The Daily Knicker

‘Casa’ silk robe by Chelsea De Luca

Do you ever see garments and think “Yeah, I feel specifically targeted here...”? Becuase that’s how i feel about the Chelsea De Luca ‘Casa’ robe. Contrary to (what I’m sure would be a) popular guess, I don’t actually live my life in lingerie. No, no, my friends- as a Mum of two, a luxury lover, a chronic illness sufferer, and an often at-home worker, my life is lived in loungewear. My collection of robes, slips and rompers rivals that of the bras and knickers closet, and I’m not averse to passing off any of the former items as outerwear. Whether for a night out or the school run. But why is ‘Casa’ so particularly up my alley? Because designer Chelsea De Luca is actually a designer of divine costume jewelry (love), with a heavily Art Deco-leaning aesthetic (LOVE-love). Her foray into loungewear features unique prints influenced by her jewelry work. Graphic, emerald-cut stone shapes on heavenly 100% silk? Yes please! ‘Casa’ is sumptuous and indulgent. The high-quality fabric in a perfect, timeless, short robe style is a pleasure to throw on in the morning. Naked, or over lingerie. Or with a slip. Or undone, as a relaxed-luxe jacket, over jeans and a cami... You catch my drift. It feels deliciously languid and very “I don’t give a damn” in the most elegant kind of way. Every woman should own at least one piece of divine loungewear, and a silk robe like ‘Casa’ is definitely the most versatile.

‘Leading Strings’ by Marlies Dekkers at Porte-a-Vie

Straps and strings have become a signature of Marlies Dekkers designs and in the case of ‘Leading Strings’, taken the effect of fancying up some effective shapewear. While labelled a ‘corset’, I would consider this garment more of a bustier. It has built-in cups and flexible boning, but does not posess the strong and fully-structured shaping of what is typically considered a ‘corset’. ‘Leading Strings’ does smooth and subtly cinch though. It gives fantastic support to the bust and creates a lovely, rounded-yet-natural shape, with a cup that is moulded, but not padded. Basically, this bustier gives a great, smooth line beneath fitted clothing, without being boring once said clothing is removed. The aforementioned strings are used to dramatic effect down the back, and continue onto the matching, high-waisted thong. I normally detest thongs, but I adore this one. I’m not sure if it’s the three straps. Or the boning on the hips seams, giving structure and stability. Or just the perfect, simple shape of the front. But I am madly in love with it. It looks amazing from behind, unsuspecting from the front and is all-day, ‘forgot-I’m-wearing-you’ comfortable. It doesn’t move about or ride up (like most thong styles tend to on my body) and is, like the matching bustier, constructed from a high-quality microfiber, that is a little more silky and velvety-textured than most. For this reason, I keep finding myself reaching for it to pair with a multitude of other microfiber pieces in my wardrobe, such as black t-shirt bras, soft-cup bralettes, or I just wear on it’s own under slinky slips and dresses. ‘Leading Strings’, aesthetically, has an air of chic, minimalist bondage, but more importantly for me, it’s an update on smoothing, shaping basics, with the boredom typically associated with such styles, entirely removed. A lingerie-lover’s interpretation of ‘everyday, fully-functional’.

Bustier HERE

‘Mae‘ by Playful Promises at Porte-a-Vie

“If you own one set of lingerie, make it a perfect black lace bra and brief”. 

I’ve said this a thousand times before and will, no doubt, repeat it ‘til the day I die. Why? Because it’s the ultimate underwear staple. I would even recommend and choose it over, say, purely utilitarian, smooth, skin-tone styles, preferring to have some visible black lace poke through a white tee or blouse. The only requirement? Make sure it fits how you want and makes you feel great. This means you will be as equally likely to wear it for yourself as you are when you want to drop the jaw of those you may want to impress. 

‘Mae’ by Playful Promises is, with no exaggeration, one of the most perfect black lingerie sets I’ve ever owned. It ticks all my boxes. The fit in a 10E bra and Small brief, for me, is perfect. Playful Promises’ extremely diverse size range, in beautiful designs, at affordable prices, are what consistently make them one of my favorite brands. I know they will have something stellar every season, in my size. 

My personal favorite style bra- an unpadded underwire- ‘Mae’ provides support and lift without any increase in cup size. An eyelash lace is classically beautiful, and this one is lined with mesh in the cups, with the rest of the bra consisting of black satin. O-rings with a dangling black crystal, are an unconventional little detail that extends to the hips of the brief adding a decorative little element that is both modern and quirkily luxurious. Said brief is a flawless fit and ridiculously comfortable for such a pretty piece, neither falling down, nor riding up, two common habits of lower-hipped styles that usually put me off, but not in this case. It stays secure and unnoticeable throughout the day, further upping ‘Mae’s’ wearability factor.

As I styled, the key bonus of such beautiful bra and brief, is that they mix and match seamlessly with other pieces commonly found in most minxes’ lingerie wardrobes. Whether it’s with stockings, underbust corset, garters, harnesses… the ensemble options for a style like ‘Mae’ are endless. is a must-have investment style.

Get the ‘Mae’ brief HERE

Playful Promise’s ‘Karine’ Bra, Brief and Suspender from Porte-à-Vie

A creamy satin and gold lace concoction, ‘Karine’ from Playful Promises, conjures baroque opulence in a seductive bra, brief and suspender set. These are the sort of full looks I personally prefer the most in lingerie. An underwired and lightly lined bra supports and lifts. A foiled, eyelash lace overlay provides a gorgeous pattern on the cups, frames the neckline and caresses cleavage. Multi-adjustable back and shoulder straps mean secure fit and a bejewelled bow detail is just enough decoration to walk the line between pretty and practical. The brief and suspenders, visually, carry on the style determied by the bra. The low, deliciously comfortable bikini brief could be worn all day, beneath anything- dresses, skirts, pants, jeans, with the matching suspender belt, or without it... Speaking of, the shape of Karine’s suspender style is very literally perfect, in my opinion. It features boning for support, extending up from the adjustable garter straps for the slightest cinch and extra help with holding stockings in place. This particular style, while classic in shape, is trimmed in lace in a manner that gives a subtle ‘tutu’, or skirted, effect, without being too dramatic or interfering with the lines or shape of whatever outerwear is worn over the top. The ivory satin shade of ‘Karine’ would also make it a fantastic bridal or honeymoon set. Add the fact that Playful Promises pieces are incredibly well-priced for design and quality, ‘Karine’ is an exceptionally beautiful set, perfect for those looking for maximum glamour-bang for their buck.

‘Glowtini’ by Mimi Holliday at Porte A Vie

Ah, the three-piece black lace set.... this is what I consider the foundation of any luxury lingerie wardrobe . It is the set and style I recommend continuously to women who ask what a good ‘starting point’ for an epic lingerie collection is, to partners or friends wanting to purchase gifts, and everyone in between. It’s never fails. It is timeless. This is because it is versatile, functional and sexy, in equal parts. ‘Glowtini’ by Mimi Holliday has updated this staple with an on-trend, soft-cup style bra. Directional lingerie brands have recently moved away from the ultra-padded, push-up styles of years past, to more elegant, wireless bralette styles in light of customer demand. Fashion-forward lingerie lovers, it would seem, are a bit ‘done’ with ‘Bombshell This’ and ‘Very Sexy That’ in the form of 2 pounds of rubber foam, and are looking for a more natural silhouette. Without compromising beauty, ‘Glowtini’ incorporates a high apex triangle bra. This means more support than the more commonly seen spaghetti-strapped triangle shape (think, bikini top) and the addition of a front closure feels even more secure. The front closure also adds easy change factor for the uncoordinated, like me, who struggle to do up bras at the back (I’m a chronic ‘hook up then twist around’ type). The brief is comfortable and pretty for a lower-hipped style, with a more 1960s/70s vibe than anything sporty or casual. Ditto the suspender belt, which is a classic shape, flattering on basically everyone. The grips that are delicate and dainty, but still do their job of holding up stockings. For me, my favorite aspect of ‘Glowtini’ is the fabric- a black mesh with embroidered, stemmed roses. Especially the way they scatter around the neckline of the bra, providing opportunities to sneakily peak out of tank tops or blouses- nonchalant raunch. Essentially, this is a perfect, modern interpretation of an enduring style, built equally for comfort and seduction.

Mimi Holliday ‘Beau Daquiri’ Bodysuit at Porte A Vie

Mimi Holliday have been one of my favorite lingerie brands for over a decade. They consistently produce beautiful, interesting lingerie styles. The quality of both materials and construction is high, the fit is great. The aesthetic pleasure never comes at a compromise on comfort and functionality. But when living in Australia, I always found the brand hard to come by, so lucky for ya’ll it is now stocked at Porte A Vie! Needless to say, with all this is mind, my Mimi expectations are high, but ‘Beau Daiquiri’ doesn’t disappoint. Valentine’s-style, candy-conjuring, red and pink is my all-time favorite color combination. I am also partial to a heart motif and here, gorgeous little ones are expertly embroidered on delicate beige tulle to create a nude illusion. The little hearts appear to float, scattered across skin for a cute, whimsical effect. The ‘left-bare’ mid-section of this bodysuit, gives the appearance of a bra and brief, with the wear of a bodysuit. Unlike many bodysuits, the crotch snaps on ‘Beau Daiquiri’ are actually comfortable and the garment itself is long enough in the torso for us tall gals. The brief-cut bottom does not ride up, wears well under pants, jeans, skirts, tops and dresses, and I think the diamond cut-out back is a nice addition. I sized for cup (XL for my DD-E cup, in spite of AU10/US6 dress size) and found this detail, combined with the adjustable shoulder straps, allowed for the perfect fit. The cups are darted and underwired giving both support and, I found, a really beautiful bust shape. Mimi’s ‘Beau Daiquiri’ is a truly exceptional piece of lingerie, a must if you love a fun, ultra-feminine aesthetic, cuteness without infantility and would, in my opinion, make the perfect gift.

‘Winnie’ at Porte A Vie

Basic black will always have it’s place, but the most common request I hear in lingerie is for more COLOUR. The ‘Winnie’ style is a perfect example of why it’s so darn good. This triangle bra and high-waisted brief in an easter egg palette is perfect for spring/summer, or, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, an instant underwear mood-booster for the coming winter months. This wearable candy confection of contrasting blue lace on pink mesh, trimmed with lemon yellow satin elastic, is delicious and ridiculously comfortable. Being a DD cup I am often apprehensive of a triangle bra, but the decent coverage on Winnie’s cup (I ordered a Large in the bra and Medium in the brief), combined with removable padding and wide band, actually make it supportive. I love the front-close clasp, not just for aesthetic purposes, but for how easy it is to throw on. ‘Winnie’ also comes in a full-cup, underwire option. The high-waisted, full briefs are flawless- stretchy, soft and super-pretty. These don’t ride up, they don’t bunch, they don’t dig in. Gorgeous, but comfy enough to sleep in. Basically, the perfect pair of knickers. I honestly cannot recommend this set enough, and love that it comes from an indie label. Dora Larsen’s classic, feminine styles in unique attention-grabbing colour ways definitely make them a designer to support.

‘Bernadette’ at Porte A Vie 

 I have a shameless love for peach satin. Whether it’s being a child of the eighties, or the balletic reference (a trend, that in my opinion, always translates beautifully to lingerie fashion), if peach satin is on the table, I will take it. It is also, depending on skin tone, a nice alternative to beige for neutral underwear. A lingerie hack I frequently recommend for those who want to avoid literal flesh tones, is to find a prettier color that is closest to your skin. Goth-pale? Ivory. Olive? A mocha or espresso. Deep? Chocolate or classic black. Peach is my ‘pretty neutral’. So, combined with the supportive shape of this bra and brief, ‘Bernadette’, stocked at Porte A Vie and made by Playful Promises, was an absolute must-have. Playful Promises is a UK brand that is renowned for it’s extensive size range, producing in- and shooting on- standard, plus and fuller figure fits (small back, large cup). Support is, therefore, a strong factor in all their designs, and ‘Bernadette‘ is no exception. The longline bra features underwire, lightly molded cups and boning in the bodice, in addition to the adjustable shoulder straps and sturdy five-hook back fastener. This is a bra that is both beautiful and functional. The high-waisted, retro-referencing briefs are comfortable and provide coverage without being in the slightest bit frumpy. This cut is perfect for beneath 40’s and 50’s silhouettes, think either full or pencil skirts, or high waisted jeans. ‘Bernadette‘ has a gorgeous lace-up corset detail, trimmed with a delicate, eyelash lace. The result is feminine and glamorous, graceful, a la ‘en pointe’, with a dash of silver-screen starlet boudoir appeal. ‘Bernadette‘ is a rare style that balances the line between beautiful, functional and comfortable, with the addition of being a perfect lingerie option for lovers of vintage and vintage-inspired outerwear.

Buy the ‘Bernadette’ bra HERE

Angela Friedman ‘Cherub’ corset

This one of those rare, special little gems. Angela Friedman is a one-woman, independent label that continually produces brilliant pieces. Usually ranging from sweet pastels and soft sheer tulles to more grown up silk and lace garments in jewel tones or bold, classic shades. You might have recently seen Rihanna, styled to look like Marie Antoinette in Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion book, wearing a gorgeous ivory corset? That’s Angela Friedman. This particular little underbust is a strong, but comfortable, waist cincher style. It sits at a great height on the waist (on me personally) and the does not dig into my rather protruding bottom ribcage the way almost all corsets painfully do on me. Yet, it also comes down low enough, in a rounded cut at the bottom, that it doesn’t cause my lower stomach to stick out (again, something most corsets do to me, leading to the conclusion, most are not made for my body type). It laces at the back and has a gorgeous and detailed cherub image on the front, which I’ve never seen anything like before. The fabric is a heavyweight twill and the silhouette it gives is subtle, yet firmly cinched and houglassy. This is a very ‘wearable’ corset. At the same time, the heavenly, unique print detail and the color scheme would make it the perfect special occasion or bridal cincher. 

‘Finnoula’ Playsuit by Honey Birdette

I don’t know what else I can say about ‘Finnoula’ except that I am madly in love with her. For so many reasons. First of all, she’s damn flattering. The neck can be crossed over or not (as I wear and shown here) to accommodate a variety of different sized cups- this is a Small, and I usually wear a 10d-dd. The bust is soft, unlined, unwired, but still supportive due to the overall shape of the garment. Most of the straps are adjustable and can be worn in a variety of ways until fit is perfected or to your personal preference. The scrolled lace is gorgeous and subtley flecked with metallic sapphire blue. For something strappy and pretty elaborate, it’s comfortable to wear. All the materials in general are great. It’s a showstopper, everyone who has seen it and/or me in it has said “WOW!” with a dropped jaw, including my lingerie-jaded Mister. This piece is worth every penny and I’m never going to let it go. A total collectors’s item. This style has also, in the past few days, been released in red and comes in bra, thong, brief and suspender styles. ‘Finnoula’ I adore you. 

‘Chantel’ Romper from Bella Bella Boutique. My love for the teddy continues and I couldn’t resist this modern, pretty little take on the style from Bella Bella Boutique (by Ooh La La Cheri). The perfect baby pink shade and cowl neck and back are what caught my eye. For the price ($36) I didn’t count on it being a) so comfortable, and b) hardy- that is, I chuck it in the wash regularly, it still holds up and remains in great condition! The bottom is sheer chiffon, the top a double layer of lightweight mesh and the straps and waistband trim are stretch lace. The garment is very ‘multi-adjustable’ as the sides tie up with dove grey satin ribbons and the overall fit of the garment, which is loose, is kept on comfortable with a ribbon tie that crosses from strap to strap across the shoulders and ties at the back of the neck. This piece is just SO easy to wear, soft, light, made of much better materials than usually found in this price range and due to the wide variety of sizes it would fit, would make a great gift. I’ve been wearing this all summer and have no plans to retire it any time soon!

Homage Femme ‘Guardian’ Bra and Brief

As I've written previously in regards to the lingerie pieces by Australian label Homage Femme, I love their Art Deco influence, as it’s my favorite period of design. I especially feel it translates to interesting results in lingerie due to the angular lines and shapes being in contrast with the curves a lot of women posess. I also love the combination of graphic patterns on soft fabrics, such is the case with this set. Homage’s embroidered tulle lace is always incredible and is what drew me to ‘Guardian,’ also, the very unusual pale grey color- a shade that can be hard to execute in lingerie, but when done so adeptly is very chic. This set is comfortable (the slinky jersey feels amazing), I think it’s extremely pretty in a cool, effortless way and just quirky enough. This is the sort of thing I like wearing at home, to still feel nice with zero effort and maximum comfort. ‘Guardian’ is a unique example of loungerie and shows that interesting influence need not scream for attention, in order to be amazing, but rather, reference subtly with harmony in mind. As long as Homage keeps producing Art Deco-inspired items, I will keep falling in love with them.