If women no longer allowed to be simply beautiful and sexy, what then?

I was moved and inspired by a movie called ‘XXY’; The potential for this film to go very wrong was great. After all, hermaphroditism – more commonly referred to as intersexuality these days – is a subject that could easily end up being played for its ‘freak’ value. That XXY explores the issue carefully from the emotional viewpoint, without being exploitative makes it all the more remarkable when you consider that this is Lucía Puenzo’s directorial debut.

it makes me to think deeply about the relationship between femininity and power. So, if women no longer allowed to be simply beautiful and sexy, what then?


With this issue, I have looked at the history of women’s lingerie which point out: in 1960s, many believed the sexual bridges had been burned down for women, however of the 1990s, women want to be seductive and sexy once again but in a self-assured way. The woman has to have assimilated her femininity and dare to show it in a forceful way.

 I am going to find a new way for lingerie to celebrating women, to be both free and desirable, both liberated and powerful. Lingerie is not only about eroticism, it is a self-expression. 


 Women are no longer trying to please men or seek any confirmation of their beauty. I want to make women hold the looks and control themselves. We are strong, powerful and independent but still provocative.

My secondary inspiration comes from the basic shape of square and circle from modern architecture which I have started my initial idea to combine femininity with masculinity, mix the strong and modern structured silhouette with female curvy shape and these will be impacted on structured underwear.

 

 

The Power of Body

The body is a site in which cultural identities are ‘played out’ which often use in fashion. 

You don't need to give up all your power to keep a man

My show piece was on TIA fashion show

The catwalk show

Design on the runway-'Hermaphroditism' by Elf Zhou (My work was on the show)

Design on the runway- 'Skin of Nature' by Lydia Gardiner

Design Duo FelderFelder strike a pose at the TIA UK Final

Fancy lace world

'Junky Air' Catwalk show

Junky is an innovative design-led label. All garments are made from the highest quality second hand clothing, which is deconstructed, re-cut and completely transformed. The New Yorker described it as ‘an eccentrically chic line of mutant couture’. A focus and belief in individuality means that no two garments are ever exactly the same, a design concept which led Vogue to describe Junky as ‘high fashion street couture’.


                                                    

                                                                         Free Drinks

                                                          

                                                                Cool Place at Brick Lane

Lingerie working girl - French Vintage Teddy

A French Vintage Teddy I have made from last year with a high technique and limitless patience.

Although I am a modern avant-garde style girl , I do fancy this lovely, delicate piece and give me more idea about French lingerie.

The process of sample making

Hey, I am on News from ifyouplease

SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2011

Student Showcase: February

We're very pleased to announce the February winner of our Student Showcase, London College of Fashion's Yue Zhou (known to her friends as Elf). Yue Zhou is in her second year of uni studying BA Contour Design and has so far proved to have some exceptionally creative design ideas.

 

She has recently worked on a live project for The Triumph Inspiration Awards and is building her industry experience by taking a part-time internship for high-end lingerie label Bordelle. She would love to work with the head designer of a luxury lingerie brand but her true ambition is to set up her own label. 

The work, which Yue Zhou submitted for February's showcase, is an avant garde piece inspired by minimalism and futurism, drawing on modern art and architecture as a starting point for her designs. She targets the fashion forward with her chic and cheeky style and would define this piece as modern, feminine and seductive. The piece presents geometric shapes and minimal lines, made from luxurious fabrics and finished with delicate binding to frame each panel.  

 

When asked her opinion of modern lingerie design, she says:

  

"I believe that lingerie is not about eroticism, but about self-expression. My work combines both function and sexuality and makes the best of a woman's looks, whilst controlling the body."


As the winner of this months Student Showcase, Yue Zhou's work will be featured in our  February Newsletter and industry Press Release, as well as in lingerie trade magazines Lingerie Buyer, Lingerie Insight and on The Lingerie Blog. We wish her all the best for the future! 

view more pls click the link http://ifyoupleaselingerie.blogspot.com/2011/02/student-showcase-february.html

Triumph Celebrate 125 years of women with first catwalk show at London Fashion Week

22th Feb 2011
Our college students (London College of Fashion  Fashion Contour course) were invited by the Triumph to come and see their first catwalk show in London.


AW11 sees the introduction of Elegant Sensation, Pure Sensation, Alluring Sensation and Velvet Sensation.


Triumph has dedicated its 125 years of expertise in understanding women's curves, by combining innovative fabric technology with contemporary fashion styling, to create new levels of everyday shapewear sophistication.

Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011

“LE SALON INTERNATIONAL DE LA LINGERIE” .

The Salon featured hundreds of labels, divided into the sections
be essential/be lounging/be chic/be spicy/be men

from the big retailers to small indie brands, the spicy part was of course what I liked most.♡
The other part of the trade show is the Interfilière
where you find all the fabric and accessories distributors showing their upcoming collections.
It’s great to order samples or fabrics ” sur place” because some labels are really a pain in the a*
to get in contact with.
There was a catwalk show as well, showing of most classic stuff from the bigger brands
so pictures where absolutely forbidden.
I fell in Love with the models, they where just amazing and I wanted to put them in my handbag
altogether to make them walk for me in a few months,
but the lingerie was utterly boring.

But in the Salon there where many newcomer brands,
and I discovered some new loves I will share with you very soon ♡.

Show time

got lovely cute flowers from salon last day.