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.

How I am fighting the SALE shopping temptation

How I am fighting the SALE shopping temptation

The mall is a bad, bad place to visit these days. The SALES are extremely tempting, and my upcoming wedding has given me the best reason to shop. So the question I’ve been asking myself is – should I shop during the end of season sale? I mean, everyone shops during sale, right? (And the cool gif from Hidesign below makes it even more alluring).

Hidesign Sale

It’s not an easy answer, so I’m just going to put you through a YES and NO debate that went on in my mind for the longest time ever.

YES, a bride should totally shop on sale, because:
She will get the best prices so she can shop on a budget. And there is so much choice because all brands stuff their stores till they overflow.

NO WAY, a bride should not shop on sale, because:
It’s old season stuff, honey. Not the right options for a stylish trousseau. You don’t have place in your cupboard to hold all the lovely new clothes. She will end up splurging on clothes and accessories she doesn’t need or want.

Still no answer to my original question. So here’s what I did:

Step 1: I made a shopping list of things that I need to buy. (The key word here is need, not want).

Step 2: I then struck off those things that I don’t need immediately, like a watch, clutch etc. (I own these accessories and can use them for a while).

Step 3: This left me with just a few things on my list, such as a pair of office shoes, a good moisturiser, casual slippers (for the house) and similar stuff.

Step 4: And then I went and bought these things– they were all important because I didn’t have a good pair of work shoes and my home slippers broke.  And what of the rest?

Step 5: I went back to my original list, pondering each item carefully. I figured out the things I didn’t need immediately, but would be a good price during sale, and were unlikely to change with “trends”. This included staples like black pants, classic white blouse and a pearl necklace. And oh, lingerie.

Step 6: Meanwhile, my mom added a few things to the list- gifts! Mom’s wishlist can’t be ignored, so it got added to my list.

Step 7: I will be heading to the mall as the discounts go deeper, armed with this list. And I intend to stick to it! (I know I will).

Now, is that the path to being a smart, stylish and financially-savvy bride? I say YEAH!

PS—Do try this at home (and the mall)! No expert guidance needed.

Chic News: MTV Showoff wants to Bwitch you with lingerie

Chic News: MTV Showoff wants to Bwitch you with lingerie

Ladies, MTV now has an eye on innerwear… made especially for you! MTV Showoff by Bwitch is a spunky new range of lingerie and lounge wear for girls who are bold and quirky.

MTV Showoff by Bwitch bra and cami

True to MTV’s trademark style, the new range of lingerie and lounge wear features popular culture, sporty inspirations and tongue-in-cheek humour. The collection of lingerie sets, camisoles, bandeau bras and panties is a great mix of BWitch’s expertise in lingerie with MTV’s creativity and bold attitude.

MTV Showoff underwear  MTV bandeau bras- panties

Hence there are audacious one-liners, brazen graphics and illustration-like prints. All of these have themes that most MTV girls (and guys) have in common, such as music, romance, gadgets and technology.  So you could be wearing a polka-dotted bra, printed one-liner panties (Bubble Bum!, Upside Down), or naughty camis that say “Let’s Play!”

MTV Showw innerwear MTV polka dotted bra

 

MTV Showoff by Bwitch is available at Shoppers Stop, Central and Lifestyle stores across 25 cities. Prices range from Rs. 699 to Rs. 1599.

What would you like to wear from MTV Showoff by Bwitch?

2013 Crystal Ball: Shopping trends, big fashion headlines

2013 Crystal Ball: Shopping trends, big fashion headlines

Loving the lingerie
Women are enjoying the sexy inner wear options they’re getting online, from lacy corsets to G-strings. And there are plenty of websites to choose from (Zivame, Peri Peri Skinwear and Straps and Strings). Now I wouldn’t buy a bra without trying it on first, but things like straps, stockings and free size tube tops can be bought easily!

(Lace leggings from Zivame.com)

Zivame-Caprice Designer Stretch Lace Leggings

My precioussss!
From a diamond engagement ring to a polki necklace,  people may  end up buying fine jewellery online.  I’m sure our moms would prefer to go to the trusted family jeweler,  but hey, who has the time, right?

Niche wins
If you’re a gothic-loving young lady, or a new mom, or a designer-obsessed fashionista, there are already brands (and websites) especially for you. And you will get plenty more options this year.

Your favourite brand- now a click away
More brands, big and small, will take the online route in 2013. Many Indian and foreign fashion, accessory and jewellery brands have already adopted online shopping (Bombay High, Forever New, Shoppers Stop, Metro) and many more will follow this year. Zara’s India website seems to just a payment gateway away from ecommerce.

Forever-New-homepage

Big news to expect in 2013:

“[Online brand] sponsors big fashion event.”
Online fashion brands have got big marketing bucks to spend, and they will. Zovi, for instance,  is sponsoring the GenNext show at Lakme Fashion Week coming season.

“Indian designers introduce affordable lines”
Anita Dongre ventured into menswear last year, and has several affordable options in waistcoats, bandhgalas and sherwanis. Sabyasachi, meanwhile,  has quietly launched a line of saris that are under Rs 10,000. Word is that he’s on the lookout for investors to expand this sub-brand (called Sabyasachi by Sabysachi), and it’s likely he will find some in 2013.

“H&M to open in India”
Now that single brand retail ventures can have 100% foreign investment, I’m hoping H&M, Topshop and others make their “We’re coming to India” announcements soon. I am very very keen on shopping at Dorothy Perkins!