Into It, Intimates / Hopeless Lingerie

July 18, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

When I came across Hopeless Lingerie it immediately gave me serious femme fatale/black widow vibes. To me, Hopeless Lingerie is the seductress of lingerie brands, which I think is the intent, because designer Gabrielle Adamidis pieces are inspired by old films, modern art, the ocean, the 1980’s and B-grade horror films. Her inspiration doesn’t just end at the designs, this particular lookbook is eerily tantalizing and the photography focuses mostly on the parts of a woman that can be of temptation to a man or woman – the stuff that makes us lose our heads. It’s the (veggie)meat and potatoes of film noir, and thus totally perfect. It’s so easy to find collections that lose their purpose and direction, I see it all the time. Sure, the garments are nice, tons are, but what makes it stand out? Why would I want to wear it? Maybe I think too deeply about these things, but Hopeless Lingerie never makes me wonder. The inspiration and direction is never lost. It’s a solid brand, with beautifully detailed, handmade pieces that would make any woman feel sexy and empowered while wearing them.

My favourites: Donna Knickers – polka dot, Jessica Bralette – black lace, Nancy Cami – polka dot, Monica Wrap Top – star mesh, Carrie Knickers, Jeanne Knickers – star mesh

Into It, Intimates / The Loved One

July 4, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

Well it’s due time I talk about The Loved One‘s lingerie, but if you’ve been a reader of mine for awhile you likely already know how enamored I am with this American-made lingerie line and vintage retailer, founded by Elvia Lahman and Hannah Metz. However, it would be silly of me not to include TLO in my new series, so here we are. The Loved One is indeed my favorite intimates line (no surprise there). It’s rare I find an intimates brand that I would absolutely buy every single piece from, but I can honestly say that is the case with TLO. Their aesthetic is one I feel a real kinship to, and it seems like each piece was specifically made for someone just like me – a lingerie brand after my own heart. My love for them is likely due to the fact that each piece feels authentically vintage, even though it is new. Having a modern take on vintage-inspired lingerie can be great, but I think it can be wonderful to just recreate styles popular in eras past. Afterall, it’s so hard to find vintage lingerie that is in good condition at a reasonable price point, and well, sometimes people just don’t like wearing other peoples old panties (I can’t purport to be one of those people though). I’m not sure of their plans to release new styles any time soon, they have had a few of these for quite awhile now, not that I’m complaining, but I’d love to see what they come up with next, and I’m sure you agree.

My favorites: Agony of Love knickers, gold Sin In The Suburbs knickers, Ballet Pink Fuego Top, She Should Have Stayed In Bed Bralette, One Shocking Moment Bra (already own it, teehee), How To Make A Doll bustier

Into It, Intimates / Alexandrea Anissa

June 20, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

If there was one intimate brand my 16 yr old goth self would be totally over the moon for, Alexandrea Anissa would be it. And while I rarely wear black or anything that could be considered fetish-dominatrix-gothy apparel anymore, you can never really take the goth out of the girl, and so this brand is one I am very much into, even in my cheery-grandma-schoolgirl state. Most of the garments seem to be made for play rather than functionality, which could seem like an impractical buy, but things like that have never swayed me. I’d like to think these pieces are the sort of lingerie worn by the unsuspecting gal, and the lookbook (which I love!!!) and the model (whom I love!!!) do a wonderful job of capturing that girl and that feeling – all business on the outside, and playfully mischievous underneath.

My favorites: Ramona High Waist Keyhole Panty, Fawn Bralette, Dark Paradise High Waist Panty, Dark Paradise Lace Bra, Sheena Bralette Dot Mesh

Photography: Hana Haley

Into It, Intimates / Fortnight Lingerie SS’14

June 13, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

Most intimates I own I have either thrifted or found at a vintage shop, but I have to say, good quality vintage under garments are not easy to come by. So I began to look for intimates that looked and had a vintage feel, but were actually new. Enter, Fortnight Lingerie, designed and manufactured here in Toronto (416 represent!) and the first independent brand of lingerie that I owned a lovely brassiere and pantie set from. Fortnight sort of began my obsession of searching for other independent lingerie brands with a similar aesthetic. Fortnight has a lovely, soft feminine vibe with incredibly durable craftsmanship. You can really wear their lingerie. When I wear my set, I never feel like they might get damaged. That’s important to me. While I own plenty of delicate intimates that I love dearly, they are mostly for show. Both are good, but if I am going to pay a pretty penny for a garment, I want it to be worth it, ie., get it’s wear and not fall apart in the process. The great thing about this brand is that it’s the sort of intimates you can wear under your clothing quite comfortably, but they have some great brassiere with enough coverage and cool color combinations that, if you so choose, you could wear a shear top and treat the bra as an outfit detail. It’s simple, feminine, quality pieces with just the right amount of interesting detail. I’ll always be a fan of this brand, not only because of my affinity to Toronto-made garments, but because you can really trust in the love and care that goes into each piece.

My favourites (from the newest collection): Luna Longline Champagne set, Vega Triangle Bra, Vega Longline Sky set, Mira Longline Peace/Sky set

*lookbook shot by Arden Wray

Into It, Intimates / Lonely Lingerie

June 6, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

I was originally going to share Lonely Lingerie’s lookbook (which is still very good!), but then I remembered how they have the ‘The Lonely Girls Project’, which to be honest, I think features their intimates in a more sexy, interesting and relatable way, so here we are. I much prefer seeing ‘everyday women’ wearing lingerie. It just feels a little more honest to me. Something rubs me the wrong away about the giant billboards for Victoria Secret (et. al) of models with their extreme push-ups, hour glass figures, and doll-like features (no offence to those women. I am not trying to bring them down in anyway, they could very much look that way in real life, and photoshop was not abused to create the perfect visage, but they are not exactly a true representation of every woman). I appreciate real women feeling comfortable enough with themselves to parade around in their underoos, reppin’ the everyday, average gal. So it seems fitting to me that Lonely Lingerie’s garments embody this sort of empowered bad ass woman vibe. It’s got a pretty obvious dominatrix vibe to it, without feeling too harsh and unapproachable – the sweet and gentle dominatrix, if you will. Like most intimate brands that I really like, Lonely Lingerie feels like there is something for every woman, and of course, has a little bit of that old-timey air to it.