Toronto’s fashion industry gathered at Wychwood Barns on the summer’s hottest day (not just because of the lingerie, we were having a heat wave!) to see La Lingerie Française present its sexiest brands, including Chantelle, Empreinte, Passionata, Princesse tam•tam, Antinéa, Simone Pérèle, Lise Charmel, and Gerbe.

When it comes to lingerie, the french do it best. Chantelle Paris has been creating couture lingerie since 1876! As described in Simone Pérèle’s Summer 2010 lookbook, the french woman is “fulfilled, perceptive and elegant… She is a woman with natural distinction.” And that is exactly what we saw coming down the runway at La Lingerie Française presents “A French Rendez Vous”.

Although many of us women would like our men to think we spend hours choosing matching lace numbers to put under our clothes every morning, we usually throw on a pair of cotton panties and the most comfortable bra to head out of the house. What we learned at “A French Rendez Vous” is that the fashion we wear underneath is just as important as the fashion the world sees.

We got the inside scoop on what is hot in lingerie this upcoming season from Paul Fabrizio, Empreinte’s Managing Director. When shopping for lingerie this fall, copper tones and dark grays are the season’s hottest colors. And lace, lace, lace!

“Don’t be shy,” Fabrizio says. “Show it off, whether it is a strap or a little bit of the neckline. It is all about confidence.”

Photo by: George Pimentel