Cervin Stockings

images courtesy of Cervin

As we prepare for the arrival of Cervin stockings here at Faire Frou Frou we wanted to make mention of their handsome website and their blog which is dedicated entirely to beautiful hosiery. You might be surprised to see how often stockings show up in editorial, but it really appears to be the accessory of choice these days.
Cervin is a French company that creates hundreds of varieties of hosiery, and really has a great niche market with their back-seam thigh highs/stockings. Often times well-known lingerie labels (for instance Fifi Chachnil) will have Cervin create their private label hosiery collection. It's pretty easy to see why.
To learn more about Cervin check out their website, and for those stockings addicts out there (which we are discovering there's quite a few of you!), check out their blog too!

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Maria La Rosa Socks & Thigh Highs

images via here. Vogue China, May 2010. Natalia Vodianova by Paolo Roversi, Styled by Nicoletta Santoro

We've never posted about socks before, despite the fact that they fall into the hosiery (and therefore lingerie) category, but after seeing these images from Vogue China we felt the time has come! Look how beautiful the hosiery is in each picture. It adds just the right amount of texture and it's a layer that simply completes the ensemble. The lilac striped stockings are our favorite....it's sexy yet works incredibly well for a daytime look.
You really need the right style & attitude to pull off this look...just imaging ourselves in knee socks and high heels simply conjures a comical vision. But for those leggy Natalia Vodianova types, it is quite a fashion statement.
In most, if not all of the images, Vodianova is wearing socks/hosiery by Italian accessories designer Maria La Rosa.

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Stockings As You Have Never Seen Them

Philippe Matignon stockings over Miu Miu heels (shown in every picture)

Dolce & Gabbana bra (worn inside out) with Givenchy skirt

Sonia Rykiel dress, Dolce & Gabbana bra (the same bra in each pic)

pleated leather Balenciaga skirt

Miu Miu top & heels

pleated dress (worn as a skirt) by Versace

Prada dress

Burberry Prorsum silk top

Chanel dress, Dolce & Gabbana bra

embroidered floral Dolce & Gabbana corset worn over a Chloe dress
images via AnOther magazine. Photographer: Paolo Roversi, Model: Guinevere van Seenus, styled by Olivier Rizzo

These beautiful photographs by Paolo Roversi (who we have a tendency to stalk) showcase something quite new to us; a pair of customized stockings by Philippe Matignon worn in a very unusual or 'modern' way! The stockings and the undies are both designed by Matignon, with many of the pictures showing the stockings worn over the skirts and dresses as well as over the shoes! We love it! Now this is truly underwear as outerwear at its most fashion-forward.
We actually own a pair of Spanx tights that can be worn over the heel of your shoes, but it doesn't come close to being as chic as this! Stylist Olivier Rizzo did an amazing job putting the look together for these images.

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Time for Stockings!

images via Phil Poynter

Now that Fall is here, and October has begun, it's seriously time to start thinking about what stockings you will be wearing. After seeing these darling pictures by Phil Poynter, we want to wear nothing but stockings with every outfit! The shoes, the colors, the textures...breathtaking, and so ladylike!

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Stockings; as Interpreted by Katja Mayer

images courtesy of Katja Mayer, copyright 2009

The one common denominator in all of these photos is the standout stockings and hosiery. Photographer Katja Mayer has captured several models wearing decorative thigh highs, perhaps while each was practicing their stretches! Our favorite is the purple pair in the first picture, and of course we always love the vintage-looking seamed stockings. What's interesting is that stockings are such a simple item that make such a dramatic impact, particularly when it comes to fashion photography.
To see more of Katja's moody (in a good way), yet stricking work, visit her site.

What Better Way to Show Off Those Legs...

We are proud to introduce our latest line at Faire Frou Frou - FALKE hosiery! FALKE is a German company that has been producing fine hosiery since 1895 (and has since been run by 4 generations of the same family), and prides itself on its innovative designs and high quality products.

We have brought 8 new styles into our boutique, in an effort to find something classic, refined and high-fashion. Our favorite style is the Pure Matt 20 stockings (shown below as a Stay Up) - just a simple satin band around the thigh, and a matte transparent leg. This style works well because it doesn't compete with the lace/style of the garters and panties it is being matched with. Sometimes the simplest stockings are the best; they make a heck of an impact without overshadowing the lingerie.
As far as your legs go, the FALKE marketing campaign says: It's "FALKE or nothing".

the Falke Pure Matt 20 Stay Ups

Look Slim, Look Stylish

About a month ago we introduced Spanx to our boutique - women, both curvy and not so curvy, were wanting them. Now that we have them, we can't understand how we went so long without them!
Of course we all know about the control top panties and bodysuits, but we wanted to focus this post on their hosiery. The style we're most excited about is the new "Under the Heel" tights. These tights are too darn cute - you can wear them under your heel (as shown), or simply at your ankle like a pair of leggings. We love having the option - though we are loving the under the heel look most. Of course these tights wouldn't be Spanx without the figure-slimming tummy & rear support.
Another Fall favorite are the patterned tights, again with the "tight-end" support. We brought in the chevron pattern tights in black - we can't wait until the weather cools down so that we can wear them! It's refreshing to see a product that is just as stylish as it is functional. And speaking of functional, check out the multi-function Reversible Tights. We don't know if this is a new concept or not, but these tights are black on one side and either brown, navy or gray on the other - genius!
Do your legs (and tummy & bottom!) a favor and buy them a stylish pair of Spanx today!
And just a little insider scoop for you...Spanx is launching its new "Haute Contour" line in early 2009. Basically it's the Spanx technology and shapes with much prettier silhouettes that are worthy of showing (ie: a little lace or satin trim, feminine details). We will tell you more about these items when they hit stores in January 2009.

A Brief Lesson in Hosiery

Whenever someone wants to spice up their lingerie ensemble, they typically end up adding hosiery to up the ante! We just wanted to provide a few basic concepts regarding hosiery, in order to make your purchasing decisions a bit easier.

Basically (and for purposes of this post we'll keep it brief), hosiery can be divided into a few different categories: tights, pantyhose, stockings, and thigh highs (no need to discuss socks here).

We will start with what we consider the sexiest: stockings. Stockings require a garter belt to keep them up on your leg. For those of you wishing to create a vintage look, this is the best way to go. More often than not, stockings are made from nylon rather than silk - this is due to the innovation at Dupont back in 1937. One of our best-selling stockings are those with the black seam along the back, which are very retro-inspired. See images below for example:

Photos below all via Wolford

The next category is the Thigh High (also known as Stay Ups). The thigh high is basically a stocking that can stay up without a garter belt because of the silicone strips around the top of the leg. See image below for an example.

Of course there are Pantyhose, which are nylons that extend up around your waist. Most of you have some experience wearing these! Pantyhose aren't just for the office anymore - they are a great way to accessorize. There are so many tasteful patterns out there that can really glamorize an outfit!

And lastly, there are Tights...good old tights. These are typically opaque and have a heavier consistency than pantyhose (which is why we all wore these to school on cold days when we were young girls). Tights can come in a variety of materials such as cotton and merino wool and have textures such as cable knit and ribbed (we wore the ribbed style back in the early 90s...in red...yikes!). Tights can be incredibly sexy, and we believe everyone should at least own a black pair to wear with high heels or boots. We just added some new hosiery styles to our store - check them out!