Pink is feminine and demure, it is bright and sexy, and it looks great under many outfits. Light pink, hot pink, fuschia, pink with white accents, pink with bold ribbing, and pink with black lace or ribbons can all be gorgeously crafted into exquisite pieces of lingerie. A few examples of how rich and sumptuous the colour can appear are:

• Vera Wang, from her Bridal Lingerie Collection, offers a long and short gown delicately gathered in the bodice with spaghetti straps and flowing skirt in an intense pink shade called “Dusk Pink”.
• La Perla has launched its newest underwear collection for fall-winter 2008-09 and offers a hypnotic pink and orange bra and panty set from the MALIZIA Ambizione group. A cute but daring colour combination, the bright orange embroidery outlines silhouettes of flowers to create a mesmerizing pattern.
• Mommies-to-be look fabulous in pink as well and Aniélina’s new 2009 collection proves this point unquestionably. Pink is predominant in this super pretty line of maternity intimates.

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One of the designers whose work is showcased is Clare Bare from Brooklyn, New York. Creating pretty little bloomers from vintage fabrics, bygone trimmings, and organic cotton, Clare produces limited edition pieces. Believing that one’s body is beautiful, she does not make her lingerie to cover weaknesses. Further, she feels that flaws do not exist unless attention is brought to them by way of making something to “fix the problem”. Thus, any body shape can wear Clare Bare bloomers, bras and tank tops.

You really must see this small collection. Not only is it pretty, fun and comfortable, but the materials used to create the vintage lingerie are creativity at its finest. For example, the Paper Bag Waist Bloomers are made from a vintage curtain. Now that is artistic!

The Lingerie Bowl has players wearing shorts, a sports bra and some kind of protective gear to safe guard their bodies. After all we wont like to see some bloody feasting action, would we? These bikini-clad beauties make the show hot and sizzling with their action. The popularity of the game has led to its producers expanding the game into a ten team league action. This is called as the Lingerie Football League (LFL). The LFL is slated to begin playing by September 2009. It would be an event to really look forward to.

Produced by Horizon Productions, this one halftime experience is guaranteed to stay with you forever!

One such program comes from EnniaLingerie.com. A very extensive loyalty program, the company starts by offering new customers a discount voucher of twenty dollars on their first purchase. Then, as customers continue to shop with Ennia, they are provided vouchers for use on their next purchases. The more a customer buys, the greater the discount. In addition to the scheduled loyalty voucher, there may be other random reasons for customers to hold discount coupons to be used toward their purchases. And lastly, if a customer purchases at least once then refers a friend to purchase, a substantial savings voucher is sent to the customer who referred her friend.

Indeed, lingerie companies do not need to offer formal rewards programs to attract new customers and keep existing ones. Offering excellent service such as free shipping and product guarantees will often be enough to keep good customers. HenryAndJune.com for example, offer a full sixty day guarantee with no pre-approval. This is a huge incentive to buy as many companies expect the customer to write first and wait for an approval number to be attached to the item when returning. In addition, their free shipping is available on very small minimum orders (at the time of writing only twenty-five dollars).

As money becomes tighter, lingerie companies offering outstanding customer service and reasons to stay loyal to a brand will definitely move to the forefront of the marketplace.

Admiring the newest selection, the stark white Sheer Bra with demi-cup styling is magnificently embroidered with orange and red flowers and bright fruits punctuated with a hint of green leaves. Double lined to avoid scratches from the embroidery, the cup tops are finished off with beautifully scalloped lace. Complete the set with a matching thong with pretty twin strings on the hips and comfortable cotton panty liner. Naturally, such fine detailing originates in Italy.

One cannot help but notice the green Lined Shelf Bra with black lace straps and floral print. Another example of fine European lace work, the bra is delicately finished with scalloped cup tops and a sweet chiffon bow. For added comfort, the demi-cups are lined with soft cotton. Matching panties come in both thong and brief styles. Truly spectacular is the bestseller Sheer Demi Cup bra with intricate red flowers embroidered on black fish net fabric. Thin black ribbon bows adorn each strap.

In addition to the gorgeous bras, the panty collection is equally decadent. Cotton, nylon and sheer mesh in thongs, tangas, full briefs, hipsters and boy shorts with flower motifs, sumptuous embroidery, lace silhouettes and plain solid colours and fabrics.

Another great reason to shop with Lavinia Lingerie is the liberal return policy. Where other companies make it difficult to return items without pre-authorization, Lavinia accepts returns for refund or exchange provided the item is unworn, in perfect resaleable condition and has all the original tags attached.

I am enamored with the classic, elegant look of the black “Fée-line” collection but the most sumptuous pieces, in my opinion, are the “Candy” selections in gold printed white cotton with white tulle insets on the breast cups and white bows on the shoulder straps. To make the collection even sweeter, “Bien Fée pour toi” adds exquisite pink and silver lace to the camisole (tank top) around the neckline and shoulder straps. The culotte panties come with one small bow on each leg and the tanga briefs are adorned with pink and silver lace.

My favourite piece is the wrap around style cover-up, “Cache-coeur in french”, with long sleeves, lace embellishments, and satin ribbon tying the top together underneath the bustline. It is ever so sexy worn with either pair of panties.

Letters of Marque is a gorgeous collection of bloomers, pantaloons, camisoles, bras and peignoirs from the seventeenth century. Beautiful creations in soft silk and cotton adorned with precious Leaver’s Lace from a by-gone era of adventure on the high seas, and romance. The collection may be fashioned from times of pirates and dubious maidens but it is indeed luxury at its finest with the abundance of intricate lace and pretty ivory and white colours.

Morgana Femme Couture, who offers both prêt à porter (ready to wear) and made to order custom corsets in silk dupioni, silk brocade or pretty novelty prints adorned with little bows and ribbons intertwined in tulle, are spectacular pieces of lingerie from past times. Edgy, sexy, romantic, vixen-like, and naughty are descriptions of this luxurious collection of corsets. (more…)

I love the refreshing prints and fun comfortable looking camisoles and briefs. While their official website does not provide the names of the individual pieces of the Summer 2008 collection, I will try to describe the styles to you. A pretty pink camisole with spaghetti straps and cute bow between the breasts is my favourite. A hint of grey design running vertical throughout the material adorned with a little lace around the breast tops creates a delicate touch. The matching briefs in boy short styling have a wide waistband elastic with one tiny button. The same styling is offered in another pretty pink with large black butterflies in the pattern and black accent lace, black straps and black waistband on the briefs.

Another cute design is the matching red heart tank top and bikini pants. Red piping around the neck and armholes of the tank top cami makes it perfect for layering in a casual look. The bikinis have a thinner waist with higher cut legs and both pieces have a diagonal baby blue spot throughout the fabric. Several of the designs have matching lounge pants or pyjama bottoms, pretty chemises in both spaghetti straps and halter ties-around-the-neck, and skimpier bikini panties.

Claesen’s also offer the same designs in bright, bold plaids, dark green eyelet, and a busy fabric, which looks like sailboats. One thing that seems to be important is the image of being an old label and what I assume denotes quality and old time values. One really odd part is the use of “The Incredible Hulk” but again I think the idea is strength and durability.

Home lingerie parties used to be very popular in my neighbourhood but one thing that always irritated me was the fact that the lingerie was of very poor quality and somewhat flimsy looking. Intimo, on the other hand, boasts high quality designer lingerie. Further, the company claims that each consultant is trained in proper bra fitting and understands the different body types and how to match the correct lingerie with each woman’s individual body shape. Aside from the fun of attending a home lingerie party, having a qualified consultant on-site would appeal to many more women since they would be able to purchase practical undergarments rather than purchasing cheap loungewear as a courtesy to the hostess or consultant.

Proud of their label, Intimo states, “With more than 140 different styles, a full spectrum of colours and over 50 sizes ranging from 30A to 46F, Intimo has one of the most comprehensive lingerie collections under one brand name”. The newest release is the Autumn Winter 2008 Collection which includes elegant names such as “J’Adore, Panache, Geisha, Crystelle and Classique”. Beautiful laces, pretty bows and gorgeous embroidery are staples in the Intimo line of panties, bras and camisoles.

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Acquired earlier this week at a British auction in Derby England, the royal knickers boast a fifty inch waist with drawstring and open-crotch. Barbara Rusch, the Toronto, Canada woman who is the lucky winner, has collected Queen Victoria’s items for the past twenty-five years. Not only was she the winning bidder of the bloomers but she also obtained a Queen Victoria chemise, with a bust size of sixty-six inches, for a mere eight thousand dollars. It was valued at six hundred dollars.

Most of Queen Victoria’s undergarments were embroidered with her initials VR (Victoria Regina) crested with her crown above. In addition to the knickers and chemise, Barbara also owns a pair of pink hand-embroidered silk stockings and other pieces from Queen Victoria’s garments and jewelery.

As the president of The Ephemera Society of Canada, Barbara has permitted her private collection of Queen Victoria items, entitled “Ephemera from the Age of Victoria”, to be displayed for the enjoyment of the general population.