Love Bomb: Paolita

Paolita modelled by Miranda Barrie and Jess Abidde. Photo by Anna Swiczeniuk, MUA by Cheyenne Raymond.

As the winter drags on and it seems to get colder rather than warmer, I find myself constantly thinking about warm beaches and palm trees. Unfortunately the closest I am to such climates is our office heater, grateful as I am for it! Luckily, all I have to do is look at Paolita’s colourful swimwear to be transported to more exotic locales.

Founded in London in 2010, Paolita are relatively new, but this hasn’t stopped their snowballing popularity as their designs are snapped up worldwide! Their collection features beautiful mix and match bikinis, delicious swimsuits and lace hoodies, perfect for staying glamorous around the pool. The designs focus  on making women feel comfortable yet sexy when at their most exposed, using shapes to complement the figure.

Paolita is vibrant and exotic, just like the founder, Anna Paola. Using Spanish and French fabrics, Anna weaves her cultural and historical passions into each garment, resulting in swimwear with a unique vintage undertone.

Carmen Miranda Violet swimsuit

Arriving in the Paolita shop soon is this gorgeous vintage-inspired swimsuit. The coloured stripes give this a distinctly nautical feel and the shape is so perfect I could imagine it even being worn far, far away from the beach as outerwear!

B Queenie Bikini 

Another really beautiful nautical set, as you can see, I quite like nautical inspired swimwear!

Paolita are giving away 3 luscious prizes, which you can be in with the chance of winning by emailing lovebomb@paolita.co.uk with your first and last name AND liking their facebook. The first prize is the chance to come to their London boutique and pick out an item from the new, not-yet-for-sale collection (don't worry, they can also ship worldwide)! The second and third prizes are a lace hoodie in blush or baby blue!

Love Bomb: Playful Promises

It’s our turn for the Love Bomb! I don’t think we need to tell you all about us; we will let the other brands do that ;)

We will pick TWO winners, and each winner will receive a set of Etti with a black underbust corset!

There are 4 different ways of entering; each way gains you one entry and one more chance to win!

1. Sign up to our newsletter, which is on the front page of the website (those already signed up will also be in with the chance).

OR

2. Reblog our giveaway entry on tumblr. 

OR

3. Like our Facebook and comment on our giveaway status on facebook saying just what you love about Playful Promises.

OR

4. Tweet about the @Playfulpromises Lovebomb giveaway. 

Remember, this giveaway is open internationally!

Good luck! 

Love Bomb: Velda Lauder Corsetiere

 

Velda Lauder corset, Miss Mandalay bra and brief, Playful Promises garter skirt and Pearls and Swine fascinator modelled by Tessa Kuragi. Photo by Anna Swiczeniuk, MUA by Cheyenne Raymond

A good outfit must start with the correct undergarments, and while sausaging yourself into hideous shapewear is all the rage, many of us prefer methods a little more traditional! There is nothing like a good corset to help you feel sexy and curvy, and the best part is, they can be worn under or over your best frock! Marianne at The Lingerie Addict explains what you should be looking for when buying a corset, which goes to show just how much work goes into making a good quality one.

Do you want to be the next Dita Von Teese? We can let you in on a little secret: Velda Lauder. A favourite with London’s burlesque stars (who has indeed corseted Ms. Teese); Velda Lauder creates stunning bespoke corsets in the most opulent materials you can think of. Working from her London studio, Velda’s love of the 40s lead to a fascination with curve-creating pieces, developing techniques to allow her corsets to shape without putting pressure on the ribs.

I love her philosophy: “The gift of the corset is its ability to free the inner strength and beauty of a woman in an instant.” Velda Lauder’s corsets definitely make you feel powerful, whether you are wearing one of her stunning bridal corsets or a sumptuous burlesque corset designed for daring femme fatales.

Underbust Black Satin Bow Corset 

This is such a perfect, classic corset, with the versatility to work with so many different outfits and colours! I’d love to wear this with a gorgeous red blouse and black pencil skirt. The bow adds a little bit of a cute edge.

Overbust Black Satin and Swarovski Crystal Corset

The corset of every burlesque girl’s dreams! Not only is the shape of this corset absolutely stunning, but the thousands of Swarovski crystals that must have been painstakingly applied one-by-one make this the ultimate corset.

Velda Lauder is giving away a gorgeous Ruby silk underbust LOVE BOMB bow corset (seen above), and to be in with the chance of winning, make sure you register here and quote "LOVE BOMB"! Keep an eye on her facebook and blog for more details!

Love Bomb: Ayten Gasson

Ayten Gasson modelled by Jessica Abidde. Photo by Anna Swiczeniuk, MUA by Cheyenne Raymond

One of the most interesting things about the Love Bomb is having an insight into the different ways brands have their items made. All of us strive to purchase the highest quality of materials from around the world, from What Katie Did’s traditional methods to Kriss Soonik’s handmade in Estonia garments.

Ayten Gasson is a brand that is all about supporting the UK fashion industry, using only the best quality of fabrics. Ayten Mustafa is the brains and beauty behind this eco-conscious brand, which launched in 2005. After graduating from Central Saint Martin’s Ayten found that most of the UK factories had been forced to close, thanks to designers searching for cheaper alternatives in Europe and further afield. Choosing to support those still remaining, the brand uses both vintage Nottingham lace and new English lace to trim their delicate silks.

Signature Ayten Gasson styles include the skirted knicker and beautiful silk teddy, and her SS12 collection features stunning nostalgic pieces inspired by vintage penny sweets. Yum!

Lucky Bodysuit 

This definitely looks like one lucky piece of lingerie, it is stunning! I’d love to combine this into an outerwear outfit, allowing the gorgeous lace across the bust to be the focal point of the look.

Lara Apple Green Bralet

I love lingerie that makes me feel summery, without being a cliché colour. This cute soft cup bra would make the perfect gift, perhaps for those just developing their love of lingerie! 

Ayten Gasson will be giving away two Lara sets, in a choice of lemon or lime! To enter make sure you like their facebook page and sign up to their mailing list! As if that isn’t enough, there are also 3 runner up prizes of Cerise Love Bomb silk knickers.

Love Bomb: Fräulein Kink

Fraulein Kink mask and Kriss Soonik bodysuit modelled by Tessa Kuragi. Shoes by Natacha Marro. Photo by Anna Swiczeniuk, MUA by Cheyenne Raymond

As every good fashionista and lingerista knows, accessories make the outfit, or lack of one.... And accessories that hint at a bit of naughtiness are just my cup of tea. Unfortunately handcuffs and colours tend to fall into two categories: 1) Hardcore and ugly 2) Fluffy jokes. What about the ladies that fancy a touch of bondage without having to deal with thick leather straps?

Bursting onto the scene relatively recently, Fräulein Kink has found the niche that women are waiting for. With a perfect blend of sex and fashion, Kink creates stunning collections of erotic accessories with a key soft feminine touch. Turning classic bondagewear on its head, the leashes, masks and paddles are designed for adventure and sexual exploration, with the versatility to be worn outside the bedroom as fashion accessories!

Designer Miss Nicole fell in love with the city of Berlin, and developed the brand living in the energetic metropolis. Each item from Fräulein Kink is handmade, using only the best velvet, tassels, gunmetal, ribbons and bows, which have been reinforced for a little tough play. Her newest collection “Philiosophy in the Bedroom” is full of yummy accessories from handcuffs to fringe masks, and even a bit of spanking equipment!

Tuxedo Fringe Set 

I LOVE this black and white Tuxedo Fringe set; in fact, I love it so much I can’t decide whether I want the black and white or the red. Red is a little kinkier but black and white is very classic. The belt would look amazing over a tight-fitting black dress as well as in the bedroom!

Kitten Playsuit 

Cute but salacious, this stunning black velvet harness playsuit is full of naughty little details. I love how versatile it is; the cuffs and leg straps detach while the gold slides adjust to be worn in all different positions ;)

Keep your eyes peeled on Fraulein Kink's Facebook and Twitter where they will be giving away a Justine Fringe Blindfold!