Brands

Even in a pandemic, creativity can thrive, and one of my favourite things to come out of 2020 was the newly-launched lingerie label Elena di Cuori which debuted online in June. It’s a luxury line centered around two things: sensual and sophisticated design, and “traditional, Made in Italy craftsmanship”.

Last Thursday, Zara made a bold entry into the lingerie industry with a 158-piece debut collection. While around a third of those have yet to be unveiled, the launch is titled “The Female Gaze” and so far seems to be a push-up free, padding-free product range that focusses on embracing comfort.

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.

Alice Acreman Silks isn’t the type of brand I usually feature on the blog; it’s not a lingerie label, but rather a fashion and furnishings one whose designer just happened to turn one of her signature printed silks into a cami set. And isn’t the result just delightful?

Astrological-inspired lingerie continues to be a trend, and Love & Swans’ latest set takes the theme to a luxurious new level. Named Cygnus, the set is made from midnight-blue mesh that is lavishly embellished with a celestial array of stars and clustered constellations.

I may only own a handful, but bodysuits are one of my favourite lingerie styles – if you can get the fit right, they’re an incredibly versatile type of garment. In fact, they’re often the first thing mentioned when discussing ideas to wear lingerie as outerwear.

SADA by Sarah is a relatively new brand to come to my attention, but that I hope to see featured a lot more in the years to come. Designer Sarah Dawson creates her signature pieces in Brooklyn, New York, after realising her passion for designing intimate apparel while studying the city’s Fashion Institute of Technology.

Created by Karolina Kobets, JTM Noir Lingerie focusses primarily on satin robes, though they also offer nightgowns and pyjamas and have a small range of linen pieces. Some designs tend towards a fairly minimal look, but it’s the swishy, lace-trimmed garments where the brand’s decadent vision truly shines.

Launched in Russia in 2000 and now based in Czechia, PS-Ling focusses on creating a very unusual product – T-front bodywear. Neither a full gusset nor totally crotchless design, they instead use a narrow string that runs from the front to back.

I first featured Apilat on the blog in my 2017 round-up of brands making incredible robes, and they’ve only gotten better since. Couture techniques and luxury fabrics are central to their design process, and how could they not be when this label got its start designing wedding dresses?