Another quick plug for the bra that has taken us by surprise with it's popularity, with a fast growing fan base of customers who love it for it's fit, look and comfort. The Sans Complexe Arum underwired lace bra from Rosy Lingerie, has been creeping up the instore sales league in the last couple of years, to the point where it is now one of the best selling bras in the shop. Just Bras are one of only a handful of stockists of Rosy and the Rosy Sans Complexe range in the United Kingdom, so the Arum does not have the same profile as the Fantasie Belle, Panache Tango II, Triumph Amourette or the Lepel Fiore all of which are strong sellers both instore and online. However for our shop customers where they have the opportunity to try something new, it is possibly now the top selling bra in the shop. Although largely unknown in the UK, this is one of the top selling bras in France with over a million having being produced since January 2010.

Available in black and white as continuity colours, the Arum is offered throughout the year with a variety of fashion colours. This is definitely one of its selling points with customers buying their new favourite bra in black or white and then looking to see what other colours it is available in. 

However, excusing the pun, all in the garden in definitely no longer Rosy. For the last couple of years Rosy had offered the Arum in cup sizes B to H (French sizing) with the G and H cup sizes being made with the UK market in mind. Unofrutnately they don't feel that sales in these two sizes can justify them continuing in production and the G and H Cups have been discontinued.

Some sizes have already sold out, but having been made aware that these sizes were no longer going to be made, we have managed to buy the remaining stock in these sizes from Rosy. 

So if you are a fan of Sans Complexe Arum and wear a G (UK 'F') or H (UK 'G') Cup then get your orders in whilst stocks last.

With TV programmes such as Mad Men and the influence in recent years that burlesque has had on the lingerie industry, vintage and retro styles have been at the forefront of modern design. As many of you know we have been big fans of small boutique labels such Kiss Me Deadly and Playful Promises with their vintage inspired lingerie.

Kiss Me Deadly designed by Catherine Clavering continues to be popular with both our on line and shop customers, particularly with the Vargas range of suspender belts and the Vargas suspender dress. Over Christmas and for Valentines day the Kiss Me Deadly Alouette Set has once again proved popular, this year in an electric blue colour.

For Playful Promises the one to watch out for this season is their retro inspired swimwear with stock due to arrive in the next month in plenty of time for the summer holidays.

It was of course inevitable that some of the larger companies would start to recognise the potential of this exciting part of the lingerie market with Charnos bringing out their hourglass range, giving a modern take to corsetry, and at the same time putting glamour back into shapewear.

The Charnos Hourglass Corsellette with detachable suspender straps is made in continuity colours of black and blush with regular fashion colours available to add that bit of spice. You must check out the Berry which definitely makes the hourglass a class garment. Available in sizes 32 to 38 in cup sizes B to F this range definitely brings corsellettes bang up to date and into the 21st century.

Now for those of you who like your magic knickers, whether its Trinny and Susannah, Spanx or whatever your favourite make then you have to take a look at the hourglass waist nipper, a high waist brief with detachable suspenders, that gives real shape and looks great in its own right not just under clothes. 

In recent years with the advent of modern seamfree shapewear, we have had functional garments, but have lost a touch of glamour, now you can have a fantastic shape and still be sexy once the dress comes off.

For those fans of retro and vintage lingerie and particular for those fans of Kiss Me Deadly Lingerie, designed by Catherine Clavering, fantastic news, the basics are back in stock, together with the latest Limited Edition Set, the Alouette in Electric Blue.

So back in stock is the fantastic Kiss Me Deadly Vargas Longline Girdle in Black, retailing for only £35, thelongline girdle was introduced in Spring 2009, and promptly sold out, as it has each time it has been available. Made from control mesh, with a double layer panel to hold in tummies, it has  waist reinforcement tape to shape your figure. It fastens with hooks and eyes at the back, with a high cut, so there aren’t too many of them! Finally, it has 6 metal garter tabs. After all these practicalities, Kiss Me Deadly got a little over-excited and put large black satin ribbon bows on each of the garter tabs and at the centre of the top. They will flatten under clothes, but if not, take them off.  

Also in stock for the first time here at Just Bras is the Kiss Me Deadly Van Doren 8 Strap Suspender Belt in Black. (As well as new stock of the 6 Strap Belt in both black and white). The Van Doren Suspender Belts have to be what Kiss Me Deadly do best. Combining superb staying power with both comfort and glamour. Their depth gives them a vintage appeal, and suits retro 40’s and 50’s trends. Sitting on the natural waist, the slimmest part of your body, means they won’t slide about, and looks fabulous — think Dita Von Teese! It also means they can safely attach wide straps, so much better for all day hold. They always use metal garter tabs, which survive washing, and work better than plastic. With six or eight straps, they are all the better to keep seams and pure nylon stockings in place.

Another new edition is the boned suspender belt. This narrow sleek version of the Van Doren belt has the usual 6 straps and metal clasps, with control mesh side and back, hook and eye fastening, and double layer control centre panel. An amazing mix and match piece, this can go with so many styles of lingerie.

So if you love your retro lingerie, then get in quick, because as always, Kiss Me Deadly only make a limited number.

Kiss Me Deadly is a small vintage inspired lingerie line, designed by Catherine Clavering. Catherine will tell you that she 'went on a long search for a good suspender belt set and ended up with a vintage inspired retro lingerie brand designed for femme fatales; glamorous, sensual and intelligent women with just a hint of danger.'

Many of Catherine's designs are limited edition releases, so with limited numbers, they sell out fast. The next limited edition release, is the Alouette which comprises of a padded plunge bra, briefs and a 6 strap cincher.

This Limited Edition is due for release in early December and available for delivery in plenty of time for Christmas, so if you want to treat yourself, or those men out their looking for the ideal Christmas present then why not pre-order the Kiss Me Deadly Alouette Bra, Briefs and Cincher.

This gorgeous set is in Electric Blue, with previous years versions being in peach and the top selling emerald green of two years ago. It was only natural that Kiss Me Deadly would return to this fantastically designed set, with a colour that can only be described as stunning. This years set has a Cincher, that is longline and therefore slightly longer than the normal cincher.

As six strap suspender belts, with metal clips, is really the thing that Kiss Me Deadly do best, the Alouette Longline Cincher is that something a little extra special for anyone wanting to achive that vintage look with a modern take.

Kiss Me Deadly six strap suspender belts combine superb staying power with both comfort and glamour. Often deep, like vintage styles, they suit retro 40’s and 50’s trends, which other mainstream labels are starting to copy, with this trend continuing strongly in to spring summer 2011. The belts sitting on the natural waist, the slimmest part of your body, means a Kiss Me Deadly suspender belt won’t slide about, and looks fabulous – think Dita Von Teese. It also means that the belt  can safely accomodate wide straps, better for all day hold.

Kiss Me Deadly always use metal garter tabs, which survive washing and work better than plastic, with the range of garments offered by Kiss Me Deadly now including, roll on girdles, corselettes, basques, suspender skirts and longline girdles which all feature 6 garter tabs, the better to keep seamed nylons in place!

Big thing in fashion at the moment is underwear as outerwear, before you get all excited and start running around with your panties over your jeans the look is smart, smart smart with corsets featuring top of the list.  Burlesque and Moulin Rouge corsets come in a variety of textures from satin, diamante, brocade, tweed, paisley and styles from sweetheart to underbust.

How to work the look.

Add gold brocade corset over white shirt and nude cigarette pants and camel coat, wear a pencil thin belt around your waist on top of the corset.

Add a black with grey pinstripe underbust corset over a white and black pinstripe shirt with black pencil skirt. 

Add a satin corset over a contrasting long sleeve t shirt with jeans.

Add a paisley corset over silk blouse with your business suit

Add a beautiful diamante and lace corset over off the shoulder evening dress

How to put it on.

Corsets have either a steel busk fastening, or zip, or hook and eyes at the front.

The ties at the back are either ribbon which would tie at the top or cord ties which fasten in the middle. 

Corsets are either nylon boned which tend to be less expensive and can take 2-3 inches off your waist or steel boned which is a comfortable spiral steel and heavier in weight and will take approx 5 inches off your waist line.

The ties should be loosened off from the tie point downwards for ribbon and from the tie point in the middle to upwards and then downwards from the cord ties. 

Then fasten in front and pull the ties tightly.

To get more shape definition ensure you tighten further from the bottom to the top pulling on the X part of the ties for the ribbon tie.  For the cord ties work from the bottom X point to the middle, then top X point of the corset to the middle.  Fasten off by simple tying the ribbon style in a bow and the cord style which tends to be lengthier gather in a loop large enough to knot itself this is part of the burlesque look.

How to care

Keep your corset rolled up with the ties round it, although corsets cannot be washed, some may be suitable for dry cleaning.  Depending on the material you may also be able to lie it flat on a towel and sponge clean it being careful not to soak the material too much.