Pink October

Today marks the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and what a great month it has been. We wanted to use this post to look back over what has been achieved over the last 31 days of Pink October.


Every Friday we have seen offices, banks, and fundraisers dressed in pink across London, raising awareness for this great charity:

The Natural History Museum

Photo: Breast Cancer Campaign

Tower of London

Photo: Telegraph

Tower Bridge

Photo: Vancouver Sun

The London Eye

Photo: Telegraph

10 Downing Street

Photo: BBC

London, you did good!

According to Breast Cancer Campaign, over 570,000 people living today have been diagnosed with breast cancer, which is the most common form of the disease.  1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime- that's 50,000 women per year in the UK!  The likelihood is, if you haven't already been exposed to it, at some point it will touch your life.  That's why raising awareness and doing your bit to help is so important.

You can help by:

1. Donating to Cancer research- this can be as simple as giving what you can or as fun as a Race, or cake sale- because everyone loves cake!

2. Encouraging friends and family to Coppafeel!  One of the best ways to fight breast cancer is to nip it in the bud and catch it early- so don't be shy ladies!

Breast cancer in men, although rare, still occurs and breast cancer awareness month is a great way to raise awareness about this disease.

Emma Watson's inspirational United Nations speech drew attention to gender equality meaning that people should feel free and comfortable with who they are. So men, don't be afraid to Coppafeel! too!  This is key, as being familiar with what's normal for your body is so important for all genders and crucial in stopping cancer in its tracks.  

We can't wait for next year's Pink October!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1

One in eight women are affected by breast cancer.

Every 10 minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer....! In the time it took to write this blog post, 12 people were diagnosed. In the time that it took for you to read this, another person was diagnosed. Let's do what we can to make the recovery of those people speedier, quicker and less painful.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month therefore we are doing what we can to raise awareness of the causes, risks and possible reduction of breast cancer occurrence.

The following information is taken from Cancer Research UK's breast cancer leaflet.

The Facts
More women are surviving breast cancer than ever before as a result of earlier detection and better treatments.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Around 140 women are diagnoses with the disease every day.

What is breast cancer?
The breast is made up of millions of cells. Breast cancer develops when a single cell or group of cells begins to multiply out of control and forms a tumour.

The breast consists of fatty tissue and lobules that are connected to the nipple by ducts. Breast cancer usually starts in cells that line a duct of lobule. Sometimes cells can break away and travel to other parts of the body, starting new tumours.

What affects your risk?
1. Age
2. Hormones and reproduction
3. Family history

What reduces your risk?
1. Healthy weight
2. Limiting alcohol
3. Physical activity
4. Not smoking

Be 'breast aware':
1. Know what is normal for you
2. Look at and feel your breasts
3. Know what changes to look for
4. Report any changes without delay

What changes to look for:
1. Changes in the size, shape or feel of your breasts
2. A new lump or thickening in one breast or armpit
3. Any puckering, dimpling or redness of the skin
4. Changes in the position of the nipple, a rash or nipple discharge
5. Pain or discomfort that is new to you and felt only on one side

Breast cancer in men
Although it is rare, men still suffer from breast cancer.

Show your support for breast cancer this October so we can keep fighting on.

"Love your boobs", Cosmopolitan FashFest 2014

Last week, on the 15th September,  Cosmopolitan UK gave us the most wonderful, magical and boobtastic night. It was their FashFest Lingerie Show and it was just divine. It had one purpose: educate us about our boobs. 

Photo: Cosmopolitan

It was held at the spectacular One Marlyebone.

Photo: Cosmopolitan

For us, it was not only a key networking opportunity but it was always a wonderful insight into what an amazing event is actually like, giving us lots of ideas and aspirations for and after our launch next year.

On arrival, we headed straight for Coppafeel, where we were lucky enough to meet its founders, twin sisters Kristen and Maren Hallenga. We heard about Kristin's story and why it's so important to spread awareness about Coppafeel! 

Photo: TEDx Kings College London

We took some photos with our friend Teri and some gigantic boobs to raise awareness for this amazing cause.

Cosmo even snapped us and stuck us on their website with these incredibly, fabulous, DD+ boobs

Photo: Cosmopolitan

Then we did something we never thought we would in such a crowded place.... stripped down to tiny paper undies for a spray tan! Who could resist a free spray tan!?  We are converted!

Leaving bronzed and glowing (jewellery-less and dare we admit to it, knicker-less!!!), we headed over to meet the wonderful girls at BrandAlley.

We met their fabulous Lingerie Buyer, Clare, and had a good giggle about bras, boobs and what the market is lacking. It was lovely to speak with other women who share our passion and enthusiasm for making the lingerie market the best it can be for all women. Hopefully one day soon, we'll be appearing on BrandAlley. 

Show Opening

Louise Court 

Louise Court, Cosmopolitan's Editor-in-Chief gave the opening speech to kick off the fantastic catwalk show. 

She emphasised the importance bras have on our lives highlighting the fact that well fitting lingerie boost a woman's confidence, however, despite this fact, "70-80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size", which is why anyone who knows us will now how much we tell everyone to go and get fitted regularly! "Choosing the right bra is key to choosing the right fashion".

Kristin Hallenga 

We had had the pleasure of hearing from Kristin again. She shared her inspirational story about how she was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, at the young age of 23. 

Coppafeel was set up in the hope that a message in your bra, reminding us all to check our breasts for lumps, will save lives of other women. Kris' cancer is terminal and although her time left with us is limited, the work she is doing through coppafeel, and her latest campaign #brahijack, is to promote breast cancer awareness and how to check for early symptoms, is inspirational and phenomenal. 

Her parting message was, "love your boobs a little more" and "make your bra save your life".

Show time!!

This stunning venue hosted a gorgeous lingerie catwalk, full of beautiful designs and fabrics.

  

Photo: Cosmopolitan

The likes of Pour Moi, ASOS, B.tempt'd and Wonderbra were showcased in a stunning catwalk show.

Photo: Cosmopolitan

Photo: Cosmopolitan

We were even treated to some delectable nibbles...

  

...and delicious cocktails. 

 

We were treated with the gorgeous voice of Leah McFall, runner up on BBC's The Voice...

Photo: Cosmopolitan

During the interval, we took the opportunity to take a few photos.... 

...and rummage through our astonishingly amazing and generous goodie bags. Only once we got home could be actually see how much Cosmo had spoiled us...

....with the RRP of over £200 we were more than happy with our haul!

The show was resumed and even more beautiful lingerie sets graced the stage.

This was honestly the best, most informative and most fun even we've been to yet.  We already can't wait to get our hands on next years tickets! Thank you Cosmo team for an exceptional night.

Photo: Cosmopolitan

Of every event we have attended in the past 12 months, this is by far the most organised, special, thoughtful, catered for, contributed to, thought through, spectacular and well run event. It was simply an amazing night. 

Thank you Cosmopolitan Fashfest, see you next time!