LaChatonBottee

La Chaton Bottée I’m a rabbit in your headlights “rabbit 5″ sheer body set $150.56

La Chaton Bottée is crazy and I love it. The neon and the printed rabbit fur make this bodysuit one of a kind– and yet I’m irresistibly drawn to it.

UglyDucklingGalAngel

UglyDucklingGalAngel White Floral French Lace Soft Bra $69

This delicate stretch lace soft bra by UglyDucklingGalAngel is simply lovely! The pink and cream coloring is perfect for this sweet little bra.

MariannaGiordana

Marianna Giordana Georgette and Lace panties $60

Marianna Giordana is a Parisian lingerie designer who makes some lovely lace and silk bras and knickers. These are my favorite for the delicious color and the delicate lace applique.

Bodybinds

Bodybinds ‘Estee’ Elastic Bondage Bikini $78

Bodybinds is apparently well known and well loved in the pole dancing community, but I only happened upon it recently. I love all the awesome strappy designs– they are also perfect for any  of you with a pole-dancing bent!

BullyBoylingerie

Bully Boy Lingerie Tie Died Bra & Panties set $90.73

Bully Boy Lingerie makes some awesome lingerie, playing with sheer fabrics and bold patterns in a way that is totally engaging. The unusual tie-dyed set above is my favorite.

ShowboatClothing

Showboat Clothing Aqua and Pink Flamingo Bustier Bra Top $55

Showboat Clothing makes bra tops and bikinis out of the most adorable fabrics! It’s was a hard choice whether to feature her french fries print bra or this flamboyant flamingos– the flamingos won we over in the end for being perfect for summer.

helenvalk

Helen Valk $135.62

I just love this sheer bodysuit with the ruffled collar from Helen Valk– I think it would be impossible not to be cool which wearing it.

TatianasThreads

Tatiana’s Threads High Retro Style Panties $25

When I see these knickers from Tatiana’s Threads, I think, “Why have I never seen the combination of china blue and yellow before on lingerie?”

luvahuva

Luva Huva Anthia Silver Short Sleeved Shrug $48

There are other sexier pieces in the Luva Huva collection. Naturally I gravitated towards the coziest.

ImpishLee

Impish Lee ‘Lorri’ set $140

Impish Lee’s designs are the love child of the 40s and the 70s, so they’re perfect for anyone who likes soft bras and big knickers .

Sophiehines

Sophie Hines Cotton bralette and knickers set $55

Have I told you how I love mint green before? If I haven’t, here is a perfect example by Sophie Hines.

What do you think of these designers? Any new finds that you love?

Of course ‘androgynous’ is such a subjective term that it’s hard for everyone to agree on what does or does not fit. I’ve chosen to focus on pieces designed for female-bodied individuals, but of course that doesn’t meant that’s the only way to go. Check out these 17 pieces and let me know what you think!

Light Years Facet Bra $115 and Undies $50

Light Years is an Australian brand that I love for its simple, graphic aesthetic. They have a strength and an athletic feel to both their lingerie and their models, yet it never crosses over into pure athletic wear. I love the combination of the mustard, black and white– it’s unusual, but also compelling.

Zana Bayne Cruxus Harness $275.00

I included Zana Bayne’s harnesses in my post about lingerie for men, which just speaks to how appropriate it is to include in this collection. A leather harness is a bold choice; and it can be worn equally over a floaty white dress or with trousers and a blazer. (I am mentally imagining so many styles and gender expressions that could rock this harness right now).

& Other Stories Mesh Push Up Bra £25

This bra from & Other Stories is one of the pieces that inspired a refresh of the androgynous lingerie concept. I love the bold color, the use of mesh and the double straps– the only downsides are the narrow size range (32-36 A-C) and the unavailability in the US.

Avocado Luna Bra 219.00 PLN (~$68) and Briefs 89.00 PLN (~$27)

Even though the styling of the model is feminine, I really love the understated black sheer stripe of this bra and briefs set from Polish brand Avocado. This is an especially awesome bra because it’s a full bust bra (sizes go up to a European L cup and down to a 70 back). It’s stunning and simple– I think the boy-cut briefs are an especially good touch. NB: This has NO BOWS on it (surprisingly harder to find the larger the cups get!). They also make this set in an equally sharp white if that’s more your speed. If you’re interested in this bra, you should also learn about Avocado’s fit from Miss Underpinnings.

FYI by Dani Read Lucia Trouser $190

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen suspenders look so attractive. These are a nightwear or outerwear piece from FYI by Dani Read that takes from menswear in the best way. If there was ever lingerie you could call dapper, this would probably be it.

Hopeless Lingerie Maja Harness $70

I actually own this Hopeless harness and I absolutely adore it  (look out for an outfit post soon!). As I’ve said, I’m a huge fan of harnesses because they are so interesting and versatile, either combined with lingerie or outerwear– this one has a little bit of an ominous air to it because it makes me think of fairytale forest roots reaching out and wrapping around your shoulders (in the best way possible of course).

MICHI Cosmic Bra $95

I’ve already expressed my love for Michi, but this bra has got to be the best piece yet. Although it’s meant to be a sports bra, I don’t see why it couldn’t be worn in more versatile settings (or always, if you’re one of those people who’s constantly on your way to or from the gym). Isn’t that little curved mesh window above your breasts just gorgeous?

Huit Mrs Wang Underwired Bra $78.06

Huit is honestly one of my favorite lingerie brands because their clean, confident lines are so beautiful. The ‘Mrs Wang’ set uses opaque stripes on a sheer base– and nothing else, not a bow or a frill anywhere to mess with its simple magic.

Sloane & Tate Silverlake Sleep Short $48

I must confess: these Sloane & Tate Silverlake shorts are my new obsession. The just seem so soft and have that masculine boxer-brief look to them that makes them stand out from the usual cotton knickers. In fact, the whole Sloane & Tate collection makes me wish for a softer, simpler and more streamlined world.

Avocado Nina 199.00 PLN

This is an awesome bra for three reasons: 1. It’s plain, yet stunning. 3. NO BOWS. 4. It is perfect to be worn as a ‘nude’ bra for a woman with darker skin who still wants her bra to be attractive in its own right. And, as you can see from the photo, it’s a gorgeous chocolate brown that would suit any skin tone. This is again from Avocado and goes from a C-up to a European L-cup. It comes in 5 more colors, including pink, beige, white, black and mink.

ASOS Boudoir Cut Out Moulded Bra, $30.55

ASOS’s in-house lingerie line has really been stepping up its game lately– there have been so many cute pieces! This cut-out molded bra is clearly a winner as it looks absurdly easy to wear under anything, with the addition of cool cut outs. If you’re looking for one androgynous bra this summer (that is also affordable) this should be a strong contender.

& Other Stories Strapless Bra £25

This sheer bra from & Other Stories has a slightly ethereal look different from some of the others here, but has a bold palette and color blocking that are very sharp looking. I’m always drawn the the navy and black combination– the light gray is a perfect additional touch.

VPL STRIPE B BRA: SKIN $85

VPL is one of the first brands I recommend to people looking for non-girly lingerie. The shapes, the sheer inserts and the awesome color combinations mean that they always have tons of amazing lingerie sets that have nothing to do with lace, bows or embroidery.

Topshop Mesh Harness Strap Triangle Bra $36 and Mini $16

Topshop’s lingerie offerings are sometimes have great finds– like this orange mesh lingerie set. It’s plain and gorgeous with matching undies that finish off the look.

Fleur’t Side Panel Bandeau Bra $32.00

Although I’m not necessarily usually a fan of bandeau bras, I appreciate how Fleur’t has made a stylish lingerie set with just the simple application of 2 matching thick, black stripes.

Marlies Dekkers Triangle 10 Balcony Bra $99

Marlies Dekkers was the first to add strappy additions to molded bras and hers will always be the first I recommend for those who want a t-shirt bra that refuses to be boring. The turquoise color and the metal pieces make this bra a stand out.

Chromat Leather Rivet Bra $375

Chromat has its own point of view and I love that. This leather bra might not be the most wearable as an undergarment, but it’s got a strong, ‘don’t mess with me’ look to it that can either go masculine or femme, depending on the circumstances.

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Do you prefer your lingerie more feminine or more androgynous? Do you have a favorite piece?

I chose to focus on his works that show ballerinas on stage because of the beauty of his rendering of the layers of tulle and rich coloring of the costumes. Let me know what you think!

Dancers Bending Down (The Ballerinas)

Angela Friedman – Playful Promises – HoneyCooler Handmade

Angela Friedman Sascha Overbust Corset ($890)

Playful Promises Peach Frilly Knickers (£10.00)

HoneyCooler Handmade Camisole ($220)

I chose to include this first painting, “Dancers Bending Down” because of the delicate yellow tutus of the dancers. Given Angela Friedman’s background as a costumer for the ballet, it only makes sense that her amazing yellow corset is the first piece of lingerie that fits perfectly with Degas’ work. The Playful Promises frilly knickers have a playful look that makes them appropriate for leaping about in your bedroom like it’s a stage in a ballet theatre. I included the HoneyCooler Handmade chemise because although it doesn’t have the shaping of a ballet costume, the vintage, pieced-together look reminded me of the layers of tulle in a ballet costume and the attention to detail.

Les danseuses roses, avant le ballet

Chantal Thomass – Lascivious – Love Me Sugar

Chantal Thomass Balconette ($238.34) and Culottes ($185.08)

Lascivious  Raspberry Kitty Bra (£89)

Love Me Sugar La Madeleine Sleep Mask ($88.97)

I included this painting of these three dancers because of the irresistible raspberry color of their tutus. The orange and pink Chantal Thomass set is a little more saucy than demure, but given how short tutus were in comparison to respectable skirt lengths at the time, I think the combination is more apt than it might seem today. This amazing Lascivious bra (well, the whole set really) has been dying for a tutu comparison and now that I see it, I can’t help but want a tutu for my boobs. For a sweeter piece that’s sure to give you ballet dreams, the Love Me Sugar sleep mask is a perfect sleepwear touch.

L’étoile

Fifi Chachnil – Ohhh Lulu – Minuit Douze

Fifi Chachnil Noctabule set ( €68- €225)

Ohhh Lulu Pink Satin Bra and Panties Set ($89)

Minuit Douze Gracie Bloomers ($91)

The last piece I chose, L’etoile, is one of Degas’ most well known and reproduced paintings. The focus on the dancer, the star, at the exact moment when all adoring eyes are turned to her is a subject that is almost impossible to turn away from. I look at this painting and I think how easy it is to yearn to be that star, that girl in the middle of a giant stage taking all the attention for oneself, even if it is only briefly.

This Fifi Chachnil set is already styled to look like a ballet costume, I don’t know how I could resist it! The fluffy short petticoat is sure to draw all the attention. The soft pink of the Ohhh Lulu set is not as bold as the other two pieces, but delicately shines in its own way. The Minuit Douze bloomers are another attention-grabber, with the gorgeous combination of white and rose and the puffy trim that evokes a dancer’s tutu.

What do you think– don’t Degas and lingerie go together well?

Therefore, when Miss Mandalay reached out to me about a sample for review, I jumped at the chance. Especially because it was their stunning new blue color, which I fell in love with when I spotted it this year’s indie lingerie Love Bomb giveaway in February.

Before sending me the set, Miss Mandalay warned me that even in smaller sizes, their designs are created to suit the full bust customer, so I was a little concerned it wouldn’t work for me, even in my size. Happily, when I tried it on it worked really well!

Sizewise, the 32C was a good fit, with the 32 band feeling true to size. The cups were also well fitting, with a shape that worked reasonably well overall; however, because my breast tissue is shallow and spread out, the ribbon at the neck edge cut in ever so slightly. It wasn’t enough to be noticeable under clothing or to an untrained eye, so it didn’t bother me and I wasn’t motivated to try a larger size, but given that the ribbon has no stretch at the neck edge, I would be wary about trying Miss Mandalay if your breasts are extremely shallow or extremely full on top.

The mesh that the bra is made of is actually extremely soft and wearable. The seams of the bra are not very obvious, which makes it a good choice for everyday wear under many types of clothes. I found the knickers also very comfortable (I tried a size M), without the tight elastic problem of my Love Claudette knickers despite the extremely similar styles. (NB: Miss Mandalay has been making this style for 5 years! Love Claudette is the newbie on the scene). Although they also used thick elastic to match the bra, it has very little tension, which prevented my leg from being squeezed to death– strangely, I object to that! I wore the set twice and had no comfort complains– I would highly commend Miss Mandalay for a corresponding ease and wearability to match the loveliness of their styles.

The blue color is even more stunning in person and works really well on extremely pale skin tones like mine! I was really happy I got to try this bra and I would definitely think about purchasing another Miss Mandalay set if I see any 32Cs floating about.

If you’re interested in learning how Miss Mandalay fits in a larger cup size, check out these posts from lingerie blogger UndieGamer. Becky from Becky’s Boudoir also reviewed the same set!

Cobalt Blue Paris Bra and Knickers provided by Miss Mandalay for review purposes. All opinions my own.

Timpa

Timpa – Duet Lace Underwire Bra, $36

I haven’t personally tried the Dutch lingerie brand Timpa, but I have heard amazing things about them. They are especially suited to A and B cups, although they can also fit a AA because of the stretch cups. I adore this new orange color– so fun for summer. Size range: 32A-38C (band runs one size small).

The Little Bra Company

The Little Bra Company Nicole Hyacinth/Mink Bra, $60

The Little Bra Company makes its mission pretty clear in its name: it makes little bras. I’ve heard that depending on the shape of your bust, these bras may or may not work for you, but if you wear an A/AA or B, The Little Bra Company offers many padded and push-up bras suited for smaller sizes. Size Range: 28-38 A, 28-36 B, 28- 34 C

Lula Lu Petites

Lula Lu Petites Natasha Bra, $34

I’m a fan of Lula Lu Petites for smaller sizes because they make simple, stylish bras that don’t relay too much on padding or are too fancy for everyday wear. The bra above is one of my favorites because it’s looks so easy to wear. Size range: 32AA-36B

Meg at Midnight

Meg at Midnight is a luxury lingerie brand that is especially designed for small busts. I adore the Art Deco style and the delicate lace– I would love to try her beautiful designs some day! Size range: 30B-C, 32-34AA-C.

Mimi Holliday

Mimi Holliday AZURE ALLURE

Mimi Holliday is one of my favorite lingerie designers ever. The styles really suit a shallow shape and the lace and silk combinations are diverse and utterly charming. Size range: 28B-30FF, 32B-34E, 36A-36DD, 38B-40C

So, guys, what do you think? Are there any of you small busted ladies out there who have a favorite brand that I’ve missed? Please leave it in the comments!

I love sewing bras, but I’ve been a little disappointed with how they were turning out. Happily, a little more practice later and I’ve finally made a bra I actually like. (It might also be because the lace was so pretty I was deathly afraid of messing it up!)

The reason I decided to make a darted lace cup is because of the absolutely gorgeous Italian lace I bought on Etsy. I wanted to put the lovely lace flowers front and center, which is why I chose to pair it with the dusky rose color.

Given that I’ve been using a host of different underwires, I ended up having to adjust the darted cup pattern I originally drafted to fit the slightly shallower underwire shape (it was still a 34B wire). It was also a challenge to make sure the lace on both sides matched! Switching around underwires all the time is definitely testing my drafting skills (and patience).

Here you can see how I lined the stretch silk charmeuse with a black net to make sure I had a solid, supportive cradle. My topstitching is really a weak point (made all the more obvious by the black on pink) but I believe it is improving, which is the important thing.

The lace was ultimately a little too delicate to be used for the entire cup, but I didn’t want to line it in black because it would lose the clarity of the pattern on skin. This lace certainly wouldn’t stand up to the weight of a larger bust– next time I might try lining it in a pink net in order to not lose the gorgeous lace pattern, but still offer more support.

If I were to make this bra again, I would definitely think about including a side sling to increase the amount of control and make this less of a ‘boudoir only’ bra. I also always seem to have trouble including enough wire play! I need to remember to leave extra in my patterns because there is something about the way I construct my bras that means that everything except the wire channelling is patterned correctly!

What I love about having made this bra is that it really celebrates its materials– isn’t that rose lace perfect?

I basically just sputtered with excitement when I saw this eLai collection. I really liked her A/W 2013 collection, but the ‘Back in Time’ collection simply blows me away with how many pieces I genuinely want to own.

I love the tongue-in-cheek, retro femininity combined with the modern, strappy elements that Eva used so well in her previous collection. She does such a great balance between girly and sophisticated that it makes all these pieces ones that I would love to wear.

The color palette was inspired by a coral reef and I think that it is such a lovely idea to be inspired by. It’s especially appropriate for the pieces that look like swimwear– the orange and pink combination in the set above is particularly winning.

This white and red set really appeals to me, as it reminds me of my favorite styles from Agent Provocateur, but with the strappy details that differentiate Eva’s designs.

Of all the pieces in the collection, these pyjamas are my favorite. I love the style and the ease of them, with a hint of sheerness that is a bit more suggestive than you would expect. I do hope my budget will allow for these lovely pieces to join my collection, as I would be the chic-est lounger in the world in them.

I have no idea when or where this outfit is appropriate. And yet, I want it; I love the collar and the pleats and the baby blue.


There is definitely a Lolita/schoolgirl aspect to this collection, especially with the sunglasses, the pink and the peter pan collar.

This set is the one that most reminds me of tropical fish. I like the unusual woven pink and blue texture.

I’m not sure if this is a bodysuit of swimwear, but I love the bright colors and the cool back detail.

I love the blue pyjama shirt also! How perfect is the cut and the color?

This crazy/awesome catsuit is the last of the bunch. I hope I’ll eventually get to see all of these in person!

What do you think? Are you as excited as I am?

Knitty Kitty Aqua Cupcake Panties, $27

Just showing you a picture of these Knitty Kitty panties should explain more than words can about why I am obsessed with them. I must admit, knitted knickers do not sound like the most practical of things (my butt has never really been cold enough to merit its own sweater) but the allure of turquoise and an intarsia knit cupcake is too much to resist. They just seem so cozy!

Oh, and lest I forget: the butt has stripes on it. How can anyone not want this cuteness on their body?

Let me know what you think– feel free to disagree strongly.

When I spotted this bra at an Intimissimi in Sicily, I knew I had to try it on because I love anything nautical. Also, I told myself it was ‘research’ for the blog.

The white stretch lace is another reason I fell in love with this set– it’s actually quite unlike stretch lace that I’ve seen on other knickers and has such a sweet, vintage air to it. As I said in yesterday’s post, this bra only came in sizes 32B, 34B and 36B, so I tried it in my usual size of 34B (after a lot of miming about what size I needed). I found that the cups ran true to size, but the band ran large.

I was interested to note that the bra had 4 sets of hooks, spaced relatively far apart, seemingly to compensate for the few sizes. On the loosest hook, the band was definitely too loose, but given that there was no 32C option, I accepted that it was snug on the 3rd hook. The cups are foam, but there is no padding, for which I was thankful. The shape felt really comfortable on me and I bought it because I decided I was willing to compromise a hook for the cuteness, the comfort and the relatively low price (about $30). I also got the briefs in a size M, which was a perfect fit.

When I wore the Intimissimi bra around for a day, I really, really liked it. It was so comfortable I forgot I was wearing a bra (my favorite) and it gave my boobs a gentle uplift with the barest suggestion of cleavage. I may alter the band to make it tighter, but otherwise I really love my Intimissimi bra.

I really appreciate the aesthetic of Intimissimi, but the lack of sizes is quite ridiculous. If you are lucky enough to fit into something they carry, I would highly recommend checking them out if you are in Europe, but they are quite irrelevant for the majority of sizes. There doesn’t seem to be any sizing or fitting help available in store, although that might be different if there wasn’t such a language barrier.

I can understand why Intimissimi wouldn’t expand to the US because even Victoria’s Secret’s sizing seems expansive compared to this selection. And for those of us who know how limited the selection at Victoria’s Secret is, this seems almost crazy (Victoria’s Secret actually did carry some Intimissimi styles several years ago).

All in all, I love my Intimissimi bra– I just wish it was available in a larger size range! (And closer to home).

Taormina, Sicily

Even though I was on vacation with my family in Sicily with no intention of getting any blog fodder, nevertheless I happened on several lingerie experiences that I thought I should share with you all. Given that I was only in Sicily a week, I am hardly an expert on the local lingerie, but I thought I would share with you some of my observations.

I knew that lingerie just could not be avoided when I was admiring the amazing mosaics at the beautiful Villa Romana del Casale and saw a mosaic known as the ‘Bikini Girls’.

‘Bikini Girls’ Mosaic from Villa Casale

The women pictured are actually athletes holding various pieces of athletic equipment to participate in popular Roman sports of the time such as long jump and discus. It’s amazing how contemporary this mosaic from the 4th century AD looks! I think it’s pretty safe to say that the bikini is an ancient, rather than a modern, invention– although of course the name is terribly anachronistic. If yuo ever get a chance to go to Sicily, visiting this site is an absolute must, as there are so many more amazing mosaics.

Bras at a market in Siracusa, Sicily

I also spotted these bras and panties at an outdoor market (that also sold fish and vegetables) in Siracusa. I didn’t get much of a chance to examine the pieces closely, but it seems pretty clear they didn’t view these as clothes necessary for trying on. The style of the knickers seemed quite plain and old fashioned, which made me think this was a more popular place to buy underwear for more functional than fashionable purposes.

Lingerie stall in a market in Siracusa, Sicily

I had more of a complete lingerie experience visiting the Italian lingerie chains Intimissimi and Yamamay. I had visited both of these stores in previous visits to Italy, but this time I really got a chance to see what was available at these fashionable, widespread chains.

Intimissimi in Agrigento, Sicily

The aesthetic of Intimissimi is one that immediately appeals to me– it’s got a very simple yet girly style. They used to sell Intimissimi products in Victoria’s Secret stores about 6 or 7 years ago, but currently I don’t believe they are currently available in the United States (they do have locations across Europe).

Intimissimi in Agrigento, Sicily

I don’t speak much Italian, which meant that communication with the shop assistant involved a lot of point and miming and well as me frantically trying to remember how to say ’34′ or ’32′. I was instantly drawn to a sweet white set with nautical details, which I actually purchased and will be reviewing later this week.

What I didn’t realize when I entered the store was the extremely limited sizing that was available. When I asked to try a 32C in the bra that I liked, the shop assistant informed me that they “only had size B.” Which means they only has 32B, 34B, 36B (maybe 38?). Once I learned that, I took a closer look around the shop and say that there were only a few bras that were marked with A-B-C sizes and even fewer that went to a D-cup. These were marked with a special sign!

Intimissimi

Basically, it seems like getting any cup size other than a B is ‘special sizing.’ I ended up buying a 34B, and I will be sharing my thoughts on that size when I do a review. I’m still reeling from a store that makes Victoria’s Secret’s sizing look wide-ranging! Also, when I visited the other lingerie store, Yamamay, it seemed that they simple offered 1B-2B-3B sizing in their bras, as far as I could tell, so this seems like a regular thing to do there.

Yamamay in Agrigento, Sicily

Yamamay was a store I had visited several years before and really liked, but I was disappointed with the selection when I was there this time. The styles seemed boring and the materials were low quality.

Yamamay in Agrigento, Sicily

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing what lingerie was available in Sicily and I would love to hear what you think!

What experiences you have had with Italian lingerie?