Next up is one of my favourite brands to visit each season, Curvy Kate! The Curvy Kate AW16 collection primarily features rich berry shades of red, purple and blue, accented with pops of bright yellow and green.
Curvy Kate Wild Cat in Leopard (pictures 1-2; 28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Ellace in Crimson (pictures 3-4; 28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Smoothie Deluxe in Rose (picture 5; 28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Kitty Plunge Longline Babydoll in Merlot (pictures 6-7; 30-40 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Kitty Plunge Bra in Merlot (picture 8; 28-40 D-J)
The Curvy Kate AW16 collection features rich shades of cranberry and merlot, as seen in the Wild Cat, Ellace, Smoothie Deluxe, and Kitty. I adore red lingerie, so these pieces are right up my street! The Smoothie Deluxe is a new style, replacing last season’s ‘Smoothie Prowl’. The Prowl had leopard print lace adorning the sides of the cups, however, as this was not as striking as hoped when worn, the Deluxe instead has completely smooth cups with floral lace on the front of the band.
The red Ellace is the first non-basic colourway of this style, and I love how the red shade turns this basic into a very sultry piece. I also love the Wild Cat, which happens to be Curvy Kate’s first proper leopard print bra! As always, leopard print tends to be either love it or hate it, so I’m looking forward to hearing opinions on this one!
Curvy Kate Daydreamer in Floral Print (28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Ritzy Balconette in Berry (28-38 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Ritzy Babydoll in Berry (28-38 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Dreamcatcher in Magenta (28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G)
Magenta shades are popular, used here in the Daydreamer, Ritzy and Dreamcatcher. The Daydreamer is a new version of AW15’s extremely popular Cherie, featuring a black base with a magenta miniature floral print, with the bows and trims done in a shade of soft, powder blue. I love this shade, and I think the rich magenta/berry used for this season’s Ritzy is a definite winner.
Curvy Kate Atomic Plunge in Plum (28-40 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Tease in Black/Plum (28-38 D-J)
We also have plum shades in the Atomic and Tease. I have been a huge fan of the Tease (formerly ‘Tease Me’) style for a long time, and I think this Black/Plum colourway is just perfect for it! One thing I really miss about the Tease is the ruffles on the back of the briefs, because oh god I love ruffles so much I want to wear them all the time, but I can understand why they were dropped from the design. Still, a girl can dream!
Curvy Kate Princess in Blueberry (picture 1; 28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Daily Dream in Blueberry Mix (pictures 2-3; 28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G ; Curvy Kate Florence in Powder Blue (picture 4; 30-40 D-J)
Shades of blue are popular as ever, as shown in the Princess, Daily Dream and Florence. My favourite of these has to be the Daily Dream, which I think is a really fun, teen-appropriate colourway. Being the bustiest kid in your friend group can make you self-conscious as it is, never mind only being able to find either really boring or overly sexy bras in your size, so I love that Curvy Kate are putting this option out there. This will be available with a new ‘Cheeky Short’ (picture 3), which is really just a standard brief cut (rather than the usual brazilian, short or thong), so again, a great, teen-appropriate choice.
Curvy Kate Smoothie Spirit in Latte (28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Ellace in Latte (28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G)
There will be two new neutral beige options, the Smoothie Spirit and Ellace. The Smoothie Spirit is a new bandless version of the Smoothie, which looks to have slightly lower cut cups than the original, as well as moving the leopard print from the cups onto the band mesh. If you need a moulded bra but find the original Smoothie doesn’t work for you, it looks like this might be worth trying. Another development in the neutrals: the Luxe Strapless is having a size expansion! The Luxe will be available in sizes 28-38 D-J from May 2016, in its current continuity styles of Black and Biscotti.
Curvy Kate Belle Babydoll in Blush/Black (pictures 1-2; 28-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Belle Bra in Blush/Black (picture 3; 28-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Cabaret in Black/Blush (pictures 4-5; 28-40 D-J)
One of my favourite colour combinations when it comes to lingerie is black and blush, so I was really excited to see these! These styles are the Belle and Cabaret. The Belle is based on the incredible Bardot range, but the sheer black cups of the Bardot have been replaced with semi-sheer blush cups, with contrasting black criss-cross detailing embroidered down the cups. My favourite part of this has to be the little folded blush pink ribbon and button in the centre, which I think is a really fun and unusual touch.
Curvy Kate Vixen in Black/Almond (28-40 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Princess Balconette (28-40 D-K, 42-44 D-G) and Plunge (28-40 D-J) in Black ; Curvy Kate Princess Plunge in Black (28-40 D-J)
Finally, there are also some darker neutral options in the Vixen, Princess, and the new Princess Plunge. The Princess is one of Curvy Kate’s oldest and most popular styles, so I’m sure many people will be happy to see the new plunge addition to the line! This features all the same beautiful details as the original Princess, but on Curvy Kate’s unpadded plunge shape. A coordinating brazilian brief will also be added to the line (currently only in black, but this may change in future seasons).
I also got a chance to check out the new Curvy Kate Swim range! These pieces will be available in July/August 2016, so despite this being the Autumn/Winter range, these should arrive in time for your summer holidays.
Curvy Kate Swim Hypnotic Plunge Bikini in Monochrome/Olive (pictures 1-2; 28-40 D-J) ; Curvy Kate Swim Hypnotic Padded Balcony Tankini in Monochrome/Olive (picture 3; 30-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Swim Hypnotic Bandeau Bikini in Monochrome/Olive (picture 4; 28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G)
The Hypnotic range is similar to the older Ocean Drive and Bon Voyage ranges, with bold blocks of colour being exchanged for this monochromatic geometric print, with just a pop of colour coming from the zesty green piping details.
Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Padded Balcony Bikini in Black (30-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Halterneck Bikini in Black (28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Balcony Tankini in Black (30-40 D-K)
Curvy Kate’s continuity Luau Love range is being replaced with the Jetty this season, and unlike the Luau Love, there will be no strapless bandeau in this style. This is a very simple, very cute style, and I think it’ll make a great basic for those who aren’t big fans of patterned swimwear.
Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Halterneck Bikini and Swim Skirt in Berry (28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Padded Balcony Bikini in Berry (30-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Swim Jetty Balcony Tankini in Berry (30-40 D-K)
The berry colour continues into the swimwear for the second colourway of the Jetty. I love this colour for swimwear! I also really love the swim skirt available with this style (see picture 1); in the past, Curvy Kate’s swim skirts have been more figure-hugging, so I think this flared kind of cut is new and really fun.
Curvy Kate Swim Instinct Padded Balcony Bikini in Cherry Berry (30-40 D-K) ; Curvy Kate Swim Instinct Halterneck Bikini in Cherry Berry (28-30 D-J, 32 D-HH, 34 D-H, 36 D-GG, 38 D-G) ; Curvy Kate Swim Instinct Balcony Tankini in Cherry Berry (30-40 D-K)
Finally, last season’s Instinct returns in this season’s colour of berry, featuring the same black, white and coral detailing. The catalogue describes the tankini as a ‘longline tankini’, but I think this may just be referring to the longer length of the tankini (with no Jetty-style side ruching).
Overall I have to say I’m a fan of this collection! I love sultry sets and rich berry colours, so the plethora of each in this collection is definitely something I’m pleased about, though it does seem like there are fewer youth-appropriate pieces than usual (probably due to it being an Autumn/Winter collection). Once again, I love that Curvy Kate are continuing to develop new cuts, with the range of styles meaning that there should (hopefully!) be something for everyone.
What do you think of the collection? Any favourite styles? Any not-so-favourite styles? Let me know any thoughts in the comments below!
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The magenta dream catcher and powder blue Florence are interesting, thank you Anna for a beautiful round up!
I love the Florence! I still haven’t tried it out yet, but there are some really lovely colourways about. I might have to take the plunge and squeeze myself into a 32J sometime
I do not own any sets from curvy kate but i am so in love with this brand. i love the princess set and it is so feminine in the blue colorway. but i would have any one of the sets. The bras look very supportive and really well made. From photos i have seen they all give a wonderfull shape to the breast. i like panties that give a little more coverage and curvy kate seams to give you that. I will be on the look out for this brand here in australia.
Hey, thanks for your comment! Curvy Kate have some really lovely pieces – the Princess is definitely a popular one! Curvy Kate should have a list of stockists for your area on their website, I’d definitely check them out if you get a chance
aaaah.. I’m loving the tease colour way it is gorgeous. I really like the belle too.
I love the Tease, too! The Belle I really love the colours of, though I have to admit, I do miss the completely sheer cups of the Bardot!
Ellace new colorway looks tempting! I’m looking forward to try Atomic (which I haven’t yet!)
Florence new colorway is very pretty! (I have the Pacific Blue version from the SS16 collection and it’s one of the bras I wear the most!)
Belle looks pretty amazing too, and if it’s a Bardot clone, even better!
Wish they would make new Bardots, Jewels and such…though
kiss kiss
Nádia
My Fashion Insider
I miss the Bardot already! I’d love to see more colourways, I can’t get enough of them. I haven’t tried the Florence yet – I wear a 30K in other Curvy Kate balconettes (Cherie, Bardot, Cascade etc), so unless it runs generously, I doubt a 32J is going to work for me!