lingerie review: surrender red basque and thong – scantilly

AD: pr sample. this scantilly surrender set was gifted to me by brastop with no obligation to review or post about it. all opinions and comments are my own and entirely uninfluenced.
photos shot by ylenia margareci.

i fully intended on getting this review published earlier but… life gets in the way! anyway.

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this gorgeous scantilly basque has been on my radar for a LONG time, i’ve lusted after the black version for so long but the red one has completely stolen my heart. it is made entirely of sheer mesh with underwired bra-sized cups, metallic embroidery and over-bust strapping to the top cups, finished with scantilly’s signature rose gold hardware and charm details. there’s no ‘shaper’ fabric or boning, so it won’t smooth and suck you in like a cincher or corset, but it does meld perfectly to your curves and offers a really flattering shape. it fastens with a series of 3 rows of hooks and eyes at the back, features fully adjustable shoulders straps, and has four fully adjustable suspender straps too.

my usual scantilly sizing is 30FF (my 28G sister size, as they sadly only begin from 30 bands) but for the surrender range i tend to go down a cup size, so this is a 30F. this is due to a lack of fullness in the top of my boobs; if you’re fuller on top then your regular size should be an ideal fit. the band of course is a little loose on me, but i would consider it to be true to size as it fits how a 30 band is expected to fit on me. it’s comfortable and easy to wear, with no pinching or discomfort anywhere that i’ve noticed so far.

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i wish there were a 28 band available; with 30 bands that are much too loose i will consider having them taken in if they’re one i wear regularly, or use a rixie clip to tighten them, but with my scantilly i’m not so keen on trying (they’re expensive and rixie clips are pretty jagged!) and this being a basque makes it harder to have the band taken in, since the fastening runs down the entire length of the body. there are slight wrinkles where it is, even on the tightest hooks, a little loose fitting on me – mostly at the waist. does this affect the support? not at all, the 2-3 hooks at the top are firm enough to support my bust. as there are 3 columns of hooks and eyes, you can play around a little bit to get a perfect fit – for example having them on the tighter hooks at the waist while they’re on the looser hooks at the chest and hips to fit your curves.

i’m glad this basque is available in proper bra sizes – i find clothes sized basques just do not work on me they way they should and while they’re great for the bedroom, they’re not something i can wear practically. i also love that the suspender straps can be fully adjusted, so if you’re short (like me!) they can be tightened the whole way or lengthened if you’re taller.

my one gripe with this set is that the suspender straps aren’t removable. this is something i’d love to style with a pair of high waisted jeans or leather-look leggings for a night out, but it just isn’t practical with the suspender straps being fixed to the body. it works great under something that isn’t skin-tight or form-fitting though, so you could pair it up with a flowy skirt if that’s more your style.

there are two styles of matching knickers – a thong and a peep-hole brief. i opted for the thong and it is made of the same sheer mesh featuring the same gorgeous embroidery. the waistband is made of a non-stretch satinesque, joined with rose gold hoops, and the size small fits my regular UK 8-10 well. do bear the lack of stretch in mind though, as it is slightly more generously sized towards the larger end of the dual sizing (i.e. the small fits more like a 10 than an 8).

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at a price point of £72 for the basque it is very much on the high end of my personal budget when i’m shopping for lingerie, but is absolutely something i’d consider saving up for and the luxe feel of it is definitely worth it. with the matching thong it comes in at under £100 for the set which, in the grand scheme of things, for well-fitting, supportive, well-made and gorgeous DD+ cup lingerie (especially things like basques) it really isn’t that expensive.

it makes a perfect valentine’s treat to yourself, or a loved one, and i may just have to get the black one now… you can buy the scantilly surrender basque in red here on brastop, or shop it in black here if that’s more your thing!

xo, the lingerie princess

my babe lauren over at the mum style recently reviewed the bra of this range, so if you’re looking for something a little less boudoir but just as sexy, check that out here!