Knickers in a Twist

Miss Crofton 

Unapologetically girlish but crafted with a womanly sophistication, London-based designer Georgia Campbell dreamt up Miss Crofton in her South London bedroom. Detaching itself from the tackier lingerie approaches, Miss Crofton pieces are designed with a romantic spirit, attending to a softer and feminine side of sexuality. Chiffon, bows, ruffles and broderie, Miss Crofton is all about a delicate decadence, one that fully embraces the sensuality of traditional lingerie, but without any of the restrictive elements (think fiddly corsets and pinching suspender belts, ouch)  Coquettish bloomers, embellished with satin bows and a custard tulle bra lean into the brand’s more Marie Antoinette aesthetics, while the teeny, tiny glitter set and a pair of cotton knickers with a heart-shaped cutout on the front are a tasteful nod to unbridled sexiness. 

Ajuar 

Unconventionally sexy and alluringly weird, Barcelona-based underwear brand, Ajuar blends visual art with intimate style. While ketchup, sushi and cars might not evoke the sexiest images (but of course, different strokes for different folks!) Ajuar seeks to find the beauty of daily life and preserve it as little offerings of wearable art, pieces you can keep close to your heart and your err…you get the point. For Ajuar, a sense of humour is just as sexy as a satin bustier and a pair of stockings. Adjustable thongs become the canvas for photos of vintage cars or plates of food, our personal favourite is the printed mesh thong, featuring an image of fresh oysters and a wedge of lemon, they are an aphrodisiac after all! 

This Belongs To…

Cool girl favourite and London-based brand, This Belongs To is the epitome of lingerie by women for women. Founded by Alia Mehta, the designer gets inspired by her British-Indian heritage, fusing the vibrant colour palettes of the East and cowboy references from the West. The knickers are frilly and feature embroidered emblems, crafted in either 100% cotton or silk (imagine the comfort!) and each pair features a sweet ‘This Belongs To’ label on the back so you can scribble your name and stake your claim. They’ve even launched a personalisation service so you can get your name (or your lover’s) embroidered on the front. While much of lingerie has been pitched as being for someone else, the observer, the man, anyone but the wearer, This Belongs To re-centres the wearer and places them at the heart of their stylistic motivations. Operating with this in mind, combined with a fun and nostalgic approach to lingerie design, it’s no wonder This Belongs To remains a fave brand amongst the girls. 

The Holy Thongs 

What better way to experience catholic guilt than in a pair of sinfully, sexy underwear? The Holy Thongs, founded and designed by Cecilia Micchi combines all the aesthetic trimmings of Catholicism, with rosary beads and bejewelled crucifixes, but sheds the more… ahem, modest elements of organised religion. Offering customisations and specialising in thongs and jockstraps, the Holy Thongs tows the line between lingerie and jewellery, think the slightly trashy whale tail trend of the early 2000s, but tastefully elevated with gems and beading poking out the top of jeans. Crafted with ruby red mesh and deep emerald velvet, they’re decadent, they’re devilish and just think, you can always repent later. 

Isosceles 

Founded in 2014 by designer Cicely Travers, lingerie brand Isosceles is theatrical and beautiful. Growing up, Cicely’s mother made leotards for dancers at the Royal Ballet School and leafing through her eclectic underwear anthology, it’s clear to see the dainty balletic accenting. Moving from London to Rome, hints of Comedia Del’Arte reverberate across Cicley’s whimsical designs. Harlequin bodysuits, jester-like pointed bras and high-waisted knickers crafted with diamond-shaped fabric swatches meticulously stitched together play into the intimate theatre that is Isosceles. Pinching inspiration from delicate pasta shapes, Cicely designed the Farfalle (or ‘little bows’ in Italian) set. Bright yellow tulle, the colour of freshly made pasta and a bow-like silhouette add a wholly desirable dimension to pasta.