Scalloped lace bustier set - bustier and panty set discontinued by Leg Avenue - review by Jul!a

This is supposed to be a two piece mesh bustier with underwire and boning. I didn't see any mesh anywhere, unless you count the scallopy lace that accents the whole piece. Overall the outfit was cute, but not high on the list of ones I would recommend.

I'll start with the packaging. Something different from Leg Avenue: my outfit came in a plastic bag wrapped in a lovely pink paper. No pictures or anything, just the outfit with its tag.

I received a size small. Now, from Leg Avenue that means that I should be a size 5-7 with an A-B cup, 32-34" bust, 23-25" waist, and 34-36" hips. Personally I'm about 5'2, I weigh about 105, around my bust measures 31" and underneath measures about 28 1/2". I've got about a 25" waist with 33" hips and I wear a B cup. While I couldn't get the top to sit quite right most of the time, nothing didn't fit, and that was important to me.

For other sizes available in this set, Leg Avenue has the following measurements listed:
Medium: size 8-11, B-C cup, 34-36" bust, 25-27" waist, and 36-38" hips
Large: size 12-14, C cup, 36-38" bust, 27-29" waist, and 38-40" hips

If you fall between sizes and it's your waist that's smaller, you can order the smaller size.

The top piece is almost like a corset with straps. I say almost because if it could lace up, it basically would be a corset with straps. I unhooked the hooks and laid it flat to measure it, and this is what I got:
- From top of cup to bottom of top: just about 12"
- From top of middle of back to bottom of top: about 7 1/2"
- Along the bottom from one closing edge to the other: flat is about 25 1/4", but I got it to stretch up to 29". However at 29" I think it would sit uncomfortably.
- Width of each cup: 5 1/2". Height: about 5"
- Adjustable straps: At its shortest is about 13 1/2", longest is about 17" but will stretch up to 21".

The basic design of the top is a paneled shirt for lack of a better term. Each cup features a black lace lining along the top for trim. The same lace in a slightly different design makes up the "scalloping lace" that acts as accents, such as 3 rows on each cup and one underneath each cup. On each cup there is one row that runs vertically and one on either side that runs at an angle, meeting the vertical one at the bottom. Those then turn into the one underneath the cup that runs the length of the garment along the boning. The pink is a very light pastel pink. In the right light it almost looks white. Each demi cup is supported underneath by underwire.

The "G-string" is a fallacy. It's not actually a g-string, it's much closer to a regular thong but only slightly different. I've included a picture to show you what I'm talking about. Along the top measures just under 13", but stretches up to 17". The front panel measures 6" by 5 1/2" and is 1 1/2" across at the base. The front panel also features the same lace design as the cups. The straps that go on the hips are made up of two straps, each being about 9" long when laid flat. When folded so that the top edges met each other, the thong measures 7". Because it isn't a g-string, there's enough room to allow for a crotch panel.

Overall the set doesn't feel like it's going to fall right apart at any second, but the boning in the top not fitting exactly right does feel a bit flimsy. Honestly, I'm a bit worried about how the stitching will hold up over time. The panels between the boning on the top feel very smooth and silky to the touch, like something you might snag a nail on, so be careful.

The tag it comes with has washing instructions and and materials in both English and Spanish. According to the tag your garments are 88% Nylon and 12% Spandex and should be hand washed separately and drip dried, never bleached. Should you misplace the tag that came with the packaging, Leg Avenue has provided you with a care tag on each garment. The only difference is that they let you tumble dry low, although with the top I might steer clear, because I can only assume the boning is plastic and you wouldn't want to melt it.

For storage you can keep your set anywhere you keep your delicates. Personally I keep mine in a ziploc bag in a box with all the rest of my lingerie.

When I first opened the packaging I took one look at the top and decided that it probably was going to be too big. I was actually surprised at how form fitting it was. That being said, it didn't form to my waist, which was minorly frustrating but at the same time, didn't really take away from the total of the outfit for me. The biggest problem I had with the top was that initially the straps felt way too loose, so I adjusted them thinking "no biggie" only to find that now they were somehow digging in and falling down at the same time. I figured out that this was because rather than the underwire staying underneath my breasts and stretching the straps out, the straps pulled the cups up. So when I got home the bottom of the cup was about halfway up each breast. I think more playing around with the length of the straps will probably solve this problem.

The thong wasn't too bad. I would have preferred a g-string, but I did like the fact that it seemed to only sink into crack in the back, and actually sat on top of my business in front. This way I was only picking out one wedgie, and that along with the crotch liner made the thong more of a winner in my book.

This set fails the extended wear test. I had it on for only about 5 1/2 hours or so. Very uncomfortable to wear for that long. But for half an hour to tease your lover, you shouldn't have any problems with it getting unbearably uncomfortable, however it still won't be the most comfortable thing out there.

I give this set 3 stars because of how uncomfortable it can get, and for how unsure I am at the top's ability to hold up over time because for $30 I want something more than cheap. I'm not expecting hand stitched silk that will last forever, but $30 should go a ways.

I tried it on a few more times since the initial review, and I still don't like it any more than I did to begin with. It's not the worst thing out there, but it doesn't do anything to make me feel even remotely sexy, so I passed it on to a friend who will hopefully enjoy it a bit more than I did.