Lingerie Brands

The other week, there was a pretty good sale going on.  Buy one bra and get a second one for 75% off.  It was limited to American Brand bras.  As I looked through all the American Brands, not a single one had anything smaller than a 32 band.  I couldn't really believe it, even if I wanted to purchase bras with this deal, I couldn't, because American companies don't feel there is a big enough market for band sizes smaller than 32 (somethings even 34).  Which prompted me to write up reviews of Lingerie Brands.

I base my rankings on two things.  The first is quality.  The second is, how well to they cater to women.  Size is a big component in quality.  It doesn't matter if the bra is made of golden silk if it doesn't fit. Does the company serve women with a goal of making women feel and look beautiful?  Or is their goal only to make money, not caring about providing a quality product and experience?

Agent Provocateur- Another high end, quality, lingerie shop.  If you buy Agent Provocateur, you will get quality but are probably paying just a tad too much for the brand name.  And, I just can't get behind all these high end labels that refuse to cater to any but the smallest range of sizes (34 to 38, B to D cups).

Bali - Bali sizes are very limited.  If you wear a band size 34 to 42 and a cup size B to DD, you are good.  Otherwise, forget Bali.   Therefore they get a thumbs down!  That don't even carry A cups.

Bare Necessities - An online store that sells Lingerie, rather than a brand of lingerie.  That have a very wide selection.  Thumbs up!

Bracli- I haven't tried them yet, but I plan on purchasing their teddy in the future.  Incredibly sexy.  Bracli sales lace lingerie trimmed with pearls.  Think a of throng with pearls as it's strap.

Chantelle - Bras are in American sizing.  Good quality, good sizing range, sexy.  Thumbs Up!

Curvy Kate - A rather new UK company but simply amazingly beautiful stuff.  Thumbs up!  They specialize in D+ cups.  Their bands are 28 to 40.  Would be better if they upped their band range.

Fantasie - UK company that specializes in larger cup sizes.  Band size range is limited to 30 to 40.  Pretty stuff, good quality - Thumbs Up!

Frederick's of Hollywood - One step up form Victoria's Secrets because they actually carry a bigger range of sizes (at least online).  And, Frederick's of Hollywood is nice for those "trampy" sexy styles you something are in the mood for.  Frederick's of Hollywood's down fall is that its quality is cheap.  Thumbs down, which is sad because I really want to like them.

Freya - UK company.  Band size range is limited to 28 to 38.  Cup sizes B to H.  Pretty stuff, good quality - Thumbs Up!  Freya is the go to company for small band/big cupped ladies.  Although, Freya's cup sizes sometimes run a tad bit big.

Hanky Panky - Known for their one size fits all lace thong.  I don't go for "one size" anything and Hanky Panky is no exception despite what reviews might say.  And, Hanky Panky knows if.  They have "solved" the problem by offering their One Size thong in a O/S Plus and Petite version.  Plus is suppose to fit size 14-24, Petite is for sizes 0-2 , and Regular is for sizes 4-14.

To give you a better idea of the regular, 4-14 O/S, I ordered a size medium V-kini Hanky Panky panty plus a O/S regular thong.  The thong was just a tab bit smaller than the v-kini.  So, if you wear about a size medium, the regular O/S should work.  I think those sizes are too generous.  I think the petite does fit 0-2, just fine.  The regular is good for 6-10.   The plus size 12-16.  If you are bigger than a 16, I don't think you are going to like the the O/S thong.

Not to worry, they do have non thong panties which are actually sized.  The v-kini I purchased was comfortable and high quality.  The thong was fairly comfortable for a thong.  I want to wear it some more before I say yay or nah on the famous thong.

Herroom - An online store that sells Lingerie, rather than a brand of lingerie.  That have a very wide selection.  Thumbs up!

La Perla - Probably one of the more famous (and pricy) lingerie brands out there.  And one which I give an emphatic thumbs down.  First, they over price.  You are purchasing a brand name not a produce with La Perla.  Quality is good but no better than something 1/4 of it's price (see some of the other brands I list on this post!).  Second, I think most of their stuff is ugly (not all, just most), but of course that is personal preference.  Third, and this is why they really get a thumbs down, is because they seem to think that anyone who is smaller than a 32B  or bigger than a 36C is not good enough for their product.  They have such limiting sizes, it is disgusting.

Le Mystère - Some beautiful stuff which suffers from a limited size range.

Maidenform - Thumbs Down!  Apparently Maidenform doesn't believe that anyone is larger than a D cup and produces most of it's bra from an A to D.

Panache - A UK company.  It focuses on fitted sports bras from B cup on up.  It's regular bra's though, are only D cup +.  They also have smaller band sizes but tend not to go higher than a 42 band.  I do like their sport bras.  I'd like to try a bra.  Thumbs Up, but I wish they offered bigger than a 42 band.

Parfait by Affinitas - Affinitas is the name of the brand, Parfait is a sub brand that specializes in DD+ cups.  Their stuff is pretty.  They are on my list to try to see how their quality is.

Playtex - Mid-quality, plain, limited sizing.  Thumbs down!

Secrets in Lace - Secrets in Lace is another specialty lingerie shop that focuses on  more retro styles  Their quality is good, but they limit their bra sizes to 32 to 44.  Often they offer bras that are not "secrets in lace " brand that are, in fact, offered in smaller or bigger sizes.  Secrets in Lace simply chooses not to offer them.  So if you see something there but it isn't in your size, do I little digging.  Now, where Secrets in Lace shines is their traditional stockings and metal grip garter selection.

Vanity Fair - Mid-quality, plain, limited sizing.  Thumbs down!

Victoria's Secret - If I hear one more person pontificate on how wonderful "VS" is, I'll scream.  Victoria's Secret is a poor man's La Perla.  First, they believe that every woman is between a size 34A and 38D.  They believe this so much that they blatantly miss-size woman so they will purchase one of their bras.  Second, their quality is cheap (and therefore over priced).  The quality of Victoria's Secret is simple - cheap.  You can get the same quality at JCP, Sears, Target, Kohls for a 1/3 of the price.  Third, their stuff is NOT sexy.  Why in the world would you think a grown woman wearing polka dots or hearts is sexy?  It is not.  Their stuff is appropriate for pre-teens, teens, and 20-somethings.  After that, women, embrace your sexuality and womanhood and throw away girlish things (including "VS"!).  Forth, all their products are small variations of the same style.  What that style is, is based on what they think is the "in" thing that season.  Right now it is t-shirt bras and cheekie panties.  Thumbs down, down, down.  Anyone saying "VS" is the best place for sexy lingerie or sending men their for gifts is clearly showing their ignorance when it comes to lingerie.  

Walcoal - A good quality bra that suffers from not offering a band size smaller than 32 even though their cup size range is decent.  Thumbs up.

Warner's - An American bra company that suffers from limited sizes.  They bras are middle of the road quality and the styles are more practical than sexy.  However, the quality for the price is decent.  

What Katie Did - Specializes in retro (ala 50s) style lingerie and corsets.  Unlike making specialty lingerie brands like this, they offer a somewhat wide range of sizes.  I haven't purchased anything from them yet, but they get a thumbs up for now.  I just wish their size range was a tad bigger.