Freema Agyeman Wears an Evgenia Lingerie Ribbon Corset in Sense8

About a year ago, I was contacted by a wardrobe stylist whose boss, the costume designer for Sense8, had fallen in love with an Evgenia Ribbon Corset a few months prior. Sense8 is the new Netflix original series directed by the Wachowskis, the brains behind The Matrix, so needless to say I was ecstatic to have my lingerie considered for the series' wardrobe.

Loaning and occasionally selling garments to stylists is a pretty normal thing, but most of the time it's safe to assume you'll never see the finished product. Stylists typically pull deep collections of garments for photo shoots and films, so the chance that your piece will actually get used isn't exceptionally big. So needless to say, imagine my surprise when 35 minutes into the first episode of Sense8, the gorgeous Freema Agyeman (as Amanita, protagonist Nomi's girlfriend) sauntered onto the screen in a perfect SF Pride ensemble, complete with an Evgenia Ribbon Corset.

I absolutely loved this cheeky outfit and I couldn't be prouder to have seen one of my favorite styles on such a beautiful actress. If you're looking to replicate this look, I only have two of this style of corset left in the red/black colorway, and you can snap it up on sale now here!

Sweet Nothings in Evgenia Lingerie

I'm finally coming down from all the crazy excitement of being in New York City for fashion week, but it's certainly hard to let go of the high. There's something really special about being in the US' most stylish city during the most stylish time of the year, and even a tiny San Francisco lingerie designer like myself walked away from the experience with tons of things to celebrate.

Of course, there were the expected victories: trunk shows, the NYFW runway show (more on that later), press events, etc. But there were also the amazing connections that were both forged and solidified during my stay, not the least of which was with Sweets of Sweet Nothings. If you've ever visited Sweets' blog, I don't have to tell you how incredibly gorgeous she is. Meet her in person, though, and it's a whole different ballgame. This lingerie blogger is not only physically beautiful (and commandingly tall!), but genuinely warm, friendly, charming and funny as hell. I spent some time with her during Underhaus' Completely Bare Market, where she was repping Harlow & Fox right alongside its lovely and visionary designer Leanna Williams. Leanna, Sweets, NYC lingerie designer (and equally chic and wonderful person) Angela Friedman spent much of our 3-day event in a summit of the mutual appreciation club. Chatting lingerie and fashion with these women was one of the big highlights of my trip back east.

Then Sweets came up with a great idea: why not shoot some of my pieces for her blog? How could I say no? And once I saw her in my Ribbon Corset and Deco Cami, both a perfect fit, we set a date and got down to it.

Sweets wears the Deco Cami in Moon Flower and the Sleep Mask in Black Dahlia / Moonflower

Sweets wears the Deco Cami in Moon Flower, the Ribbon Corset in Black Dahlia and the Bow Modern Knickers in Moon Flower

So, lucky me! While I was working the Fashion Incubator press event, photographer Lydia Hudgens took these gorgeous shots of Sweets, and there are tons more on the Sweet Nothings blog, so make sure to check them out. What's more, Sweets paired this set with the beautiful Celestial Truffle Cake pictured above which she made herself. She gave me an enormous slice of it after the shoot and I *may* have eaten the whole thing in one evening. It was that good! Her blog post has the full recipe along with the rest of these gorgeous pictures.

Photography by Vixen Pin-Up Photography featuring Ruby Mae Collins

When I loan garments out for photo shoots I'm frequently impressed with the results, but once in a while I'm rendered speechless by the final product. Enter the gorgeous Ruby Mae Collins, a singer, hair stylist and model based in San Francisco. We met through my friend Kelsey of Rose La Mer Headpieces for whom she modeled some lovely fascinators last year. When Ruby told me she was going to be doing a few shoots in LA and that my lingerie would fit the bill, I jumped at the chance to clothe this raven-haired stunner. And I'm so very glad I did. The first shots from her shoot with Vixen Pin-Up Photography are in, and… well… take a look for yourselves!

Ruby brings a whole new sensibility to the Cotillion Crop Top, Cotillion Bloomers and Brocade Ribbon Corset in a way that is undeniably pin-up and completely and utterly enticing.

Smitten? Check out more about Ruby on her website and Facebook page!

Want it Now? No Problem.

The Valentine's Day season is upon us, which means that I'm sewing like the wind to build my stock up for trunk shows. More than ever, I have so much to offer in the HCH Etsy shop and many new pieces from the Deco and Cotillion Collections are now ready to ship immediately in all sizes!

Here are just a few, with many more on the way.

Cotillion Knickers, Cotillion Chemise, Cotillion Bloomers

(Photography: Her Lovely Bones)

Red Petersham Ribbon Corset, Pink Petersham Ribbon Corset, Green Petersham Ribbon Corset,

Ivory Petersham Ribbon Corset

Left: Pink Deco Camisole Right: Ivory Deco Bralette, Ivory Deco Garter Belt, Ivory Deco Knickers

(Photography: Her Lovely Bones)

I'm so excited to offer a full S-L size range for the first time. However, if one-off is more your style, all one of a kind pieces (marked OOAK in the shop) are ready to ship immediately, as always.

Happy shopping!

A Little Tease...

The new collection drops next week on Big Cartel. I am so excited to share my hard work with all of you!

Three 'Grams: Color of the Year

I've been so busy lately that blogging has taken a major backseat for me, but don't think for a second it means that things are all quiet here in my neck of the woods. I'm working hard to launch the first cohesive and official HCH Collection in the next two weeks. I've spent the better part of the last few months drafting, draping, fitting, sewing, organizing and doing all the other grunt work entailed in apparel design. From costing to hand grading, I've had my hands in dozens of different pots and I've loved all of it! There's so much on the horizon, so for now I wanted to take a quiet moment to throw out a Three 'Grams post.

Emerald was Pantone's color of the year and my recent Instagram shots have seemed to fit the trend pretty well. 

Our Hitchcockian room at The Burlington Hotel in Port Costa

Ribbon Corsets in progress for my trunk show with Dollhouse Bettie

 Chicken soup that helped fix this week's wicked cold

Three 'Grams: Evening Romance

Autumn has has made her magnificent entrance and the season is really off to a fantastic start. I just got back from New York a few days ago, where I witnessed one of the loveliest weddings I've ever attended, that of Sharin and Ryan, both very talented opera singers. The wedding was the highlight of the trip, but seeing a bunch of close college friends was a close second in significance... being in New York always reminds me just how much I miss the East Coast and all the great friends I have there.

As the summer has wrapped up, I've noticed a lot of my Instagram photos are darker, possibly because all the fun I've been having has been at night!

A birthday bonfire at Ocean Beach

 HCH Ribbon Corset headed to Dollhouse Bettie

True love at the Hudson

Honey Cooler Handmade at Dark Garden on Saturday February 9th

When I first moved to the Bay Area, I was just beginning to explore sewing and fashion/costume design as a career path. My love for Victorian clothing inspired an obsession with corsets, so the second I discovered that Dark Garden existed, I hightailed it there. Like everyone who steps foot in Dark Garden, I was instantly blown away by the creativity, craftsmanship and inspiration behind the atelier. Proprietress Autumn Adamme is so intensely talented and passionate about her craft, and it shows.

My humble beginnings as a really bad sewer and corsetière have given way to something I never dreamed, and now I am beyond blessed to be selling my insertion lace lingerie at one of the most well-known lingerie boutiques on the West Coast. If I'm ever having a bad day, I remind myself of just how far I've come and landing a trunk show at Dark Garden is quite a milestone.

So, I hope you'll share this big day with me! Tomorrow night, Saturday February 9th from 4 - 8, I'll be at Dark Garden at 321 Linden Lane with a lovely stash of lingerie, including lots of pastel pieces that haven't yet been seen in the shop. I, along with the Dark Garden staff, would love to help you pick out something perfect for Valentine's Day for yourself or your sweetie. See you there!

Preview: Susie and Velma Ribbon Corsets

I've been hard at work putting together some last-minute ribbon corsets for Firehouse 8's Holiday Fundraising Bazaar. Check out Susie and Velma! Both are made from velvet: Susie from a classic black and pink stripe, and Velma boasts a trendy rainbow embroidered tribal motif.

Susie Ribbon Corset

Velma Ribbon Corset

Both beauties will be up in the Honey Cooler Handmade shop tomorrow.

Hello and Goodbye

There's nothing quite like sewing up a custom corset, listing it, then having it purchased within an hour of posting it.

Au revoir, ma belle rouge!

Speaking of custom corsets, if you've been dreaming of one, convo me! Fitting requires three simple measurements and they start at $115 for basic ribbon styles (like the one pictured above). Looking super sexy doesn't have to break the bank!

New Photos: Audra Ribbon Corset

My peachy confection, the Audra Ribbon Corset, takes center stage in these lovely photos by Kirsten Parnell of Elyse Photography. I was so excited when Kirsten contacted me asking to shoot my work, and I absolutely love the finished product!

New this Week: Teela and Nina

Following my trip down south, it's been nice to sew like a madwoman again. I'm excited to have two new pieces in store this week... and it's only Tuesday!

First, meet Teela, a new ribbon corset made out of a deliciously bright vintage petersham. It's sumptuous and sturdy... a lovely, verdant piece to brighten up your wardrobe!

Second, there's Nina, a simply-silhouetted maxi skirt made out of a feathery-light voile. The hem is a gorgeous vintage hand-embroidered net.

Check them out in the Honey Cooler Handmade shop today!

Well Lookie There...

Look who made yesterday's Etsy Finds email!

That's right! It's Honey Cooler Handmade's uber patriotic Betsy Ribbon Corset! What a treat!

Humble Beginnings

Whenever I have a lackluster day of sewing I remind myself of this little affirmation:

No matter what our craft, we all started somewhere.

I've always been fascinated by corsetry. Long before I could conceptualize corsets as sexy, my naive brain simply accepted them as beautiful. Every antique store, costume shop and rummage sale had me searching for my first lace-up specimen. It wasn't until college that I finally broke down and learned how to sew, just so I could own one myself. Forget that my first corset fit terribly and that I sewed the lining inside out so that the seam allowances showed. Frankly, I had no idea what I was doing, but who cares? Again, we all started somewhere.

While I was really self-deprecating about my first project's glaring flaws, my friends were much more supportive of my efforts. One of my closest pals at the time even asked me to make her a costume for the Miss Petite America Pageant. She was representing Pennsylvania, and we had decided to give her an amped up Betsy Ross outfit. And let's be honest here. It was college, where every female costume was sexified: from the daringly short toga party sheet dress to the slutty ladybug or the Playboy bunny at Halloween (and yes, I did rock both of those costumes while in college). Given our attitudes toward dressing up, why not a sexy Betsy Ross costume?

My pal rocked this itsy-bitsy ensemble for the pageant and even told me years later that she broke it out ever July 4th after. Very cool!

Fast forward to now. I've made a bajillion corsets, each better than the last. Now with Honey Cooler Handmade, I channel my love for corsetry and my penchant for wearability into making ribbon corsets, and it just so happens that my newest piece brings back a bit of the sexified Betsy Ross sensibility I first encountered in 2004. She's immaculately sewn, if I do say so myself, and is fittingly named Betsy.

So, here's (new) Betsy, just in time for Independence Day! A little more pragmatic than the previous version, perfect for cinching a starched white summer dress. Check out more photos here!

In Progress: Beatrice Ribbon Corset

Take a gander! Isn't Beatrice beautiful? This amazing vintage ribbon was such a find and is shaping up into one lovely little cincher!