I'm in Love with Tallulah Love

'Dinner at the Ritz'

For a relatively new lingerie label - launched in January 2010 - Tallulah Love has a fair few achievements tucked under its belt (/suspender belt - too cheesy?). You don't get a 'Special Award for Success' (UK Trade and Investment) or a 'Newcomer of the Year' (North East Business Awards) for nothing, right? Well business-y awards don't mean an awful lot to me as a die-hard lingerie fanatic with next-to-no business knowledge but I do like a sassy newcomer. And Tallulah Love has definitely captured my attention.

Naughty Knickers Stocks Flirty French Brand, Maison Close

Another Saturday, another Kiss Me Deadly trunk show in the Marble Arch boutique. This time, I got up close and personal with French brand Maison Close. Up until recently Maison Close were pretty hard to come by in the UK but thanks to UK distributor and online lingerie boutique, Naughty Knickers, you can now purchase full Maison Close collections here in Britain.

New Corset Brand, Ava Corsetry, Launch in London

BEWARE: Dodgy phone photos.

If you're a regular on the Kiss Me Deadly website, you've probably seen - or even purchased - corsets by Ava Corsetry and not even realised. With degrees and experience in fashion and period costuming, Danielle is the accomplished corset maker responsible for Kiss Me Deadly's corsets (which you can find here).
Now, as well as continuing her line of corsets for Toots & Booty's favourite UK lingerie brand, she has launched a brand of her own: Ava Corsetry.

What it Means to be a Newly Single Lingerie Lover

Bra and briefs by Myla. Girdle by Kiss Me Deadly

Warning - this is a highly self-indulgent, personal break up post! 
My boyfriend of 4 years and I decided to part ways recently. Almost my childhood sweetheart - we met when I was 16. Now, at the age of 20, I feel like I have a great journey of personal growth ahead of me and I'm feeling fragile, excited, upset, relieved, at a loss and invigorated all at once. You're probably reading this and thinking, 'what on earth has this got to do with me and my panties?!' I don't blame you and I promise I'm not usually one to air my smalls on the internet - well, the proverbial ones anyway - but I wanted to share this because it's actually so relevant to my love affair with lingerie. From the initial spark of, 'well I guess I'd better start buying big-girl panties now that I've got a boyfriend and all...' to the shocking realisation, 'oh my knickers, lingerie shopping is actually damn cool!', my private relationship with - let's just call him Handsome Boy - coincided perfectly with my relationship with undies.

I Heart Else

Wearing the Else Chevron Monochrome Bra

 Following on from my write up of the Lingerie Collective boutique last week (which you can read here), today I am going to review my purchase from the lovely London store - The Else Chevron Monochrome bra.

Boutique Experience - The Lingerie Collective

 
 I never intended to do a write-up on my visit to The Lingerie Collective in Soho. I don't really like the idea of being a secret blogger/shopper and anyway, my visit wasn't planned. However, due to A) having had a lovely experience in The Lingerie Collective and B) having very little on here about London boutiques despite being London-based bloggers, I felt that my boutique experience should be shared.

Ayten Gasson - Sublime Silk for A/W12

Carla Kimono and Brief

Ayten Gasson have featured heavily on Toots & Booty because we just love their quintessentially British outlook on lingerie (Read their 'Made in the UK' article here). A brand that specialise in luxury silk pieces, we always expect the most elegant and ethical lingerie from them. A/W12's 'Carla', 'Stephanie' and 'Kelly' are truly beautiful.

Frantic About Frances - Grown Up Lingerie for Pin Ups

Gazing at Gilda

Frantic About Frances are a fabulous retro brand that specialise not just in recreating authentic pin up lingerie but in making it fun, quirky and unique. We loved their 'It Takes Allsorts' bullet bra from last season and the new collection is set to be just as popular with Toots & Booty.

Nicole Gill - Seventies Sheek with New Collection for AW12

If you told me to think of the 70's, an array of images would circulate in my mind. I would think of glam rock, punk, flares bigger than your face, loose morals, Bagpuss... sophistication and elegance probably wouldn't be among this. Now, thanks to Nicole Gill lingerie, I can see the 70's in a whole new light.

Toots, Booty and Sean OMalley Combine Forces with Fabulous Boudoir Consequences

Back in June, Toots & Booty decided to embark on the sexy, scantily clad mission of shooting some imagery for our humble little blog. This is partly because we were sick of being faceless bloggers but also because, lingerie is made to be seen right? We just don't think it would be fair to parade images of ladies in their smalls around the place without getting involved! So this is us in all our scant glory - Toots is the blondie, Booty is the one with the irrationally large bottom! And this is what we wore...
(All images shot by Sean OMalley)

New Agent Provocateur - Do we show our true selves through lingerie?

Agent Provocateur - Whitney

It's a fabulous time in the world of lingerie right now as more and more designers are releasing their Autumn/Winter collections to the public. Agent Provocateur have just released their AW12 campaign complete with the usual raunchy video accompaniment. As ever, AP's collection is dark, sexy and fashion forward with some really exquisite pieces. What really captured my imagination is the campaign's tagline - "Show Your True Self".

Lascivious AW12 Collection Reviewed

Isla bra, briefs and suspender

The much anticipated AW12 collection from London-based brand, Lascivious launched earlier this week. Lascivious - a British brand that design and produce all of their lingerie in the UK - coax us lovingly towards the autumn months with all new Lola, Isla and Cara.

Lingerie fit for Olympians! 5 Great Sports Bras for Under £50

Union Jack Underwired Sports Bra by M&S - £18

As the Olympics has just started and all that jazz, I thought I'd focus this Nifty, Thrifty & Under £50 post around sports bras! If you've caught the athletic bug and are in the mood for working out, you can grab these great bras even on a small budget!

Lingerie Lesson: The Fully Fashioned Stocking

Image source

School may be out for summer but I have a little lesson for you! I promise it will be fascinating and sexy! It's certainly one I wish I was taught at school. What are fully fashioned stockings? What makes them different? Why are they so rare and expensive? Why do I need a pair?
This hosiery lesson begins at the heel of post-war nylon mania and runs in a - shall we say, linear - fashion right up to the, er, welt that is the elasticated nylon legwear of today. (I promise, I'm usually a good writer.)

Candy Baker Glamour Hosiery - Long Legs in the Big City

Candy Baker London are known for their quirky collections of leg-lengthening hosiery. We loved their ultra-glam Classic Crystal collection which included a glitzy version of the classic backseam and more recently, 'Art Deco' injected some fab 1920's glamour into our tights. Now, Candy Baker have taken inspiration from two of the world's most beloved cities - London and Paris - to create 'Big City'.

Almeida launches on If You Please

Back in May, we got chatting with London-based lingerie designer, Tamara about her fetish-inspired brand, Almeida. (Read that post here). Almeida is now available on online boutique ifyouplease.co.uk. This gives us the perfect opportunity to take a look at some of the pieces from the debut collection we didn't get to share here. I love the purple/red lace and how it contrasts with the leather. Congratulations to Tamara Bell on a sophisticated, fabulous debut!

Playful Promises and Kaori's Latex Dreams - Fashion Forward Latex

Latex in fashion terms is generally something that most would relate to fetish wear. It is a material that connotes at mystery, the exotic, the erotic and especially, the expensive. While we do see a vastly growing number of latex based retailers nowadays, it is rarely everyday wear - not something the average person just has floating about in their wardrobe.
Now thanks to an exciting new collaboration featuring London-based lingerie brand, Playful Promises and latex designer, Kaori Matsubara, latex has been given a brand new affordability and attainablity.

Your Essential Lingerie Holiday Kit

 We've had two ultra hot days in a row here in London, which means that the British Summer is finally starting to resemble, well summer. If you're lucky enough to be getting away from the imminent threat of rain at any moment, you'll need a holiday lingerie kit. Here's the Toots & Booty list of holiday essentials.

Nifty, Thrifty and Under £50: Bullet Bras

Continuing our vintage lingerie trend from yesterday's "Guide to Vintage Lingerie", this weeks Thrifty post is focused on the staple of any vintage aficionado's lingerie collection. With vintage clothing cut to fit its shape and a fabulous history told by the projectile breasts of the best of Hollywood's classic starlets, the bullet bra is not only a gorgeous alternative to modern shapes. It is a statement and a whisper of a beautiful bygone era. And you can pick up your own for under £50!

Sneak Peek; Beautiful Bottoms AW12

If you aren't aware of Beautiful Bottoms, they're a fabulous brand that specialise in dynamic printed loungerie and stunning silks. This season's collection is dominated by florals and bird prints and the Autumn/Winter collection looks set to be just as gorgeous. Featuring more pretty prints, warm colours and, for the first time, the addition of a padded bra, Beautiful Bottoms continue their trend of sophisticated, feminine pieces through the colder months.