Date: c. 2005-2010
Origin: United Kingdom
Fabric: Silk satin, stretch nylon mesh
Brand: Coco De Mer & N. De Samim
An open cup bra in silk and stretch mesh by Coco De Mer, styled with ouvert silk drawers by N. De Samim. Both garments are deliberately overtly erotic in design, revealing body parts that are considered particularly titillating in contemporary Western society (the nipples and bottom). The bra is created from a mix of black silk and sheer black mesh. The cups are created with double layers of mesh trimmed with elastic binding, leaving an opening at the centre. Silk covered foam cups provide lift to the bottom portion of the bust.
The open drawers are likely inspired by 19th century undergarments: what was considered modest then appears as scandalous and erotically charged to modern eyes. Created in black silk satin, the drawers are cut with an entirely open back, and fasten with a silk covered button at the back waist. The legs are trimmed with decadent silk ruffles.
Coco De Mer is an erotic London-based boutique founded in 2001 by Samantha Roddick. Alongside products from other luxury brands, Coco De Mer has released its own ranges of erotic lingerie and other erotic products. The brand and boutique was acquired in 2011 by adult online retailer Lovehoney, and later sold to its managing director Lucy Litwack in 2017. Coco De Mer has collaborated on lingerie collections with several world renowned brands and institutions, including Playboy and The Victoria & Albert Museum.
N De Samim was founded by Nona De Samim. Originally born in Tehran, she moved to the UK at the age of 9 and went on to study fashion illustration at the Epsom School of Design, later going on to complete a masters degree in design and marketing. Whilst working as a freelance stylist for Vogue, Nona began to design interior products such as screens and cushions: this love of creating immersive environments eventually led to lingerie, and she designed her first collection in 2006. Many of Nona’s designs were inspired by antiques, from the aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance to Parisian flea markets.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
