Trompe l'oeil tattoos: Tatu Couture 'Carine' bodysuit review from Honeys Lingerie Boutique

   As a lingerista, it only goes with the territory to love the 'underwear as outerwear' trend and I make no secret of my obsession with luxury British lingerie and bodywear brand, 'Tatu Couture', whose striking tattoo-inspired pieces transition seamlessly from boudoir to outerwear.

   Since its launch in 2012, Tatu Couture has carved out a veritable name for itself as both a lingerie and ready-to-wear brand, thanks to the versatility of its trend-led pieces and high quality craftmanship. Tatu Couture is best-known for its 'trompe l'oeil' tattoo designs printed on to sheer mesh panels, giving the illusion of inked skin. The brand's signature collections are the perfect blend of style and innovation, thanks to the use of sculptural, bodycon silhouettes and edgy, graphic tattoo prints.

   After meeting Tatu Couture's designer, Luisa Sidoli, at the Lingerie Collective in 2011, I was lent two pieces from the debut collection for review and, of course, I fell head over heels in love with them! Ever since, I have been lusting after the new collections year in, year out, hoping to eventually own a piece of Tatu Couture luxury! 

   Luckily for me, the amazing people at Honeys Lingerie Boutique recently got in touch and offered me the chance to review a piece for them! My choice was a no-brainer and before too long, a luxurious Honey's gift box arrived on my doorstep.

   The packaging definitely added to the excitement and I couldn't wait to unwrap the tissue paper to reveal my new Tatu Couture 'Carine' bodysuit!

   The 'Carine' bodysuit forms part of Tatu Couture's new Fall/Winter 2014 collection, which focuses its attention on chic tailoring details and 'alluring silhouettes' with a contemporary edge. The collection is sophisticated and feminine with sculpting shapes and lace panelling, whilst retaining strong attitude and drama through strap detailing and racy mesh inserts.

   'Carine' is every bit as exquisite in real life as I hoped that she would be - fashioned from a sleek,  sculpting polyamide and elastic fabric, this bodysuit feels ultra soft against the skin, skimming the body's curves for a smooth silhouette. To contrast with the matte black body panelling, luxurious woven satin adorns the neckline and arms, adding a glamorous sheen to the bodysuit.

   One of the key design features of the 'Carine' resides in the use of sheer mesh inserts to mimic the illusion of exposed flesh. The black mesh chest panel boasts a sweetheart plunge neckline, revealing a seductive flash of cleavage. By contrast, the front panels are made from 'nude' mesh, giving the impression of 'cut outs' on light-medium skin tones.

    The back of the bodysuit features 'nude' stretch mesh panelling, separated by a chic statement black and gold zip which runs down the spine, giving the bodysuit a couture finish.

     The undisputed 'pièce de résistance' is the breath-takingly intricate angel wing tattoo printed on the back panel. Luisa Sidoli has worked extensively with real tattoo artists to produce authentic and beautiful tattoo prints for her collections and the wing design on the 'Carine' showcases tattoo artistry at its finest.

   The tattoo print has been executed to a truly exceptional standard and the black and blue inks have been shaded to add depth to the tattoo design. When worn, it is incredibly difficult to believe that the printed mesh is not a real tattoo on somebody's back and I have already fooled several people into thinking that I have an impressive new back tattoo!

   I am extremely impressed with the attention to fine details on this bodysuit and I love that 'Tatu Couture' has been calligraphed on to one of the side panels! Additionally, thought has been given to the wearability/ functionality of the 'Carine' bodysuit and a popper opening makes it easier to take on and off.

   With regard to the fit, I was recommended a size small, which equates to an 8-10 according to the Tatu Couture size chart. Although the bodysuit does fit me, it is slightly too big at the waist for my size 8 frame and my longer-than-average torso makes it a bit too short in the body for me. 

   This means that the bodysuit does not 'sculpt' my body in quite the way that I had expected. You can see in the picture below how the excess fabric stands away from the curve of my back at waist level...

   Although the 'Carine' is not the perfect fit for my body, this is easily hidden when I incorporate it into my outerwear looks. This bodysuit looks fantastic with high waisted skirts, leggings and skinny jeans and it is ideal for transforming both day and evening outfits into something strikingly dramatic, unique and glamorous!

   In the pictures below, I have gone for an edgy, sculptural look, keeping the colour scheme to black, gold and 'nude'. I have paired the 'Carine' bodysuit with some shiny, high waisted American Apparel  leggings, ASOS gladiator heels, a gold detail Topshop belt, gold 'spike' earrings and a gold cuff to match. This look would be perfect for a night out and it makes me think of an inked Sandy from Grease!

  

   Although the 'Carine' is quite a graphic, edgy piece, I find that wearing a lace bodycon skirt with it injects femininity in to the look. Below, I have again kept the colour scheme simple ('nude' and black), adding elegant touches of gold and pops of scarlet red to 'up the glamour'.

   I recently wore this outfit to the UK Lingerie Awards and I certainly felt very glamorous and edgy in it - ideal for such a stylish, star-studded event!

   The Tatu Couture 'Carine' bodysuit is a stunning statement piece of couture bodywear, exuding high octane glamour worn on its own as a boudoir piece or equally as lingerie-inspired outerwear. The 'Carine' retails at £240 and also comes in a black and pink colourway, which would be well-suited to darker complexions.

   Whilst this bodysuit is an investment piece, it is a truly unique designer garment that has the versatility to be worn and styled in a multitude of ways. Every Tatu Couture piece is crafted using the highest quality fabrics, sewn by a team of highly skilled Ateliers based in the UK and every printed design is placement cut by hand, meaning that you are paying for outstanding craftmanship right down to the smallest detail.  

    I am absolutely thrilled with my beautiful Tatu Couture bodysuit and cannot wait to style it up again next time I go out. The angel wing tattoo print on the 'Carine' is like a piece of art in its own right and as somebody who has always toyed with the idea of getting a tattoo (but cannot quite commit), this bodysuit is my perfect solution!

You can buy the 'Carine' here or shop more of Tatu Couture's stunning collections at Honey's Lingerie Boutique!

As Christmas is on its way, Honey's are kindly offering Undercover Lingeristas 10% off any purchase with the code: 

KL10

What better way to treat a special someone (or yourself!) than with gorgeous luxury lingerie?

Love, 

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Special thanks goes to the amazing Brian Harris, who took all of the professional studio shots in this blog post!

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Illusion Inking: Tatu Couture

   Over the centuries, tattoos have become an increasingly popular type of body modification. Although the reasons for getting a tattoo range from person to person, tattoos can transform the human body into an artistic canvas - tattoos may symbolise a rite of passage, symbols of identity or just be designed to look aesthetically pleasing!

   I have from time to time considered what it would be like to get a tattoo (something small like a rose, a bird or some written text), but I have never felt quite able to commit to something so permanent! Temporary tattoos are all very well, but wouldn't it be fantastic to have something that won't rub off to leave half of the design on your skin? 

   My prayers were answered when I came across Tatu Couture - a brand that combines tattoos with my first love..lingerie!

   Tatu Couture is a new luxury lingerie brand which made its debut at the Lingerie Collective in 2011. Designed and developed by Luisa Sidoli, Tatu couture merges lingerie with 'trompe l'oeil' tattoo motifs, printed on to mesh panels.

   Luisa is no stranger to the world of lingerie design, possessing 15 years of experience in the lingerie industry after graduating with a first class honours degree in Fashion and Textiles from De Montfort University. In the years following her degree, Luisa designed for a variety of well-known names such as Marks & Spencer, Knickerbox, La Senza, Next, Victoria's Secret and also worked for three and a half years as Senior Designer at Ann Summers. With this impressive resumé, Luisa's strong commercial and creative background led her to create something that she had always dreamed about...her very own lingerie line: Tatu Couture.

   Recently I met up with the lovely Luisa to find out a little more about her exciting new lingerie label. When asked what inspired her, Luisa mentioned Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2012 ready-to-wear show, whose models sported tattoo-inspired fashion garments on the runway. Luisa has fused the idea of faux tattoo prints with statement body wear pieces to create an innovative and stand-out new lingerie line.

   In creating Tatu Couture, Luisa has given full reign to her creativity, stating that "Tatu Couture's unique vision is to push the boundaries of design and innovation with its trend setting lingerie and body wear." Whilst developing the range, she also worked alongside professional tattoo artists, which has been key to the authenticity of the tattoo designs used in the finished collection. 

   The collection comprises 8 different lingerie styles; from bodysuits to high waisted knickers, to a basque  and boy shorts. The pieces feature cut-out panels in nude mesh (which come in light and dark tones to suit different complexions). The panels boast printed tattoo motifs with graphic floral designs and elegantly calligraphed inspirational mottos, such as "Give your heart and soul to me and life will always be La Vie en rose" or cheeky slogans such as "Being good isn't always easy."

   Keen to see some of the designs in the flesh, Luisa kindly lent me two of my favourite pieces, which were packaged up in a sleek black box with 'Tatu Couture' emblazoned on the front:

   One of the garments that I chose as a 'stand out' piece from the collection was the 'Grace' high waisted knicker:

   High waisted knickers are a big lingerie trend at the moment, so the 'Grace' knickers are right on point. However, these knickers steer away from convention with provocative sheer mesh panels, which reveal a tantalising hint of skin beneath!

 The 'Grace' knickers also feature a 'suspender belt' style detail at the waist, which adds to their boudoir sex appeal. I loved the tattoo script writing: "We love only what we do not wholly possess" on the lower back mesh panel - an understated tattoo that retains both visual (and philosophical) impact. 

 As you can see from the pictures below, the 'Grace' knickers look even better when worn. The stretchy polyamide and elastane combination with power mesh act as shapewear fabrics. The knickers are smoothing and follow the lines of the body, whilst the 'belt' detail nips you in at the waist to define your curves.

(Although the colour of the mesh panels is slightly darker than my skin tone (which is paler than most), the effect is still very visually arresting.)

This brings me to talk about my absolute favourite piece from the Tatu Couture collection...the 'Talitha' bodysuit:

   The 'Talitha' bodysuit is a stunning black one piece with black mesh on the chest area and contrasting nude mesh cut-outs running from below the bust to the lower stomach and hips. The design of the bodysuit draws emphasis to the waist and hips with 'wrap around' cut out sections. The cuts-outs mimic the illusion of skin, giving a risqué edge to this piece. 

  The 'Talitha' body channels the 'underwear as outerwear' trend, being sexy enough to wear in the bedroom on its own, but working equally well as a fashion piece to be worn on a night out. I would style the 'Talitha' with skinny jeans and a pair of vertiginous heeled shoe boots - the bodysuit would do all the talking (and definitely turn some heads in the process!)

   Unlike many bodysuits that are just slipped on and off like a leotard, Luisa has thought one step ahead by adding popper fastenings at the crotch - a big triumph for design and function! 

   The back of the 'Talitha' is largely made of nude mesh, featuring a stunning dramatic blue and black shaded crysanthemum tattoo print running from shoulder to lower back - a testimony to true tattoo artistry! Although the tattoo print is quite large, the elaborate swirls and artistic shading makes the design very feminine and beautiful. The 'Talitha' is undoubtedly a piece to be worn with confidence - the back mesh panel dips quite low at the back, so be aware that you may flash a little derrière when the body is worn on its own!

   The Tatu Couture collection has made a very impressive debut and the range of garment styles is  comprehensive (with something that will appeal to many different people), whilst the tattoo prints are immaculately executed. 

   Not only are the designs a feast for the eyes, but thanks to the 80% polyamide and 20% elastane fabric content and powermesh panels, the pieces are also sculpting and flattering to the curves of the body.

   Tatu Couture pieces are luxury items and come in sizes S, M and L and range from £45-£190. The quality of the garments is of a very high standard, meaning that you can see exactly where your money is going. There is also no doubt that these pieces will gain you huge style points from fashionistas everywhere!

   I am very excited by Tatu Couture and love Luisa's play on 'illusion dressing' with 'trompe l'oeil' tattoo prints and sheer mesh panelling. The range is versatile as both underwear and outerwear and in my opinion, the designs are too good to keep covered up!

   If (like me) you are the indecisive type with regard to getting a real tattoo or just want to channel your inner 'rock chick' for a night, this collection is ideal. Tatu Couture delivers style in abundance and although a new label to the lingerie market, its directional shapes and edgy prints make it a brand to keep firmly on your radar!

To find out more about Tatu Couture, visit: www.tatucouture.com 

Love,
Kitty xo