Ida Ruby : Beaut Corsets & Bustiers

Today I came across the corset brand Ida Ruby whilst looking on www.lingerieinsight.com

All it took was a photo of the corsets to catch my eye as I have a deep love of them and their history. Ida Ruby’s corsets & bustiers can fit a size 6 to an 18 which is amazing for smaller ladies. Very often have I looked at corsets and sizes often begin at an 8/10 and B cups and above. The vintage designs and colours make a nice change and offers something different to the high street.

Here are a few designs to feast your eyes on:

The collection has recently been launched online, and with prices ranging from £40-£45, it makes the range extremely affordable. And, to help justify treating yourself, the brand is also working with The Eve Appeal, which is a charity that funds research into gynaecological cancers in women- 50p of each sales goes towards the charity x

The Corset: A Cultural History

As I say many times on here, I have a passion for lingerie and its’ history, particularly corsets and how they evolved through the decades in England and in Europe. One of the books I had purchased a while ago was The Corset: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele, and it is literally one of my favourite fashion books due to the amount of information in there.

Valerie Steele is also the chief curator and acting director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and writes in a way in which it doesn’t feel like it’s hard work to read, as can be the case with a lot of informative books. In it, she explores the history, social norms, and fabrics and styles worn over time. The book also dispels the myth of tight-lacing and the notion that men were responsible for what would now be considered a micro-trend, because it was not as popular as we are led to believe.Overall, I highly recommend this book for anybody with an interest in corsetry and the evolution into what we wear today.

First Ever Lingerie Fashion Week

I learned the exciting news recently that there will be an industry first this year: A Lingerie Fashion Week held in New York featuring catwalk shows featuring AW13 collections from selected brands.

Founder Lauren Rich said ““It will give exhibitors a platform to reach consumers that a trade show can’t do,” she told Lingerie Insight. “I one hundred per cent think trade shows are necessary, but trade shows only reach buyers and the trade press and maybe a few market editors from magazines – I really think the industry deserves a platform that can give the consumer press something really exciting to report on in a way that a trade show can’t offer.” – LingerieInsight.com

 

I feel this is a fabulous idea as the intention is that it gives a platform for lingerie retailers to showcase new collections and create a hype around their catwalk shows by inviting bloggers and others in the media to promote and talk about their brand.

Between 10 and 20 brands have been initially expected to participate, with each being approved before selection. The aim is to target anyone from emerging designers, to established mass-market brands, with quality being the main focus.

By Caprice : S/S 13 Collection

Model and actress Caprice’s new collection for summer gives something to look forward to for small and large busted ladies alike. Although I find some designs hit and miss, what I do love is that she hasn’t neglected those on the smaller end of cup sizes. The By Caprice range begins at a 30A, and goes up to a 38G, which is fantastic, especially when A-cup bras are a rare find on the high street (especially from a 30 band!). I recently bought the Morticia bra, which in person is absolutely gorgeous and gives a very generous boost 😉

Here is a snippet of the S/S line:

The bra shown above on the right is one I actually recognise very well, it is the Can Can set which I remember falling in love with a few years ago when that design was first released, and would have been a part of her early collection. I recall wanting that bra so badly that I contacted the email address on her contact page to ask if I could find that bra anywhere in the UK (when the range was brand new she didn’t have her agent or pr staff even listed or as many stockists as she does now), and surprisingly I got a reply! Now that is a sign of fantastic customer service.

Victoria’s Secret Annual Show

It’s probably the only fashion show that men enjoy just as the ladies: the annual Victoria’s Secret show. The models gracing the catwalk in all their angelic finery included Lily Aldridge, the increasingly popular Cara Delevingne (I’m still not sure if I like or dislike her eyebrows yet?!), and a couple of my favourites, Miranda Kerr and Candice Swanepoel. British model Jourdan Dunn also made her VS debut, which is no mean feat for someone who was discovered whilst shopping in Primark.

Although the whole event is rather cheesy on some level, one can’t ignore the amount of work that must go into these outfits. Ok, so they may be a bit OTT but I would love it if these were for actually for sale!

Photos: Telegraph