Lady Unmentionable: What to wear with Corsets

Hi
I bought one of your lovely corsets but I am bit stuck as to what to wear it with?
Thanks
Vicky

This is a question that somewhat relies on knowing in which situation you are planning to wear your corset! I, of course, never shy away from the underwear as outerwear trend, as you can see above. Although I do admit that knickers are somewhat not considered acceptable wear for certain events (god knows why).

Popping to a cocktail evening or popping macaroons into your mouth while lounging in your boudoir, corsets thrive in both environments, yet need a little difference in what else you should wear (or not wear....). 

As you can see, I favour an overbust corset, although you may have chosen a luscious waspie to cinch in that waist (I'll talk a bit about what to wear with one of those a little later. Overbusts do most of the hard work for you, giving you support in the bust as well as shaping an hourglass curve. Some ladies prefer to wear a bra underneath the corset, depending on the cut of the bust. 

The Bound Cupped Corset is the perfect little thing for a bit of a bedroom tease (for extra tease points, wear nipple pasties underneath the corset) and can be worn with a black suspender belt, black briefs or nothing at all ;)

As for something a tad more demure, overbust corsets can be worn as tops, teamed with pencil skirts (as the lovely Undercover Lingerista did here) or even black skinny jeans to ensure you bring a touch of glam to a more casual event. 

Waspies are a little trickier, but can also work well for both formal shindigs or playtime. 

Team your waspie with either a fully matching or contrasting set of lingerie (e.g. black waspie, red lingerie or black waspie, black lingerie) for a saucy night in. Or take a look at the way we've styled these lovely ladies above, using pencil skirts, shirts and kimono jackets to create a gorgeous look for the evening. 

You could even take a leaf out of The Only Way Is Essex's Maria Fowler's book and wear a statement bra or bralet with a waspie and black skinny jeans!

Are you perplexed by panties? Shocked by suspenders? Send through your lingerie-related gripes to me at knickersinatwist@playfulpromises.com!

Lady Unmentionable: Where to find slips

Can you recommend any places to buy slips, I too suffer from the garter belt showing slightly through clothes ? X

- Lorraine (Via the Playful Promises Facebook)

For those not in the know, a slip is an undergarment worn between lingerie and clothing, helping clothing hang more smoothly, creating a desirable shape. The slip offers many benefits such as preventing certain fabrics irritating the skin, protecting finer fabrics from perspiration and also offering warmth to the wearer.

In the 1920’s slips were introduced as an alternative to corsets, fitting in with the looser fashion of the time as well as freeing up metal to be used for the production of essentials for World War l. Obviously the slip isn’t getting as much praise as it deserves; not only did it allow women a new form of freedom, but helped the war effort!

As Lorraine has mentioned, wearing a slip does wonders for smoothing down what I call "garter bumps" when wearing tight-fitting clothing. Not only that but it's a sexy little piece of lingerie in itself!

Playful Promises currently offers a few slips on sale, including gorgeous silk chemises in jade and lilac, which both come with matching panties. If you'd also like a little bit of a quirky update to the traditional slip, why not go for the Lyla Playsuit in Black or Blush?

If that doesn't tickle your fancy, slips and teddies are available from a variety of retailers on the internet, some of our favourites include Kiss Me Deadly and Ayten Gasson!

Also, if you happen to be popping by the Playful Promises Boxpark boutique make sure you also visit Brick Lane with its cute vintage shops and grab yourself an authentically vintage bargain!

Dear Lady Unmentionable: How to wash hosiery

Im just wondering the best way to wash and store stockings and tights? any advice greatly appreciated

- Renee (via the Playful Promises Facebook)

As ladies, we all know how wonderful stockings and tights make us look and feel, but, we also know how annoying they can be to take care of! One slip or lack of concentration can lead to a ladder or hole and no matter what anyone says – that is never a good look!

Nylon and silk stockings and tights are both delicate and require a bit more TLC than some other hosiery; however, we all know it’s worth it ;)

Firstly, nylon hosiery CAN be machine washed, but only using a cold water setting.  Plus, they absolutely must be washed on their own – so machine washing can cause more trouble than it’s worth!

The best way to care for nylon and silk tights and stockings is definitely hand washing! Sorry, I know this seems a bore, but if you want perfect looking pins, sacrifices must be made (you should be treating all your lovely lingerie the same way, but I won’t judge you.. much).

Before you even begin washing your hosiery, check your nails! Make sure to file away any jagged edges, also remove any rings. You don’t want your precious tights to get caught and ladder or rip!

Now, fill your sink with lukewarm water and add half a cup of mild laundry powder (you can even use colourless shampoo if you don’t have any washing powder to hand!).

Turn your stockings or tights inside out and allow soaking for five minutes, remembering to wash similar colours together.

Now wash the products carefully, avoiding rubbing and pulling as you will stretch the hosiery making it unwearable.

Rinse, rinse and rinse again in cool water to get all the soap out and then gently squeeze the water out of the tights or stockings from the top down to the toe.

Once all the excess water has been removed, place the tights or stockings over a towel rail or something similar to air dry. Keep hosiery out of direct sunlight as the colours will fade.

When you wear your stockings or tights, avoid anything that they could snag on like corners of desks and tables or wooden seats and always carry a little bottle of clear nail varnish with you to dab on a hole or ladder as soon as you notice it!

As for storing your stockings and tights, either fold them nicely (even better if you have the original packaging) and keep in a drawer or hang up on a padded hanger. Rolling them up into a ball will cause them to become misshapen!

 Shop hosiery at Playful Promises

Lady Unmentionable: Donna Britannica Hollandia

As a well-know A-list celebrity socialite, or at least that is how the Playful Promises team describe me, I take inspiration and interest in inspirational characters and socialites from past and present. I'd like to share some of these notable personages.

 Holland's Leaguer

I recently came across Donna Hollandia, perhaps not the most moral role-model, however her story stands out for me. During a time where women were repressed and treated like objects she broke free and became a socialite of her period.

Her story starts in 1542. William Baseley was the King's Bailiff, and in that year he purchased the lease for a Manor House in Paris Gardens, located in Southwark. He transformed this estate into a casino with all the tricks of the day including card tables and dice games.

 Modern Red-Light Districts

The Manor House began to gain a reputation, however when the house was passed onto Henry Carey, Queen Elizabeth I's cousin, this was when the reputation really began to take a turn. Henry Carey, better known as Lord Hudson or 'The Golden Lad', began renting the Manor to Pimps and Madams.

The Manor House of Paris Gardens became a High-Class club, catering for the nobility, gentry and emerging affluent middle class. The Manor still offered gambling as well as wine, food and sex.

The Manor House changed hands regularly. The infamous 'Long Meg' of Westminster was one of the Madam's pimping out prostitutes before Donna Britannica Hollandia took charge.

Her preposterous 'nom de guerre' (war-name), testified to her experience as a whore, a Madam and an undying character. Later, the Manor House was named Holland's Leaguer after Donna and a punning reference to the Anglo Dutch wars of the 17th century. She was also known as the 'princess of whoredom'.

Donna started life as a prostitute in the 'Italian Quarter' of London in Cripplegate. She then promoted herself to the role of a Madam at St Andrews-by-the-Wardrobe. She had impeccable credentials and a vast array of contacts including nobility, gentry and royalty. When she found herself arrested and sent to Newgate Goal, prison, she soon pulled strings to escape as she threatened to expose saucy secrets from her 'little black book' of clients.

 Map of The Manor House

Once she had paid her dues to those who helped her to freedom, she sought work outside of the City walls. She was directed to the Manor house of Paris Gardens.

The High-Class brothel was located on the bankside, on the southern shore of the River Thames. Brothels were commonly located around Southwark and the bankside, outside the control of the London civil authorities, just as were the theatres and bars. It was situated in a street now known as Holland Street.

The building itself was equipped with a moat, portcullis and a drawbridge. Securely fortified images depict the Manor house with armed guards with muskets and ladies amusing themselves in the garden.

Donna Hollandia saw the possibilities of this house and its location. She wasted no time in transforming the Manor House into a discreet gentlemen's club. With her prestigious contact list she was able to have the authorities turn a blind eye to the activites of the business in exchange of a fresh young prostitute.

The Manor House and Donna received fame and fortune. She soon became one of the most famous Madams in London. A whole host of celebrity patrons were associated with the brothel including King James I and George Villiers.

The bordelloe was luxuriously furnished and offered every comfort known to man. Wine and food was free flowing. The girls were experts in 'squeezing' every penny out of their clients. But customers got what they paid for; they left exhausted and satisfied.

Donna was reknown for her strong character, running the house with great efficiency and offering a draconian security to her employees. The safety of her girls was paramount; nobody was allowed to mistreat them. Donna hired full-time security as well as a doctor to keep the girls healthy and clean. Any misbehaviour meant instant and permanent expulsion, whatever the rank or class of the customer.

As a private club, membership was much sought-after with potential punters being asked to present credentials at the gatehouse before being turned away or further questioning. After this they would be escorted across the drawbridge. Donna would personally greet each client and delve into his requirements and needs.

 

As a rule, customers with no money were not allowed inside the club, no matter how famous or important they may have been. This ensured the Manor House remained an exclusive club with plenty of fortune. 

Donna's club started with just four hand-picked girls, selected for their 'special' talents. Beta Brestonia rumoured to be impudent and insolent, Eliza Caunce a nymphomaniac, Longa Maria, Maria Pettit considered to be a real live-wire. Many girls tired of the discipline Donna ensued and therefore the turn-over of prostitutes was high.

A bout of bad publicity after a case of 'whore-bashing' by certain members of nobility meant standards started to slip. Donna and her club was safe during the reign of James I, but when Charles I succeeded the throne parliament became commited to cracking down on brothels and prostitution. She could no longer bribe the local constables.

 Charles I

By december 1631 the authorities decided to intervene and shut-down the club. This is where Donna Britannica Hollandia and her 'nom de guerre' really showed her true colours and capabilities.

Thirty years as a Madam had turned her into an excellent strategist. She greeted the law with defiance and an army of whores. Using the Manor House's defence system, her first action was to attract the defence as far as her drawbridge. She then let the drawbridge fall to the ground, pounding the floor and sending the officers flying into the moat of muddy water.

The whores were ready, launching missiles and throwing whatever they could towards the men. Unfortunately this included a mass of chamber-pots including their contents! The men limped away in shame.

A second attempt to gain access into the Manor House was met with similar defences and the men were thwarted. Onlookers jeered at the soldiers as a bunch of harlots lead by Donna managed to push away the small army.

From this time, the Manor House of Paris Gardens was named Holland's Leaguer.

 The Manor House at Paris Gardens

Unfortunately Donna and her girls were finally ambushed and Holland's Leaguer was shut-down and further demolished.

There is no further information about Donna Hollandia, but I suspect her list of contacts meant she was not sleeping rough.

Christmas gift review: Lady Unmentionable

A knicker in a tin, what a remarkable invention!

Lingerie is always a welcome gift from anyone. I truly believe that you can never have enough underwear, so whether a lover buys you a steamy set of lacy pieces or whether a friends treats you to a knicker in a tin, its just a win win situation.

Emma and the Playful Promises team make these rather delicious tins with a brief hidden inside. The tin itself has a very cute illustration and each brief is special with customized details like bows, lace and detailing.

I've been asked to review the Circus Pin-Up tins, but they really sell themselves. These tins are just great for the Christmas season, and for hen parties and even birthdays, and small treats for no reason. There doesn't have to be a reason to treat someone!

The Circus Tins are inspired by three typical circus performers. The hand-drawn illustration on the tin lid is delicately drawn to represent the; Ring Mistress, the Tiger Tamer and the Snake Charmer. Each circus act is wearing the brief that lays beneath.

What I really like about the tins, is that you can use the tin for other means than storing the brief. I've seen the Playful Promises girls propping up their computer screens with them! They need to be displayed, the tin is begging to be shown off as more than just a tin for a brief. The potential for the tin is limitless. Or you can simply store your beautiful brief in the tin in your knicker drawer!

The briefs themselves, are foxy pieces of cheek-wear. I'm not sure which one I prefer, it changes from day to day.

Tiger Tamer is a vivid pink, with just a simple bow on the front, it looks like any other brief. Turn around and a heart shape cut-out greets the observer with a pink lace centre revealing your buttock cheeks, this is a rather cheeky brief! This is very girly, and breezy, but I like the idea that it's a pant that can be worn every day, under any choice of clothes, it's subtle and only when undressed does it reveal it's cheeky secrets.

Snake Charmer is today's favourite. I like the rich purple colour of this brief, topped with a stripe of black its a dark and mysterious panty. I like the simplicity of the brief, the richness of the colour and the silky satin fabric exudes seduction and mystery. The two ribbon bows finishes off the pant and makes it that much more special. The tin illustration, of a snake charmer, is also my favourite. I like the envious green of the snake against the purple brief.

Finally Ring Mistress, a sleek all black number at first seems a little too common. On closer inspection this brief is all in the detail. The fine finish of the gathered seam on the back is very original. And the delicate lace trim at the top of the legs is subtle and beautiful making the panty more like a piece of delicate porcelain that needs protecting. The button detail on the front brings a little charm and cheek to such a graceful knicker.

At just £15 each, these briefs are a charming little gift, especially this Christmas. The receivers gets not only a playful and promising knicker but a tin, hand illustrated with more than just one purpose!

Promises team keep nudging me to also mention that these three tins are limited edition, so once they're gone, they're gone for good. Make sure you get hold of all three! Available in small, medium and large, something for every bottom.