Bra Shopping is my most beloved activity and I am on a mission to create a Dublin catalogue on them! I l love Dublin - it a beautiful, and handily one of the most compact cites in the world. You could walk from Ranelagh to Mary Street in an hour, easy. Most of these locations are really near each other and prices should always be compared. However, to my knowledge there is no real comprehensive list - with reviews and directions!
After giving a brief taster on the last two posts I have decided to go bra shopping so you don't have too! ... so get forwarding the funds to my PayPal Account!
I have catalogued them into North, Southside (i.e. which side of the river they are on - no this isn't a Southside prejudice to the Northside or whatever, it's for ease of cataloguing them... :) ) and Suburbs!
Note 1: I have yet to visit Peaches and Cream and Intimate Lingerie.
Note 2:
This list is not comprehensive (yet!) so expect updates!
Southside:
Bramora on Earlsfort Terrence - Review - Directions - Website
Peaches and Cream on South
Anne Street - Review - Directions - Website
Marks and Spencers on Grafton Street - Review - Directions - Website
TK Maxx in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre - Review - Directions - Website
Intimate Lingerie on Tara Street - Review - Directions - Website
Northside:
Debenhams in the Ilac Centre, Henry Street - Review - Directions - Website
Marks and Spencers on Mary Street - Review - Directions - Website
Arnotts on Henry Street - Review - Directions - Website
Suburbs:
Cupcakes Lingerie on Main Street, Ranelagh, D6 - Review - Directions - Website
Debenhams in the Frascati Centre, Blackrock, County Dublin - Review - Directions - Website
Showing posts with label 28 bands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 28 bands. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Friday, 29 March 2013
The Lingerie Adventure - Northside Part 1: Henry Street's Offerings Part 1
I love Henry Street - you know it's the finest shopping street in Dublin because you have to navigate through swaths of people to get anywhere in it. There is a true balance between (as Wikipedia phrases it) "the Ilac Shopping Centre [with its] many interesting and lower budget shops" (which is an odd thing to say it has an Debenhams!), and then just odd little spots like super extravagant Arnotts and the adorable fabric shop, Hickeys. Oh and it has loads of shoe shops. Not to mention the library in the Ilac Centre. And Iceland (also in the Ilac Centre). So to stop myself fawning over my beloved Ilac (I saw an ad for it on TV and squealed!).
The Ilac Centre also houses Debenhams, which I am going to crown the best place to shop for bras in Dublin.
Vital Stats/Dating Profile:
Name: Debenhams, Ilac Centre
Location: Henry Street
Website: http://www.ilac.ie/stores/debenhams/
Sizes Available: I have seen from 28A to 30J and I'm sure they have more! Loads of 28 backs (the only place I have seen them on shelves! Sadly, 28s but only to G.
Brands I noted (note too that I have strong bias towards full-bust): Gorgeous, Freya, Fantastie, Wonderbra, Gossard, Shock Absorber.
Ordering Service: Yes.
Price: Very cheap - some bras are 5 euro reduced. Many Gorgeous bras are 25 or so. Everything else is standard enough though they seem to have good sales!
Fitting Service: Dire. Avoid!
Summary: Heaven for DIY fitters... the staff have never tried to help me! I'm just tiny girl with the giant pile of giant bras. I think they know me in there. Oh er! Erm! Shout-out!
The store is beautifully located where you can see a the Spire dramatically in the background of the picture (stolen from GoogleMaps oh er!)... shame about the lingerie section being up three flights of stairs.
Name: Arnotts
Location: Henry Street (right across the street from the Ilac!)
Website: http://www.arnotts.ie/aspx/homepage.aspx
Sizes Available: I don't know much about the smaller sizes, but a lack of 28 bands, 30 bands are rare enough. Mainly larger bands, but there are larger cups. There were 36Js.
Ordering Service: Yes.
Brands I noted (note too that I have strong bias towards full-bust): Fantasie (so much Fantasie!), Freya, Panache, Shock Absorber, Simon Perle, Wacoal (I have never seen Wacoal until now!)
Price: Sadly, not competitive, about 45 euro for a Panache Andorra. Not shocking, but even with their sale on out of my budget. No 28 backs anyways.
Fitting Service: Seems okay - I overhead them fitting a 34D into a 30F and she sounded surprised that her straps weren't falling down. Sadly I can't personally vouch for it. On the whole it doesn't sound bad! :)
Summary: Expensive but a pretty store with brands I haven't spotted elsewhere in Dublin - sadly no Cleo or Masquerade.
What a luxurious shop - the changing rooms are a beautiful silvery grey and massive (with two giant mirrors), with a transparent chair. I think I'll take a picture next time! It screams luxury! Arnotts has changed its design since Google Maps' picture.
Their is another lingerie shop on Henry Street - Marks and Spencers. They also have a store on Grafton Street - which I will discuss next!
The Ilac Centre also houses Debenhams, which I am going to crown the best place to shop for bras in Dublin.
Vital Stats/Dating Profile:Name: Debenhams, Ilac Centre
Location: Henry Street
Website: http://www.ilac.ie/stores/debenhams/
Sizes Available: I have seen from 28A to 30J and I'm sure they have more! Loads of 28 backs (the only place I have seen them on shelves! Sadly, 28s but only to G.
Brands I noted (note too that I have strong bias towards full-bust): Gorgeous, Freya, Fantastie, Wonderbra, Gossard, Shock Absorber.
Ordering Service: Yes.
Price: Very cheap - some bras are 5 euro reduced. Many Gorgeous bras are 25 or so. Everything else is standard enough though they seem to have good sales!
Fitting Service: Dire. Avoid!
Summary: Heaven for DIY fitters... the staff have never tried to help me! I'm just tiny girl with the giant pile of giant bras. I think they know me in there. Oh er! Erm! Shout-out!
The store is beautifully located where you can see a the Spire dramatically in the background of the picture (stolen from GoogleMaps oh er!)... shame about the lingerie section being up three flights of stairs.
Name: ArnottsLocation: Henry Street (right across the street from the Ilac!)
Website: http://www.arnotts.ie/aspx/homepage.aspx
Sizes Available: I don't know much about the smaller sizes, but a lack of 28 bands, 30 bands are rare enough. Mainly larger bands, but there are larger cups. There were 36Js.
Ordering Service: Yes.
Brands I noted (note too that I have strong bias towards full-bust): Fantasie (so much Fantasie!), Freya, Panache, Shock Absorber, Simon Perle, Wacoal (I have never seen Wacoal until now!)
Price: Sadly, not competitive, about 45 euro for a Panache Andorra. Not shocking, but even with their sale on out of my budget. No 28 backs anyways.
Fitting Service: Seems okay - I overhead them fitting a 34D into a 30F and she sounded surprised that her straps weren't falling down. Sadly I can't personally vouch for it. On the whole it doesn't sound bad! :)
Summary: Expensive but a pretty store with brands I haven't spotted elsewhere in Dublin - sadly no Cleo or Masquerade.
What a luxurious shop - the changing rooms are a beautiful silvery grey and massive (with two giant mirrors), with a transparent chair. I think I'll take a picture next time! It screams luxury! Arnotts has changed its design since Google Maps' picture.
Their is another lingerie shop on Henry Street - Marks and Spencers. They also have a store on Grafton Street - which I will discuss next!
Sunday, 17 March 2013
My Wish List for bras that actually exist!
I have noticed that a lot of my favourite blogs have been posting various wishlists about lingerie they are interested in.
I have decided to detail the bras I am interested in. The twist is that actually exist, at this moment that could actually order it. I feel a bit guilty as I live of the state and all... erm... I'd get them on the medical card if I could?
Miss Mandalay Paige in Coral.
I love Miss Mandalay's Paige bras because of three reasons -
1. They are tight in the band (I will never understand throwing out a bra because it's a little tight... extenders exist!)... it's very rare I find a bra that's too tight...
2. They are unmoulded
3. They are available in amazing colours with great details
4. The wires and narrow and stiff (I don't get the hate on stiff wires)
5. A girl once saw my brastrap and said that she was wearing the most beautiful bra she had ever seen!
See how amazing these are... *sigh*
2. Panache Andorra Full Cup in Caribbean Blue
Sadly, I will admit I had a chance to try one of these on, but I turned it down. It looked like a lot of bra. A lot of white bra. I think it will take me a lot (read: branding it on me) for me to have on of them on as well.
Yet, the Panache Andorra Full Cup has been warming on me. BrasIHate mentioned how in the plunge bra version has an angled downwards band. Generally people have been saying it's forgiving in the cup and tight in the band. It's actually available in other colours. Perhaps I should give it a chance. I am terrified the wires will be too wide.
The weirdest thing about this bra is, as you can see on Bratabase, it's way prettier in the flesh (lace?) than in the product photo. It looks photoshopped on there, yet on Bratabase, it looks so gorgeous I want to try it. Panache, take note!
Why blue? Well, I would like something that is summery...
The Freya Jolie.
I have tried this bra on, but in 30G, so it was VERY loose in the band - especially when people have said that was loose anyways. Of course, the 28GG is probably a monster that comes with extra wide ultra support, iron girders and double-glazed cups.
Nonetheless, I remain optimistic because at the GG has three hooks which actually sounds like a decent decision. Though why not more... Yes ... I actually add extra hooks to my bras.
I'm excited because I like the stretchiness in the cups. Obviously, I don't want the white version, but the black (which is, as of these season, still a continuity style) or the pink look great!
I have decided to detail the bras I am interested in. The twist is that actually exist, at this moment that could actually order it. I feel a bit guilty as I live of the state and all... erm... I'd get them on the medical card if I could?
Miss Mandalay Paige in Coral.
I love Miss Mandalay's Paige bras because of three reasons -
1. They are tight in the band (I will never understand throwing out a bra because it's a little tight... extenders exist!)... it's very rare I find a bra that's too tight...
2. They are unmoulded
3. They are available in amazing colours with great details
4. The wires and narrow and stiff (I don't get the hate on stiff wires)
5. A girl once saw my brastrap and said that she was wearing the most beautiful bra she had ever seen!
See how amazing these are... *sigh*
2. Panache Andorra Full Cup in Caribbean Blue
Yet, the Panache Andorra Full Cup has been warming on me. BrasIHate mentioned how in the plunge bra version has an angled downwards band. Generally people have been saying it's forgiving in the cup and tight in the band. It's actually available in other colours. Perhaps I should give it a chance. I am terrified the wires will be too wide.
The weirdest thing about this bra is, as you can see on Bratabase, it's way prettier in the flesh (lace?) than in the product photo. It looks photoshopped on there, yet on Bratabase, it looks so gorgeous I want to try it. Panache, take note!
Why blue? Well, I would like something that is summery...
The Freya Jolie.
I have tried this bra on, but in 30G, so it was VERY loose in the band - especially when people have said that was loose anyways. Of course, the 28GG is probably a monster that comes with extra wide ultra support, iron girders and double-glazed cups.
Nonetheless, I remain optimistic because at the GG has three hooks which actually sounds like a decent decision. Though why not more... Yes ... I actually add extra hooks to my bras.
I'm excited because I like the stretchiness in the cups. Obviously, I don't want the white version, but the black (which is, as of these season, still a continuity style) or the pink look great!
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