London's Loveliest Lingerie
Everyday on Gridskipper we give you a new map. Some are new, some are fetched from our archive, newly updated. Happy Gridskipping. Once upon a time, sexy lingerie in Britain was a somewhat er, specialized business selling torturous polyester and scratchy lace garments to be worn perhaps once on Valentine's Day or more regularly if you were a stripper. Most women never strayed from plain, sensible pants, which had once been white and were now gray and fraying. It was a sad state of affairs. And then Agent Provocateur came along and saved the nation's knicker drawers. Where they led the way, many others followed and now we're spoiled for choice. Mapped here are just some of London's finest purveyors of lingerie.
Coco de Mer
23 Monmouth St
Camden Town, Greater London, WC2H 9, UK
[link]
Rigby & Peller
13 Kings Rd
Brent, Greater London, NW10 2, UK
Rigby & Peller are best known for being the maker of the Queen's bras; having been granted the Royal Warrant by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1960. There is an air of … gravitas at each of the three central London stores, and being fitted for a bra is taken very seriously (an appointment takes forty five minutes). Although it sounds like a fusty traditional place, there is a huge selection and no danger of buying the wrong size. Choose from their own ready to wear collection, bespoke service, and a wide range of designer bras. [link]
Damaris
Harvey Nichols, 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X
Known for her original designs, St. Martin's grad Damaris shot to fame with her trademark Bow knicker - a cut out at the back gives you cheeky bottom cleavage. Using … couture fabrics and techniques, with prices of up to £3000 for a bra, Damaris lingerie is at the luxury end of the market. Not bad for someone who started the business from her kitchen table with a loan from the Prince's Trust of £5000. There is also a lower priced collection called Mimi Holliday which uses elements of the main collection. Unusual for a fashion led lingerie collection, bra sizes go up to a generous 38E. [link]
Bodas
38 Ledbury Rd
Kensington, Greater London, W11 2, UK
Bodas is built around a core range of basic styles in high quality cotton. Choose from white, black or "sea shell". New fabrics, colors, and styles are added each season, … and the range now includes nightwear in pure cotton. The look is clean and unfussy, while the shops are minimal and well designed. Bondas fills the gap in the market in producing practical everyday underwear that looks and feels beautiful as well. I find their bra sizing to be a bit off, so it's worth getting measured in store or by using their online size calculator. [link]
Buttress & Snatch
148 Gloucester Ave
Camden Town, Greater London, NW1 8, UK
Rachel Kenyon was a costumer for a burlesque troupe. But people went wild for her frilly ruffled knickers and Buttress & Snatch evolved into a lingerie label. The all … female team work in small runs using treasured vintage trims and fabrics and hand finishing garments. Their label reads, "Handmade in Hackney by Honest Hardworking Girls", and they believe British ladies should wear British pants. Buttress & Snatch has adorned the behinds of Madonna, Bond girl Eva Green, and burlesque star Immodesty Blaize. [link]
Frankly Darling
Liberty, Regent Street London W1
Originality and romance are the buzzwords of Frankly Darling, the creation of London designer Deborah Sim. Her aim was to create a British luxury lingerie brand that … avoids the stereotypical trappings of other brands. It is with a lightness of touch that she's achieved this. Beautiful camisoles and short kimonos in soft silk and loose shapes come in unusual prints like orchids or bluebirds and in colors like mustard or purple. Silk satin bras and knickers are cut in flattering styles, always with a youthful, flirty feel. [link]
Agent Provocateur
6 Broadwick St
London, Greater London, W1F 8, UK
The original British brand to shock the nation out of their graying Marks & Sparks undies, A.P. was founded by Vivienne Westwood's son Joe Corre and (now ex) wife … Serena Rees in 1994. By subverting the English penchant for smutty sexual innuendo they created the most recognizable lingerie brand in the world. The controversial advertising and daring window displays show A.P.'s unique creativity and uncompromising vision. Not for the fainthearted, men buying presents have been known to sweat and babble incoherently when approached by a pink uniform clad A.P. assistant trying to show them a selection of tulle knickers and suspender belts. [link]
Niki Lingerie
Miss Lala's Boudoir, 148 Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8JA
Made by Niki lingerie is numbered, limited edition handmade lingerie. No more than 50 of each style are made and each comes with a certificate of authenticity, a hand … painted number label and a swing tag with the customer's name on it. Names on swinging from tags include Dita von Teese and Victoria Beckham. There's also the "Why didn't anyone think of that before?" Fresh Foundations range: shaping control underwear that won't embarrass you if you get in to a Bridget Jones-like big knicker exposing situation. (Photo) [link]
Myla
4 Burlington Gardens
London, Greater London, W1S 3, UK
Myla's lingerie is extremely sexy, but never veers into saucy "wink wink, nudge nudge" territory. Designed to make women look beautiful, they use of top quality satin and … lace and attention to fit makes it a favorite. The first shop opened in Notting Hill in 1999 and has now expanded to twelve stores worldwide, including four in London. The current collection is inspired by the glamor and intrigue of the 1960s - think the Profumo Scandal. Myla is also famous for employing designers such as Tom Dixon and Marc Newson to design what look like beautiful miniature resin sculptures, but are actually luxury sex toys. [link]
