At the recent ‘Don’t Walk’ fashion show held at St Andrews University in Scotland, Boudiche got to show off some of their Spring/Summer 2009 collections of designer lingerie.
The following photographs are reproduced with kind permission from Nicola at Kayhan Photography.
Model wearing Miss Lala Presents Cameo
Due to the delicate fabrics in fine lingerie, it is not designed to be machine washed, tumble tried, or last for years and years with endless wear. A guide time for the life of a bra, is six months assuming regular wear. It is continually providing support and shape, and to enable it to do this comfortably an element of ‘give’ or stretch is built into the bra. Eventually, with continual wear and washing, this stretch will start to give. You will notice the support around the back looses tension, and the shape may be not what it once was. By this time if you have bought well, your bra should have served you well up until this day when it has to go to the bra graveyard. And be replaced with a gorgeous, new bra. What better excuse to go and treat yourself…
Never machine wash lingerie. If you machine wash a bra, you risk overheating the underwire, which then expands with the heat and can result in the wire poking out, either getting into your washing machine and breaking it, or poking through while you are wearing it. Ouch! Here’s a more detailed explanation… Underwires in bras have small moulded plastic caps on the ends of them, that smooth off the rough wire edge, and provide a smooth end to the wire preventing it from ‘poking’ through the pocket that it is cased in.
Machine washing can cause this plastic moulded ‘tip’ to overheat and melt off – exposing the raw edged wire. Heating the wire in a washing machine can also cause the whole wire to expand, as it’s metal and when you heat metal it expands. So, combine melting off the plastic cover on the end of the wire, with expanding the wire as it is overheated in a washing machine, and you have a good risk of a metal wire finding it’s way out of your bra and either into your washing machine filter (many a cause of a broken washing machine). Or sticking out into the side of your boobs the next time you wear it.
Don’t use a harsh washing liquid or powder, not only is it harsh on your hands, but imagine what it’s doing to your silk and lace undies.
Do invest in a special delicates or lingerie wash. The one I use and love is The Laundress. It’s more expensive than supermarket delicate wash brands, but it’s super concerntrated, and leaves your lingerie and your hands clean but still soft. It’s phosphate free, non toxic, and doesn’t use the harsh chemials that big brand mainstream supermarket laundry brands use.
Always check the washing label of garments, to make sure if it specifies cold water, or even dry clean only! But for most hand wash lingerie:
Fill a small bowl of hand warm water, and add your delicates wash. The Laundress is great for this but you only need a small squirt. Add your underwear to the bowl, ensuring not to mix colours. If you have whites, do these first and don’t add any coloured bras or knickers in until the whites are safely out the way. Gently lather up, and leave to soak for a short while.
Give another squeeze through, and drain the water, and rinse with cold water. If you are using a good quality delicates wash such as The Laundress, you shouldn’t need fabric conditioner. However if you prefer to use fabric conditioner rinse again and add a small amount to the water, ensuring it’s not put directly onto the underwear fabric.
Hang up to dry away from direct heat, don’t leave on a radiator or in front of a fire. Hang on an airer, or over the batch or in the shower, ensuring that you don’t mix colours when the lingerie is still damp. If any of your lingerie is two tone, i.e. black on white or ivory, spread the knickers or bra out ensuring that the black is not touching the lighter areas, I’ve ruined an £80 pair of knickers this way before and it broke my heart.
Don’t dry over a carpet, ideally a wooden or tiled floor, as you won’t have spun it in a machine it’s likely to still drip however much you squeeze it out. Here’s the trick, keep an old towel and place it under the airer, to catch the drips. If you’ve done alot of hand washing at once and lots of water, you may even need 2 towels. Make sure you pick up the towel as soon as the washing has stopped dripping so it doesn’t mark the floor, or replace the first towel with another dry one after the first couple of hours.
Once you have mastered the art of hand washing your lingerie, check back to our Boudiche Blog soon for our guide to organising your underwear drawer.
We’ve got some great new items from luxury British travel and accessory designer, Holistic Silk. All of their items are designed to help alleviate stress and induce a sense of calm.
Firstly, a gorgeous range of eyemasks are available, to give you the perfect sleep by blocking out the light and scenting the air with unique aromas including lavender, jade and rose blossom. They are currently priced at only £65.
This has been critically acclaimed by the press…
For the perfect at home sleep treatment a lavender eye mask from Holistic Silk is a must-have. Apparently loved by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Isabella Rossellini, this mask is becoming something of a cult classic, perfect for blocking light and inducing relaxation with its lavender aroma. With velvet ties and a beautiful silk exterior, it’s a treat that will last you for years. Sunday Herald, January 2009
Drift away and soothe pregnancy stresses with our perfect solutions – Eye mask with lavender, Holistic Silk. Pregnancy and Birth, September 2008
At Boudiche, we also stock the Holistic Silk magnetic slippers (£65), beautifully made to aid circulation and give a soothing foot massage.
The celebrities’ favourite! Holistic Silk Slippers, decadent, beautifully fitted, totally flexible brocade slippers with removable massaging & magnetic insoles. Designed to give you a soothing foot massage, aid circulation & general well being. Perfect for home, in-flight or office serenity. Wear your flexible water proof soled holistic slippers for approximately 3-4 hours a day with insoles or continually on a flight. Beauty Icon
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