Trend Alert: Fifty Shades of Lingerie

You read it right – Innerwear is the new outerwear. From lace bras to silk and velvet fabrics, lingerie inspired pieces are no longer just for the bedroom, it’s the new wardrobe staple. Datura, a web only brand that offers superior quality and timeless pieces that feel like a second skin, and H&M has got you covered!

So for you all you Christian Grey lovers who are still looking for the perfect lingerie pieces pay close attention.

Wearing lingerie-inspired pieces might be a bit out of your comfort zone but trust us – there are many ways to fuse these pieces into your everyday wardrobe.

Lets start with the Silk Velvet Tank top paired with the Oversize Mudssue Silk Velvet Pants.

To add to the monochromatic look while keeping the look classy, throw on the silk velvet kimono . Mixing fabrics can add a seductive feel and this H&M lingerie bra does the trick. Like mixing fabrics, mixing metals adds something interesting to your look. Which is where H&M’s ring set, stackable bracelets and fringed necklace come in to play.

Throw H&M’s pastel blue cross body bag and nude matte lipstick on and your look is almost complete! We can’t forget the finishing touch – H&M’s black strappy heels. Throw these bad boys on and you will have those Christian Grey’s double taking you in no time!

5 Tips to Boost Your Valentines Day Sales

Valentines Day and Lingerie are intimately intertwined in the minds of many consumers. What that means is a great opportunity for retailers – both in bricks-and-mortar stores and online – to boost your lingerie business. Here are 5 Key Tips to maximize the value for your customers to make your cash register sing this Valentines Day.

1. Keep it Simple

Ensuring the right inventory is the first important step. Shopping for a lingerie gift means understanding a woman’s size and style preferences. Make it easier for significant others by having more pieces that are easy to buy. “Men like to buy silky sexy pieces and easy sizing. For example, babydolls are ideal,” offers Catherine Coast, of online retailer Violet’s Knickers. It can also be helpful to have size neutral, pre-packaged boxed sets handy for grab-and-go shoppers.

2. Fulfill Wishes

Encourage customers to create wish lists, so that preferences and sizes are known in advance. Says Erica Windle of A Sophisticated Pair, “We like to encourage customers both in-store and through our email newsletter to update their file, and we often send links to newly released fashion sets as well as bra-sized lingerie.  Then, the women can send their significant others to the shop to pick something they find attractive from the list.” Wish lists make purchasing easy for both your sales team and the folks who are doing the gifting – plus, it ensures that your customers get something they love. Wish lists are easy to use in both online and bricks-and-mortar stores.

3. Wrap it Up

Even if gift-wrapping isn’t something you normally offer, consider adding it to your customer service mix for Valentine’s Day. You want to make it as easy as possible for men to buy from you, and being a one-stop shopping experience does exactly that. Build your brand by making the wrapping experience as luxurious as the merchandise you offer. A Sophisticated Pair offers “personalized gift wrapping services, which many married men find to be a relief.” At Violet’s Knickers, they take gift-wrapping a step further, offering “a little extra gift” with the service, and making it an upsell.

4. Party On

Consider partnering with a local business to make options even more diverse and provide a day/date specific reason to show up. At A Sophisticated Pair, “we are also hosting a “Bras and Bling” party the week before Valentine’s Day for our customers.  We’ll have a jewelry representative visiting the store and showcasing some gorgeous Valentine’s Day jewelry that works with some of the bras and lingerie sets we’ll have handy.” What local businesses can you partner with? Be creative! Find a boutique soap maker, a chocolatier, or artisan craftsperson.

5. Less is More

Whether your customer is buying something to entice her Valentine or shopping for a gift, focus on the best quality they can afford. It’s always better to get something special for a holiday. “Let’s put it this way, a woman can spot budget nightwear from a mile away…so no penny pinching!” says Coast. From a business perspective, it’s always a good idea to sell customers into a smaller item from a more luxurious brand – chances are, they’ll appreciate the difference quality makes once they’ve experienced it for themselves, and then they’ll come back for more.

Lascivious Launches Design Contest

Lascivious launches a special design competition to find like-minded creatives who share in the brands enthusiasm for directional, sophisticated design. The brief, entitled ‘The Black Bra Project’, stipulates that entrants must submit design drawings for a collection of four to six pieces. The range must include a bra and all pieces should be black, thus allowing more focus and depth in key design areas, including shape, form, texture, opacity and detail.

“We are proud to collaborate with lots of amazing creatives and believe that talent can come from anywhere,” said the brand. “With this in mind, the competition has an open brief, welcoming anyone to submit entries; whether you be a fashion student, designer or simply a die-hard fan of Lascivious.”

LINGERIE BY NICOLE HEINIGER WITH ART DIRECTION BY FROM BRAZIL WITH LOVE

Written by Guest Blogger Emily Miller From Brazil, With Love is the brainchild of Romeu  Silveira, creator of U+Mag, and he is no stranger to visual culture. He calls his appropriation art “restyling the already styled,” all without compromising the integrity of the original work yet gracefully enhancing it.

Silviera resurrects art forms from all over the globe enticing readers to take a second look. In this collection of collages photographed by Nicole Heinigier and styled by Thiago Ferraz, Silviera creates an intimate direction proving that opposites do attract. The heavenly blend of nude and black display a harmonizing controversy with modern distressed photo backdrop. The lingerie entrances viewers in a spell of raw and ethereal femininity creating a tranquil balance in his collages, and leaving readers craving more

Tips on how to wear shoes with lingerie

Someone wrote that no one wears or should wear lingerie with flats. Well, that’s a good thought because even if you don’t usually wear heels you’ll need a pair of black classic stilettos to make your lingerie outfit look even sexier. Besides your legs dressed in stockings and a pair of heels can make you look slimmer, taller, elongate your legs. As a result you will spice up your night and surprise your man with a new unusual look. However, in order to make this right read our tips on wearing shoes with sexy lingerie.

So the first unwritten rule is to wear heels or nothing at all. In heels you will look sexier and taller, barefoot look will add some innocence feel.

Open toe shoes mean no stockings on, because together they look bad. Peep toe shoes are worn by the same rule, though if the shoes show only one toe then they might work with the stockings. Shoes and stockings should desirably be  of the same color.

Classic shoes. Black, white, leather – all classic shoes or heel-strap sandals will complete your outfit. Choose the right color, if your lingerie is shiny you may wear patent-leather shoes that match your lingerie color. If your lingerie is of solid color then opt for solid color in your shoes.

Creative shoes. You may experiment in your bedroom not only with your stockings color or pattern but also with your shoes. Just be sure they match and not overwhelm the whole outfit. You may opt for lace shoes or some fancy heels or even high thigh boots as long as they match your whole look. Try something new, something that you wouldn’t wear in your everyday life because it’s too extravagant or fanciful and you will find that it’s fun and sexy.

The height of the heels depends on you, however choose the heels that are comfortable and wearable. If you can’t walk on the heels try practicing a bit before wearing them for your special night, otherwise you may look awkward and even fall.

While high-heels and high thigh boot shoes look best with a lingerie set paired with a garter belt, low heel slip on shoes will work best with peignoir, slip, chemise or a babydoll. Basques and corsets look great when worn with high-heel shoes. Camisoles look great without stockings and when you are barefoot. You can break these ‘rules’ in favor to your liking because it is important that you feel comfortable and confident in your lingerie on your special night.

Fantasie Swim AW14 D+ vintage floral delights

If you’re heading for some Winter sun later this year you’ll want some decent swimwear to pack and the new collection from Fantasie Swim has a lovely vintage feel to it but comes right up to date with it modern prints.

Here’s a quick look at a couple of new items added to the AW14 collection.

Tangier is a brand new style that launches in the colourway Papaya and has a very vintage feel to it. The paisley print mixed with bright orange coloured highlights gives it the modern touch. It arrives as an underwired gathered full cup bikini top (30D – 38H) with matching shorts (S – XXL), an underwired scoop tankini and underwired twist front swimsuit.

Also new for AW14 is Santa Rosa which is bright and bold and perfect for the beach or poolside. It has a bonkers bright floral print on a black background and comes as an underwired gathered full cup bikini top that fits from 30D – 38H, classic briefs or tie side briefs and there will also a matching kaftan available.

Check out the pics below of the new styles and a few more from the collection and you should be able to buy late Summer.

Claudette AW14 Sneak Peek

One more reason to get excited for the upcoming CurveNY show is a visit with Claudette at Jacob Javits. The brand’s designer and director of brand development Bok Goodall sent us preview images of AW14 along with insights into Claudette’s new offerings and styles including their new collection Paloma.

For AW14 the brand’s Dessous collection amps up the color spectrum as Goodall notes: “Our beloved Dessous collection really does use every colour in the crayon box this season. As well as offering solid Black and Blondie with Black trim as continuity colours.” Claudette’s lace plunge bra, Bardot is shown this season in Pointe Shoe (a soft pink) and Club Med (a rich ocean like blue), both with the brand’s trade-mark striped bows. Goodall said that Claudette will continue to offer this collection in Black and Blondie as core continuity colours.

Claudette’s Sophia is back in Club Med and Cayenne, both trimmed with Black for a sophisticated winter palette. Like Bardot, Sophia will be available in solid Black as continuity. Goodall also noted that Fishnet is “back with a bang” for AW14 in Caipirinha and Pointe Shoe, both with a delicate high shine trim. “Odette offers a long line bra, with newly added high waist pin up knickers with removable suspenders. This collection is available in Caipirinha lace over Elsa Pink mesh, and Dahlia lace over Pointe Shoe mesh,” said Goodall. “And, we have added a new collection – Paloma. A beautiful semi matte satin available in Black, Pointe Shoe and Cayenne – luxurious and modern.”