Discovering a brilliant new lingerie blog is probably my second favourite thing (the first is discovering gorgeous new lingerie of course!) and recently I stumbled upon Lost in Lingerie, which is more than just brilliant! Launched less than a month ago, it’s already on my must-read list and is refreshingly unique amongst lingerie blogs. Mira who runs the site has an enviable collection of deluxe, designer lingerie that she shows off in each blog post in a series of beautiful photographs.
I spoke to Mira about her decision to start Lost in Lingerie, and her passion for luxury lingerie…
Lost in Lingerie is a brand new blog but it already stands out from the crowd! What made you decide to create such an image-rich site?
That’s nice to hear, thank you! You could say I’m a lingerie devotee rather than expert, so a news/reviews site didn’t really seem to make sense. I wanted something more personal which resulted in the simple premise of this blog: to post a regular gallery of photos showcase my growing collection of lingerie. I hope this will be a visually interesting way of allowing people to discover different brands, boutiques, designers and more.
Of course, I plan on doing little featurettes every now and then, but the focus will be on what’s in my lingerie trunk. I would like to show lingerie from a new perspective, not just the same old stock photography you see in the catalogues and online. I hope to communicate my passion for lingerie through these images, and inspire that same passion in others.
Your lingerie trunk seems to be overflowing with beautiful pieces! Any particular favourites?
This is such a tricky question. I don’t think I could possibly pick a favourite. It simply changes according to the day, mood, occasion, weather and so on. A garment that has been sitting unused for a while can suddenly present itself as the perfect accent to an outfit. So, my answer: it depends!
What originally sparked your passion for lingerie?
It was a surprise gift from my partner: the Agent Provocateur ‘Jean’ bra and thong. I was in my mid-twenties and I must admit that up to that point I hadn’t paid much attention to lingerie, but this gift – beautifully wrapped and presented in the iconic pink AP box with black ribbon – looked and felt so luxurious. This was at a time when the Agent Provocateur line was made in France and it just seemed so extravagant and romantic.
Well, needless to say I was hooked.
In just 4 blog posts, you’ve reviewed everything from the girly Fifi set by Agent Provocateur to a bondage-inspired leather suspender belt from Mint Siren. Would you say you have a lingerie style or is it a case of ‘anything goes’?
For me variety is the spice of life and that also applies to lingerie. I don’t particularly follow trends and I certainly wouldn’t like to constrain myself to one style. I don’t think I ever set out to find a piece of lingerie in a particular style. I just keep an open mind. If I see something that gives me that feeling… you know, the excitement when you see something for the first time and you know that you want it… then I do my best to buy it (or, if I’m lucky, receive it as a gift!).
From La Perla to Made by Niki, the lingerie featured on your blog is certainly high-end and luxurious. How much do you typically spend on a lingerie set?
It’s hard to put an exact figure on what I typically spend. I have slowly built up my collection over the past few years. I’ve been fortunate to have picked up a few bargains here and there, but that isn’t to say I haven’t also occasionally spent a little fortune.
Do you have any tips for women who love what’s in your photos, but are on a tight budget?
Unfortunately the old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is quite often true when it comes to lingerie. It isn’t easy to find the truly high-end finishing and materials you see in the expensive brands in cheaper products. You’ll occasionally find nice designs, but the quality of fabric and workmanship is second rate.
I’m not a millionaire (yet!), but sometimes I surprise myself with the lingerie I own. I ask myself ‘how did I manage to afford this!?’.
If you don’t need to have the latest collection, or newest arrivals, then you can often pick up some amazing bargains in the sales, direct from the brands’ boutiques or websites. A good tip is to subscribe to online shop newsletters and keep an eye on Facebook for all the latest offers, sales, discount vouchers etc. Also, eBay can be a goldmine, but you need to be really aware of the abundance of scams and fake products.
If I could give one piece of advice: buy less but buy quality. Better to buy one exceptional bra rather than two or three mediocre.
The photos on your blog are simply beautiful. Do you take them yourself?
Thank you for the kind words – I’m really pleased you like the photos. It was important for us to create interesting and artistic images. I say ‘us’ as this blog is a joint effort with my significant other taking the photos and maintaining the website and me modelling and providing the content. I’m not a professional model and my partner isn’t a professional photographer (our actual career is in music), but we try our best to make things look as good as possible!
At Esty, we’re specialists in independent designer brands you won’t find on the high-street. What’s your opinion on indie brands, and have you got any favourites?
The best indie brands offer a quality and attention to detail that is simply not apparent in mass-produced, mass-market lingerie. They can also afford to be more directional and innovative than their high-street counterparts. I also think it’s nice to buy things that are made in your own country, or at least your own continent! (As an aside, I think it’s a real shame that much of Agent Provocateur’s range is no longer made in Europe – a purely financial decision, I’m sure – which is especially disheartening as the cost to the customer is still the same, if not more!)
There is such a wealth of talented designers out there, consumers don’t need to rely on the high-street or so-called ‘name brands’. The internet allows us to pick and choose from such a vast selection of beautifully hand-made garments.
Favourites? For now I would have to say Lascivious and Made by Niki. But the term ‘Independent Designer’ covers such a wide field. When I think of ‘indie’, I have a romantic vision of one person in their back room designing and hand-stitching a beautiful self-designed garment. That’s truly indie, and that’s the sort of designer I would like to try and discover more. I only have a couple such pieces, and one of the big aims of this blog is to discover and showcase more truly independent freelance designers.
(Lots of our brands are made just like that! – Estelle)
Finally, what is your one top lingerie tip you’d like to share with our readers?
Don’t underestimate the feeling lingerie can bestow upon the wearer; although it’s often hidden away, I think it’s worth spending as much time considering your underwear as you do your outerwear.
You can get in touch with Mira on Twitter, on Facebook or via her contact form.
