The Ultimate Valentine's Day Lingerie Gift Guide

   For me, Valentine's day is all about the lingerie! Sexy lingerie sets, showstopping basques, decadent corsets, flirty babydolls, luxurious negligées, saucy hosiery.. anything goes! The holiday of love is the perfect opportunity to treat a partner or significant other to a special gift and a beautiful new set of underwear is guaranteed to get pulses racing. Even if you're not feeling loved up this Valentine's, what better excuse to treat yourself to a sexy something that you've had your eye on for a while?

   With the 14th February just a heartbeat away, I have scoured the internet for the very best Valentine's day lingerie styles to suit a variety of tastes, sizes and budgets. Take a look at these swoonworthy beauties - from romantic to flirty, sexy to stylish, luxurious to bargainous, there's something for everyone this Valentine's...

ROMANTIC

Gossard Retrolution Padded Staylo Slip, £69

Sizes 32-36, B-E 

Exuding vintage charm with its antique-style lace and bow detail, this Gossard slip creates a stunning hourglass silhouette thanks to its cleavage-enhancing deep plunge cut and smoothing side panels. If you're looking for heart-stoppingly beautiful lingerie this Valentine's, this powder pink slip is guaranteed to make anyone dreamy-eyed! 

(Also available in black)

Boux Avenue 'Henrietta' satin and lace balconette bra, £30

  

30-36, B-E

Fashioned from satin and finished with champagne coloured spice corded lace, bows and charm motifs, Boux Avenue's 'Henrietta' epitomises vintage elegance and luxury! Its flattering balconette cups lend to beautiful 'cakes on a plate' style cleavage whilst the unusual sage blue satin and champagne gold detailing give this bra a romantic, premium feel without the designer price!

(Also available in pink & grey mix.)

Freya Deco Darling Underwired Moulded Plunge Bra, £38

Sizes 28-38, D-GG

What better way to celebrate Valentine's than with roses? Freya has given the best-selling Deco bra a romantic twist, adorning the cups with a feminine yet contemporary rose-embroidered mesh overlay. The Deco Darling marries function with aesthetics and if you desire great support, unbeatable cleavage and a gorgeous design to boot, this bra will undoubtedly conquer your heart!

(Also available in ivory.)

FLIRTY

 

Boux Avenue 'Jesse' Plisse Mesh Babydoll, £40

 8-16: B/C, D+, E/F

If you're undressing to impress this Valentine's, the Boux Avenue 'Jesse' babydoll hits the nail on the head with its seductive red and black colour scheme. Featuring a beautiful balconette neckline with ruched cups, this flirty number supports busts up to an E/F cup and its lightweight pleated mesh 'skirt' skims curves effortlessly. Finished with eyelash lace and a central ribbon bow, this flouncy babydoll is the ideal companion for any self-professed glamour-puss!

Mimi Holliday by Damaris 'Kittiwake' lace bra, £56 reduced to £51

Sizes 28-36, D-F

Mimi Holliday are reknowned for their decadent, fun and eye-catching designs and the 'Kittiwake' is nothing short of a showstopper with its vibrant colour palette of fuchsia and electric orange! The satin and lace cups give this bra a luxe feel, whilst the quirky embroidered lipstick kisses inject a flirty edge that is hard to ignore. There is no doubt that this is the set for daring lingeristas who want to wow this Valentine's!

Tutti Rouge 'Eliza' bra, £28

 Sizes 28-38, D-J

Fuller busts rejoice because Tutti Rouge is ready to steal your heart with the gorgeous 'Eliza' bra! This gorgeous non-padded bra will win you over with its sophisticated styling and support up to a J cup! Its midnight blue and magenta colour scheme is a perfect side-step from 'stereotypical' Valentine's day reds and pinks, yet its semi-sheer cups, frilly trim and bow and corsage motifs keep it fun, playful and enchanting!

SEXY 

Bluebella 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Satin Button Bra and Brief Set, £39

Sizes 8-20

If you want to turn up the heat this Valentine's day, Bluebella are the 'go-to' for sizzling bedroom wear! Inspired by 'Fifty Shades of Grey', this red hot bra and brief set boasts a red satin and black lace button-up peep hole bra and raunchy satin tie-side briefs. This provocative set is certain to add some spice to your Valentine's day!

Pour Moi 'Forbidden' Basque, £59

Sizes 32-40, B-G

Pour Moi really has its finger on the pulse when it comes to trend-led, sexy lingerie for fuller busts. The Pour Moi 'Forbidden' basque features smoothing panels which contour to your curves, creating the perfect hourglass silhouette. Adorned with feminine lace and racy strapping details and cut-outs at the bust, this seductive basque will ramp up the sex appeal this V-day!

Bluebella Black Label Soft Open Bandeau bra, £30

Sizes 8-16

Indulge yourself this Valentine's with this directional and unashamedly sexy cut-out bra from Bluebella Black Label! Architectural black strapping merges with sensual yet risqué sheer chiffon panels to create a provocative look that will get anyone hot under the collar. If you're looking to take your boudoir wear to new heights, team this erotic statement piece with the matching brief/ thong and suspender belt to ensure that all eyes are on you!

STYLISH

Gossard Superboost Strapless Lace Slip Dress, £54

Sizes 32-36, B-E

Up the glamour this Valentine's day and dress to impress with this sultry, lace slip dress from Gossard! Styled with corded vintage floral lace and decorated with a bow and charm detail, this slip delivers femininity, elegance and sensuality in equal measure. Removable straps give versatility of wear, underwired cups enhance the bust, whilst its bodycon fit and layered mesh smoothing panels deliver a streamlined silhouette - it really is too good to cover up!
 

Masquerade 'Antoinette' Bra, £38

28-38, D-G

Masquerade is synonymous with sophistication and luxury and the 'Antoinette' delivers exactly this! As its name would suggest, the 'Antoinette' bandeau bra delivers beautiful 'cakes on a plate'/ 'Marie Antoinette' cleavage, coupled with great support up to a G cup. This bra is classy and stylish with its black floral lace and opulent burgundy satin base, accented by a bow and jewel motif, for a touch of added sparkle!

(Also available in blue/charcoal and champagne/black and as a basque.)

Lulu Tout 'Amelie' Underwired bra, £24

Size 30-38, DD-H

Just because it's Valentine's, that doesn't mean that your lingerie has to be predictable! The Lulu Tout 'Amelie' delivers all of the beauty of classic French lingerie, whilst keeping things flirty and current with its contemporary mesh panel overlays and eye-catching electric blue colour palette! The unusual scalloped details and art-deco style embroidery make this bra perfect for seducing in style!

(Also available in black and in sizes A-DD.)

LUXURIOUS

Agent Provocateur 'Gloria' Basque, £395

Sizes 32-36, B-D

If luxury and decadence is what you are after, Agent Provocateur lingerie is the embodiment of showstopping opulence and magnificent design! The 'Gloria' basque is the ultimate in seduction with its barely-there racy quarter cups and enticing sheer nude tulle, offset by glamorous scarlet red silk accents and ornate floral embroidery. This basque is beautifully crafted with curve-defining boning for a superior fit, resulting in a sculpted silhouette that will render anyone speechless!

 Dita Von Teese 'Lamarr' Robe, £150

Sizes S-XL

Channel your inner 50s pin-up girl with this exquisite limited edition Dita Von Teese robe! Fashioned from sensual polka dotted sheer mesh and finished with silky trims and an adjustable ribbon waist-tie, this robe exudes iconic vintage glamour in its purest form. This classic black number is a stunning piece that will make you feel like an Old Hollywood starlet - enough to make anyone put down their martini and stare in admiration!

Agent Provocateur 'Tammi' bra, £85

Sizes 32-36, A-DD

   Racy, cheeky and captivatingly sexy, the theatrical lipstick red 'Tammi' bra by Agent Provocateur will transform its wearer into the very embodiment of femme fatale! Featuring a barely-there scalloped silk bra with bow-embellished straps across the bust and finished with French lace trims, 'Tammi' creates knock-out cleavage for a look that is utterly tantalising, dramatic and indulgent.. get ready to unleash your inner temptress!

BARGAINOUS

ASOS 'Sienna' Lace Slip, £20 reduced to £12

 Sizes XS-L

If you're on a budget this Valentine's, feast your eyes on the delectable 'Sienna' slip from ASOS. Sheer lace unpadded cups are attached to a floaty chiffon skirt with strapping details, making this classic black number a winning combination of sexy, directional and playful. This piece definitely looks more luxe than its price tag and at its reduced price of £12, it's an unmissable bargain - grab it whilst you can!

New Look Burgundy Lace Caged Bralet, £9.99

Sizes 6-16

Flirty, sexy and totally bargainous, this rich burgundy bralet has Valentine's Day written all over! This pretty triangle longline bralet merges vintage-feel sheer lace cups with contemporary strapping for a look that combines the old with the new. At £9.99, this bra is a real style steal, meaning that you could easily treat yourself to one in every colour!

(Also available in black, khaki or blue.)

Lepel 'Victoria' Cami with contrast lace, £24 reduced to £14

Sizes S-L

Romantic in powder pink with an elegant black contrast trim, the Lepel 'Victoria' cami is perfect for ladylike lounging and stylish snoozing! With its classic cut and luxurious satin feel fabric, you will definitely fall in love with this £14 bargain!

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What do you think of my Valentine's Day Lingerie picks? 

What are you be hoping to receive or are you treating yourself this Valentine's?

Love,

Cosmopolitan #fashfest Lingerie Show 2014

    Following the successful launch of Cosmopolitan FASHION (Cosmo's new stand-alone fashion magazine), Cosmo have launched the UK's first fashion festival, #FashFest! Running from the 15th-19th September, Fash Fest delivers a spectacular line-up of events, kicking off with a live lingerie catwalk show, followed by a celebrity fashion masterclass, online shopping evening, Cosmo fashion awards night, culminating in the Cosmo wrap party on Friday 19th. 

   In the throes of London Fashion Week, #fashfest presents the very best in high street fashion and with sponsors such as ASOS, Very and Brand Alley, Cosmo seeks to give its readers the "ultimate fashion experience", showcasing key A/W14 trends and translating them into wearable styles that can then be purchased post-event. Unlike many LFW shows (which are limited to industry insiders), #FashFest is special in that it puts the fashion-loving consumer firmly in the front row and tickets are available to the public from just £30! 

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

    Having already heard great things about the Cosmopolitan lingerie show last year, I was delighted to be invited as one of Cosmo's VIP bloggers to the sell-out lingerie show this year, which took place at the grand-looking One Marylebone.

   After meeting Cheryl from Invest in Your Chest in the queue, we were greeted by Taylor, the editor of Cosmo BODY, who gave us a tour of the stylish venue. With a glass of bubbly in hand, we ascended the spiral staircase to the galleries to explore the many delights that were on offer; from hair styling by Paul Mitchell to 'face-mapping' by Dermalogica, makeovers by Urban Decay and manicures by Barry M! 

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

 (Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   Aside from the array of complimentary pampering delights on offer, there were (of course) rails upon rails of a lingerista's dream-come-true; beautiful lingerie from names such as Wonderbra, Triumph and B.Tempt'd!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

I loved B.Tempt'd's flirty lingerie offerings! Paintbox brights, playful sheer lace bralets and contour bras with cute polkadots, lace and bow motifs!

Wonderbra (Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

I spent quite a lot of time nattering to the Triumph team - their 'Magic wire' bra really caught my eye with its buttery soft fabric and lightweight silicone underwires!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   I was also happy to see that the Freya booth had made an appearance, giving Cosmo readers the opportunity to get a personal bra fitting to ensure that they were wearing the right size!

(Pic credit: Coppafeel)

   I also stopped by the Coppafeel 'boob booth' and met the team behind the amazing breast health and cancer awareness charity. Coppafeel's #brahijack campaign involves lingerie brands placing a 'breast care' label in their bras as an all-important daily reminder for women to check their breasts.

***

   Next, Cheryl and I were lucky enough to be invited backstage to experience the pre-show set-up and take a peek at the looks that the models would be sporting on the catwalk! There was a sense of excited anticipation as the event organisers and stylists added the finishing touches and the models prepared to hit the runway...

   

   After seeing exactly what goes on behind-the-scenes, we headed into the main hall; a breath-taking 27 foot high room with beautiful mosaics, stained glass windows and majestic columns and arches - the perfect backdrop for the Cosmo lingerie show!

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

   We took our seats on the front row and before we knew it, the hall had filled with hundreds of people! The show kicked off with an introduction from Cosmopolitan's editor, Louise Court, followed by a talk by Kris Hallenga of Coppafeel - the overarching message being that lingerie is a stylish and essential foundation that has the ability to support and empower the wearer (hear, hear!)

(L-R: Kris Hallenga of Coppafeel and Louise Court, Editor of Cosmopolitan)

   Before the catwalk show started, canapés arrived and guests were treated to a special performance by 'The Voice' runner up, Leah McFall (Will.i.am's protegée). As a fan of Leah's from the TV show, I was delighted by her live performance and impressive vocal runs!

***

THE CATWALK

   After a quick trip to the bar to grab a delicious 'Cosmopolitan' cocktail, the lights dimmed and the hotly-anticipated Cosmopolitan #fashfest Lingerie Catwalk Show began! Models strutted their stuff on the runway in a show-stopping array of lingerie from highstreet favourites such as ASOS, Pour Moi, Triumph, Brand Alley, Very, Wonderbra, B.Tempt'd, Gossard, and Accessorize.

   Autumn/Winter 2014 trends were grouped into 8 categories, making for a cohesive and fluid catwalk show that really made sense to the viewer. From cleavage-enhancing push-ups to bright lace triangle bras, embellished basques and kimonos, feminine floral nightwear and cut-out detail strappy bras and bodysuits, there was indeed something for everyone...

COLOURFUL BRIGHTS

   Although neons seem to have faded along with Summer, lingerie is staying bright for A/W14 - cue rich jewel tones in purple, blue and raspberry alongside dusky pinks. Both padded and unpadded styles featured strongly, with lace overlays, trims and bow motifs being the order of the day.

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

WICKED WHITES

   Classic, crisp white lingerie never dates and brands gave white a modern update through the use of layered lace, edgy strapping and cut-out detailing (Pour Moi) and sexy sheer fabrics contrasted with delicate embroidery (ASOS). Whoever said that white lingerie was boring!?

ANIMAL PRINTS

   Lingerie goes into the wild this A/W14, with models appearing in a range of soft cup bras, padded plunges, sexy basques and floaty kimonos.. all in leopard print! ASOS and Pour Moi set off their bold leopard prints with contrasting black trims, whereas B.Tempt'd and Brand Alley took a slightly softer approach to animal print, with a palette of muted browns and greys.

EDGY BOUDOIR

   Definitely one of my favourite A/W14 trends from the catwalk show, these designs embody the ultimate in sexy, fashion-forward boudoir lingerie! Models sashayed down the catwalk in heart-stopping shapes made from chiffon, lace and sumptuous satin; cinched-in strappy bodysuits, simple-but-sexy padded and unpadded bras, floaty babydolls and retro high-waisted knickers.
 

SMOKY TONES

   Models smouldered in smoky hues, with chic black and and slate grey dominating the catwalk. Wonderbra, Triumph, ASOS and Brand Alley proved that shapewear can be sexy, showcasing a range of lingerie designs; from slip skirts to bodies, strapless bras to high waisted knickers. Mesh inserts, lace trims, strapping and sequins were added to classic shapewear pieces to give them the 'wow factor'..and wow us they did!

FLIRTY FLORALS

   Although I normally associate florals with Summer, Monsoon & Accessorize presented some gorgeous transitional nightwear pieces to take us into Autumn. Fabrics were light-weight (predominantly satin, chiffon and lace) and colours were muted and feminine, with an abundance of dusky pinks, greys and purples. Prints ranged from floral blooms to birds, butterflies and even bicycles!

FLATTERING FLESH TONES

   'Flesh tone'/ beige lingerie is often seen as 'practical' rather than sexy, but brands really pushed the boat out with a gorgeous selection of satin, lace and chiffon pieces in rose, beige and creamy hues. Longline bras, boleros, bras and nightgowns were embellished with lace, embroidery, beads and diamantés, for a touch of luxe sophistication!

RED HOT

   Sizzling, racy and undeniably glamorous, red lingerie is here to stay for A/W14. Brand Alley, Triumph and Gossard at Brand Alley showcased sophisticated shapes that exuded retro appeal, whilst B.Tempt'd took a playful approach with their unpadded red lace longline. Very and Pour Moi ramped up the sex appeal with strappy, cut-out lace bras and bodysuits, whilst ASOS made the audience go weak at the knees with their plunging scarlet bodysuit and raunchy embroidered mesh triangle bra.

(Pic credit: Cosmopolitan)

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   The evening concluded with a live DJ set, more cocktails and an unbelievable goody bag, packed full of lingerie, fashion and beauty goodies from the show's sponsors!

   The Cosmopolitan #fashfest lingerie show was a truly fabulous event from start to finish and I feel incredibly lucky to have been invited to attend. #Fashfest is definitely a celebration of fashion and femininity and I love that Cosmo are consumer-centric. Cosmo gave guests a unique 'VIP experience', whilst making the catwalk fashion accessible and wearable. All of the looks from the catwalk are available to purchase online from:

ASOS

Accessorize

Pour Moi

Wonderbra

Very

Triumph

Brand Alley

B.Tempt'd

To find out more about #fashfest, check out the official website and keep your eyes peeled for tickets for the next show - it really is an unmissable event for fashionistas and lingeristas alike!

What were your favourite catwalk looks? Are there any pieces that you have your eye on?

Love,