Karen reviews: Lilah by La Lilouche

When a recent, summer party brought on a bra-fitting I discovered the host was not only wearing the wrong bra size, she had never owned luxury lingerie! Here she reviews a set by La Lilouche – so what did Karen think?

Karen reviews Lilah by La Lilouche

Get it at: Etsy
Price: Lilah Bra $99/£65 Lilah Knickers $83/ £55
Sizing: Bra 32-38 B/C Knickers S M L

When Alison asked me to try the Lilah bra and knickers set from La Lilouche I was enthusiastic (she always has the most gorgeous underwear herself!) but I wasn’t prepared for just how lovely the set would be. But more than that – the effect was amazing. First of all, the all-important fit and comfort of the bra: faultless. It gives me a fantastic shape and just seems to have livened up my boobs, somehow – it’s as if they’ve been dozing for a while and have just been woken up by this fabulous bra (as opposed to the kiss of a handsome prince)! The soft satin ruched straps are broad enough to give supreme comfort and leave no mark when the bra’s removed, and the lace cups are lined so there’s no scratchy, itchy feel that some lace bras cause. It’s one of those bras that is so comfy that you forget you’re wearing it – until you catch a tantalising glimpse of the beautiful pink French lace. I am so taken with the look of the bra that I keep rushing off to the bathroom to whip up my blouse for another look. It’s just gorgeous. The Swarovski crystals on the darling little handmade bow at the front are a genius addition – this bra is meant to be seen, it’s a sin to cover it up!

The knickers, like the bra, are super comfy. But how can something so incredibly sexy also be so very, very comfortable and easy to wear? It’s the sheer softness of the lace and the beautiful satin low-slung waistband that sits everso lightly on your hips without digging in – so there’s no bulge over the top, no matter how fleshy you are in that area. There’s the cheekiest little peephole at the back, with, like the bra, an adorable little silk satin bow adorned with Swarovski crystals, and the bow is repeated at the front too so you look gorgeous, whichever way you turn!

This set has swiftly become such a favourite of mine that I’m in a huff when it’s in the wash. But already it’s shown that it’s just as gorgeous now, after multiple washes, as the first time I wore it.

For more La Lilouche

Check out La Lilouche at their online store – and if you love hosiery, check their gorgeous, new collection of embellished tights.

And if you want even more, you can read Alison’s review of La Lilouche Ophelia playsuit here!

How To Do Pin Up Passion With Taschen!

If you’ve never come across Taschen (the Cologne-based publisher), you’ve definitely been missing out! Along with slightly more risqué themes, Taschen also publish fabulous books about art, photography, interior design and fashion, as well as a host of other tantalising subjects. Benedikt Taschen, the brain child behind the company, started selling his own drawings in Cologne as a mere nine year old; since then the publisher’s name has become synonymous with iconic celebrities and imagery.

More Than Meets The Eye

Taschen’s passion for the more than occasional bit of naked skin isn’t an indication for a need to expose tasteless porn, rather it is a celebration of cult photography, art – and a little open-mindedness! Not so long ago I was delighted to receive the Gil Elvgren Taschen Pin Up book as a gift: hailed as ‘the best pin-up artist in the history of American illustration’, Elvgren’s fascinating and exciting illustrations go much further than what initially meets the eye. Playful innuendos, stories, fashion and of course lingerie all contribute to making these some of the most adorably mesmerising pictures.

Dressing Up

For those who love to dress up and pose, the recent increase in exposure of the pin-up trend will have been welcomed with open arms. We love to see pages like Rebel Pin Up with their daily dose of pin-up, submitted by those with a passion for dressing up. For those who love the images but have never had the courage or resources to hand, now is your chance to seize the opportunity to shine!

How To Do Pin Up

Contrary to belief, dressing for pin up isn’t all about finding the sexiest or most revealing lingerie. In fact, it’s much more about confidence, fun and a bit of cheekiness! Often it’s the most alluring images that show the least amount – our imaginations do the rest.
Naturally the grass is always greener on the other side: while today’s society has a tendency to promote a more androgynous figure, the iconic pin-up figure is generally of the more voluptuous variety. The latter day obsession with airbrushing out curves appears to have been the reverse in the days of Elvgren, who was far more likely to favour brushing in additional curves – pictures can be made ‘perfect’ whatever the trend. My point is: don’t worry about what you don’t have, go with what you’ve got and feel good about yourself – loving yourself is the key to looking fabulous!

What To Wear?

In the ‘good old days’ stockings weren’t just something you wore to flirt with your beau, however they still had that je ne sais quoi, and the cheeky glimpse of the top of said hosiery was certainly part of a pin-up’s allure. I remember way back trying to find ‘nylon stockings’ and ‘retro lingerie’ with my newly acquired internet skills (yes, that long ago); as I waded my way through some rather unsavoury items, both online and in second hand shops, I only ever came across items that were way out of my price range and that needed some serious attention. Luckily we now live in a marvellous world where labels and stores such as Kiss Me Deadly, What Katie Did, Lulu and Lush and
For Luna fulfil our need for adorable, retro-style lingerie, hosiery and swimwear.

For the rest you just need your imagination, and by that I don’t mean to sound rude: however what is our favourite pin-up might not be yours! Force yourself to be something you’re not and, unless you’re blessed with supermodel adaptability, you’re not going to feel comfortable. Find your fave and have a look through your wardrobe, you’ll be surprised what you can find and even adapt for your chosen pin-up look! And if you need more inspiration, check out Gil Elvgren’s Taschen Pin Up Book!

Where To Buy!

For those who need help finding retro-style lingerie and accessories, here are our online favourites for the pin up look:

Kiss Me Deadly (for retro-style shapewear and French-manufactured nylon and silk stockings)
FairyGothMother/Lulu and Lush (for corsets and clothing)
Modern Courtesan@Glam Am (for tasteful costumes)
Pandora’s Choice (for retro-style lingerie, girdles and knickers)
Stop Staring (Fabulous Dresses and outfits)
What Katie Did (for bullet bras, corsets, bloomers and frilly knickers)
Ayten Gasson (for glamorously cute, silk teddies and nightdresses)
Funn Hosiery@Last (for a colourful selection of gorgeous and originally-manufactured silk, wool and cotton stockings)
For Luna (Fabulous, retro-style swimwear)

Video: The Lingerie Collective Spring/Summer 11, Part II

Last week, we posted Part I of our roundup of The Lingerie Collective event in London. Part II of our Lingerie Collective video is now up, and this final video will give you a sneek peek into new collections from Lascivious, Ell & Cee, Velda Lauder, and a lot more brands. You can watch the video here, or just play it below:

Here are the brands we covered in this video:

• Kriss Soonik: We’ve been a massive fan of Kriss’s since 2007, where her manga-inspired “girlwear” captured our imagination and gave us a fresh new interpretation of lingerie. Kriss Soonik is now a well-established label, but is still innovating and perfectly fulfilling the term of “directional” designer – to us, she points in the direction of what the trends will be in the coming seasons. In the video, you get a peek at some of Kriss’s favourite pieces, but our favourite has to be the housecoat she’s wearing — it looks just a good over a dress as over a lingerie set!
• Lascivious: another longtime favourite of ours, Lascivious is going strong and producing some gorgeous new vixen-wear for S/S ’11. As usual, creator Chloe has collaborated with talented photographers, artists, designers and everyone else under the sun to produce her collection, and we think it’s one of Lascivious’s best so far. Our favourite piece has to be the little black “V” dress shown in the video – it’s bang on the “underwear as outerwear” trend, and boasts a thousand tiny little details that make it a Lascivious classic. We think it’ll be a sell-out!
• Sea Sirens: We met Sea Sirens for the first time at The Lingerie Collective, and as soon as we found out that creator Vivienne Austin had a “superhero” collection, we were sold! The Sea Sirens designs are fresh, colourful and modern, and as you’ll learn from the video, its creator enjoys a wealth of experience from a background at Liberty’s, amongst others. We’ll be keeping our eye on this promising swimwear brand!
• Tallulah Love: oh, Tallulah Love. This label is named very appropriately, for it was at this stand that I fell in love — deeply, hopelessly, with a petticoat (you’ll see it in the video – I made her do an extra take with it!). Loyal readers will remember that I went on the hunt for petticoats earlier this year, and didn’t find enough to satisfy my craving. So you’ll understand why I was so delighted to see such a beautifully made petticoat on the Tallulah Love stand, alongside sumptuous silk bra sets and corsetry pieces. This brand is just getting started, but is already attracting a lot of attention, and we think creator Michelle (who is equal parts adorable and determined) is going to go a long way with her new label. And Michelle – make more petticoats!
• Mint Siren: since we first saw this label five years ago, Mint Siren has undergone a transformation — the label’s roots are in goth, burlesque, and corsetry, but over the past few years, its creator Josephine has updated Mint Siren with a more urban, crisp, and expensive look. We think the update is inspired – Josephine has managed to keep the dark, seductive roots of her label intact, but has grown the label into an incredibly chic, urban brand. The stone-coloured pieces she shows in the video are beautiful, but our favourite pieces have to be from her leather strap collection – the cage skirt she is wearing adds a punch of intensity to anything that a woman could wear. We love this powerful new Mint Siren, and think you will too.
• Ell & Cee: We absolutely loved Ell & Cee’s collection this season – the label has always been great at soft, feminine looks but creator Laura has outdone herself this season with some incredible, ethereal pieces. Our favourite is easily the “Goddess” robe she shows you in the video, and in fact all of the gowns and robes in this collection are amazing. If you love a nymphlike, flowy look in your lingerie, Ell & Cee is swiftly becoming a must-have label.
• Black Neon: if you’re less interested in the flowy feminine stuff and want to make a splash instead, you’ll like the brand new swimwear label, Black Neon. Cast in uncompromising colours and bold geometric patterns, this label’s swimwear is designed to create a confident, modern (yet retro) style. Our favourite part of the collection has to be those bold blue silk shorts Jodi shows you, but we also love the strapless bathing suit with its incredibly flattering cut.
• MC Lounge: created by the brains behind Modern Courtesan, MC lounge is an all-silk, pure luxury loungewear brand that’s made in England. As Kelly tells you in the video, this gorgeous label has just gotten started, and we think it’s going to be a staple for boutiques who want to offer elegant, classic silk loungewear. We love the uncomplicated elegance of the collection, especially the silk tee shirt and that stunning white silk robe!
• Velda Lauder: the amazing Velda Lauder is well-known for her corsetry expertise, having dressed everyone from Dita von Teese to… oh who cares, she’s dressed Dita for god’s sake! In the video, Velda gives you a peek into the softer side of her label, and I’m not joking when I say “soft” – the powermesh that Velda uses for that gorgeous suspender belt is incredibly soft and touchable – sheer politeness kept me from holding it against my cheek! In the video you also get a sneak peek at Velda’s robe from her new collection (modelled by the incredible Maz Spencer) – we love the extreme wrap style, but love those soft skinny sleeves even more. Corsetry lovers should definitely check out Velda’s lingerie options, and if you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out our video with Velda where she shows you how to lace up a corset!

Phew! And that is a wrap! Thank you again to all of the amazing brands that participated in our videos, and we will be doing more little features like this from now on!

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