Luva Huva Gets A Makeover

All images (c) Luva Huva

Having had nothing much to report for the last couple of weeks- I mean, apart from mentioning sales, there's not that much to say (lingerie-wise) at the tale end of the season- I'm pleased to report at least one super cool development. A wee glance at the Luva Huva website has brought me the news that the small-but-perfectly-formed label has a had an online version of an extreme makeover!

The new website not only looks fabulous, but it's now very easy to manoeuvre around, with added content like video of the current collection, and the ability to browse previous collections (some of which are still available to buy). I'm particularly impressed with how comprehensive the online boutique is, with information like matching products, a variety of images of each item, including the ability to zoom in on the details, and clear but not boring descriptions of every piece in the range.

If you ever needed proof that ethical lingerie can still be very pretty, take a look at http://www.luvahuva.co.uk/ now.

Playful Promises Lingerie Sale

Image via playfulpromises.com

Sooo... long time, no anything. While I was busy doing nothing in particular, it became June and then July, and that means the summer sales are coming thick and fast. Apart from the big ones like Myla and Agent Provocateur, if you're in London, you might want to pay a visit to the Playful Promises sample sale. Not only will you get PP goodies at significant discounts, but you'll get vintage-inspired brands like Ayten Gasson and Kiss Me Deadly at much less than usual too.

Get yourself down to the Playful Promises Boutique, 136 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 6DG between Friday 9th and Monday 12th July, 11am- 7pm every day.

For any queries contact the boutique on 0203 222 0615 or email info@playfulpromises.com

Good Girl Gone Bad

Images via fashiongonerogue.com

In one of Dressed To Kill magazine's latest editorials, titled Ange Ou Demon (meaning Angel Or Demon), fashion editor Fritz highlights lingerie's potential to bring out the both the good girl and the bad in all of us. Calling upon luxe lingerie labels like Chantal Thomass, Phillip Lim, Undrest and Lise Charnel, Fritz layers virginal sheer white with dangerously dark vampish undergarments, and completes the look with tough girl leather pieces. The result is a simple and beautiful interpretation of the underwear as outerwear trend. Photography by Saad Al-Hakkak.

Underwear As Outerwear Gets Crafty

Images via fashionising.com

I'd never previously made the connection between lingerie and knitting. In fact luxury lingerie and knitting would seem pretty opposite in terms of sexiness, yet in July's issue of Elle Russia Lee Broomfield seems to have provided the missing link. The result of contrasting the two is a quirky, sexy but still fun-looking shoot, which is beautifully styled by Friquette Thevenet. I love this shoot!

Lingerie In Layers

Images via fashionising.com

Thankfully for people like me, the underwear-as-outerwear look is still going strong as a trend. The latest editorial uses a much more modern, edgy take on the look, as opposed to some of the more retro interpretations we've seen so far. In this shoot from Amica magazine, it's all about layering vintage-inspired lingerie with modern staples, topped with sexy tousled bed-hair, to create a look that could just about be worn in public. Of course, it also helps a lot if you look like Marlena Szoka! Photography by Christophe Cufos, styling by Pascal Humbert.

50% Off At Myla

Images (c) Myla

Luckily for us ladies, Myla has really been spoiling us since the launch of their Spring/Summer collections. Right now they're doing it again by reducing their prices by up to 50% in a summer sale. As of yesterday, these offers have been available on lingerie and sleepwear collections in both Myla's online store and their boutiques.

Madonna, The Queen Of Underwear As Outerwear

She's back! Not that Madonna ever really went away. Here's a some behind the scenes footage of that recent, and very fabulous cover shoot she did with photography team Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for the May issue of Interview Magazine. Swoon!

Introducing: Pompadour Lingerie

Images (c) Pompadour Lingerie

As a big advocate of buying handmade, I'm always pleased to discover yet another interesting label on Etsy. My latest find is Pompadour Lingerie, a Houston, USA-based luxury label, specialising in producing small made-to-measure collections fashioned in silks, Chantilly lace and fine cottons. The label currently has two ranges, with a third promised to be on the way.

Like many new independent labels, Pompadour has an ethos that harks back to a bygone era, with many of the items being partially hand-sewn, and unique custom orders available on many of their designs. For this reason, if you'd like to get your hands on some of their pieces, you'll have to wait at least two weeks or so for your creation to be made, but from the looks of things it would be well worth the wait.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the forthcoming Bardot-themed playsuit collection will look like, but in the meantime the Trousseau Bridal Love and Jeux Interdits ranges are available to see at Pompadour's Etsy store.

Ell & Cee Bridal Lounge

Images (c) Ell & Cee

Going from strength to strength this season, Ell & Cee has now launched a bridal lounge, where you can get all of your wedding lingerie needs attended to in style. Obviously, you can shop that collection even if you aren't getting married, with all of the sugary, pastel hued knickers and gowns all looking pretty irresistable to anyone who loves beautiful lingerie. Ell & Cee's bespoke classics like the sheer 'Just Married' knickers, or the satin 'The Mrs' embroidered knickers are perfect as a unique wedding gift.

On top of adding the newly expanded bridal lounge to the collection, you can also buy items from the Sweet Violet and Gold Leopard ranges (from the just-launched Spring/Summer 2010 collection) at 35% off.

Visit http://www.ellandcee.co.uk/ to shop the collection.

Introducing: Guided By Stars Lingerie

Images (c) Guided By Stars Lingerie

I may be a be a little biased in saying this, but I'm beginning to think London is the mecca of indie lingerie labels. Until someone proves otherwise, I'm sticking to my guns on this one! Yet another recent discovery from the London lingerie collective is Guided By Stars. This label is a bit of a newbie on Etsy, with the store only being three months old.

The small but perfectly formed collection is handmade in the UK, using fabrics, components and trimmings that would otherwise go to waste, and is therefore pretty environmentally conscious. Just as important as that, the Guided By Stars collection is also very romantics and whimsical, with much of the range produced in sheer silk chiffons and subtle lace frills. Unusually for a small handmade label, there are also underwired bras available to compliment the selection of pretty knickers.

The collection is currently made in small runs, with bra and knicker sizes available in sample sizes, but you can of course have items custom made in other sizes or alternative colourways. Visit the Guided By Stars Etsy store to shop the collection, or take a look at it's sister store Made With Love Lingerie (by the same designer), which also houses a selection of handmade bras and knickers.