Corsetry as Outerwear: Sasha Maks Styles the Janus Ribbon Corset

Every time I host a trunk show, inevitably someone will pick up a Ribbon Corset and ask "How on earth do I wear this?" The great thing about the Ribbon Corset is that it truly is my most versatile piece. If you've seen the Evgenia lookbooks, you know that it looks incredible paired with lingerie pieces, but it also pairs effortlessly with everyday clothing. Just check out these shots from style blogger Sasha Maksutenko, photographed by Garry Alexander.

Sasha is not only a San Francisco fashion blogger with an effortless sense of style, but she also runs Sasha Maks Vintage, where she sells gorgeous vintage statement jewelry. For this outfit, she's styled the Janus Ribbon Corset in Jet with a JW Anderson for Uniqlo shirt, an Ian R.N. skirt, Rag & Bone shoes, and custom bag by Scabby Robot. All Sasha's jewelry is from her own shop. The earrings are Paco Rabanne (contact info@sashamaksvintage.com for details), and the bracelet is Bartek, and all rings are available through the above email address.

I love how Sasha styled the Janus Ribbon Corset as a belt with her outfit - it defines the waistline of and pumps up the femininity of the otherwise straight-cut ensemble - plus it matches beautifully with Sasha's boots and jewelry.

To check out more shots from this outfit post, head on over to Sasha's blog!

Baby Love Editorial Shot by Kelly Puleio

If you follow Evgenia Lingerie on social media, you'll likely know that I recently had a baby. Around the time I announced my pregnancy, I found out that my model, Deavon (who you'll know from the first and second Janus lookbooks, and the Floralia lookbook), was also pregnant and due just 10 days before I was! The opportunity couldn't be more perfect for a maternity editorial, and luckily, photog Kelly Puleio was down for another amazing collaboration.

I found a last-minute location at a neighbor's beautiful property here in Nicasio, and hair and makeup artist Sterling Andrews (from the Night Garden shoot) joined us again. We also were lucky enough to score some truly beautiful jewelry pieces from my friend Holly Bobisuthi - that starry crown is the stuff of magic.

My hope is that this little shoot will help to showcase the versatility of my pieces, that they work beautifully for a variety of body types and life stages. And if off-the-rack sizes don't work for you, remember that I do make custom-sized pieces. While I'm currently not sewing thanks to my new little one, I'll be resuming custom work sometime around the holidays.

I also hope you love these shots as much as I do!

Janus Bed Jacket (Jet), Janus Bralette (Jet), Janus Modern Knicker (Jet)

 Janus Bralette (Jet), Janus Thong (Jet), Janus Bed Jacket (Jet), Janus Modern Knicker (Jet)

Janus Bed Jacket (Alabaster), Janus Modern Knicker (Alabaster)

Janus Bed Jacket (Alabaster), Janus Modern Knicker (Alabaster)

Floralia Petal Chemise (Flora), Floralia Modern Knicker (Flora)

Floralia Petal Chemise (Flora), Floralia Modern Knicker (Flora)

Interview with Artist Johanna Öst

When I started Evgenia years ago on Etsy (back in the Honey Cooler Handmade days), I managed to stumble across the glorious artwork of Johanna Öst, a talented artist with a personal aesthetic that pays faithful homage to vintage style and fantastical beauty. For years, I coveted her La Belle Dame Sans Merci painting, followed her quietly from Instagram, and just admired her work from afar. And then, suddenly, we connected!

Johanna Ost's La Belle Dame Sans Merci (left) and Sky and Earth (right)

If you've been following Evgenia on social media, no doubt you've seen Johanna's painting of two "allegorical cuties" wearing the Rebelle collection. When Johanna wore her new Rebelle Bralette, Bed Jacket, and High Waisted Knicker for a vampy photo shoot, I knew not only did I have to share some of the shots, but that I wanted to find out more about this very special person! Check out my interview with her after the images below!

EVGENIA: Your work is so fantastical - what would you say inspires you the most? 

JOHANNA: There is so much, but some of the things that inspire me the most are definitely folklore, mythology, fairy- and folktales. I love stories of the fantastic, mysterious and supernatural. 

I’m also very inspired by ghost stories by authors such as M.R. James and older horror films. 

Style wise my main inspirations are probably classic fairytale illustrations and pulp magazine covers.

EVGENIA: I absolutely adore the painting you did of the Rebelle collection! How did you decide on the theme and characters? 

JOHANNA: Thank you! Well, I knew you liked my painting of La Belle Dame sans Merci so I thought I’d make something slightly similar in style, a bit romantic and with a colour scheme that would go together with La Belle Dame. 

I thought the hearts and stars of the Rebelle collection lent themselves quite well to an earth and sky theme, and I love symbolism and allegories in art. That’s pretty much it!

EVGENIA: You recently moved to the UK from Sweden - what inspired the transition? 

JOHANNA: Ever since I left my childhood home I have lived in a flat in a very boring suburb to Stockholm where I have never felt at home. Me and my boyfriend have been looking for a “forever home” for quite a few years now but it never really struck me until recently that we could actually choose to live somewhere completely different.

There were a lot of things that led me to realise that I needed to change things dramatically, but the main thing was a feeling that I’ve wasted large parts of my youth isolating myself due to severe social anxiety.

Moving to the north of England is definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done and my life has changed so much for the better during the last couple of years. 

EVGENIA: What’s been your favorite project you’ve done and why? 

JOHANNA: The project I’m most proud of at the moment is the comic book I’m currently working on. I’ve made a couple of very short comics before but this time it’s an actual full story and it has taken me slightly over a year to finish. I have yet to publish it but I can’t wait to show everyone the finished product! 

Another favourite project of mine has been the series of illustrations inspired by victorian ghost stories I made last year. They were published in a zine called Phantasmagoria which is no longer available, but they are without a doubt the most interesting illustration job I’ve ever done. It’s not often I get to make lavish, detailed illustrations on such exciting themes, most of my illustration work consists of simple black and white drawings for young adult books. 

EVGENIA: Any big art projects in the offing?

JOHANNA: The biggest one would be the comic I mentioned earlier. It’s a ghost story set in a seaside town and I’ve worked harder and spent more time on it than any other project before. While I love creating a narrative in everything I do I usually stick with small snippets. I’m really not comfortable as a writer and putting together an entire story like this is new to me. 

I always have lots of big project ideas swirling around in my head, but most of them will have to wait until I move somewhere with a proper studio space.

EVGENIA: Where can people find your work?

JOHANNA: You can see a large selection of my work and buy originals and prints at johannaost.com

I also have an Etsy shop at johanna.etsy.com where I sell select prints, originals, comics and wearable accessories. 

EVGENIA: Anything else you’d like to share?

JOHANNA: Thank you so much for interviewing me!

Thank you so much, Johanna!

Be sure to visit Johanna's online stores to shop her amazing artwork! And you can pick up your own Rebelle set in the Evgenia boutique.

Go Behind the Scenes of Floralia

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of Evgenia's beautiful photo shoots? I always love how dramatic our final images are (just take a peek below), and it's always a treat to be reminded of just how much fun we have when photog Kelly Puleio picks up her camera.

These final images are a far cry from the behind-the-scenes shots I captured on my phone, a few of which are below. Who would have guessed model Emmalee was wearing galoshes the majority of the time? And that the weather was absolutely freezing, even in June? And that we were smack dab in the middle of tick season? And that designer John James spent hours putting together that gorgeous ribbon tree? In the final shots, Deavon and Emmalee made it look oh-so-easy, when the production was undeniably fun, but complicated.

Videographer Tim Prestoza of Low Tek Studios captured the video below, showing the true spirit of the Floralia shoot, my favorite with Kelly so far. Enjoy!

Gift Rebelle This Valentine's Day!

Luxurious velvet and red hearts: what's not to love?

Shop the entire Rebelle collection in the online boutique now, and gift your sweetie a set she'll never forget! There's something for everyone in this range, from the versatile Ribbon Corset, to the devastatingly sexy Bralette and Thong set, to the High Waisted Knickers (a must for curvy figures).

Nicole wears the Rebelle Bralette and matching High Waisted Knicker. Photo: Kelly Puleio

Got fit or styling questions? Send us a message and we'll help you pick out the perfect gift: one that's sure to please for years to come.

Holiday Shipping Announcement

If you're dreaming up a gift of Evgenia this holiday season, consider placing your order early, especially if you're not a US customer.

I'll be out of the country from November 27th, 2016 until December 15th, 2016, and while orders will be shipped while I'm away, I will be unable to restock styles that sell out. As I keep only a limited amount of stock on hand, I anticipate styles selling out quickly. My lovely retailer French Theft will be taking care of orders placed for in-stock styles, and will be carrying the entirety of the Evgenia collection in their boutique during my time away, so be sure to pay them a visit if you're in Los Gatos at 59 North Santa Cruz Avenue. Kate is a delight and will be happy to help you find your perfect gift!

Domestic orders placed after December 15th and before December 21st (and orders for out-of-stock styles) will arrive on time for Christmas delivery,  but please note that international orders placed during that time frame will require a postage upgrade to arrive on time.

Want to hop to it? Shop on Etsy or BigCartel, and thank you so much for your continued support!

Evgenia Lingerie in Vogue India, September 2016

Things are little quiet on the blog front, and that's because they're loud everywhere else, including in this gorgeous editorial "Hourglass Minutes" in Vogue India's September 2016 issue.

If you look closely you can see the Janus Ribbon Corset in Alabaster layered with other pieces, proving once again that Evgenia Ribbon Corsets are great for out-and-about styling.

Want your very own Janus Ribbon Corset in Alabaster? I have less than half a roll of ribbon left for this limited edition style, so you'd better hurry! Shop it here.

Innerwear Meets Outerwear: Sasha Maks Styles the Janus Short Gown

If you've been following Evgenia for a while, you know that one of my favorite things about lingerie is its versatility potential. A major facet of this brand's pieces is their ability to be worn not only in the bedroom, but out and about as well.

So needless to say I was thanking my lucky stars when blogger and stylist Sasha Maksutenko (who also runs the super chic Sasha Maks Vintage) talked about pairing the Janus collection with modern pieces to show their potential as outerwear.

Photo: Garry Alexander

We teamed up with local photographer Garry Alexander for Sasha's blog feature, a preview pic from which is above - make sure to check out her post in its entirety here, plus find out how to score free shipping on any Evgenia order until the end of July!

Fiber & Fashion Pop-Up on Nicasio Square, July 24th 2016

As many of you know, I officially left San Francisco for West Marin back in October. Part of the appeal of our new home up north is that it has a gorgeous little shop on the property, the future home of Evgenia lingerie. The only problem (a big one) is that it's quite a rustic little space with tons of resident spiders, critters and dust. Needless to say it needs a boatload of improvement (read: new roof, drywall, hermetic sealing) before I can officially call the space home for Evgenia.

That said, I've been dreaming of, at the very least, hosting some pop ups in my new space until I can officially call it home. The shop's previous life was as a sweet little home goods store, so it's got retail in its bones. So, I invite you to the first pop up at the future home of Evgenia!

Join me, my mother-in-law Alice Pickett Lewis of Textures Gallery, Lisa Anderson Shaffer of Zelma Rose, Marnie Jackson of Black Mountain Farm, and Rebecca Braun of Rebecca Braun Bowls for an event celebrating fiber and fashion!

I hope you'll pay us a visit and check out the bare bones of my new digs! For more detailed information about each artist and the event in general, please visit our Facebook invitation, and be sure to RSVP and invite your friends! Make it a full day event and hit up Rancho Nicasio's lively Sunday BBQ afterwards - you won't be disappointed.

Can't wait to see you there!

6000 Follower Giveaway

Instagram is a funny thing. When I joined, I thought I'd never hit 1000 followers, but I just hit 6000. Time sure flies. And I know that 6000 truly isn't that much when you look at other illustrious lingerie indies, but I'm really proud of this milestone and excited for what's next.

So what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway? You can win $100 toward your purchase of Evgenia lingerie by entering on Instagram. See details below.

 

1. Follow @evgenialingerie on Instagram
2. Repost the above image (visit @evgenialingerie on Instagram to find an IG-safe version)
3. Tag @evgenialingerie
4. Use the hashtag #evgenialingerie6k

Enter as often as you like, but please note that your profile must be public! Contest closes at 11.59pm on April 27th. The winner will be chosen at random on April 28th. Good luck!

 

Pas de Deux Editorial Shot by Shelbie Dimond

I've admired Shelbie Dimond's photography for what seems like ages. As an analog photographer with a distinct artistic voice and penchant for all things vintage, romantic and beautiful, Shelbie has an innate ability to capture measured moodiness in quiet moments. I first learned of Shelbie's work when I began Honey Cooler Handmade back in 2011 and we had gone back and forth casually discussing doing a shoot for a while. When I found out that Shelbie was moving to Los Angeles, I just knew I had to finally book a shoot with her before she became too famous to work with me.

As a former dancer, I have long wanted to do a ballet-themed shoot with my lingerie. Lingerie and ballet seem like a sensible combination - both epitomize femininity and precision. Lucky for me, Shelbie was also itching to do a ballet themed shoot and was able to connect with Ryan Lee and her dance partner Raul Orozco, both ballet dancers in Colorado. Before we knew it, Ryan and Raul had their tickets booked and came out to shoot with us in San Francisco's beautiful Firehouse 8.

Ryan wears pieces from the Spring/Summer 2016 Janus collection, which is slowly being released and is available here. Rebecca Taff is responsible for Ryan's beautifully ethereal hair and makeup. I was delighted to see a few shots front this series posted on The Lingerie Briefs last month.

I hope you enjoy this photo series as much as I do, and be sure to check out more of Shelbie Dimond's incredible work on her site.

Janus Collection Editorial Shot by Kelly Puleio

Just before the holidays, photog extraordinaire Kelly Puleio came out to my new house in West Marin and shot an incredible editorial for me with mega vamp Jeannette. I met Jeannette in Portland and instantly fell in love with her look - she's confident, playful and not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.

Lookbooks usually demand a focus on product photography (and consequently, have less room for a ton of imagination), but editorials allow for some fun and are more about the experience than the product, so needless to say I was really excited to see how things turned out with this project. Sarah Lashelle of Pretty Parlor dreamed up and executed Jeannette's mega-babe hair and makeup, rounding out the look in a completely otherworldly way. 

We went in to the day with a really loose plan and just let the magic happen. Kelly took half the shots in my house and the other half at Five Brooks Ranch in Olema, where Jeannette turned more than a few farmhands' heads. All in all, a wonderful day. In these shots, Jeannette is wearing the Evgenia Janus collection, some of which is already available for purchase online, with more pieces landing soon. She also wears jewelry by Marrin Costello, who is an incredible artist in her own right. Check out all the shots below!

EVGENIA Spring/Summer 2016 Teaser Video by Tim Prestoza

I'm slowly releasing pieces from my upcoming Janus collection for Spring/Summer 2016 and I'm so excited to share this amazing teaser video by Tim Prestoza of Low Tek Studios which features model Deavon Coleman. Tim joined us once again for shoot day, capturing the Janus collection in all its glory. This new collection boasts an exquisite bridal color way which includes luxurious silk charmeuse pieces including brand new Short Gown, Bed Jacket and Thong styles and a limited-edition Ribbon Corset made with vintage organza. The Janus collection is named after the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, and the collection's inception coincides with my physical transition from San Francisco to pastoral West Marin. I hope you enjoy the video! To see more of the Janus collection, visit my site, and be sure to follow Evgenia on Instagram.

Gifted Betty Blue's Loungerie in the Lingerie Secret Santa

This post is a long time coming, but better late than never, right?

As in 2014, I participated in the Lingerie Secret Santa again at the end of last year and once again hit the jackpot with UK based Betty Blue's Loungerie! I've been admiring them from afar for a while, but what a treat to finally have their amazing work in my collection.

Photos of the Nell Dress Slip via Betty Blue's Loungerie

Betty Blue's Loungerie is retro glam at its finest, using soft, luxe fabrics to create sumptuous, vampy silhouettes, reminiscent of the screen sirens of the past. Betty Hobcraft, the brains behind the gorgeous brand, sent me a piece I was elated to finally try, the Nell Dress Slip, one of the line's classics. It's totally iconic and just as gorgeous on as it is in the photos. The refined slip silhouette in stretch satin and uber soft lace boasts a high natural waistline and sheer panels at center front and center back, a cheeky, sexy detail you don't often see in traditional loungewear.

I'm not an easy fit, with a large bust, large hips and comparatively narrow waist. What's great about this piece is that it stretches in the right spots and fits me marvelously.

Photo of the Agatha Eyemask via Betty Blue's Loungerie

As if the Nell Dress Slip wasn't enough, Betty Blue's also sent me their lingerie bag and their Agatha Eyemask, a sweet touch and extra cherry on top that just made this gift even more lovely. This whole collection came beautifully packaged and perfectly constructed. I really couldn't have asked for a more lovely treat. Thank you, Betty Blue's!