-bottom jeans were awesome and that 70's/80's high cut underwear was ridiculous. Obviously everything about that statement is untrue now, my tastes have drastically changed as I've gotten older – I love high waisted panties, bell-bottoms are ridiculous, and high cut knickers are sexy as fuck. I ordered these in an XXS following Gaby's advice, as these cut high around the hips, she ensured that I wouldn't have the same fit issue as I had with my Phoebe knickers. The Kelly knickers are made with super soft bamboo jersey, which are even softer than my Phoebe knickers (how??!?!), and they are literally the comfiest underwear I own, material wise. One of my favourite things about is is the elasticated waist band. I'm not really sure why this appeals to me but they remind me of my Base Range boyshorts, or just boxer briefs in general, which I find really comfortable. The only downsides I have with this piece is that overtime it gives me pretty bad wedgies, as the hip area is relatively loose-fitting, and that my hip bones don't jut out enough – which are basically 'problems' as a result of my own anatomy, and not of the construction. Regardless, these are still worn more than regularly, and are my go-to knickers if I want something basic and simple, but funky at the same time.

Rating: 8/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Lucy Bralette

Size: XXS / Material: Mesh / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

Shortly after my first purchase from Hopeless Lingerie, Gaby released her Tenebrae collection. I've seen a sneak peak of this bralette a few months back on her Instagram prior to the release of this collection and knew then that I must have it. So when the Lucy bralette was available for purchase, I immediately snatched it up and patiently waited for its arrival. I'll be honest, I was slightly disappointed when I first put this on because I suddenly remembered that I didn't have wonderful boobs like Hopeless's Marian Wolfe. Fit wise, the halter neck straps are all adjustable – depending on how tight I adjust it, the Lucy bralette gives my bust a different shape. The looser the straps, the pointier and more natural the shape of my bust is. Personally I prefer a more rounded shape so I like to have the straps slightly tighter, however after a while you will notice a strain on your neck, which is one of the only downsides I have with this piece. Regardless, this piece is slowly growing on me and I find myself liking it more and more each day. And because I'm super anal and obsessive over matching lingerie, the mesh material (it doesn't look it in the picture, but believe me, it is) makes this a perfect set with my Hopeless Karen knickers.

Rating: 9/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Phoebe Knickers

Size: XXS / Material: Bamboo jersey / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

The Phoebe knickers was the second item I received from Hopeless Lingerie from my first purchase. I was quite apprehensive about how this would fit on my body type, as there were very few customer photos asides from professional model shots, and my friend also remarked that it reminded her of a girdle. Anyway, I thought I'd take a risk with it and was extremely pleased with how it ended up looking on me. They're probably my favourite pair of knickers, however not the most perfect as I do have a few fit problems with it that was unexpected. The XXS was mean to fit a 23 inch waist and 32 inch hip, and it was recommended to size down if between sizes. But between purchasing and receiving these knickers in the post almost two months later, I had gained two extra inches around my hips as a result of squats. Unsurprisingly, they hardly fit over my bum and gives me a wee quadrabutt. It also takes me at least two minutes to carefully squirm and wiggle myself into them, aka not great when you need to pee real bad. My low waist to hip ratio (22 inch waist and 34 inch hip swag ~) also contributes to this as they are now one whole size apart. I am honestly terrified of ripping these but for reasons beyond me they have not managed to tear yet. This really just shows the exceptional quality of craftsmanship by Gaby and her team, and if it wasn't for the fit issue these would be my most worn pair of knickers.

Rating: 10/10

Hopeless Lingerie: Delphine Bralette

Size: XXS / Material: Bamboo jersey / Purchasable from: Hopeless Lingerie

The Delphine bralette was one of my first purchases from Hopeless Lingerie. Despite knowing that my shallow bust shape doesn't fit bralettes very well, as it gives my breasts a pointy shape, I went ahead and bought this anyway since I couldn't resist the crossed strapping detail at the back. I figured this could be worn under loose oversized jumpers in the winter or as loungewear/sleepwear. As predicted, the Delphine bralette provided a very natural shape with no flattening or rounding (i.e. not great for wearing out under tight clothing for me personally) though it does provide sufficient coverage across my breasts with no signs of riding up from under my breast tissue. The material is soft and comfortable and I've worn it for hours on end without noticing it and is equally comfortable to be slept in.

Rating: 8/10