Playful Promises Blog

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The Playful Promises Blog covering all things knicker-related! Bras, girdles, corsets, panties, knickers, gstrings, thongs, longline bra, bra sizes, la bra, suspender belts, garter, dresses, clothing, boutique, stockings, seamed stockings and more!

Filtering by Tag: lingerie

Madonnelle of Rome

August 07, 2015  /  Playful Intern

Rain, rain, go away.

Factor 50 for porcelain skin, squeaky flip flops and sunglasses that make you look important (nobody knows who you are, you could be famous for all they know). Yes it may seem a comical combination but when on holiday nothing seems as wonderful as having the weather to wear your diva shades without judgement and getting out those painted toenails after lathering your body with sun cream. Now back in the UK with drizzly rain and downpours, nobody will get to see that vintage lazy summer floral bikini… unless we’re given another heat wave that is, OR you just feel that anyone and everyone must see it despite the rain!

Suffering from the holiday blues, reminiscing of that city break to Rome which is long gone, why not look back even further. Historians, cut me some slack on my brief upcoming facts!

Known as a holy city, when waltzing through the streets of Rome, those who have been may notice Madonnelle (little Madonna) is framed on street corners, made from mosaic, marble and even wood for the purpose of spirit protection.

Positioned in-between two windows, these sacred images combined with angels were very popular with the lower classes, currently you can count over 500 in the streets of Rome! But don’t try to find them all at once, it would only lead to you stopping at every water tap in sight and there’s probably nearly the same amount as there are Madonelle’s!

Every year a procession takes place of a statue of Madonna Fiumarola being carried across the river Tiber, through the streets and neighbourhoods of Trastevere. This continues the Italian tradition from the early 1500s, when the statue was donated to the Basilica of San Crisogono after found by fisherman in Corsica. Trastevere is filled with events of theatre, music and food festivals to lure in tourists during this time, which slightly loses the popularity of the event with the Italian people. However, this event still remains its strong religious elements.

You may not find yourself a religious believer, but it's impossible to not be drawn to the architecture the city has to offer, all with pious elements attached. So instead of waiting to visit Rome, be a saintly figure wherever you go in our Magdalene set. The central colourfully kitsch print combined with black chunky fishnet side panels on the bra and briefs shows a good girl going bad.

tags / travel, inspiration, print, lingerie

Strap In: The Bondage Trend

July 15, 2015  /  Playful Intern

Love it or hate it, the strappy lingerie trend is still going strong!

Typically only seen in the BDSM/fetish world, bondage (a constraint used for sexual pleasure) has entered mainstream fashion over the last few years. Although not a new addition to the lingerie world (strappy lingerie has been around in certain forms since the 1940s or possibly earlier!), 50 Shades of Grey certainly had a powerful influence on the rise of bondage themes within fashion.

Music videos now have an age rating as bondage has become more glamorized, mainstream and socially acceptable, with female musicians donning the garments. Although being constrained is typically a submissive trait, these women are anything but submissive, in fact, they seem to use the garments to exert power and strength. 

In "traditional" society, if you exposed your underwear it would have been frowned upon, whereas in this day and age you could turn your underwear into outerwear and nobody will bat an eyelash. Whether its body harnesses, cuffs or lingerie strapping decor, has this generation became more liberal to experiment with elements of BDSM?

As Playful Promises love all things playful, flirty and a little bit dirty we opened our arms to the curious and naughty. Our Cristina Black Satin and Mesh Longline Cage Bra with matching briefs features layers of strapping and a harness brief. The bra is a classic longline style which is both sexy and sophisticated. 

One of our guest brands, Hopeless Lingerie, is a specialist in bondage inspired lingerie. For the more daring wearer their Jennifer Frame Ouvert Knickers are perfect; with adjustable strapping giving a made to measure feel.

For a more subtle introduction to strapping why not try the Hopeless Lingerie Suzy Bralette. This is a less provocative but still strong piece with a soft jersey cup, which can be worn as lingerie or out and about as outerwear.

Fl*sh You & Me also create their own harnesses, which are at a slightly lower price point than Hopeless, with a more colourful approach. The Ruby Harness in Mint is a personal favourite, which brings colour to any summer outfit in the daytime or spice up an outfit in the evening.

For those who are more angelic and pure, but hold a secret love for strappy pants, the Fl*sh You & Me White Double Cross bra with matching garter belt and briefs is ideal as it's sweet and seductive. When wearing the garter belt with the briefs this is a killer combo highlighting the waist, and the multiple strapping on the briefs emphasizes the curve to the hip.

With imagery and video so accessible, and with more lingerie brands than ever before, will this bondage trend continue to grow? I hope so!

Do you love this trend? How do you style strappy lingerie as outerwear?

tags / trend, lingerie, style

Dress Up! London Events For Flaunting All

July 06, 2015  /  Playful Promises

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?

tags / london, going out, event, lingerie, nipple pasties