What Katie Did eau-de-nil Striptease

Have you ever felt that vintage clothing and accessories often carry so much more mystique and glamour than their modern counterparts? Lingerie design house What Katie Did are no strangers to vintage elegance, creating, as they do, collections of faux vintage underpinnings that would not look out of place in a Golden Era film-star’s armoire. But even the colors of the past have names that conjure up images of old Hollywood stars: why say dusky pink when you can say ‘ashes of roses’, ‘turtle dove’ is far more romantic than gray, or ‘vermilion’ – so much more evocative than plain old red? What Katie Did feel the same, which is why, this November, they are expanding their hugely popular Striptease collection with a brand new, but very vintage color. Lingerie devotees will now be able to embrace their inner starlet in gloriously named eau-de-nil satin. You could call it ‘aqua’ or ‘duck egg blue’ if you like, but that doesn’t sound nearly so glamorous!

Striptease was inspired by the legendary burlesque artistes of the 1940s and 50s, with pieces names after the famed Gypsy Rose Lee and Sally Rand. It is the ultimate mix-and-match lingerie collection, all in deliciously soft satin; with the new eau-de-nil shade joining the classic black, peach, claret and purple already available. Knickers come bedecked with ballerina ruffles, or cute, fluted legs; the Gypsy Rose bralet and bestselling side tie knickers are sexy yet sophisticated, perfectly evoking their namesake; and the Lilian bralet and bloomers resemble nothing so much as a silent film star’s most saucy smalls. Accessorized with matching garters and eye masks, the Striptease collection works equally well as sleepwear, boudoir glamour or even as burlesque costumes! It’s as practical as it is pretty, and as naughty as it is nice.

With Christmas and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, vintage vixens and girls-next-door alike are encouraged to start dropping hints to their significant others as soon as possible. Or perhaps an even bigger hint is needed… for what could be more sophisticated on your wedding night than elegant eau-de-nil?

Shopping at WhatKatieDid.com!

This is the place to go if you want the “Pin up Starlet” glamour look. Lucy B’slingerie features cherry print items, classic leopard prints, the quintessential high waist panty, and garter belts that inspire you to give your own Dita Von Teese performance.

Their items can be purchased on their website, http://www.lucyb.com or in stores. Prices range from $14.00 to $64.00 per item.

Here’s the scoop on What Katie Did’s Autumn/Winter ‘09 line!

Josephine Lingerie

For A/W09 What Katie Did have produced a range of sophisticated sumptuous lingerie to relinquish and flatter every figure. Josephine is based around a striking cheetah print that was designed in house and is exclusive to What Katie Did. It’s enliberty ough to cause a case of jungle fever!

Josephine is available in cup sizes B to F, and dress sizes sizes 10-18. The range comprises an underwired bra, corselette, suspender belt and two styles of knicker. RRPs range from £15 to £65.

Showgirl Corsets

Release your Inner Showgirl with What Katie Did’s opulent range of Marie Antionette inspired corsets which combine serious shaping with decadent trims and frills. Spiral steel boning is used to shape, whilst the balconette bustline enhances and pushes up the breasts.

Showgirl corsets are available in reduced waist sizes 18” to 30”. Retail prices range from £175 to £189.50.

Lulu

Lulu is a 1950s style lingerie set made from black powermesh with black lace over red satin panels. The orginal range was launched in AW06 and this season we’ve revamped it adding a corselette, girdle, underwired bra and thong to the range. Lulu is available in cup sizes B to F, dress sizes 10 to 18. The bullet bra, suspender belt and knickers are available now with the remaining items being launched in early September 2009.

This fall sees What Katie Did celebrate 10 years of lingerie design and a book featuring a retrospective of their work is due to be published in September. We’ll obviously be keeping you posted.

Like a sale? Check out WhatKatieDid.com, they’re having one!

The classic Van Doren bra already has a home as one of the Kiss Me Deadly ranges, but the diamond mesh fabric is new for August 2009. The new fabric, along with the ivory contrast trim, offers the same shape and style with a bit of a girlish, sophisticated twist. There is also a new matching suspender belt (boned with a non-stretch center panel for shaping) and a full brief with matching diamon pattern rear. The suspender belt, brief, and thong come in sizes S-XL. The bra is available in sizes 32-36 B-DD and 38C-DD. If you’re looking for your own, La Magia just made their stock available on the website, and is the first site we’ve seen to release the range.

Since we last looked at Kiss Me Deadly a year ago, they have also released the Vargas Girdle and Alouette in black.

Kiss Me Deadly Vargas Girdle

Kiss Me Deadly Alouette

There are five current collections: Lights, Camera, Action!; Pretty Please!; Kiss Me Quick!; Dance on Air; and Aisle Wait for You!. Currently, the online company store is under construction. These photos are from movies on the site. The movies are still photo montages but the sets and locations are ornately detailed and convey the richness of the product line.

Photos are from the Fred & Ginger site. Please drop by the site to see the full quality pictures. Look at some more samples in this collage.

Shop online at Boudiche, Dead Good Undies (men), and Covet & Desire.

Of course, the first thing to do would be to look through any old magazines you, your mother, or your grandmother have. If you can’t find any ads there, these prints and original ads can be easily found online. A quick Internet search will help you find several sellers, and eBay has many of these ads for as little as $4 (at time of writing).

On the left is Follet Hipster and Arm Spats. Brown paired them together for the elegance in the lightness of being. The material offered is your choice of color in cotton jersey. Get the set for $35. On the right is the Guardhers for $55. The suspender belt has four belts with mitten clips to bind with your stockings or tights.

On the left is the “Halther” in black satin with thick ties. Pick it up for $50. On the right is a romper inspired by 1920s playwear. It is made from ivory silk and cotton. Pick it up for $135.

On the left is the Nitesprite set for $50. It is made from black circus stripe cotton jersey. On the right, is a classic stocking from Under the Root. They can be clasped to a garter belt or tied to your thigh. Get them for $65

Photos courtesy of Under the Root. Keep up with the brand and enter frequent literary trivia questions and learn about weekly deals by following the blog at musingsusingsandloosethings.blogspot.com.

This pale pink, sweetheart neckline, underbust corset is silk with a black lace overlay and floral applique. It has six shirred garters with satin bows.

This nude silk underbust corset is adorned with beaded black sequenced lace of the finest quality, imported from France. The corset is complemented by the matching underwire bra and six detachable garters with black satin bows. This piece is hand-finished and has the option of genuine Swarovski crystal accents!

Perfect for Valentine’s day, this red cupped overbust corset is adorned with beaded red sequenced lace. It is completely hand-finished, and has six shirred garters with satin bows.

In moody midnight blue, this cupped overbust corset has a black lace overlay and six shirred garters with black satin bows.

In white silk, this cupped overbust corset is perfect for your wedding night, with imported French lace, shirred garters, and white satin bows. This beauty is completely hand-finished.

You can find all of these new styles, as well as old favorites, at MorganaFemmeCouture.com

Because of the limited edition lace, the manufacturing was limited to 350 pieces. Being part of the Gold Label, it is slightly more expensive than the standard What Katie Did lines (the bra retails at £44.50). Lily is made from sheer peach organza with a black lace overlay, with a delicate peach ribbon and black lace trim. The bra has a black powermesh panel for fit. What Katie did warns that the sizes are “vintage sized” and may come up rather small, but also says that if you are wearing the correct bra size, you will be okay. You can find the new range on the What Katie Did website.

You can order collections from their online boutique, and they also take special requests. You can contact Gilda & Pearl if you want a change to the fabric, style, or size of existing designs. If you want a bow removed, or a change of the ribbon color, they can probably meet your requests so you have wonderfully unique pieces. They also accept commissions for wedding lingerie or other bespoke items. If you need to drop a hint so that certain someone knows what to get you for Valentine’s Day, or if you want to request a wishlist from your beloved so you know what she wants the most, you can do both of those from the Gilda & Pearl website.