Kiki de Montparnasse, a lingerie collection that “empowers exploration of fantasy and communication of desire”, creates sophisticated undergarments that can be defined as innerwear or outerwear. Browsing through the Best Sellers selection on the company website, particularly the Amour collection, one can see why this is a fabulously, luxurious line of lingerie. Satin chiffon, French laces and exquisite details embodied in a dreamy flowing Goddess Gown, mini Maiden Slip, wrap teddy, babydoll top and bloomers.

Aside from being a luxury line of lingerie, the pieces offer unique creativity. One of those inventive pieces is the Garter Tank, an ingenious long tank top with satin garters. Another feature of the Kiki collection is the “Pin Up” line. The Sauvage includes a ruffled pin up bra with vintage inspired corset styled ruffled panty both made to resemble the lingerie the Pin Up Girls wore in earlier years.

Not only are the garments impressive, but the two flagship boutiques were created with the same emphasis to detail, luxury and quality as the lingerie. The Los Angeles, California boutique, pretentiously landscaped with gardens, speakeasy-inspired gates and a courtyard fountain, boasts three thousand square feet of space with velvet dressing rooms, fireplace and candles throughout.

And while it should be noted that some of the items are indeed of a fantasy nature, there is nothing trashy or shabby about them. On the contrary, the items are pure extravagance. Take for example the silver tipped riding crop or the feather tickler with leather wrapped handle.

Girlfriends of the bride looking for a bridal shower gift at Kiki, can expect to find a gorgeous and expensively handmade beaded blindfold in silk satin and French lace. Or maybe they prefer to give her the lavish ten foot pearl restraints which come with a price tag of $4200.

Now that is luxury!

The official site is right here. More on Kiki de Montparnasse on The Lingerie Post!

Kaftans are considered lingerie because they are sleepwear, worn as casual wear like nightgowns, and are basically worn around the house. A few years back, there was a major trend where every female received kaftans as their Christmas presents. And who could forget Mrs. Roper on Three’s Company wearing her trademark outfit – the kaftan?

But I noticed that kaftans have made a comeback and lingerie sites are selling beautifully made silk kaftans and excellent quality luxury designs. Today kaftans are being promoted as lingerie for those that prefer to be discreet and they are also being sold as cruise wear. In fact, the cruise wear angle is very popular right now.

Especially gorgeous are the kaftans from the Donalé 2008 Summer Collection. I wish I could give you more information about the designer but I have only been able to confirm that Donalé is an up and coming French designer. I did, however, find a large representation of the collection on Louise Sandberg’s, London website. And what I saw was luxurious and sexy. Made of one hundred percent cotton in fabulous colours of beachside greens, pinks and yellows, classic tones of black and white, and pretty reds, all in gorgeous short and knee-length styles with exquisite hand embroidery.

These kaftans look wonderful walking the beach or lounging poolside. Summer’s a comin’!

Lala Rose, Miss Lala and Mia are all collections by Lebanese luxury lingerie designer Stephanie Abidjaoudi. An exclusive collection, only found in the best lingerie boutiques around the world, Lala Rose is a relative newcomer to the luxury lingerie industry having started in 2003. But that has not stopped Lala Rose from become a well -deserved name with its own factory of thirty-five employees. Considering Stephanie started out by hand-making her precious creations, she has come a long way in a short period of time.

Made exclusively with high quality silks, cottons, and laces, the garments are bright, colourful and reminiscent of long-gone eras. In fact, the Summer 2008 Collection, Miss Monroe, is a dedication to Marilyn Monroe with gorgeous pink camisoles and bikini panties, canary yellow spaghetti strapped camis with long pants and fabulously red bustiers. The collection is playful, vibrant and sexy and is meant to bring out the star in every woman while at the same time letting out the child in her.

The story behind the name for the business is interesting. Princesses in Morocco are called Princess Lalla and their first names. While Stephanie attended a wedding in Morocco, the other guests called her Lalla Stephanie which is princess. So she named her company Lala Rose.

Stephanie’s designs are so highly coveted that she was chosen to design the wedding trousseau for Saudi King Abdallah’s granddaughter. In 2006, her collection centered on Jackie Onassis creating the pieces from tulle, vintage materials, colourful silks, Swarovski diamantes and plenty of pretty lace.

When once asked in an interview if she was happy with the number of locations that sold her collections, Stephanie answered by saying that she was very picky about what types of stores retailed her products. She would rather have a few upper brow stores than many low-end shops selling her line. And she is not kidding when she makes this remark. A new very high-end store (Sex&…) in Miami opened in November 2007 selling only the most expensive products from around the world. Lala Rose’s complete Marie Antoinette line adorned its rightful position in this posh store. The price tag on an underwire bra was two thousand US dollars. Add the matching panties and the set cost five thousand dollars.

Now that is luxury!

Anita Dr. Helbig GmbH, founded in Germany in 1886, began as early as 1960 creating and distributing specialty lingerie in the way of nursing bras and maternity panty girdles. In 1970, they progressed to be one of the first companies to offer quality post-operative lingerie and swimwear as well breast prosthesis. The company is well known worldwide as a quality, luxury line of medical and specialty under garments.

Continually updating and expanding their line, Anita launched a special medical garment in 2007 called SanThorax. The Anita Medical Garments line includes bandages (post-op belts), post mastectomy bras, prosthesis and prosthesis bras, made-to-measure bras, compression bras and their special line of AnitaCare swimsuits and bikinis.

Anita provides dignity and confidence to women by supplying comfortable, practical and fashionable undergarments to wear during a difficult time in their lives. The swimsuits come in bikini styling, one-piece and two-piece with tankinis or bra type tops. Fabulous bright colours, sexy but demure prints, and plain solids with a hint of little pink stripes make the Care line of bathing suits appealing to the women who purchase them and beautiful to those who see the women wearing the suits.

Kontakte, Anita’s magazine published twice per year aids women in understanding different breast procedures and diseases. It also keeps followers up to date on recent developments including new surgeries, nutritional information and the launch of new Anita products. One of the more recent launches in 2008 was the AnitaCare Foundationwear including the Alicia and Aerelle lines. Alicia bra made with Super Microfibre in white or sand comes with choice of matching thong, hipster or brief.

Aerelle, available in larger sizes, is a comfortable mix of cotton and microfibre. Pretty rose pattern and delicate embroidery, the bra is available in white and skin tone. It comes with matching brief or panty girdle.

What is most admirable about this company, aside from the fact of their longevity, is they truly care about women and how diseases affect their lives. The lingerie collection is the company’s way of maintaining a business and helping women to the best of their abilities.

More on Anita Lingerie in The Lingerie Post’s Archives and http://www.anita.com!

Huit’s 2008 collection of swimsuits and lingerie can now be found in stores. The lines are dainty and feminine catering to younger and smaller women. The lingerie lines offer soft and padded bras, half bras, underwire and push up air bras. The little matching panties come in string style, brief boxer and low-waisted underpants. Demure colours in porcelain, milky white, platinum, raspberry pink and black keep the line elegant and classic to be worn under fancy or casual clothing.

To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, Huit Lingerie has recreated a 1970’s best seller in the TITCHA set complete with pretty flower design on each breast. Choose matching panties to complete the set.

Huit’s swimwear line comes in both two-piece and one-piece styling. Classic vibrant colours, cute little beach dresses and playful ribbons are the norm. One ingenuitive point I noticed is the one-piece suit made to look like a two-piece bathing suit.

Forty years in the business is justified with such subtle and timeless designs!

French women have always known how to wear luxury lingerie. Fine undergarments are part of their culture and heritage. Even hundreds of years ago, lingerie was important and today Ravage embodies lingerie’s true spirit. “Flit around in Ravage Lingerie”, the company’s catch phrase says it all. Wearing the splendid designs from Ravage and one is reduced to flitting like a pretty songbird in spring.

Intricate workmanship, absolute femininity and pure beauty are characteristics of Ravage’s delicate garments carefully crafted in Calais Lace from France, Mantilla Lace from Spain and luxurious ribbons. Fragile and delicate daisies are the main theme in their Signature Collection. From the Salsa corset to the hot pink Extreme bra and panty set, every part of this collection is beautiful.

Reviewing the Vintage Pictures section is a rare treat. Breathtaking designs of floral appliqués, intense colours and creative styles and one can only be proud to wear this fine lingerie collection.

Ravage’s promotional materials describe their lines as “hyper luxurious materials with irresistible greedy colors.” They complete the brochure with the line “To savour without moderation”. Indeed! More info and lingerie on ravage.fr!

Ruby Pink, a rather new and exiting company from the UK, specializes in bras in the D to H cup range. No bra is made under the D cup size, which gives amply bosomed women the opportunity to purchase fashionable, reasonably priced bras that fit.

This gorgeous collection of bras and panties uses exquisite floral embroidery, intertwined ribbon and fabulously decadent colours. The newest collection Autumn-Winter 2008, shown on the official Ruby Pink website is named Fifi, Bridgette, Simone, Fleur and Mimi. The Mimi chocolate bra has pretty pink lace running through the neckline ending with a bow at each end and one in the middle. The matching panty uses the same ribbon through the waistline setting a perfect little pink bow in the middle.

Considering Ruby Pink only started in February 2007, they have made great progress getting their products added to the inventories of Figleaves, Know My Size and many more online retailers.