Is there anyone more iconic in the lingerie world than Bettie Page? The “Queen of Pinups” has been an influence on American culture for generations, inspiring trends in beauty, fashion, and art. It’s hard to imagine a world without her; nearly everyday, I run across a Bettie Page reference of one kind or another.
Ever since I first became interested in the lingerie world, Fleur of England has been on my radar as one of those brands that consistently creates beautiful lingerie. It’s not a brand that I associate with particularly boundary pushing design work, but one that has always created sophisticated and elegant undergarments that I would happily welcome into my own wardrobe.
Uye Surana is an independent brand from NYC with a commitment to ethical manufacturing, supportive bralets and gorgeous textiles. Their products are all sewn in-house in small quantities, and Surana’s designs offer a refreshing take on the overdone strappy trend. Delicate lace trims and plays on transparency/opacity make the aesthetic look fresh and appealing. The brand also has some gorgeous colourways and textiles on offer (including hand-floral-dyed silk). I’ve been wanting to try Uye Surana for a while, so felt pretty lucky when I offered some of their products to review. I chose the Claire bralet, panty and a Deep-V Layering cami.
Helena Stuart, founder, owner, and designer of Only Hearts, does as much work as you’d expect from a woman who has led a company for almost 40 years. Every hour is filled with effortless flitting between fabric choices, retail delivery dates, cost and margin management, color development and more. There is no visible anxiety or stressed-out vibes here. Helena does it all, and makes it look easy.
Though I often feel disenchanted with the lingerie industry (I decided to forego lingerie market for the first time in years this season because I was starting to feel like I wrote the exact same lingerie trend report every six months), there are still some pieces that take my breath away…like this new collection from Va Bien Atelier.
