Striped bra & boyshort - bra and panty set discontinued by Coquette - review by tigerkate

Presentation
I was actually a little hesitant to accept this bra and boyshort set for review, considering it was the last thing on my list at the time. However, the pink caught my eye and I decided it was worth a try.
I was quite surprised with how much I like this set. It arrived in a plastic bag, on a cheap clear plastic hanger.
And this set was really twisted around that hanger! It took me a minute to get it free.
There is a tag with the model wearing the set; minimal information is provided on the tags.


Materials and Craftsmanship

The set is made of 82% nylon and 18% spandex, exclusive of trim. As always, the trim is Coquette's notorious big satin bows. There is a smaller tasteful white bow on the front of the panties (like most female underwear "requires" it seems), but a big-ass pink bow right at the top of your ..ass. There is another large pink bow in the center of the bust. The two pink bows are able to be removed and put back on at your discretion.

The fabric is deliciously soft and comfortable. It's almost like wearing nothing. And yet, it conceals enough to leave me feeling sufficiently covered. The sheerest part of this set is the front center panel of the "rhumba" shorts. It's specifically designed this way, so be warned that your love-garden will be on display. People will know if you decorate with carpet matching drapes, a bare hardwood floor, a ... lightning bolt rug... -hem hem- Enough innuendo here. The layered parts of the garments are pretty concealing, actually. You can tell a hard nipple,for sure, but you can't see the pigment of the skin (or the shadow of your crack, either, which I really appreciate).


There is a metal wire in the bra for minimal support. I say minimal because the soft cups and stretchy mesh fabric won't do much for those needing more support in a bra. While standing, sitting regularly, and lying flat down on my back, I do not notice the wire very much. However, I definitely notice its presence while putting the bra on, or lying crooked and leaning to one side on a couch or bed (aka: lounging).

At first, glance, I thought this had great craftsmanship. After wearing modeling it once and putting it back on, I noticed a few goofs in manufacturing. On the boyshorts, there are a few frayed pieces of mesh thread where the front of the shorts is sewed to the back (aka: crotch). This would have been better disguised and possibly saved by adding a liner, Coquette! The bra's wire also pokes me, but I did wear this the second time while lounging on a couch... Not the best position for my boobs or a thinly concealed underwire.



There is nothing about the set that screams 'precarious' or 'falling apart soon'. That is good news.

Care and Maintenance
This is pretty easy to care for. Wash it by hand in cold water, let it hang to dry. The material is pretty sturdy, but I wouldn't trust it to last long if you toss it in the washer with all your other clothes.
Don't bleach or iron, or you'll have a melt-y garment.

Design
The bra has three hook-and-eye clasps to put it on and take it off. The straps are adjustable as well. The bra has soft cups, and while the ruffles will disguise nipples a little bit, it is not something to wear under a tight shirt on a chilly day.

The boyshorts have a tighter elastic band around the top only; there is no band lining the legs or crotch area like some underwear. I really appreciated this, because it made the shorts both flattering and comfortable.
I am unsure if this was a design intention or a fitting issue, but these shorts left a good quarter-to-half of my butt cheeks bare. I can adjust the boyshorts up or down a few inches (depending on where I want the shorts on my hips), but unless I want my crack to show, cheeks are expected to peak out the bottom quite a bit.

The removable bows make this set especially great. I have another pair of boyshort underwear with a bow-on-the-butt design. I love the bow, but I couldn't wear it under any of my clothes. With this outfit, I can easily take off the bow and wear the boyshorts out. The bows are also pretty flat, and I have accidentally put this on, with bow, without really noticing it until I looked in a mirror.

Sizing and Fit

I got this set in large. I was initially worried the bra would be too big and the bottoms too small.
Coquette's sizing chart on EF says that a Large will fit:
Sizes 12-14, C cup, Bust 38-40", Hips 40-42"

I wear a 36C (though my band measurement is 32", bust measurement is ~38.5"), usually a size 10-12, and my hips are more 39" with a much more ample butt, reaching 42-43" at its fullest.

This set... (drumroll)
...fits pretty damn well, considering my top and bottom are two different sizes!
I wear the bra on the tightest setting, but the cups fit me pretty nicely. As far as sizing suggestions go, I am unsure. The mesh fabric of the bra rests more than it stretches on my full "C" breasts.
I had to actually adjust the straps so that they weren't at their longest (rare occurrence for me with S/M/L lingerie).
And I have some natural-looking cleavage going on. I thought the cups would be too soft/stretchy to have cleavage but I think the underwire does actually help a little.
Bra measures 28" across the band without stretching it at all, it easily and quickly stretches to 38".
Since I've noticed (or read, really) that people have different ways of getting their bra sizes (ways that make me an apparent size 38Nothing)... I decided to include a picture of how this matches with an American Eagle Size 36 C cup:







The shorts also fit me really well. They make my ass look fantastic (and hey, it IS fantastic)! These boyshorts are a little on the short side though and the lack of any tighter elastic around the rear/legs/crotch leaves ample room for curvier women. For me, they are almost too big around the bottom- almost baggy. They fit perfectly around my hips.
The top of the shorts measure 30" and the bottoms 38".




Overall
Out of all three lingerie items in my last shipment, I think this is my favorite. I know that it is definitely my boyfriend's favorite. When I stepped out of the room wearing this, his eyes popped open wider! This, from the man who always shrugs and says "Yeah, they're just clothes, they're just gonna come off in a minute..."
He says he really likes this set, though he did notice the bottoms being a smidge too big in the back. (Well, actually, he thought the ruffles were just not lying flat correctly, but I showed him how they were just a bit big...)
I like that I can wear this under loose clothing and feel completely comfortable.
The boyshorts are a top choice for me- soft, comfortable, can be dolled up or down with that bow!
Definitely recommend this one.

I still really like this set. While it is not the most comfortable bra to wear for extended periods of time, it does the trick for when I want to feel sexy. The boyshorts are also pretty awesome. Still!

I would recommend this to others, mostly because of how surprisingly cute and innocent it looks while still being flattering for women within size range.