Sunday, February 27, 2005

A very black pants day

The Underwear Drawer - personal stories

Today is a very black pants day, my Nan has died. Why do people sometimes go so quickly it is a shock even when they are old?

Friday, February 25, 2005

Look Who We've Got Our Hanes on Now!

News
Press Release - USA

Hanes Aligns Stars and Style with One of the Most Aggressive Branding Campaigns in Company History "Look who we've got our Hanes on now," the No.1 apparel brand in the United States today announced. Against a backdrop of stylish Hanes casualwear, sleepwear and underwear, new commercials will feature Hanes veteran Michael Jordan as well as three new headline celebrities -- Matthew Perry, Marisa Tomei and Damon Wayans -- beginning February 28.

Click here to read more.

Underwear police

Where do you draw the line when trying to pass a law to fine people who expose their underwear outside of their clothing?

A peeking thong is expensive if you get a fine of $50, although what happens if the underwear is actually worn as outer wear as a few of my basques currently are worn with jeans. I would like to see the conversation:

Police: Madame I am fining you for showing your underwear.
Me: Mr police officer I don’t count this as underwear as I am wearing this as outerwear as they do on some catwalks.
Police: Well you will be fined and if you don’t pay you will be taken to court..

The conversation could go on but you get my point, would people seriously pay $50 for exposing a piece of material and if not will there are a lot of cases taken to court to prove underwear is actually outer wear or a bra showing through a top is part of the look?

Personally I would like to see the law terms for Virginia in the USA for this offence..

Click here to read the article

Austrian lingerie brand is set to storm UK

Palmers an Austrian lingerie brand with a reputation for ‘saucy’ advertising is planning a launch in the UK later this year. Rhythmm Bristol based agency has been appointed to handle the launch of the brand and its retail network.

The plan is to have its first stand alone UK store open by 2005 but will also be available through department stores. Palmers brand is 91 years old and makes products in both male and female categories. Men’s include bathrobes, Pyjamas and boxer shorts. The female offering is a full range of women’s bras and knickers which feature in both the functional and luxury market.

In addition Palmers have a range of socks and hosiery which includes items such as vitamin A, B and C releasing stockings. I am not to sure if you can specify which vitamins you would like but for a busy girl like myself that would be a huge asset.

The brand is currently available across eastern and central Europe and on the Arabian Peninsula. The reputation for using sexy underwear in their advertising came from an outdoor campaign in Vienna which appeared overnight.

Claudia Lock-Fuerst says she is confident that the ad strategy will be well received in the UK. I guess time will tell…


Thursday, February 24, 2005

Office politics is a load of knotted knickers…

Perhaps someone needs to buy bigger knickers so they are not getting so knotted arughhh..

Europe’s biggest spender on underwear

According to research published last week, British women are the biggest spenders of underwear across Europe. Beating the source of sensual lingerie France. According to this Telegraph article ‘we have taken the French risqué boudoir concept and added wit, eccentricity and an element of true British sassiness'.

Click here to read more

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Master of Arts studying Underwear in art

In October I am set to start my MA in Art, Design and Media specialising in ‘Underwear in Art’. This will allow me to explore many different angles and I can’t wait to get started.

I will be looking at all different spectrums of underwear in art from a range of artists including Sarah Lucas Chicken Knickers artwork to Victoria Secrets Fantasy bra sets made using diamonds worth millions. Are these diamond sets really underwear or could they be classed as art?

Chicken knickers by Sarah Lucas Click here

Fantasy Bra Victoria Secrects by Mouawad Click here

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Harrogate - Charnos




Beautiful, elegant and romantic Charnos with there sheer mesh and retro embroidery combined with luxury ruffles in black or vanilla. This will be a must have for a/w with the silk autumn leaf-print group featuring chocolate satin trim.. yummy!

Harrogate show – Aristoc


Aristoc

New in a/w 05 a range of innovative hold ups (great no more granny tights!) luxury range of tights. Collaboration with Ghost and a fun fashion offer with the theme “What the Butler Saw”. All sounds a little saucy!

Harrogate - Maisie and Lilly



A/w 2005 is set to be a great season for underwear and the show was an inspiration to visit with Cheeky, fun and flirty Playboy intimates. New Turkish seamless wear specialist Atateks launching tops, bras. g-strings and briefs in the UK was very impressive with a wide range of fabrics including micro fibre nylon, lurex and cotton.

Maisie & Lilly luxurious loungewear brand offers, strappy camisole short sets adorned with pretty jewels and bows. See image above for beautiful designs and one of my personal favourites of the season.

Underwear Goes Inside The Pants

Lazyboy's big Australian hit Underwear Goes Inside The Pants:

Click here to hear the track.

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Who’ll be new face of Lou?

A nation wide hunt across France for the new face and body of Lou lingerie collection is being launched in spring and will include large-scale building drapes in the four key locations across Paris and billboards in all major French cities.
The campaign will be titled “Who is Lou?” and stockists will encourage customers to take part in the competition. More than one winner will be chosen by the brand later in the year, with winning models then set to be used throughout the brands autumn/ winter 05 campaign.

M&S reorganised its lingerie

Marks and Spencer carried significant research to understand how their customers shop and what they want to buy.

The results showed that women are influenced by two key factors – “how they’re feeling and what they need to buy”. Four core sub brands in women’s linergerie will be focused on to answer the needs.

The four main needs for a woman’s lingerie wardrobe are simple and smooth, fashion, glamour and pretty. M&S are will cater to these needs with their collections the new body collection - simple and smooth, Adored – Fashion, Truly you – glamour and Ceriso – pretty.

Displays will be more focused on her wardrobe and lifestyle needs. Signage and décor images will be shown like in bra destination shops clearly displayed in sub-brands. From the designer sub-brands Dolce Vita is being dropped, but the other two sub-brands Salon Rose and Wild Hearts are remaining but these too will become more focused, essentially meaning a smaller range but a key signature look.

London Fashion Week



Think big bold prints, floral, stripes and huge beaded necklaces. Beaded with crystals, shells, rare stones and trinkets it doesn’t matter as long as the piece of jewellery is chunky.

The experience as ever was an inspiring, ‘Pistol Pants’ or named in the brochure as ‘Precious Lingerie’ which had fantastic items which could be worn as outwear just as the girls on the stand were trying to do although they had been positioned next to the air conditioning unit, opps!

Pussy Delux and Vive Maria ‘Forbidden Lingerie’ had a good mix on their stand with pretty matching sets in delicate and everyday fabrics. One great piece had over-the-top leopard print knickers trimmed with lace, which looked great together (normally a little over the top in my opinion but this combination worked.) The stand was a hive of activity so the Fashion week shoppers must have agreed too.

Rangelova - Intimissimo lingerie

News
Sofia News Agency

Rangelova has been working in America for a year, and has already signed Guess Jeans, Intimissimo lingerie and Enrico Coveri.
Click here to read more.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Harrogate – Lingerie and Swimwear Exhibition

Harrogate – Lingerie and Swimwear Exhibition; 20th – 22nd February 2005. Reviews will be given here on trends and exciting new ranges.

To visit the official site click here

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Top ten loves..

I know Valentines Day was yesterday but I am going to share with you my top ten loves.... lingerie of course!

1. Sexy stylist underwear can make even a bad hair day feel great.

2. Comfortable big knickers for period days, along with paracetamol and a water bottle these are sent straight from heaven.

3. A bra that makes your cleavage look juicy and damn right eye catching. Well if you have a spot a diversion from your face is always a great idea also doesn't hurt to give your assets centre stage once in a while.

4. Romantic, lacy underwear can add a new dimension to any candle lite boudoir scene where leaving something to the imagination is fun.

5. New underwear can make you feel great for an interview, date or just to cheer you up on a plain horrible day.

6. Basque can reshape any figure into a perfect curvy hourglass, with a nipped in tiny waist.

7. Little chemise and knickers is not only cute but amazingly good when slipping into crisp clean white sheets.

8. The perfect fitted sports set which keeps you tucked in nicely while you are doing any workout or sports activities.

9. Silk knickers you just can't resist sliding a handover, as they are soft and smooth to touch.

10. The fun cute knickers with silly slogans or girlie prints. Perfect for those summer days of seaside and funfairs.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Happy Valentines Day

I did receive something for Valentines Day although it was from my male friend W it was still a lovely surprise. The card read:

I thought edible underwear would not be appropriate so I brought you these chocolate high heels instead. Happy Valentines Day
W xxx

How thoughtful and sweet, what a lovely gift ;o)

After some research chocolate high heels are available from Liberties, The Conran shop London and choccywoccydoodah Brighton

Monday, February 14, 2005

Virginia Backs Away from Underwear Law

News

Weekend Edition - Saturday, February 12, 2005 · Virginia's House of Delegates drops a legislative attempt aimed at discouraging teens from displaying too much of their underwear.
Click here to read the article

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Need directions..

Need directions a fun sort of Ad which will get people clicking forward to a friend.

Click here

London Fashion week starts...

Click here

I am going on Friday so will report back what I find soon...

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Valentines Day is on its way…

Just encase you haven’t noticed and if you haven’t you must be blind, my local supermarket is decked out like a very kitsch grotto filled with hearts, ballons, cards, champagne and one of my personal favourites which I saw; a box of strawberries in the usual clear plastic except this box was heart shaped. How sweet it is like Disney has come town and decorated everything red and heart shaped. Yes with this tone of voice I am boyfriend less, and this time of year being single always feels like the odd one out.

Still I am not going to hang around thinking about that for more than a second, which I have just done so moving on I have been sent the results from the Figleaves questionnaire which was surveyed at Christmas so might give a few hints to what people like to receive.

Lingerie was the number one gift women were hoping to receive from their partners. (Good taste ladies)
• Over 40% of women put lingerie first.
• 33% preferred jewellery.
• 7% chose entertainment products such as CDs, DVDs and books.

• 97% of men liked buying lingerie for their partner (I found this a little surprising as most men I speak to get frightened by the thought but with more shopping online I guess it is all a little easier than wondering around department shops.)

• Both men and women chose lacy feminine lingerie as their favourite style.
• Followed by sexy bra, thong and suspender sets; then push-up bras; and finally modern basics.

• 88% of women liked what their partner bought them.
• 37% of those who didn’t said it was too trashy.

Friday, February 11, 2005

After a day of wearing uncomfortable underwear

Thoughts I have noted after a day of wearing annoying and uncomfortable lingerie. While on the train I started to think of frustrating and irritating situation which can arise from ill fitting or badly made underwear.

• Bra straps which relentlessly fall down, even when they have been tighten to the shortest length.
• Knickers which aren’t small enough to be Brazilian knickers or thongs but aren’t wide enough to bridge both checks of your butt so will keep trying to go in-between. The problem being there is too much material to fit like a thong so the extra material sits outside and gives the impression of a “wedgie” not a great look at all.
• Plastic straps which get very hot in the summer and can stick to the skin making it sweat.
• Beautiful bra which leaves red marks from the underwire just under your arm. This is an evening bra which can be endured only for a few hours and preferable with a glass of wine to ease the pain.
• Underwire coming through between the boobs of a favourite bra.
• Elastic no longer stretching in knickers so only ready to break. The elastic can sprout out of loved to bites knickers like they are bleeding.
• Finger through knickers, placing a finger through the side material of the knickers and is very annoying. People do need to pull knickers up and down for toilet purposes so please make sure the knickers are strong enough in those areas.
• A set on underwear over time changing to different colours so the pieces no longer match perfectly. This can also happen to suits the jacket and trousers no longer match.
• Basque worn to pieces, the metal corset bones can now be seen through the delicate fabric. This garment is only fit for my dress dummy.
• Lavish Beau Bras, sexy for the bedroom but not for everyday wear. The ribbons always seem to poke out the bottom of a top or the knots show through skirts or trousers. A lessoned learned these shall be kept strictly for the boudoir.
• White thong dying in wash to a horrible grey as it has stowaway in the dark washing.

Off white on Canvas

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Are you Alicia Silverstone?

While window dressing years ago in a lingerie shop on the Kings Road, London a customer asked me

Customer: Are you Alicia Silverstone?
Me: No
Customer: Well you look just like her, have a good day.
Me: Bye… (I am left thinking, as if Alicia Silverstone would be working in a shop!!)

One day later, I hear a discussion behind me and the customer is back.
Customer: See I told you M she looks exactly like her don’t you think?
They proceed to have a chat about me right there in front of my face.
Customer 2: asks are you really not her?
Me: Really not who? (I know who they were thinking but it doesn’t hurt to hear again after all she is a pretty girl?)
Customer 2: Alicia Silverstone of course?
Me: Ah no I am not her (Thinking again these people really do think Alicia is working in a shop! I am sure she can cover her mortgage if she has one in a number of other ways!)
Customers: Oh well dear you look just like her, come on M we need to get on.
Customer 2: Nice to meet you, good bye. (With her goodbye she gives me a little knowing wink)
Well they made my day and certainly when I think back it amuses me still.

Lingerie retail world

I don’t believe I have previously mentioned that I have worked in the lingerie world, working for a large online lingerie retailer, a bricks and mortar retailer and I have designed a show based on lingerie.

While thinking about going back to study a MA in Art Design and Media, which for the record I am currently looking into I got to thinking about the crazy days of working within the environment.

At a launch party for a particular website which we attended people kept asking my cute boss where he worked when he replied that he worked in the lingerie market these girls just couldn’t stop showing him their underwear. I honestly have never seen anything like it, tops flying up with girls saying this is “X brand bra” do you think it is a good bra or would you recommend anything else? The slightly shyer girls were just giving a glimpse of their knickers as they pulled them higher than their jeans. From his normal status he turned into a consultant of lingerie. I am telling you the man loved this new found status. I also think the free wine helped these girls and it has given me an idea too, perhaps at my next party I should say I am a underwear consultant to men then I could see if they dropped their trousers too..

Monday, February 07, 2005

Keira Knightley shoes on her mantel

Keira Knightley a lady after my own heart making art out of things or clothing that catches her eye. I have lingerie of course on show as artwork in my home. As a lingerieholic that is expected but if a new friend comes to visit it is always a great talking point and can even set the mood. That is of course if you want it to set the mood if not turn the lights on full and do not use the dimmer switch.

Keira Knightley buys shoes for her mantel.
Click here to read more

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Back to the UK

I have spent the last two days relaxing and watching the world go by… what a shock going back to the UK will be!

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Widow Twanky socks

It is now become clear my new bikini will not be worn on this holiday as the wind is blowing from the north giving us a freezing wind with a chill factor enough to freeze a polar bear; ok I am exaggerating a little maybe a penguin.

Local people are saying it is global warming, as they have not experienced anything like this in the last twenty years. Who knows but for me I have now been out and brought a jumper and cute stripy socks. The socks are actually more like gloves, as they have individual pockets for each toe in the knitted fabric. At first I thought they made my toes look really long, and they felt funny. After an hour you couldn’t prize me out of them, as they were really warm and cosy. A welcome addition to my suitcase collection of clothes, which consisted of several bikinis, skirts, t-shirts, lots of lingerie and jeans plus one jumper for travelling, which is not ideal when you find the destination of choice is cold. The socks look like something that would be at home on the ugly sisters in Cinderella or Widow Twanky but hey a short pink nightie, pantomime multicoloured striped socks and I look like I could be in a theatre production.

Never seen anyone strip so fast

Sunshine at last you have never seen anyone strip so fast, well maybe at a strip club but I was just getting changed to my mini skirt and T-shirt. As we stroll off to a little Spanish tapas restaurant on the sea front just in front of the rocks a waiter keeps smiling. My dad still believing me to be sixteen warns the waiter “Hey that is my daughter” with that the waiter laughs and then goes about his business at the other end of the restaurant. Only as we are leaving does he mention to my mum “what a lovely daughter you have” well it is nice to be appreciated once in a while. It is also good to prove to the parents I am fussy. I do have choices of men like some men have a choice of women, but so far no one recently has made my heart go a flutter and set me on fire.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Question of philosophy

Hhmm… if my new luscious bikini isn’t worn abroad it makes me think of the old philosophy question: if a tree fell down in the woods and no one was around to listen would the tree make a sound? Perhaps I can make up a new philosophy question with my bikini saga. (Can you tell I am a little disappointed about the no showing of a bikini?)

Question: If I wore my bikini out and no one was around to see it would it still look good?