Lingerie and the Woman You Love

As a part of my Honours coursework, my studies assess the effect of subcultures within society. This required a presentation on the particular subculture, and its interrelation with its immediate community.

It is a difficult subject, as there is often little available research on the particular subcultures, and time constraints prohibited the ethics clearance required for interviews which would have enhanced the anthropological aspects of the study.

I am sure many of you would not be surprised that my topic encompassed lingerie, femininity, and feminine agency. The study contrasted the effects of feminism, arguing that its embracing of masculine ideals as models for empowerment effectively devalued women's inherent value propositions, which centre predominantly around femininity and intrinsic female roles. 

Before anyone starts tossing quotes from Greer or Friedan from left of stage, the paper did not refute the important benefits of feminism, nor did it espouse pre-feminism. Instead it valorised the feminine not in response to masculine hegemonic predilections, but as a complimentary proposition to wrest balance between the sexes, and to re-appropriate the feminine ideal.

A presentation on such a subject would require a woman to be appropriately attired. As you know from this weblog of mine, this particular woman dresses in two distinct stages: from her underwear to her outerwear. There were some lovely new items of apparel I was keen to appropriate for my presentation, and a very lovely surprise which I am sure many of you would appreciate, and which I would like to share with you here.

Before we dispense with the formalities, I am pleased to concede that the presentation went extremely well and garnered considerable attention, even without me revealing [exactly] what I was concealing. There were certainly some raised eyebrows at the hints to my undergarments.

First, my ensemble in its entirety:

There is my beautiful cardi, my full petticoat and gorgeous What Katie Did stockings, suspenders, bullet bra and Morticia corset. But you clever readers have spied something else, haven't you ...

What an eye for detail you have! But first you must admire the detail of the beauty here:

and here:

How can a girl resist such divine luxury from her heel to her garter strap?

You can't wait, can you? Yes, you are quite right, it is she ... and it is her original autograph. 

You don't believe me do you?

It is true. I have it here.

Dita von Teese's autographed card. Just for me!

Let me know if you are more interested in my final paper*, than my outer- and under-garments, and I shall send you a copy ... 

... but I know you: Wicked!

xx

* on lingerie, femininity, and feminine agency  - in case you forgot! (pettichrome@gmail.com)

Bass Guitars and Beauty

I had been ill for a long time. I was bedridden and had not eaten for a about a week.

My favourite musicians were playing at a cosy venue. I put on the beautiful blue dress I had sewn myself, it is dark blue shot with tiny ultramarine flowers, my first petticoat, and let my hair out around my shoulders.

It was a magnificent evening. They played every song I loved. And then something unexpected happened. The bassist knelt down in front of me and played a whole song, telling me things I could not hear over the tenor of his guitar. And then, at the encore, he took an armful of flowers which garlanded the stage, and showered them all over me.

Sometimes beautiful things happen.

Weekend Away

Sometimes, when a girl is all alone, she has to take her initiative for a drive.

A few weekends ago, that is just what I did.

After a little research into a providore and wine region just a few hours away I chose one of my favourite dresses, a flower for my hair, and planned my day away.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, a girl dresses twice: once secretly, and once overtly. As you know, by clicking on "Lingerie" on the list on the right hand side of my blog, I take my secret dressing very seriously. As my deportment teacher told me when I was just a girl "a woman must have good foundation garments that are both comfortable and beautiful". This is a tenet I still hold true.

I always like to match my pretty underthings to my outerwear. But since you couldn't spend the day with me, I thought I could share the simple, beautiful things with you here.

This is one of my most favourite vintage dresses. I have lifted it a little so you can see my layered pink petticoat which holds it out to its best advantage:

These are my delicate foundation garments. They always remind me of a Nick Cave song, Nobody's Baby Now:
"This is her dress that I loved best
With the blue quilted violets across the breast"

The stockings I chose were seamed and cuban heeled. In this skin tone you can just see the detail, with its gorgeous Art Deco-like stepped design. I do love the subtle beauty of them.

And a girl does like to be corseted in.

My touring revealed a little out-of the-way place which hosted the most sumptuous lunch for me, even though I strolled in at a languid 2:00pm. With their signature Pinot Noir, a delicious dessert, and coffee over a Pinter play, it was difficult to leave this lovely tranquil place with the most divine view.

Next time won't you please come with me?
xx

States of Undress

After a conversation with a friend today, I began to understand that I had some rather distinct KPIs for my intimate liaisons.

Now before you start pressing the big red button, or shouting "Warning, Will Robinson", I do want to assure you there will be nothing explicit or untoward on my little blog.

But in this age of electronica, I have begun to find that speed-dating, just like speedy everything-else seems to have permeated one of those rooms where we should be taking considerable time.

As I mentioned to my friend, she and I do love our lingerie, and we carefully choose delicious and delicate articles that don't just lie closest to our skin, but actually accentuate our womanhood. You have seen some of my preferences on this weblog of mine, but as I have intimated, there is quite a pretty collection in my bedside table, my chest of draws, my wardrobe, and in tiny boxes and packets hidden where they shan't be found.

As you lovely lady readers know, many of us are often pleasantly adorned beneath our outerwear whether we have an occasion or not. And when we actually do have an exciting evening planned, we often have something special lingering underneath our fabulous frocks.

As we slowly reveal our sensitivities, we are often surprised how some certain types of gentlemen tend to  race their libido to see how quickly they can remove those final garments.

Now if your lady is wearing some very unflattering beige items that look more like a woollen bathing suit, then yes, please use as much haste as possible to reveal your lover's better form.

However, as a little hint, if you are presented with a woman who is endowed with exquisite underwear, please do enjoy it with a lovely dose of acknowledgement and a hint of imagination.

xx

Charleston II

Monday was second my swing class. This time sans French 75, but with many more boys. How nice it is to have them "offer the hand" and then swing us girls out by our hips. Some of those cheerful young thangs just know how to guide us so smoothly that it is nice letting them show the initiative in the lead.

This week we did high kicks, turns and jumps. My petticoats ensured I was all modesty no matter how high I kicked or how much thrust those boys put on my turn. And the floor makes such a jolly good thump when we all come down together. Some of those fellas are actually quite advanced and just come along to give a girl some company. How lucky we are. 

Unfortunately we only have one little class left. I have my swing record out and I am going to practice, practice, practice, because next week I am going to start with a 75, shine those boards, and finish like a 57!