A naughty treat giveaway!

Trick or Treat? A treat of course (would we be so mean?), and what a treat! We are giving away a colourful goodie bag full of tasty lingerie in delicious candy colours, perfect for a post-halloween dress up session! 

To be in with the chance of winning this naughty bag of goodies, we want to hear about the WILDEST Halloween costume you can think of! It doesn't have to be an existing costume, perhaps just an outrageous idea? Remember: extra points for a bit of cheekiness!

Make sure to comment below, and winners will be notified on the 31st! 

The Origin of Lingerie

From the beautiful Etti sets, to the saucy Morgana collection. Playful Promises autumn/winter lingerie is the epitome of modern lingerie, but just how did the wonderful world of lingerie come about?

There is no exact date as to when the fashion of wearing lingerie came about, but the first sources of evidence point towards Ancient Egypt, almost 3000 years BC. For such a hot country clothing was not a necessity or a commodity.

Items of clothing were status symbols, something only the wealthy members of society would wear. Very often people would be happy to be naked or to wear a loin cloth and no more. Terra-cotta pots illustrate the fashions of the period giving us an insight into lingerie and more.

The first example of undergarments was worn by Egyptian women, of high-ranks. This would have been a long tunic woven from fine cottons and linens. The tunic would have started around the chest and flowed down to the ankles. It would have been tied around the body and shoulders using straps and was even sometimes used to mould the waist creating hour-glass figures.

From the dawn of lingerie, garments were worn to suppress or accentuate curves, the modern day bra was established as far back as 3000BC. When Egyptians were wearing tunics, Babylonian women were wearing what could be described as briefs and bras.  Most likely derived from the loin cloth and from suppressing women's breasts by wrapping cloth around the chest, this is the earliest evidence of lingerie.

And Cretan women were wearing hip corsets pushing their breasts upwards and outwards around 3000BC. This is surprising to know that the corset was in fact first worn on women, as many people believe men were first to wear the corset, and over 5000 years ago making this a very old fashion trend.

 

From these early depictions of wearing lingerie there was not much progression in what women wore. The 1500's saw the popularity in the corset increase, and from this period it became an integral piece of lingerie in everyday attire.

Today we still enjoy wearing corsets, some women still use corsets to shape their figure, but mostly corsets are a fun piece of outwear for a little boudoir fun. Playful Promises make their corsets and waspies from steel boning ensuring a rigid and tight shape is sculpted for maximum ooh-la-la.

Various bodices, bras and briefs were fashioned to wear underneath the corset, helping push-up busts, mould waist-lines and more.

The real revolution in lingerie happened around the 1920's where women decided to liberate themselves from the repressive corsets opting for girdles or less. This is where the lingerie revolution becomes interesting and where Playful Promises can base their inspiration and continue to create beautiful lines of underwear shaping figures and lifestyles.

Silver Screen Queens

Love them or hate them, the silver screen idols will never cease! Even those long departed from life are revived again and again through the camera lens. Some of them, who have climbed to the highest rung of the celebrity ladder, have become symbols of their generation. What conjures up thoughts of the 1950s more than Marilyn Monroe and her classic bullet bra?

At Playful Promises we adore the glamour of the big screen, and many of our pieces have been inspired by starlets of times gone by! Which got me wondering, if we could transport ourselves into the dressing rooms of these great actresses, which of our items would we cheekily slip in amongst their furs, corsets and negligees?

Don't be mistaken by her beautiful child-like features, Lillian Gish was one of the prominent actresses of the 1910s and 20s, starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the day! We could easily see her relaxing in our pink Lyla playsuit with contrasting black bows.

One of the world's most popular vamps, Louise Brooks and her bob hairstyle has become iconic of the 1920s. Team our Vintage Stitch Corset with a lacy vintage slip or a fringed skirt for the perfect flapper look.

German born Marlene Dietrich is the ultimate femme fatale. With her striking, chiselled looks and deep exotic voice (surprisingly well recieved during the era of the talkies), she has to be my personal favourite star! We would love to have seen our Ava collection peeking out from underneath those fitted black jackets and suits that Dietrich was famous for.

Listed as one of the Greatest Stars of All Time, Rita Hayworth is yet another glamorous and unprecedented beauty of the silver screen. After posing in just her negligee for Life Magazine, she became one of the top two pin ups of the War years. And this is why we would have to slip her into our Silk Chemise Set in scarlet!

Her unmistakeable features have been painted by Warhol and impersonated by scores of actresses and imitators; Marilyn Monroe needs no introduction. A poster girl for the classic girl-next-door look, Monroe wore bullet bras and girdles underneath her sweater for ultimate curves. What Katie Did's Maitresse Bullet Bra is perfect to replicate this look! 

Effortlessly chic and eternally classic, Elizabeth Taylor rose to stardom in the 1950s and 60s with iconic films such as Cleopatra. A fashion icon of the time, she was often seen wearing a silk scarf and headband. Even in her most revealing of outfits, Elizabeth appeared modest and stunning, which is why we have chosen the Morgana Garter Dress!

Pixie-like Mia Farrow's career has spanned from the 60s to present day, with one of her key roles in Rosemary's Baby in 1968 kicking off her 70s popularity. She exagerrated her delicate looks by wearing mini dresses and peter pan collars, just the kind of style that works perfectly over our Genie nude set!

 Rising to the Hollywood elite ranks in the 1980s and furthering her career during the next few decades, Michelle Pfeiffer is our 80s star. Known for taking on roles against her typical type, she is best remembered for that amazing Catwoman outfit in Batman Returns - single-handedly sexing up the comic franchise. For this, we could think of nothing better than our classic Victoria set!

Demi Moore, one of the highest paid actresses of the 90s, is well known for letting it all hang out! In 1991 she controversially appeared naked on the cover of Vanity Fair, whilst being 7 months pregnant. To get the Demi look, go bra-less! Or if you really can’t take that, then try our Multiway Bra :P

 Classic and glamorous, Cate Blanchett could easily have belonged to a past era. This Australian beauty rose to fame after playing Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, which makes the name of our 'Time for Tea and a Dance' postcard panties seem ideal! We also think the champagne satin and sweetheart lace back would flatter a complexion similar to Cate's.

We watched her grow from know-it-all teen in Harry Potter to a style icon. Trading in her long locks for a Mia Farrow-esque pixie cut catapulted Emma Watson into a media frenzy. Much like Farrow, she mixes cute dresses with other feminine pieces... and lots of lace! We think she would love our Peach Detail Waspie and Silk Corsage bra!

Which Hollywood star would you love to style? And what would you dress her in? 

Dear Lady Unmentionable...

Why do my boyfriends shy away from buying me lingerie?

I love lingerie, and I enjoy wearing lingerie for bedroom partners, however I have never received lingerie from any men in my life no matter how many hints I drop.

What can I do?

From

LackingLingerie, 24 from London

Dear LackingLingerie,

Thank you for a very worthwhile topic.

Why do blokes shy away from lingerie gifts, lingerie shops and lingerie shopping?

Although I myself regularly receive lingerie gifts from gentlemen, this is a question that pops up among friends.

In the past I have heard such excuses such as;

“I don’t want anyone I know to see me in the shop…”

“The boutique girls thought I was a pervert…”

“I don’t know your size, I’d just get it wrong and you’d hate me for it.”

However, these excuses are petty and these, in my mind, are simply men with their tails between their legs running away from responsibility.

So what if your friends or colleagues see you in a lingerie shop, clearly they are also in there doing the same thing. Surely a real man isn’t shy to admit he can confidently walk into a lingerie store and browse to buy something nice for a girl? And would this not prove to friends that he has a rather successful sex-life. I would be bragging about this to my macho male mates.

Lingerie boutique girls are happy to help any gentleman who is looking to purchase something whether as a gift for a girlfriend, something for themselves or even if it’s for other reasons… Lingerie shop girls have seen it all and there is nothing to be shy about buying lingerie for a girlfriend.

Remember that store assistants are trained to help with sizing and are likely to help you with sizing problems as well as picking out popular styles, matching accessories and even showing you how to wear pieces.

The sizing issue is most likely the best excuse. However, most stores have a 14-28 day exchange policy. So even if the guy doesn’t have a clue of your bra size he can purchase a size and he or you can exchange it later. Lingerie stores also offer plenty of treats and goodies that do not require the mathematical genius of a bra size expert. Briefs, triangle bras, nightwear and gifting pieces, no excuse, just pick one.

With the popularity of online shopping, men can shop for lingerie in the comfort and serenity of their own home. No one will see them, no one will know, and lets be honest they’ve probably browsed for similar if not more exciting things on the net in the past. Men are able to buy lingerie online, get it sent to them and make it look like they’ve walked into a store…again they have no excuse.

Playful Promises often team up with voucher deals such as Living Social. So if the man is really too shy or too dim to buy lingerie he can buy gift vouchers and still get away with it.

LackingLingerie, I would say that the men you date love your playmate aspect but aren’t man enough to be your playmate! If they can’t buy lingerie, what else will they shy away from in later years?

And men…get off your backsides! When you don’t know what to buy a girlfriend for a birthday, anniversary, valentines day or any non-special days –THINK LINGERIE.

Introductions...

 

You may have seen me pictured in the lasts gossip mags, you may have seen me passing through the hottest spots in London. I’m a daring thirty-something socialite, the original ‘it-girl’, and I’m here to answer your lingerie related questions.

I love eccentric fashion, I love it more when I can show a little leg, a little thigh and if I can bare a little more when I’m going out I will.

If you hadn’t guessed already, lingerie is more outerwear than underwear, lingerie is a huge consideration for my wardrobe. I collect all the latest lingerie brands, with key pieces from Agent Provocateur, Marlies Dekkers, Playful Promises, What Katie Did, Victoria’s secrets and many more. I love vintage pieces too, who doesn’t?

My swimwear needs to be the latest cut-out design, be adorned with expensive trims and detailing. My drawers are filled with pieces that I only wear once, pieces that can’t be washed – but I have so many I never need to wash them anyway!

Playful Promises have invited me to be their Lingerie Patron, an agony aunt if you please. They’ve given me a rather curvaceous illustration, and I’m wearing the fab showgirl briefs that Emma gave me a few weeks ago. Great for Burlesque bedroom acts ; )

I’m here to answer the many questions you girls and boys may have about lingerie. Anything from how to wear it (what I’m best at), to tender loving care lingerie may need, and anything in between. Don’t be shy, I’m certainly no shrinking violet.

 Are you bursting out of your bra with a question? Is your thong in a knot? Is your head spinning? (you should loosen your corset then)

If your knickers are in a twist, then you need to email me at knickersinatwist@playfulpromises.com

Questions will be answered on my blog, if you request to be kept anonymous we’ll respect that or entice us with a saucy pseudonym.