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!

Love Bomb: Kiss Me Deadly

 

Kiss Me Deadly briefs, Fraulein Kink and pasties from Playful Promises modelled by Tessa Kuragi. Photo by Anna Swiczeniuk, MUA by Cheyenne Raymond

Kiss Me Deadly is perhaps the one brand in the Love Bomb promotion that is most often linked with Playful Promises. And it’s no wonder, we share stands (and models) at tradeshows and some of our knickers have even featured in their lookbooks. In fact many of our sets match well or can be worn with Kiss Me Deadly pieces, such as girdles. Perhaps this is because we have a similar ethos and inspirations; however, our customers are usually quite different.

Founded by Catherine, the lady with many, MANY stockings and not enough matching lingerie with which to hold them up, Kiss Me Deadly has become known for its gorgeous 6 strap suspender belts. Also inspired by vintage lingerie, and the era of the classic femme fatale, the brand is often falsely compared to What Katie Did. Although both brands take inspiration from the 40s and 50s, WKD is on a mission to recreate authentic vintage styles, rather than Kiss Me Deadly’s homage to this glamorous era.

Perhaps the most recognisable thing about Kiss Me Deadly is Catherine herself; unique and extravagant, just how we like ‘em. She is known for her love of fancy leggings and underwear as outerwear ;) She makes her fans feel special not through freebies but by chatting freely on her facebook and blog about subjects that other brands might not wish to tackle!

Fifi Brief 

Green is definitely top of my list of colours, and unfortunately it just isn’t a colour you see often in lingerie! I love the retro look of the Fifi brief, plus you can rarely go wrong with a good high waist.

Vargas Longline Girdle

One of the classic Kiss Me Deadly items is her gorgeous Vargas girdle. A must-have for any Burlesque vixen, it not only looks sultry and seductive but it also shapes and flattens – hooray!

Kiss Me Deadly will be giving away a set of Fifi to a lucky winner picked from those that comment on facebook, twitter or their blog. Plus a £100 lingerie voucher will be winging it’s way to someone picked from the mailing list!

Love Bomb: Kriss Soonik

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

The phrase “loungerie” is relatively new to the lingerie world, having become popular around 2009. The word conjures up images of exactly what it represents – a cross between the sexiness of lingerie and the comfort and versatility of loungewear. Loungerie blurs the fashion boundaries, quite fitting to today’s trend of celebrities in nothing but their under crackers.

Kriss Soonik launched her collection of fresh lingerie and loungerie in 2008, starting a new wave in the already-snowballing underwear as outerwear trend. Her velour gowns especially breeched the gap, working perfectly as warm winter dresses when teamed with thick socks and some faux fur!

Inspired by everything from Manga comics to cult films, Kriss believes that all women can be superheroes!  She also stands by bringing her work back to her home country of Estonia, ensuring that all her designs are handmade there.

Susan Motion

A stunning new version of her popular Susan Motion lace bodysuit has got to be one of my favourites from her recent collection. In beautiful gold lace perfect for a Valentine’s Day, the limited edition just makes me want it even more!

Diana patent wrap

I LOVE kimonos and their influence on mainstream fashion and so the Diana wrap is right up my street. I particularly love how versatile it is, perfect for all year round!

Keep your eyes peeled on Kriss Soonik's blog, Twitter and Facebook for details on how to win a Kristel Turtle neck suspender top!