Posts in category "la perla"

Spring Has Sprung! 8 Lingerie Styles Resembling Symbolic Flowers

At last! It’s been slow-going but spring has finally reared its gorgeous head in New York energizing its weary inhabitants with abundant sunshine & vibrant greenery. Windows are being propped opened, birds are chirping & colorful flowers are sprouting up after a long winters nap through out the city.

Flowers have an ability to lift the spirits & lend beauty to their surroundings. They are a feminine symbol of life, hope & love, exchanged as a significant gesture or to mark a special occasion. There are few things more inspiring then a vibrantly colored flower with its pristine petals & sculptural delicacy. Just look at the works of Georgia O’Keeffe, Claude Monet & Vincent Van Gogh to name a few. However the reach of their beauty doesn’t stop there. It extends into poetry, architecture & fashion as well. Fashion designers have long used flowers as a source of inspiration for their clothing due to their rich natural colors, elegant shapes & feelings they invoke which can be both personal and profound. And what better place to lend inspiration than to the sensual world of lingerie where femininity is most celebrated and supported?

As I studied this season’s collections from some of my favorite lingerie labels & designers I was struck by how many beautifully crafted styles seem to parallel some of my favorite species of flower whether in color, shape or texture. Below are 8 styles where I felt the correlation was most pronounced. Whether flowers actually served as the inspirations for these designers or not, I appreciate their resemblance and the special feelings these styles conjure up for me.

Made by Niki

Carnations are known to be one of the top selling flowers in the US today with the pink variations vying for first place. This popular flower signifies eternal & unforgettable love and is most widely given for Mother’s Day. The elaborate rippling petals and sweet smell lend this gift-giving flower feminine & nurturing characteristics. Similarly the Peplum set from Made By Niki emulates this lush foliage with fluttering ruffles accented in satin ribbon. I find the layered sheer silk gives the illusion of carnation petals while the Barbie pink color is spot on.

Mimi Holliday

The Black Dahlia is a rare & mysterious species of flower symbolizing mystery & elegance. Though not fully black in color, the dark burgundy versions are as close as a flower can naturally get to true black. Characterized by its rings of petals this flower is most famed as being a nickname to the infamous unsolved murder mystery of Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Short. However this Bisou Bisou Kiss set from Mimi Holliday is much less gruesome with its rich burgundy satin complimented by delicate black eyelash lace. Both the color & layering effect together make this set as sensual & mysterious as the illusive flower.

Claudette

Colorful pansies are known as flowers of togetherness & remembrance. Derived from the French word “pensée” meaning “thought”, the markings on these flowers resemble human faces deep in thought as they tilt downwards in the later months of the season. The color combinations of the pansy tend to be vibrant & contrasting similar to the Dessous set by Claudette in navy & limeade. As with the pansy, Claudette’s Dessous collection comes in an array of cheery colors & prints with contrasting details & delicate, thoughtful curves.

Lascivious

One of the most exotic flowers today is the bird of paradise found in tropical climates around the world. Native to South Africa this unique flower is characterized by its fan-like horizontal foliage and vibrant color ranging from deep red to yellow & orange. The bird of paradise is also known as the crane flower and has long been considered a symbol of liberty and magnificence. Coincidentally this Nenah set by Lascivious not only utilizes similar coloring but also is reminiscent of the bird of paradise flower with its origami-like folds & triangular layering.

Fleur of England

One of the more notable signs of spring each year is the bloom of the vigilant daffodil. This annual flower is a symbol of hope, faith & forgiveness appropriate for it’s following of the harshest signs of winter year after year. The most common color of golden yellow is reminiscent of the sun’s brilliant rays and the trumped-shaped center and leafless stem make this flower a cheerful favorite for gardeners. While the color yellow has been a slow growing trend in lingerie, Fleur Of England has managed to take it to a higher level with their elegant & sunshiny Lemon Cello collection. This rare shade looks fresh & new in these luxurious fabrics & is guaranteed to brighten your day.

La Perla

A persevering symbol of endurance and durability is the faithful dogwood flower reliably blooming in clusters of white or pale pinks & yellows. Not too showy these woody flowers have also been used to symbolize love undivided by adversity. La Perla has utilized similar shaped floral embroidery on their Donna Lucia collection featuring delicate white blossoms strategically placed on delicate flesh colored tulle. These embellishments offer a soft dainty feeling with contrasting characteristics of strength & durability – similar to this proud dogwood flower.

Absolutely Pom

The lily is a flower full of meaningful symbolism often signifying birth or new motherhood. It is the perfect flower to send new mothers as well as new brides as it can also be seen as a symbol of union and partnership. Their intoxicating fragrance helps lend them an heir of beauty, poise & symbolism making this flower a favorite for social gatherings. The Eva set by Absolutely Pom is reminiscent of a stargazer lily with its pure white ground and delicate red ruffles. The organic print is dotted with little red flowers lending it a feminine yet bold look, a perfect compliment to the majestic lily.

Ari Dein

The elegant lotus flower is revered for its purity and expression of cosmic renewal. An auspicious symbol in many Asian cultures the lotus is a symbol of eternal beauty springing up from the mud it grows from. As the lotus blooms its many petals expand outward, suggesting an expansion of the soul & making this flower one of the most sacred in the culture. Likewise the Cabana set from Ari Dein resembles the lotus in its pale bluish hue, silky smooth fabric and hand scalloped hemline trimmed in ivory. The set’s fine quality makes it as beautiful, light and pure as the delicate lotus itself.

Which flower do you find most inspiring and what does it mean to you?

Kristina

Kristina

Lingerie Designer specializing in fashion & trend.

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Lingerie of the Week: La Perla ‘Baronessa’ Bralette

La Perla ‘Baronessa’

This week’s Lingerie of the Week is firmly on the lust list. I’ll never own it, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it and so it’s this week’s pick. Lately, I’ve been in love with all things pink: hot pink, rose pink, and most especially blush pink. I think it’s a gorgeous, romantic shade and though I know nothing about color theory, I’d like to think it flatters almost everyone. I had the opportunity to see the entire Baronessa range recently in person, and it is breathtaking in its stunningness.

Alas, as I mentioned before, I’ll never own it. At $367 for just the bra alone, the Baronessa bralette will always be out of reach…unless I manage to catch it on a 70% off clearance sale. And even then I’d have to give it some thought.

Delicate, ethereal, and completely swoonworthy, the La Perla Baronessa bra is available from Neiman Marcus. If you’re wanting a pair of matching knickers, I’d forego the rather unremarkable thongshown  above and pick up these coordinating lace briefs instead. It’s so sad this range doesn’t offer a tap panty…it’d be perfect.

Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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La Perla Spring/Summer 2013

La Perla…are they perhaps the most famous name in luxury lingerie? Though I own very little from the brand, I always look forward to their semi-annual campaigns because they represent the essence of what a fashion-oriented approach to lingerie should be. The ads are always just as beautifully styled and photographed as those from the leading fashion houses, and each season seems to perfectly capture the story of the brand. This year’s ad campaign also sees the return of Jeisa Chiminazzo, who also starred in La Perla’s Spring/Summer 2012 campaign, one of their most popular to date La Perla’s bras are available in sizes 32A thru 36E/38C, knickers in sizes S thru XL, and slips in sizes S thru L. What do you think of La Perla’s latest collection?

Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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September Lingerie Adventures: What Katie Did, Victoria’s Secret, Sparklewren, and More!

September always seems to be my busiest month.  Once again, it’s been crammed full of lingerie happenings.  As well as being inundated with orders (following the launch of my brand last month), I’ve been juggling lingerie events and preparations to move cities!  It’s been an exhausting month but worth every moment.  Here’s a few of my favourite adventures, I hope you enjoy them!

Clockwise from the left – SS13 including the new highwaisted bikini and Morticia corset, Miss Miranda and Sophie St Villier’s burlesque routine

My lingerie month began with an invitation to What Katie Did’s fabulous AW12 collection launch – a delightful afternoon of fabulous fashion shows and some rather delicious WKD cupcakes.  A particular highlight of the event was the SS13 preview show – my personal favourites including a red and peach colourway for the Morticia corset and a delightful highwaisted bikini with side cut outs.  We were also treated to a fabulous burlesque performance courtesy of Miss Miranda and Sophie St Villier – I was very taken with Miss Miranda’s polkadot seamed stockings and ended up picking up my own pair!

Inside Victoria’s Secret Bond Street boutique – angel wings and all

Before leaving London, I knew I had to go and see what all the fuss was about with Victoria’s Secret.  They’d opened their Bond Street boutique amidst a flurry of controversy and speculation and I was itching to see it for myself.  My first impressions were exactly what I expected: it’s glamorous, attention-grabbing and very, very ‘American’.  The décor is all black and pink gloss and chandeliers, with lingerie covering literally every available surface.  It was a little overwhelming – the themes of each room were a vague at times and the designer collection left my jaw dragging along the floor – though not for the right reasons.

Some of the ‘Designer Collection’

With a premium price, the designer collection seemed average at best, with the lingerie being poorly constructed and offering incredibly limited sizing.  I did wonder why they’d even bothered to include it – after all, the department store ‘Fenwick’s’ is just across the road and offers the crème de la crème of lingerie (Carine Gilson, Chantal Thomass and La Perla just to name a few) – and often for a less intimidating price tag.  Additionally, the mainline products seemed to have an unnecessarily high mark-up – it seemed like the average bra on offer was around £30, which seems a little ridiculous considering the British high street offers multiple identical products for around £10.  To be fair to VS, the customer service was impressive  - sales assistants could be found everywhere and they were all incredibly happy to help and discuss the products.

I was a little disconcerted by their infamous fitting service (having a tape measure wrapped around the top of your bust on the shop floor and then being offered a less-than-accurate size).  Nevertheless, armed with my fitting card, I explored the shop in a bid to find something I’d like to add to my lingerie collection.  Unfortunately, the only bras I could find in a 32C were molded cups and pushups; the lace balconettes seemed reserved only for those in a 32D or above.  I’m personally rather fond of my bust shape and don’t feel it needs a 2-cup-size boost! I fully understand that expanding size ranges can be a complex and costly undertaking for a lingerie brand, though with a label as big as Victoria’s Secret you’d think it wouldn’t be too much of a risk.

Details on the Sparklewren ‘Burning Coals’ corset

So what could be a better cure for the boring and mass-produced than a visit to the wonderful Sparklewren boutique?  After popping in to Jenni’s Birmingham boutique last week, I knew my lingerie lust-list had just been entirely re-written.  Her new ‘burning coals’ corset is one of the most gorgeous garments that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon: phenomenal shaping and exquisite embellishment, with layered golden lace, crystals and spikes – everything that I could ever ask for in a corset!  I was even lucky enough to try it on.  All I need to do now is win the lottery and make it mine! I thoroughly recommend visiting the Sparklewren boutique to any lingerie and corsetry lover – the creations it houses are more works of art than simply garments and the couture laces and crystal embellishments are sure to appeal to any lover of shiny things!

My gorgeous new French lace and my first camisole experiment with it

Finally, I’ve been getting to grips with the aftermath of launching my own lingerie brand!  The response that I’ve had has been a lot better than I ever could have expected.  I’ve been inundated with orders and have received some incredibly lovely messages from customers – it’s really helped to enforce that following my dream was actually a good idea.  Unfortunately, my shops orders seem to have taken up all of my spare time! I’d ordered some stunning French leavers lace that I’ve been barely able to touch since it arrive.  I’m hoping that at some point in the near future I’ll manage to get some free time for some new designs – all I’ve managed so far is a lace camisole, when really I want to be trying out the soft bras and high-waisted knickers that are still just ideas in my head!

Now that September’s over, I’m finally going back to my lingerie studies at university.  It’s going to be an incredibly exciting year – we’re going to be looking at corsetry and swimwear to name just a few of the things we’ll be doing.  I can’t wait to see where my new lingerie school adventures and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you!

Readers – have you had any of your own lingerie adventures last month? What do you think of mine?

Karolina

Karolina

Student at De Montfort University's world-renowned Contour Fashion course. Makes many knickers in her spare time.

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Our Columnists’ Lingerie Picks of the Month: August 2012

Starting this month we’ll be debuting “Lingerie Picks of the Month” from our team of writers. Much like our Lingerie of the Week feature, they’ll share the pieces that have especially caught their eye lately. I hope you enjoy reading their suggestions as much as I did! ~Cora

Kristina:

La Perla has done it again for their Fall/Winter 2012 collection titled Oriental Suite. This exquisite chemise features lace clamshell cups reminiscent of Japanese fans that create an intriguing, gravity-defying illusion. Supported only by fabric braces down the sides, the cups are complimented by a luxurious satin obi style waistband and pleated skirt. The full collection is equally as breathtaking and I can’t wait to review all the pieces in person so I can shamelessly drool over the expert craftsmanship & quality of each design!

Karolina:

When they see the word ‘latex’ most people will immediately think of BDSM and other fetish connotations.  With this bra, Très Bonjour have steered away from those completely – it’s such a fresh and directional design and I adore the Art-Deco style ornamentation.  Best of all, it’s made to measure. This is as luxurious as latex can get and I’m absolutely smitten!

Marianne:

Hopeless Lingerie’s “Omega” garter knickers are sleek and bold in solid black with functional garters as well as strappy accents around the legline.  In a bamboo-spandex blend, I can only imagine how soft and comfortable they feel.  All the straps are adjustable, allowing for a custom fit on your curves.  At $96, they’re a bit of a splurge, but all Hopeless Lingerie is handmade and the design is stunning.

Holly:

I’ve been really in love with bird prints lately, so I’m thrilled to see this bra from Cleo. It’s cute without being frilly and Cleo bras always give people the most flattering shape. I’ll definitely be adding it to my collection soon!
Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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La Perla Lingerie Autumn/Winter 2012

Like many people, La Perla was one of the first names I ever heard when it came to luxury lingerie. Founded in Italy in the 1940′s, La Perla’s exquisite fabrics and innovative designs made them one of the most coveted lingerie brands in the world.

But for a few years, I fell out of love with La Perla. I’d see a piece here or there that caught my eye, but the collection as a whole felt less than lustworthy. No more. Proving that last season’s S/S La Perla line wasn’t just a fluke, it’s safe to say I’m excited about this brand all over again.

What do you think of next season’s pieces? Any standouts for you?

Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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Lingerie School: What I’ve Learned About Luxury Lingerie

By: Karolina

Jean Paul Gaultier for La Perla, $605 at Net a Porter

The topic of whether or not luxury lingerie is worth the price tag is not exactly original.  Yet, as my first year of teaching at lingerie school draws to an end, it’s made me reconsider the relationships of value and quality.  More and more have I been disappointed with recent lingerie purchases – high-end lingerie where you’d expect a little something extra in exchange for the hefty price tag.

However, this is not to suggest that quality control in the luxury sector has magically disappeared. It’s simply that, having been introduced to the finer details of lingerie construction, I’ve begun to view my lingerie with a much more critical eye.

Images by La Perla

Recently, I considered myself one of the luckiest girls on the world when I got my hands on a piece from the stunning Gaultier for La Perla collection.  Having been a huge fan since the collaboration’s inception, there was a time where I would have offered to trade a limb for one of those bras. Imagine my excitement when ‘Createur’ balconette bra arrived.  Unfortunately, this excitement was not going to last.

Upon first trying it on, I was pleasantly surprised.  Although I’d bought the wrong size (I rarely come across my first choice of 30D), the fit was surprisingly good.  This surprise was dampened when I inspected the bra closer.

With my critical lingerie student’s eyes, I noticed some faults – the first being that the bra wire had been sewn onto the cup and not the cradle.  In our lessons, we have been routinely told that the purpose of the cradle is for a place to sew the bra wire onto.  The only exception to this is cradle-less bras, for obvious reasons.  I suppose you could argue that this is a design feature, though it’s one that’s left me quite confused!

Nevertheless, that’s not enough of a reason to get upset over the bra.  What did get me upset was the bra wire that they’d used.  Just by feeling it, you can tell that it is entirely too big for its case, with a lot of strain at either end.

When a bra is constructed, approximately 1cm of ‘wireplay’ (extra space) has to be left in each wire case.  This is due to the fact that the wire moves around when being worn.  By leaving extra space, the wire is less likely to wear a hole through the bra.  Designers must also take the washing of bras into consideration – when fabric comes into contact with water, it shrinks.  This puts extra pressure onto the wire, as its container becomes far more constricted.  Add to this the extra movement that washing a garment creates, and a too-big wire faces a greater risk of ripping through its case.

This sole detail is what left me so upset about this bra – with a retail price of £270, I am genuinely shocked about this lapse in good construction. Additionally, I am fully aware that most people would be unaware of this – and would be left thoroughly disappointed should they wear it more than a few times.

I haven’t been left entirely pessimistic and cynical though.  I still come across lingerie that routinely wows and impresses me.  I was recently lucky enough to snap up a Sian Hoffman panty-girdle in a sample sale.

This panty-girdle has immediately become one of the most prized pieces within my collection – even if it is a sample piece! Not only is the design absolutely stunning and original, but the fit and comfort are also wonderful.  It gives the cinch of a corset but with far less constriction (thank goodness for powernet!).

No doubt it’s an expensive lesson to learn for yourself, but price tags are not always reflective of a good piece of lingerie.  Regardless of how much you like the design, it’s important to consider whether you’re really willing to spend that much on a piece you’ll only be able to wear a couple of times. I have expensive bras that I’ve been wearing for near-on 4 years now that are still in good condition, whilst others that I’ve had to throw out after a couple of weeks.

Readers: what have your experiences been with price vs. quality when it comes to lingerie? Have you ever been particularly impressed or disappointed?

Karolina

Karolina

Student at De Montfort University's world-renowned Contour Fashion course. Makes many knickers in her spare time.

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