Hello Everyone,

Instead of another lingerie review today, I am going to focus on two bust-friendly clothing pieces I have wanted to review for months:  the Urkye Wodnik and Kopertowka tops.   A dear customer of mine gifted these to me as well as the Dzwonek I reviewed earlier this year, but I had prior experience with Urkye when I purchased the Mala—a simplistic but sexy little black dress with a great value.  Would the Wodnik and Kopertowka live up to my high expectations?

Wodnik

My 41.5″ bust and 29″ waist puts me in the 38oo/ooo size range which is what I tried for Wodnik.  Ample space across the busts prevents lines from the fabric pulling, and the waist nips back in sharply to accentuate my figure.  Wodnik is essentially a t-shirt with a twist.  From the front, the design parallels a simple scoop neck with added seaming to contour along the bust and torso while an additional seam at the natural waist allows the shirt to flare across the hips for curvy lower halves.

On the back, Wodnik features a soft drape with a built-in “cami” part to conceal your bra.   A thin strip of fabric connects the shoulders, leaving tastefully bare skin framed on the top of the back.  No matter how I move, my bra band and straps never show, making the peekaboo quality appropriate and practical for work.  In summer, the exposed skin keeps you cool, especially when a soft breeze brushes the skin.  

Originally available in a plethora of colors, my shirt is in a soft slate which is both neutral and saturated.  I love to wear it with black and navy, especially with layered jackets.  Because of the fitted midsection, Wodnik lends itself to being worn tucked in or even belted for more accentuation of the waist.  Composed of 92% cotton and 8% elastane, the fabric feels soft but breathable against the skin, and at roughly $21, Wodnik is affordable too.  It reminds me of the fashion tops sold by Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and J. Crew except easily $20 less expensive.  I’ve had this top for several months, and it’s worn exceptionally well.  I wash Wodnik without drying (like I do all of my work clothes), and I haven’t seen any pilling, discolorations, or stretching of the fabric.  Overall, this piece offers women a unique twist on a basic t-shirt without compromising your ability to customize the look.

 

Grade:  A

Kopertowka

As with Wodnik, I received the 38oo/ooo size, and the fit is perfect.  Followers of the blog will note the similarity to the BiuBiu Haarlem that I reviewed in the past, and it’s hard not to invite comparisons between the two designs.  Both styles feature a faux-wrap aesthetic with ruching along the mid-section for a flattering, slimming fit.  The V-shape on Kopwertowka feels more open, necessitating a camisole for work.

Nevertheless, Kopertowka is also significantly lighter in terms of fabric and feel.  The Haarlem can only be worn when temperatures are below 45F here because of the heavy construction, and the fabric itself does not breath well and tends to trap heat.  Kopertowka sports a lightweight viscose that feels softer and more comfortable but also drapes more naturally.  I have to play around with my Haarlem in the morning to get the strategic ruching just right, but I can throw on Kopertowka and be out the door.

The deep red color is also stunning and flatters a range of skin tones.  The deepness complements charcoal, taupe, and denim for a range of options on how to wear it.  The length is a little longer than I would prefer, but I have found most Polish companies use a shirt length more appropriate for pants or jeans.  Kopertowka hits me about mid-hip which still works for certain skirts, but the design shines more with jeans or pants.

Like Wodnik, Kopertowka is priced under $30 but feels more expensive, especially considering how well the garment is tailored for the fuller-bust.  Both BiuBiu and Urkye continue to impress me with how they are able to produce high quality items in sizes friendly toward a fuller-bust when many national labels are still stuck in “Let’s just scale everything up!” mode.  My only complaint is that the back feels like it could have been designed in a more flattering way.  Most of my Polish knit tops cling around my bra band despite fitting everywhere else.

Since I drew the initial comparison, I want to close by noting I prefer Kopertowka to Haarlem, but that Haarlem may be better suited for women living in colder climates.  We rarely dip below freezing during the day here, so “winter clothes” for me are a lot lighter than for someone in New York.

Grade:  A