Playing pin-up

This post was written by a RWL Guest Blogger – Burlesque performer Honey Schnapps attended a glamorous retro lingerie press event on behalf of Rarely Wears Lipstick.

This week I went to the most delightful afternoon event which promised dressing up and cupcakes. How could I possibly resist? Organised by lingerie brands Ayten Gasson, Playful Promises and Kiss Me Deadly, the afternoon took place in the cosy basement lounge of Moose, a ski lodge-inspired club on Duke Street just down the road from Selfridges. Attendees included Morgana, alternative model and face of Kiss Me Deadly, and 1940s vintage queen Fleur de Guerre.

When I arrived I was greeted by a beautiful mirage of lingerie, statuesque pin-up girls and cupcakes galore. Overwhelmed by the fabulousness of it all, I didn’t know where to look first, so I started with a LoubyLou’s cupcake! The range of lingerie on show was retro yet very eclectic. Ayten Gasson’s luxurious creations were made of pure silk, vintage Nottingham lace and came in sophisticated shades such as plum, olive and raspberry. I was particularly in awe of the Liberty print open back kimono top.

Playful Promises’ offerings were cute and fun. This included their silk and satin briefs with tattoo-style embroidery, swimwear and flirty lingerie such as the ‘Sweetheart’ collection which had strategically placed hearts. Kiss Me Deadly appealed to my inner Hollywood vamp with their dark, femme fatale take on vintage-inspired lingerie. The prize for most seductive longline knickers would definitely go to Kiss Me Deadly. And I should know as I have put them to the test! The main highlight of the event was the opportunity to either dress the glamorous models in garments from the collections or try them on and do a spot of pin-up modelling yourself! No prizes for guessing what option I went for.

After a lot of umming and ahhing, I finally selected a Playful Promises red satin longline bra with matching longline girdle and seamed stockings. After adding the finishing touches of killer heels and a large white ostrich fan I was ready to strut out of the dressing room and, in the words of Rupaul, make love to the camera. Pin-up photography for the event was courtesy of the lovely Nicole from The Hourglass Photography, which specialises in pin-up, burlesque and make-over photo shoots. One of the main goals of The Hourglass is to help women feel confident and sexy, showing that you don’t have to be a top model to look gorgeous. To further make this point, The Hourglass doesn’t use airbrushing in their make-over photography.

Overall, the event was a blast. It felt more like an evening party than an afternoon event as I discovered when I blinked at the glaring daylight as I left Moose. Glamorous lingerie is so uplifting! It should definitely be a habit to wear, not just for seduction and special occasions, but everyday.