Letter from Paris: Salon International de la Lingerie 2014

Lingerie influences how we feel. More than 500 brands participated last week at the Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris, a source of enchantment and transformation for nearly 17,000 buyers from around the world. Innovative fabrics and exceptional advances in embroidery and lace technology have added new dimensions for designers to explore and expand their creativity. Ranging from bold and dramatic to nuanced and subtle, new forms accentuate the feminine silhouette with an unparalleled fusion of style and comfort for the Fall/Winter 2014 collections.

This upward trend is set to continue with the words CREATIVE, SEXY, FASHION, and QUALITY, cited frequently at this year’s show to describe the collections of leading brands and luxury designers. n a world increasingly on display, a glamorous sexy and styled eroticism is one of the more accomplished trends for Fall/Winter 2014. Styles are daring without the trashy trappings of vulgarity and reflect a self-assured and playful woman at easy with her sexuality and desires.

Paris Capitale de la Creation Designer of the Year! Spanish designer Andres Sarda was honored for the brand’s luxury collections inspired by the vibrant allure of Barcelona.

Bella Petite Lingerie Holiday Collection

Bella Petite Lingerie designer Stephanie Ballard takes her love of two sultry colors – Ruby and Black – and combines them into her brand’s Holiday collection updating the small bust brand’s Chemise and sexy babydoll styles. The new Chemise is available in two colors – black and ruby — and features thinner adjustable straps which the designer says adds to the sexiness of the garment. Stephanie also noted that soft stretch lace is used on the bust and luxuriously soft sheer lace on the rest of the piece. The bottom of the chemise is adorned with a light floral lace.

Bella Petite’s signature Babydoll — also available in black and ruby — gets an update as well; the new babydoll features a a tiny black bow in the middle of the bust, as well as a soft sexy trim at the bottom of the piece. “The deep plunging necklines on these pieces are extremely flattering on small busts and are sure to make the customer feel sexy and seductive, I know they did for me!” said Stephanie of the new collection.

Catherine from Small Bust Big Heart did a review of Bella Petite Lingerie’s pieces recently and she described the chemise as, “A confidence boosting garment and comfy to wear.” She went on to say: “This makes you feel glamorous, glorious and super sexy”. Fans of the brand understand that Catherine’s response to the Bella Petite is well founded as the designer completely understands her customers: “When I am putting designs together, I keep in mind what I find to fit well and what makes me feel sexy since I am petite busted and have similar challenges as my customers,” says Stephanie of her design process. We recently featured Stephanie’s new styles in our Small Bust Lingerie Market Feature and encourage our readers to read that article. Part 2 debuts later this week.

Cancer Survivors Can Now Adorn Their Curves In Lingerie After A Mastectomy

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and according to the American Cancer Society about 234,580 new breast cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2013 in both men and women. The percentage is overwhelming for women at 232,340. Despite the fact that many women consider their breasts as one of the most prominent identifiers of their femininity, fewer than 1 in 4 women opt for reconstruction surgery immediately after having a mastectomy to treat breast cancer despite psychological and cosmetic benefits. Mastectomy survivors who chose this option may often go without a bra but have very limited options when choosing lingerie because of the concerns associated with prosthesis support. Those options are further limited when searching for lingerie that is not only functional but sexy.

Women’s Secret, Spain’s popular lingerie company has teamed up with Barcelona’s based Health Care Clinic Dexeus Women’s Health to create a lingerie line specifically for women who have gone through breast cancer surgery.

The “Special Post-Surgery Bra Collection” features a lining that fits a silicone prosthesis (used before the breast is reconstructed), and wider straps to better support the weight of the breast and the prosthesis. They use soft fabrics and seamless edges that protect the area around the armpit and breast area, which could be tender following surgery or radiotherapy. Women’s Secret is not available yet in the US but you can shop for alternative options at online stores like Royce Lingerie and The Pink Bra.

It is important to remember that a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence. The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 13.7 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2012. Some of these individuals were cancer free, while others still had evidence of cancer and may have been undergoing treatment.

Although you may feel that sexy lingerie is such a unimportant thing to consider after diagnosis, mastectomy survivors often seek the feeling of normalcy after going through such a horrific ordeal. Shopping for and wearing sexy lingerie to adorn new curves can be a step toward reclaiming and embracing the new life that lies ahead.

Buy Lingerie Guide

Now that you have decided which brands to carry, you need to assess which size runs are best for each brand and style ordered. Sarah Platt of the SF Showroom, who represents lines such as Fleur’t and Montelle, says that the largest mistake that new buyers make is that they buy too many sizes—oftentimes buying a full size run in every style bra, when they should really only buy certain sizes in a certain style.

For instance, if a particular style bra is a better cut for small busted women, the assortment purchased should reflect those smaller sizes. During merchandise selection, it helps to look for what I call the three Fs: fit, function and fashion.

Fit – Does the merchandise have a fantastic fit? A bra or chemise can be beautiful on the hanger, but a nightmare to fit on the body. We have all had the experience of trying on a beautiful dress or top that is cut all wrong, it never makes it out of the fitting room. If it doesn't fit, don’t buy it.

Function – What is the function of the item, and will it do its job? For example, will the push-up bra give cleavage; will the panty function under clothing? Will the shapewear piece work under a dress (i.e. be invisible)? If the function of the lingerie is strictly bedroom or seduction, that is its function, and that is okay, too. The item must perform its function, and do it well.

Fashion – Is the merchandise in vogue? Even basic bras should reflect the trends. Look for fashionable touches that show the item is updated and fashion forward. For example, t-shirt bras in updated colors; camisoles with in-style prints or modern lace and sleepwear with the latest RTW trends incorporated.

Chantelle Winter 2014 Lingerie Collection

After you have bought all presents for Christmas you can relax and think about what can really make you happy. Women have many temptations like jewelry, fur, shoes or handbags. For me lingerie is A temptation that makes my heart beat faster. Sexy lingerie is must in your wardrobe and Christmas is perfect occasion to upgrade your collection of lingerie. I have several designer collections for holidays and one of them is Chantelle winter 2014 lingerie collection that is full of sexy lingerie pieces.

For new season French brand represented line of lingerie that amazes with versatility of styles, colors and textures. Color palette includes subtle and nude shades as well as black, navy blue, purple and brown pieces in different styles and combos. Floral lace patterns are present in almost all designs. What can look even more seductive and luxurious than lace lingerie?

Chantelle winter 2014 collection includes high quality push up bras as well as classy shapes for those who love comfortable lingerie. Touch of glitter in lingerie is must for “special occasions”.

Gallery of Chantelle lingerie collection represents all the best examples and models featuring collection look simply irresistible. Lingerie collection has already been launched and you can already find them in stores. If you haven’t chosen presents for Christmas you can find some optional pieces from Chantelle new edition.

Sophia Bush Strips for Maxim, Shows Major Cleavage in Mesh Corset

The Chicago P.D. actress strips down for the men's magazine, wearing sexy lingerie and, well, not too much else. But Bush is more than just a pretty face—she's a talented actress and an outspoken activist.

Bush, 31, uses social media to highlight a variety of causes and social issues. "I realized I could have a dinner party conversation with 15 people, and I could use Twitter to have that same conversation with a million," says the California native, who volunteers for Pencils of Promise and charity: water.Given that she's consistently been on TV screens since 2003, the actress has amassed quite an online following. "Well, it's funny. It's not often that someone gets a job at 20 and then does it for a decade. Those are the years you're supposed to be growing and exploring new things," Bush says of her One Tree Hill days. "But this show [Chicago P.D.]? It feels like the job I was supposed to be doing."

To prepare for her role as detective Erin Lindsay, a former confidential informant, Bush brushed up on creator Dick Wolf's other TV shows. "Well, I've watched his whole library, but I didn't sit and cram or anything. Although I did spend my Super Bowl Sunday watching a True Detective marathon on HBO."The NBC drama shoots on location in the Windy City, which suits Bush just fine. "The restaurant scene is fantastic, and there a lot of great little bars," she says, noting that she hangs out with her co-stars regularly. "Our adventures are mostly about finding rare whiskeys and then dancing our faces off."

And Bar Refaeli gets into the spirit of the special day

With her perfect figure and stunning good looks, she would be many man's ideas of a perfect Valentine. And Bar Refaeli gets into the spirit of the special day in a new advertising campaign for Passionata.The blonde 27-year-old sports sheer black underwear and bright red heels teamed with an oversized red bow for the new campaign picture.

The striking shot shows her standing by a white letterbox with red spotted background, collecting her Valentine's post with a broad smile on her pretty face. Although Bar is rumoured to be currently single after being linked with snowboarder Shaun White, it's likely she won't be short of cards come February 14. Bar recently appeared as a fifties housewife in another set of stunning photographs which showed her sporting an array of underwear carrying out stereotypical housewife chores.For its new Spring-Summer 2013 Collection, Passionata reveals its seductive campaign with Refaeli as the gorgeous pin-up.The top model stars as an ultra-glamorous lady of the house and wears strong fifties make up complete with feline flick eyeliner and glossy red pout.Modelling the Sweet Sexy Lingerie set, featuring rounded curves and plunging necklines, Bar strikes an inquisitive pose picking up a cookery book and placing an index finger up to her lips.

While wearing the So Pretty lace sets in lilac and white, we see her gleaming with happiness at her success at baking cupcakes and a raspberry tart.In another photograph Bar is seen wearing the Lovely set, leaving up against a candy floss pink retro fridge and sucking on a milkshake.Almost Katy Perry-style, Bar poses in the Malice set with tulle skirt against a giant purple, pink and yellow pastel coloured cake with ribbons.With an adorable Jack Russell by her side, Bar picks up a paintbrush and starts painting his house while wearing a delicate peach set and headscarf.In another photograph Bar smiles and picks up a wheelbarrow to do some gardening while wearing the Casual Sexy set and some Daisy Duke denim shorts.