Shining the spotlight on some of our SA leading ladies and the booming bridal industry!
Lingerie Letters is a household name in the intimates industry. It's provided many brides-to-be with the best lingerie a girl could dream of for in time for her special day and Anchen shares the great story behind this leading, local brand!
"My personal style varies from simple clean lines to timeless investment pieces and slightly over-the-top statement items. I am not a big fan of bright colours and am completely obsessed with all things monochromatic and neutral (that’s as far as my colour spectrum goes).
As a creative and business owner, I’ve learnt that you sometimes have to put your own preferences aside in order to cater for what your customers want though, while somehow still remaining true to your personal style.
To be quite honest, I have never paid much attention to intimates (I’ve always been more of a shoes and bag kinda girl) and used to choose comfort over style, but having been in the underwear industry for almost 3 years now, I have become more aware of what I wear directly on my skin. Just like outerwear, underwear is also an extension of your personal style and I have since updated my knicker drawers accordingly (wink)."
"I’ve noticed that a lot of brides are steering away from the traditional, over-the-top and elaborate wedding dress styles and are opting for something much simpler, yet still elegant and chic.
My personal favourites at the moment are the low back / low v-front cut dresses with a hint of sheer mesh – I've been seeing a lot of those lately – so pretty!!
As far as big trends for this next season goes, I think off-the-shoulder bohemian style wedding gowns will be quite popular, as well as a colour palette of neutrals (champagne, cream and rose gold) as opposed to the traditional white."
"Less is definitely more, so avoid over-accessorising. You don’t want your bling to overpower your outfit. Everything, from your head to your toes, should rather compliment one another.
It's also important to dress according to your body type and to accentuate your best assets. Never force the latest and greatest trends upon yourself if it doesn’t work for you personally or wear clothes that do not fit you properly.
And a definite ‘no no’ for me - never wear shoes you can’t walk in. It’s simple, if the shoes don’t fit, don’t wear it!"
"It's very important to make time for yourself, as well as for your family and friends.
As a business owner, one can so easily get caught up and become obsessed with your work at the expense of life passing you by, however a healthy balance is key and very important for your everyday sanity.
As a lady-boss, you need to train yourself to work during office hours and never accept any work after hours – be it emails or admin (I still struggle with this sometimes and on occasion circumstances demand a little overtime).
I’m am however very privileged to be living in the beautiful Cape Winelands and have an appreciation for good wines. We do a lot of wine tastings, as well as regular food and wine pairings.
I am also a big foodie and love to explore and try out new restaurants. Regular weekend getaways are also a must for me – at least once a month. And then the occasional series binge-watch on a Sunday."
"I’ve come to realize that in my personal experience- work experience and life lessons learnt are key. Be grateful for those and never take what you’ve gained on your journey up until now for granted.
- Hard work definitely pays off.
- Do whatever task you are assigned to and do it to your utmost best.
- Know what you want and don’t be afraid to go for it. The only one stopping you to reach your goals and dreams is yourself.
- Don’t overthink
- Trust your gut. You have a sixth sense for a reason. If it feels right, do it. If it doesn’t, then maybe you should wait.
- You can’t keep everyone happy.
- It’s ok to say NO.
- Don’t be scared to ask for help.
- When you fall flat on your face, get back up and try again and again and again…
Also never burn any bridges because you never know when your paths might cross again or when you might need something from that person in future. They could have the power to open or close doors for you (six degrees of separation). "
"Choosing the perfect wedding dress is difficult enough and so is selecting the right intimates for your wedding day, wedding night and beyond…
My tips for brides-to-be would be to allow yourself enough time to go and shop for delightful delicates. Just because no one will see it (well, except you and your new hubby of course) doesn’t mean you should neglect it or leave it ‘til the last minute.
Things to consider before the time- are the size of your bust (do you need extra support or how are you going to fill the dress if you are smaller?), then also consider whether or not your dress is strapless, figure hugging or more loosely fitted. Also, are you planning to loose some weight in build up to your BIG day?
I would suggest getting at least 2 sets:
The first- a smooth, plain (strapless, if possible) one piece (or set) for under your wedding dress. Ideally you want this to go un-noticed. No knickers lines ladies! If you’re going to be uncomfortable and unable to move and breathe in that bridal corset, it could end up ruining your special day (you may be more focused on that then enjoying yourself). Rather go for something else that does the same job. Some bras can even be sewn into your dress and there are also a variety of nipple covers, instant adhesive breast stickers (we actually sell these online), as well as silicone bras on the market to consider.
And secondly, why not opt for a beautiful lacy set for your wedding night (and if you want to splurge a little, maybe a beautiful robe, babydoll or teddy from our online collection for your honeymoon).
All in all, there is nothing more sexy, and more real than a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Those who have inner confidence, always have an outer glow to their beauty and that is certainly what you want on your special day."
