Pretty Things

All about lingerie and underwear

British Glamour

Posted by on December 8, 2011 at 11:08 am in Bra, Bra Styles, Bras, lingerie
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The Victoria and Albert Museum is currently hosting a new exhibition in its Fashion Galleries.  Running until May 2012, the exhibition is called: ‘Ball gowns: British Glamour Since 1950’.   The display features over 60 dresses all of which are created by British designers.  This new exhibition is a ‘must’ for all who are interested in how evening dresses have evolved, dating from the debutante balls of the 1950’s, state occasions and on to those impressive rBritish Glamour ed carpet events.

To visualise a typical debutante ball gown of the 1950’s there would have been an exuberant amount of trimming such as black cotton net encrusted with sequins.  Typically this style ball gown is strapless, a nude strapless bra would be recommended to wear. The underskirt was stiffened with three layers of stiff net, one layer of starched black muslin and a taffeta under slip and the top was shaped and padded.

The singer Beyonce wore a dress featured in the exhibition whilst on stage performing at Barack Obama’s inauguration ball in 2009.  Her dress is a beautiful satin creation.  Diana, the Princess of Wales looked poised and graceful when she wore one of the featured dresses.  Yet another dress was worn by the late Queen Mother.  The Queen’s dress designer in the 1950’s, Norman Hartnell, has some dresses displayed too.  An Atsuko Kudo creation (leading designer of Fetish clothing) has been photographed on the fashion model Georgia Frost, to advertise the event, along with dresses by Worth of London and Hardy Amies.

The colour black

Posted by on December 7, 2011 at 4:45 pm in lingerie, underwear
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Are we correct to assume that a woman in a bright, geometrically printed shirt is outgoing and strong-minded whereas a woman in a pale beige shirt is shy and introverted?  According to experts, these assumptions are made based upon Art Theory and social psychology.  However, on the whole, experts agree that only a few women shop in this way.  Most prefer a limited palette with dark colours uppermost, rather than a swatch of colour to complement their skin tone, hair colour and personality type.

But there is one colour that has dominated fashion –black.  A glance at a woman’s online fashion website proves that for jackets and trousers, black is a fashion constant.  It sells.
Lingerie comes in all shapes, sizes and colours but black is a sexy colour that anyone can wear.

There are connotations of sophistication with a black dress, drama with black knitwear and safety with black trousers.  Black is controllable.   Moreover, a plus size woman does not want to stand out or look different, so she will choose a black jacket that is absorbed into the crowd, and blends in with the clothes of those surrounding her whilst remaining chic, glamorous and stylish.

Interestingly, fashion magazines use phrases like “brown is the new black” when trying to allure us to buy a brown jacket rather than a black one.

Dresses-Grecian Style

Posted by on December 6, 2011 at 3:32 pm in Bra
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Media interest will always surround the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Sarah Burton, creative director of fashion brand Alexander McQueen, recently attained the honour of Designer of the Year by the style magazine Harper’s Bazaar, after the Duchess appeared top of the ‘Best Dressed’ list.  Media coverage of what the Duchess wears, even the tiniest snippet connected to her clothes, is news for us.

The Duchess of Cambridge recently attended a reception at St James’s Palace with the Duke in aid of the National Memorial Aboretum of which he is the patron.  At the event the Duchess wore a floor-length dress of pale silver, in a Grecian style.

The Duchess’s gown was drawn in at the waist and wrapped over one shoulder. A strapless bra is the perfect  option when wearing a one shoulder dress.  In essence, the Grecian style of dress displays the height and width of the lady but without revealing any further detail.

The Greek period is regarded as between 700-150 BC.  Dresses worn by Grecian women were full and fell in graceful folds.  They could be worn loosely draped, with or without a belt.  The overall effect was a resemblance to a well-proportioned Grecian statuesque column.  The body’s curves were modestly concealed by the expanse of material and rich folds.  When the Grecian lady moved, her every gesture and inclination was mirrored by the movement of the constantly changing folds in her dress.

Advertising Women’s Fashion

Posted by on December 1, 2011 at 3:26 pm in Bras
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When fashion shopping online, it is the advertising message associated with the product that the shopper notices.  For instance, a plus size woman who is buying a t-shirt and t-shirt bra online needs to have enough information before she buys; she needs to know they will fit her perfectly.

The fashion house of Benetton, manufacturers of high-quality colourful knitwear, has successfully become a globally recognised brand due to its controversial advertising campaign.

The best possible way a fashion designer can influence his/her fashion brand awareness is when well-known individuals are photographed by the media whilst wearing that particular brand, or by featuring in an article when a reference to the dress is made.  For example, Michelle Obama, we are informed from a newspaper report, was wearing a Barbara Tfank item when meeting the Duchess of Cambridge earlier this year.  The Duchess of Cambridge herself was wearing a £175.00 David Reiss dress.  This is just the sort of reference required.

An interesting case recently involved a dress worn by a young Hollywood star.  The dress was worn in a global advertising campaign, seen by millions and costing millions.  The young London fashion designer of the dress in question was completely unaware until he happened to see the advertisement.  Apparently, the usual procedure is to ask permission and offer a payment too.