Color, Color Everywhere…

It looks like color will be pervading the drawers and racks of your favorite boutiques and department stores this fall.  Color palettes include elegant and opulent jewel tones like deep hued purples, full bodied wines, and strong sapphires as well as rich and robust autumnal shades like spice, poppy, and olive.  Even the absence of color makes a bold statement with luxurious, creamy colors like blush and oatmeal.

Favorite Brands for Color: Zinke, Brulee, Amulette, Affinitas, CLO

It’s All in the Details!

Prints are back!  I’m a huge fan of prints from a little accent to a bold statement.  This fall, prints are airy and ethereal and include feature everything from florals to birds to symbols.  Other favorite details for fall include the timeless eyelash lace, cheeky ruching, flirty ruffles, edgy hardware, and pretty piping.

Favorite Brands for Details: Beautiful Bottoms, Marlies Dekkers, Lelo,  ARI DEIN

Mix it Up

One of my favorite new trends is the concept of mixing and matching.  For all you recessionistas out there, this is the perfect way to maximize your lingerie wardrobe.  From camisoles, chemises, and robes in alternating colorways to solids and patterns with similar color palettes, there are limitless options for creating a unique look.  With so many options, it will be tough to decide!

Favorite Brands for Mixing and Matching: HotMilk, Between the Sheets, La Fee Verte, Amulette

The Romper is Here to Stay!

I’ve proclaimed my love for the romper before and am glad it is here to stay!  This fun and flirty silhouette continues to be a trend in many collections that speaks for itself.

Favorite Brands for Rompers: Else, La Fee Verte, Brulee, Zinke

Vintage Inspired Looks

Many brands are using classic looks of the past and reinventing them to be fitting for the modern woman.  Long lined bras, high-waisted knickers, and wide straps are just a few of the details that characterize this look of years gone by.

Favorite Brands for Vintage Inspired Looks: Dirty Dolls, Made by Niki, La Filled’O, Else

Five Brands & Products to Watch Out For!

Two Figs - This amazing, new, San Francisco-based company does exactly what its tagline says and supports sleeping beauty in its chemises, gowns, and more designed for cup sizes D-G.  Stay tuned for more including stockists!

Beautiful Bottoms - This darling, U.K. brand isn’t new, but it just emerging in the U.S. after experiencing much success abroad.  Known for affordable airy pieces, this brand is bound to be one of our favorites (and yours as well!).

Lelo – Lelo isn’t a new brand, but since introducing its first lingerie and loungewear line, I’m excited to see where they continue to take their collections.

HotMilk - HotMilk is on the cutting edge for luxurious pregnancy and post-pregnancy lingerie looks including everything from bra and panty sets, camisoles, and chemises to post-pregnancy shapewear, mix and match pajama tops and bottoms, and my favorite, the new wrap dress.

Pure Lime - This Scandinavian-based company that specializes in fitness attire is revolutionizing the sports bra with the addition of a detachable Polar heart rate monitor.  The runner in me is dying to know more and will bring you the information soon!

You can find these vivid shades at Figleaves:

Victoria’s Secret:

and Hips & Curves:

Don’t want quite so much color? You can also find just a hint at Agent Provocateur and Frederick’s of Hollywood:

The only rule is this: do not wear if you don’t want to be noticed!

How do you feel about the neon trend? Too bright? Just right? Let us know!

From Lelo, we interviewed the lovely Eliane Said who showed us the absolutely elegant Sussurra collection recently launched by the brand best known for their pleasure objects.  You’ll be hearing more on TLP about this collection, but pay special attention to the kimono (my fave!).  Just glorious!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hanky Panky lent us their Glam Guru, JD Breen, who showed us some best sellers and talked trends.  Did you know that Hanky Panky is more than just their signature thong?!  And speaking of the thong…stay tuned to the end of the video for a little tidbit!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our other two interviews featured two of New York’s premier young designers – Layla of Between the Sheets and Ari of ARI DEIN.  Get a glimpse at their upcoming brands, discover their inspiration, and learn how they make it all work (yes, Tim Gunn would be proud!).  Also, learn a bit more about each of them as individuals.  Are they loyal to the iPhone or Blackberry?  What superhero powers do they secretly desire?  Where do they see their brands in 5 years?

We love these ladies and know you will too!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The video interviews are a new territory for TLP, so let us know what you think!  We hope you enjoy this peek into the world behind the brands.  Stay tuned to TLP for more on what’s to come – new finds, trends, photos, and more!  Let us know what you think on Facebook and Twitter and keep the conversation going.  Maybe one of your questions will be asked of the next featured industry insider!

The collection features a three-panel system created by Heather Thomson, the creative mind behind Diddy’s Sean Jean line, Beyonce’s House of Dereon and J.Lo’s Sweetface. “It was a selfish initiative,” Thomson told StyleList. “I created things because I needed them in my wardrobe.”

The new collection includes embellished shirts, a corset, knit leggings and button-downs and will be available online in mid-June and at Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and specialty retailers nationwide.

This is a new trend I’m certainly hoping other brands will tap into!

Photos: StyleList via Yummie Tummie

Entitled Simplicity, the line is comprised of slimming separates that boast a chic design with thoughtful details. Not a lot of colors, but some of the pieces do come with a color detail option. Not all of the looks can work as outerwear pieces — three out of seven can to be exact.

Silhouettes include a scoop neck cami that is available with fashionable patterns; a V-neck camisole; an open-cut camisole (reminiscent of Biflex’s OverBra); a lingerie strap camisole; a mid-thigh shaper that is also available with fashion patterns; a half slip; and a girl short shaper available with fashion patterns. Prices range from $44 to $59.

Photos: Spanx

Pop singer Britney Spears wore a Dolce & Gabbana black bodysuit underneath a sheer long sleeved dress. Ciara, who wore Givenchy, also sported a black bodysuit under what appears to be a partly transparent jumpsuit. I can’t help but think that Britney would’ve looked less catastrophic if some of the length was cut off.

Check out each look below and let us know who wore the trend best!

Photos: NYmag

According to a Frederick’s designer, zebra prints are all the rage this holiday season. “A zebra print plush robe embellished with Bombshell Pink trim is the perfect idea for a girl who loves color and pattern,” she said. Check out the $39 robe below!

The second price-friendly option is Frederick’s Satin 3-piece PJ set. “The tap pant, part of the three-piece set, is a good way to update the look and makes it sexier. For a sexy, bold statement I think ‘Frederick’s Red’ is a great color choice,” said Frederick’s associate buyer. The Frederick’s Red style is actually on sale for $20, down from $39!

According to Frederick’s senior buyer, lingerie lovers love matching sets—and she’s right! “Matching sets create a full, sexy look from head to toe,” she said. “My favorite is the retro inspired Pin-Up Chic set. Pops of Bombshell Pink, a nice alternative to red, make it sassy, sexy and wearable beyond the holiday season.”

The fourth expert, Frederick’s creative director, says sexy stocking stuffers are an absolute must for the holidays. “Boy shorts are fun and flirty, plus they make great stocking stuffers,” she said. She suggests the Ellie (4 for $25) as an ideal style choice for an array of body types.

Check out these styles plus hundreds of other affordable choices at www.fredericks.com.

Zoe Saldana (Star Trek, Vantage Point, Blackout) and fashion icon Chloë Sevigny (Big Love, Broken Flowers) were recently spotted at Prada’s book launch party at the Rodeo Drive boutique shamelessly flaunting their Prada bras. Can we agree Chloë did a better job at styling the look?

Zoe Saldana and Chloë Sevigny. Photo Credit: Fabsugar

What do you think of this trend? It’s something else than Big and Tall Outerwear for men, isn’t it?

Katy Perry

The Daily Mail recently noted that sales of stockings and suspender belts have recently surged – retailers are reporting that sales have increased by a third in just the last few weeks! They suspect it is because obvious stockings and visible garter belts have become a quick trend among celebrities like Katy Perry and Rihanna, who wear their dresses short enough to show off straps and welts. Denise Fraser (lingerie buyer for Figleaves) says,

“We have seen a very significant increase in sales of stockings over the last six weeks. Stockings and hold-ups are 35 per cent up on the year for the same period whereas tights are only marginally up on last year. The Dita Von Teese effect has certainly taken hold. Women are desiring a more feminine, sexy look and in the recession, they are buying something sexy to improve their mood. We are also attributing it to the return of Forties and Fifties trends, which we have been seeing on the catwalk. Ladies’ briefs with built-in, detachable suspender belts are proving particularly popular. There are such beautiful fabrics and styles available that it is impossible for women not to feel glamorous and sexy.”

Do you plan to sport this trend and show off your lingerie when you go out, or will you keep your garter belts and stockings under wraps, strictly for at-home viewing?

The 1980s are labeled as the “Body Shock” decade. Looking at these designs from nearly 30 years ago (older than many TLP readers), it is comforting to know that the fashion that stays hidden under our clothes seems pretty timeless. Unlike the jean hipsters with boot cut legs that have defined several years of current outerwear fashion, it is hard to guess the year these pieces were produced without taking hairstyle cues from the models. I’m sure the rise of the thong will clearly mark the mid 90s and early 00s and the boy short maybe the signature line of the late 00s.

The 1990s are defined by Antiflirt as Grunge and Sexy. They see the decade as asexual or highly influenced by pieces borrowed from men — striped shirts and track pants. Antiflirt decided to move away from black and white and shoot the 1990s in a fairly broad colour scheme.

The 2000s are labeled as Absolute Seduction. These pieces are racy with lace up knickers and many corsets. The photos are in colour, but with a highly reduced palette consisting mostly of the black underwear.

The last archive from Antiflirt is 2005. This is the Sensual Candor years and dominated by pastels.

For 2009, Antiflirt has returned to black and white. At this point, it is hard to guess what will be the real trends we can look back on in 5-10 years. See more pictures from 2009: 1, 2, 3, and 4

Photos courtesy of Antiflirt.