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Disappointing: M&S's set didn't wear well |
WORST WASH - Marks & Spencer
Ltd Collection Floral Lace Padded Bra, £14, and briefs, £6.Total cost of set: £20
Hanger appeal: Bra has pink moulded cups covered in black lace that feels a little cheap. Scallop trim and lace front panel on the knickers. Pink bows on both.
Care instructions: Both bra and knickers are machine washable on a gentle 40c cycle.
Washability: While the knickers have one long loose thread after six washes and shrink a little, after just one wash the lace on the bra already looks slightly fuzzy.
After the second wash, it’s decidedly noticeable and only gets worse.
After two months, there are loose threads on the bra, too.
Given that one in four of us (including me) buys our undies at M&S, this was a little disappointing.
Overall score: 2/5
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| Attractive: A high-end bra that's still machine washable |
Elle Macpherson Intimates
Artistry Jet bra, £36, and Boyleg briefs, £25.
Total cost of set: £61
Elle Macpherson Intimates
Artistry Jet bra, £36, and Boyleg briefs, £25.
Total cost of set: £61
Hanger appeal: Very attractive. Bra has delicate nude mesh and black lace cups with taupe ribbon and bow details.
Knickers are fine black mesh with a black lace front panel, and more taupe ribbon and bows.
It’s all very comfortable, too.
Care instructions: Both machine washable — bra on a gentle 40c cycle and knickers on a gentle 30c wash.
Washability: This set gets an extra mark because it’s the only high-end bra you can fling in the machine and, for a delicate set, they wash and wear much better than I’d expect.
They’re only marked down because after two washes there’s a pulled thread in the lace trim on the knickers and after six washes both bra and knickers have shrunk slightly.
4/5
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| Winner: Gossard's floral explosion plunge bra |
BEST WASH - Gossard
Floral Explosion bra, £34, and matching shortie briefs, £16.
Total cost of set: £50
Hanger appeal: Brightly coloured smooth blue floral satin moulded cups with removable padding — plus lace panels and organza bow.
Knickers have a sheer blue back panel with printed satin panel at the front, lace trim at the legs, and an organza bow.
Colour scheme is not to my taste, but they are extremely comfortable and feel expensive.
Care instructions: Bra is hand-wash, while knickers are a standard 40c machine wash.
Washability: These are my winners. The satin is as smooth and shiny after six washes and wears as it is at the start, and the colours remain bright with no fading.
There are no pulls or loose threads anywhere and I would give them top marks — except when I measure the waistband of the knickers it shows they’ve shrunk by nearly 2cm.
4.5/5
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| Comfortable: But the Victoria's Secret set was high maintenance |
Victoria's Secret
Dream Angels Demi in cream, £49.50, and matching Cheeky briefs in cream, £20.
Total cost of set: £69.50
Hanger appeal: Cream moulded cups covered with crystal-embellished black and cream lace.
The back band is made of matching lace. Briefs might be expensive, but are cheap-to-the-feel micro-mesh fabric, with a cream and black lace front panel — also embellished with tiny crystals — and edging. They are, however, very comfy.
Care instructions: Bra is hand-wash cold, and knickers are warm.
Washability: Victoria’s Secret arrived here from the U.S. in the summer, and I’d read the quality didn’t match the high prices. They’re certainly high-maintenance to care for, but fared averagely.
There were a few loose threads on bra and knickers by the end, and the knickers had stretched by 1cm, while the bra’s back band had shrunk by about the same.
While admittedly the tiny crystals were difficult to count, the bra and knickers had each lost about a tenth after two months.
4/5
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| Favourite style: But a shame it didn't have lasting power after washes |
Mimi Holliday for Damaris
Confetti Bomb Balcony bra, £54, and Lace Boy Short knickers, £40.
Total cost of set: £94
Hanger appeal: Gorgeous! Pink satin bra cups decorated with deep pink polka dots, and delicate deep pink lace back straps.
Feels wonderfully smooth and real silk gives the bra a luxury feel. Deep pink lace briefs have small satin panel, and bow details. It’s all very comfortable, too.
Care instructions: Bra and knickers both hand-wash in lukewarm water.
Washability: The satin cups remain silky smooth and the colours vivid. However, the lace on the bra and the knickers fades dramatically — and after the third wash there are lots of tiny elastic threads poking out of the gusset of the knickers.
It’s such a shame I can’t give it a higher mark as this is my favourite-looking set, but it is the most expensive and should have the lasting power to match the price.
Not something I’d buy for myself, and if I received it as a gift, I’d keep it for best only.
3/5
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| Impressed: New Look's lingerie fared well in the wash despite the low price |
Kelly Brook Black Scallop Lace Push-Up bra, £14.99, and matching thong, £5.99.
Total cost of set: £20.98
Hanger appeal: Pale pink heavily padded cups covered in smooth black lace that give an alarming cleavage for larger sizes.
Pink lacing and bow detail at breastbone. Black satin back and pink bows at clasp. Thong is black lace and satin with pink lacing, plus bow detail and pink lace trim.
It’s terrifically comfortable on the whole — especially the bra
Care instructions: Bra is hand-wash. Knickers a gentle 40c machine wash.
Washability: Better than expected. Some tiny loose threads on bra and knickers by the end, but the satin remains silky, and there’s no shrinking. This is the best budget buy.
4/5
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| Average: Sainsbury's lingerie strecthed a little after washes |
Tu at Sainsbury's
Blue floral bra, £10 and matching knickers, £5.
Total cost of set: £15
Hanger appeal: Pretty patterned moulded cups with blue lace trim and bow detail for the bra. The floral knickers also have lace trim.
Fabric is quite cheap to the feel and pants a little saggy even when new.
Care instructions: Bra and knickers are gentle machine wash at 40c.
Washability: Good. There’s no colour fading and only a few loose threads on the bra by the end.
However, the knickers only get saggier, as both briefs and bra stretch a little.
3/5
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