The Journal
Why Does This French Brand Put “Kiss Me, Stupid" on Knickers?
Why does Scandale put phrases like Kiss Me, Stupid, Held in Custody and Your Desires Cause Disorder on knickers? I went through the French behind Dédicace, and some of it...
Peach Silk and the French Art of Getting Ready
Lise Charmel has always been brilliant with colour. But when I first saw this particular shade, the new peach Splendeur Soie, especially in the long robe. I didn't simply think...
The More I Wrote About Athena, the Less I Thought About Bridal
As soon as I saw Athena in Ivory, I thought 'Bridal Lingerie'. The hand-drawn embroidery, the softness of the colour, it all pointed one way. Then I sat down to...
Why Silk Nightwear Deserves a Place in Your Wardrobe
People often think of silk as something for Christmas or special occasions. I don't. I wear it just as happily on a warm summer evening as I do in the...
Maison Close Becomes Scandale: A New Chapter for French Lingerie
Maison Close will officially become Scandale on 22 July 2026, bringing together twenty years of contemporary French lingerie design and almost a century of heritage. Here's what the change means,...
I started buying lingerie in 2011 and I've never run out of things to say about it.
This is where the rest of it goes — the brands and the people who make them, the trade news worth reading, a new piece now and then, and the occasional letter that is simply a letter.
Quietly opinionated. Occasionally useful.
— Sarah Northey