Archives for: August 2009
The Gentry de Paris Review
31/08/09 08:03 , Categories: Corset, Event , Tags: corset, dita von teese, millicent binks, the gentry de paris, warren speed, what katie did
Over the last couple of months I've been avidly following the developments of The Gentry de Paris Review. Not just any Review, but a Grand Review being staged at the Casino de Paris, one of Paris' legendary music hall venues with a history dating back to the 18th century. The finest cabaret artists have performed their including my design muse for AW09 - Josephine Baker.
The Gentry de Paris review is a two hour extravaganza featuring 35 performers taking part in 18 tableaux. Unlike the usual music hall show, there is a narrative and you will be taken through the cobbled streets of Paris, to a ritzy night club and on to the circus before heading into the blue sky. From the picture you might have guessed that the feature star is Dita Von Teese who will be bringing her new Opium Den number to the show. It's nice to see that there are a couple of English burlesque stars in the show: Millicent Binks (who has frequently modelled for What Katie Did) and Warren Speed (from Newcastle infamous for his chav boylesque routine).
I'm sure you can see why I was quite excited about the show! The only obstacle was that although I am in Paris on the day it opens, I have to return that evening. Disaster! Luck must be with me at the moment as a couple of weeks ago Gentry (yes, there is a Gentry behind the Gentry de Paris, just as there is a Katie behind the What Katie Did) telephoned me requesting a couple of corsets for the show. Not for Dita of course, but for the lovely MillicentBinks, who's petite curves were made for What Katie Did Corsets. Gentry asked me if I was around on the opening night and when I said I wasn't as I was leaving that day she asked me if I would like to come to the dress rehearsal the evening before. I held my breath and said quietly that I might just be able to fit it in...
The Gentry de Paris Review takes place between 7th and 17th September at the Casino de Paris, Paris, France. Thank goodness for Eurostar, that's all I can say!
In The Press - The London Folies
This week Lauren Laverne's 'Must Have' diary in Grazia magazine featured
The London Folies. The London Folies is a good old fashioned music hall variety show with the burlesque element being provided by Miss Polly Rae and Ivy Paige. The image features some specially commissioned What Katie Did Laurie corsets in cream with contrast coloured overboning and trim. The London Folies runs throughout August before moving on to New York and LA in 2010.
What Katie Did in Liberty of London
Last week I headed down to Liberty of London who have just started selling our lingerie. Being a very 'niche' brand I was a little worried about how it was being received by customers, but was pleased to be told that it was selling very well! Liberty didn't have a lingerie department for several years. They reopened it two years ago and although they came and saw us then, they decided to focus on more premium brands at that time.
The department is a beautiful long room decorated in purple, with vintage black lingerie cabinets (which I'm lusting after!)The women who work in the lingerie department are very enthusiastic about the brand and are very knowledgeable about all the brand they stock. Although they're in the middle of a large department store, it actually feels like you're in an independent lingerie boutique - but I guess that's the way you feel in any of Liberty's departments as they're a lot more personal than other department stores (I was
in the lingerie department of Debenhams in Plymouth last weekend and honestly, I have never been in a more depressing place in my life - it took all of the powers of the girls in the Kalmora Spa on the 2nd floor to give me back the will to live!)
We have had a few people ask about Liberty's pricing - the WKD items they stock are at the same price as you'll find online and in our London boutique. Liberty have just placed their second order so it looks very hopeful!
In the press
10/08/09 16:34 , Categories: Press Our Maitresse bullet bra can be just seen on British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in September's Esquire magazing. Rosie's current claim to fame is a rather saucy short film she starred in for Agent Provocateur to remind the boys not to forget Valentine's Day and she's also graced the catwalk for Victoria's Secret, so we're in good company! A Notting Hill local, keep your eye's peeled for her if you visit our boutique!
Dr Sketchy
Clare, who manages our boutique and press departments, has been moonlighting over the last few months running Dr Sketchy London. Dr Sketchy is an 'anti-art' school which combines vintage pin up, burlesque, alcohol and fun. Artistic skills are certainly not essential with the emphasis being on fun. Dr Sketchy evenings take place all over the world but London has gone just a little crazy for Sketchy, even before a two page article in London Lite newspaper this week, which means that Clare is now going part time at What Katie Did, managing press, whilst Nicola will be taking over as manager of our boutique.
The model in the picture is Miss Ruka (recognise the gingham sunsuit?), who used to run Dr Sketchy but found running her own lingerie label Sugarlesque, whilst also working in our boutique, along with Dr Sketchy just a little to much. Miss Ruka also runs pastie and fascinator workshops in our boutique. My, it's all just a little incestuous - and that's before you discover that Slinky Sparkles our house model and boutique corset fitter can often be found performing at Dr Sketchy and even Graham who can be found helping in our boutique some weekends has been nabbed by Clare for his DJ services!
