Luxury Lingerie Shopping

The Öko Box is an informative online store dedicated to designers focused on creating garments that do not contribute to the destruction of the environment. Leslie, the site’s owner, compiled the collections out of her “unified love of nature, health, and the human animal”. Everyone can do their small part to eradicate allergies from invasive products thereby creating healthier people and a healthier planet.

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!

Well this is an interesting lingerie tidbit. In fact, it is a new twist on buying vintage lingerie! It seems that Queen Victoria’s 1890s handmade knickers went on auction, expecting to reap about $1000.The purchaser, however, paid a cool price tag of $9000 (US / CDN).

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 jewelry.

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.

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!