Every femme fatale knows that the perfect outfit begins with underwear. Fantastic, well-fitting lingerie can support and compliment your figure and give you something of a sex-bomb self-esteem boost, even if you’re the only one who knows you’re wearing it!

Greying elastic and saggy cotton just won’t cut it, and with the growing trend for underwear-as-outwear, stylish smalls are anything but unmentionable. We run through some of the more exciting, innovative and unusual lingerie and bodywear around.

Strappy

Peeking out across necklines, backs and waists, decorative strapping teases flesh and gives a hint of kink. Nichole de Carle is known for this look, teaming webbed briefs and chest braces over shirts and dresses.

For something a little darker, Karolina Laskowska’s pentagram playsuit draws the symbol across naked backs, which would look perfect underneath a more conservative low-backed dress. Bordelle are masters of the bondage-beauty look, covering their designs in flexible straps that stretch over curves in a seductive manner.

Harnesses

Out of the dungeon and into the boudoir, harnesses have been a staple catwalk trend in the past year.

Ranging from more sturdy buckled leather pieces to more flexible and feminine rope and ribbon creations, harnesses can be used to accessorise a lingerie-look, or over the top of other outfits.

Stylenoir favourites Fleet Ilya and Zana Bayne are big-names in leatherwear. For a more unique and dramatic look, Mint Siren’s skirt and thigh harnesses are sure to attract attention.

Legs

Tired of mock-suspender tights? Swan Clothing make fantastic garters that give a slightly masculine, uniform-esque feel to pretty socks. They come in sizes to fit calves or thighs and definitely give a bit of a unique twist to an outfit.

If you prefer the real-thing, Kiss Me Deadly excel on multi-strap suspender belts and longline girdles that nip waists and give a touch of classic glamour.

Other eye-catching legwear comes from French designers Les Queues de Sardines. Their bold, bizarre and often quite surreal designs (which include bears, arrows and amputated limbs) are colourful really like nothing else around.

Waists

A good corset is a wardrobe staple, providing shapewear and support under an outfit or playing the main attraction, clinching in waists, accentuating curves and turning heads a-plenty.

Sian Hoffman‘s covetable corsetery gives wearers a dramatic and elegant shape. Expert in tight-lacing, her sensual and feminine pieces have an air of the exclusive about them and are some of the best around.

Other favourites are Twilight Siren‘s cut-out cage-design corsets.

Meet Ally Richards

Ally Richards has written 12 articles for Noir.

Ally writes and takes photos. She loves glitter, robots and dressing for the dystopia.

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