Behind the Divaurae Lens: A Men’s Boudoir Shoot in the Heart of Paris
In 1933, François Mitterrand, then editor-in-chief of L’Oréal-published magazine Vôtre Beauté and later to become President of France, wrote an uplifting editorial emphasizing women’s ‘patriotic duty’ to be beautiful, to inspire their men to rebuild France.
Now, over 90 years later, it’s men’s turn to uplift society and make it a more sophisticated, more aesthetically-pleasing and more inspiring place in which to live.
Since launching Divaurae in 2006, numerous female customers have asked if I’d be willing to make something similarly-luxurious for their partners. Elegance was, and still is, sorely lacking in the men’s underwear industry. My answer was Mensoul, a collection of pieces tailored for a male physique but crafted from the same fine fabrics as my women’s lingerie ranges.
But putting these products out into the world was just the first step. I want to fully liberate men’s elegance and make it seen! You’ve probably noticed that there aren’t too many men’s boudoir shoots about. That’s why we were just so excited and couldn’t say no when one of our customers suggested that we create that kind of imagery.
After a lengthy search, we arrived at our amazing new model Nick: a sportsman, tennis coach, golf instructor, and travel manager. Not only was his innate sophistication and confidence a great fit for our brand, but his wife is an excellent photographer who already knows her love’s moves well, so we enlisted them both to help create this latest Divaurae editorial shoot.
We picked out a location in Paris, choosing the bronze-gold lights of early June to showcase our vision of masculine elegance in the shadowy mystery of an apartment in the heart of the city. The vibe: a warrior not afraid to don the very finest of garments. A gladiator who fights back against norms and against the mundane!
A quiet French afternoon allowed for the graceful, delicate feeling we wanted capture from these clothes. But to be clear, the goal was to prove that this isn’t femininity; it’s elegance itself. A virtue available to men and women alike.
We were so excited to be a part of an intimate, playful couple’s boudoir shoot that I created a whole new array of custom products just for Nick. There were panties, a robe, a shirt… a relaxed ‘lingerie dress’ that really put the concept of masculine elegance to the test. As for the colors, I chose a palette of pink, red, black, white and ivory to gave the shoot a soft and romantic feel.
The Mensoul line has a carefully-chosen color palette to coordinate with our women’s collections, so that lovers can share a special moment together when they dress for the day ahead. The gem of this is the Arabian Nights panty in silky, turquoise-colored Italian lurex to match the women’s Seherezade collection. But in the future, there will be red silk too, as well as black and pink silks paired with a special Italian lace.
Another key style is the Chemistry Sheer men’s panty and boxer, designed to be light and airy summer wear. With no gusset and no front lining panel, they’re practical for hot weather and sultry too. Lightweight, transparent materials that sensually caress the body and make emotions go wild.
I was a little worried that when I unpacked my wares, Nick and his wife would get a huge shock. But no! I looked at their faces and saw only excitement and joy. We knew, in that moment, that we were going to create something truly wonderful together.
I was entirely swept up by the intimate and exhilarating atmosphere in the room, so much so that I could hardly even concentrate on taking a video on my phone. It was amazing to see this beautiful couple enjoy being together, living proof that life in Divaurae is even more beautiful when it’s shared together! Nick’s wife, my assistant and stylist for the day, knew just what they liked. I told her, “My dear, seize the moment. Let’s not just look at each other”… but for that story, and the strictly 18+ side of this photo shoot, you’ll need to head over to my Patreon page.
Like what you see and keen to get your hands on some Divaurae Mensoul of your own? Browse the standard made-to-order collection here, or contact me to place a bespoke order. The bespoke process is very collaborative and allows me to offer the same level of intimacy to my clients at a distance as we had with Nick and his wife, and we can have honest conversations about exactly what you’re looking for.
Not only can we customize colors to suit your taste, but you can choose whether you want the underwear to sit low at the front, ensuring good visibility, or high enough to provide full coverage even when setting up the tent! Other modifications are possible too, such as swapping a full-back panty shape for a thong instead.
Shopping at Divaurae offers the utmost privacy. However, if you’re not shy and want to show off your sophisticated style to the world, I am currently looking for another male model to represent the age 50+ demographic. Because elegance is a mindset, and can be obtained at any age! So please do drop into my inbox if this piques your interest.
In the meantime, I’ll be working on our next women’s boudoir shoot. Back in Paris, it’s being shot by leading fetish photographer Christophe Mourthé – who has captured the likes of Dita Von Teese through his lens – and will feature his glamorous angels Lily and Lory. Stay tuned for the big reveal.