FairyGothMother / Lulu and Lush

Weddings, Royal Ascot and Summer Parties – lacing up for the season’s events!

Posted by blogadmin on June 15, 2011 at 1:15 am

Categories: Accessories, Ayten Gasson, Bridal, Christmas, Corsets, Events, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly, Lulu and Lush, News, video

We like to chat with our customers, so we tend to know what people are buying for. Obviously, in November and December it’s Christmas parties, and in February it’s Valentines (in January it’s in despair), so what happens in the Summer months? Weddings, apparently! Also Ascot, and slightly drizzly barbeques . . . we can’t help with the barbeques, but for everything else, we firmly believe there’s a suitable corset. So one Bank Holiday Monday we assembled at the shop to demonstrate some of them, aided by the lovely Annette.

The easiest way to make a corset outfit suitable for the Summer months is to pick a pastel shade. Obviously, it would be risky to go for white or ivory if it’s a wedding you are thinking of, but this pale pink outfit (above) is light without causing drama – always remember not to have a bigger train than the bride! The minute floral sprigs on the corset add a clear seasonal air to the outfit, and as it is cotton lined, and the skirt is silk, the fabrics are light and airy. The relatively demure cut of the corset means you won’t worry the ministers delicate sensibilities, but if you are worried about the bare shoulders and decolletage, add a shrug, stole or scarf to cover up. As with many corsets, this really doesn’t need any jewellery, but a clutch and perhaps a small fascinator would be sensible for the day.

This outfit is easily recognisable as a Dior-esque, New Look silhouette – always a classic for a glamorous event, or anything with a retro theme. The bold florals on the corset (above) bring the seasonal element but are strongly hued enough to manage being paired with black without losing their impact. A halter neck gives the impression of modesty, whilst the full circle skirt over a petticoat will have you twirling with enthusiasm!

If you are going to an event with fans of the 40′s and 50′s, wear the above with seamed hosiery and classic heels. For a more contemporary look – perhaps for a daytime wedding – try bare legs or sheer, skin toned hosiery, and perhapsa more modern heel that picks up on a colour in the corset.

This is the same skirt, this time styled for Ascot! This outfit means you can enter the Royal Enclosure – here in the UK there are some interesting rule about being near royalty, and the end result is modest necklines and big hats. For the Royal Enclosure, you must be wearing shoulder straps of not less than one inch, and you must have a hat, or a “substantial fascinator”. We’re not entirely sure which this is – somewhere in between perhaps!

This outfit (above)is very classic, almost red carpet with the hair down, with a trained skirt and bold contrast panelling, but with the red and black colourway would be bit much for the average daytime Summer Wedding. For the evening though, its a fairly simple and stylish option. Again, if the bare shoulders would upset a more conservative audience, a cover up is always a useful option. One of our ex-staff members is addressing a large group of bankers next week, and will be adding a fairly extensive shrug to her corset outfit!

New lace detail halter corset coming soon and black pencil skirt (available in our London shop only)

Alternatively, for a more cocktail party look, pair a pencil skirt with a paler colour of corset. If you wanted to make this more daytime, lose the black hosiery, and add a hair flower. In this case, we kept the skirt in a nice quality of cotton, which is great for warmer times, and tones down the overall level of formality.

Last, but not least, two outfits that are great if you’re off to an evening party and really love your lingerie! A high waisted skirt is a fantastic addition to your wardrobe if you have a slight addiction to lingerie that’s so good you want to show it off. On the left, we’ve paired a Cadolle high waisted satin shapewear skirt (which has a beautiful corset-laced effect back) with an Ayten Gasson silk teddy. Ayten’s styles are perfect for a fun, flirty show and are perfectly respectable over a bra and under a skirt. Her laid back frills both complement and contrast with the sleeker skirt that would look more formal with other styles, and she often shoots her styles in a Summer garden setting.

On the right, we’ve put a Kiss Me Deadly bra with a high waisted cotton skirt and a waterfall style chiffon shrug – as you can see, a shrug really does make an outfit look very different, and with a detailed midi or longline bra and no skin showing, it simply looks like an unusual dress. With the feathers ( is this substantial enough?) and the black and red colour scheme, this would be great for a glamorous evening party – or perhaps a show or dinner club.

Of course, many of you have no doubt done this better than us by now – so why not send in your pictures? Just send them in to us…corsets @ luluandlush.com

Valentines Limericks

Posted by blogadmin on February 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm

Categories: Accessories, Corsets, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly, Lingerie, Lulu and Lush, Valentines

So, after visiting the Kiss Me Deadly stand at the Paris trade show, Sam asked me if we’d do a special feature window in the Lulu and Lush boutique for Valentines. If you go and look now it’s all black, white and red, with feathers (Morgana is banned from the shop for two weeks, due to an unfortunate feather allergy), dark red roses, poems and glittering diamonds. Well, ok, not real diamonds, that would be silly. But I promise they are very sparkly.

Anyway; much as we enjoy handling the series of deeply confused looking men coming into the shop, the rush of returns shortly after is so much less fun. Plus, I’m never one for taking things too seriously, and I truly loathe those soppy poems that come in cards. So if you look a bit more closely at those poems, they’re actually limericks. Yes, this year, we’re doing our gift guide with limericks, and we want you to join in!

After careful scientific research, otherwise known as asking people on Facebook, we’ve established several key problems areas that men face buying for women at Valentines.

Sizing

There was a man tried to get the size right
Of a bra to wear valentines night
His lover caught him snooping,
Her language needed blooping,
And their relationship suffered a blight!

I have, on occasion, suggested that the best way to make sure the size is right, is not to walk into a shop, and say that your girlfriend is the same size as several of the staff members (all of whom are completely different sizes), but to look at the labels on what she already owns. Sadly, that can come across as a bit stalkerish; so maybe stick to only doing that for women you know really, really well. And live with.

Otherwise, here are a few key pointers:

Do not get something custom made without getting her measurements. You can’t return custom made items and if you get it wrong it will make your life very difficult.
The bras size is the most difficult thing, so if you can’t figure it out, stick to the more easily guess at Small- Extra large sized items, like suspender belts, teddies, and bralets.
For corsets, you’ll need to know whether they are used to them. A brand new corset wearer is much less likely to be able to take one that’s 6 inches smaller than their waist!

One size garments, on the other hand, are generally a dreadful idea. They generally don’t really fit anyone terribly well.

There was a young man from Hedley
Bought his wife gifts from Kiss Me Deadly
But when trying for fit,
She said this won’t work a bit,
A voucher would have had him blushing less redly!

If you get really stuck, get a voucher, a really beautiful card, and something nice that doesn’t need a size – jewellery, for example.

Colour and style

Is Valentines really the time to start introducing your lover to something completely new, whether that be crotchless knickers or low cost sex toys? No. As with all gifts, it should be something about their tastes, not yours. So think about what they normally wear, and don’t go on a massive diversion. A minor tangent, maybe.

A man buying gifts for valentine
Can find themselves stepping on a land-mine
Avoid neon pink,
Or she’ll kick up a stink,
With her wardrobe you should be in line!

There was a fad for neon pink lingerie on the high street last year. It lasted about a month. If she didn’t buy one then, chances are high that she doesn’t want one. I exclude Barbie fanatics, certain types of club goers, and my little pony enthusiast women from this.

Red is a vexed issue. Bright red, which tends to be orange toned, seems to be something lots of men love. Lots of women don’t agree. So there are several shades of red in the window at the moment, and none of them are at the orange end of the spectrum.

Remember always to think,
Not all girls like to wear pink.
You may think sex means red,
But you could find yourself cut dead
So don’t just pick for your kink!

Last but not least . . . unless you do something very clever for a very sophisticated sense of humour, the chances of a comedy lingerie gift being appreciated if its the only or main part of your gift are pretty much zero. That’s because it looks like a daft, flyaway gesture without any effort put in.

There was a young man from Tunney
Thought Valentines gifts should be funny
His lover disagreed,
So now he is freed,
He really should have just spent more money!

Now for the fun bit. We want to test your writing skills, so:

Write your own valentines limerick
Post it on the net somewhere with a link back to here.
Comment on this post with a link to your limerick on our Facebook.

We’ll put the best in the window, and the very best will win a full set of the Kiss Me Deadly Red Jolie set plus the matching Lulu and Lush underbust corset. Anyone who writes one that makes me snort with laughter, I’ll probably send you a voucher.

If you want them in the window, try and keep it clean. Or you know, only just a little bit grubby.

10 Essential Burlesque Dressing Tips

Posted by blogadmin on September 21, 2010 at 10:33 am

Categories: Accessories, Burlesque, Corsets, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly

For those of you who are new to burlesque or for those of you preparing for the approaching party season we’ve compiled our top ten burlesque items that a burlesque enthusiast cannot be without!

1. Corset – Whether you decide to go for an overbust or an underbust corset with pasties, it needs to make a statement. This can be done with colour, sequins, glitz, bows or frills.


2. Bustle – Depending on the bustle, it can either be worn over your corset on the waist. Or worn lower down on the hips and tucked just underneath the corset.

	3. Knickers – Frilly knickers can be a great way to emphasize your derrière, and they’re fun! However, if you’re feeling a little riskier a thong or g-string might be more your style.

4. Stockings – Seamed stockings are great for an authentic burlesque look. We have a good selection in our London boutique, or online in the FairryGothMother Accessories section. 5. Heels – It’s important to have that sexy wiggle and no better way to swing those hips than in a saucy pair of Natacha Marro heels! Natacha Marro

	6. Gloves – A fantastic burlesque move called the Glove Peel requires a beautiful pair of opera gloves. They must be easy to get off but stay in place when on.

7. Fascinator – Why not compliment your outfit with a fantastic fascinator? A full range is available in our London boutique.

8. Pasties/ Nipple tassels – If you wear an under bust corset a pair of nipple pasties are great. Helene Bach has some fantastic designs and you can even request your own designs. Our London boutique stocks some of these must haves. Twirling nipple tassels are also a wonderful addition to any act!

9. Lipstick – Red of course! But which brand? Ministry of Burlesque has a few forum posts on this subject and the three top rated brands seem to be MAC, GOSH and Max Factor. Add a layer of gloss on top to give lips that luscious shine!

10. Fan – Play coy by using a fan to hide and peep. Strictly Sensuous have a beautiful selection of feather fans.

Whether you’re interested in burlesque as a hobby or as a career there are some great classes out there where you can learn to Glove Peel, Fan Tease or a sensual way to remove your stockings. Check out Ministry of Burlesque’s forum on Learning Burlesque to find regular classes in your area. The Ministry of Burlesque is a great place to find a wealth of information on all areas of burlesque including performances, tips on make-up or outfits and connecting with other burlesque performers.

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Christmas Party Dresses

Posted by Zara on December 11, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Categories: Accessories, Coats, Dresses, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly, Lingerie, Lulu and Lush, Prom

The party season is now well and truly upon us, and here at the Lulu and Lush boutique we’re all fretting about what to wear to our Christmas party next week. Fortunately, the lovely Sam who is the elusive but genius mastermind behind FairyGothMother and the Lulu and Lush brand, has calmed our panic by ensuring that we have an enormous section of the shop brimming with fantastic party dresses. I mean, what else are Fairy Goth Mothers for?

Flocked Pencil Dresses

As well as sequins and leather, we’re totally loving festive flocking this week. Give the classic LBD a twist with flocked black leopard print, or stand out in pink! The pink Sarah and black Zara pencil dresses show off every curve, whilst the halter ties emphasise the bust. The dresses are made of cotton which has a little stretch to it, but don’t worry – there’s a split at the back so you can still walk and sit down.

Sculpt your silhouette under a tight dress with Kiss Me Deadly‘s Vargas girdle, matched with Little Minx‘s gathered tulle Bombshell bra which has rather useful multi-way straps, and cleavage-boosting padding.

Above left: Sarah pencil dress in pink flocked leopard, UK 8-16, £45; Nylon stockings, XS-XL, £11. Above right: Zara pencil dress in black flocked leopard, UK 8-16, £45.

Tulle Fairy Dresses for Every Budget

Whether your budget is huge or you’d rather spend your pennies on celebrating, we have the perfect party dress for you. The huge netted petticoats show off tiny waists, whilst covering up the bum and thighs so you can eat as many mince pies as you like!

At only £50, the black and red Nutcracker dress features black flocking on the tulle skirt, and a pretty corsage at the waist, whilst at the other end of the budget at £199, the Sparkle dress will instantly turn you into a Christmas fairy with its tulle petticoat and dazzling stars.

Above left: Nutcracker dress in black satin with red and black tulle and black flocking, UK S-L, £50; stockings as above. Above right: Sparkle dress in black tulle with sparkly star print, UK 10-16, £199; satin gloves, one size, £18.

Don’t Forget Accessories!

Of course, you’ll need those extra bits and pieces to finish off your outfit! There’s no point dressing up in a full-skirted prom dress if your coat won’t fit over it, so save yourself from freezing to death on your journey with our tailored frock coat. In black velvet with flock detailing, the coat nips in at the waist and flares out over even the fullest skirt. Match your accessories with your lingerie with our black tie-side satin knickers and satin opera gloves, and keep out the winter chill with our long-sleeved stretch shrug.

Above left: Frock coat in black velvet with flocked detail, UK 10-16, £99; gloves as above. Above centre: Cabaret tie-side knickers in black satin, S-XL, £15, available in a selection of colours; gloves as above. Above right: Black shrug in stretch fabric, S-L, £35; dress as above.

These are just a few of our favourite new frocks which are in stock – our entire collection can be viewed in our gallery, as well as a whole host of discounted frocks and gowns in our clearance sale. Although we try our hardest we haven’t managed to photograph everything we have in the shop, so if you’re after something specific please do get in touch and ask

Sequins and Leather!

Posted by Zara on December 8, 2009 at 5:59 am

Categories: Burlesque, Corsets, Dresses, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly, Lingerie, Lulu and Lush, Silk

Sequins and leather are massively hot right now – and if, like me, that’s what you wear all the time anyway, you’ll have been raiding all the high street shops to stock up on clothes and accessories to last you the next three years! The Lulu and Lush boutique is no exception – we’ve got a new, ubersparkly range of corsets which would give even the biggest disco ball a run for its money, as well as adding leather to our new collection of starter corsets, which provide a nice, easy introduction to the world of corsetry without breaking the bank.

Combining exquisite black silk dupion and sewn-on sequinned panels, these dazzling corsets will reduce your waist comfortably by about four inches. Hope on the animal print trend with our black and silver zebra corset, or emphasise your teeny tiny waist with the black version with red slimming, inward-curving panels. Whether you’re off to a burlesque night and team your corset with a tutu or matching silk dupion skirt for to a more formal party, you’re sure to be the centre of attention!

Above left: ‘Zebra’ silk and sequin corset, 20″-30″, £155; Lulu and Lush ‘Sally’ bustle, S-XL, £35; seamed tights, available directly from boutique, one size, £6.50. Above centre: ‘Bow’ silk and sequin corset, 20″-30″, £155; tulle skirt, UK 8-20, £150. Above right: ‘Curve Panel’ silk and sequin corset, 20-”-30″, £155; two-colour tutu, one size, £55; ruched opera gloves, one size, £18 (please specify ‘ruched’ when ordering).

Celebrate the rise of feminism (and hemlines!) in our 1920s flapper dress, covered in thousands of huge black sequins which dazzle and sparkle as you walk. And don’t forget underneath – no glitzy outfit could be complete without matching sequinned underwear! The ruched, white frilly knickers and bandeau bra of the Lola set are adorned with pearlescent sequins to catch the light, and the delicate chiffon Zepherine set by Mimi Holliday is starry with tiny black sequins and a sheer back.

Above left: ‘Sparkle’ dress, UK 8-16, £125. Above centre: ‘Lola’ ruched white bandeau set, S-XL, £35. Above right: ‘Curve Panel’ silk and sequin corset, 20″-30″, £155; ‘Zepherine’ black sequin bra and brief set, 32B-36DD/S-XL, £47/£36.

Hourglass silhouettes are beautiful on everyone, and if you’ve always fancied a teeny waist and curvy hips and bust but weren’t sure where to begin, the Lulu and Lush starter corset range is for you! If 4″ seems a little daunting at first, ease yourself into the world of corsetry with a gentle waist reduction of 2-3″, nipping you in without squeezing you too tightly. The quickest way to turn a work outfit into eveningwear is with our corset belt – at only 7″ deep, it’s perfect to keep in your handbag for cinching emergencies! Our starter corsets are all steel-boned, but are lighter than our standard corsets and also much cheaper so without having to spend too much, you can see why here at FairyGothMother we’ve become so addicted to corsetry

Above left: Lulu and Lush starter underbust in leather, 20″-32″, £110; black stretch satin pencil skirt, UK 8-20, £99. Above centre: starter overbust, 20″-30″, £125; skirt as before. Above right: Leather corset belt (pictured in red satin), 18″-28″, £140; skirt as before.

Of course, all our most popular styles are also available in soft black leather. Pictured here in purple taffeta, Revanche de la femme‘s overbust is one of our best-selling styles, flattering on almost any shape and suitable for up to a D cup. A similar cut for larger cups is also available, as is a plunge style for the super-daring!

Above left: leather overbust corset (pictured in taffeta), 18″-40″, £395. Above centre: leather overbust for larger cups, 18″-40″, £395; black satin opera gloves, one size, £18. Fishnet hold-ups available directly from boutique. Above right: leather plunge corset, 18″-40″, £395; black frilly knickers, S-XL, £14; suspender clips, one size, £1.25 each; seamed nylon stockings, XS-XL, £11.

If you have a particular corset style in mind and sequins or leather aren’t options shown on our website, please email or call us as we are sometimes able to take special orders, or even design bespoke corset just for you. Don’t be shy – we love hearing from our customers and working with you to create the perfect outfit for your special occasion

Summer Wedding ideas for the Corsetted Bride!

Posted by blogadmin on June 21, 2009 at 6:36 am

Categories: Corsets, FairyGothMother, Kiss Me Deadly, Lulu and Lush, News, Silk

What could be a more perfect time to tie the knot with your loved one, than when the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful and warm? Most marriages take place between May and August, so here are some ideas for this season for the perfect romantic summer wedding.

These overbust buskless corset basques with matching skirts are ideal for weddings as they provide a fabulous cinched waist and support for the bust whilst still giving the appearance of being a one-piece dress. Corsets are, of course, adjustable, so you can be loosened or tightened a small amount in order to accommodate a little weight lost or gained in between choosing your outfit and your wedding day without the need for costly alterations. The basques are fully steel boned, just like all our corsets, and so won’t bend out of shape like cheaper, plastic-boned versions. They are designed to be a little more flexible than our regular corsets, suitable for all-day wear, including sitting down for the wedding breakfast, and all the delicious food you’re going to eat!

Traditional brides will love the ivory silk dupion and satin from which these summer wedding outfits are created. The large bow on the Papillon corset bustier is very flattering on the bust, whilst the concealed zip allows the corset to be fastened easily before the lacing is tightened at the back. The Papillon outfit is completed by a matching floor-length skirt which is fitted at the hips, flares out at the knee into a fishtail shape, and has a small train as a finishing bridal touch. Our ruched-front corset bustier is simple and elegant, also with a concealed zip and a matching shorter, summery pleated skirt which flares to an a-line at the waist, flattering the hips. The sweetheart neckline of the third outfit is always a popular choice, shown here in ivory satin with a pretty bow at the empire line, which can be made in a contrasting colour if required. The flared skirt sits just below the knee, so you can keep cool without worrying about upsetting any prudish relatives, and the skirt can be worn with or without a petticoat underneath depending on whether you prefer a more traditional or ’50s look.

You may want to both keep with traditional bridal colours such as ivory or white and add a touch of personality to your special outfit, so how about adding a splash of colour? A long, ivory silk, fishtail skirt would be perfect with our deep red overbust corset with a covered front busk and halter straps. The covered busk means that the silver clips at the front of the corset are hidden, which is ideal if your jewellery is made of gold or pearls. Adding a matching ivory silk halter tie brings the outfit together perfectly, as well as providing a little cover above the arms. For a more fun take on the ruched corset bustier, choose a white tulle skirt and the corset in a deep red, which can come laced at the back with white ribbon to match the skirt. It doesn’t just have to be deep red or silk – we have a large selection of satins, prints, brocades and taffetas in many colours, so please do pop in to see us or send us an email if you would like any of these outfits in a different colour or fabric.

We have met so many disheartened brides who’ve found their dream wedding dress but however much they breathe in just can’t get the zip to do up that last couple of inches! Never fear – although the beautiful and detailed corsets above wouldn’t be very helpful under a dress, we have a selection of cheat corsets and shaping girdles to give you a gorgeous, smooth hourglass figure under your outfit. Chosen with care, nobody need ever know that it’s the steel bones doing all the work! These corsets have been chosen especially for their strength yet slenderness, as bulky fabrics and trims would be much more difficult to hide underneath a dress. Underbust corsets are great for dresses with low backs or structured cups, or if you would feel more comfortable wearing a bra underneath the dress. Our longline underbust sits just under the bust and curves over the hips, pulling in the waist and covering any unsightly bulges, or if you’d prefer just to have the waist reduction try our ever-popular shorter underbust instead. There are several shapes of overbust corset which would be suitable – our bestseller sweetheart neckline corset shown above, our version for larger busts, or the deep plunge overbust for very daring dresses! Of course, all these corsets are available in underwear colours of plain ivory, white and peach as well. The Vargas dress by Kiss Me Deadly completely destroys any preconceptions of shapewear being unsexy. Featuring a structured bra and powermesh instead of bones, this garter dress will hold you in and keep you comfortable all day. For more ideas, see our selection of shapewear and girdles.

We hope this has given you some new and exciting ideas for your perfect wedding outfit. Our staff are enthusiastic about corsets and always happy to discuss any ideas you may have, as well as being able to suggest suitable outfits. If you already have a firm picture of your ideal wedding outfit in your head and would like us to make it for you from scratch, please get in touch with our designer, who will be able to take you through the design and custom creation process from start to finish. And don’t forget, we don’t only showcase bridal corsets in our Spitalfields boutqiue, but also many outfits your bridesmaids will adore.

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Categories

Weddings, Royal Ascot and Summer Parties – lacing up for the season’s events!

Valentines Limericks

Sizing

Colour and style

10 Essential Burlesque Dressing Tips

Stunning new items and discounts!

Christmas Party Dresses

Sequins and Leather!

Kiss Me Deadly’s New Collections!

Summer Wedding ideas for the Corsetted Bride!

Kiss Me Deadly announce two new ranges!

Burlesque lingerie and style for the modern gal

Dita’s definition

Beautiful Burlesque lingerie

Swing those hips!