Inside Playful Promises: Diary of an Intern

Hello, my name is Caitlin and I'm currently a PR and Marketing intern here at Playful Promises! I am absolutely loving my time here, and the staff are all lovely!

The staff, especially Delphine and Anna, gave me a warm welcome and I felt like an instant member of the team. The great thing about Playful Promises is that it is a self-contained company, so everything is done in-house, strengthening the integrity of the brand itself; everything that you see has gone past everyone in the office.

How to save a vintage tea set - Salt, water and Baking soda!

I am really grateful for this opportunity and I am learning so much here at Playful Promises. In the short space of time that I have been here I have done so many different things, from cleaning a vintage coffee set to posting on the Playful Promises blog, Newsletter, Facebook and Twitter pages and I have enjoyed every moment. I am a person who needs variety in a job role, and this internship is suiting me down to the ground as no two days are the same!

I am really getting a chance to fully experience what it would be like to work in this amazing company as I am here for three months – which is great because I get to see projects and events from the very beginning right through to the end!

In my short time here I have already helped with a press event – which involved a lot of call rounds to different magazines, newpapers and bloggers (if you’re not very confident on the phone and want to go into marketing, I suggest you practise because it can be a big part of the job!), finding props for the venue, organizing samples and the venue.

Playful Promises Boxpark Boutique is lovely as well! I was sent there to photograph the shop and its products and meet the staff and let me tell you, the staff at the boutique are just as warm and welcoming as they are in the office, making any experience with Playful Promises as a brand a great one!

I have definitely learnt that a career in PR and Marketing involves lots of things that didn’t even cross my mind! I have been conducting a lot of research into different places, people and publications which has been a fairly big part of what I have been doing here so make sure you get well acquainted with Google and other search engines if you want to be in PR.

In my time here I have become well acquainted with Playful Promises products and I have seen how well-made, well-designed and manufactured they all are – in fact, being an intern here is not doing my purse any favours as I want it all! I have seen next season’s product ranges and you all have a lot to look forward too!

As I am only in the third week of my internship I am looking forward to so many things that I will be getting up to! I am especially looking forward to helping and becoming more involved with the Boutique's Facebook page – it is definitely worth a ‘Like’ – you never know what juicy Playful deals and bargains you are missing out on! I am also really looking forward to contributing more to the Playful blog as loads of really interesting stuff is on here and its definitely worth a read! 

Well there you have it, that is just a quick summary of everything that I have been doing here at Playful Promises so if you have any questions or queries about my internship and what I am doing here, please feel free to ask, I would love to hear from you!

This means War: Big Knickers VS G-strings

Big is Back Ladies and there’s a huge debate raging throughout the underwear world – G-Strings Vs. High Waisted Knickers!

In recent years there has been a drastic increase in sales of high-waist underwear, while the sales of the G-String are dwindling. I am left pondering this shift in lingerie fashions and wondering why many of us are taking inspiration from our Grannies and choosing bigger knickers.

The Kitty G-string

The G-String is one of the oldest forms of clothing, and can be traced back to many indigenous tribes throughout Southern Africa. The G-String was originally created for men, but nowadays is firmly considered a female garment.

The G-String first gained mainstream popularity throughout Southern America, particularly Brazil in the 70’s. The G-String then became popular throughout the Western World in the 1980’s, rising in popularity throughout the 90’s and the Noughties becoming one of the fastest-selling most in-demand women’s products. R’n’B and Hip Hop music helped increase the popularity, becoming synonymous with artists such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

The G-String is heralded as a bold, sexy garment that boosts women’s confidence, releasing their wild, exotic side. As well as the psychological effect a G-String has on women (and men!) it offers many benefits to the wearer:

• Reducing the possibility of the dreaded VPL (Visible Panty Line for those not in the know).

• G-Strings come in a wide range of styles, materials and colours, suitable for any occasion or outfit.

Despite the many options a G-String offers, there are some who claim that G-Strings are uncomfortable and too risqué and the poor G-String style swimsuit has even been banned in public in some American counties!

I bet they just haven’t seen Playful Promises wonderful offerings of G-Strings, because no one would want to hide the Kitty Ivory Tulle and Stitch G-String!

Vamp High Waist Brief

2012 is the year of big knickers, especially High Waisted briefs, and they are considered one of the year’s biggest trends. The trend of bigger knickers has been rising for some years now and offer benefits including:

• Bigger knickers are extremely comfortable and also conceal VPL, stealing the limelight from the G-String!

• Most high waists are very flattering and some often shape the body, providing support.

With the increased interest in vintage styles, everyone’s referring to 1940’s pin ups for inspiration with regards to lingerie, and now big celebrities are flaunting their statement knickers paving the way for everyone else to wear their big knickers with pride!

Some claim that the current state of the global economy is to blame for the increased interest in big knickers. During the 1920’s American depression, whenever women had some disposable spending money the first thing they bought was lingerie. Why? Because a whole new outfit was often unattainable, so buying underwear let women look great for a minimal cost and minimal effort – such is the power of a good set of underwear!

Personally, I’m a big knickers kind of gal and absolutely adore the Etti Satin High Waisted Brief!

The lines have been firmly drawn here at the Playful Promises office, but what side do you stand on – G-Strings or High Waisted Knickers? 

We're all going on a... staycation!

Image via www.moredesignplease.com

As I'm sure you have all noticed – Summer’s officially here (well, at least it is inbetween the clouds...)! And what better way to enjoy the beautiful British sunshine than with a staycation?! Who needs to go to a far flung corner of the Earth when you can have a heavenly time right on your doorstep, what’s not to love about BBQ’s, lazy days in the garden and having a legitimate reason to eat ice cream?

Is there any better way to spend a gorgeous summer day than with some classic cocktails in the sun? Here are the Playful Promises team's classic summer favourites!

Classic Mojito

• 10 fresh mint leaves

• ½ lime cut into 4 wedges

• 2 tablespoons of white sugar

• 50ml of white rum

• Club soda

• Ice

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge in a glass and crush. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle together. Fill the glass with ice and pour the rum and club soda into the glass. Stir and garnish with the final lime wedge.

Margaritas

• 50ml tequila

• 25ml cointreau

• Dash of lime juice

To prepare the glass, rub lime juice around the rim and dip in salt. Now the bit we’re all interested in! Put the tequila, cointreau and lime juice into a cocktail shaker full over ice and shake it up! Then put it in the glass and you’re good to go!

Tom Collins

• 60ml gin

• 35ml fresh lemon juice

• 20ml sugar syrup

• Soda Water

• Lemon wedges

Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice and stir. Strain into a tall glass over ice and top with soda water, garnish with a lemon wedge and enjoy!

If you ever get bored of sitting in the garden sipping these delicious concoctions, which I highly doubt, but you never know!  Why not venture down to our Boxpark boutique and bag yourself some beautiful underwear to go under your summer dress? The Juliette Ultramarine Lace Soft Cup Bra and Brief is perfect for ‘Lazing on a sunny afternoon’ in beautiful Blighty.

What will you be getting up to this Summer? Have you escaped the Olympics madness?

Knickers for confidence: Not just for the bedroom!

Lori Smith is a frequent blogger, tweeter and full-time lingerie aficionado. She writes about fashion, feminism and sex/relationships for a handful of websites including her own, Rarely Wears Lipstick. She will soon be returning to university to study fashion part-time, providing her with even more opportunities to write about underwear!

It can sometimes be extremely difficult to feel gorgeous. We’re all subjected to images of beautiful people every day, via newspapers, magazines, television and advertising. Beautiful people who we can’t help but compare ourselves to, no matter how hard we try not to. So, with this in mind, how on earth do we go about improving our own body confidence? Well, believe it or not, lingerie can help with this.

Many women think that gorgeous elaborate underwear is for the bedroom alone - designed purely to make us look good for our partners. But don’t you always feel good when you’re wearing something that you love? When you zip up that super flattering work dress, or slip on those gorgeous yet comfortable heels, don’t you feel like you could take on the world? Pretty lingerie can give you that feeling no matter what you choose to wear over it.

None of us dresses solely for the benefit of other people. We have our own style, our own balance point between style and comfort, and our own favourite garments. So, if you’re wearing the clothes you love for your own benefit, it doesn’t even matter if it’s something that no one else will see. You’ll still get the same confidence boost from something that only you know is there.

Obviously, any lingerie that you’re planning on wearing all day will have to be comfortable, so make sure you pick styles that you’re 100% happy with. If you’re a fan of big pants, get yourself some sexy big pants. If you like a g-string to avoid the dreaded VPL, add one or two that are a little less plain to your collection. There are a whole host of beautiful bras that won’t show under clothing too. Satin is perfect for underneath t-shirts, and lace can be worn under anything that’s not quite so clingy. Once you’re fully dressed, no one need know. Just imagine if you were wearing an Etti Satin Longline Bra under your boring black work shirt. That would definitely liven up dull meetings for me!

If we feel good when we get dressed in the morning, it shows in all sorts of ways. You might be smiling more than usual when you arrive at the office, drawing compliments from colleagues. If you choose undies that fit and flatter your shape, the smooth lines of your clothing will make you feel better when you’re sat at your desk and that little confidence boost will work wonders.

Why not try some frilly knickers or pin-up panties underneath your comfy old jeans? Or perhaps a silk chemise worn as a slip underneath that boring old dress that you’ve had for years but just can’t bear to be parted from. Pretty underwear doesn’t always have to feature stockings and suspenders, especially if that’s not your thing.

So, when you look at a beautiful set of lingerie featuring lace and satin, don’t think “it’s gorgeous, but when would I wear it?” Instead, think about how you’d feel if you were wearing it underneath your everyday clothes. Good, huh? It’d be like you were going on a date with yourself, and every girl likes to feel a bit special once in a while. Go on... you’re worth it.

Couture Rubber: Kaori's Latex Dreams

Think of latex and you probably think of all kinds of kinkiness; clothing that is reserved for BDSM or fetish clubs. It's no wonder that this tight, figure-hugging rubber has become such an icon of the fetish world - it is known to feel like a second skin. But as fashion develops and searches for new ways of pushing boundaries, so has it taken on latex as a couture statement. 

Thanks to the internet allowing access to international suppliers, the latex industry has grown dramatically since 2000. Although there are hundreds of designers currently working with the material, it is not possible to manufacture latex clothing on a grand scale. Creating the items is a skilled art, which allows made-to-measure custom designs for a one-of-a-kind look. 

Much like textile clothing, the basic foundation of latex design is the pattern. This is created and adjusted using the specific measurements supplied by the customer. The difference now is the joining of the seams; it is not possible to sew latex together, as you would fabric, so it must be joined using specific latex glue. This labour-intensive method takes time and a lot of skill, which explains why latex clothing is generally more expensive than off-the-shelf high street items!

Although translucent in colour, latex can be dyed, and the current available colours range from metallic purple to orange, white, blue and more. 

Despite being such a flexible and creative material, the latex world had previously been dominated (see what I did there!) by basic designs, relying purely on the seduction of the second skin and the eye-catching shine. It was time for a change, and that's exactly why Kaori Matsubara decided to create her own pieces of sophisticated latex to flatter any woman. 

The beautiful "Art Deco" dress

In recent years stylists and celebrities have become familiar with latex, with everyone from Lady Gaga, to Madonna to Cheryl Cole donning delicious rubber. It has been recognised for it's artistic beauty too, with couture latex brand Atsuko Kudo being featured in a V&A exhibition and a ShowStudio video. 

Latex has become a fashion statement; we love seeing it being worn with everyday textile clothing for an added texture. Brands such as Kaori's Latex Dreams create couture designs, without the hefty catwalk price-tag. These sophisticated designs prove that you don't need to squeeze yourself into a catsuit to rock the trend, nor must latex be hidden away! 

If you aren't already a latex fan, or you just aren't sure where to start, we have just the thing for you. We teamed up with Kaori's Latex Dreams to create an exclusive limited edition line of latex accessories to match your Playful Promises lingerie! 

Available only at Playful Promises, the first mini-collection includes a hair fascinator (£45), fingerless gloves (£22) and matching nipple pasties (£18). Each piece of this classic range has been handmade in the UK using electric rose and black latex of high quality, and there are more designs yet to come!

Latex needs a little extra care to ensure a long life, but we put together some handy tips with the help of Kaori. Latex can be difficult to put on if you don't know how, and while it may seem too small at first glance, it is a particularly stretchy material and needs to sit tight against your skin.

1. Ensure you use talcom powder or latex-safe lubricant (usually whatever is safe to use with a condom) inside the item and on the skin it will be connecting with (for example, when putting on the gloves, please put lube/talc onto your hand and on the inside of the glove).
2. Be careful of any sharp objects such as nails when putting on the latex. Although latex is fairly thick, it is not as pliable as some fabrics and could tear against sharp edges.
3. Don't worry if you have any talc on the outside of the glove - most latex is worn polished to give an enticing shine. Polish off the talc using a latex safe silicone spray or lubricant. 
4. When you have finished wearing your latex, you can wash it in warm soapy water, rinse and leave to drip dry.
5. Store the latex in a plastic bag in a cool place, avoiding the sun (as this will deteriorate the latex).

Enjoy!!