Here are a couple of images of Samantha Gradoville, posing in pin up for November 2013’s issue of GQ. I feel like a need a subscription sometime, they always feature these fantastic editorials with lovely lingerie.
Bra: Victoria’s Secret. Skirt: Louis Vuitton.
Garter: Trashy (really. trashy.com if you’re interested) Hold ups by Agent Provocateur.
Model: Samantha Gradoville. Photography: Stevie and Mada. GQ UK, November 2013.
Images from here.
Fashion month for Spring 2014 ready-to-wear collections are soon coming to a close. While we’ll need to wait a few months for the collections to hit stores, hopefully this will tide you over for now. Below, I’ve paired a few favourite pieces from the past month’s runway shows with lingerie that are up for grabs now. Enjoy!
All runway images from style.com
Images of lingerie can be found/purchased here!
1. Lonely 2. J Crew 3. Dolce & Gabanna 4. Araks 5. Agent Provocateur 6. Agent Provocateur 7. Bordelle 8. Bordelle 9. Dolce & Gabbana 10. Only Hearts
Photo by Gilles Berquet.
Top bra: Lejaby archives, 1930’s. Middle bra: Lejaby archives, 1939. Lower left girdle: Chantelle archives, 1940’s. Lower right pregnancy belt: Chantelle archives, 1930’s.
Today, I had the chance to visit the Lingerie Française Exhibit that has finally made it’s way to Toronto. The remarkable show, curated by Catherine Ormen, has toured London, Paris, New York, Dubai and Berlin. It features 150 highly curated pieces and takes the viewer across a long history of French lingerie in chronological and thematic order.
Lingerie Française: in Toronto September 26 – October 13, 2013 at the Design Exchange
The exhibit features pieces from the archives of Chantelle, Lejaby, Aubade, Simone Pérèle, Lou, Empreinte, Princesse Tam.Tam, Passionata, Lise Charmel, Barbara and Implicite.
The show begins with corsets and early 20th century lingerie. Following are sections which have been separated by decade. A carefully selected assortment of lingerie representative of the period is accompanied by a brief overview of the cultural landscape of the time, and innovations that would had an impact the industry (such as the invention of Lycra in 1959). The show ends with a life size striptease hologram; need I say more?
Below are a few favourite photos that I took at the exhibit today.
Close up of a “Bust Support” in elastic weave. Mother of pearl button closure in front, laced in back, straps of cotton satin ribbon. Chantelle, 1905-1910.
“Bust Supporter” with open cups, cotton sateen. Lejaby, 1930’s
Pregnancy belt in stretch knit. Chantelle, 1930’s
Simone Pérèle unwired bra, 1970’s
Contemporary lingerie at left, hologram striptease at right.
Lingerie Française is at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, September 26 – October 13 in Toronto. Admission is free.
After much anticipation, the royal baby is here! And with the royal baby comes a handful of maternity bras for Kate, fit for a Queen (or Duchess, in this case). Below are a selection of beautiful nursing bras… both functional and pretty. Who knew there was such a thing?
Clockwise from top left (click for image links): Lorna Drew, Topshop, Elle MacPherson, Elle MacPherson, Hotmilk
Clockwise from top left (click for image links): Freya, Bravado, Bravado, Panache
Kate Middleton image from here.
I recently came across Lillian Bassman’s photography, and I had to share it on the blog. Bassman’s compelling photographs were published in Harper’s Bazaar from the 1940’s to 1960’s, as well as utilized by lingerie advertisers. The photos are seductive, intriguing and highly textural because of the unique processes she used to develop her images.
The Book Lillian Bassman: Lingerie is available in hardcover on the Abrams website. The following quote is from the “About the Book” section of the site that describes her work:
“As Ginia Bellafante put it in the New York Times recently, ‘In place of heavyset women constraining themselves in what was essentially equipment, Ms. Bassman deployed immeasurably lithe models, conveying a world in which women seemed to linger in the pleasures of their own sensuality.’ Fifty years later, these images have lost none of their allure, and the enormous cultural impact of the TV show Mad Men has given them new currency.”
It’s A Cinch: Carmen, lingerie by Warner’s, 1951 
Next to Nothing, 1948 
Silo, Bra and Panties, 1948; (advertisement for Firestone Contro elastic yarn)
All photos above are from this website.
Above is the cover of the book, published by Abrams.
I urge you to read Vanity Fair‘s article on Bassman’s photo processes, and watch the slideshow to see more of her alluring work. Her daughter explains how Bassman achieved such amazing effects to her photographs; one being Bassman blowing cigarette smoke onto photos during exposure to get that beautiful, hazy look.
MISS MILADO 