Raine & Bea Relaunches: Introducing the New Diffusion Collection
Ellen Lewis
By Estelle Puleston
Based in Manchester, UK, the Raine & Bea lingerie brand was created by Jenna Barnes, whose career background includes a long stint working in West End theatre productions as well as once sewing backstage for Celine Dion.
Originally launched in 2013, and with its own boutique store that opened in 2018, Raine & Bea temporarily closed down following the pandemic and a break for maternity leave. But it has since reopened its doors and, last month, relaunched online with a brand new diffusion collection.
Aptly titled “Encore”, this new range marks a shift away from the brand’s earlier focus on more exclusive, high-price point pieces and one-off creations, to now much more accessible pricing in the region of £17 to £70 (approximately $23 to $95). The pricing may be lower and the garments a little less glitzy, but Raine & Bea’s signature touch still shines through in the form of retro girdles, sheer contoured slip dresses and bodystockings, and details such as the use of sparkling gold for embroidered logos.
For me, the standout range from the Encore collection is Showstopper. The most classically ‘Raine & Bea’ in style, this is where you’ll find the pieces with the most obvious outerwear-styling potential, including a fabulous sheer lace catsuit with harness detailing at the back that incorporates suspender grip hardware. (see above)
There are also sheer, mini-length slip dresses – one in plain black mesh, the other in leopard print – with an off-shoulder silhouette, and my personal favorite piece from the entire collection, a longer dress in sheer lace. I’d wear this over a silk slip in a contrasting color, but you could also do nude or even just an opaque bra set!
Wardrobe Mistresses meanwhile merges modern with retro, offering a girdle, corselette and full brief with suspenders alongside simple balconettes and a very contemporary-looking garter belt with an incorporated leg harness.
Spotlight focuses on easygoing, sheer bra sets in leopard print mesh or black with contrasting straps; Pillow Talk is one for lovers of wirefree comfort, feminine style, and longline bralettes; Curtain Call consists of cute push-up bra sets in heart-patterned stretch lace; and Bubble Blush is a range of polka dot mesh-topped satin bottoms with little frills and a slight Burlesque vibe.
Finally, there’s the glam-meets-athleisure range also named Encore, which is very much designed for lounging in a mix of soft jersey and sheer geometric lace, all detailed with shimmering gold logo elastics. It includes wide-legged lounge pants and long-sleeved crop tops, once again offering a way to easily incorporate Raine & Bea into your everyday wardrobe.
Raine & Bea’s new collection is manufactured in Turkey at a factory that meets its ethical working standards, and is available in sizes S-XL and US bra sizes 32-36 B-G.
