How would you style this bra?

[BeardySchnauzer]

Just looking at coco de mer collab with M&S and they have this bra. I think it looks really lovely and I am a fan of the colour - the notes say wear with a blazer or sheer shirt. Not sure… how would you style it? Or would you just wear it under a polo neck
https://www.marksandspencer.com/high-neck-lace-wired-plunge-bra/p/clp61228929#intid=pid_pg1pip28g2r14c1%7Cprodflag_Just%20Arrived

on a side note, it’s a bit creepy how none of the women have nipples? Or are the lace bras not sheer? I’m assuming they’ve airbrushed them out - particularly on the high neck red one

Disturbia is a alt/goth brand, aimed at people who like dark, gothic, horror-themed, edgy stuff.

I read an interview with the MD of coco de mer and she talked about a surgeon who wore sexy underwear under her scrubs when doing a tricky surgery. Because it made her feel powerful.

at the time I thought that it’s a bit sad that women see power in their sexiness and men see power in their strength

but I do kind of get it in a way - more the idea there’s another side of you people don’t see perhaps

Ive Seen people wear this style with an oversized black blazer almost a man’s blazer sometimes tied with a belt and jeans with heels. So you get just like a flash of it when you move, a ‘hint’ if you will.

It’s a great look to be fair, wouldn’t look good on me but some people of all ages pull it off.

Oh I see! Sorry.

at the time I thought that it’s a bit sad that women see power in their sexiness and men see power in their strength

I don't think it's as simple as that. Just because a woman feels power in sexiness, that doesn't mean she doesn't also feel power in strength - and just because a man feels power in strength, that doesn't mean he doesn't also feel power in sexiness. In fact, I'd say that a lot of the power men feel is in their ability to attract women, and a lot of their attention to 'strength' is actually part of that - physical strength and sexiness are very closely linked for men, so wanting to seem 'strong' is often very much about wanting to seem sexually attractive.

I also think there's a real tendency to disparage things that society considers 'feminine' as if feminity is somehow instrinsically less valuable then masculinity. So women get sneered at (frequently by other women, if Mumsnet is anything to go by) for liking clothes, makeup, skincare, lingerie or whatever because 'men don't bother with that stuff' and 'you're just pandering to men' - as if you can only be a feminist if you reject anything traditionally feminine and couldn't possibly enjoy makeup and lingerie for your own sake. Which is actually an oddly misogynist take.

Yes - it’s interesting really. I don’t like the whole empowerment thing around stripping etc as that feels very convenient for men but I can also see what the surgeon meant and the idea of feeling good in your own skin

agree that femininity isn’t the issue

Nah, they've been airbrushed out 😆

I was about to say that you must have been a bit of a saucy minx back in the day, @MyManinCaracas ...!!

And then I remembered that, in my early twenties, one of my favourite go-anywhere outfits was a semi-transparent voile sarong skirt, worn with a black lace bra top ... a bit like this one! 😳

Mmm. I wondered that. Perhaps they ran out of gold and diamonds.

Yes they hit the £50m pound spend and were like ‘nope - not a penny more’

As we all would, obvs.

I’ll be honest, it didn’t look very comfy

I know. And if anything, it’s been back in fashion for a while. It’s nothing new….

I actually don’t mind it, but I don’t think it works with the style of this particular bra.

Given they put the suggestions in the notes it’s a shame they didn’t put any in the photos as I can’t quite picture it with this bra

i do love the bra but sadly have no one to show it off to!!

Oh c'mon, mate. "Il faut souffrir pour être belle" and all that.

I might ‘style it’ with some nice pants at bedtime if I was hoping to get lucky. Seems quite unlikely though.

Yes, it comes & goes in various iterations every decade or so ...

I actually really love the current layering of simple transparent organza pieces over other shorter/smaller but opaque clothing. Similar to the New Look photo that @Notanotherrestructure posted above.

But I agree with you that this bra isn't the right style. One of the others in the range would be better if you're going down the lacy rather than plain underwear route.

I really liked the bras in the range, until I looked more closely & saw that they all have this detail, where the central wires stand vertically proud of & separate from the bra cups. It looks as if it would chafe!!

Wholeheartedly agree. On occasions when I’m spending the day holed up in a boardroom with all-male colleagues, I wear my very best undies and feel fantastic and very confident. Don’t know, or even think I want to know, the psychology behind it, but it works for me.

Yes they do look like they would stick in, especially if you have larger boobs - which is probably why they don’t show that!

having had a look at coco de mer’s offering a lot of these seem to be pretty identical so I assume they are their signature pieces

I like that bra, and would wear it with a silk or semi sheer blouse with top buttons undone so it ever so slightly peeks out, however, agree the wire ends do look uncomfortable.

Funnily enough, for public speaking/presentations/giving evidence etc I always liked to have a matching set of lovely underwear below my outfit. Never a tiny thong or bralette though - I liked to feel secure & well-armoured! Ditto make-up - & perfume for some reason ...?

Aubade or Chantelle were my favourites. Don't need to present in front of a sea of men in grey suits these days, so it's now rather ordinary M&S black bras & pants on a daily basis ...

Have a look at Thistle and Spire on Instagram for ideas, it's a brand with a similar look.
If never fit into that bra (30H here), but it's stunning.

Used to be that bras were worn with a single breasted blazer with just a hint of the bra showing for clubbing etc. I think this could look lovely with a blazer as there is enough coverage at the front. My only concern would be if you got too hot. I wouldn't want to just be then wearing the bra. Probably look best on a smaller size breast. Beautiful underwear.

Think that advertising rules say that nipples can't be shown as I've seen black x's put over nipples on certain types of underwear on lingerie websites.

I think the answer to this is the same answer to most of the high fashion items. If you are very slim with a small bust most of these tops look elegant and wearable. If you are large of bust it’s an entirely different aesthetic.

What about with black off the shoulder sweater? No need for jewellery with the fancy lace and colour.