The ones that got away.......

Jean Paul Gaultier for La Perla

Do you ever have regrets for the ones that got away? Lingerie I mean! Well I do. There are pieces that I think about years after the set has sold out. I actually dreamt about it last night... Finding a store that had all the items I ever wanted but could never own, and all on sale! Oh my god, dream come true! But alas, I then woke up...

The reason I don't own these dream items are because I could never afford them at the time. Pieces that were always going to be out of my reach unless I saved really hard. These expensive pieces I can only afford to buy occasionally and if you don't purchase them upon first release, they sellout. I allow myself to indulge a few times a year and will save up to purchase a designer set that I absolutely adore. Usually for my birthday at least I will buy something outrageous and frivolous. I think you should be indulging on yourself for these lovely pieces. I don't buy them for anyone but myself. And the items I purchase usually aren't to a males standard of amazing... But to me they are like artwork.

La Perla Black Label Dragon Bodysuit

These are those pieces I most desired and will never own.....  Above the La Perla Black Label Bodysuit. Worth $700 and something I would attempt to wear as outerwear. Below is La Perla "Mezzanotte" in green. Black was available in my size but it was the green colour I fell in love with. It was one of those colours I didn't have in my collection. And to top it off it was made from Chantilly lace (my favourite) and silk.

La Perla Mezzanotte

Then there are the pieces that I fight tooth and nail to find and some how come up with the goods! Searching the World Wide Web for them, years after I missed out on the release here in Australia.

La Perla Fusion Bodysuit

This was one of the first La Perla items I ever desired. I finally tracked one down, brand new with tags, 5 years later, on Ebay. It cost me $180 AUS. It was however in a soft lilac colour which doesn't suit my skin tone at all. But I still love it. If I ever come by the black one I will purchase that too.

How amazing is this embroidery??

Bordelle Hourglass Angela dress

Above is a brand that I absolutely love but don't own any of their items yet. Prices are around the $1000 mark so not exactly easily attainable. The 'Hourglass' dress however came up on ebay once and I started a bidding war with someone to own it. I didn't even know if the item was going to fit me, but I knew at the starting price of $150, I had to give it a shot. I watched the item for a week then started my bids at the last minute thinking I could get it at a bargain price. But I soon found out that a lot of people were doing the same thing and the item ended up going for just over $400. Just out of my reach... I still think about it and wish I had upped my bid but at the time $300 was already pushing the boundaries of what I could afford.

These are a few of those items I regret not buying and am still searching the world over for...

Argentovivo silk chemise

Lascivious 'Candy' bodysuit

Aubade 'Brume De Anges'

Made by Niki bodysuit

La Perla Black Label Cage corset

Do you have any of those pieces that you regret not buying? And would you like some tips on how to track them down online??

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How to wear your corset as outerwear.

Belt it

Some of the pieces I own are just too beautiful to wear as just an undergarment. Handcrafted lace work, silk embroidery, feathers... How can you not show off these details? This is where underwear can, and should,  become outerwear. This post will show you how to convert your corsets into fashion pieces without making them or you look out of place.



The following images are NOT what I'm talking about when I mention corsets as outerwear.

Goth

Trash

Not that I don't love a classic black corset or that I don't ADORE Jean Paul Gaultier's work (I would almost give up an arm to own one of his lingerie pieces) It's just that this is not the image I see when I picture corsets as outerwear. I'm thinking of a more subtle, classy style.       

# Tips on how to wear your Corsets and Bustiers

You can turn your corset into the main feature piece of your outfit. Under-dress the rest of your attire as the undergarment itself will create the attention. Make sure that it's covered or at least the bust section is. If so, you can also call your corset a top and treat it as such.
 

High-waisted Pant: Dressy

If you don't want to stand out too much, then team it with a pair of high waisted pants to make your corset not look like a separate. Turn it into a jumpsuit instead.

High-waisted pant: Casual

If you don't feel comfortable exposing your shoulders or arms, pop on a cute cardigan for a really girlie look. It also makes the outfit just a little more day friendly

Man style suit

A corset looks spectacular under a man style suit or jacket, adding a feminine touch to an androgynous look. Super hot.

High-waisted pencil skirt

Team it with a high waisted pencil skirt in the same colour for the look of a dress or go for a contrast to make it really pop.

Full skirt

 Or go for the full circle skirt option for an ultra glamorous look. Making a classic style look extremely sexy. This can look amazing with a shorter style bustier also. Having just a hint of skin showing through the middle.

Mini skirt

Be careful when teaming a corset up with a mini skirt. You don't want to end up looking like a 1980's street walker. The lingerie itself speaks loud enough, so its better to cover it up or casual it down a little. Colours and patterns work best when going for a shorter style skirt.

Mini skirt Casual

Shorts

Corsets look great with little shorts creating a cheeky, modern and fun look.

Bustier over T-shirt

Corsets work well over looser style tops including t-shirts. I like to team mine with a billowy silk chiffon blouse with long sleeves. It nips in the waist and creates a more feminine form.

Corset over a dress

Shorter style bustiers can also be worn over the top of a dress or teamed up with a high waisted pant, skirt or short, showing off just a dash of skin.

Bustier with high-waisted pant

 Just be careful when you sit down so you don't get that pinched skin coming through the midriff of your outfit.

$10 yellow bustier with $5 yellow pencil skirt

I haven't actually worn the above as an outfit yet but I will now! Putting together this blog post made me come up with quite a few other ideas for how I can wear my corsets out more. But more of that later.....

Bonus tip:

If you're afraid your bust is going to pop out of your corset then place some double sided tape to the inside top part of the cup and push down onto your skin. It works wonders to stop exposing too much on a night out.

To find out more about My Lingerie Addiction you can add me on


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Do you wear your corsets as outerwear? And if not, did this open you up to the idea of doing so?

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Hot Pink is my 'Happy' colour!

Hot pink has never been a colour I ever liked and I'm sure many women feel exactly the same. Far too cliched girlie and honestly I'm not in anyway a girlie girl, but this has become my 'happy' colour. It's one of those colours that brings a smile to my face every-time I wear it. Not because I particularly like the tone, but it brings a sense of femininity to my normal black attire. A dash of girl-ish-ness (I know that's not a word) and coming into Winter and colder weather I've found myself popping on a lot more colour underneath than I normally would.

Lise Charmel  'In Love'

I purchased three bottoms with the one bra but unfortunately the high waisted one I wanted sold out. 

The colour pink can be seen as fun, exciting, and youthful. It has the same high energy as red without being too aggressive. Capturing all the allure and passion while being a little more light-hearted and cheeky. It is the colour of joy and happiness and for some women, speaks of the desire for the more carefree days of childhood. But it in no way has to be a childish look. Think fun, bold and flirtatious.

                         Here are a few of my favourite shots and sets.

 

Madame V

The easiest way to break into a new colour is to add it to black. There are so many beautiful sets that have a black base with a coloured detail. Just a dash of pink to your lingerie can change the look completely. From dark and moody to sweet and sexy. Black tulle with fuchsia embroidery or black lace with a pink satin trim. Step out of your comfort zone and try something just a little different. Remember you are the only one who needs to know you've embraced your childhood colour again.

Agent Provocateur

La Perla 'Colour'

Naory 'Milonga'

Agent Provocateur

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your Happy colour?

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Body Image and 'that' Victoria's Secret Photo

This photo has been floating around online recently, creating a mini debate amongst the community. As soon as a photo appears showing a celebrity looking 'normal', chatter starts. "Everyone has a fat day", "They aren't proper models", "Looks perfect to me", "One could afford to eat a few cheeseburgers and the others stop eating theirs!" So many comments have been made on this one photo of three Victoria's Secret models. 

 On the left of the photo, we have Alessandra Ambrosio. Your standard model frame. 34B-25-34

In the middle is the so called 'Plus size' model - Crystal Renn. 34C-29-38

On the right is Brooklyn Decker, a sportier frame model. 12D-25-35

All beautiful women in their own right. All different sizes, different body types. All models for Victoria's Secret 2010 swimsuit release. So why did this one photo create so much media? It shows three professional models of various shapes in a not so flattering photo. So what?

Body image is a huge part of why I wanted to start this blog. Seeing so many women with little confidence in their own bodies, judging themselves and others harshly, lapping up these photos and thinking - "See! They're not that great". Is this really what we have become? Having to put other people down to see ourselves as better than them? Equal to them? Is this the only way we can feel good about ourselves? Needing to be thinner than, curvier than, more tanned than. Seeing a celebrity looking less like the image we are used to seeing in the media and judging them on that, or seeing yourself in them and suddenly lifting your own personal image.

I've seen it all: Big, small, full cup, flat-chested, perky, saggy, flabby, toned, broad, narrow, and everything in between. And what I've gotten out of working in this industry is that NO women is completely happy with what she has got and that makes me really sad to see.

I know I'm not breaking any new ground in writing this, but I am very passionate when it comes to womens' self image. Modern media has made us into the ultimate critics. Models represent maybe 1% of what people actually looks like, but rather than aiming to be in the healthiest body we can, we aspire to be the image TV and magazines have told us is beauty - Not nearly often enough, seeing it in ourselves.

 The same Victoria's Secret models as we were meant to see them.

Oh and one of my Victoria's Secret pieces, just because I have to add at least one set to the post! (Gift from a girlfriend of mine. How lovely.)



Be honest with yourself, and tell me what was the first thing that popped into your mind when you saw that photo?

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