The Lingerie Guide to All Occasions by La Senza

Lingerie has been a wardrobe essential for women since centuries now, but just as we need a variety of clothes, we also need plenty of lingerie choices. Long gone is the era of the white cotton bras our grandmoms wore. There’s lingerie for every occasion and mood now, and who does it better than La Senza?

This is the (un)official guide to lingerie for all occasions, featuring all that’s new, hot and happening at La Senza.

Occasion: Office/ geeky mood

You need: A “sensible” bra with minimal print or embellishments. It could match the colour of your top- think blue, green, pink, beige, white etc. Try La Senza’s So Free balconnet bras.

Balconnet La Senza

La Senza balconnet bras

Occasion: Shopping

You need: A minimal-frills bra that can be push-up. Or not. Aka Show Off at La Senza.

La Senza lingerie

Occasion: Party time!

You need: A bra that makes you feel flirty and sexy. Try a bralet in lace with a slashed back or a corset to create sexy curves. Wear under a light jacket, blazer or translucent tee.

La Senza bralet

La Senza bralet back

La Senza party underwear

La Senza black corset

Occasion: Bed time, when you’re feeling naughty

You need: A lacy bra or a lacy corset with matching shorts, preferably in colours men love on women- black and red!

La Senza pink lace bra

La Senza lacey nightwear

Occasion: Running errands around town

You need: A comfortable option that will give you just the right amount of push, along with simple cotton underwear. Try Body Kiss.

La Senza multi-way bras

Occasion: Chilling at home, or a pyjama party with your girlfriends.

You need: A soft and comfy night suit or playsuit to remind you of your school-time sleepovers. They’re cute!

La Senza nightwear

La Senza night playsuit

On your first date. Or your hundredth (when you want to catch his attention).

You need: I have two words for you: Extreme Push-up (or rather, Hello Sugar). Don’t forget bold underwear!

La Senza pushup bras

La Senza underwear

La Senza lingerie is available at exclusive brand stores in select malls across India.

Kate Beckinsale wears corset in Underworld Awakening, so how about trying a bustier?

Kate Beckinsale wears corset in Underworld Awakening, so how about trying a bustier?

If you’ve watched Underworld Awakening over the weekend, you couldn’t have missed the super-fit Kate Beckinsale dressed in an all-leather outfit and, most importantly, her leather corset.

DF-04522_r

It seems that Kate Beckinsale was more concerned about fitting into the leather corset than the daredevil stunts and the heavy-duty action scenes. Not surprising, considering that the first Underworld movie was shot almost a decade ago.

Nevertheless, if you think Kate Beckinsale looks sexy in this (I certainly do), there’s an easy way to get the corseted look without time-travelling to the Victorian era or holding your breath.

Say hello to the bustier!

La Senza pink bustier

Ok, not this bustier (from La Senza), but the ones I’ve written about below. Read on…

Why a bustier?

Sure, bustiers are usually associated with lingerie (they give the woman a higher bust line and a shapely waist), but as innerwear transformed into outerwear over the past few seasons, bustiers had a coming out of sorts (pun intended).

Bustier v/s corset

So what’s the difference between a bustier and a corset? For one, a bustier lacks the lacing and “boning” of a typical corset (they give shape to the wearer). Secondly, a bustier usually ends at the ribs or waist, while a corset can be of varying lengths.

If you want to wear a bustier to get a more defined torso, take your pick from the options below.

Bustier as a dress

Bustier dresses can be fitted or A-line, long or short.

Below: Denim bustier dress, Sabrina bustier bandage dress both from Forever New; Winter Love strapless dress from French Connection, gown from Jatin Varma (LFW W/F 2011)

Forevernew Cannes Denim bustier dressForevernew Sabrina Bustier Bandage DressFrench Connection Winter Love Strapless dress Jatin Varma LFW WF 2011 bustier2

Bustier as a top

I spotted a number of bustier tops at Bebe recently, and they looked absolutely fab! They ranged from sporty to sexy, and the satin ones were especially attractive. 🙂

Below: Space dye bustier top, Embellished pleated bustier, heart-shaped satin bustier, all from Bebe.

Bebe space-dye bustier pink Bebe embellished pleated bustier

Bebe heart shaped satin bustier

Bustier as a camisole or Indian-style blouse

Wear a bustier as a camisole under a sheer blouse, shirt or jacket. Or wear a bustier as a blouse with your sari or lehenga this wedding season.

Below: Lace bustier camisole from Forever New, look from Satya Paul LFW S/R 2011

Forevernew bustier cami

Satya Paul SR 2011 bustier

 

Bustier warning!

Wearing a bustier as outerwear is not easy, especially in India- it takes guts and a good figure. 🙂 So here are a couple of tips when you’re buying or wearing one.

A garment can only enhance what you already have—being in shape really helps. And not all bustier garments give good support. So be careful what you choose.

Innerwear matters: A bustier top or dress may require additional support from within especially if you’re a curvy girl. So shop for the right lingerie to look shapely and smart in your bustier.

Cover up: Bare shoulders and plunging neckline are not exactly appropriate or acceptable street wear in India. So wear a matching shrug or jacket over your bustier when you’re out, which you could take off when you’re indoors at a party or dinner.

Accessorise right: There’s nothing cooler than a long necklace to go with a bustier top or dress. Very flattering if you got the right curves!

Below: Feather charm necklace from Toniq

Feather- Charm Necklace - Copy

Are you ready to wear a bustier?

Bollywood Fashion Looks: Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone for Dum Maaro Dum

Dum Maaro Dum released last weekend, after a long series of promotions by the cast—Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati, Prateik and item girl Deepika Padukone. Take a look at this picture taken at a cricket match last month, where the team turned up to promote the movie:

Dum Maaro Dum Deepika Bipasha match

Some quick fashion lessons from the actors:

  • Torn + skinny jeans = apparently in vogue these days.
  • Accessories can make— or break—an outfit. Not sure if Deepika’s hat really works with her completely casual look, perhaps a sporty cap would have looked better. Bipasha’s belt, on the other hand, pulls the outfit together.
  • You should always dress for the occasion: Sorry Bipasha, we love your pink heels, but wearing those to a cricket match is a faux pas.

Bonus: Bipasha Basu Dum Maaro Dum Style Report

Bipasha Basu plays a Goan woman (Zoe), working for the businessman-villain Biscuita, donning formal blouses and pencil skirts “at work”. In the flashback  she’s an aspiring air hostess, wearing sheer loose tops with coloured bikini tips and shorts.

Bipasha was styled by a team from Mango, Aldo and La Senza for the movie (all high street brands). That makes an interesting fashion mix. It’s a stark contrast to Aisha’s high fashion, but it works for Bipasha and for the movie.

Meanwhile, tell us who do you think is better styled—Deepika Padukone or Bipasha Basu?

Bollywood Fashion Looks: Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone for Dum Maaro Dum

Dum Maaro Dum released last weekend, after a long series of promotions by the cast—Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati, Prateik and item girl Deepika Padukone. Take a look at this picture taken at a cricket match last month, where the team turned up to promote the movie:

Dum Maaro Dum Deepika Bipasha match

Some quick fashion lessons from the actors:

  • Torn + skinny jeans = apparently in vogue these days.
  • Accessories can make— or break—an outfit. Not sure if Deepika’s hat really works with her completely casual look, perhaps a sporty cap would have looked better. Bipasha’s belt, on the other hand, pulls the outfit together.
  • You should always dress for the occasion: Sorry Bipasha, we love your pink heels, but wearing those to a cricket match is a faux pas.

Bonus: Bipasha Basu Dum Maaro Dum Style Report

Bipasha Basu plays a Goan woman (Zoe), working for the businessman-villain Biscuita, donning formal blouses and pencil skirts “at work”. In the flashback  she’s an aspiring air hostess, wearing sheer loose tops with coloured bikini tips and shorts.

Bipasha was styled by a team from Mango, Aldo and La Senza for the movie (all high street brands). That makes an interesting fashion mix. It’s a stark contrast to Aisha’s high fashion, but it works for Bipasha and for the movie.

Meanwhile, tell us who do you think is better styled—Deepika Padukone or Bipasha Basu?