As a size 18-20 woman I’ve always found plus size lingerie a challenge. The word ‘lingerie’, for me, conjures up something sexy and attractive that you should feel good in. But past experience has often left me disappointed and certainly not feeling attractive. So when IDentity Lingerie asked me if I’d like to try some of their luxury handmade pieces in exchange for a post giving my honest and unbiased opinion, I was very interested.
Let’s start by saying I’m a 58 year old plus size woman, I’m 5ft 4″, wear UK clothing size 18-20 and a size 40F bra. Contrary to some beliefs out there, we older plus size women still want to feel sexy and attractive. But that doesn’t have to mean highly revealing lingerie! In fact, I feel that leaving more to the imagination is a good thing … regardless if it’s regular or plus size lingerie.
So after having a good browse of IDentity Lingerie’s website I chose a bralette, a pair of panties and some silk pyjamas. The sizes go up to XXL or you can choose to have them custom-made for an extra cost and a slightly longer delivery date.
The items arrived beautifully wrapped and I couldn’t wait to try them.
Bralette
I chose the Supportive Longline Bralette in burgundy. I ordered the plus size lace bralette in Size XXL, which according to their Size guide fits UK Size 40E, 40F, 42B, 42C, 42DD and 42E. It’s a beautiful stretchy soft lace which is lined in the cups and is has no wires. It fits like a sports bra so there are no hooks to grapple with as you pull it over your head. The straps are adjustable.
The fit on the bralette is quite good on me. Maybe a little more room in the cups would have been better but overall I was happy with it. The lace band underneath my bust lay flat and doesn’t ride up as you wear it. After wearing it for most of the day I have to say it feels really comfortable. It’s such a nice change to wear a bra without wires that actually does feel quite supportive. I would definitely wear it on a night out (underneath clothing obviously!), and not just keep it for when hubby and I get home (if you know what I mean). My only feedback would be that I would be doubtful that this would fit anyone who had a larger bra size than me (40F), as there’s definitely not a lot of room or stretch left in it. Having said that, Identity Lingerie do offer a custom-made fit for an extra £10, which is something I haven’t really seen anywhere else. The bralette is normally £50 but is currently on sale at £24.90 for the XXL size.
Model is wearing a Size Small and I’m wearing a Size XXL
Panties
I ordered the Sexy Red Lace Panty in XXL rather than the panties that matched the bralette as I preferred the higher waist style. The Size Guide suggests that the XXL panties should fit a UK Size 22-24 so I thought they’d be okay. Unfortunately I struggled to get these past my bottom! To be honest this wasn’t a shock to me as I’ve always had problems with plus size lingerie panties … or indeed ordinary everyday panties. For some reason I just seem to take a larger size in panties than I do in trousers. For the sake of decency I have not included a photo of me struggling to get these on … nobody wants to see that lol. But I wouldn’t let this deter you from trying them yourself as plus size women can be the same size but a very different shape. The panties are £14.90 for XXL or £24.90 for custom-made.
If you prefer shapewear then this post may interest you.
Silk Pyjamas
I really loved the look of the short sleeve silk pyjamas, so ordered those, again in size XXL and in the colour burgundy. The pyjamas are 60% Japanese Silk, 35% Polyester Blend and 5% Elastane. They come in eight different colours and you can have long sleeves and long trousers or short sleeves and shorts. I went for the shorts option. Again the Size Chart says they fit a UK Size 22-24.
These pyjamas fit me perfectly. The shorts have an elasticated waistband so they are comfortable to wear and the top is a button-up short sleeve shirt style and just big enough to be roomy without being baggy. The material is super-soft and feels really tactile and the set is very well made. You wouldn’t think you’d feel sexy in a pair of PJ’s but I think the silk just feels so luxurious you can’t help it. My hubby was actually very complimentary about the Pyjamas and the bralette. Apparently there’s something very sexy about an unbuttoned pyjama top with a bralette on show! The pyjamas are £70 which is probably on the expensive side to what I would normally buy but they are definitely worth it and would make a really nice gift.
Model is wearing a Size Small and I’m wearing a Size XXL
IDentity Lingerie are a small family-run brand, operating from Lincolnshire in the UK. All their items are handmade, ethically made and environmentally friendly.
It was a shame the panties didn’t fit but I’m very happy with the bralette and pyjamas. So in answer to my headline I’d say YES, women can feel good in plus size lingerie.