Ever since I first moved to Spain, I’ve regretted leaving my fluffy dressing gown behind. I guess I thought I wouldn’t need it but the reality of living here is that it’s not all sunshine, all the time. Stealing my husband’s hoodies was no longer cutting it, so this Christmas just gone, a cosy robe was top of my wishlist.

Handmade in Málaga, Spain by Bohemian Soul Lingerie, these pieces have some of the most fabric I’ve ever seen on a nightwear garment. Just metre upon metre of fluid lace, chiffon or cotton voile that drapes down to the ground and puddles around your feet.

There’s something particularly lovely about owning a garment that was made just for you, but we don’t all have the budget for bespoke lingerie. That’s where custom embroidery offers a nice alternative – it’s way cheaper than ordering something truly bespoke, but still feels more special than a purely off-the-rack item.

I love that even after almost a decade of blogging about lingerie, I am still discovering new styles to covet. One shape that I’ve been seeing rather often lately is this type of bandeau bra with underwires that are separated from the overlaid fabric, and visible through it.

A name that has been very popular recently for a number of reasons – among which, their willingness to consistently increase their size range – is UK brand Edge O’ Beyond. Their flexible size range covers UK 6-18 and 30B-38G, the concept being that one size covers 3 to 4 sister sizes thanks to adjustable back straps.

The more unique or ultra-pretty pieces I add to my lingerie collection, the more I find myself trying to ‘sneak’ some of them into my outerwear. A strappy bra peeking out from under a top there, a slip worn as a summer dress there – there’s usually a way to slip a little lingerie in if you want to.

Marjolaine is a French luxury lingerie brand which is best known for its lavish use of appliqué, often featuring delicate floral lace stitched over a contrasting silk satin base. I love those pieces (how could I not?), but what I really adore are their slip designs that use super-sized embroidery appliqués.

Fréolic London is a premium brand that’s focused on making the experience of buying luxurious, semi-bespoke lingerie more accessible and affordable. They offer pre-designed garment shapes that can be ordered in a (very!) wide array of colour and fabric choices.

While it can still be challenging to find darker nude shades at your local boutique or chain store, a lot has changed over the past several years. As you’ll see here, there are more brands than ever before offering lingerie in a diverse array of skin tone shades.

Bows on lingerie seems to be a very polarising design feature. They’re everywhere, so it’s little wonder some people are bored of them, but it is worth knowing the reasons they’re so ubiquitous. And personally, I’m thrilled that bows are having a bit of an extra popular moment in lingerie right now!