'O. Wilde' Lingerie

 Oscar Wilde has a quote for most things. 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars', 'Be yourself - Everyone else is taken' and 'Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go' are some of his. These two designs aren't inspired by his quotes, but by two short stories which he wrote for children. The left design is inspired by his story The Happy Prince and the right hand design is inspired by The Young King. My copy of them is part of a collection of stories called 'Oscar Wilde Stories for Children'  but I did come across a book in a bookshop recently called 'The Quotable Oscar Wilde' which was hardly bigger than a matchbox, but had one of his short stories in it, along with numerous quotes.

Detail of the Roses and Lilies Bra

Detail of the Swallows and Teardrops Bra

If you haven't read the stories, the left hand design features swallows and teardrops, and the right hand design features lilies and roses. The swallow bra design was intended to be made out of cotton, with the swallows printed on and the tear drops embroidered. On the briefs (I haven't used the word pants for the benefit of any American readers.) the teardrop edging is intended to be embroidered, with the rest of the design to be printed on.
With the roses design, the bra and briefs are intended to be made from satiny material, with gathers in the middle, as on the drawing. The lilies and roses are embroidered.

Pattern used on the Swallow and Teardrop Briefs

Both of the bras were designs as non-underwired bras. I have been mildly despairing for a long time over the lack of decorative non-underwired bras available. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places? But as far as I can see I shouldn't have to sacrifice beauty for comfort (I don't wear underwired bras, I just don't find them comfortable.) So both of these were intended as decorative non-underwired bra designs. I've now finished my little rant on the subject, but if anyone reading this is feeling particularly entrepreneurial, I think there may be a gap in the bra market, which I would really like to be filled in.

Detail similar to that used on the Roses and Lilies Briefs (The lilies have been turned pink in this image so that they are visible against the white background.)

Thank you for reading this, it is part of my 'Designs inspired by Literature' Project. For more designs, check back here next week. 

 Swallow  and Rose motifs, lingerie images, and design © Bronzedale Designs