Dress Up! London Events For Flaunting All

Here at Playful Promises we believe in lingerie that shouldn’t be hidden away. Pesky social conditioning has told women not to show their bra straps, let alone anything else that might even vaguely constitute an undergarment. Remember the thong-above-jeans shocking trend of the 90s (thanks Britney)? That’s not even close to enough lingerie on show for us. Alas, walking around in lingerie is apparently unacceptable, because all lingerie must equate to sex, and female bodies must be policed ;) 

So where can you wear your pants with pride without (hopefully) being judged? Where can you mix lingerie with other wardrobe pieces as a good old dress up? These are my favourite events in London where you can do just that!

Torture Garden

Torture Garden is arguably THE biggest fetish club in the world, having hosted events as far as Japan, with its base in London. Running events almost every month since 1990, TG certainly knows its stuff! In the beginning the fetish scene was much more underground, which led to plenty of scandalous reports in the media as the parties grew. Attitudes changed, and the fashion world began to embrace previously taboo clothing such as rubber/latex. Subsequently, TG events began to attract bigger and bigger crowds in more mainstream venues.

There are a multitude of different people that attend (and are welcomed to) TG for all different reasons; the clubs are well known for their innovative fashion shows, performances and a host of different music. Personally, I go for the entertainment and a good night out rather than the sexual exploration - although there are plenty of rooms for couples and a dungeon, and there are no off-limits areas for sex, the spaces are so large that there are plenty of club rooms to dance and drink. In fact, touching anyone without permission, or any sort of harassment is strictly forbidden. This is especially important for those who wish to explore their dressing up options without fear of being mocked or touched.

What to wear: Set your imagination free - most of the best outfits are created from ready-made items, styled in a creative way. Some people make extravagant pieces or have them made; some people opt for rubber and some even go naked or with a little body paint!

We suggest our Magdalene Harness Briefs with Matilde Pasties!

Belle Epoque: The Dark Circus Party 

Torture Garden team up with Bourne & Hollingsworth (known for The Blitz Party, Prohibition and The Chap Olympiad) for this debaucherous circus themed party. Although TG is a co-runner of this event, it shouldn’t be mistaken for a toned-down version of the fetish club (if you want a more introductory version, I suggest attending one of the smaller TG Boat Parties). Designed to be decadent, the crowds at Belle Epoque are encouraged to embrace the themes of vintage, glamour and fantasy with a dark circus twist. Think corsets, tassels, feathers and dandies.  

B&H work on the atmospheric production, cocktails and theming while TG provide some of the most esteemed performances from all over the world. However it is worth noting that as this isn’t a fetish club, there isn’t a playroom, and though they don’t explicitly state that nudity isn’t an option, you are less likely to feel as comfortable in the buff as you would do at a TG event. Performances are also themed to suit, so expect burlesque, circus and sideshow acts rather than performance art (all equally talented, though!).

What to wear: Corsets, ballgowns, historical garb, feathers and burlesque-style pieces.

We suggest the Bluebella Sasha body, styled over the What Katie Did Maitresse bullet bra and girdlette. 

A Curious Invitation

Headed up by impresario, writer, taxidermy shop owner and all-round interesting lady, Suzette Field, A Curious Invitation brings parties, workshops and lectures to London and beyond. Formerly part of The Last Tuesday Society, which created similar events, Suzette has recently penned a book all about the 40 greatest parties in fiction. Attend one of A Curious Invitation’s events and you can definitely see the influence of history and literature. Each ball has a certain theme, and are described as masked masquerades; from the “Gold and Silver Ball” to “The Rite of Spring”.

Clothes are considered optional at A Curious Invitation, and you will often see nude men and women of all sizes painted gold at the “Naked Feast”. For the majority of the crowd, dress is similar to that at Belle Epoque, but with a much more bohemian feel, you can really wear as little as you like as long as you are masked!

What to wear: Run with the theme but think fantasy, fairytale, venetian carnival and burlesque.

We suggest the Penelope set and Scarlett robe.

Rumpus

Described as “Over-the-top, non-stop, tip-top, animalistic, carnivalistic, magic, mystery and mayhem”, Rumpus is a whole festival in one evening. Not one for those looking for a quiet night, or for a mainstream club, the Rumpus team’s definition of a Good Party is live bands, DJs, performances, art and more. Being expressive and getting involved is encouraged, and what makes Rumpus one of the best parties there is, is their respect for performers and their encouragement of creative collaboration.

So much happens in such a small space of time, you are bound to be constantly entertained, and with each event a different theme, each party is different. Rumpus is all about dressing up, but unlike most of the other clubs listed here, it doesn't have a dress code so you won’t be turned away or looked down upon for not dressing up. Silliness is appreciated, and you won’t feel out of place (I’ve seen people that have made costumes out of light-up Christmas decorations) in this friendly club.

What to wear: Go crazy!

We suggest the Phoebe set from Peek & Beau, which is perfect for swooshy dancing

White Mischief

Best known for their steampunk Grand Balls, White Mischief is the place to go to see hand-constructed costumes, wonderful music and dozens of performances (much of which have reached some level of stardom). The White Mischief dates and themes vary throughout the year (toward the end of last year they ran a monthly event at Bush Hall, which was more of a sit-down cabaret rather than the grand sprawling events usually held at The Scala), and they often collaborate with other promoters/companies.

After a successful run the last few years, they also organize weekend retreats called “The Summer House”  (or “The Winter House”, unsurprisingly, during winter), which encourages the exploration of creativity, self expression and intimacy. LGBT friendly workshops, talks, cabaret, film screenings and more are run throughout the weekend, giving various options and allowing you to enjoy the time as you see fit (while some workshops are aimed at sexual practices, they are never designed to make you feel uncomfortable and the weekend is very much about feeling safe and welcome).

To experience White Mischief at it’s most grand, make sure you attend the Halloween Ball, a full-scale multi-room interactive experience and great night out.

What to wear: Dressing up isn’t compulsory, but encouraged (and who wouldn’t want to take advantage of a bit of dress up fun!?). The team are helpful at suggesting costumes and places to rent from.

We suggest teaming the Black Vintage Stitch Corset with a floor length skirt and bustle for Edwardian chic!

What are your favourite clubs/events to prance in pants? Have you been to any of the above?

The Life of Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is one of the few female artists to permeate the mainstream, in an industry dominated by men. She’s inspired millions, including us, as we took inspiration for our AW’15 collection from her life and work – rich colours and floral prints, snakes and palms. However, as colourful as she appeared, she was an uncompromising symbol for women of all backgrounds and abilities.

An outspoken leftist in a world of oppression, Kahlo used her art to question beauty ideals, female sexuality, gender inequalities and physical limitations. Her story is a harsh and painful one, and she dealt with her grief and suffering in the only way she could – painting.

Frida contracted polio at the age of 6, resulting in her right leg being thinner than her left. Living with this disability would have been difficult enough, but in 1925 at age 18, her life was put on hold after a serious bus accident. Impaled by a handrail, her spinal column, collarbone, pelvis, right leg, some ribs and a foot were broken, leaving Doctors to question whether she would live, let alone walk again.

It couldn’t have come at a worse time; in 1922 she was one of only 35 girls to be admitted to one of Mexico’s premier schools, Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, to study to become a doctor. Although her Mother hadn’t supported her decision to get an education, her Father encouraged it.

With her dreams and body crushed, Kahlo spent three months in a full body cast, and had over 30 surgeries and relapses of extreme pain throughout her life. Her abdomen and uterus had also been pierced by an iron handrail, severely limiting her ability to conceive in the future. After learning this she created a heart-breaking birth certificate for an imaginary son, Leonardo.

You can only imagine the grief and suffering she felt; she began to paint to occupy herself. With little but her imagination and a mirror, she painted self portraits – “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” Her ability to create so much with just one subject is testament to her skill; of the 140 (at least) paintings she created, 55 are self-portraits.

Using a special easel commissioned by her mother, and borrowed paints and brushes from her father, she completed her first full painting only a year after her accident; “Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress”.

Having already dabbled in politics at her school, becoming a member of a socialist-nationalist group “Los Cachuchas”, Frida picked up her train of thought post-recovery by joining the Young Communist League. Through her connections she met Diego Rivera; “I have suffered two grave accidents in my life: one in which a streetcar knocked me down…the other accident is Diego.”

A renowned muralist, Diego was a popular figure in Mexican art. She showed him four of her paintings, to which he told her she had talent – clearly something else caught his eye as they began a romantic relationship. After 2 years they married in 1929, much to the disapproval of Kahlo’s mother, who described Diego as too old (twice Frida’s age), too fat, a communist and an atheist. Her father was less resistant, seeing Diego as a financial support for his daughter’s medical needs.

Kahlo suffered through various complications and an abortion as a result of her accident, and in 1932 another miscarriage resulted in 13 days of recovery in a Detroit hospital. In “Henry Ford Hospital” she paints herself surrounded by her unborn baby, a medical diagram of the female reproductive system, her broken pelvis and medical machinery. Painted on a sheet of metal, and featuring an industrial background of the Ford Motor Company (the hospital where she lay financed by Henry Ford), it also referenced her political thoughts. Unfortunately this didn’t symbolise the last of her pregnancy issues, nor her hospital trips.

Diego and Frida’s marriage was tumultuous, with both parties having affairs and bad tempers. Kahlo’s tastes ran throughout the gender spectrum, and her lovers included Josephine Baker among others. Rivera tolerated her relationships with women, but men made him jealous, and once he had an affair with her younger sister, Cristina, Frida was furious. She moved to her own apartment and didn’t paint for a year; the next painting being a clearly heart-broken “A Few Small Nips (Passionately in Love)”.

Whilst the pair were married, Diego’s fame and talent often overshadowed Frida’s, however he was supportive and instrumental to her career and development. Her art was often described as a mix of Mexican tradition and surrealism, however she never consider herself the latter: “My paintings are... the frankest expression of myself”.

In 1939 Andre Breton invited her to France to feature in an exhibition, which led to The Louvre purchasing “The Frame”, the first work of a 20th century Mexican artist they had ever displayed.

Throughout the rest of her life Frida continued to align herself politically, entertained various lovers and exhibited her work internationally. She also continued to suffer with various illnesses and pain, eventually dying on the 13th July 1954 at just 47. Diego wrote that the day Frida died was the most tragic day of his life, and that he had realized too late that the most wonderful part of his life had been his love for her.

She was clearly an amazing and inspiring woman, and her work is still just as relevant today.

A Playful Pinterest Competition!

We're giving away a goodie bag full of playful goodies for the most creative Pinterest board!

Just follow our Pinterest account, create a board on your own account called "Playful Promises" and pin at least one photo from our website (each product image has a little "share" button above the description). Then get creative! 

Perhaps you want to highlight our stunning prints and create a board devoted to the colours and design of the Frida collection? Or you love our use of gold in the Penelope set and create a board devoted to glitter! Maybe our Swimwear tickles your fancy? Or you could just create a Playful Promises board with images that remind you of our brand, or encapsulate how good lingerie makes you feel. 

Once you are ready, leave your board link and email in a comment on this blog post.

The competition closes on the 28th, and the winner will be announced on the 29th of May!

Summer Sun Holiday Wishlist

With the English sun finally making an appearance in London this week - today it’s a tropical 23 degrees Celsius! - I’ve started daydreaming about the perfect summer holiday. Whether it’s a stylish city break, or a relaxed island sojourn, all of my dream destinations are by the sea – so naturally my mind has also been wandering to the perfect swimwear!

Top of my holiday wishlist right now is the fantastic walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, which you might recognise as King’s Landing from HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Dubrovnik sits beside the Adriatic sea, and with temperatures of up to 28 degrees Celsius in July and August, there’s no better place for picturesque views and pebbly beaches!

Next on my wishlist are the Cinque Terre (The Five Lands) in Liguria, Italy. These five quaint cliffside villages are accessible primarily by train, and are perfect for a peaceful, secluded getaway. Few places are as untouched by modernisation as the Cinque Terre and their remote yet dramatic location is to thank for this. 

Popular with hikers, the Cinque Terre are also a hotspot for scuba diving and boast some sandy beaches in sheltered coves. The Vintage Lazy Summer high waist bikini is top of my list for making the most out of this fab destination, and the colours match the beautifully painted buildings!

Home to two of the most famous beaches on Earth, the lively city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the perfect destination to let your hair down. With bustling markets and vibrant nightlife, the city is a feast for the senses both day and night!

Take your look effortlessly from day to night, beach to club, with the Playful Promises ‘I Love Lala’ swimsuit. Its dynamic print will ensure you stand out in this dazzling city!

Last, but certainly not least, is the Caribbean island of Barbados. With its balmy climate, white sand beaches and turquoise seas, nowhere more embodies the term ‘island paradise’. Top of my list for Barbados would be swimming with turtles, and of course relaxing with a rum punch (or three!).

And top of my list for swimwear would be the Vintage Lazy Summer frilly bikini!

What far-flung places are on top of your holiday wishlist? Are you travelling this year? 

And the winners are....

A few weeks ago we announced the shortlist of winners for our student and recent graduate Design Competition, and encouraged you to vote for your favourites on facebook.

We had hundreds of different votes on the 9 shortlisted designs, and now the vote is closed and counted, we can announce the three winners!

Congratulations to....

CHARLOTTE HOLKHAM

LOUISE STRUDWICK

SOPHIE BEET

And because we just fell in love with the design and print, we've picked another winner!

THE LINGERIE LESBIAN

Well done to the above winners (Emma will be in touch!), and thank you to everyone that entered. We saw some beautiful designs and refreshing talent, we hope that you'll continue to design pieces during and after your studies. 

Keep your eyes peeled on further developments as the above pieces are brought to life in SS'16!