Lingerie for all, with www.lingerie.co.uk

Skinny lingerie models

August’s lingerie stories are all about who can, and can’t wear sexy lingerie. First off, Victoria’s Secret is once again in the headlines, although not for good reasons. Current ‘Angel’ as the VS models are called, Elsa Hosk created a storm on Instagram after posting a topless picture. Commentators expressed concern about her slimness and even said she was ‘way too skinny’.

Brand experts suggest that this is a deliberate strategy on the part of the lingerie company which chooses its models as being the kind of physical ideal that appeals to women, rather than men, which is why they choose the slimmer rather than more curvy, Angels.

This is a really important point because thinness is often seen as an unattainable goal that women must attempt to attain, and positions the brand with the haute couture industry which is famous for choosing models who look ‘malnourished’. While we are happy for everybody to indulge their fantasies, and in fact we have a whole section of our online lingerie store dedicated to helping you do just that, we think that lingerie should be accessible to all, which is why we stock a complete range of sizes and the underwear models we show reflect the entire gamut of female bodies. Why? Because we don’t think that lingerie should be used as a tool of judgement and we genuinely believe that every woman looks fantastic in good underwear, and not only looks fantastic but feels better about herself too.

Primark underwear that you just can’t buy online

We’re not knocking Primark, there’s probably not a woman in the UK who doesn’t have some cheap and cheerful Primark garment in her wardrobe, and that includes us. But the retailer is unpopular with its UK customers after releasing a sexy underwear collection with a difference - the difference being that you can’t buy them in this country!

Frustrated customers took to social media to comment on how cute the undies were and complain that ‘all the nice stock isn’t sold in the UK’ so we took a look and we can help! We have a lovely set that is very similar to the gorgeous bra and thong set that created such excitement online, and we think our red lace two piece set is actually more stunning than the Primark version because its exciting ring detail sets it apart from the average - it’s an unforgettable, but cost effective, wardrobe addition!

Lingerie’s naughtiest underwear stories for July

Getting lingerie right for your partner

Yes, we’ve got our headline right, we don’t mean ‘getting the right lingerie for your partner’ we mean getting lingerie right for your partner. So what are we talking about?

Well over at Redbook, a man has written a frank article about what men hate about lingerie when it comes to sex. It’s … interesting, and while he definitely doesn’t speak for all men (not knowing what pants they have on and whether they are clean? That’s really not a universal behaviour) there’s some interesting nuggets in the story to consider. Namely:

•    Lingerie can add pressure - so we would suggest that ‘surprising’ your loved one by strolling out of the bedroom in a whole stockings and suspenders ensemble might not be the best idea.  Again, the article rather suggests that couples don’t know each other very well, which is not the experience of the Lingerie team - we think most of our online customers have a clear idea what their partner likes and when they are going to like it! But if in any doubt, it’s a good idea to drop a good strong hint the night before, so that your lover is primed for a ‘special evening’

•    Clips, clasps and straps - for some the undoing and removing of lingerie is the sexiest part of a seduction, for others, like the Redbook writer, it can be an obstacle course that kills passion. But again the solution is very simple; if you know your partner isn't the handiest undoer in the business, plan to take off your own underwear, maybe by simply making it clear that this is a solo effort, maybe by putting on some music and doing a simple striptease or maybe by using some handcuffs to ensure your lover simply isn’t free to help you out!

•    Keeping novelty novel - on this we can agree. An occasional night of unbridled body painting, mild bondage or edible underwear can work wonders for a relationship, but when these things become a necessity, or something that one partner enjoys while the other merely endures, there’s a deeper problem. Knowing what gets you off is great, but all relationships require compromise and if your other half isn’t as into something as you are, it’s important to work out what works for both of you, and scale back any behaviour that is only succeeding for one you.

Selling lingerie - vending machine style

It’s common in Japan, and has been seen in the USA and France but India is becoming the next country to have lingerie in vending machines. Starting in Mumbai, which is the most liberal of Indian cities, the pre-packed lingerie is the brainchild of Radhika Goenka (the Welspun heiress). But why? There are a couple of reasons - one is that India is still a country where many people are uncomfortable about even slightly racy underwear, so being able to buy without dealing with a store clerk might be beneficial. The other reason is that although online lingerie sales are booming in India, not everybody has reliable access to the internet. We can’t see it being a great success though, as most women who buy underwear online value the opportunity to exchange it if they aren’t fully happy with the fit, and vending machines don’t offer that service.

Lingerie censorship, website fails and top tips for summer underwear

Underwear fines for Turkish TV

Turkish television has recently fined two of its TV channels for ‘endangering youth morals’. What did they do - show Last Tango in Paris or the ‘underwear’ highlights from Big Brother? Nope, they were giving a telling off for showing a Victoria’s Secret fashion show on New Year’s Eve when children might be watching. It wasn’t just the costumes (or lack of them) that troubled the TV watchdog, but the dancing. However, Turkey has a strong cultural tradition of special underwear that no rulings seem able to chip away at - for example, wearing red underwear is traditional on New Year’s Eve - for both men and women! Also, a bride-to-be’s lingerie is purchased by her future mother-in-law and other women in the groom’s family - and finally, Turkey is the third largest producer of lingerie in the world!

Website held to ransom by lingerie …

A high school in Utah has been left with a red face after the school’s website domain expired. The school’s Principal was contacted to ask why Tooele High School now appeared to be a catalogue of women in lingerie! The new domain owners asked for nearly $10,000 to buy back the domain name but the school district decided to purchase a new domain instead of buying it back and now the school has started a public information campaign to ensure parents, and children, don't visit the wrong site!

Little Mix underwear success 

Jesy Nelson has once again been a media sensation as she revealed her new tawny blonde hair at Radio 1’s Big Weekend. It wasn’t just the new hairdo that wowed the fans but her appearance in a stunning bikini which showed off her summer tan. Her underwear choices are always super-smart and like all the Little Mix line-up she has an enviable body to display. So are teeny bikinis just for the world’s most beautiful women? We say not. Great bikinis are available to all - it’s just a question of finding exactly the right beachwear for you.

We agree that summer lingerie should always make the most of summer assets, whether that’s a great summer tan, a fantastic new haircut, the relaxed glow that comes from having a wonderful summer holiday, or just a summery mani-pedi. Choosing the right bikini can be crucial, which is why we fell in love with the LolaLuna Bermuda bikini which ticks all the right boxes. We adore the scalloped edges which flatter the breasts, the elegant central decoration which draws the eye, and the thong back which elevates this bikini from cute to sizzlingly sexy!

Underwear for photo shoots and drinking at home - May’s amazing lingerie stories!

How to do Finnish drinking in your underwear

Most of us will have tried for some hygge this Christmas - it’s that untranslatable Danish habit of enjoying the simpler pleasures of life and it was a huge meme throughout the festive season. But just recently there’s been a new Scandinavian word on the block - Kalsarikännit. What does it mean? According to the Finns, who created the term, it’s the feeling you have when you’re going to get drunk at home alone in your underwear with no intention of going out. And while we certainly don’t want to encourage solo drinking, we’ve all had the odd occasion when sitting down in our pants with a drink or two has been a very good idea!

There are even a set of emojis that can be used to describe some of the most difficult to translate Finnish emotions, words and customs including kalsarikännit. We love this idea, and thought we’d pick out our top three ‘drinking alone in your underwear’ outfits. So:

•   In third place - the Ulla Lima lingerie bra set is a super-cute polka dot bra and panty outfit which is ideal for long movie marathons or cosying up with a favourite book and a couple of lagers.

•   In the runner up spot - the Kitty ensemble by Insinuate is a more sultry kalsarikännit option, perhaps for the female sports fan or the woman who’s given to slamming a few shots when she’s home alone. Leopard printed and flirtily tailored, this is just right for a night in with a chilled bottle!

•   But our #1 drinking in your underwear outfit is the Lise Charmel douceur fougerepyjama set. Fit for the finest cocktail and comfortable enough for a cosy night at home, this underwear set is the perfect blend of style and substance, whatever your tipple.

Winning photo competitions in somebody else’s underwear!

Then there’s the entrant who won a photo shoot and was then stripped of the prize! The sultry brunette featured in this blog post was a natural winner of the competition, organised by the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk lingerie company in Russia. But when it was revealed that the lucky winner was in fact a 20 year old male student, Andrey Nagorny, who borrowed his girlfriend’s make up and lingerie to enter the contest, they withdrew his prize and gave it to a runner up instead.

It’s a bit of a tricky situation - the organisers didn’t specifically state that women only could enter, and Andrey did enter under an assumed name (Ms Avocado, believe it or not) which could be classed as cheating. However we can’t help feeling that Andrey will be the eventual winner as we’re certain that he - or Ms Avocado - will be offered more photo shoots pretty soon, and probably for a nice fee too!

Lingerie trends, lingerie models, lingerie browsing …

You’d be amazed the things we end up looking at in our search for all things lingerie to bring to our amazing underwear customers!  This month we’ve got high finance, older models and an insight into what women in India are meant to be doing when they are actually buying lingerie online.

First, Yahoo! Finance reports that the global lingerie market has become increasingly significant to the overall apparel market. One of the biggest changes in recent underwear purchasing has been the growth of the bra - which now has the largest market share of all lingerie purchases. And online lingerie sales were the largest underwear selling market in 2015, outstripping traditional high street shops.  Does anybody remember those old lingerie catalogues that used to be sent in a ‘plain brown envelope’? Well the growth of online lingerie sales has turned those vintage publications into collector’s items with a growing market auction market. 

In the same week, the Times of India reports that toys and nappies are the gateway browse for premium lingerie being offered by Amazon India. It turns out that Amazon’s intensive data-mining process has discovered that Indian mothers who’ve gone online to search for toys or nappies end up buying posh underwear! To be honest, we’re not that surprised … while it might come as news to the Times of India, we know just how often women browse online lingerie stores …

One of our favourite stories this spring is that of Mercy Brewer, the fifty-six-year-old model who’s featured in a New Zealand company’s lingerie PR. It’s worth pointing out that Mercy is not a ‘newly discovered’ model, she was already working for the camera when she was in her twenties, but the lovely, natural photos that feature her reveal just how magnificent a woman in her fifties can look, without being airbrushed out of recognition. 

As this has been a month that featured a lot of social media heat about the ‘unreality’ of the images that emerge from lingerie photo-shoots, we thought it would be worth looking in detail at what we can all take away from Mercy’s images:

• Less is more - camisoles and bodies worn under jeans, sexy stockings with ordinary skirts or dresses and beautiful bras revealed beneath an off-the-shoulder T-shirt are all fantastic ways to display your underwear to its best advantage. We’d choose the Ulla Carla body to replicate this picture of Mercy, as its subtle colour ways and rich fabric guarantee a stunning photo.

• Natural is best - at least when it comes to light. Working with natural light gives photographs an unforced, simple air which often rewards the older model.

• Don’t fear colour - but don’t shy away from black and white either! Bold underwear colours can be particularly splendid when worn by an older model, but at the same time, black and white photography is highly flattering and even in monochrome, those bright colours we were talking about will still stand out beautifully against your skin tone. 

Lingerie exhibitions, myths and colours of the year

In Shelburne County, Nova Scotia lingerie and other underwear will be taking centre stage at a local exhibition called Underneath It All which will uncover a century of women’s North American underwear from 1860 to 1960. Exhibition curator Allison Burnett is seeking vintage undies for loan or donation that would fill out the collection.

The museum wants bustles, corsets, brassieres, girdles, camisoles, chemises and slips - which sounds exactly like our own wish-list! The deadline for contacting the museum to make a donation is March 15th.

Mythbuster - wearing a bra to bed can help keep breasts perky

Dr Seth Rankin is debunking the claim that keeping your brassiere on when you sleep will stop them sagging, even though it’s claimed that Marilyn Monroe wore one every night and both Mariella Frostrup and Halle Berry swear by it. Actually, we’re puzzled … because didn't Marilyn once famously claim that the only thing she wore in bed was ‘Chanel No 5’?

Anyway Dr Rankin claims that sleeping in a bra will do little to prevent our breasts sagging because when we lie down gravity pushes breast tissue back towards our chests, not down towards our toes. As bras are designed to support the breast from below, it’s pointless once we’re lying down because the breasts will already have moved back towards the chest area. He goes on to say that bra wearing at night might restrict the lymph glands that help to flush toxins from the breasts.

So what’s the alternative? We’d recommend the Seduce Charmeuse babydoll set with adjustable straps which is comfortable in bed and won’t do any of that lymph gland restriction that sounds just horrible.

Colour of the year and whether it’s fit for underwear

One of the best ideas we were given as a New Year’s Resolution was to use the ‘colour of the year’ announcements that several companies make every year to update our wardrobes. So we took a look and we’ve decided we’ve got a hit, and a miss.

Let’s start with the miss: Greenery - lovely shade, great for walls, but really not a great underwear colour. We think it would work for certain redheads and it probably looks great against ebony skin, but for most of us this shade would be tough to pull off.

So what’s the hit? Denim Drift, which Dulux says ‘is a perfect fit to reflect the times we live in, that real desire for simplicity’ and we agree - it’s a gorgeous shade which works for all skin-tones but will be particularly gorgeous for warm honey shades which can often seem washed out by more pastel underwear shades. And it’s easy to get some Denim Drift into your underwear drawer - a great place to start is the Reve Andalou bra slip which has a flattering shape and a semi-sheer effect which is subtle and charming. 

Brag it like Beyoncé and what to expect from your new lingerie

When Queen B announced she was expecting twins, the world went a little insane. The photograph of her in powder blue panties and a burgundy bra (and veil) is now the most popular Instagram picture ever with more than 8.5 million likes. The iconography of the photographs relates to Oshun, the Nigerian Goddess who is particularly associated with fertility and twins.

Pregnancy shoots are becoming a really big business - so how do you look your best when pregnant in lingerie? Beyoncé gave us many clues:

Work with colour - deep, rich or vibrant colours are perfect for the blooming nature of a pregnancy photo shoot so pick underwear that will flatter your skin tones and bring a touch of drama to the pictures. We love the sophisticated blues in the Lise Charmel ‘Sonate en Bleu’ bra which is also a pregnancy winner, being beautifully constructed to offer good support.

Don’t be scared of frills - as Beyoncé demonstrated, this is the time to demonstrate your ultra femininity. Ruffled panties enhance your curves and look romantic rather than overtly sexy, so they are a great accessory to the celebration of your womanly fertility.

Flowers everywhere - the flower wall has become ubiquitous since the Kim and Kanye wedding shoot, but there’s no doubt that a mass of flowers provides a stunning effect and in terms of a pregnancy photo also creates the visual association with ‘blooming’ and ‘flowering’ which is so evident in Beyoncé’s picture. If you can’t afford an entire flower wall, or even a floral halo, consider one big vase of bright exotic flowers like Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) or passionflowers, where both the flower and its name create the right association in the viewer’s mind.

Lingerie 2018

The Interfiliere exhibition in Paris just showed us what we can expect to see in lingerie trends next year and its pretty exciting. While athleisure is continuing to influence the way that underwear is constructed, there’s a new tendency to focus on colour and decoration, with contrasting bold embroidery with more ‘urban’ themes than we’ve seen to date. Many wonderful designs featured a contrast of subtle colours with bright ones, particularly to emphasise ‘zoning’ in the design of each garment.

There’s also a lot of development in new fabrics such as Naia which is constructed from wood pulp made from certified sustainably managed forests and bamboo, which is being blended with elastic fabrics to create a stretch fabric that is environmentally friendly. Look out for bamboo and wood pulp knickers which are touted as being more body friendly (less risk of thrush) than artificial fabrics.

Finally, there’s a strong tendency to move towards more sophisticated colour blends such as grey with yellow, navy and grey and green with watermelon pink. These colour-ways are linked to the new shapes, such as asymmetric lace panelling and hems made in technical fabrics to create the illusion movement in underwear that is also supportive - a welcome trend after a period in which garment architecture has been largely static.