Creating iconic outfits to last… From Boudoir to days out
How did the “refresh” button go for April? It seems we are all, still, waiting for the weather to pick us up and take us into those sunnier months. There have been glimmers of it for us in Belper, but it appears the summer clothes are still yet to make an appearance, outside of my wardrobe, this year!
Outfits and wardrobes is something that we spend a lot of time talking through with our clients… Besides the classic lingerie sets of bras and pants it seems a few think investing in themselves, and their wardrobe, a waste of time and/or money. This saddens me - it’s a part of self care and by investing the time in yourself, you are looking after you, too! So, with this in mind, I thought I’d put together a few outfit ideas that allows you to treat yourself for your #BBBY experience and also feel able to wear a few of those pieces on evenings out, as the lockdown restrictions continue to lift.
Gotta love a disclaimer: BBBY is not in sponsorship with any fashion retailers and do not receive any gain in from recommending the following outfit styles or shopping outlets. We also haven’t taken any of the photographs included in this blog.
Only the other day, I had a client in the studio apologise to me that her pants had come from her local supermarket the night before! It really doesn’t matter where you get your outfits from - what is important is that you feel both comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. This means sticking to a size and style you know will fit your figure well, rather than presuming you should be wearing a size one size too big, or too small… That’s how we create muffin tops for ourselves and none of us like to do that! This is the first step to embracing who you are so it’s important you ignore the size and dress your figure.
It’s quite common for ladies to ask me how to wear items such as suspenders, corsets, bodysuits and many are surprised when I mention that they can be worn as “going out” outfits as well as for a classic boudoir shot!
A bodysuit is designed to sculpt itself around your curves so find a size that suits you well and shows the chest area in a dignified way (ie. fitted and not too low). If you’re fairly flat chested, like me, then have a look at a bodysuit with a balconette style bra fitted into the fabric.
A lace style bodysuit, for example, whether from a lingerie based retailer or a high street fashion store can be worn in a multitude of ways. Lace works really well in a boudoir shot as it adds texture to an image and many women are able to feel sexy with something covering arms and stomachs. However, outside of the studio (and your bedroom) you can also wear them with jeans and heels or even underneath a strappy dress
(This one is from Oasis and at time of publishing, is just £31.20 in their sale)
The last point also works for corsets. Corsets are brilliant for making sure you have a killer posture, whatever you’re doing (photoshoot to meal with friends!). Did you know they’re also meant to help with headaches?! It’s worth in investing in a corset, to look after your body but also to ensure it does up well to aid a killer sillouhette and, as a result, a boost of well deserved self confidence. Cheaper corsets tend not to fit around boobs very well as the top of the corset isn’t “tailored” so be wary if seeing one below £50 as it probably isn’t going to look after you or your figure. Being honest about your measurements is absolutely key to a well fitting corset and I’d suggest focussing on your waist measurement to keep away from handles poking out underneath the bone of the corset
A slip dress can look so stylish with a pair of styled trainers and a chunky knitted cardigan… Hell, wear it at a festival and swap the trainers for wellies and add the sunglasses! Just make sure that if you’re going to wear it as “day wear” it fits well around the boob area… We don’t want you to hang out to the side - in the studio or in public! Same goes for camisoles - for me, there’s nothing nice than a satin feeling fabric on your skin. Make sure it fits well - ignore the number on the hanger and go for one that fits you well, around the boobs (do the lean forward test in the mirror to ensure you won’t hang out if you’re planning on adding it to your daytime wardrobe) and feels good around your stomach so you’re not conscious of lumps and bumps. If you’ve got a big chest then have a look at cow neck styles, which give a bit of extra fabric around the boobs. At time of this blog going live, slip dresses were readily available from many fashion chains for around £20 - £50 and many cute camisoles for less than £10
Sheer blouses are sooooo “in” at the mo… For us, they’re stunning to photograph as you get such a beautiful texture and finish with bare skin underneath. These really are as cheap or as expensive as you want them, depending on style, fabric and quality of finish - £7 through to £60+. Many are wearing sheer blouses with bralettes and/or bustiers underneath, which brings me onto my next point…
You can never go wrong with a well fitted, beautifully (and simply) styled bralette or bustier. Depending on your own build, pick a style of bra that’s going to hold your boobs well and, quite frankly, show them off! Pick a style of fabric (printed, satin, lace) and layer it - just as you would with cushions on your sofa! With a shirt or blouse over the top, it can swap from day-to-night ensemble beautifully by undoing the day look, by one button on the blouse, and changing from flats to heels with a well fitted pair of skinny jeans. Both of these bra’s are available at Marks & Spencers and, at time of publishing, range from £9.50 through to £30
As lockdown lifts, and bookings begin to kick in again, I’ll be looking more into body shapes and sizes so that you are able to see that being individual and honest is the sexiest thing you can wear… If you feel confident in a well fitted outfit, your confidence will shine through your posture and your body language. In short, it’s not about the number on the hanger, it’s ensuring your confidence…
From meeting a fair amount of women over the years, it’s fair to say that many don’t know how to identify with their body shape… So, with this in mind, I’ve put together a FREE, downloadable, PDF on how to identify your own body shape. If you’d like to receive a copy to your inbox simply let me know where to send it using the box below! Kirsty