Introducing Lorena: Linda Miller on Crafting the Perfect Girdle
It’s here; Lorena, the latest Divaurae lingerie collection and a true passion project for chief designer Linda Miller, has finally launched! To celebrate its arrival, Linda spoke with lingerie industry journalist Estelle Puleston about what inspired this sensual, naughty-but-nice collection and what makes it so very special.
Estelle: So, you mentioned to me earlier that this was a very ‘difficult’ collection. What did you mean by that?
Linda: You could say that I’ve been working on this collection for 10-15 years. I had the general idea for it in my head, but it was hard to pin down the exact silhouette. The whole collection is based around the French girdle styles of the 1960s and my work began with a lot of vintage lingerie catalogue collecting, to find the most beautiful girdle line. Then, I had to come up with a way to put a unique Linda Miller spin on it.
Estelle: And what would you say makes this Lorena girdle silhouette different?
Linda: In those old catalogues, I saw a lot of the same thing. The major underwear manufacturers of the era each had typical style lines that they’d stick to, so I didn’t want to use those as a basis for my own design. I didn’t want to copy. I also didn’t want it to read as super ‘retro’. My goal really was to revive the girdle and bring it into the twenty-first century; I wanted something that would look chic and stylish in the new age, and meet modern expectations regarding design and fit.
And naturally, it had to fit in with the essence of Divaurae. Not too ordinary, but not too overtly sexy either. I always aim for an elegant kind of eroticism.
What really makes the Lorena girdle great however is the removable crocodile-clip suspenders, which allow you wear it to hold up your stockings or just as a lingerie miniskirt, either under clothing or to look good at home
Estelle: The matching bras in the collection are gorgeous too. I love that there’s one with silk on the bottom and lace on top, and another option where those fabrics are reversed.
Linda: Both of which slightly veil the nipple, but slightly reveal it too!
This bullet bra shape was a trademark of America’s sex symbols of the 1950s. I chose this style because the vintage-inspired shape would complement the girdle, but also because it would complement the woman’s figure – any woman’s figure. Do you remember there was a mid-century period when this style of bra was revolutionary because implants hadn’t been invented yet and modern moulded bras also weren’t a thing, so this bra provided a spectacular solution to accentuating one’s breasts? It’s still that spectacular solution today.
Estelle: My personal favourite piece in the Lorena collection simply has to be the dress, though. It’s so unique. Tell me about the inspiration behind that and the other styles that round out the range.
Linda: The Lorena lingerie dress is made only for the most romantic and intimate moments with your partner. Just think – you can be fully ‘covered’ and yet fully on show. It’s very sensual.
Of course, I also had to include panties in the collection so that you could complete your Lorena look. I settled on a shape with a narrow back, ruched up the centre, to really flaunt and emphasize the curves. As always though, bespoke options are available, for example if you’d prefer a thong.
Estelle: As a designer who’s very inspired by muses, how do you envision Lorena being worn? And more importantly, who’s wearing it?
Linda: When I think of elegance combined with a touch of intentional flirtatiousness, I picture an Italian woman, her blood invigorated by the hot Mediterranean sea air, walking in the most natural way around her home and in front of her lover while dressed only in her lingerie. That’s the kind of innate confidence I want customers to feel when wearing Lorena.
But Lorena isn’t just for one kind of woman. It’s a collection for older ladies who understand its vintage charm, and also for busy younger women who have little time to create a lingerie boudoir and want a look that can do it all: play wear, casual wear, and business wear. Can you picture styling the lingerie dress under a pencil skirt and cardigan for the office?!
Estelle: So, if someone is new to the world of luxury lingerie, Lorena is a good place to begin their collection?
Linda: Definitely. It’s versatile, but it’s also undoubtedly one of the most exclusive ranges in the Divaurae collection. And when you’re ready to add a second set, it harmonises beautifully with other pieces such as the Noire range.
Whether you’re buying your first luxury lingerie set or your hundredth, I hope Lorena can be the new sparkle in your collection.
You can shop Lorena here, or click here to read the story behind the Lorena photo shoot in Paris.