Disclaimer: The lingerie in this review was provided by Zinke Intimates. All opinions are my own.
Today's lingerie review is a bit unusual. I actually received this piece a year and a half ago, but chose not to publish a post about it at that time. However while moving, I rediscovered this romper, gave it another try, and decided it'd be a great piece to talk about on the blog.
Zinke Intimates has been around since 2009, but they've only really taken off in the last year or so. With Anthropologie, ASOS, Nordstrom, BHLDN, ShopBop and Free People among their stockists, Zinke has the kind of national profile most indie brands dream of. While the brand started with lingerie, they recently debuted a swimwear collection as well, and I have a feeling that's going to pass their intimates line in terms of reach and visibility very soon.
The lace jumpers are one of Zinke Intimates' most popular items, and I would even say they've become something of a trademark. The jumper is simply constructed with an open back, halter tie at the neck, and brief bottom. The lace is a cotton/nylon blend, and the romper itself contains no lining at all, not even on the gusset. The romper also contains no internal supports, such as cups or seaming for the breasts. I received the color "Sugar" (or ivory, shown below) in size Large.
I looked up my notes on the Zinke jumper from 2011, and many of my observations are still the same. The lace is gorgeous. I love the uncomplicated, unfussy structure of the piece. The little peeks of skin though the material are lovely, and I could easily see this item working as outerwear with the addition of some skintone adhesive nipple covers (in fact, one of our recent guest columnists, Chai, is wearing a Zinke romper in her photo).
Yet all that wasn't enough to make me review the piece when I first got it. Because I couldn't fit into it. And that brings me to my biggest concern with the garment... it has no 'give' whatsoever.
As pretty as the nylon/cotton lace blend is, it has no stretch, no elasticity, and no flexibility. There's one band of elastic around the top of the panty at the back (I suppose to keep it snug to the body), but for the most part, you either fit the piece exactly, or you don't fit it at all. And considering that my dress size (which is a US 10) hasn't changed in the last couple of years, that means it only takes a small change in your body to significantly affect the fit of the garment. Put simply, I'd be reluctant to buy a piece that couldn't even accommodate a tiny weight and shape fluctuation, especially since those fluctuations are a common experience for so many women. And I would definitely say I'm at the absolute upper limits of the size chart for Zinke.
Because my bust is significantly smaller than my hips, I also felt like there were some fit issues on top. I do like the simple structure of the romper, but the downside of that is there's not much room for adjustment. The halter top felt very loose and 'slippery' on me and even small movements resulted in some major exposed nipples. Finally, and this just may be a personal preference, I really didn't like the absence of a lined gusset. Exposed seams in that area just make a piece feel unfinished to me.
Overall, I would say I like this item, but with reservations. It's a beautiful alternative to some of the fancier, more frou-frou lines out there, but it's really important to make sure you fit the given measurements for your size exactly before ordering. Otherwise, the Zinke Intimates romper just won't be as flattering as it could be... if it fits at all.
Have you tried one of these lace rompers before? What did you think? I'd love to hear some other perspectives in the comments.