Lingerie Secret Santa

Karolina of Karolina Laskowska came up with the brilliant idea of a lingerie Secret Santa between the independent lingerie brands. 

As the person behind Playful Promises, I can say it is a brand born out of the love of lingerie, so I was more than up for sending out a secret gift in return for secret gift back! After working hard all year it seems like such a nice treat to receive a mystery gift.

Last year I received an amazing sheer black and red underbust from Pop Antique with a matching fascinator.  It also touched me when I contacted her to thank her that she’d taken the time to stalk me on Facebook and look at my photos, going to the trouble to choose a set she thought fitted with my personal style. How awesome is that?

The other nice thing about this range is it is an opportunity to introduce some other independent brands working hard and to give us a chance to support each other and encourage our customers to shop independent this Christmas.

There are a number of independents brands taking part this aside from the ones I already mentioned year including:

Kiss Me Deadly – good for golden screen inspired glamour and they support the feminist cause. I like brands with a conscience.  We all have to make a living but no need to sacrifice your principles in the process.

Ayten Gasson – good for silk and UK made. Knowing the designer personally I can also say she is very nice. I like to spend my money with decent and nice people. Don’t you?

Clare Bare – if I had to pick a lingerie brand to represent California dreaming through English eyes this is it! 

Angela Freidman – the designer behind this brand used to run the NY Ballet Costume Department and you can really feel this when you look at the level of craftsmanship in her work. 

Karolina Laskowska - recently graduated Karolina works with beautiful fabrics and lace, including vintage kimono fabrics. I especially love the latter after having lived in Tokyo!

Now this is my Secret Santa  - can you guess who it is for?

The full list of brands taking part are:

Previously Chicago, Alexandrea Anissa, Betty Blue’s Loungerie, Dottie’s Delights, Evgenia, Kiss Me Deadly, Playful Promises, Angela Friedman, Harlow and Fox, Clare Bare, Karolina Laskowska, Made By Niki, Nearer The Moon, La Lilouche, Ayten Gasson, Pop Antique, Britta Uschkamp, FRKS

Follow the lingerie secret santa on instagram with tags #lingeriesecretsanta, #lingerieinsidertips, #lingeriegifts & #shopindependent

Shop independent this Xmas – be inspired by our secret santa!

Makeup tutorial: A very Burley Christmas

My name is Simone Camps and I am a London based professional make-up artist trained under Dani Guinsberg, CEO of The Session School. I was extremely fortunate to be part of The Get Naked Calendar 2012 in aid of Molar Pregnancy, working with Head MUA Amanda Bell, photographer Chris Dunlop and many more amazing people for a very good cause,   ! During London fashion week I headed the makeup team for HEMYCA LFWSS12 Fragments of Illusion.  Most recently I have been doing makeup for the general public at the  Good Results press day, (where I did Beverley Knight’s makeup) and Levi's ® UK Mirror Mirror Photo Shoot for Levis Curve ID in  London, Bluewaters and Milton Keynes.

I am extremely mindful of my clients’ desire to have the very best products on their skin, therefore I am very particular about the products that I use. For me, creating a flawless and unique individual look is a must, and I find that Bellapierre mineral makeup is perfect in assisting the beautification without harming the skin. I believe that the way a person looks can essentially alter the way they feel and how they portray themselves.

In this blog post I’m going to give you all the tips and tricks for how to get that perfect burlesque look for Christmas! I took my inspiration from Christina Aguilera’s take on the classic 1940s look.

1. Let’s start by preparing your skin. I’ve used Bellapierre’s milky cleanser to cleanse the face and neck. Then use the toner, moisturize, and apply primer. This will give a clean and smooth base for the makeup.

2. Apply Compact Mineral 5-in-1 Foundation with a Kabuki brush by dabbing the brush into the compact and then applying in a circular motion over the face.

3. One of the best things about mineral foundation is its versatility; Bellapierre’s foundation has 5 uses in one product, including concealer. Using a concealer brush conceals any problem areas.

4. Apply your favorite mineral blush colour (I used Autumn Glow, a luscious coral colour) to the apple of your cheek and blend. To get that gorgeous glow, highlight the cheek slightly by using Pure Element Bronzer.

5. For the eyes I’ve used earthy tones, such as Bellapierre’s Shimmer Powder in Champagne, Earth and a tiny amount of Bronze.

6. Using the lightest colour first, apply over the eyelids as a base, which will make the darker colours really pop. For a vintage look without being too vampy, blend and contour the sockets with the darker shades of brown.

7. Apply a liquid eyeliner to the upper lash line ending in a cat-like flick at the outer corners.

8. Using an eyebrow brush and a dark powder (Bellapierre’s Eyebrow Kit is fantastic for this) apply the powder in soft strokes along your natural eyebrow. Dark brows are a must-have for this look.

9. Finally apply Bellapierre Ruby lipstick to complete your very own burlesque Christmas makeover!

And there you go, a gorgeous look just in time for the Christmas party season!

I can be contacted on Twitter @simonecampsmua simc_mua@london.com or you can find me on Facebook!

Christmas gift review: Frilly Knickers

Stylist, fashion PR and Clo Clo’s Closet editor, Chloe Pierre reviews our frilly briefs!

Firm friend & insanely loyal fan of The Playful Promises Boutique, I had the pleasure to review the gorgeous Frilly Knickers range, which is temptingly affordable at a simple price of £10 a pair.

Initially I was skeptical of the Frilly Knickers set as I am a self-proclaimed ‘big panties’ kind of girl, who is usually averse in the luck of wearing frilly lingerie and feeling seductive in them, but honestly, these knickers didn’t even allow a hint of that dreaded feeling to flash back.

The knickers were extremely agreeable on, had a great amount of elasticity, which allowed enough space to fit my voluptuous rear without any strangulation of the waist or thighs and being so close to my intimates did not give one inch of irritation or leave me feeling uncomfortable.

With the heavy adorned frilling going right around the brief and the beautiful oversized bows at each side made my ample hips look very tantalizing if my boyfriend and I, say so ourselves.

With him being a French knickers junkie, per say, he made me model each one, whilst eventually deciding on the Magenta pair, identifying them as ‘keepers’.

Now be under no illusion that this type of underwear is produced to work underneath jeans or your tight LBD as for obvious reasons, the detailing will either show through most fabrics under jeans, is free for movement and will ultimately damage the experience of wearing such a luxurious product. My best bet is to either wear under a very loose garment or keep for a special occasion within the boudoir. 

This is definitely something every woman should have on their Christmas Wish List and pairs up as a great gift solution and stocking filler too.

I will definitely purchase at least two pairs for each my gorgeous and varied framed, girlfriends in the constructive colours that I instantly fell in love with, Black & Peach.

Three words that sum up the frilly knickers in my opinion are practical (wink), undoubtedly rapturousand exquisitely opulent. 

Christmas gift review: Margot

My name is Kitty and I am a self-professed lingerie addict. I created my blog, Undercover Lingerista, as a way of exploring the many lingerie and swimwear brands on the market - from long established names to individual designers. One of my key focuses is discovering brands that offer that extra ‘je-ne-sais quoi’ and promote the beauty of femininity in all its forms. I strongly believe that the ideal underwear set should empower the wearer and make her feel truly special.

To find out more, visit: www.undercoverlingerista.blogspot.com

I am very much a fan of vintage and pin-up inspired lingerie, so when I came across the delights of Playful Promises, I knew that I had found something special. With everything from corsets, to swimwear, to clothes, to nipple pasties, Playful Promises offers sumptuous and seductive treats a-plenty, to bring out the temptress in you!

With Christmas fast approaching, what better way to treat a special lady, than to buy her a luxuriously elegant set of lingerie? 

One of my favourite Playful Promises sets is the stunning ‘Margot’ in blush pink. Inspired by the femme fatales of Film Noir, this soft cup bra and brief are the ultimate in classic 40’s glamour and are sure to seduce anyone lucky enough to catch a glimpse! 

The ‘Margot’ is a classic set with a twist, playing beautifully on the timeless lace trend, whilst adding a touch of the risqué, with its daring cut and sheer nude mesh. The colour palette of peach-nude and dramatic black adds to the ‘Margot’s sophisticated appeal.

Made predominantly from semi-sheer mesh, the ‘Margot’ bra gives a hint of flesh, whilst the plunging ‘V’ cut draws emphasis to your assets. This triangle bra is soft to the touch and comfortable to wear, thanks to its elastic non-wired under band, practical hook and eye fastening and fully adjustable straps.

The peachy mesh of the ‘Margot’ is complimented by an overlay of black eyelash lace, which boasts beautiful floral detailing. Delicate zig-zag stitching along the edges and girly bow motif adornments add to this set’s vintage charm, making the ‘Margot’ ooze glamour!

The ‘Margot’ briefs are extremely flattering and very cheeky...in more than one way! The ‘pièce de résistance’ is definitely the sheer back, which gives a tantalising flash of your derrière!

Playful Promises makes life a lot easier for gift-buyers, who only need to pick between three sizes (S, M and L) in both the bra and briefs! At just £20 for the bra and £15 for the knickers, the ‘Margot’ set is great value, as well as looking and feeling luxurious.

To transform yourself into the ultimate Hollywood starlet, complete the look by teaming the ‘Margot’ with the ‘Cervin blush and black nylon seamed stockings’ (£15), ‘Black enamel rose hair grips’ (£6) and ‘Pin Up Couture Noir Starlet shoes’ (£45):

The ‘Margot’ is a fabulous bedroom set that would be perfect for elegant ladies who have a mischievous streak! For a Christmas that promises to be extra special, let your show-stopping Playful Promises lingerie do the talking!

Fancy winning a set of the super sultry Margot? Head over to Kitty's blog to enter into a prize draw to help fill your knicker drawers! 

Christmas gift review: Pencil Skirts

Morgana knows a thing or two about clothing, corsets and lingerie; she has, after all, modelled for top brands such as Kiss Me Deadly, Fairygothmother, Puimond and Maya Hansen to name but a few. Although you may recognise her stunning self portraits, she is also an established photographer, web designer and beauty blogger!

Every woman needs in their wardrobe at least one decent black pencil skirt, and Playful Promises has just come out with 2 wonderful choices - get glamorous in the office or out on the town!

Show off your seamed stockings with the double back split cotton pencil skirt, a beautiful everyday must! Team it with your favorite fitted cardi or one of their new collection chiffon blouses for the complete 40's look.

And if you really want to shine, why not try the satin pencil skirt with satin covered buttons on the side? I was brought this skirt to shoot one of the new Kiss Me Deadly corsets and I *had* to keep it as it felt so wonderful! It’s also high waisted and very flattering! Everyone were asking us about it!

As a bonus, if you book a makeover shoot with me (www.iberianblackarts.com), Playful Promises will give you 15% off your purchases from their site with our exclusive discount code!