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.

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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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Pleasure State

Pleasure State is probably one of the most popular Australian lingerie brands. Started in 2004 under the watchful care of designer Kay Cohen. Kay had been working and designing for brands such as Triumph, Elle Macpherson and Berlei. She joined the Bendon group in 1997 as Creative Director and reshaped the Elle Macpherson Intimates label to what it is today. She moved over to Berlei in 2003 and only after 6 months left the company, disillusioned at having to again try put new blood into old labels. So in 2004 she started up Pleasure State with business partner/investor Justin Davis-Rice, knowing there was a market out there. Australia needed a brand that could fuse fashion, fit and function all into one lingerie label.



The launch in 2004 used high end European fabrics - Leavers lace, swarovski crystals, and silks. The look went along the lines of the now Pleasure State Couture brand. Even before being launched, the label was a success. Having already committed to sales in David Jones and Harrods. By 2005 Pleasure State was being stocked in over 300 stores worldwide including Victoria's Secret in the US.  This is an amazing achievement for an Australian label only one year old. Then in 2010 she merged the label back into her old company Bendon, where her business partner had been CEO for the past year, and then relinquished her interest in Pleasure State...... Interesting...... But we hear on the grapevine, that this year, she will be launching another new label. I wait with baited breath...

I don't enjoy hearing the business side of fashion labels sometimes, as it makes me a little disillusioned by the industry. Honestly though, as a label I think Pleasure State has finally started a lingerie style in Australia -  creating an easy first step into the world of beautiful lingerie. It's given us a taste of something a little different, with lingerie no longer limited to either basic or bedroom wear, and is easily attainable in stores. Pleasure State provides a boutique look without the boutique environment. I am not a huge fan of the label nowadays but I can often be caught wearing some of their trademark pieces. I am a sucker for lingerie. What can I say.......


Pleasure State has 3 distinct labels:

Couture

'Couture' is the more stylised, opulent look. The label is a little more out there while still using the classic shapes. Sometimes the designs have a combination of far too many elements creating a very busy look. Not quite to my liking, however it makes for some interesting designs, and you won't see any other lingerie label in Australia doing this. The price point of 'Couture' is the highest of the Pleasure State labels.

White Label

'White Label' sits at a lower price point, using the same shapes, but the line is often a little smoother when compared to pieces featured in 'Couture'. The label is not as detailed in the design and offers an overall simpler style, but still offers an array of interesting options to suit many tastes.

VIP

'VIP' caters to a fuller cup. Starting at a DD and going up to size G, this label is catering for the ever growing bust line of Australian women - even starting at a size 8 now in some designs, but only going up to a size 16.  I however, do not have a full bust, so can't talk too much about the 'VIP' range as I don't own any pieces. I've had some mixed reviews from people on the overall fit of the garments, so I'd love to hear from you about your experience with 'VIP'.

In addition to these, Pleasure State offers basics via their 'My Fit' range. Smooth line everyday wear, still in pretty colours. Again I don't wear basics so I don't have much to say about it!

Here are a few Pleasure State collections from over the years:

Pleasure State White Label

Pleasure State continues to capture Australians' attention with their innovative designs and multitude of ranges. What do you think of Pleasure State?

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