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)

Manhattan

http://www.newyorkpalace.com/experiencenyc/culture.php

Sometimes a girl has to wait a long time for what she wants.

I have dreamt of returning to Manhattan, quite literally. I shall visit the Flatiron, of course, and no-one shall hold me back from those gorgeous Art Deco pieces of architecture-divine that are the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings.

It seems the city for me, in so many ways. A most favourite poet, Jordie Albiston, wrote The Fall which was based on a 1940s photograph of a young woman who married death to life from the top of the Empire State. I cannot do it justice here. You must seek it out; with the photograph.

I could wrap myself in Manhattan, quite literally. If I could afford it. You know I am referring to the stockings which you have seen here.

But I shall have to wait. They are extraordinarily expensive, because they are as precious as bespoke lingerie.

They are made on machines that weigh 6 tonnes each, and are 17 metres long. They have 16,800 needles which produce only 30 stockings (or 15 pairs) an hour. Then they are hand sewn from top to toe, and dyed to some of the beautiful colours you saw on my previous post.

One day I shall have my very own pair in bitter chocolate.

Until then I shall have to enjoy it vicariously.

xx

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

Underlying Intentions

In my last post I had something to show you. Something absolutely delicious and desirous. It was a fabulously overwhelming gift from the friend I mentioned.

It was one of those rare and treasured  occasions when a girl is surprised by something she could have only dreamt of calling her own. I had not mentioned my preferences to anyone, and it was only vaguely referenced here in my blog, so it was a wonderful surprise. What makes my dear endowerer even more incredible is that the selected sizing was impeccably accurate.

Most of you are familiar with my preference for many of the delightful items at What Katie Did. For a few years now I have been secretly lusting over a particular design in their corset range. What a very lucky girl I am to be able to cinch myself with the gorgeous Morticia.



If you have ever received a parcel from this gorgeous boutique, you will know how the pleasure begins as you unwrap your delicate items from the volumes of black tissue, which has been carefully beribboned and subtly marked for posting. Their corsets also come in lavish satin bags for safe keeping.

You can imagine how overwhelmed a girl could be to learn that her divine friend had been busily sourcing both the US and UK collections for such an indulgence. More than this, it was to be a part of an entire lavish ensemble!

After examining it on-screen so often, one would think that I would know the items in my favourite What Katie Did range by touch. But with my eyes averted and my fingers feeling those lines of stitching, soft satin and powermesh I could not believe my lingerie fantasies were being realised. I am entirely enamoured with so many of the items in the delectable Maitresse range. Can you believe what gorgeous things I found?

The Maitresse Bullet Bra

An essential item in a vintage girl's wardrobe

The Maitresse Knickers

Tasteful and glamourous

The most perfect Fully Fashioned Stockings

Authentic, specially made on rare machines, and with a keyhole welt.

and to hold that beauty in place

The Maitresse Girdlette

with six very fine quality garter tabs for a sure grip.

What a very fortunate girl I am. However, at the moment they are being admired in my drawers as I wait patiently for a visit from my very generous gifter.

A girl shouldn't wear them for just anyone.

xx

Basque in Barcelona

Sometimes a girl has to be a little spontaneous. And a little wicked. Sometimes she has to stretch herself a little further than she should. She should grasp a gorgeous opportunity when it is with such divine company.

She should not resist.

And so I have acquiesced.

                                                        Naughty, naughty me.


I do not mind how imprudent it is. I think that makes it nicer, and my inviter is so enticing.

A girl can sometimes do things she should not.

Or perhaps she should, after all.

I can't wait.

In just a few weeks I shall be here:

Can a girl have too much that she loves all at once? She might need you to hold her down.

I love it when you do that.

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

Vargas Video

Some of you may remember my post from November last year on the gorgeous Vargas dress.

The creators, Kiss Me Deadly, are asking for videos in their loveliest shape-wear.

Without a boy in the boudoir, a girl needs to ask nicely if there is any kind and discreet person out there in my ethernet who is handy with a camera (or vidphone) and has a few luscious ideas to make a fun little film-o-matic.

 ... but you have to promise to be nice because I am a very good girl.


xx

Legitimate Lingerie

Fine lingerie is just not complete without the appropriate accessories, and so I believe beautiful stockings and tights are an essential component of a girl's lingerie wardrobe.

As I am with all lingerie, so am I absolutely desirous of stockings and tights. As hosiery patterning seems to change seasonally, I have found myself eagerly stocking up on quaint styles regardless of room permitting in bedside drawers.

Recently I found three gorgeous little numbers which I would love to share with you. The first is like a fine fishnet with art nouveau flowers around the thigh;

http://www.voodoohosiery.com.au/fashion

the second, was a subtle design which I do not yet have a photo for; and third, was my beloved, luxurious cuban heel seamed stockings. These traditionally come in a chisel ended style, but my favorite is the Deco-esque stepped finish which seems a little more elusive.

The following photo shows generic versions of heeled stockings. I do love the Manhattan.

 

(What incredible colours they have!)

I also prefer the traditional keyhole welt in the garter of my stockings when I can get them. Which fortunately I can at What Katie Did.  Some of their range are still made on the traditional machines. (Because a girl has to love that devotion to an authentic aesthetic.)

Here, for your perusal, is a little stocking anatomy:

These, from What Katie Did, are my stock in stockings:

Now, all I need is a little night out ...

xx