With so much in the news about Victoria’s Secret and its lack of diversity and inclusivity, it’s more important than ever to support the more inclusive brands.
Now I know lingerie isn’t a necessity like regular underwear is but if you ask me, it’s more than worth it. If you’ve never paraded around your apartment or room trying on skimpy knickers, then this is for you. It also doesn’t matter if you have a significant other to wear it for, I think if you’re wearing it for yourself and feeling confidant then who the heck cares?
These 5 lingerie brands make gorgeous pieces for everyone of all sizes and if you’re over Victoria’s Secret, then shop them instead!
ASOS
Known for their trendy selections, online retailer ASOS is also highly revered for being size inclusive. With beautiful lingerie and nightwear available in plus size, petite, maternity, and full bust, you’re bound to find a few pieces that work for you!
Knix
With the belief that women should live unapologetically, Knix strives to create intimates that make us feel more comfortable in our own skin. This Toronto-based company is garnering huge notoriety for creating pieces for real women and not models. With options for not only for plus size and mummies-to-be, Knix also makes leakproof underwear for worry-free protection.
Burgundy Fox
If the lingerie shopping experience for you is close to unbearable, you must give Burgundy Fox a try. This subscription-style service not only delivers gorgeous pieces right to your door but self-care items are also enclosed. Each month, you can choose from various lingerie brands and from the look of it, it seem that most brands offer inclusive sizing. Not only can you add in lifestyle gifts but they also ship to Canada, so that’s a plus!
Aerie
A mall favourite, Aerie offers cheap and cheerful undies that are approachable and uncomplicated. Perfect for all shapes and sizes, this is lingerie that’s perfect for everyday and any woman. Aerie’s bras make you feel good— trust me, when you find the right one, you’ll know what I mean. Don’t miss out on shopping the deals online and make sure you check out the swimwear too!
Savage x Fenty
Is there anything Rihanna can’t do? The Savage x Fenty line, designed by Riri herself, not only produces beautiful pieces but it’s all super inclusive with sizes ranging from XS-3X and 32A-42DDD. And this isn’t your regular old pair of knickers, these are trendy undergarments that you’ll be wanting to show off.
Featured Image: Instagram/@savagexfenty
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February has arrived, folks and with that comes all things Valentine’s Day. For some, V-Day is a day that is all about love, chocolate, and sex, but for some, it’s just another day of the week.
Regardless of how you celebrate, who says you can’t still treat yourself? One way to get in the festive spirit (too far?) is lingerie!
Lingerie can definitely be a treat for that “special someone” but it’s also a great way to boost your confidence and put a little spring in your step — even if you’re the only one who knows what you’re rocking underneath.
These 9 Toronto lingerie stores are the perfect place to start shopping and trust me — they’re totally worth getting your knickers in a twist over!
Stole My Heart
Instagram/@stolemyheart_to
If you’ve never been to this super sweet lingerie store, then you’ve definitely seen it on your IG feed. Expertly blending sex appeal with girly romance is Stole My Heart on Dundas West. They’re known for their carefully curated selection of stunning pieces with fun patterns and cheeky details that celebrate the diversity of women.
Secrets From Your Sister
Instagram/@secretsfromyoursister
Specializing in bra fitting, Secrets From Your Sister believe that getting the right fit is something that every woman deserves because the right bra means you’ll not only look good but feel good too! With so much selection for everyone regardless of shape or size, you’re bound to find a few pieces that give you all the confidence in the world!
Rêve Rouge
Instagram/@reverougelingerie
Located a bit north of the downtown core at Bayview Village is Rêve Rouge, and it’s there that you will find smart yet mega sexy lingerie. Carrying a wide assortment of lingerie brands plus their own in-house line, this is the place to go if you’re looking for more than one style or design — it’s the perfect one-stop shop!
Fortnight Lingerie
Instagram/@fortnightlabel
Toronto-born Fortnight Lingerie is as iconic and well-known as it is gorgeous, so there’s no doubt why they made the list. Combining vintage design (think high waists and boning detail) with modern colours and details, these pieces are made to last and trust me, you’ll want to keep them. Plus, make sure you check out the latest collab with MISFITSTUDIO because who doesn’t love velvet rose-gold lingerie?
Tryst
Instagram/@amanda.sobers
A Queen West staple, Tryst knows that us gals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and so do our breasts. That’s why they make sure to stock a variety of bras that are inclusive to all. Their expert fitters are always there to help you find your best fit and their pieces are always gorgeous, comfortable and supportive!
LoversLand
Instagram/@loversland
Looking for dreamy lingerie? Get ready to fall in love with LoversLand! Inspired by all things bridal, this is probably the most magical and whimsical shops I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Their super cool and easy breezy pieces are chic without being over complicated. Even if you’re not getting hitched anytime soon, this store needs to be on your list!
Avec Plaisir
Instagram/@avecplaisirca
Yorkville’s own Avec Plaisir is revered for their ultra fine selection of lingerie and fine it is! Its owner and founder, Vasilia, won’t allow any collections that don’t meet her standards to grace the shelves, so you know what you’re shopping is top notch. These pieces might be a bit more expensive than others but they’ll last you ages and have you feeling fabulous!
Change
Instagram/@gisellafrancisca
With a mission to provide the perfect bra to as many women as possible around the world, Change Lingerie is definitely one to add to your knickers list. Designed to fit each one of our unique curves, their lingerie selections are functional but still sexy enough for, well, sexy time.
Mary Young
Instagram/@itsmaryyoung
Celebrating all things self-love is Mary Young and trust me, you’ll love yourself even more in one of these pieces. What’s unique about Mary Young is that they take comfortable everyday undies and blend it with what we everything we love about sassy lingerie. The result is lingerie that’s mega sexy yet still comfortable and wearable!
Featured image: Instagram/@stolemyheart_to
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When Toronto-based clothing designer and entrepreneur Mary Young first started her clothing line nearly three years ago, she noticed a lack of inclusion and diversity in the fashion industry that just didn’t sit well with her. She saw that there was a “very niche category of who a woman is suppose to be and it [was] not accurate.”
As a strong believer that every woman is the ‘ideal woman,’ Young took it upon herself to work to transform the way women see and feel about their bodies starting at the base level: their lingerie.
“After studying the industry for so long, I realized that there was a gap for lifestyle lingerie that focused on comfort and ease versus show pieces and restructuring of the natural body,” said Young. She said lingerie companies were designing with other people people in mind, those seeing the lingerie in an intimate setting, rather than the women actually wearing them.
Trading thick padding and stiff underwire for nylon mesh and bamboo cotton, Mary Young’s namesake brand was born and has since developed a cult-like following in the city. Being previously called the “anti-thesis of Victoria’s Secret,” the Canadian made lingerie and loungewear line understands the importance of fashionable yet comfortable clothing.
“Everything that we design is really focused on encouraging women to embrace their natural shape and celebrate comfort first.”
“The focus of the brand is about comfort, which is something you don’t often see in women’s wear. A lot of clothing, not just lingerie, but ready-to-wear, everyday garments are really focused on looking tailored, not really focusing on being comfortable,” said Young. “Everything that we design is really focused on encouraging women to embrace their natural shape and celebrate comfort first…from the base layers of lingerie, knowing that these garments can be everyday garments as well as worn in an intimate setting.”
But for Young, it’s not just about making women feel comfortable in their underwear — it’s also about helping instil confidence and positivity within those women when it comes to who they are. Mary Young isn’t just a name or a brand of clothing; it’s a culture and a community.
For Young, it’s not just about making women feel comfortable in their underwear — it’s also about helping instil confidence and positivity within those women when it comes to who they are.
“If you feel more confident in an underwire padded bra then that’s exactly what you should do; however you feel the most confident is what you should celebrate, but always ask why that makes you feel confident. Is it because you’ve been told that’s the right thing to do, or is it because your own soul and your gut is telling you that?” said Young.
Many designers try to sell women on an ideal image of who they should be, but with Young’s line, she wants to focus on enhancing who those women really are. It’s all part of the community she is building with her brand rather than just simply selling clothes.
“When it comes to community building, no matter what we’re doing we want to be celebrating other people as well… We’re building a brand, but we also want to be a part of a bigger community that’s growing together,” she said.
“When it comes to community building, no matter what we’re doing we want to be celebrating other people as well… We’re building a brand, but we also want to be a part of a bigger community that’s growing together.”
In the last three years, the 26-year-old’s clothing company has grown into a full-fledged brand and lifestyle. Young’s designs hang in a variety of storefronts across the country and her social channels have established a cult-like following with over 16,000 followers on Instagram alone.
“Social media has been a really important part of shaping the brand, especially the community and culture of it,” said Young. “Before social media was a thing, you really only got to know brands based on huge marketing campaigns and paid advertisements, not as much honest conversation, authentic imagery and storytelling which is what we do focus on.”
“With social media, you have a voice you have a platform and there’s a lot more you can do with it than just sell products. At the end of the day we are selling garments, but my biggest focus is encouraging women and men to open up, to be more supportive, to be more inclusive and to really just grow in a more positive way, and the way that I’m doing that is encouraging women to challenge what they’ve been told by the industry and by the media their entire lives,” said Young.
“At the end of the day we are selling garments, but my biggest focus is encouraging women and men to open up, to be more supportive, to be more inclusive and to really just grow in a more positive way…”
And it shows. Along with delivering modern yet simple garments that embody the new sexy in a back-to-basics sort of esthetic, Young has developed a platform for self-empowerment. She launched her Self Love Club Talks movement this past April – a series of talks, blog posts, events and social content focusing on celebrating, loving and accepting oneself.
“Buying lingerie is a way to treat yourself, and the way that our [brand] focuses on comfort is a different level of treating yourself than other brands,” said Young. “Women buy our products to wear every single day to feel good in every single day… There is not one ideal woman and we need to start celebrating our differences and actually embracing [them] instead of trying to fit into a very thin checklist of what we are suppose to be.”
You could consider it as being in the right place and the right time, but Young sees it as aligning herself with the right movements; movements that matter to not only her, but to her customers and followers as well.
“I just want to focus on helping women feel better, feel more positive in themselves and learn who they are versus who they’ve been told to be.”
All images by Sarah May
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Our good friends at Stole My Heart are throwing their first ever semi-annual sale. If you are looking for quality lingerie and underwear from brands you can’t find elsewhere, this is a great chance to get it at an amazing price. If you have never heard of Stole My Heart, it’s a local Lingerie boutique unlike any other! Their goal is to encourage women to embrace their unique femininity in beautiful pieces that prioritize the wearer’s experience above all else.
Founded by Amy Pearson and Ashley Holden, Stole My Heart caters to women of all different shapes and sizes who want to feel sexy on their own terms – pink lace, black and strappy or white cotton – they’ve got you covered. You can check them out at 1504 Dundas St. W. and online at stolemyheart.ca. The sale continues until March 19th and we hope to see you there! For our special StyleDemocracy readers, there is an additional discount code for an extra $10 off your sale purchase! The Code is STYLEDEMOCRACY and can be used once per person online or in-store.
