1. Make sure you have a very recognizable “feel” to your pieces.
2. Develop a loyal following.
3. Do something larger companies just can’t.

From what we’ve seen on both her pretty little web site and her very popular Facebook Page, Emma Highfield has succeeded in all of these. Check out these beautiful photos from her most recent “Amorous Delights” collection for some pretty convincing proof!

Handmade lingerie from the other side of the world. I’m impressed! Now if only I could find an online boutique selling these (and shipping them worldwide), that’d be great. Does anyone have any idea where to get any of these pieces outside of New Zealand?

(Oh, PS. If Auckland, New Zealand isn’t the other side of the world for you, Emma is having a sample sale very soon. Check out the event on Facebook!)

The signature silk kimono, in Chinois, from the Vintage collection was featured on Blair a recent episode of Gossip Girl. Click here to access the episode in case you missed it.  The fabulous kimono is spotted around the 38 minute mark!  Want your own?  Shop Ligne de Soie today.

The whole idea behind ELSE is the effort to make a woman feel glamorous, confident and comfortable while carrying a special set of lingerie. This what makes “ELSE” something ELSE. Ela is preparing her collection by considering most of changing moods of a woman during the day. “It is not an easy thing to keep a woman happy, satisfied and comfortable. Not many people can do that very easily, therefore I have to work really hard” states Ela Onur, and continues; “It requires quite a lot of engineering and not only design and fashion. The key factor of the great quality of ELSE is that the whole pieces are hand-crafted, and created as if they are tailor-made. This is our only solution for a perfect cup, fit and quality.”

The most popular line of ‘ELSE’ is the Signature Collection. It is made from 100% silk combined with Chantilly laces with touches of wonderful pleats and drapes. It is seducing but in the mean time very glamorous and sophisticated.

More information and a list of stockists on elselingerie.com.

Hosted by New York-based non-profit organization UNITE in Fashion, the “Passionately Pink” fashion show will feature donated styles from Magic Silk’s new sexy Pink Leopard and Cupid collections. Attendees will also get the chance to nab their own Magic Silk silk g-strings that will be given away in goody bags.

“As a lingerie manufacturer, we feel the responsibility to be involved with the efforts to fund breast cancer awareness and research. UNITE has performed wonderful fundraising work for different charities, and we are happy to be supporting such an important cause,” said president of Magic Silk Jeff Baker.

“Passionately Pink” will be held Sunday, February 14^th at 7 p.m. Admission is a $10 minimum donation per attendee.

Magic Silk’s Pink Leopard Collection:

Magic Silk’s Cupid Collection:

Photos: Magic Silk

Taking inspiration from vintage romanticism and moonlit seduction, Ma Mignonnette celebrates an old-world love for opulence and elegant craftsmanship. Pieces are hand-finished in England from materials that both look and feel exquisite: sensuous silks are adorned with ribbons, lace and Swarovski crystals. Collections rise from spellbound tales of enthralled lovers and midnight witchery. Packages are wrapped with a hand-written love spell and crystal charm to inspire boudoir magic. The Show Pony range is the first reveal from the launch collection ‘Nights at the Circus’, which will follow later in the year.

Ma Mignonnette lingerie enhances the body’s contours, just as undergarments from yesteryear were intended. Bras are sculpted to reveal busts at their fullest, whilst knickers sit low and are cut to make the bottom appear as pert as possible. Additionally, pieces have been crafted to be stepped in and shimmied out of with perfect grace (using discreet fasteners), whether there is an audience in the boudoir or not.

The Show Pony range tells the tale of a delicious coquette teasing to be unwrapped. Based on the dazzling girl on the pony paraded round the circus ring, she is a starlet who revels in her own beauty. The range is made of dusky pink veils adorned with intricate trimming, revealing ballerina pink hearts and ruffles.

Joon Haque, Ma Mignonnette Founder, comments: “This is a challenging time to launch a high-end brand, but people have been forced to become more discerning about the quality of products they indulge in. If women are going to treat themselves, they want the ultimate luxury and something to make them feel ravishing, which is exactly what Ma Mignonnette delivers. Our lingerie has been made for women to fall in love with themselves and this sentiment is behind everything we do. We’re looking forward to launching the rest of our first collection later in the year, as well as the events and projects we have planned for the future.”

More info and shopping on mamignonnette.com!

A gorgeous Naval-inspired silk lingerie collection. All hand-made, all extremely decadent… We asked Gabrielle about her inspiration:

“…the third Hopeless range entitled “The Voyage” – based on Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Taking inspiration from the sharks teeth, the blood in the ocean and the waves of the sea. Basically I spent a lot of time looking at stills from the film, and got inspiration from unlikely places. I feel the best way to make something new is to look in unexpected places, and there are so many ways to interpret that information. Always in my mind as well is creating flattering shapes, for a range of different figures. This is something I am really trying to master in my fitting and pattern-making. I want there to be something in each of my collections for every type of body shape. I want to try and make every woman believe she is beautiful, and pretty silk things can help!”

Shopping and more info both on www.hopelesshotel.com.au and their Etsy shop!

The AW 2009 collection is all about luxury and opulence. Beautiful silks and delicate lace are masterfully worked into lingerie which flatters yet does not compromise on sex appeal. An unctuous palate of regal purple, claret, oyster and platinum grey sit alongside beautifully feminine barely-there blush and soft rose.

Styles are cleverly named using inspiration of films and the romantic ‘old flicks’ movie industry; ‘How To Marry a Millionaire’ is a stunning set which will get hearts racing. Single side bow tie briefs with lace inserts are flattering and sexy; the delicate lace covered under-wire bra offers a modern shape with old school glamour. ‘Scandal in Paris’ combines high octane glamour with a real old time movie star feel; beautifully simple chiffon and satin briefs are worn with a satin trim halter neck sheer chiffon wireless cup bra for a dramatic, striking look. This look is completed with a stunning chiffon cape with satin ribbon neck tie. ‘Goddess’ is angelic and delicate; a unique wireless lace and chiffon halter bra envelops all the right places and is complemented by chiffon tie side briefs with lace insert for the ultimate boudoir belle.

Gilda & Pearl’s founder and designer Diane Houston is keen to share her passion and love of glamour, luxury and beautifully made lingerie through her own collection ‘I have always been drawn to the glamorous sex sirens of old movies and their timeless sex appeal. I wanted to combine this with my love of beautiful lingerie and create a brand that would stand the test of time and provide luxury for my clients’ Since the label’s launch in August 2008, Gilda & Pearl lingerie has enjoyed the recognition and success it deserves and has been snapped up by many lingerie buyers and boasts a rapidly growing loyal client list of very happy customers.

Much more on gildapearl.co.uk!

The 1950′s-inspired bridal lingerie set is absolutely stunning in ivory silk with brocade panels, comprising of a balconette bra, cincher girdle and brief. The underwired bra features brocade and pintuck quilted cups, ruched silk straps and gold hardware. The steel-boned lace-back cincher girdle sits under the bust and provides an excellent waist reduction whilst also shaping the hips, with quilted and brocade panels and detatchable ruched suspender straps. Matched with the silk brocade briefs and some pearls, this lingerie set is ideal for retro brides. (Balconette bra: £95, Cincher girdle: £135, Brief: £35)

For more control over the tummy and hips, the steel boned longline corset girdle provides wonderful curves all the way from the bust line down to the hips. Again created from pure ivory silk and a delicate ivory brocade, the corset girdle features four detachable ruched suspender straps with gold hardware, back lacing and quilted hip panels. Wear with Maxine’s matching balconette silk bra to complete this glamorous shapewear ensemble. (Balconette bra: £95, Girdle corset: £295, Brief: £35)

The unique waistcoated bra, suspender belt and brief set is handmade from ivory pure silk and brocade with pintuck quilting to create a luxurious ensemble – a must-have for any lingerie connoisseur! The waistcoated balconette bra fastens at the back with mock front lacing and features pintuck quilting panels. The set is completed by matching silk brocade knickers and a front-fastening suspender belt with detachable ruched straps. (Waistcoated bra: £135, Suspender belt: £55, Brief: £56)

This attention-grabbing futuristic ensemble is FairyGothMother’s absolute favourite, available in black silk with pintuck quilting. The underwired plunge bra has quilted panels on the cups and fits perfectly with the steel-boned girdle corset, designed to cinch the waist whilst also shaping the hips and tummy for maximum impact. The four black suspender straps with silver hardware are detachable, and a matching brief is also available. (Plunge bra: £125, Girdle corset: £325, Brief: £56)

On the left is a black chiffon playsuit. The price is £245.00. It is a sheer one-piece garment with silk covered buttons up the front. On the right is bow back bandeau and knickers. The bandeau is silk with a large black bow in back for £71.00. The coordinating knicker is £49.00 with a solid silk front and polkadot mesh panel in back.

Baby Grand offers roughly twelve sets comprised of 16-18 pieces. They plan to offer limited edition pieces likely around Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The inspiration for the pieces is a love of 1940s and ’50s screen siren glamour, this is a label that takes inspiration from the classic pin up girl, with a sprinkling of the film noir femme fatale, and brings it up to date for the modern boudoir and beyond.

On the left is the mint babydoll slip. It is priced at £155.00 and made from French silk chiffon. This is strapless and you can also pick up the matching knicker. On the right, the babydoll camisole. This is slightly shorter than the slip and is £145.00.

Every piece is made in-house and the label prides itself on sourcing high quality materials. Baby Grand features 100% silk in many forms including chiffons, satins, and crêpes. Photos courtesy of Baby Grand.

One the left are super high girdle knickers known as the Uma. They have silk and stretch netting and a single Y-suspender on each leg for 89.50 UK. This is shown with the Celia pasties in simple black for 22.00 UK. On the right, the Lilly Waspie Corset. It is a silk satin piece with crinkled chiffon covering four layers and boning. This is for corset trained waists and is 279.00 UK. It is shown with the halter-top, triangle-cup Isabella bra in pink for 49.50 UK and the Joanna string with crinkled silk for 35.50 UK.

On the left, the Rapunzel play (79.50 UK) suit with two silk bows on the front and a third silk bow in the middle of the back. The latter can be used to gently tie the hands behind the back. This is paired with the Mary string made from a fine lace front panel, small pearl accent, and not much else for 32.50 UK. On the right, a different look at the Emma bra and the Theresa knickers with the bows attached, see below.

On the left, Bunny knickers are gathered silk with a French opening and bow in back for 59.50 UK. Paired with the Mindy bandeau in black silk for 32.50 UK. On the right, the Josephine under bust corset 382.50 UK, with the open cup Emma bra shown with detachable bows for 69.50 UK, shown with the Theresa knickers without the detachable bows for 59.50 UK, and the Anna knee socks with bow accent under the knee for 25.00 UK.

Photos courtesy of Mint Siren. Shop at Mint Siren.