How to Wear Socks with Heels or Boots

Today we were please to see that our piece on wearing socks with heels or boots came out in the Comox Valley Record. But, in case you missed it, here are our tips:

Whether wearing pumps, spikes or platforms, some women think the only options underneath are to go with pantyhose or with nothing at all, but fashionistas tell us differently. Now it’s perfectly acceptable to show off socks as cute accessories under boots or heels.

The secret to socks and heels is getting the right socks paired with the right heels. Think texture. Find socks and shoes that have different colours and textures – you never want to be matchy-matchy. If you have a solid black shoe, try a hot pink, striped sock. If you have patterned shoes then try a solid, dark-coloured sock. And don’t forget, those socks have to be thin as it never looks good if your socks bulge out the top of your shoes.

Socks and boots are another hot trend. Some women have always enjoyed this look but it’s recently become a fashion phenomenon. And best of all, this is a look where fashion meets function. A long sock under a boot keeps you warm and dry and looks stylish too.

To pair boots with socks think about length and style. Of course, you have to invest in socks that will hit above the height of your boot. This might mean mid-calf socks for ankle boots or knee-high or even thigh-high socks for taller boots. Some socks can be slouched for a more relaxed look while others must be pulled tight to look put-together. And keep in mind, ankle-high boots tend to cut legs off and make you look shorter, so adding a short slouchy sock on top of that might add weight where you don’t want it.

To find a stylish combination think complimentary and not matching. If you have a fun, patterned sock, pair it with a simple boot without a high heel like a riding boot. If you have a smooth, simple sock feel free to pair it with adorned and heeled boots. And don’t forget fun socks with those wellies for the rainy days.

In all, consider socks a fashion accessory just like any other. Invest in colours, styles and patterns to create either a fun and flirty look or a pulled-together, sophisticated and sexy air.

Lingerie Trends in 2012 (Part 2/2)

(part one)

Structure Makes Your Current Closet Work 

You’ll be finding more structured pieces next season. These pieces will make the what’s already in your closet even better by providing you with a great foundation.

A keyword this season is “couture” as body-hugging designs look like they were made just for you. The classics will be meticulously reinvented and adorned with humor and surprise.

Loungewear Making a Comeback 

And in opposition to constricting structure, loungewear is making a comeback with housecoats becoming a new, multi-functional, must-have piece. Bi-stretch and easy comfort pieces make lounging particularly decadent.

Glamour Hosiery Trends 

The four key themes of hosiery in 2012 include words like, “diva,” “naturalle,” “sheer delight” and “rebel.” These looks include full-on glam with retro themes as well as looks that take advantage of the latest in fabric technology. Seaming, micro-mesh, fencenet and seductive patterning all exemplify these styles.

And look for all of these trends and more to be featured at the Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris at the end of the month. For more information you can check out http://www.lingerie-paris.com/http://www.lingerie-paris.com/.

Lingerie Trends in 2012 (Part 1/2)

Lingerie is subject to trends as much as any other fashion. This is why, at Secret Drawers Lingerie, we bring in pieces all year long that reflect the very latest trends in silks, lace, colour and print. And this year you can expect to see spirit-lifting colours and prints to fight the feelings around the current economic climate. Nothing is too matchy-matchy this season with an emphasis on being artistic and original.

Spring is About Colour

This spring is going to be all about colour: violet, chartreuse, scarlet red, azure, cognac, indigo and beetroot. These colours will be seen in naturalist looks that celebrate upcylcing, pastoral eccentricities and plant life. The broadest sense of nature is in mind as the source of lasting creative energy and well-being. Fine embroideries and backstitching are seen on these often thin-stretch, layered looks.

Amongst these strong fashion statements lay the palest of pastels like whipped cream, cappuccino and icicle to freshen the palette. Prints may be oversized as in large rose blooms or miniature as is tiny rose buds covering a pair of panties. Prints can be seen in a traveller’s palette including tribal, primitive and blanket prints. You’ll also notice Mediterranean and Spanish influences throughout.

In part two learn about trends for structured pieces, loungewear and hosiery.

New Year's Eve; New Year's Dress

Lingerie serves two purposes:

1. To make you look great in your clothes
2. To make you look great out of your clothes

And never is this more true than for New Year's Eve.

One of the brilliant things about New Year's Eve is that everyone gets to dress in their finest. That's the slinky black number you've been saving all year or the glittering gown with the plunging neckline.

And when you go that glamorous, underthings really matter.

Learn all about what kind of underwear you'll be needing for the holidays and New Year's Eve in our Valley Living Supplement.

Open publication - Free publishing - More beauty

Breast Health - Fashion and Function

We are pleased to have an article featured in this week's Valley Living section of the Comox Valley Record. You'll find our article, Breast Health - Fashion and Function on page five.

Here's an excerpt: 

Health matters. We think about it every time we pop an apple into our children's lunchbox, but our own is just as important. And now that the kids are going back to school we can get back to our own healthy routines at the gym, tennis court, golf course or hiking trail.

But as we go about our healthy activities, it's important to remember another area of our health too: The health of our breasts...

Read the whole article to learn about how breast health is connected to your lingerie.

Make Room for Lingerie that Loves You Back

We are pleased to have an article featured in this week's Valley Living section of the Comox Valley Record. You'll find our article, Make Room for Lingerie that Loves You Back on page eight.

An excerpt from the article:

In Feng Shui the closet represents secrets: the Manolo Blahnik fetish you’re hiding; the coat you paid way-too-much for and never wore; the muff made of real fur, even though you tell everyone it’s faux. And nowhere are there more secrets than in an underwear drawer.

We women do love to keep secrets. The two sanctuaries are the purse and the underwear drawer. No one dare go into either without an engraved invitation. Why all the secrecy around the skivvies? Well, it’s hard to say exactly, but in general, we don’t want people to know we’re living in the past...

Read the article to learn the three cardinal sins of the underwear drawer and how fixing them can make you look and feel more beautiful.

To the Groom: Get Naked

We know every man looks good in a well-tailored tux, and the flower in the groom’s lapel matches the bouquet perfectly. It is disappointing though, to see his undergarments chosen with so little thought. Men can look great and be comfortable both in, and out of, their wedding duds.

Men’s underwear design has come a long way since bulky, white cotton and generic elastic. A popular choice of modern materials is now microfiber, with Italian microfiber being of the highest quality. Microfiber hugs the body – no bunches under that tux – and is completely breathable for air circulation on the skin. Look for seamless designs with good stretch that feel like wearing nothing at all.

What to Get?

Briefs aren’t the only option in terms of style. Another popular choice is the boxer brief which is more modern than either the boxer or the brief. A boxer brief has the same waistline as a brief but with added coverage on the hip. A quality product will lay flat on the skin and not ride up. Also available are waistband-free designs for a smooth look and added comfort at the waist.

Get Naked

A long list of attributes to looks for, to be sure, but one company out of Vancouver has gotten it all right: Naked Boxer Brief Clothing. Joel Primus, a filmmaker and model, was inspired to create this new line of men’s underwear after a visit to South America.

After a year of product development, including sourcing of Italian microfiber not then seen in Canada, Naked was born. Sleek and stylish, these underwear are designed to make men feel, well, naked. The Naked brief, or boxer brief, are comfortable everyday wear, but as they come in black or white, they fit the style of a wedding tux perfectly.

Naked underwear can be found at Secret Drawers Lingerie on 5th street in downtown Courtenay. Be sure to get Naked on your wedding night.