Ewa Michalak PL Atrament

One of my favourite colours is blue.  As I have blonde hair and blue eyes, my mum used to dress me in blue all the time as a child, so much so that when I reached adolescence and had more of a say in what I wore, I steered away from blue for quite some time.  But, there's no denying that it is indeed a colour that suits me and it wasn't long before various shades of blue started creeping back into my wardrobe.  Now, as a fully fledged adult, I adore blue and have various items of clothing in different shades and hues.  The one thing I was missing was a blue bra.  


That is, until Ewa Michalak brought out the PL Atrament.

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Dark blue (not quite navy) with royal blue edging?  Yes PLEASE!


Here I am in the 80HH (36HH):

I ADORE this bra.  It is the most stunning colour and the fabric covering the cups is a very dark 'ink' blue with a floral pattern embroidered on it so it almost looks like brocade.  The tops of the cups are covered in a pleated ribbon and this has cleverly been used to create the bow on the central gore.  The ribbon continues up the first half of the straps and on the side seams of the band.  When light reflects off this ribbon it appears to glow and highlights these features of the bra.  So clever.


The straps are adjustable to halfway but the clip can definitely be pushed over the ribboned area if necessary.  They are thinner than all the other Ewa Michalak bras I own, which makes a nice change.  It's always good to have bras with a wide range of strap styles - something I have never had the luxury of before I discovered the joys of Ewa Michalak.  The second half of the strap is made from a completely unstretchy material and I wonder if this might rub over time but as I haven't worn the bra yet apart from a very quick try on I can't give an accurate report on this.  Additionally, the edges of the strap feel as though they could be quite sharp on soft skin.


The bra has removable pads which sit in the lower half of the cups.  I took mine out before I tried on the bra and it gave a great fit.  I don't think I would wear it with the pads in place but if I did I guess they would simply give me a bit of extra lift.  The pads are not included for this reason but in fact to help correct asymmetry.


I found the cups to be a smidgeon on the small side but I am hoping they will loosen up with wear.  The band is rather stretchy so I have returned it to exchange for a 75J (34J).


This is a stunning bra with many fine features and is in an exquisite, unusual colour.  If you can grab it in your size, I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Ewa Michalak HP Classic

Ewa Michalak recently added several new styles to the site, one of which was the HP Classic - it looked so pretty I could not resist adding it to my order.

As it's an HP bra, it doesn't come in my usual size range so I went for a 34/75HH.

In reality, the bra is absolutely beautiful.  It has padded halfcups which are covered in an intricately embroidered overlay of pale gold and black threads and there is a pretty pale gold bow and jewel on the central gore.

The straps are fully adjustable but feature the dreaded oblong metal connectors to join the straps to the back of the bra and I fear during wear the connectors would turn round and cause the fit of the straps to change.


The central gore is about an inch taller than the PLs I own but it's not high enough for me to notice too much.  The underwires do not dig in underneath the arms - and this is something I notice with all my Ewa Michalak bras, so great work there!

Unfortunately the HP is a style that is all wrong for me.  It pushes the breasts to the chest and somehow creates a flattening effect, which is something I really don't want.  My boobs look best when they are pointing to the front, and the PL and CH styles from Ewa Michalak achieve this for me.  The HPs push me together, which looks nice, but the part of my breast which is inside the bra is given a kind of pointy shape which looked very odd under clothing when I quickly tried something over the top.  I think the picture looking down on my breasts shows this issue best.

I am gutted this bra is not available in CH or PL as I definitely would be exchanging it if I could.  It's a really lovely bra but sadly not for me in this style.

Ewa Michalak PL Purple

Ewa Michalak do a wide range of plunge (PL) bras and the PL Purple is one from the new collection which was added to the website before Christmas.

I was fortunate enough to grab it whilst on special offer, meaning that I saved 30 zlotys off the regular list price.  It made this gorgeous bra even more appealing!  I went for a 34/75J as the PLs I owned in a 36/80 were proving to be a little loose in the band for me.

Upon opening the parcel, I was not disappointed when I pulled out the PL Purple.  It is beautiful in reality and its colour is perhaps more of a burgundy than a true purple (which is what I'd call the CH Pawie Oka).  Looking on the inside of the bra I see that it is in fact made from a very similarly coloured fabric to the PL Fuksja but is overlaid with black mesh which gives it that darker, almost two-toned appearance.  Fabulous!


This bra has many features inspired by other successful Ewa Michalak plunges.  It has the removable extra padding, the central gore buttons and the wide straps of the PL Onyks and the ribbon tabs on the section where the straps meet the cups from the PL Black.  I don't mind this one bit - why reinvent the wheel?


As you can see from the pics above, the cups are a tiny bit snug on me but I am hoping they will loosen up a touch with wear and become the perfect fit for me.


The wide straps are beyond comfortable and do not dig in at all.  They are only halfway adjustable which means that someone with a short shoulder:chest ratio might find this bra unsuitable but it was fine for me.


The removable padding is an interesting feature on this style.  I took the pads out before trying the bra on and found it was a great fit.  The pads will certainly come in handy somewhere else, however - I may even try adding them to some of my bras which have stretched cups to see if they help solve the issue.


The 75J was a nice fit on me but I found the band rather stretchy and put it on the third set of hooks (out of 4) the first time I tried it on.  I have therefore sent it back to exchange for a 70JJ which I think will last me better in the long run.  Now I just have to decide if I want to give the CH Purple a whirl too!


Gorgeous bra - its colour and design makes me feel as though I should be doing burlesque in it.  Now there's a thought...

Ewa Michalak CH Pawie Oka

I have never in my life owned a purple bra.  Well, actually I dyed one a while ago to make it purple, but that doesn't really count.  So you can imagine my delight when I discovered Ewa Michalak were adding a purple number to their new range a little while before Christmas in the form of the CH Pawie Oka (meaning Peacock's Eye).

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the CH Pawie Oka in 34/75HH:

The padded halfcups are covered in a gorgeous silky purple microfibre and edged, both along the top and the bottom of the cups, in an unusual purple/silver lace design which I guess gives the bra its name of 'Peacock's Eye'.  The colour of the bra is slightly more lavender than my pics above suggest, with the stock photo from the website being the most accurate representation.


Having removable pads inside the lower half of the cups means this bra is ideal for anyone looking to resolve asymmetry.  I removed the pads when trying on this bra and as it's technically too small for me I certainly won't be putting them back in again.  You can see from one or two of the pics that the cups are definitely snug but the shape and uplift the bra gives me is truly second to none.


The straps are halfway adjustable and are similar in appearance to those on the PL Burgund.  However I don't think these will go funny in the same way as they seem to have been constructed differently.  The good news is that the straps have rings attaching them to the back band, so I have no worries of them twisting round and digging in/compromising the fit of the straps.


The band on this bra is quite stretchy.  I went for the 34/75HH but have emailed Ewa today asking if it is possible to exchange for a 32/70J which I feel will serve me better in the long run.  When I tried this bra on I went straight to the tightest row of hooks (there are 3 rows of 3 hooks) so I suppose it wouldn't be long before it felt too loose on me.


I am sorely tempted to get more than one of this bra.  I love it that much.  From its beautiful design and colour to the shape and uplift it gives me, I think this may well become my favourite Ewa Michalak bra yet.

Ewa Michalak HP Turkus

I have been the proud owner of a PL Turkus for some time now.  It's one of my favourite bras but I wish I had bought it in a 34/75 back rather than a 36/80 as it's turned out to be a little more stretchy than I'd realised.


So when I saw the HP Turkus available at only 89 zlotys, I knew I simply had to make the purchase.

I had never tried a HP style bra from Ewa Michalak before so I didn't know what to expect from the fit. All I knew for sure was that it would be beautifully made and of first class quality, as are all Ewa Michalak bras.

I ordered the HP Turkus in a 34/75HH as it was the largest cup size available in this band size.

The HP Turkus is every bit as well-made as all my other Ewa Michalak bras.  It has padded hapfcups and its turquoise colour is beautifully vibrant.  The central gore is around an inch taller than my plunge bras and it does not dig in to my underarm area.  The cups are wider than my plunges but the wires still sit round the front of my body, rather than reaching round to the back, as with some bra manufacturers!  The straps are fully adjustable and have detailing along the edges that stops the adjusters from slipping during wear.  However, the clips which attach the straps to the back of the bra are oblong and therefore might turn upright over time, causing a change in the fit of the straps and possible digging in of the clips.  I do wish Ewa would stick to the circular connectors instead.

On first impressions, this bra probably looks like it gave me a great fit.  I certainly can't deny that my boobs were pushed up and well-supported, however the fit was all wrong on me.  The HP shape is all about pushing one's breasts again the chest in order to provide uplift.  Unfortunately this meets with the compromise of flattening the boobs somewhat and when you have big boobs like me this generally isn't a look that flatters.

I found that the exposed part of my breasts had a lovely rounded shape but the lower part which was in the bra had more of a pointy shape and overall made my boobs look rather odd underneath clothing.

I am sure this style would work very well indeed on those requiring a smaller cup size or perhaps with different shaped breasts but for me I am sorry to say this is not a keeper.  Please note that this is the first Ewa Michalak bra I am returning for refund!!

Understanding the different Ewa Michalak bra styles

When placing my most recent order with Ewa Michalak I decided to try some different styles - my theory was if they fitted it would mean a whole raft of new bras would then be available to me ;-) Previously I have only ever gone for the plunge style as this is the only one available in my size range; however I have always wondered if I might be able to fit into one or some of the others.

The styles are described as follows on the Ewa Michalak site:

Plunge bra
Bra designed for deep, plunging necklines. It is very low at the centre. The plunge bra makes your breasts closer together.

Halfcup bra
Bra worn under broad and low necklines. Cups have one vertical seam. The edges of the cups form an almost vertical line. The halfcup bra is low cut and shows the upper part of your breasts.

Strapless bra
Bra to be worn without any straps. Perfect for any special occasion (under strapless / halterneck tops or dresses). Thanks to moulded cups and band strengthened by sillicone tape, it gives enough support for your bust even without the straps.

Balconette bra
Bra for everyday use, giving the best support for your breasts. The cups offer more coverage than other bra styles. The balconette bra gives you lift, shape and comfort.

This information is most useful; however it does not address the matter which causes most confusion (for me at least) - what is the difference between the styles available on the site?

I have spoken to friends in the past who have explained the differences between the various styles (PL, HM, HP, CH) but I wasn't sure how each one would suit me. I knew therefore that I would have to try them out for myself in order to be sure I was going for the best style for me.

The PL (plunge) style is available in every size, as far as I am aware. However, the CH, HP and HM styles are not and only go up to a certain cup size. For my size range, most of the CH and HP bras stop at a 36/80H or a 34/75HH. The HM, which is an unpadded style, goes up to a 36/80G or a 34/75GG. I emailed the lovely Ewa a while ago to ask her if any of these three styles would ever be available in larger cup sizes. She replied very promptly to tell me no they wouldn't as they do not look good on larger breasts. Despite this advice, I decided to find out for myself how they looked on my 46" overbust and 33" underbust chest.

I will write separate reviews for each of the bras I ordered, however in this post I am hoping to summarise my findings of the CH and HP styles. Please note that the comments here are my personal opinions and findings of the two styles - they may well come up differently on other people as we all have unique and very individual boobs!


The PL style is a plunge bra with two vertical seams and one horizontal (ish!) seam on each cup.  This bra is designed to pull everything into the bra and push the boobs together, whilst giving a rounded shape.  The central gore is lower than other styles, but is of course higher on the larger cupped bras than on smaller.  The wire comes up much lower on the sides when compared with other bra manufacturers (significantly lower than Panache, Freya and Fantasie, for example).  The plunge is the best style for larger breasts but it is important that wearers find their correct size as otherwise there can be some spillage in the centre of the bra.


I have PL bras in a variety of sizes - 36/80J, 36/80HH and 34/75J, with the latter being the best fit so far - and adore the shape and lift they give me.


Here I am in a 36/80HH in the PL Panterka Czerwona:

The CH style is a halfcup bra and on larger cups it has two vertical seams.  These seams are very vertical indeed, which is what gives the cups their depth and in turn gives my boobs the 'facing forward' and pushed up shape.  Ewa Michalak describes this shape as 'rounded apple breasts' and I think this is the perfect description.  

The central gore is higher than the plunge style by about an inch, meaning that the tops of the cups run almost horizontally from here to where they join the shoulder straps.  The sides of the CH also come up higher, but not so high that they poke into my armpits (as is the case with bras from many other manufacturers).

I tried the CH bras in 80H (CH Miętus) and 75HH (CH Pawie Oka) - these both fit well in the cup (as technically they are the same volume) but the Pawie Oka has a stretchy band and so I am hoping to exchange it for a 70J if it is available.

Here is a picture of me in the CH Pawie Oka:

If you like the shape the Bravissimo Demi Diva and the Curvy Kate Tease Me give you then I believe the CH style will be a good one for you.

The HP style is also a halfcup bra and has two vertical seams on larger cups.  Well, I say they are vertical, but when looking closely at them it is clear they are curved in order to give the cups their shape.  The central gore is the same height as the CH but the wires at the sides do not come up as high.

I have found that the HP bras somewhat flatten my boobs, giving a slight minimising effect.    Ewa Michalak make note of this on their website: 'In comparison with the CH, the HP pushes the breasts to the chest and pushes upward.'  I thought this minimising shape would be immediately apparent in the photos I took but perhaps not - I think my boobs actually look quite good!  However I know the bras do not feel quite right when I am wearing them and when I look down I do not see the beautiful shape the PL and CH bras give me but instead a slightly misshapen appearance where my boobs are being unwillingly pushed out to the sides somewhat.  I must stress that this is how I have found the HPs fit - I have no doubt that on others they would be perfect, but perhaps these others would need to be a few cup sizes smaller than me.

I tried the HPs in a 75HH and found them a good fit sizewise on me.

Here is a picture of me in the HP Nina (an exquisite bra but sadly the wrong shape for me):

My opinion is that if you are a fan of the shape Panache and Elomi bras give you then you will suit the HP style very much.

The HM style is an unpadded halfcup bra.  This style is not available in my size so I am writing this based on my observations from the Ewa Michalak website.  I am most envious of ladies who can fit into this style as the designs are every bit as beautiful as their padded counterparts and I would love to own a Ewa Michalak lacy unpadded bra.  The fit seems to be similar to the HP, where the breasts are pushed against the chest and lifted up, which is why this style would not suit larger cups.


Obviously I do not have any pictures of me in an HM bra but here is one from the website:

Again, I think this style would give a similar fit to Panache and Elomi bras.

I love the CH shape so much that I am planning on ordering as many as possible for my collection.  I notice that Ewa Michalak don't have many new designs available in CH and are instead concentrating on the HP - for my own reasons I hope and pray that this soon changes and the CH is brought back into the spotlight again as for me it is a stunning shape.


You can read another guide to Ewa Michalak on the Venusian Glow blog here.

Ewa Michalak CH Miętus

For a long time, I have been lusting after the gorgeous range of halfcup bras on the Ewa Michalak site, with my favourite style being the 'CH'. To quote the website, the CH style is described as 'Padded halfcup bra, perfect for low and broad neckline. Vertical seams of the cups lift the breast and give them rounded shape. The CH halfcup bra is suitable for every woman, regardless of the size and condition of her breasts. The width of the underwires and the straps is adjusted to each size.'

As none of the CH bras are available in my usual sizes of 80HH/J (36HH/J) I was hesitant about ordering any as I didn't want to be disappointed in case they were miles too small for me.

However, when I saw the stunning CH Miętus I knew I had to take a chance and place an order.

The delicate mint green colour and contrasting raspberry pink detailling really caught my eye. I also adored the shape the CH style gave the model and kept everything crossed that it would look just as fabulous on me.

I was not disappointed...

This bra is utterly gorgeous. The patterned fabric reminds me of my dear granny's porcelain teacups - so delicate and intricate. As with all my Ewa Michalak bras, this is another foam padded one, but as it's a halfcup the shape is different to the plunges to which I have become accustomed. I really like the way that, on me at least, the top of the cups runs straight across and so is not higher at the sides than in the middle, as is the case with my plunges. The uplift is amazing and gives me an almost 'fake' appearance to my boobs - something I have never experienced before but I must admit it is a rather nice feeling!

I know the cups are a little bit too small on me...but could you resist the chance of wearing a bra as cute as this? I am hoping it will stretch a little over time or if I lose weight or my size reduces for some other reason I know I will be even more pleased I held onto this one.

The sides of this bra come up higher than my Ewa plunges and I must admit after a day of wear yesterday I was quite relieved to remove it at the end of the day.  I have found that all my other EMs have loosened up with wear, though, and fully expect the same to happen with this bra.

The straps are fully adjustable but very thin, meaning that they can be liable to folding over, as I found with the PL Bella.  Also there is no embellishment on them, which means that it is possible for the straps to readjust themselves as the adjusters can slide up and down of their own accord.  The good news is that the straps attach to the back of the bra with round connectors so they stay in position comfortably.

Sadly there are no matching briefs available but I am sure I will be able to pick something up on the high street that looks ok.

If you want to buy one of these, you'll have to be quick. It's on offer as an end of the line item and only a few select sizes remain in stock.

I am delighted with my first foray into the world of CHs and will no doubt be buying more bras in this style in the future.

Ewa Michalak PL Burgund

Ewa Michalak do a great range of basic, no-nonsense bras.  For me, the PL Burgund falls into this category.

It is simple, stylish and practical.  And a gorgeous and unusual colour.  Of course, I just HAD to have it... ;-)

This is again a 36HH/80HH rather than a 36J/80J in order to try to overcome the stretching issue I have experienced with some of my EM bras.  So you can see it looks a tiny bit small in the cups for now but I am hoping after few wears and washes it will become a better fit for me.

The colour of this set is elegant, sexy and luxurious.  The main material is a stretchy silky fabric, similar to that of the PL Toffik.  The tops of the cups are edged with a beautiful floral lace and there is a delicate bow on the central gore between the cups.

Burgund's band is perhaps only slightly stretchier than the Toffik, although I know some others who find it very stretchy indeed.  A fellow Ewa fan suggested that the initial batches of this bra had stretchier bands but the later ones did not so I guess I have a bra from a later batch.

The straps of this bra might be the stumbling block for some people.  Unfortunately they are only adjustable halfway, so those who like to wear their straps on the short side would not have the option to do so.  On the upside, the bra has circular rings instead of oblongs connecting the straps to the back band - hoorah!

Unfortunately the straps have gone rather funny on me.  It feels as though the elastic inside the straps is curling at the sides and therefore it cuts rather painfully into my shoulders.  I have been wearing this bra today and find the discomfort is relieved by lengthening the straps, but then my boobs are not so well supported so I don't think this is a good solution.  For now I am wearing it as a house bra only but I might mention this problem to Ewa at some point to see if she can suggest a way of sorting it.  I would be very interested to hear if anyone else has the same problem with their Burgund.

Problems aside, this is yet another stunning set from Ewa Michalak.  The briefs are super comfy and remind me of the Toffik's and others.  The bra gives me a beautiful shape and support I've never experienced with any other manufacturer.  For me, Ewa Michalak bras are practically perfect in every way!

Ewa Michalak PL Bella

Here's another pretty little thing from Ewa Michalak.

The PL Bella looked so delicate and feminine on the website that I simply had to have it.  In all honesty, I wasn't quite sure what it would look like in reality, nor what the fabric it was made from would feel like.  I was absolutely thrilled when it arrived and I tried it on for the first time:

Oooh, this one is SO pretty and girly.  I would say it could almost be a bridal set.  A baby pink foam is overlaid with a heather-coloured lace with pale pink embroidery.  The shiny baby pink ribbon has been cleverly made so it is permanently ribbed and is sewn along the tops of the cups, which are topped with the most delicate baby pink net lace.  The pink ribbed ribbon also runs down the side of the bra under the arms.  Now, lace and ribbon can sometimes be scratchy and uncomfortable but, as ever with Ewa Michalak lingerie, great care has been taken to choose the softest fabrics to ensure this is not the case at all.


I find the cups to be slightly shallower than some of my other 36HH/80HHs.  This is currently causing me a slight quadraboob but hopefully this will lessen with washing and wearing.


The straps are, again, baby pink and smooth except for a pattern stitched along the middle.  Unfortunately this means that the adjusters can slide up and down with ease and sometimes I find when putting the bra on I accidentally move them, which can be frustrating.  There is a lot of stretch to the straps - perhaps the stretchiest Ewa bra I have tried so far - but they are fully adjustable.  However, I have found that the straps tend to fold in half (I guess the stitching down the middle of the straps enables this) and can become rather uncomfortable if left in this state.  Such a pity - I wonder if there is a way of strengthening the straps?  Any suggestions are most welcome.


Another downside are the silver metal strap adjusters and clips which connect the straps to the bra.  They are very thin and although strong they are not at all forgiving and I find I often notice them digging into my back.  Furthermore, as the clip connecting the straps to the bra is oblong, as opposed to round, they frequently end up turning round the wrong way, which can also become most uncomfortable.


These minuses are not enough to make me dislike this bra - it is very lovely and when it is sitting correctly I feel great in it - but it is not my first choice when I go to my 'bra drawer' in the morning.


The matching briefs are soooooo comfortable and I feel great in them.  In fact, they look more like shorts on me for some reason, but I don't mind that at all.  They have the same ribbed ribbon running down the front and back of the shorts and the main material is lovely and stretchy.


I adore this set and think it looks much prettier in the flesh (or should that be fabric??) than on the website.  However there are a few areas which could be improved before I would consider the bra to be perfect.

Ewa Michalak PL Garden

Ewa Michalak design and make some very beautiful bras.  In fact, I have yet to see a bra on their site which I don't like the look of.  One of my favourite designs is the PL Garden.

I ordered this style in a 36HH (80HH) as part of my very first EM order but decided it was a tiny bit too small for me so I sent it back with the rest of the order, only to discover there was no stock left in the next cup size up.  So for months I have been longing for this to come back in stock and, as if by magic, a month or so ago it did and I am now the proud owner of a PL Garden with matching thong.  I ended up ordering the bra in the original 36HH as I have found some of my 36Js stretching with wear and I desperately did not want this to be a bra that became too big for me.

As it happens, the 36HH is actually a very good fit on me.

The band feels stretchier than some EM styles, but not in an uncomfortable way.  I am not sure if a back size down would have fitted me better in this bra but either way I am happy with how this one fits. 

The straps also have a lot of stretch but they are fully adjustable so should suit most people.  A very pretty embellishment has been attached along the middle of the straps and this is how the adjusting clip gains purchase.  The benefit of this is that once you have adjusted the straps to your preferred length, they should not move at all.

I was pleased to be able to buy the matching thong to complete this set.  It's a very comfortable item and completes the look perfectly.  However, I will be keeping an eye out for some fuller briefs (perhaps in plain red) on days when a thong is not appropriate.

I absolutely adore the floral design of this set and the radiant red is set off beautifully by the plain white background.  The shiny red bow on the central gore is made from the same material as is used along the seams on the front of the cups and this adds depth and gloss to the look of the bra.  It really is a unique, eye-catching and delicate design.  If you can get hold of one in your size I would say definitely go for it!