IT'S LIKE LEATHA

Some Inspiration. Photo: from Defying Mainstream's "Pre-Issue" 'zine. I follow them on twitter. So should you.

Left: Re Collection Leather Bustier, $129.50 (on sale), from shopbop.com, Right: For the vegans/ animal conscious, a furry friendly option: LNA Bralette, $49, shopbop.com


Left: Hannah Marshall, Leather Bullet Swarovski Bra, $1152 , luisaviaroma.com, Right: Ann Demeulemeester Leather Bra, $247.50, from Lusiaviaroma.com
Right: Blouson Noir Leather Biker Bra Top, $1185, from Brownsfashion.com

I'm pretty sure its a million degrees in New York right now. So why, you might ask, am I writing a post dedicated to leather bras on this sweltering day? I'm not really sure I can come up with a decent reason... other than I am in love. Particularly with the Blouson Noir Leather Biker bra above.

Unconventional uses of leather greatly appeal to me, particularly as they have been applied to intimates design. Leather bras are evocative of a more aggressive female sexuality-- one that is grittier, and more apropos to my personal life and to the broader contemporary female in general. It's also a vaguely fetishistic garment and the fact that there are so many versions available on the market is, perhaps a testament to the unrivaled freedom of female sexuality in this day and age.

Plus, it's downright hot.

I've already purchased leather hotshorts (yes, you read that correctly. See below.) And now I'm considering adding a leather bra to my ever expanding intimates collection. After all, I am ALREADY consistently inappropriately dressed for the weather. Why not continue to play with fire?

Left: My Leather Hotshorts, worn many-a-time, from Abercrombie + Fitch, Right: N.B. the title of this post is quite obviously an homage to Stella "It's Like Letha" Zotis from project runway circa 2008, I've included a photo of her. Just 'cause.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

A few posts ago, I mentioned how I was bursting with excitement over the the upcoming strippable co-branding effort by ERES + CHANEL... shot by none other than Mr. Karl Lagerfeld himself. I recently received an email, announcing the online version of the aforementioned co-branding project. And let me tell you, neither the Kaiser nor ERES disappoints.

The process of removing a layer from the model is not so crude as the word "strippable" might lead one to think. In fact, its not at all the virtual striptease I imagined, because the genius coders have created a sort of bubble tool which removes a layer by the click of your mouse. The result is quite clever-- it allows you to remove part or all of the garment, so you can actually see CHANEL and ERES side by side, instead of simply one layer at a time. It's also entirely too much fun (N.B. I'm easily amused. REALLY, easily amused.) You can explore the co-branding magic yourself here, but it's highly addictive... users click at your own risk.

Karl Lagerfeld's love note about the project. If your French is a little rusty, it translates approximately, to the following:

CHANEL is a headquarters with many children who do not share the name. The house of ERES is part of that. CHANEL will occasionally make bathing suits and lingerie within the framework of a particular collection. On the contrary, ERES does only that, without taking on a shade of the strong image of CHANEL. To wear ERES lingerie under a CHANEL dress is a natural “fashion” step, modern and spontaneous. Normally, co-branding is done between two strangers—here it is in the family.

NOT LEWD BUT...

Been busy with a bit of personal business so it slipped my mind that I received this lovely little order from Lacivious. If you're not familiar with the brand, you should check out their website mostly because (allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment) they are NOT one of those lingerie brands that tends toward infantilizing female sexuality. Instead, their pieces present a more grown-up and overt female sexuality that oft devoid of bows, pink and lace embellishments. When I saw these I couldn't resist adorned culottes that didn't walk the delicate Lolita line, but I also find the nude/ black combination the terrifically pleasing... plus: fringe! holdups! And (full disclosure) they were on sale! Colour me one happy feminist. And the boyf doesn't seem to mind the lack of bows either.....

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Tilda Playing Lace Bra, $88 and matching briefs, $43, by Stella McCartney, available from net-a-porter.com

Perhaps it is a bit of an oxymoron to say "understated leopard print," but I find this kit by Stella McCartney is just that-- restrained yet racy, with just a hint of delicious brutishness. And while I have never been a fan of lace (at least in the way of women's undergarments) I find this application by McCartney a seductive embodiment of what the modern woman wants to wear underneath it all.... meowwwww.

BUSTIN' OUT

Kettle Black Studded Bustier, $253, from shopbop.com

File this under "lingerie as outerwear" (unless you enjoy tiny pyramids on your breasts, protruding from underneath your tee, in which case, by all means....)

LOVE'S WHAT I GOT. DON'T START A RIOT.

1-Skeleton Bra, $150, by VPL, from ssense.com
2-Silk Georgette underwire bra, $125, by Burberry, from net-a-porter.com
3-Soire Molded Bra, $51, by Cosabella, from journelle.com
4-Curveball Bustier, $150, by The Lake & The Stars, from barneys.com
5-Vintage Silk Bralet, $40, from Topshop.com
6-Tulle Trimmed Silk-Blend Bra, $75, by 3.1 Philip Lim, from net-a-porter.com
7-Polka-dot silk-satin bra, $85, by 3.1 Philip Lim, from net-a-porter.com
8-Eden Silk-Chiffon triangle bra, $320, by Jean Yu, from net-a-porter.com
9-Kristina Ti Lace High-Waisted Bra, $190, luisaviaroma.com

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO: STRIPPABLE ERES + THE KAISER

What could be MORE exciting than a strippable lookbook from my coups de coeur, lingerie evil geniuses Eres? Why, a strippable lookbook shot by Karl Lagerfeld featuring Chanel of course! While I haven't actually seen said lookbook (its purportedly a "set of cards" according to fashionista) I adore the idea of two sister brands teaming up to create a virtual paperdoll out of Emily Didonato. Add in the subversive play with the taboo of removing a model/ woman/ doll's clothing AND the Kaiser factor.... and I have come to the conclusion that MUST find a copy of this book cum card set. Because let's face it, even the behind the scenes candids look chic: