New lingerie collections

Last weekend was the annual Fashion Exposed Trade Fair in Sydney where many fashion designers, wholesalers and importers got together at Darling Harbour Convention Centre to display their next season's wares and hopefully engage with their buyers to secure indent orders. While most of the suppliers I deal with opted not to hold a store at the Fair, many used the opportunity to showcase their wares at other locations. Like many of my fellow retailers, I love viewing new stock and there are so many brands out there producing goods that really have that WOW factor. Now I know this blog was begun on the premise of showcasing Aussie brands but there are so many beautiful international brands that I really need to get my impressions out there' So here are some I saw:

Affinitas and Parfait - a US owned lingerie company that specialise in the lower mid price point. Specialising in everyday lingerie wear and bridal, the Affinitas label extends to a DD and the Parfait label extends to a G cup. Very affordable and the pieces can be worn all day. Go down a cup size - their cup sizing is on the larger side as is most US brands.  http://affinitasintimates.com/

Recco Lingerie - only some of their sleepwear will be available in Australia but it's all so gorgeous! Yes, it's a little bit more expensive than the sexy sleepwear you find on online stores but I fully believe you get what you pay for. The microfibre fabrics had a beautiful feel, the trims added that special extra and the designs are just stunning. http://www.recco.com.br/sensual

Lou - this French lingerie brand is on par with Simone Perele if not better. Just slightly higher in pricepoint but still affordable, the pieces are sexy and sensuous, fashion forward, and designed for the woman who is comfortable with her body or who that naughty inner girl that is just waiting to be exposed. http://www.lou-paris.com/

Cake Lingerie - the only Australian owned maternity lingerie brand. Still focused on fashion but their pieces are tending towards everyday basics in line with market demands. If you a a big cup girl and have been struggling to find a seamless bra that you can wear with fitted tops, then look no further - Cake Lingerie has the answer. They are also introducing a line of winter sleepwear with breastfeeding capabilities. http://www.cakelingerie.com/

Love and Lustre

Love and Lustre, an Australian boutique lingerie brand famous for their underwear solutions including camisoles, knickers and slips, as well as for their gorgeous sleepwear, will be launching their first ever bra and matching knicker collection in Spring/Summer 2011. Extending up to a Size 16E, there will be a plunge bra, a contoured balconette bra and a non-contoured moulded cup bra. All are gorgeously styled with distinctive lace features yet retain Love and Lustre's signature style of being everyday functional items. Love and Lustre have spared no expense in ensuring the fit of this range including sourcing highly experienced bra patternmakers from Europe. So congratulations to Love and Lustre for their foresight in seeing the need for a quality Australian lingerie that fits the budget of most Australians. Who knows, if their bras become a hit, maybe they could even expand their sizing to take on the full cup market and challenge the UK brands to reduce their wholesale pricing in Australia. Love and Lustre bras are very reasonably priced between $59.95 & $79.95 retail. Products will be available from August 2011. For information on their stockists, contact Love and Lustre on 03 9429 0979 or visit their website at http://www.loveandlustre.com.au/

Welcome to my blog

Hello,

I set up this blog which I intend to dedicate to the Australian Lingerie industry. From my google research, it seems to me that there is plenty of infosites and blogs dedicated to the European and US lingerie industry but none to the Australian lingerie industry. If there is any mention of the latest happenings in the Australian lingerie market, it is usually buried amongst other discussions on the broader fashion industry. Yet our fantastically creative and clever Aussie lingerie designers are there, quietly working at their niche market, but not getting as much exposure or recognition as they probably deserve. So this is where this blog intends to fill some of the gap.

From time to time, I may also comment on upcoming news from overseas brands that are popular in Australia.

I will also be reviewing various bras and posting my findings on this blog. However, while bra reviews may be helpful, they should never be taken as a true indicator of the bra's performance. Bust shapes vary so much that what may work for some ladies, may not work for others. The only true indicator is to try the bra yourself.

If you have any questions about lingerie, ask away and I will try and find the most appropriate response for you.

Now, you may be asking yourselves, why lingerie and not outerwear fashion? Put simply, lingerie is timeless, decadent and has a wicked sinfulness all it's own. As with all fashion, there are trends in lingerie design and popularity but no lingerie piece ever really goes out of style. At times its use may decline, as other products take over, but it will resurge or re-invent itself at a later date. Corsets are the perfect example. Whereas once they were essential ladies underwear, nowadays they are more popular as an outerwear garment to be worn with pants or skirts. In addition, your choice of undergarments is a personal statement of how you see yourself. It's also a bit of yourself that you keep hidden and only reveal to a select few.