When I was 16, I bought an art book, in Paris, considered very risqué at the time for its sensual renditions of the naked female body. For me, it was visual poetry in motion, a photographic tome of femininity, each black and white vignette a metaphor of nature. Small details were magnified to evoke an alternative perception of the actual subject. The curve of a hip became a barren landscape; the bend of an elbow, a deep valley; the rise of a breast, a beckoning mountain. The photographer’s focus perpetuated beauty with character and class. And so began my initiation into the concept of looking at an item, not just as it is, but also for what might be hidden within. Excellent photography is a study in double vision. It is a statement of the obvious and a request that the viewer see the abstract reality offered by intelligent observation. When I study the pictorial portfolio of Imogen Cunningham, renowned as one of the greatest women photographers, I am reminded of why beautifully designed lingerie has always provoked my imagination. Invariably, there is a secret message understood only by looking at very close range.
And so when I saw theAfter Midnightcollection from Hanky Panky, I was enamored by the way this established brand of flirty lingerie has so seamlessly managed to take, with both elegance and style, its provocative and trendy profile to another place of feminine mystique. Tastefully created to provoke a sense of exotic fantasy, these pieces go to a sanctuary of erotic persuasion, if the observer chooses to explore their full objective. Racy designs such as the matching Nude Illusion stretch tulle Peek a Boo Bralette (257132) and Bikini (252112) set as well as the iconic Signature Lace Cheeky Hipster (432921) with back keyhole affirm the brand’s legendary message of indulgence. But it is the steamy and seductive details added to evoke a hotter experience that amplify the “come hither” message. Fully functional bow ties and open crotch panties catapult this collection into another, even sexier, category of Intimate Apparel.
