Autumn & Winter 2007/2008 Lingerie Trends
Fashion, as a prevailing mode of self- or cultural-expression, is a notedly difficult phenomenon to predict. Today it's made all the more difficult by designers' obsessions with secrecy and, increasingly recently, their habits of deliberately doing the opposite of what's expected in order to surprise and delight their audiences and customers. These surprise tactics are borne out of a necessity to make headlines and publicise the designer's range through intelligent, non-cynical manipulation of the media and through the organic growth of column inches. Nowhere is this more demonstrable than in the lingerie industry, in which fashion lingerie shows have only recently become widespread, and in which the latitude offered designers to shock and surprise, tease and enchant is both appealing and extensive.
Lingerie Trends in Autumn & Winter 2007/2008
Rigby and Peller here endeavour to bring to you an outline of the lingerie trends and styles that will be current this season, alongside information about the ranges our specially selected brands will be producing. Since these are autumn and winter collections, it seems reasonable to exclude the women's swimwear ranges, at least for now, and concentrate more wholly on the 2007 Autumn/Winter lingerie trends.
You may recall that last winter there was a resurgence of popularity for the fashions of the 30's, 40's and 50's amongst designers, a clamouring and longing for that film-star chic which is so idealised and exalted now throughout the more exclusive high-street shops. Well, it's all change again this season, since the majority of lingerie designers seem to be producing relatively fresh, original, modern and ultra-modern styles, with influences from outside the West and more subtle colours that reflect and complement the shades and hues of the colder seasons. This stands in stark contrast with some of the more vibrant and flamboyant colours that have made appearances in the past few years.
Prima Donna's autumn and winter lingerie range, for example, demonstrates heavy influence from the Far East, invoking the muted eroticism of Memoirs of a Geisha through the use of sensual fabrics and gracious, submissive lines. This trend is carried through to Prima Donna's parent Marie Jo, whose season's fashions include light, floral embellishment which further intensifies a discrete sense of elegant desire.
The subtle grace of the geisha also materialises in Aubade's Asako range for this winter. Using the folds of pleated kimonos and fans as its exemplar, the design of this season's lingerie benefaction is soft, feminine, delicate and supremely comfortable, and we would expect little else from Aubade lingerie and its 100 year history. A fine flower motif is combined with Leavers lace to provide a satisfying visual impact and an intimate feel.
Lingerie Fashions with Roots Closer to Home
While, as we have just seen, there will be a heavy Japanese influence in the lingerie of 2007's winter and autumn season, the design of much of this season's lingerie fashions will evoke a sense of elegant grace, with patterning and embroidery becoming a little more precise and refined than the summer's designs, which were for the most part colourful, vibrant, bold and adventurous.
At the forefront of modest, stylish lingerie design is the British company Fantasie. If you want to understand this season's fashion lingerie design, then you need look no further than Fantasie's Autumn Winter 2007 collection. The floral patterns span the entire range, the classic colours evoke the woody, natural, earthy sentiments synonymous with autumn and winter, and the delicate lace exudes femininity.
This season's simple, floral lingerie designs have been transmitted across the Channel and are echoed in France, particularly in Elixir's winter range. However, there are differences and disparities between the Anglo- and Franco- lingerie fashion, the predominant one being in Elixir's balance between femininity and masculinity, replete with a defiant charm and deep, profound colours.
Fine Guipure
Look out for a revival this season of guipure lace. The delicate patterns of guipure lace are joined together by only a few threads and for Lejaby range will signify a look inspired by the 70's lingerie fashions, which were in turn inspired by the trends of the mysterious Baroque era.
Hold Your Colour…
It's not all autumnal colours and Japanese lines though; once again Freya strolls confidently into the fray with its range consisting of clashing colours, bold prints, delicate embroidery and floral prints, the former particularly obvious in its 'Retro' and 'Tigerlilly' lines. Freya describes 'Tigerlilly' as 'not for the faint hearted' and it's no exaggeration; this line grabs you comprehensively by the eyeballs and dares you to wear it…