Ultimo New Bras Sends Women 20 Degrees North

Ultimo has announced the launch of new push up underwear product Miracle Balcony Bra, designed to provide women with more than 50% increased angle of lift.

The bras are aimed at 'bigger busted' women who are 'seeking to bring their breasts back in line.'

New and improved fuller bust cup shapes have been specifically designed by Ultimo to not add bulk to the bust. Instead, they seek to lift, sculpt and shape, revealing the waist and creating an hourglass silhouette.

Ultimo's Suzanne Tait, from Scotland, is pictured above wearing a 'leading high street brand's' balcony bra, before changing into the Ultimo Miracle Balcony.

After putting the Miracle Balcony to the test, Suzanne Tait (who is size 36DD) said: "I couldn;t believe the difference. The bra lifts you up without discomfort and it gives a far better, more defined shape under clothes and improves posture. Now I have discovered the range there is no going back."

Ultimo founder Michelle Mone OBE added: "The only way is north right now - forget east and west breasts, and no woman wants to go south. Our cups have been designed to propel you forward and upwards with maximum impact and comfort with minimum pressure on your shoulders. Why spend an average of £4000 on breast lift surgery when for just £27 you can have an instant pain free boost?"

The Ultimo 'Miracle Balcony Bra' comes in 32-38 DD-G, in 3 colors - nude, black and white.

Christina Hendricks Designs Swimwear

The Mad Men actress has already sketched out a series of designs with her husband, Geoff Arend.

She reportedly took the step after having problems finding swimwear to fit her 36DD bust and curvy shape.

Christina Hendricks told Lucky Magazine: "I have to be careful about my proportions and keep it simple. What works for me is structure and something that shows my waist."

It’s really difficult to find swimwear if you have breasts. "You either get smooshed down or there’s no support."

Elle Liberachi Seductively Performs Baci Lingerie

Currently, Elle Liberachi has shot a series of seductive lingerie campaign for Baci lingerie.

Baroque royal styles fully exude Baci wild seduction and angel glamour these two different graces. Strong red and black contrasting colors with enchanting laces, pure white dreamlike angel styles, big vivid floral patterns momently provoke your visual sense. Let's follow such stunning blonde beauty to relish the first look book of 2011 Baci lingerie.

HOTmilk launches New Lingerie Collection

HOTmilk has launched the latest lingerie collection named Flaunt It, designed to empower women to accept the changes happening to their bodies and love who they are.

The collection of 'sensual yet practical' nursing lingerie seeks to inject a slight touch of baroque into the range.

Vibrant pink tones combine with simple shapes create the classics of tomorrow to create what the brand hopes will become a modern classic. Alongside the lingerie styles, the range also sees flowing jersey knits for nightwear with guipure inlays.

HOTmilk collections offer full cup or ¾ cup styling and moulded foam styles, as well as structurally supportive loungewear and nightwear. Styles are available in sizes ranging from B-H cup, band widths up to 42 and sizes from S-XXL.

Debenhams Launches Lightest ever Bras

The step was taken after research by the department store suggested traditional t-shirt bras were 'quite heavy' due to their dense foam structure, which is required to give an invisible fit.

Debenhams head of lingerie buying and design Sharon Webb said: "Many women find that the search for a bra that fits and flatters is comfortable and functional is as hard as finding the right man!"

Over 90% of women in wearer trials reportedly agreed that the bra felt like 'a second skin.'

"Our research showed that many traditional t-shirt bras were quite heavy due to their dense foam structure, which is required to give an invisible fit."

Back specialist Dr David W. Evans said: "Since 50% of the population will at some point probably wear a bra, it is important that they will help more than they hinder.

"A properly fitted, well designed bra, made of light materials that do not restrict movement, is likely to help women stay active, which is the best way to recover from back pain."

The 'light as air' t-shirt bra is advertised by the department store as having no bulk, moulding to the body and feeling noticeably lighter than any other bra.

Webb added: "This is an everyday t-shirt bra, designed to be seam-free under outwear. It has bonded straps and bagged out wings for added comfort and a luxury finish.

"It's a weight off our shoulders. We are confident that once ladies try this bra, they will never wear another t-shirt bra again – it really is unbelievably comfortable."

Affinitas Debuts 2012 Lingerie Styles

Lingerie brand Affinitas has released SS 2012 lingerie looks for its Affinitas Intimates and Parfait by Affinitas lines, aiming to address the needs of fashion-forward women who are seeking comfortable, stylish lingerie but don't want to break the bank.

New looks from Affinitas Intimates are soft and feminine. The ranges include push-up, padded and balconet bras with matching hipster and Sheer Thongs. Among them, the Ashley range features off-white garments with floral embroidery and lavender bow trim; the Ida range showcases pale pink and opal gray coloring with lace, ruching and bow accents; Carolyn styles feature ivory and fuschia garments with ruffles, bows and cut-out panels; while the Taylor range comes in gingham-patterned petal pink and baby blue colorways with bows and eyelet lace trim. Affinitas Intimates' bridal line has added a garter belt, available in shiny ivory and black. Bras are available in sizes 30 to 38, A to DD with panties coming in sizes XS to XL.

Parfait by Affinitas, the company's line for full-busted ladies, adds new ranges with padded and wire Intimacy Bras and Hot Bikini, hipster, thong and high-waist brief bottoms in ivory, peach flowers, hot pink, baby blue with silver and white and black pinstripe colorways with lace overlays and bow embellishments. Existing ranges add baby blue, petal pink, ivory and black colorways. Parfait by Affinitas bras feature two- to three-hook closures, side boning, comfortable body elastic, power netting and U-shaped comfort backs to support full-busted women and prevent slipping and chafing. Bras come in sizes 30 to 40, D, DD, E, F, FF and G while panties are available in sizes XS to 2XL.

Panache Superbra SS11 Collection

Panache Supperbra is a brand under Panache that targets the D+ lingerie market, offering fuller busted ladies ultimate fits with their everyday life. This new Superbra collection gives fantastic support and confort with the amazing styles that flatter your shape. This collection includes briefs, sheer thong, plunge open shelf bras, full open cup shelf bras, moulded bras, strapless bra, basque, support bras for maternity, and nursing bras.

Ma Mignonnette launches bespoke Love Pocket Knickers

Lingerie label Ma Mignonnette has launched the bespoke ‘Love Pocket Knickers,’ this month, to the wider market.

The product was previously only commissioned for private customers, including singer Gwen Stefani, Hollywood actresses Gemma Arterton, Emma Watson, Thandie Newton, supermodels Lily Cole, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Amber Le Bon and the Jagger sisters (Lizzie & Georgia).

It features a ruby contrast back pocket embroidered with a sweet word or monogrammed initials of your choice. The pocket is ‘perfectly sized for holding a note from your lover, a French letter or perhaps an engagement ring...’

Sitting low on the hips, with a ruched bottom, the knickers are made from 100% pure black silk with tie-side bows and a Swarovski crystal heart on the front. They are lined with contrasting ruby silk.

The product is part of the bespoke De Pompadour label and is now available to order from Ma Mignonnette.

Ma Mignonette requests that customers allow two weeks for manufacture. Pieces will be packaged in the brand’s signature oval keepsake box with rose petals, love spell and crystal charm to ‘inspire boudoir magic’.

Honey Birdette Brings Out the Beast in Saucy Aussies

Here’s a clever way to sell some lingerie — and get someone else to do your marketing for you!

Honey Birdette, the small Australian chain of high-end erotic boutiques, is holding an amateur photo contest that encourages entrants to put some of those expensive HB goodies to use. In fact, the retailer even loaned lingerie samples and props to help lensmen (and women) bring their erotic fantasies to life for the Saucy Snaps competition.

The winning photographer will receive $1,000 cash and see his/her work appear in Honey Birdette print advertising. For all you small labels and independent retailers out there, think of it this way: for $1,000, HB gets a ridiculously high-quality photoshoot, and tons of free publicity to help it along.

The Saucy Snaps contest drew a flood of entries before the June 1 deadline, and believe me, “saucy” is about the tamest word to describe them. Many of the submissions are so good, and so steamy, they look like something Agent Provocateur might have rejected for being too risqué.

Even though they’re a million miles away, we like keeping an eye on Honey Birdette, simply because they seem to have more fun with social media than anyone this side of Team Coco. HB calls itself a “sensuality boutique” that sells lingerie from such luxury labels as Sally Jones and Pleasure State, along with a variety of toys, tools and bedroom peripherals. It’s comparable to Coco de Mer or Ann Summers in terms of its product mix and libertarian attitude about naughty goods, and it has the best slogan in the industry: “Nice girls do.”

The Saucy Snaps contest follows on the heels, so to speak, of their enormously amusing Saucy Shorts contest from last year, in which amateur filmmakers were invited to submit short films featuring HB products. One of the finalists made our list of the best sexy lingerie videos of 2010.

Of course, a contest like this, and the promise of a cash prize, doesn’t just appeal to amateurs. Several of the finalists in the Saucy Snaps contest are professional photographers or studios who obviously had a ton of fun staging and styling their shoots.

Below we’ve included several of our favorites from among the final 25. Have a look: I guarantee it’s the most fun you’ll have at work all day!

New Tablet Shopping Trend

Retailers are being urged to prepare for the next e-commerce trend as UK consumers embrace iPad and tablet shopping, mimicking the soar in popularity in the US.

Although the iPad was only launched 12 months ago, new European findings by the shopping search engine, Shopzilla, reveal that 6 perecent of shoppers already own a tablet and a further 20 percent plan to purchase one over the next year.

The trend is set to mirror the US where the iPad is driving a revolution in e-commerce and a recent Shopzilla study showed 12 percent of US consumers now have a tablet device.

The research by Shopzilla of almost 5,000 online shoppers was conducted in Europe’s three largest online retail markets: the UK, France and Germany . It reveals that 71 percent of iPad or tablet users have bought or would buy online using their device, 70 percent of tablet users watch TV while browsing shopping sites simultaneously, thanks to Dual-screen technology, and 53 percent of iPad or tablet users surveyed use their device to browse shopping sites with friends .

'the opportunity will be for the retailers who are first to get it right.’

With one in five online shoppers planning to buy a tablet in the next 12 months, retailers are being asked to prepare as this ‘is clearly set to be a huge trend for UK shoppers’ explains Rachel Smith, Business Services Senior Director at Shopzilla. ‘The year of mobile commerce is finally here. With the explosion of the tablet market we are seeing a seismic change, and the opportunity will be for the retailers who are first to get it right.

iPads and other tablet devices are also helping to drive the popularity of ‘social commerce’, with 53 percent of online consumers using their tablet to share online shopping activities with friends - whether it’s hunting for bargains, browsing reviews or making purchases.

Rachel Smith, Business Services Senior Director at Shopzilla, added, ‘With many retailers still learning how consumers are interacting with these new devices, it is vital that they are prepared for the tablet revolution.’

Waves of Oahu by Yamamay 2011 Summer Swimsuit Collection

For Summer 2011, Yamamay expand its range of swimwear, drawing on cultural traditions around the world, captured and processed in seven different series: Yamhawaii,Honolulu People, Maui Chic, Waves of Oahu, The Nature of Hawaii, Black Sand and Copacabana.

Waves of Oahu by Yamamay is the lucrative series, which consists of Poncho, kaftan, sexy bikini, cover-up dress, balcony, Tankini with exuberant prints ideal. This model is designed for women, especially confident. Waves of Oahu series, a collection of outstanding works to complete some of Waves like skin.

Huit Lingerie Spring Summer 2012 Preview

Huit Lingerie SS12 combines delicate pastels with flashes of bright colours.

The “Huit is biotiful” makes a stunning comeback this season. This biotiful organic cotton collection has been given a fresh Summer makeover. The shade of gris chiné provides a fine base and the crochet lace effect creates the effortless chic that is Huit. The soft cup bra gives the ultimate comfort and support and is perfect for those that would prefer a non-wired choice. The padded bra provides a nice shape and cleavage whilst the full cup gives a little extra coverage. Matching brief and sheer thong are also available.

Tea for two embraces pure femininity with fine embroidery in dainty floral shapes which lies beautifully against the sheer ivory lace. With three different bra styles there is something to suit everyone. The flattering new crop top style with underwire gives the range a modern twist whilst the classic magic air padded bra continues to give great uplift and cleavage. A low cut strapless bra is also available, perfect for those summer strapless tops and dresses. A selection of coordinates completes the range beautifully, including a chemise, suspender and garter.

In contrast to the soft pastel shades, Huit also brings Scottish Queen. The eye-catching tartan print will definitely be one to stand out from the crowd. The classic under-wired bra style mixed with the Scottish heritage inspired print couldn’t be a better combination. A padded bra is also available for those that favour more of an uplift! A thong and short complete the range.

La Fée Verte Lingerie’s Colorful Set for Shopbop

The first thing you notice about La Fée Verte‘s exclusive new collection for Shopbop is colors and prints!

The hot luxury label from Montreal has built its reputation on gorgeous, color-blocked silk-and-lace pieces, usually in dusky or neutral hues.

But LFV’s capsule set for Shopbop finds designer Adam Sakara getting playful with some edgy silk prints while still retaining LFV’s signature look of soft, seductive lounging pieces that drape beautifully.

The La Fée Verte for Shopbop collection comprises five looks, including a slinky black slip and silk romper that are consistent with LFV’s past creations. The standouts, though, are the original prints: the Tribal tank and shorts (above) with a striped print on a sheer pale gray background; the Electric Feel tank and short (below) with its jolt of infrared color on lush purple background; and the Python silk robe in a snakeskin print.

That small splash of color instantly gives La Fée Verte some fashion-forward cachet, and it’s a hint of things to come: the Shopbop line is something of a preview for LFV’s full collection for Spring 2012 which, we’re told, will include a large variety of silk prints.

Being asked to do an exclusive line for Shopbop is a significant coup for the young label: not only is the Amazon-owned Shopbop a major fashion e-tailer, but it’s also picky about who it includes in its carefully curated inventory of trend-conscious luxury brands. This is a good crowd for any brand to be among.

The new La Fée Verte set will show up on the e-tailer’s site in about a week. Watch for it! In the meantime, La Fée Verte’s Spring-Summer 2011 collection is in stores and several online lingerie shops (including Shopbop) now.

Sariana Lingerie 2011 Collections

Sariana lingerie and corsetry are for fashionable and elegant women with larger cup sizes (B, C, D, E, F, G 75-120) who are looking for luxurious design, high quality and unusual cuts as well as excellent fit.

Under the leadership of Dr Astrid Gilhofer and partner, Sariana Comfort GmbH has set out to retain the brand’s benefits that are valued by its customers, to develop the design department and product development and to press ahead with the company's internationalisation.

Panache Highlights AW11 Styles

Panache, lingerie and swimwear manufacturer from Britain specializing in larger cup sizes, has released key highlights from the autumn/winter 2011 collections of its distinct labels, Panache, Cleo by Panache and Harlequin by Panache.

Panache, the company's core label offering lingerie and swimwear for cup sizes D to K, expands its popular Andorra style beyond basic black and pearl colors with a new shade of purple inspired by autumn's embrace of jewel tones. The stretch lace Andorra range includes a plunge bra available in sizes 28 to 38, D to G; a full-cup bra available in 28 to 40, D to J; and a boyshort and thong available in sizes XS to XXXL. Wholesale prices are $29 for the bras, $16 for the boyshort and $15 for the thong with suggested retail prices coming in at $62, $34 and $32 respectively.

Cleo by Panache, the company's flirty, youthful brand, is expanding its successful Jude style with new color combinations. Mulberry with pink and orange with berry will be joining the style's mainstay color combinations nude with pink and black with magenta. The Jude range features a smooth-cup plunge T-shirt bra available in sizes 28 to 38, D to G, which wholesales for $19 and retails for $48. A matching boyshort and thong are available in sizes XS to XXL, wholesaling for $9 and $7 and retailing for $22 and $16 respectively.

Hannah Thomas wins If You Please May showcase

De Montfort University second year contour student Hannah Catherine Thomas has been announced as the May winner of online retailer If You Please’s student showcase.

If You Please judges said that they were ‘instantly grabbed by a complex design, all green sequins and adjustable straps’.

Thomas created the 'Futuristic Infusion' piece during her first year, and has since gone on to have her designs displayed at some of the World's best known trade shows, such as Interfiliere in Paris.

This is not the first taste of success that Thomas, who has worked for brands such as Agent Provocateur and Fleur of England, has had over the past year. She was also picked as the winner of the Charnos Shapewear competition and as a finalist in the UK Triumph Inspiration Awards, after submitting a piece made from lace encased within vacuum-formed plastic. When asked about the inspiration behind this particular creation, she said:

"I wanted to stretch and challenge the creative process and use unusual materials. I was inspired by women's desire to seek man-ipulations to their figures."

Thomas usually gains inspiration from new places and can build the foundations of a design from something as simple as a picture or a piece of architecture.

Her ambition is to eventually set up her own brand and she has already developed her own website www.hannah-catherine.com to showcase her current designs.