De Montfort presents Contour Fashion

Photography by Rob Sheppard (Fashion Photographer).

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Students of the oldest lingerie, bodywear and sportswear degree in the world showcase contour fashion

After 65 years of De Montfort University’s renowned contour teaching, the excellence continues to shine as seen at the illaborate Countour Fashion show held at Freemasons Hall on Monday 13 June. The annual London Contour Fashion catwalk, staged for the second consecutive year, continued to display the best of graduate talent from De Montfort University students who are graduating from the Contour Fashion and the Fashion and Contour Design courses this summer. The innovative collections to showcase at the Contour Fashion show were carefully chosen by judges including De Montfort University's own experts and industry names from Ace Style, Vauxhall Fashion Scout and Harriet’s Muse.

Dragon’s Den’s Theo Paphitis supports the curves

Theo Paphitis, a serial Dragon Denner and a former owner of La Senza, who has recently launched his new luxury underwear brand Boux Avenue sponsored the show.

Curvaceous designs for straight career paths

The Contour Show gave 20 students a perfect opportunity to showcase their talent to the industry's big-fish attending the show, with some of this years De Montfort University graduates already packing in jobs with prestigious international brands like Abercrombie and Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger, M&S and Curvy Kate.

Pictured: Laura Wade and Alexandra Ritchie’s designs presented at at De Montfort University’s Contour Fashion Show. Photos courtesy of Rob Sheppard (Fashion Photographer).

The Contour Fashion degree at De Montfort university, specialising in lingerie, underwear, bodywear, swimwear, loungewear, nightwear, sportswear and corsetry is a unique internationally renowned course that produces top talent globally, with Alumni of the course including the late Janet Reger - an English lingerie designer who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s for her opulent lingerie designs; Nicole de Carle – a name fronting an innovative luxury lingerie label, which challenges immediate perceptions of style and tailoring; Made by Nikki – a luxury lingerie and shapewear brand, selling bras, knickers, corsets, bustiers, suspenders and bridal underwear in sizes AA to G cup; and designers and buyers for a host of top names from Agent Provocateur to Mio Destino.

Sexy, classy and sensual in white

Just recently we had a casual vote between a few characters at Retox to determine if men actually like white underwear and here’s our verdict: ALL men like white lingerie whereas only some like black and none like the off-colour ones. Clearly, as we do like all things white here at Retox, we’ve picked out some of our favourite designs from De Montfort University’s Contour show to share with you.

Pictured: Lewis Barrett, Caroline Hesp, Phoebe Blockley-Campton and Charlotte Davies’s designs presented at De Montfort University’s Contour Fashion Show. Photos courtesy of Rob Sheppard (Fashion Photographer).

Ashley Edge’s electric lingerie!

LED ligths on the catwalk.

Can’t get a more dramatic show opening than what was presented with Ashley Edge’s collection. The presentation started in total darkness that was soon lit by LED lights embellishing the contours of the garments. You can see the evidence of the battery pack strapped to the model’s arm as pictured below. It was pretty funky.

Kirsty Hall's Filly Boutique with jokey styling

Designs by Carmen Waters, Kirsty Hall, Sarah Burgess and Ashley Edge presented at De Montfort University’s Contour Fashion show. Photos courtesy of Rob Sheppard (Fashion Photographer).

Contour Fashion student Kirsty Hall has taken inspiration from a visit to Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival to create her quirky 'Filly Boutique' catwalk collection, which includes elegant lingerie pieces resembling jockey styling and couture.

Kirsty Hall, 21, from Leicester, said: "My lingerie collection took inspiration from jockey silks after visiting a horse racing festival. The bold, contrasting colours have been a key feature throughout the collection, and offer both comfort and seduction."

Sexy lingerie designs by Felicity Smith, Lewis Barrett, Sarah Greenwood and Rosalind Strach presented at De Montfort University’s Contour Fashion show. Photos courtesy of Rob Sheppard (Fashion Photographer).

"I feel like my designs are more daring and playful than what can be found on the high street at the minute. The shapes and colours are really striking and unusual for a lingerie collection, and are worn to be seen."

The sexy feminine look at Contour Fashion

The more feminine look and a choice of soft and pastel colours was delivered by Felicity Smith, Lewis Barrett, Sarah Greenwood and Rosalind Strach with Sarah Greenwood’s floral designs particularly coming to mind.