All Undone is a brand that we’ve lusted over on the blog since, well, their launch. In 2013, we spotted this brand taking centre stage in the full bust industry with lingerie designs that verge on retro with clean, simple lines combined with luxury silk fabrics. And even better – all the lingerie is designed and manufactured in Britain. Their studio is in West Wales; their manufacturer in South Wales. This is hugely important to us at British lingerie bloggers – we love to support local and independent brands where we can. Here’s a list where we featured All Undone alongside other ethical and British lingerie designers and makers.
Long story short, All Undone have long been one of our dream brands to try, so when owner Eva got in touch with us to try out a set each, we jumped at the chance. Char’s review will be coming another day soon, but first up, I’m here with a Big Cup review of the Ariel bra in a 28GG and the matching Ariel thong in a size small from All Undone.
Before we get going, we have to tell you something else though! It’s All Undone’s 4th birthday this October (woohoo!) so to celebrate they’re offering 20% off to our readers! Use the code BigLittle20 to get 20% off at checkout until 31st October.
Shape & Appearance
The Ariel set is a gorgeous mermaid green – I had to get mermaid in there, even if it’s not entirely the mermaid shade we know! I’d say it’s actually a paler shade of green, between pistachio and celadon (yes, I totally looked up shades of green so I could get this right!). The main fabric of the bra is designed with a dotted tulle overlay to look like little scales up close, but the effect from further away is of a hint of shimmer without looking shiny, and real silk charmeuse.
The light foam cups are made up of three parts, creating a rounded and uplifted shape. There’s a vertical seam separating the lower cup and a horizontal one above. The straps are connected the lower part of the cup, rather than the top, with a panel of silk – it’s not quite a side sling, but adds to the uplifted effect. The interior of the cup is cotton lined.
All the hardware on the bra is shiny gold – I have serious love for this. It adds even more to that luxury look and feel of the set. You’ve also got another little detail on the gore of the bra where a silk panel creates a diamond shape. I can imagine this is quite an intricate piece to get properly lined up there, so the fact that it’s there and looks beautiful says a lot about the luxury element of this brand.
The bra has fully adjustable straps with the sliders at the front. I know this is a bit of a debate for some people between the “what looks better” and the “easier to adjust” camps, but I’m all for sliders at the front. Personally, when I’ve made bras, my sliders have been at the front because it’s easier, and I think they look a little more retro there. The bra fastens at the back with 3 sets of 2 hooks and eyes.
The matching thong is made from the same silk fabric for the main front part, while the side and top panels are the same stretch tulle.
Size, fit & comfort
I received the All Undone Ariel bra in a 28GG, and this is one thing I love about this brand – they do 28 bands! There are so few luxury bra designers that make 28 bands, especially with fuller cups, and that’s another reason why All Undone was top of my lingerie lust list.
The 28 band is a very good fit on me – I’d say it’s completely true to size there. The 28GG cups however I’d say are definitely more on the shallow side of the scale. I’m overall an even shape, but I tend towards full on top, so the shallow shape works alright for me, but may not do if you’re more full on the bottom. If so, I’d recommend to try going up a size to compensate for this. At the moment, I’m finding I’m on the smaller side of a 28GG cup (not so small that I’d be wearing a 28G, but a couple of my 28Hs are too big – I fluctuate!), and this is a good fit for me there. It’s quite easy to see in the side on pictures of this bra on me how the more shallow shape gives me quite a push up effect. I think I were to scoop and swoop more aggressively, I’d end up with a little overflow and gaping gore, but I’m just out of the danger zone luckily!
The wires are about average width for a British brand – not as narrow as Polish bras, but not overly wide. I find them to be just a smidgen too wide for me, but they’re very comfortable.
The only complaint I have about this bra is that the straps are very wide set, particularly at the back. In the side view, you can see the slight twist and gape the strap has at the top of the cup; from the back view, you can see where the straps join very widely to the band – almost at the underarm. Fortunately they don’t slip off my shoulders and stay quite secure, but it did feel a little strange at first as I’m not used to straps being so wide.
All Undone currently offer bras in sizes 28 to 34, D to GG, which means I’m right at the top end of the scale for my band size. The GG/H barrier is a difficult one for designers to crack, so I can understand why, as a new and luxury brand, they’re currently limited there, but I know bigger cups who would love to try this brand too, so fingers crossed they can do that one day!
For the thong, I think I’d recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes. I’m wearing a size small here which equates to a size 10 in UK sizing. At around 37″ on my hips, this is my usual size, although I occasionally wear a size 12 in briefs too. Normally in clothing I’m an 8-10, but I don’t like to elastic to dig in at all or create lines, which is why I sometimes size up in briefs and probably would do were I to get another All Undone set. I don’t find them uncomfortable at all, but I do notice the elastic creating a bit of a bump over my hips and the top of the thong rolling down occasionally when I sit.
The All Undone Ariel bra is available in sizes 28-34, D-GG. You can buy it directly from All Undone for £95.
The All Undone Ariel thong is available in sizes XS to L. You can buy it directly from All Undone for £42.
There are also briefs and a suspender belt available in the Ariel collection at All Undone for £56 and £58 respectively.
BUT WAIT! (There’s more! Remember those ads :D) It’s All Undone’s 4th birthday this month and we’ve got a special code to get you 20% off – use BigLittle20 at checkout until 31st October to receive your discount.
And make sure you check out Sweet Nothings’ review of this bra in a 34GG here.
Shop other “mermaid” inspired bras and lingerie here:
Gorgeous bra set, looks as if it was made to measure on you.
Can see why it was expensive.
Dom