What I particularly love about the S/S collection is the variety of unique silhouettes that designer, Adam Sakara, uses to captivate the eye including kimonos, bralettes, tap shorts, rompers, and more.  I also love the versatility of the pieces.  Not only can they be mixed and matched to create new looks, but a number of pieces are able to double as outerwear as well as innerwear.  My favorite innerwear as outerwear piece would have to be the romper.  In both ivory and black, the piece is striking and could easily be incorporated into an outfit for a night on the town.   Another favorite feature of this collection is the subtlety of the colorways.  With simple, yet elegant combinations like black and ivory, black and lavender, gray and pink, and pink and ivory, the intricacy of the design shines through.

See above for a sampling of photos of the collection.  Many more are on the website.  I promise, you will be hooked!

Each piece is made by hand including silk dying and intricate embroidery. The silk is deliciously soft and floats as you wear it – making for the ultimate in luxurious loungewear. The kimonos are designed to be versatile and can also be layered over jeans if you need to pop out to the shops. They’re beautiful not only as loungewear, but also hung on the back of a door or draped over an antique screen.

The range is available in Vintage Rose or Stone – colours that flatter most skin tones. Prices range from £90.00 to £125.00 (that’s up to about $185).

To shop, visit www.glamorousamorous.com, www.idlewildlondon.com or www.lazeme.co.uk.

Throughout the line a few things return: floral prints, soft & feminine colors and loads of paisley. You can browse the whole line at marksandspencers.com — but I’m afraid you’ll have to agree with me on the kimono above being the eye-catcher in the collection…

More P&S on their official site.

We were right!

Patricia told us: “This time we were working with Italian satin and clothes from the haute couture”

We’ve picked some of our favorite photos, but the collection is way bigger than what we’re showing here. The new catalog has over 60 new models…

More info soon on janepain.com.ar.

As always, they’ve teamed up with one of Brazil’s big names in modeling — Ana Beatriz Barros — to show their colorful and playful swimwear. I’m not too fond of the high-waist bottom, but everything else looks really sexy and fun. Not too sure where you can shop online though, sorry!

More Rosa Cha in our archives! 

Let’s get the Do Not Buy List out of the way so we can move on to the more positive aspects of giving lingerie to our mothers. While some of you may not agree with all these points feeling perhaps that you are close enough to your mother to purchase taboo items, it is in most instances prudent, especially for male members of the family, to follow some form of decorum such as found in the following:

• Do not buy panties, thongs or g-strings. This is too intimate to be purchased by sons.
• Do not buy crotch-less or peek-a-boo numbers.
• If a daughter is purchasing the gift, do not buy items that are emblazoned with swear words, sexual innuendoes and vulgar connotations. These items are best left for your girlfriends.
• Stay away from flimsy and sexy items that are better suited as gifts from a husband or significant other on Valentine’s Day.

Acceptable and well appreciated lingerie that may be bought as gifts for mothers:

• Tasteful matching gown and robe.
• A pretty new flannelette nightgown or pair of cotton pyjamas.
• Mothers always like to receive new housecoats.
• A lovely kaftan, hand painted kimono or lounging outfit.
• A beach cover-up for mothers who travel, cruise or use the pool.
• Dainty lingerie bags, hangers and sachets for storing her fine lingerie
• A gift certificate from a lingerie company allowing Mother to choose the correct size, colour and style of her garment.

So please, the next time you think of purchasing lingerie for your mother, think tactfully and choose pieces that will be appreciated and will embarrass no one.

Fleur’t is possibly best known for its super comfortable and super soft lulu’s boy pant! To accommodate the wide range of women who swear by this staple, lulu’s boy pant are now available in two new sizes – Petite/Small and Large/Large in addition to the already existing Small/Medium and Medium/Large! And the sizes aren’t the only new addition. Fleur’t has added an assortment of fun, eye-popping colors and cute, sassy patterns. I’m a fan of the solids papaya and pink lavender as the patterns lemongrass damask and rose giraffe! Also find these colors and patterns in the low-rise thong, lace v-thong, and g-string. The lulu collection, which in addition to the boy pant and low-rise thong, includes a bralet, criss-cross cami, lace strap cami, long cami, criss-cross chemise, and a new yoga pant! Mix and match them all for a cute and cozy look. The amber collection is a fleur’t favorite featuring pretty lace overlays. Again, the pieces in this group can be mixed and matched. In addition to the camis and chemise, the amber collection is noted for its delicate kimono robe. New to the amber collection are a lace bralet and matching ½ lace thong boy.

Spring/Summer 2008

The Spring/Summer collection is already in stores and will continue to appear in stores over the next few months. One new group for spring, valerie, features heathered rayon spandex in black and grey edged with ivory stretch cluny lace. Both the empire cami and chemise are marked by a very fleur’ty open front. The same stretch lace accents both the tunic and cropped ruffle pant.

I love the chantal group as it reflects a new trend in fleur’t lingerie – prints! Made of silk charmeuse and overlaid with lace, chantal is perfect for lounging or sleeping. In addition to hot pink and aqua, the lace bust cami and chemise and coordinating boxer short also is available in coral swirl or aqua swirl prints.

With spring comes an influx of weddings, so vanessa is perfect for the blushing bride. Choose from a lace front low-rise thong, lace bralet, and lace bust cami and chemise.

Speaking of prints (again), jessica is an all print group that evokes a youthful spirit! Pair the cami with the matching lace brief or long wide leg pant or the chemise with the lace v-thong. Prints include pink leopard, green floral, pink polka dot, and ivory polka dot!

If all of this wasn’t already enough, lulu has to make an impression on spring! Look for lulu in light, airy springy colors like white, sky, and pink! In April, lulu is available in pink, lemon, and seafoam before brightening things up in May with whimsical colors like fuchsia, papaya, and orchid. Perfect for the tropical vacation you will need around that time! After all that fun, it will be time for rest and relaxation. Muted colors like ivory, pink, and black are accented with a silvery shade called dove, reflecting the calm and serene onset of summer.

There are so many other exciting elements to the collection including more prints, more bright colors, and more styles. I love the low rise ruched back panty in the amy collection as I think the ruched looked is absolutely darling and flatters the female form. Additionally, it is edged with a sweet heart shaped elastic, which I am sure will make it popular with lots of ladies. I also like the agatha collection as it offers a new tunic dress for the client who wants a little more coverage. In the caroline collection, there are a range of styles with a variety of coverage options. Choose from the spaghetti strapped, lace bust cami and chemise or the lace tank and tank dress featuring wider straps for additional coverage.

Ready to buy? Where should you go to find fleur’t? Click here for a list of stockists or try online at Urban Minx (a new find for me). Images of the fabulous prints and other highlights of the collection will be up soon!

This past year Alice & Astrid featured at the Brit Awards, UK Music Hall of Fame Awards and in the latest major British film: Hallam foe.

The pictures of the Summer House collection are great — I selected my 8 favorites for you:

Alice & Astrid’s Notting Hill boutique’s loyal customer base include celebrity’s style icons, Kristen Scott Thomas, Emelia Fox, Sophia Myles — so join the celebs by checking out their online shop — it’s packed with goodies! (Obviously you’ll be shopping their previous collections, you need to wait a little longer for this one!)

Nerys really has done it again: a satin chiffon silk lingerie bag, super-soft silk cuffs for the ultimate spoildage (I invented the word!) and a gorgeous sheer silk kimono gown that’s guaranteed to make you feel like billionaire.

Excellent stuff, like last time. For more info and pictures, check out andgodcreatedwoman.co.uk!