Poolside glamour in the By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini

   By Caprice is a brand that I have written about before in my reviews of the 'Audrey' and 'Kitty' lingerie sets, but never before have I tried the swimwear. Since the brand's launch in 2006, By Caprice lingerie and swimwear has picked up fans in the form of Imogen Thomas and TOWIE's Maria Fowler and Amy Childs to name a few.

   As a former glamour model, it may come as no surprise that Caprice's Swimwear is equally as sexy as her Lingerie collections. The Spring/ Summer 2012 Swimwear collection is no exception, with an abundance of  glam padded triangle bikinis, moulded push-ups, cut-out swimsuits and skimpy tie-side bottoms in black, metallic tones and vibrant blue, along with ruching, polka dot, stud, floral and ruffle details. 

   By Caprice's padded triangle bikinis have proved to be a particularly popular design for many years now and have been brought out in a range of patterns. I recently spotted a very cute pink and black heart print bikini from By Caprice on lingerie and swimwear e-tailer, Lingerie Please. Lingerie Please offer some very cute bra sized bikinis, so I was delighted when they sent me the By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini to try.. 

  By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' moulded bikini 
(Top: £23 and briefs: £15)

   As I have mentioned before, buying non-cup sized swimwear tends to be a 'no-goer' as I have to mix and match tops and bottoms to account for my bust, meaning that good support is pretty well out of the equation! Although the 'Colby Hearts' bikini does not come in bra sizes, the sizing works using a UK dress size and dual cup size e.g. Size 8-18, with cup sizes B/C, D/DD and E/F. 

   Although I generally wear 28 back bras, I decided to go for the 10 E/F in this bikini as I thought that the 8 E/F may come out rather like a By Caprice size 30 E/F, which would have been too small. (I wear a 30FF in By Caprice lingerie) I also went for a size 12 in the low rise bikini briefs as I have noticed that By Caprice briefs tend to run small due to their skimpier cut.

   It could probably be argued that this sizing system is a little confusing as dress size and band size do not necessarily (and often don't!) correlate. Before you get worried, luckily back size is not too much of an issue with this bikini because it has tie backs, which is great as you can tie the straps as tight or loose as you wish!

   The 'Colby Hearts' bikini top is a black moulded triangle style covered in ultra girlie hearts in bubble gum and lipstick pink. The bright dual tone hearts really stand out against the black base colour, giving this bikini a bit of a colour 'pop'. The low rise bikini briefs have an identical heart pattern and also feature an elasticated black waistband for comfort.

   I was glad that I went for the 10 E/F in the bikini top, as I definitely wouldn't have fit into the cups of the 8 E/F! The cut of the 'Colby Hearts' is much more revealing than most of the bikinis that I own, but boy oh boy does this bikini give you an impressive cleavage! Like the By Caprice bras that I have tried, the 'Colby Hearts' bikini also boasts hidden graduated padding on the inside of the cups.. 

   As you can see from the picture, the padding is quite significant and I definitely got a cleavage to rival a glamour model's in this number! This look may not be everyone's cup of tea (especially if you have a large bust already), but I'd recommend it to those who want to boost their bust on the beach, whilst melting a few ice creams (and hearts) whilst they're at it! 

   I was also glad that I went for a size 12 in the matching briefs as they do come up smaller and skimpier than some of the other bikini bottoms that I own. It is worth sizing up in these low rise briefs if you don't want to show too much derrière.. 

   

   The By Caprice 'Colby Hearts' bikini is a very flirty and glamorous bikini that will boost your assets and your confidence in equal measure. It's worth mentioning that this bikini is more of a 'lounging' and 'posing' bikini and wouldn't be ideally suited to high levels of activity (unless you want to give onlookers an eyeful!)

   It does look great on, however, and I can imagine this bikini drawing many an admiring look on the beach or by the pool! If you're looking for a sexy bikini with 'wow factor', the 'Colby Hearts' has definitely got it. 

   You can see more of Lingerie Please's range of bikinis on their site. There is currently FREE postage for a limited time, with quick dispatches and speedy postage!

Roll on Summer holidays!

Love,

Kitty xo

Hello, 'Kitty'! A By Caprice review..

   I first came across Caprice Bourret's lingerie brand, 'By Caprice', last year and consequently reviewed the 'Audrey' set (click to read here). I was impressed with By Caprice's offerings and decided to keep an eye on the brand's development in the following months.

   Sure enough, the Spring/Summer 2012 collection went to press with a bang, boasting a whole host of sultry new styles; such as the 'Morticia', 'Dianthus' and 'Greta'. The S/S12 collection exudes 'femme fatale', with its feminine embroidery and sexy cuts, but at the same time it retains its playfulness with floral motifs and dashes of colour.

   The range, however, encompasses far more than basic bra sets. The collection includes the 'Greta' babydoll (a seductive red and black mesh number with an incorporated moulded bra) and the effortlessly glamorous 'Morticia' ruched thong back body, which comes in black/nude and ivory.  

The set that caught my eye was the aptly named, 'Kitty' (which interestingly enough, is a bit of a side-step from the general feel of the collection)... 

   The 'Kitty' set features a moulded underwired padded bra with a chiffon overlay. The bra is covered in a leopard print pattern in blue tones, with contrasting cornflower blue straps and bow motifs. Matching leopard print chiffon ruffle briefs are also available to compliment the bra. Thanks to By Caprice, I was lucky enough to be sent my namesake 'Kitty' set to try for size...

   As you can see, in real life, the 'Kitty' set differs noticeably from the promotional shot of Caprice wearing it. Firstly, the blue tones are more muted in real life and grey actually features quite dominantly in the colour palette. This was actually a pleasant surprise, as I was worried that the pattern would look a bit garish from the promotional picture! Additionally, the chiffon has a slight glittery sheen to it, which catches the light and gives the set a subtle sparkle...

   By Caprice have managed to merge a leopard print pattern with a fashion-forward injection of colour, to keep the 'Kitty' looking edgy. The blue ruffled straps, dainty bow motifs and blue edging along the bottom of the band make the 'Kitty' an original take on a classic print, whilst keeping the look sophisticated! 

   As with the 'Audrey' set, I opted for the 30FF in the 'Kitty', rather than my "sister size" of 30F (the same volume as my usual 28FF bra size). Unfortunately, 28 backs are not available in By Caprice underwear, so the 30 back was the best option for me. The band was a little loose, but not by any means unwearable. 

   I am very glad that I went up a cup size, as I feel that the By Caprice bras that I have tried tended to run a bit small in the cups. This could also be partly due to the bra cups having inbuilt graduated padding...

   Although padding is somewhat of a rarity in larger cup sizes, By Caprice recognise that some girls like a bit of a boost every now and again, regardless of their cup size! Luckily, the padding is foamy and quite light-weight, meaning that unlike many of the super-padded gel bras that are on the market at the moment, it does not feel uncomfortable or strange when worn. The boost is quite subtle, so you won't feel self-conscious or as if you have had an overnight boob job!

   The shape that the 'Kitty' bra gives is nice and rounded and the plunge cut makes it flattering to your bust - ideal for wearing under 'V' cut tops. After prolonged wear, I found that the straps put a bit of pressure on my shoulders, but this could be easily rectified by wearing a 28 back (hint, hint!)..

   I received the 'Kitty' chiffon briefs in a size medium (10-12), which match the bra with its blue leopard print design. 

  As you can see from the pictures, the 'Kitty' briefs are a more conventional 'knicker brief' cut. In comparison to the 'Audrey' shorties that I own, their cut makes them comfier for everyday wear. (It is worth mentioning that you may need to size up in By Caprice briefs, as they have a skimpier cut and seem a little smaller than other brands that I have tried.)

Overall, I really liked the 'Kitty' knickers, which juxtapose the sexiness of semi-sheer chiffon with delicate and flirty ruffles and bow motifs...

   It certainly isn't every day that you come across your 'bra namesake', so it can only be fate that I tried the 'Kitty'! Despite any initial hesitations that I had about owning a blue leopard print bra, the 'Kitty' surprised me and it looks so much more stylish in real life. 

   By Caprice have revolutionised leopard print for me, with their edgy mixture of print with an eye-catching blue and grey colour scheme. Even my other half (who isn't usually an animal print fan) said how much he liked the design! 

   The 'Kitty' set is available from 30-38 backs and from cup sizes A-G, meaning that a range of sizes can take a walk on the wild side with this leopard print number! What's more, the By Caprice 'Kitty' is very affordable at £26 for the bra and £14 for the briefs. 

   The 'Kitty' is definitely a set to make you feel like a fully fledged glamour puss, so get ready to take a walk on the wild side...

(To find out more, take a look at the By Caprice official website or buy online at ASOS, Figleaves, Littlewoods or New Look)   

Love,

Kitty xo

Supermodel Smalls - The By Caprice 'Audrey'

  Most people will know Caprice Bourret for her career as a model, actress and TV personality. In 1996, California-born Caprice moved to the UK to pursue her modelling career and just six months later, she found herself catapulted into the public eye as the infamous 'Wonderbra girl'. Since then, Caprice has appeared on over 300 magazine covers (including Vogue, GQ, Maxim and FHM) and has fronted an array of campaign advertisements for companies such as M&S, Pantene and Littlewoods. She has also appeared on TV shows, in movies and West End productions and has even released her own single!

   As if that was not enough, the leggy blonde decided to make her mark in the business world in 2000, establishing a licence deal with Debenhams for the creation of her own lingerie line. After seeing her lingerie collection grow rapidly in popularity, Caprice took the leap and invested her own money into the line. She bought back the licence from Debenhams in 2006, and thus, 'By Caprice Lingerie' was born! 

   Since its creation, Caprice has worked intently to develop her brand, adding 'By Caprice Swim' in 2007, 'By Caprice Sleep' and 'Glam by Caprice' (clothing) in 2008 and 'By Caprice Bedding' in 2010. As founder, Designer and CEO of her brand, Caprice has control over all aspects of her business - from designing, to modelling, to marketing. She takes particular pride in going by her instincts and what her customers want, rather than what trends dictate as fashionable. Caprice asserts that her motivation is to make 'ladies feel beautiful, confident, sexy and feminine'. 

   With this in mind, I was very keen to try 'By Caprice' lingerie for myself. The range currently goes from back sizes 30-38 and from cup sizes A-G. Although no 28 inch backs are available in the the range, I was interested to try a 30 back, to see how it fitted. My set of choice was the beautiful lacy 'Audrey' bra from Caprice's current collection. The 'By Caprice' team recommended that I tried a 30FF, rather than a 30F, sending me the 'Audrey' in the teal and black combination (along with the matching lace shorties in a size medium). 

(By Caprice, 'Audrey' - bra: £28 and shorties: £18)

   The By Caprice 'Audrey' bra is a black underwired moulded plunge, with teal scalloped lace overlay. In real life, the teal is more rich in colour than in the promotional pictures and I instantly fell in love with the seductive boudoir styling!

   The bra features dainty black bows at the bottom of the straps and the 'pièce de résistance' is definitely the decorative criss-cross ribbon detailing at the centre of the cups. Although the ribbons that hang down from the centre bow are quite long, they add to the bra's glamorous appeal - reminding me very much of the lace-up ribbons on a basque or corset! The straps are also beautifully decorated, providing a welcome change to the plain straps on most bras. With black and teal mesh frills, the 'Audrey' straps are definitely a feature to be seen! 

(Make a fashion statement by wearing a top that gives a cheeky peek of your straps!)

   With regard to the fit of the bra, I am very glad that I opted for the 30FF, rather than the 30F size equivalent to my usual 28FF size. The 30FF was the correct size for me in the cups and the band felt ok (but a tad loose) in a 30 back. The main issue for me was that the centre gore did not sit completely flush against my chest and for that reason, I would really love for 'By Caprice' to include 28 backs! 

   The 'Audrey' gives a lovely rounded shape under clothes and the boost of the inbuilt foam padding gives a natural-looking lift, without squishing the breasts together and making you look as if you've had a boob job! It is generally quite rare for padded bras to be offered in larger cup sizes, so I am thankful to 'By Caprice' for recognising that every girl appreciates a cleavage enhancer now and again!

   The matching teal and black lace shorties are also very pretty, featuring a floral-patterned scalloped design in semi-sheer lace:     

   The back of the shorties are very cheeky...in more ways than one! I got a size medium (which is to fit a 10-12), but I must warn that they do come up quite small! The cut of the shorties is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as they give quite risqué coverage to your derrière..perhaps not for everyday wear, but certainly perfect for the bedroom! They also boast a stunning V-shaped cut-out detail at the top, which gives a racy flash of skin, alongside elasticated criss-cross ribbons, which compliment the similar motif on the bra. 

  All in all, I was very pleased with my first experience of 'By Caprice' lingerie. The 'Audrey' set is a lovely boudoir piece that is sure to seduce anyone lucky enough to see it! Its teal lace, corset ribbon detailing and unusual frilled bra straps show great attention to detail and make the wearer feel oh so glamorous and sexy! I also liked the shape of the cups and the fact that the bra offers a little bit of 'oomph', with its inbuilt padding!

  'By Caprice' is indeed carving a place in the lingerie retail world, offering glamorous designs at very reasonable prices. 'By Caprice' is available to buy from Littlewoods, amongst other online retails (such as Debenhams, Figleaves, New Look and ASOS).

To find out more about 'By Caprice' and the ranges, visit: www.bycaprice.com.

Love,
Kitty xo