That's why they call it the blues....

Christies 'Mon Amour'

This week I've been really feeling the blues.... It could be to do with the fact that Winter seems to have arrived early here in Melbourne. The nights are shorter, the rain harder and the rooftop bars are closing their doors. Red wine becomes more tempting than white and heaters are always on at home, zapping electricity like never before. I've been sick also which has meant cancelling plans and staying in with a warm cup of tea. This just isn't me...

In order to cheer myself up, I put on a favourite La Perla set that I hardly ever wear. It's not a practical shape, but the great thing about cold weather are the multiple layers you have to wear just to venture out. So the silhouette of this set was disguised under three layers of clothing. This is the one and only reason I don't mind colder weather!

John Galliano

Don't just feel the blues this Winter...wear the blues proudly! There are so many beautiful blue lingerie sets out there, in such an array of different shades. From the deepest of navy's to the palest baby blue. They can all convey such different moods through each different shade. Blue in general symbolizes depth and stability. It doesn't have to be a boyish look wearing blue, these photos will prove that quick!

 Pale and baby blue

Chantelle

Elle Macpherson

Jolidon

Pale blues offer such a sweet look whilst not being too girlie, like a pale pink would. It still is as delectable as any gelato shade, and it tends to be a favourite amongst the boys. I think it takes men back to their childhood...

Mid and Sapphire blue

Eight lingerie

Parah Noir

Rigby

Sapphire blues are the sexiest of the hues. The mid colour offers a more creative mood and heightens sensitivity. This tone can also be self-centered but at the same time, it can help us to build our self-esteem. At its most extreme it can be boastful and narcissistic. Nothing wrong with that when it comes to lingerie!

Dark and Navy blue

Hopeless Lingerie (Melbourne made label!)

Lise Charmel 'Recital Blue'

Fredricks of Hollywood

Did you know that navy blue denotes chastity? Hmm... who would've thought. I certainly wouldn't have from the photos I just posted! Navy blue is also known as the colour of authority and depth. Dependable, stable, mature and calm. Maybe this is why they use it as the colour of a Police uniform. Hmm uniforms, that's another blog post altogether!

                              How do you deal with your 'blues?'

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Like mother Like daughter

First of all Happy belated Mothers day to all the mothers out there! I hope you all had a lovely relaxing day with family.

Last night my friend and I took our mothers out for dinner. They had known each other since before we were born, so we thought it would be lovely for us girls to have this mothers day dinner together. First of all there was my friend and her mother. Both in dark classic attire. Demure and sophisticated. Then there was my mum and I... colourful and different! We all laughed at how you could easily tell who was mother and daughter in our group. I started to think about our similarities. We didn't have the same build, my mother and I. She was also a lot louder and more social than I am, but our taste in fashion and colour were the same! Bright, bold and unusual. We like to stand out and colour and fabric always made us feel better about ourselves when we wore it.

My mum shared with me her first bra experience. She was about 15 and had just started playing volleyball at school. She was jealous of her friends wearing bras already and she was fuller busted than all of them and wanted one too. Not only wanted one but actually needed one, especially to play sports, so she asked her mum for her first bra. Her mother had never owned a bra, so it was a different world for her going to purchase one. So what she bought was not pretty, it was purely functional.

I struggled to remember the first proper bra I ever owned, until the image I had suppressed for so long, popped into my head....no wonder I had forgotten about it! It was a full coverage wire bra without any shape to it. It was in a far too dark skin shade for my colouring and I didn't even fill out the cup properly! As my Mum had said, I didn't even need a bra then, but she felt at my age I should have one. Not just the crop top styles I had been wearing. Thanks mum....

I could however remember the first bra I picked out for myself! It was from Target, made of pink satin and had a soft moulded cup in a balconette shape. A few of my friends had the same bra and I loved it so much I bought myself one. At 15 I fitted myself in store, as there was no way I would have someone else fitting me at that age, and I found I was a 10B. I purchased two of the same bra. 

Mine was similar to this

Getting myself out of that first bra and into something pretty and comfortable, while still being practical, was my first step into lingerie addiction. Realising that there were beautiful lingerie pieces out there that could also be functional was eye opening for me, as I was never shown that growing up. My mum only wore plain beige bras.

Another friend of mine brought her Mum to me to do a fitting on the lead up to Mothers Day. Her mum thought she was a DD sizing but both my friend and I could see that was not the case.... I took her to a store and fitted her into a G cup. I think its a hard thing to admit you've changed sizes. All you know is what you have worn for years. But size does alter with a small amount of weight change and with age in general.

I thought it was cute that when you're a teenager, your mum takes you to get a new bra, but when you are older you take your mum for the same reason! She needs better support than what she is currently wearing. My mum gets dragged along to stores when we are together, as I cannot pass by any lingerie store, so she regularly has fittings with me and with assistants. The first time she was surprised to know she was a different size than what she had always thought she was. But she hadn't been fitted in years and presumed, as she hadn't put on much weight, that she was the same size. She wasn't...

It was so interesting to go through first bra stories with my mum. It was something we have never spoken about before. She didn't remember purchasing my first bra, but she remembered her own. My mum is still shocked at what it is I do and wonders how I found such a fascination in this industry. I can't quite describe it but I know it started when I bought myself, my first bra. 

What is your first bra story?

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Altering lingerie: a brief run down

I am always on the hunt for an amazing bargain, online and in-store. Pretty much anywhere I can find lingerie. Now the thing I have learnt is that lingerie is easy to alter. I often fall in love with a piece and then realise that its not in my size or its discounted due to a fault. I have now learnt what is fixable and what isn't. 

Yesterday I picked up a corset for the absolute bargain price of $7!!! Yes you heard me......$7! It was on a faulty rack in my local Bendon outlet (a new addition for them). The tag said "Faulty front left suspender attachment unstitched." I examined the garment and saw that the stitching was indeed undone. They had forgotten to tuck that area when sewing on the elastic for the suspender. I could see that it was easily repairable. Unstitch the elastic, tuck the fabric under, sew it back down. Done! It was a 5 min job! I checked out the rest of the garment and asked an assistant if that was the only problem. She said yes and realised it was easily fixed, however they just send garments back if a fault is found. It was my lucky day! This was a $159 corset and it was now mine! (Well actually a gift for a friend, but it was in my hands!)

Pleasure State White Label "Luminous" corset.

Things that are fixable

Incorrect band size

I often purchase bras in the wrong size. I know this sounds terrible and not something I should do being in this industry, but I know the ones that can be altered. I am a 10C (32C, 70C, 1C, 85C) but that means I can fit into a 12B, 14A also! Sounds crazy I know but with a small alteration they can fit me perfectly! If you go up a back size to what you normally go for, go down a cup size and that will be your cup equivalent. So when I found a stunning Stella McCartney black chantilly lace and gathered tulle bra only available in 14A I was wrapped! The cup fit perfectly but the back was too big. This one I fixed myself, but did you know a tailor can do it for you for around $10-20? So if you absolutely adore the bra and find a great bargain then grab it and get it altered. It's a quick and simple job.

The same rules go for corsets. Its just takes a little longer and costs a little more but still worth it for a bargain piece.

Sizing rules for alterations

Go UP a band size DOWN a cup size to what you normally would wear.
10B = 12A
10C = 12B, 14A
10D = 12C, 14B, 16A
etc etc

If you alter the back just one size the shoulder straps are usually fine where they sit, but sometimes if you take it in, the shoulder straps become too centered and create a V position in the back. Get those straps moved outward slightly to take it back to the normal shape. The straps should sit pretty much right in line with the middle of the cup if you do up the bra.

The photo above shows part of the hook and eye back. All that needs to be done is unpick the row of stitching that attaches the clip section to the fabric. Cut the fabric section down to fit. Usually one size smaller is 3cm. Do that to the other side as well by another 3 cm. Make sure this is measured on you not just going via a standard sizing conversion. It all depends on the elasticity of the garment. Take it to a tailor and get them to do it on you for a perfect fit.

Stella McCartney "Amber Chatting"

Incorrect bottom size

You can alter some styles of bottoms easily but not others. Depends how much work you are willing to do or how much you're willing to pay to get it done. The easiest items to alter are spaghetti strap g/strings or bikinis. You're really only taking in the sides of the garments by a bit and is nice and easy due to the minimal elastic. If it's only a size or so difference, you don't need to change the construction of it. The bigger it is the wider the cut in the fabric, so it may bunch in the front or back if that's too wide.

Faulty Stitching

Often the only reason some faulty garments are put on the rack is because the stitching has come undone in sections. Often due to the elastic part of the garment being pulled too much and the thread snapping. Easily fixed! Tears in fabrics however I would not recommend when it comes to lingerie as you don't have much room to play around with the sizing if you need to sew it in.

Straps too long

One of the easiest and quickest fix it jobs. Whether its an elastic strap or fabric one it doesn't matter. If it's a spaghetti strap on a chemise or camisole they can be hand sewn by yourself. Especially if the garment has no sliders to adjust the length.

These rules are also the same for lingerie you've had for awhile and have stretched over time. I will do a more detailed post on how to do this yourself and what exactly is involved if you take your garments to a tailor. Just have to find the time to pull apart a few pieces to photograph and dust off the sewing machine first!

Have you ever had your lingerie altered to fit you better?

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Strap it on!

Leuree

I couldn't resist using that term, I'm sorry. This is in no way a dirty blog post so get that thought out of your head. This is a raunchy blog post! This is all about strappy lingerie. Automatically, a strappy style, creates a sexier effect to a lingerie set no matter what the colour or fabric may be. It can be made from the prettiest of laces to the the toughest of leathers. It is a statement piece no matter what.

There are thousands of different versions of strappy that you can do. So if you're not prepared to pop on the full bondage gear but want to try something different here are a few looks you should consider.

Bordelle

If you want to go all out then opt for something like the UK label Bordelle. They specialise in everything made from wide elastic, strapped up in a million different ways. Dresses, corsets, bras, bottoms and accessories. This label is phenomenal.

www.bordelle.co.uk

Naory 'Gin'

 
Pretty it up by adding it to lace or colour, making a more feminine statement while still holding onto all the raunch. Remember the trick to wearing a very strappy set is purchasing the correct size. Disregard what the tag says and remember the rule, if it digs in, then go up a size or two. You are the only person who is going to know that you purchased a large instead of the small you normally go for. The worst thing about strappy pieces is when they cut in and give you unsightly bulges where you wouldn't normally have them.

Agent Provocateur

Nichole de Carle

I love love love this label! Not a hint of lace appears in their collections but they still hold a very feminine appeal. Using mainly silk and elastic they create the most unusual and sexy designs while still being quite functional. The photo below, used for advertising, shows the many ways you can wear the pieces most people will see as not being practical. Nichole de Carle proves that wrong...

www.nicholedecarle.com

Agent Provocateur

La Perla

Nichole de Carle

Something cheap

Marlies Dekkers

Marlies Dekkers is a Dutch lingerie designer turning basic wear into something a little more special. Taking a basic smooth line bra and adding extra straps to create a sexy look to an otherwise plain style. Dekkers likes to play with the lines a female body naturally creates and accentuate them with the thin strap work she uses. Raunchy basic wear.. I like!

Victoria's Secret

The strappier it is the harder it is to get on. I have one piece that you have to lay out completely flat first before you can put it on. It's so tricky! But I think well worth the effort. A simple piece, with more straps than fabric but makes a statement and can be worn over the top of an outfit. I however couldn't be bothered untangling it to photograph!

Here are some of the strappier pieces I own.

Do you own any strappy lingerie?

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A beautiful hunt...

 
For all the Melbournites reading this, you should hopefully know the store Belle Chasse. They are located on High Street Armadale and this store is the ultimate in boudoir delights. They opened their warehouse doors last weekend and had their first out of store sale. I ventured down to the St Kilda location with a budget, as I knew I could go crazy in there. Warehouse sales are the best as you can not only pick up discount stock but often sample pieces that you won't see out in the store. That is what I wanted to find.

I had seen the 'Lucriette' chemise on the website previously and loved the combination of soft pink silk and black lace. As soon as I hit the warehouse floor I could see a few girls surrounding the rack that had these pieces. I bustled my way in and grabbed the only small size I could see, then tracked down the matching bottom. Proud of myself, I walked around crazily grinning at finding my first set of the day, until my friend exclaimed that I didn't need the matching bottom. I stared at them in shock, asking how they could possibly think that way! I always purchase a matching bottom with each top I buy. They laughed and pointed out that in my hand was not a chemise but in fact a 'playsuit'. The person I thought not to be educated on lingerie had showed me up. I was embarrassed, but also a little proud knowing they could point it out before I'd even noticed. Not only that, but they could tell a playsuit from a chemise - so I do rub off on friends! Alas there were no chemises on sale. I sheepishly returned the bottoms to the rack...

Belle Chasse 'Lucriette' silk playsuit

I do happen to love 'onesies' so was happy to own this one in silk. Would've preferred the chemise, but at $60 for the playsuit or $119 for the chemise I was happy with my choice. It was different.

I held this leopard print bodysuit in my hand for a while, tossing up whether to buy it or not. It wasn't that I didn't love the style, but I was struggling with my choice to purchase something that reminded me of a piece I had been coveting from Bordelle... The 'Infragante' bodysuit. I loved the shape of it, the cut aways, the straps... and at $40 for Belle Chasse's version, I had to cave and say yes. (I am sorry Bordelle. I still love you...) The disappointing thing about this piece is the fact that it has no gusset clips. So if you wear it as outerwear, as was suggested, how could you go to the bathroom?? You have to take the whole outfit off.

Bordelle

$10 Sample

I had seen women milling around two tubs on top of a table and realised that's where the samples were. I caught sight of someone holding onto something long, black, sheer, with loads of silver hooks and eyes. I was insanely jealous. I wanted a find like that. I wandered off to look at the other racks waiting for an opening so I could raid the tubs. I let that piece out of my sight and continued my hunt, before noticing that the woman holding the sheer black piece no longer had it in her hand, but now another woman did! I couldn't wait any longer. I made my way towards the sample area and dove into the tubs. Wrong size bottoms, dated bras, faulty sample goods, then low and behold the next woman who had held onto the black piece put it down after saying it looked too tricky to put on. I grabbed my chance and swept up the item, doing my best to hide my eagerness.

This piece ranks as one of the cheapest bargains I've had the pleasure of picking up. I wasn't sure if it was going to fit but it looked about right. I made my way to the cashier and popped my four items down. I tentatively asked the price of this black piece and was told anything from the tubs were $10. The lovely attendant also shared with me that this particular piece was a sample that took a long time to create and never made the final cut - It was a one off piece. Only the camisole version (featured in the opening image) was produced in the end.

As soon as I arrived home I got to work on hook after hook after hook and squeezed myself into this 'dress'. It was AMAZING! Not the best shape in the cup but it was a nice snug fit with sheer panels on the side and satin coverage in the front. I had nothing like it. Score!

To grab yourself a bargain piece from Belle Chasse the sale continues here

www.bellechasse.com.au/sale

To find out about sales as they happen, please connect with me at
facebook.com/My-Lingerie-Addiction
twitter.com/MyLingerieAddic

What has been your best lingerie bargain?

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