Silver Screen Queens

Love them or hate them, the silver screen idols will never cease! Even those long departed from life are revived again and again through the camera lens. Some of them, who have climbed to the highest rung of the celebrity ladder, have become symbols of their generation. What conjures up thoughts of the 1950s more than Marilyn Monroe and her classic bullet bra?

At Playful Promises we adore the glamour of the big screen, and many of our pieces have been inspired by starlets of times gone by! Which got me wondering, if we could transport ourselves into the dressing rooms of these great actresses, which of our items would we cheekily slip in amongst their furs, corsets and negligees?

Don't be mistaken by her beautiful child-like features, Lillian Gish was one of the prominent actresses of the 1910s and 20s, starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the day! We could easily see her relaxing in our pink Lyla playsuit with contrasting black bows.

One of the world's most popular vamps, Louise Brooks and her bob hairstyle has become iconic of the 1920s. Team our Vintage Stitch Corset with a lacy vintage slip or a fringed skirt for the perfect flapper look.

German born Marlene Dietrich is the ultimate femme fatale. With her striking, chiselled looks and deep exotic voice (surprisingly well recieved during the era of the talkies), she has to be my personal favourite star! We would love to have seen our Ava collection peeking out from underneath those fitted black jackets and suits that Dietrich was famous for.

Listed as one of the Greatest Stars of All Time, Rita Hayworth is yet another glamorous and unprecedented beauty of the silver screen. After posing in just her negligee for Life Magazine, she became one of the top two pin ups of the War years. And this is why we would have to slip her into our Silk Chemise Set in scarlet!

Her unmistakeable features have been painted by Warhol and impersonated by scores of actresses and imitators; Marilyn Monroe needs no introduction. A poster girl for the classic girl-next-door look, Monroe wore bullet bras and girdles underneath her sweater for ultimate curves. What Katie Did's Maitresse Bullet Bra is perfect to replicate this look! 

Effortlessly chic and eternally classic, Elizabeth Taylor rose to stardom in the 1950s and 60s with iconic films such as Cleopatra. A fashion icon of the time, she was often seen wearing a silk scarf and headband. Even in her most revealing of outfits, Elizabeth appeared modest and stunning, which is why we have chosen the Morgana Garter Dress!

Pixie-like Mia Farrow's career has spanned from the 60s to present day, with one of her key roles in Rosemary's Baby in 1968 kicking off her 70s popularity. She exagerrated her delicate looks by wearing mini dresses and peter pan collars, just the kind of style that works perfectly over our Genie nude set!

 Rising to the Hollywood elite ranks in the 1980s and furthering her career during the next few decades, Michelle Pfeiffer is our 80s star. Known for taking on roles against her typical type, she is best remembered for that amazing Catwoman outfit in Batman Returns - single-handedly sexing up the comic franchise. For this, we could think of nothing better than our classic Victoria set!

Demi Moore, one of the highest paid actresses of the 90s, is well known for letting it all hang out! In 1991 she controversially appeared naked on the cover of Vanity Fair, whilst being 7 months pregnant. To get the Demi look, go bra-less! Or if you really can’t take that, then try our Multiway Bra :P

 Classic and glamorous, Cate Blanchett could easily have belonged to a past era. This Australian beauty rose to fame after playing Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, which makes the name of our 'Time for Tea and a Dance' postcard panties seem ideal! We also think the champagne satin and sweetheart lace back would flatter a complexion similar to Cate's.

We watched her grow from know-it-all teen in Harry Potter to a style icon. Trading in her long locks for a Mia Farrow-esque pixie cut catapulted Emma Watson into a media frenzy. Much like Farrow, she mixes cute dresses with other feminine pieces... and lots of lace! We think she would love our Peach Detail Waspie and Silk Corsage bra!

Which Hollywood star would you love to style? And what would you dress her in? 

The original Tiger Tamer!

Described as the first female tiger trainer (or at least the most famous), Mabel Stark was renowned in the 1920s for her death-defying acts. Typical of performers, not much is known about Stark’s life before the circus, and any information may have been exaggerated to add mystique. Some sources describe her parents as poor farmers, who died within a few years of eachother when Mabel was 17.

She lived with an unwelcoming aunt and soon became a nurse-in-residence at a hospital. During this time something occurred, whether it be a breakdown or something as simple as a change of heart – within a year she was performing in a carnival girl show, dancing the hoochie coochie.

In 1911 she ended up with the Al G. Barnes Circus in California, where she met famous ‘cat man’ Louis Roth. Working as a ‘high school’ rider (horseback rider) she set her heart on working with the big cats. Roth did not consider her worthy; until she married him (Stark married 4 or 5 times, mostly to further her career).

At first she worked on a ‘balloon act’, which involved her ‘riding’ a lion on a platform, complete with fireworks – a relatively simple act compared to what was to come! The circus encouraged her to work with lions, as it is easier to guess their actions and intents, but Mabel had an undying love for tigers. By 1916 she was presenting the show’s major tiger act.

She adopted a sickly tiger cub named Rajah, raising him by hand by keeping him in her apartment and playing with the cub at the beach. Realising how well he responded to physical touch, Stark decided to train him to perform a wrestling act – something that had never been seen before. Debuting the act in 1918, she shocked and appalled the audience, who believed that she was being mauled to death. It is said that brave men would often leave their seats, rushing towards the steel cage to try to save her.

Mabel Stark (left) with Mae West

Hitting the big time in 1922, she joined the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, rising to star in the center ring just a year later. It is said that personal problems with yet another marriage resulted in an altercation with the circus, and in 1925 they banned all wild animal acts.

Moving to another circus in Maine, a collection of issues led to Stark receiving a severe mauling. The circus had been delayed by rain, and by the time the show began, the tigers had spent the day on wet bedding. Stark had no time to feed the tigers, which would normally have resulted in a cancellation of the performance, however, she went on anyway. Some describe this as her first attempt at suicide, and later in life she often explained that she wanted to die being torn apart by her tigers. She lost her footing in the muddy arena and suffered wounds that almost severed her face, lacerated her face, tore a hole through her shoulder and a whole host of other injuries.

It took 2 years for Stark to fully recover and start touring with various circuses. She returned to California and finished her career at the Jungle Compound (later called Jungleland). In 1968 a new owner took over the business, who took an immediate dislike to Stark and fired her. Soon after this, one of the tigers escaped and was shot. Mabel was outraged, feeling that she could have secured the tiger if only asked for assistance.

Distraught by the loss of her job and personal memories of her career, husbands and tigers, she decided enough was enough. On April 20, 1968 she took a bottle of barbiturates, walked to the garage and put herself to sleep behind the wheel of her car. In the last pages of her autobiography, ‘Hold That Tiger’, published in 1938, she writes, “The chute door opens as I crack my whip and shout, ‘Let them come!’ Out slink the striped cats, snarling and roaring, leaping at each other or at me. It’s a matchless thrill, and life without it is not worthwhile to me.”

In honour of Mabel Stark, and all the other performers who have lived sad and glamorous tales, we have decorated the Playful Promises boutique window in big top style, complete with vintage-inspired posters!

Playful Promises Magazine issue 4 is ALIVE

The Playful Promises circus has rolled into town with the new issue of our online magazine!

We have put together a collection of freaks, geeks and marvels, dedicated to astounding and ensnaring the mind! Come and see the beautiful Missy Macabre, who bathes in broken glass and swallows fire, or the exotic Leah Debrincat, who will capture you with her tribal shimmying!

We have put together a tutorial on the perfect arabian nights makeup, a cocktail recipe and ideas for how to put together the perfect Circus-inspired lingerie set! Check out all this and much more inside our online magazine!

Just below are a few images of international performers Missy Macabre and Leah Debrincat, taken by myself. 

Sample Sale!

It is that time of the year again! No, not Christmas - you deserve to treat yourself all year round, and nothing feels better than getting a gorgeous piece of lingerie or two, for a bargain!

From the 19th to the 22nd of August our boutique is playing host to a Sample Sale with up to 75% off many of our lingerie collections, and also from our friends at Kiss Me Deadly, Ell&Cee and Ayten Gasson.

We will have sizes ranging from a UK 8 to a UK 18-20, and 32A to 38DD.

The sale will be held on Friday, Sat and Mon, from 11am-7pm, and on Sunday, noon-6pm!

In honour of this momentous event, we will also be hosting our first ever LINGERIE OLYMPIAD on friday the 19th. Who will be crowned the knicker queen? Battle it out in a series of sports, such as thong catapults and pass-the-pants! All topped off with a healthy amount of free drink!

 See below for directions on how to visit us!

Dear Lady Unmentionable...

Having recently been given the challenge to spice up my lingerie-loving wife's 'dress up' wardrobe, perhaps you could help me with my quest...

 1. Should i always get a suspender belt to go with corsets or basques or stick to ones that come with straps on them?

2. Can you recommend leather lingerie that is classy and not trashy? (and not £100!)

3. Are there any accessories to go with outfits i should be looking at?

Many thanks for any advice, it can be a daunting prospect!

Yours hopefully,

Lacy McThong

Dear Lacy McThong,

What a challenge! I like your wife’s style and what an interesting way to ‘spice’ things up.

Suspender belts are great fun as well as useful. Two in one! I always encourage the use of suspender belts as they can be a great tease in the bedroom. However, I think suspender belts should be a part of everyday wardrobe too. So if you do get your wife some suspender belts make sure you get some nice stockings too! I love the Bettie Page polka dot ones…but by far the most popular are the Cervin Stockings.

Cervin offer various stocking colours which can be matched with your wife’s outfit. And stockings are also a thrill inside and outside of the bedroom.

Suspender belts and girdles can be easy to match other items to. Playful Promises offer a black option, Jasmine, which I lurve. And this can be matched with a black corset, a black basque etc. You may want to consider longline girdles, such as the ones Kiss Me Deadly offer. These are almost a mixture of basque, corset and suspender belt – gripping!

In answer to your first question; definitely get a mixture! Make sure your wife has a choice of corsets, suspender belts and basques. Some with suspenders, and some without. That way she can pick and mix and you’ll get some lovely surprises every time!

Women easily change their mind, therefore their wardrobe needs to be adaptable. Having a variety of props, accessories, pieces of lingerie means more to choose from, more opportunities to mix and match and more special occasions for you! My lingerie lock-up reads like an encyclopedia, with several volumes. I have so much choice in my closet, I can create new outfits all the time from just what I own. Think Mix and Match.

In response to your second question, leather lingerie can be a difficult one and your budget is tight! I would suggest looking into leather accessories, such as cuffs and ties that way you get more bang for your buck, so to speak.

I would recommend Paul Seville’s leather gauntlets. A little pricey, but they are real leather, and this offers you leather lingerie and accessories in one go. They look great and what a great weekend ahead for you both! Allure Lingerie offer a tasteful lace and leather bra and brief set, rather cute and not just a bedroom ensemble.

There are also various bra and brief sets with leather, leather and chain, leather and pain, around the £50 budget. Perhaps not what most would call tasteful, but it depends what you are looking for and what occasion.

Online is a brilliant place to shop for these, search on google and google shopping and you will also find a large amount to offer in leather corsetry, waspies and accessories.

With regards to accessories, other than the stockings mentioned above, I think you should be considering nipple tassels and eye masks. Stephanie Loungewear offers some beautiful pieces.

I think they make ideal gifts, stocking fillers, a little something here and there and with so much variety and being inexpensive they are great treats.

There are some superb eye masks around from silks to laces to antique masks to blindfolds and more. Sleek lace eye masks can be tantalising but are also a key accessory for travelling and for sleepless nights.

If you like the lacy theme, then you can carry this on with lace gloves. Again you can get inexpensive versions on the high street, vintage ones that will cost a little more and bespoke pairs for a ridiculous amount. But gloves are great part of the strip-tease act and a must-have wardrobe accessory.

We wish you luck with your quest and I’m keen to know what you uncover!