Back to Life, Back to Reality

So, the most depressing part of the year is upon us yet again - the brief summer we had has come to an abrupt end and the rain is back, everyone is returning back to England from a variety of far-flung exotic places, and you’re back to work, tan fading. We’ve all been there, and inevitably it makes you want to cry.

We know you don’t want to return to ‘normal life’, but the time has come, so instead of planning next year’s holiday and protesting about returning to the everyday, embrace it! And here at Playful Promises we know exactly how to cure you’re post-summer blues.

The first step to cure your blues is to dress like the confident, able, take-on-the-world siren you are! Okay, so we know you don’t feel ready to put on actual shoes instead of sandals and flip-flops and get your business head back on, but with the range of clothing Playful Promises offers, you’ll be running back into the office to show off your new wardrobe!

Whatever you prefer to wear for work, Playful Promises has you covered! My personal favourite is the Charlotte Houndstooth Dress – you’ll look every bit the together business woman you are and have no trouble keeping people’s interest in a meeting in this number!

We also offer a range of adorable Chiffon Bow Blouses in Purple, Red and Black as well as the traditional pencil skirt which is a definite must for every working woman’s wardrobe!

Why not brighten up your work wardrobe using our limited edition kimono jackets? Both the Geisha Digital Print and the Rorschach Kimono Jackets are stunning and add that special something to an otherwise plain outfit. Hurry up and grab them before they go, they are limited edition after all!

Playful Promises clothes are so good, you won’t want to limit them to just office wear – but don’t worry, we don’t blame you, you will look and feel so fabulous in all of these offerings you won’t want to take them off. Ever.

Now, the next step in curing your post-holiday downer is underwear – every girl knows that to look its best, an outfit must have a great foundation, and what better foundation to a gorgeous outfit, than a gorgeous set of Playful Promises undies?

The Vamp Black Multi-Way Bra is essential for any lingerie collection, and can be manipulated any which way your heart desires! As well as providing you with endless possibilities, the Vamp Bra also gives your bust a boost and defines your curves – what more could you want?

The Dominique Longline Bra is another investment that will help speed your healing process. Its subtle decorative features, such as the use of mesh and the strap design provide you with the chance to feel sexy and supported all day long. It’s such a gorgeous bra; why not show off the straps under your clothes at work? We’re sure your boss won’t mind at all!

So there we have it, follow these simple steps and you will glide back into work with a confidence that wasn’t there before! We know it’s not as good as a holiday or sunny weather, but if you feel fabulous, everyday is like a holiday!

What do you do to combat your holiday blues?

Couture Rubber: Kaori's Latex Dreams

Think of latex and you probably think of all kinds of kinkiness; clothing that is reserved for BDSM or fetish clubs. It's no wonder that this tight, figure-hugging rubber has become such an icon of the fetish world - it is known to feel like a second skin. But as fashion develops and searches for new ways of pushing boundaries, so has it taken on latex as a couture statement. 

Thanks to the internet allowing access to international suppliers, the latex industry has grown dramatically since 2000. Although there are hundreds of designers currently working with the material, it is not possible to manufacture latex clothing on a grand scale. Creating the items is a skilled art, which allows made-to-measure custom designs for a one-of-a-kind look. 

Much like textile clothing, the basic foundation of latex design is the pattern. This is created and adjusted using the specific measurements supplied by the customer. The difference now is the joining of the seams; it is not possible to sew latex together, as you would fabric, so it must be joined using specific latex glue. This labour-intensive method takes time and a lot of skill, which explains why latex clothing is generally more expensive than off-the-shelf high street items!

Although translucent in colour, latex can be dyed, and the current available colours range from metallic purple to orange, white, blue and more. 

Despite being such a flexible and creative material, the latex world had previously been dominated (see what I did there!) by basic designs, relying purely on the seduction of the second skin and the eye-catching shine. It was time for a change, and that's exactly why Kaori Matsubara decided to create her own pieces of sophisticated latex to flatter any woman. 

The beautiful "Art Deco" dress

In recent years stylists and celebrities have become familiar with latex, with everyone from Lady Gaga, to Madonna to Cheryl Cole donning delicious rubber. It has been recognised for it's artistic beauty too, with couture latex brand Atsuko Kudo being featured in a V&A exhibition and a ShowStudio video. 

Latex has become a fashion statement; we love seeing it being worn with everyday textile clothing for an added texture. Brands such as Kaori's Latex Dreams create couture designs, without the hefty catwalk price-tag. These sophisticated designs prove that you don't need to squeeze yourself into a catsuit to rock the trend, nor must latex be hidden away! 

If you aren't already a latex fan, or you just aren't sure where to start, we have just the thing for you. We teamed up with Kaori's Latex Dreams to create an exclusive limited edition line of latex accessories to match your Playful Promises lingerie! 

Available only at Playful Promises, the first mini-collection includes a hair fascinator (£45), fingerless gloves (£22) and matching nipple pasties (£18). Each piece of this classic range has been handmade in the UK using electric rose and black latex of high quality, and there are more designs yet to come!

Latex needs a little extra care to ensure a long life, but we put together some handy tips with the help of Kaori. Latex can be difficult to put on if you don't know how, and while it may seem too small at first glance, it is a particularly stretchy material and needs to sit tight against your skin.

1. Ensure you use talcom powder or latex-safe lubricant (usually whatever is safe to use with a condom) inside the item and on the skin it will be connecting with (for example, when putting on the gloves, please put lube/talc onto your hand and on the inside of the glove).
2. Be careful of any sharp objects such as nails when putting on the latex. Although latex is fairly thick, it is not as pliable as some fabrics and could tear against sharp edges.
3. Don't worry if you have any talc on the outside of the glove - most latex is worn polished to give an enticing shine. Polish off the talc using a latex safe silicone spray or lubricant. 
4. When you have finished wearing your latex, you can wash it in warm soapy water, rinse and leave to drip dry.
5. Store the latex in a plastic bag in a cool place, avoiding the sun (as this will deteriorate the latex).

Enjoy!!

WIN the Dominique corset

 

To celebrate the arrival of our seductive AW12 corsets, Dominique and Love, we thought that a giveaway is in order!

We want to give three lucky Playful Promises fans the chance to grab the Dominique corset as soon as it arrives in our warehouse on the 10th of April. 

But you will have to show us just how much you want this naughty fetish-inspired corset

We will be picking one winner from our social media (facebook, tumblr, twitter, pinterest), one from this very post, and one from our newsletter. You can enter up to 6 times, following the rules below ;)

Social Media

1 entry: Like us on facebook and comment on our giveaway image post.

1 entry: Follow us @playfulpromises and tweet to us with the link to this blog.

1 entry: Follow us on tumblr and reblog the giveaway post.

1 entry: Follow us on Pinterest and repin the giveaway post on our Pinterest.

Newsletter

1 entry: Make sure you are signed up to our newsletter. 

Blog

1 entry: Comment on this post, describing what you would wear with this corset. Will you team with a pencil skirt as outerwear? Perhaps some naughty ouvert briefs? 

Winners will be picked on the 10th April, international entries welcome!