Is it innerwear or is it outerwear?

Lovely Australian-label Bulb has posed a conundrum for us: there’s no doubt that we love their beautiful designs, but is this really lingerie? Who in the world would want to cover up something so lovely?

Innerwear as outerwear isn’t a new concept — Parisian designer Chantal Thomass is credited for creating this hybrid style of lingerie, called Dessous Dessus, and since then designers like Leigh Bantovlgio, Wendy Glez, and Euclid have all continued to blur the lines with increasingly complex and ornate designs. The most popular Dessous Dessus piece is the camisole — it is slinky enough to be worn in the the bedroom, but still covers enough to be worn on a night out or under a suit, adding a forbidden, sexy touch to an otherwise ordinary outfit. Bulb’s beautiful camisoles continue this merging of inner and outerwear, creating beautiful silk concoctions that we wouldn’t dare cover with anything but a fashionable coat. Our favourite piece is this teal camisole (pictured above), utterly feminine with its silk flowers and mesh overlay, but still substantial enough to wear with tights and a cropped jacket on a summer’s day. Even at £155, the piece is versatile (and beautiful) enough to warrant the expense — and even comes with matching silk knickers! You can buy the teal set at Glamorous Amorous, and also check out the slightly more boudoir peach set.

If you like the innerwear as outerwear look, Azaleas NYC and Faire Frou Frou are both great places to start — sitting on each side of the US, these two boutiques serve up the relaxed styles of their respective cities, and both have some beautiful camisoles to pick from. Enjoy the warmer days while they last!