Red, shiny, laces, hooks..... what's not to like? When this hit the shelves (er, whatever), I was beside myself. I couldn't have been able to stop myself from getting it if I tried. Well, I have it now, but I won't be wearing it for a few months, or until it's cooler...and I may put on the weight needed to fill it out, come the holiday season.



This top came packaged in cellophane wrapping. The state of the top of the wrapping suggests that this item was at one time accompanied by a hanger....weird. I suppose someone just had to cram it into a smaller box. Well, whatever.

Included: One "bustier." No accoutrements.

The tag reads: 80% Nylon, 20% Spandex exclusive of trim. Hand wash....

Certainly, this is not something that should ever be within 10 feet of a washing machine or dryer.



Here we have the outside of the garment. There is no lining; it is only one layer thick. The fabric only feels slightly plasticky, and it has some nice stretch to it. I would like to wear this out for a day before reviewing it. Sadly, it isn't very breathable, and can get quite warm. Hence, I will not be donning this top in July in Mississippi.



A photo of the inside of the garment, for good measure.



The only "defect" I could find in the craftsmanship....easily taken care of.



For those of you with navel piercings: This top hates navel rings and will do its best to rip yours out....you have been warned.

Sizing Information: Coquette's size chart states that an XL should fit:

Size: 14-16
Cup: D
Bust: 42-44
Waist: 34-36
Hips: 44-46

Me:

Size: 14-16
Cup: C
Bust: 42
Waist: 32
Hips: 42

Granted, I should've checked in with Coquette's size chart before ordering...I'm just so damn used to not fitting into a large, and I have plenty of sausage-stuffing-reminiscent memories of myself trying to wear large hand-me-downs.



And so here I am, sporting an XL. It's not exactly the best fit...but when egg nog becomes available again...maybe I can fill it out.

The hooks actually snap into place....which is good and bad (the good outweighs the bad, though). Good, because they don't keep coming undone when the top is being put on, and they don't come undone while it's being worn. Bad, because it's impossible to take this off smoothly if you take the hook route....if someone else takes you out of it by undoing the laces....different story.

The bust fits just fine (as the size chart promises)...though there is NO support and certainly NO padding, as the item's name would have you think.

The waist is a little loose. Again, this is right on with the size chart.

The hips are slightly loose..... see above.

The size chart seems to be quite accurate, though I think it would go an inch or two higher for each measurement....the ribbon in the back is PLENTY long enough. Even someone who fits the low end of the size chart may want to order down, if they fancied having the wide, dramatic lacing in the product page picture.



Ideally, the lower part would fit like the upper part. Alack and alas.



Again, if someone a little larger than me wants the lacing wide....they would do well to order down.





I feel that this review is rather short...hopefully, the pictures fill in for any inadequacies in my writing.
Thanks for reading and feel free to ask questions!