Bordelle

I recently came across this fabulous lingerie line, Bordelle, and I cannot stop looking at it. It is nothing like anything I've ever seen. It is provocative and sexy and different. I emailed the designer, Alexandra Popa, who was kind enough to write back to me and send some pictures from the AW09 lookbook.

Alexandra originally received her college degrees in economics (just like me!), but after a short run with investment banking, she found it wasn't for her. Another stint with a ready-to-wear line left her desiring something slightly different. She turned to designing luxurious lingerie and that is how Bordelle was born. She founded the company in the summer of 2007 and is based out of London.




Bordelle's collections purposely deviate from the traditional flowery prettiness of lingerie in favor of a "more structured and harder" look. The signature color palette is composed of black and cream with bold accents like orange and cinnamon. I tend to not like typical lacy and girly lingerie, so I love that this line has more weight to the fabric and more interesting construction. However, the collection remains decidedly feminine, with a strong edge to it.

The fabrics for the AW09 collection include couture French satin, custom elastic bandages, natural feathers, patent leather, and PVC. Alexandra sadi that she was also inspired by the structure and symmetry of Bauhaus architecture.

Bordelle has drawn lots of attention from celebrity clients. It began with Britney Spears placing a large order for herself and dancers on her Circus tour, then Girls Aloud followed. Pixie Geldof will also be featured wearing Bordelle in the next issue of UK Vogu. Recently, Lady Gaga and Rhianna have become fans of the lingerie line as well.

The online members-only shop, Atelier Bordelle, will be launching today and should be up and running by tomorrow. Adding a personal touch to the experience, registered clients can not only purchase garments from the collection, but also made to order pieces and even sold out items. Registration will remain open until the end of July, after which membership will only be available by invitation from an existing member. Visit the website to register before it closes.

For more information on Bordelle and how to purchase it, please visit http://www.bordelle.co.uk/

Many thanks to the lovely Alexandra Popa for the information and pictures.