When I think of French lingerie designs, delicate feminine pieces usually come to mind: Chantilly lace, wispy tulle, and elegant embroidery. Impudique by Catanzaro definitely has these components, but there’s also an added edge of daring cut-outs and strap details, and wet-look swatches mixed with lighter textiles.
This is unsurprising, given the brand was created by Charlotte Catanzaro, daughter of fetishwear designer Patrice Catanzaro. Impudique, meaning “shameless”, is Charlotte’s own branch of Maison Catanzaro, and utilises the same expert seamstresses and chief pattern maker, Marielle Giacobbe, who has worked for the design house for the past ten years.
Impudique by Catanzaro bridges the gap between fetishwear and more mainstream designs, and with pieces going up to €292.50 (~£265 / ~$346), it’s priced as luxury lingerie. I hope this is reflected in the quality of their more recent collections, after Estelle was slightly let down by this when she reviewed two pieces from their debut collection. However the brand has had plenty of time to improve, having recently launched it’s fourth collection in three years, L’Insolente, which can be translated as “cheeky” or “sassy”.
The designs are certainly cohesive across the collections, generally sticking to monochrome tones with hints of colour added using lace and embroidery. I love the use of trompe l’œil effects, where translucent mesh is embellished to create a kind of tattoo effect against the skin. Though I would be interested in finding out how well Impudique’s fabric choices work with darker skin tones with this effect.
While most of the designs stick to classic black, the L’Insolente collection features some really beautiful white pieces which prove that white lingerie can definitely be sexy. These would be perfect for a bold bride who still wants a traditional colourway, but with some unconventional details. Or simply for someone who is looking for some stunning white lingerie!
Impudique is made in France and uses French sizes, which can be confusing for those of us who aren’t used to it. However, they have a useful size guide which includes measurements and conversions. Bras are available in 85B-95D/105B (UK 32B-36D/40B), while everything else is sized XS-2XL (not every item is available in the full size range).
While I am sized out of the underwired bras, my favourites are the bodysuits. In particular, I love the playful handwriting-style embroidery of the Ariel Body, which is also featured on several designs in the Rebelle collection. In general, I appreciate Impudique’s use of so many different types of fabric: layering lace, mesh, vinyl and velvet in ways that almost create optical illusions.
There is a clear love for fashion and design in Charlotte Catanzaro’s work. It’s obvious that she has learned a lot from working with her father and his team, and it’s wonderful to see her take this foundational knowledge and create something for herself with it. I couldn’t choose a favourite collection from the designs up to now, so I can’t wait to see what’s next for the brand!
What about you, could you choose a favourite Impudique by Catanzaro collection? What do you think of their take on fetishwear?