Hooked on a Feeling Part #1 - Lingerie & Mood

Does lingerie have an emotional connection to the person wearing it? Can it alter or enhance your mood? We spoke to five wonderful lingerie addicts about how lingerie affects their mood; Amber - the full bust blogger from Scarlet's Letter, Wen - another full bust blogger shopping on a student budget from Comics Girls Need Bras,  Laura - a small bust blogger who writes on Morning Madonna, Vicky - a photographer who specializes in lingerie, and finally Lamb, the small-bust blogger from Of Lambs and Lace. Five different women, with different tastes and needs. So, let's find out...

How does lingerie make you feel?

Amber: Empowered. Sexy. Confident. Lingerie just makes me feel good. Wearing pretty lingerie feels like an act of self-care. I'm able to feel good about myself, while wearing comfortable lingerie when I feel like it, or wearing sexy playful lingerie when I feel like it. I feel like as women any act of self love and care does indeed feel like a revolution, and I'm all about making beautiful lingerie a part of my daily routine.

Wen: I am actually a pretty shy person. I have a lack of self-confidence even if I am sure my pictures show the opposite.. It's hard for me to express myself in public. Lingerie helped a lot when I was a teen. It is still helping me now. It makes me feel like I am in control, like I can do everything because my body is okay with that.

Laura: For me it depends on the set. Lots of straps, mesh and lace up detailing can make me feel incredibly badass and strong, giving me a confidence boost. Until about a year or so ago I wasn't really a confident person but wearing lingerie that made me feel strong really helped me fake it until I truly felt it. Simpler cotton and jersey sets are what I find comforting and I tend to wear them when I'm feeling low and just want to feel cared for. Others are simply just enjoyable pieces to wear and can perk up my mood. Lingerie is very deeply ingrained into my self care rituals. 

Vicky: Lingerie is a real confidence booster for me. Even when it is worn for comfort, certain styles can make me feel great about myself.

Lamb: Lingerie is a form of therapy for me. I long ago made my peace with the notion that I'd never like everything about myself, or even come close to that but lingerie helps. It helps me like my body and it helps me to elevate my moods when I'm on a low. I adopted a 'treat your self' attitude when I was 17 to tackle my worst days of negative self reflection and that evolved naturally into a lingerie collection I feel proud to have earned my lingerie, I feel happy in myself wearing my lingerie and there's no forgetting that purchasing it helped me out in a momentary lapse of confidence.

Strappy detailing makes Laura feel like a total badass

Do you have any go-to styles when you need luck?

Amber: I love going to bras that make me feel ultra supported and sexy, one of my go-tos lately has been the Playful Promises Cordelia set, it's so pretty, gives me great support and shape, and it works really well with my body to give me stellar cleavage.

Wen: Well, when I need luck I go with my most comfy style. It has to be as cute as comfy, and discreet under clothes in term of cleavage. A set that makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.

Laura: Only recently! In November I sat my driving test and wore a red lingerie set. I feel absolutely fantastic in this set, it fits my body so well. Not only is red my favourite colour, it also symbolises good fortune in Chinese culture, so I figured it would hurt to wear it. It must have worked as I passed! I haven't been in any situation since where I've needed luck but it's in the back of my mind that if I do, I should wear this set.

Vicky: A good, old fashioned plunge bra! 

Lamb: I don't believe in luck. But being born a Manchester City fan means I was raised to consider red as a colour to be avoided, so I guess I don't wear any red lingerie on match days?

Amber likes to wear her Cordelia when she needs luck!

 Do you have any go-to styles when you're feeling blue?

Amber: I love something like a bodysuit, something that just wraps me up, like a robe or babydoll. I like pieces that move with me when I'm feeling down, something I could snuggle up with and fall asleep in if I'd like.   

Wen: When I am feeling blue, I often want to go with a bralette or the opposite, something impressive and very feminine. 

Laura: If I'm just not feeling my oats, a sports style bra and jersey fabrics are what I reach for. I have a grey cotton set which is the main set I put on when I'm feeling low. It was gifted to me by someone rather special and even though it's simple in design, it makes me feel closer to the gift giver and lifts my mood. The fact it's so pleasant to wear combined with the emotional element makes it a really comforting set for me.

Vicky: Something comfortable but with a little something extra, like some pretty lace or a nice pattern.

Lamb: I tend to buy complicated, strappy designs on these days, but then again I just tend to buy them anyway? So not really, my blue days are generally spent caring about something other than my underwear.

Wen likes to wear bralettes when she's feeling blue

Can lingerie change your mood?

Amber: It can enhance my mood, and change it for the better. Sometimes if I'm having a bad day, I'll do a little lingerie retail therapy, and get the excitement of adding a piece I've been lusting after to my collection. Or if I'm feeling a little confident and sexy, wearing a piece of lingerie that makes me feel like looks good on me, just makes me feel even more so. My lingerie collection is like a mood ring, it's varied and definitely includes all colors and styles and depending on how I feel can effect which piece I choose to wear.

Wen: Hell yeah! Maybe this is one of the only things that can change my mood in a second. It's strange how my heart can beat faster in front of a set that I love or on the opposite, how I can feel sad when I am disappointed about lingerie.

Laura: Most definitely, sometimes dramatically. If I'm feeling sad, putting one of my favourite sets can perk me up enough that I can get through my day. On days when I'm feeling great, wearing something I also feel great in can really cement that feeling of happiness. 

Vicky: Yes, definitely. If I’m feeling a bit self-conscious, wearing a set that makes me feel good can really brighten my mood.

Lamb: It's not the lingerie in itself that changes moods, it's the notion behind the lingerie. But the simple answer is yes.

Designing Peek & Beau - by Emma

Peek & Beau started off when we at Playful Promises recognized a gap in the market for alternative lingerie. The popularity of our Magdalene set with its kitsch, tongue-in-cheek naughtiness sparked this idea for me to create a mini-brand that encapsulated this darker side of Playful Promises.

Many of the Playful Promises customers are somewhat led by alternative fashion, so creating a line specifically for this audience was a natural transition from our usual feminine flirtatiousness into an edgier - but still as quirky - range. Myself being somebody who crosses from mainstream fashion into counter-culture, I also wanted to create products that people like me would want to wear.

‘Attire to flaunt’ being the tagline for the Peek & Beau line was also very important, as we noticed an influx of alternative fashion and using lingerie as outerwear, so designs that lent themselves to this way of styling was paramount to the design process.

Peek & Beau is heavily influenced by the macabre; tarot, the occult, religious iconography, horror B-movies, gothic architecture and retro fetishism. We often look to couture designers that use similar inspirations such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, Iris Van Herpen and Givenchy, as well as photographers such as Tim Walker, Nick Knight, Mert & Marcus, and Paolo Roversi.

For the 2016 collection, we went to LA to shoot with alternative model Demon Puff AKA Tilly Dinmore. Tilly encapsulated everything we wanted the mini brand to represent – somebody who follows alternative fashion, is quirky and cute, and is also influenced by retro fashion, just like we are at Playful Promises. 

Look out for more from this collection in August, but in the meantime, you can shop these new looks at www.playfulpromises.com!

Interview with Competition Winner Louise Strudwick

Last year, we set a brief for a SS'16 mini-collection, calling for students and recent graduates to send in their designs based on the SS'16 trend forecast: Sartorial. We felt this trend encapsulated the Playful Promises brand with it mixture of femininity and dark detailing, and we wanted designs that could be considered contemporary classics.

We selected the winners back in April last year, and now the winning designs are available to purchase on our website. We wanted to chat to our winners about how they came up with their design, lingerie, and what's next for them! This week, we talked to Louise who created a Bettie Page-esque, bondage-inspired design.

Louise's Winning Design

Firstly, tell us about your winning design! Which direction did you decide to take the initial brief?

 I interpreted the brief by starting off with retro style lingerie shapes, and to keep it modern and on trend I added in subtle bondage inspired details such as the peep-hole cut outs and satin strapping, which I felt would also tie in with the classic Playful Promises ‘cheeky’ look.   

Louise's Winning Design

 When it comes to your work, where do your usually look to for inspiration? And how would you define your style?

 I usually start by selecting a muse, an inspirational female figure or I imagine and illustrate what my ideal customer would like and I start designing from there, introducing elements from trend research. I would say my style is ‘modern day pin up’, with a high contrast graphic edge, and always with a bit of kink!

Moodboard by Louise

 What drew you to lingerie?

 I’ve always been about body positivity and for me lingerie is a platform in which the wearer can express their true personality and connect with themselves without outside judgement. I love that lingerie is intimate and personal, and can instantly alter how you feel. 

Designs by Louise

 How did you begin designing lingerie initially and what made you decide to study contour/lingerie design?

 I came from a heavily art background, and was always interested in studying the female form and frequently attended life drawing sessions, my art is always focused around the female form. When I did my art foundation course I went down thefashion route and found myself creating body pieces and lingerie inspired garments, it all came together quite naturally! I had my eye on the contour lingerie design course since I was around 15/16 so it was always something I had aspired too right from the beginning.

Louise's design for her brand Victory Doll, available to buy on Etsy 

What’s next for you in terms of your future as a designer?

 I will be graduating in July, and from there I am looking to work with lingerie companies to gain more industry experience and once I've built up my professional career I am hoping to launch my own brand ‘Victory Intimates ’, which I am currently working on for my Final Major Project. I am also currently selling my work on Etsy, which I hope to keep going as a side project whilst I'm gaining experience. ( You can find Louise's work on Etsy here )

You can purchase Louise's design here, available in sizes 32B - 36D / XS - XL

Interview with Competition Winner Caro Elenowitz

Last year, we set a brief for a SS'16 mini-collection, calling for students and recent graduates to send in their designs based on the SS'16 trend forecast: Sartorial. We felt this trend encapsulated the Playful Promises brand with it mixture of femininity and dark detailing, and we wanted designs that could be considered contemporary classics.

We selected the winners back in April last year, and now the winning designs are available to purchase on our website. We wanted to chat to our winners about how they came up with their design, lingerie, and what's next for them! This week, we talked to Caro who created a zodiac-inspired, strappy design.

Caro's Winning Design, Now Available to Pre-Order!

Firstly, tell us about your winning design! Which direction did you decide to take the initial brief?

My initial design is inspired by the night sky and the print design is actually derived from a 1614 print of the signs of the zodiac. I wanted to combine the strappy, bondage-inspired aesthetic with the idea of sparkling stars. 

Caro's Design for Our Competition

When it comes to your work, where do you usually look to for inspiration? And how would you define your style?

 I generally start from either a piece of art or some sort of natural phenomenon that inspires me first, but I try to combine different ideas in an unusual way in order to get something unique. I also love looking at vintage fashion because there is so much rich history to draw from there. My style is mostly pretty feminine and whimsical, but I like to include some bolder, sculptural elements to break it up.

Caro's Gown Design Illustration

What drew you to lingerie?

I love lingerie because it is such a detailed piece that can really change the way you look at your body if it fits you perfectly, both literally and stylistically.

Caro's Gown Design Illustration

How did you begin designing lingerie initially and what made you decide to study contour/lingerie design?

A fascination with the design of lingerie was the first thing that made me realize that fashion was something that really interested me. I actually never formally studied lingerie design-- I got my degree in fashion design from FIT after I had already graduated with a degree in English Literature and had been working in PR. I just knew I needed to do something where I could be creative and I just fell in love with the complexities of fashion. 

Caro's Gown Design

What’s next for you in terms of your future as a designer?

Since submitting to this contest, I have actually started my own label of luxury evening gowns, based in NYC. One thing I'm really excited by is the potential of using technology in luxury, so laser-cutting is a big part of my debut collection. [You can view Caro's designs here.]

You can purchase Caro's design here, available to ship from the 7th April and in sizes 32B - 36D / XS - XL

Interview with Competition Winner Charlotte Holkham

Last year, we set a brief for a SS'16 mini-collection, calling for students and recent graduates to send in their designs based on the SS'16 trend forecast: Sartorial. We felt this trend encapsulated the Playful Promises brand with it mixture of femininity and dark detailing, and we wanted designs that could be considered contemporary classics.

We selected the winners back in April last year, and now the winning designs are available to purchase on our website. We wanted to chat to our winners about how they came up with their design, lingerie, and what's next for them! This week, we talked to Charlotte who created a dark, floral design with a classic silhouette.

Charlotte's Winning Design, Now Available to Pre-Order!

Firstly, tell us about your winning design! Which direction did you decide to take the initial brief?

It was important for me to follow the designer handwriting of the Playful Promises brand, to create something I knew the customer would enjoy and would compliment their other products. I admire how Playful Promises create commercial lingerie which pushes boundaries with print, contemporary shapes with retro influences to create something unique and bold. The competition brief stressed the importance of print design to the company, and this is a factor of design I am very interested in exploring myself. I wanted to explore colour and graphic shapes through photographic print, distorting some floral photographs I took myself, the purple colour I chose is very complimentary to a range of skin tones. My set was very much influenced by retro shapes, with high rise briefs and a suspender belt. I wanted to push this design into a contemporary direction with mesh layering on the cups and insert panels. 

Charlotte's Design for Our Competition

When it comes to your work, where do your usually look to for inspiration? And how would you define your style?

I am inspired by a variety of influences, particularly high fashion designers, films and decades of style. I have always been interested in vintage clothing as I enjoy the novelty quirks and design details, I have always found wearing vintage to be more fun! I particularly admire the work of Heidi Slimane at Saint Laurent, and Miuccia Prada. They find exciting ways to bring retro influences into a modern perspective, creating strong personas in their collections. I also draw influence through painting and photography, which are fields I have studied. I like to collaborate my interests in my collections, for my final university project I have been making abstract paintings of Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona, as the lively atmosphere of the city is something that cannot be captured through photography alone. I have also done a project before based on some pinhole time lapse photography I had taken, called 'solargraphs'. The colours and movement in the photographs came out beautifully and I had to translate them into garments.  

Charlotte's Corset Sketchbook

What drew you to lingerie?

In the past few years there has been a massive rise of popularity in the lingerie market, with exciting independent brands pushing the boundaries of design, and how we see the female body. Around this time I found the Contour Fashion degree at De Montfort University, and my determination to make it onto this very competitive degree program led me to discovering the diversity of lingerie design. I am a massive lingerie hoarder, I don't like to think about how much I own but it is definitely above average, I love the way that lingerie can be worn as a statement, mixed and layered with sheer outerwear, or as a very personal garment. 

Charlotte's Corset Sketchbook

How did you begin designing lingerie initially and what made you decide to study contour/lingerie design?

I could not decide on a university course at all, I was very fine art based up until applying to university and was considering this at degree level. When I came across the Contour Fashion degree at De Montfort University It felt like the only course I had seen that made sense for me, and from that point I concentrated my efforts into building a portfolio for the course. I had always loved lingerie and fashion, working on commercially viable and luxurious garments with more of a technical approach was more exciting to me than studying fashion. I am now in my third year of study and I have learnt so much in my time at university, the teaching has been excellent and has exposed me to many aspects of design, production, business and the industry. 

Photo from Underlines Magazine

Photographed by Sean Goldthorpe and Lingerie by Charlotte Holkham

What’s next for you in terms of your future as a designer?

At the moment I am focusing on trying to survive my Final Major Project, which is proving to be very challenging! I have just had my catalogue photo shoot with my first garments and I am extremely excited to start on the rest, although this does involve 12 hour days, it will be worth it in the end! I will be graduating this summer and will be looking for jobs/placements after a much needed break.

You can purchase Charlotte's design here, available in sizes 32B - 36D / XS - XL