SENSATIONALLY SEXY
The International Trade Fair for Lingerie is a meeting reserved for professionals. Creators, distributors and resellers cross it to present, discover and buy new collections. It is an event not to be missed for all those who disseminate lingerie in France and abroad. It is in parallel and within the flag “Interfilière” – a crossroads of wholesale fabrics, accessories and raw materials intended for designers and clothing manufacturers.
A few days before its opening in Paris, the International Lingerie Show reveals the major fall-winter 2015-2016 trends in underwear. It is a season in which lingerie is artistic and seductive, simple and sophisticated. Over 400 exhibitors meet at the Porte de Versailles, which contains many parades, shows and conferences. An overheated platform, “Pavilion 1” was showcased with sets of lingerie and young women each more sensual than the next. Last year, the marks were unanimous. The flagship trend was then “the erotic-glam”, symbolising lingerie as weapon of seduction, both glamorously sexy and compiled without any vulgarity. If this trend continues, it is no longer alone today, adapting to the character of every woman, whether wise or extravagant. Everything is in the contrast.
The provocative 80
The legacy of the 1980s, whether in fashion or lingerie, has always been present, greatly influencing designers. But this year, there is a real “comeback” with eccentric and sometimes unusual pieces. Obviously, it shows off volumes and shapes, greatly amplified, but also the colours are much flashier.
The sexy, seductive and exuberant woman of 80 is represented by Chantal Thomass lingerie, a brand which has never hesitated to completely rework the feminine silhouette. But this year many brands and designers decided to offer push up bra, high waist panties and corsets. All in noble materials such as silk or lace and with sophisticated finishes such as jewelled accessories, lurex or gold. The brand offers a strapless ID Sarrieri with a marked chest and wide hips, recalling the corset of Jean Paul Gaultier, while Eight plays the card of silver thread and that of seduction Aubade assumed with lace placed around the neck as necklace and garter belt laced waist.
Minimalist 90s
Here we have a completely different register where well-being and comfort take precedence over the sexiness. The watchword is simplicity – if possible multi-purpose rooms can be used for lingerie and ready-to-wear at the same time as jackets and headbands. It is suffice to say that we are not at all into seduction. More intimate, even very personal, this underwear is not showing off. The bras and bodysuits will therefore be the heavy pieces of this trend, with more neutral colours (white, black, brown, gray, beige).Brands like Mrs.Aime and Fishbelly are playing the game of minimalism, with pieces inspired by ready-to-wear and sportswear – extremely comfortable, and they don’t modulate the body of the woman.
All the major brands were present: Aubade, Athena, Chantale Thomas Chantelle Desigual, Agent Provocateur, LiseCharmel, Passionata, Playboy and many others, making it the ideal place to get an overall idea of what lingerie in 2015 will be like. First observation, lingerie is accessorised more. Gone are the sexy thongs and support Push ups that are worn alone. The trend is the accessory – clients are more likely to opt for a pair of handcuffs, a mask, whip, a bra revealing the chest and any other gadget that can spice up a couple’s sexuality. The trend was well-present trend in the lounge, which was grafted on light sets and increasingly worked, refined and developed.
For amateurs (trices) Vintage, we selected six brands:
KS / Ellora
A recent French brand that comes in two collections; KS (Kimy’s Sweeties) for high-end lingerie and Ellora for more accessible products.
Fraulein Kink
A brand which as its name suggests comes from Germany. Fräulein Kink accessories offers upscale vintage for erotic sets of high quality. Fräulein Kink was created to inspire adventure, lust, and sexual exploration.
Corsetorium: A very luxurious brand, the corsets are handmade in the London workshops. A Specialist in corsetry, Corsetorium knows word of mouth. A sort of retro initiated to amateurs and pushed to the extreme sensuality offense. The products distributed in England, Spain, USA, Australia, the Netherlands and Italy, but not in France at the moment.
Maki Marie
A young brand based in Lyon whose creative Asian made a vintage blend of contemporary design and accessories.
And finally our 2 favourite brands are clearly oriented towards vintage pinups and the 50s.
Vixen by Leg Avenue
A British brand specialising in pin-up sets of the fifties, accessories, erotic outfits and disguises. Largely responsible for the ubiquity of sexy Halloween costumes today, Leg Avenue, (the lingerie and hosiery company the Tsais started after immigrating from Taipei in 1984) expects to sell $80 million worth of frilly French maids, short-skirted bumble bees and pirates in bustiers this year. The privately held company, now run by the four Tsai children out of the City of Industry, California, is one of the largest manufacturers of sexy Halloween costumes in the world.
Tallulah Love
Our favourite brand, Tallulah Love was founded by a young British seamstress who combines theatricality, opulent fabrics and technical expertise to create successful and totally retro underwear that is just beautiful.
Interfilière Paris brings together the most influential and key players from the international scene. The Interfiliere Paris is the meeting point of all global players in the lingerie and swimwear industry. The event is a source of inspiration and offers a European-based view of textiles and textile accessories for lingerie and swimwear industry. Visitors can inform themselves here in detail and comprehensively about the latest trends and products and find new business partners. The program provides the Interfiliere Paris trend forums, fashion shows and conferences.
