Window shopping isn’t always a joyful exercise.  Don’t believe it when you’re told it satisfies shopping addictions, it doesn’t, it makes the want worse!  

Glimpsing pre-season fashion collections is exactly the same.  The fact you can’t have that gorgeous, covetable lingerie yet makes the crush more intense, and the wait is an endless living nightmare until the day of launch arrives.

Last year I opened up a copy of insider mag Lingerie Insight and fell in love with the most delicious, delightful bra ever.  It was a Parfait line – Elena – and I had (what felt like) an agonising wait until I could lay my hands on her.  And, today was the big day.

Elena is a frivolous burst of lip gloss and raspberry ripple ice cream, making me want to pull on my roller skates and twirl in a tutu in a girlish and giddy high-on-sugar energy.

The vibrant hot pink shade gives raspberry Elena a playful charm that’s cheerful and sweet.  The fancy overlaid mesh style is available in lightly padded and unpadded, and features sumptuous ruching detail to the central gore and front of the brief.

I initially tried both styles in a 30G and 32G, and decided upon the Unlined Wire Bra in a 32G as the best fit, together with the large size Shorty Brief.

The bra offers a brilliant level of support, with its design hinting at Parfait’s popular Charlotte.  The three section cup feature a side panel that acts as a shaping sling, encouraging a rounded shape.  The band is firm with a three hook deep fastener, and the fully adjustable straps are a decent length that aren’t too wide either.

Elena is a lovely bra that fits well in all the right places, but I did find through wear that the front band would curl under into my skin which was rather irritating.  It seems the elastic isn’t able to remain flat due to being too close to the underwire.  I would be interested to hear whether anyone else has experienced this.

The hipster brief is a pleasure to wear; it’s definitely something attractive and a little different to your typical brief design.  The shape lends from the ample gathered texture, which allows for a lot of freedom.  It’s a medium rise, so not too low hung, and fits especially well over the hips and bum.  I rate good knickers on bum coverage and these pass with merit!  Being a dress size UK 14 these days I went for the large which was a good choice.  They’re not tight at all so I would say a 16 could easily wear this size too.

Parfait’s raspberry Elena is a pretty and fun collection for Spring, but if you’re not into pink there is now a beautiful french blue version too.  Lingerie is the perfect excuse to indulge in colour if you’re otherwise afraid to wear such vibrancy in your outer wear and Elena ticks those boxes!

*PR Gifted*

What’s your experience with Parfait lingerie?

Do you have a preference over lined or unlined full bust bras?

Do you invite colour into your lingerie drawer?