Happy Ness

To get myself back into the time-consuming yet enjoyable habit of blogging, rather than just posting on Instagram, I thought I'd blog my pictures and memories of my most recent trip to Loch Ness, one of my favourite places on Earth.

I do enjoy reading my old blogs once in a while, as they always remind me of travels and moments in my life that I know I'll especially treasure when I'm older... I think the reasons I've been blogging less in the last year or two are:

a) now that I live in the countryside, rather than in London, I tour every month at least once. I enjoy the lifestyle very much, but it would mean a lot more blogs if I wrote up every single one! I used to write quite detailed blogs about my tours when I only did 2 - 3 a year.
b) I'm just very, very busy with doing the actual modelling, touring and behind-the-scenes work, leaving less time to write about it. I do sometimes envy models who have enough time on their hands to blog extensively!

I was on tour for three weeks or so, which is pretty standard for a mainland UK tour, but this time I booked a whole five days off in the middle to go on holiday in Scotland with boyfy. I'm friends with a lovely couple who live in an idyllic log cabin on the shores of Loch Ness, who I met a couple of years ago when I took my little car off-roading and needed rescuing. After dragging me out of the woods in a 4x4, they took me back to their place to sit up drinking Scotch and getting to know each other until the sun rose the next day, and we've stayed in touch ever since.

This picture of my butt has nothing to do with my friends at Loch Ness, but it was shot during this trip to Scotland, so behold my Bettie Grable impression.

Thank you Bareskin Beauty skincare and Mya Minerals eyeshadows.

I had already driven as far as their place over the space of a week or so of working my way up from Somerset, shooting along the way. We picked boyfy up from Inverness Airport and drove along the famous and beautiful Cattle Pass to a gorgeous little pub on the edge of a loch, where the owners row out in their boat every day and serve the catch in the pub that evening, along with lots of very old Scottish whiskies.

After dinner, we "glamped" in what I can only describe as a hobbit log cabin, then continued exploring West Scotland the next day.

We dropped in on Nessie Steve, the world's foremost Loch Ness Monster hunter, and let him know that he was in the new issue of Fortean Times! He gave me a funny little Nessie he made in his converted mobile library home.

We spent our last evening in Scotland on our hosts' private beach on the shores of Loch Ness, with them and their dogs.

We even got taken out onto the Loch in their boat! Then it was party time as the sun went down over the water.

The next day, I showed boyfy Boleskine Burial Ground, and then we started driving South the scenic route via Glencoe, so that we could have a vegetarian haggis lunch at the equally spooky C18th pub, The Drovers' Inn, which is full of taxidermy and antique weaponry. We vowed to return in the winter and spend a night at the inn when the huge open fire is blazing and it's snowing outside!

We/ I have definitely been spoiled this year; we didn't go on holiday for years, but this was our second holiday this year after Paris. Next up we are going to Cornwall in September and Amsterdam for the first time in October. If anyone can recommend places to stay in Amsterdam, do let me know using the link below, as we are still looking for an apartment for four (we are going with another couple we're friends with).

What do you think? Comment on Facebook!

New art nude, the lovely bones

I love thoughtful, slightly abstract art nude work that encourages you to see the human body with a different perspective than you might normally. Case in point: this beautiful exhibition image by Ian Farrell. I really enjoyed working with Ian and hope to do more with him soon.

Skincare by Bareskin Beauty

Today is a "beauty day" in preparation for near-constant touring between now and Christmas. For any photographer who might read my blog and would like to work with me, these are the only dates I have left available this year. Next year is looking pretty rammed right up until April, too, so I'd advise grabbing one of these dates if you possibly can:

1. Wednesday 9 December- Cambridgeshire- full day available
2. Saturday 12 December, 3.20 - 6.20pm @ Art Asylum Studio, Weymouth, Dorset, £150 all-inclusive
3. Sunday 13 December, morning only- anywhere between Plymouth and Perranporth, Devon/ Cornwall

That's it! 

Now it's time to get a full body wax, a vintage half-moon manicure for the Hollywood Glamour workshop I'm modelling for tomorrow, dye my hair, and put on a lovely green Bareskin Beauty face mask while I pack my new hot pink Diane Von Furstenberg suitcase with extra props and goodies ^_^

I might also make some of this stuff today, if I have time; it looks divine, and I'm sure the photographers at the workshop wouldn't mind testing it for me :)

What do you think? Please comment over on Facebook!

Androgyne

I'm off to my yoga class. I'll just leave this new nude photo shot by KJT here :)

Thank you Bareskin Beauty for providing the raw organic skincare for this shoot! It really helps a girl feel confident in her skin :)

Fairy Cave

This blog is brought to you by the in-room wifi at an old-style luxurious Victorian manor I'm staying at in Surrey. I had a great shoot with one of my favourite photographers today, followed by an interview in my hotel room for KFS TV, followed by a three-course solo dinner- as I was absolutely starved by 5pm!

Here are a couple of photos by Rlux from a recent shoot in a cave in Somerset! I came back the following day with a torch to explore it further :D

I love the way the seams in the rock behind me have given me fairy wings.

Two shoots in London tomorrow: the first, me showing a photographer round some of my old London locations, and the second in the studio, which is also being filmed for TV. Then a girls-only dinner with my friends Roswell Ivory and Luci Alice ♥

Right now I'm relaxing with a Bareskin Beauty clay face mask while drawing a candlelit bath in my hotel room. If you haven't already seen it, I explain how I keep my skin clear and healthy while travelling in this video :)

Facebook and Instagram are also great places to keep up with me- they're quicker to update than my blog if I get a quick patch of phone signal between shoots! If you have any questions about modelling, either as an experienced model or as someone just thinking about giving modelling a try, please read this first (available worldwide through various websites)- it's £12.99 well invested as it will save you sooo much time, money and misdirected effort!

Lots of love,

♥ Anita ♥

Free "Ugly" Girl's Guide to Modelling video: Maintaining perfect "model" skin on tour (or on holiday)

Welcome to my first #MondayModelBiz video!!! :D

Scroll down and click the play button to watch it!

If you've read The "Ugly" Girl's Guide to Modelling, you'll know that my nutritionist, Juliette Scarfe and I talk extensively about how to achieve and most importantly, maintain (isn't that the hardest part?!) what I call in the book perfect "model" skin.

Hopefully you've enjoyed some of The "Ugly" Girl's Guide to Modelling easy and beautifying vegan recipes, tested some of the advice and are already experiencing great results every day! Even if this is new to you, though, you should be interested in this video I made for you about how to maintain great skin on the road, whether you're a model on tour or getting ready to have the best holiday photos ever when you go away this summer!

Planning your Summer holidays? Our favourite model Anita de Bauch gives us her beauty tips when travelling, including several products from our range, thanks Anita!
Posted by Bareskin Beauty on Saturday, 6 June 2015

Now I'm off to yoga, followed by lunch with my inspirational grandmother (88 year-old vegetarian with decades of yoga under her belt, and still a size 8!), and my cats, Dexter and Lilith! Have a great Monday, beauties!

Anita x

When you're- with Anita- have a yabba-dabba-doo time!

I can't believe I didn't blog my cavegirl pictures yet :o

I've been wanting to do a retro cavegirl shoot inspired by Wilma Flintstone, Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC and Bettie Page's leopard pin-ups with Bunny Yeagar for literally years so it was great to finally get around to doing it with Leather Lovers, Fabulously Fetish, Bareskin Beauty and Luci Alice at my Lux Studio Day in Maidstone!

Here are my inspiration images!

My next studio day is a combined studio, dungeon AND boudoir day with all the appropriate sets at Fine & Dan Dee Studio in Wokingham on Saturday 6 June, if any photographers reading this are interested :) There is only one shoot left. contact@anitadebauch.com.

I hope everyone had a fun Bank Holiday weekend. Mine was mostly spent either drinking champagne or sleeping, although I did find time earlier in the week for a heavy rubber shoot and a skincare infomercial.

I also managed to enjoy some of the weather over the weekend, including visiting a local C14th church tower and climbing all the way to the top of the roof. It was on the same day I heard the good news about Ireland voting in marriage equality, so it seemed very fitting to be standing on a church in the glorious sunshine!

7 original gift ideas for the glamorous gift-giver

It's that time of year again- when busy people and procrastinators alike start the mad online dash to order Christmas presents!

You don't have to order everything from Amazon, though. I've collected some gift ideas together from brands I love, as well as things you can make at home, to make glamorous, luxurious, sensual gifts that are still reasonably priced. At least one of these seven original gift ideas for the glamorous gift-giver should work for whoever you're buying for- maybe more than one :)

Photographed by Peter Scott

Bareskin Beauty natural organic skincare

I'll start with Bareskin Beauty products because I just ordered a bunch as a gift for myself... my skin did not enjoy being without them for six weeks on tour! Their very high-end, luxurious raw organic products come in pretty glass packaging and smell good enough to eat. There is currently a sale on Bareskin Beauty gift sets.


Scented beeswax candles

Beeswax candles are the highest quality and most expensive candles. I got interested in beeswax candles after I learned that they actually cleanse the air, rather than polluting it like paraffin candles do, and discovering that their burn time is much much longer, making them just as good value for money in my eyes!

I make my own at home using plenty of essential oil to scent them, as the ones I've bought in shops don't smell nearly enough for me! I don't like a subtly scented candle, I want to light it and then have the whole room instantly have an opulent, relaxing atmosphere, without having to wait, or light five at once! They're really easy to make using this beeswax candle-making tutorial. I like tying ribbons around the jars to decorate them.


Playful Promises retro lingerie

A shop assistant in a sex shop once advised me, don't hesitate to buy your girlfriends sexy gifts, because why should we wait for the men to buy them for us? It's a good call! Receiving sexy lingerie from a platonic friend is good low-pressure fun, since they're not expecting to see you in it- they just want you to enjoy it! Playful Promises do lovely retro bras, knickers and suspender belts as well as makeup and corsets.

Playful Promises lingerie and Fabulously Fetish shoes shot by LanesRo1

Handmade chocolates

There is so much cheap junk "food" circulating at Christmas that it's wonderful to receive handmade healthy chocolates from friends. Sophisticated dark chocolate really can be very healthy, and it's great to turn up to a party with them as well as the bottle of champagne! My favourites are these Thyroid-Boosting Macaroons. I don't find the liquid stevia is necessary as they are sweet enough, and all the other ingredients can be found in an ordinary supermarket if you are willing to substitute ordinary cocoa powder for the raw cacao. I like to serve them on a vintage cake stand, sprinkled with extra coconut, or wrap an ordinary little box in posh wrapping paper to make a chocolate box for a friend.


Fabulously Fetish shoes

If you really want to splash out on a girlfriend, mother, sister or cool auntie, get their foot measurements and have the shoes of their dreams custom-made in real leather by Fabulously Fetish. It gives a sophisticated option for what to wear to impress on New Year's Eve.


The "Ugly" Girl's Guide to Modelling

Of course, I'm going to recommend my own book... because I made it the best resource for freelance models, and any woman wanting to gain body-confidence and model beauty secrets! It is designed to help anyone look better both in real life and in photos, as well as giving lots of information and inspiration for models at all levels, from total beginners to seasoned professionals, to get the most out of their career- something we think a lot about around Christmas and New Year as this tends to be our quiet time. It also makes a great companion to any new year's resolutions you might have to get fit, healthy, slim and more beautiful for 2015. You can do it :) I don't even know if it will be out in time for Christmas, but you can add it to your Amazon Wishlist here.


Lady Allura's Latex

Lady Allura is a properly trained fashion designer who makes latex couture to order, in whatever classic or avant-garde styles you can think of, and focuses on making styles that suit petite, standard and voluptuous figures too.


A photo shoot with me

If you're buying for a photographer, you can buy gift vouchers for shoot time with me- just email me at contact@anitadebauch.com and imagine their face!


Quality time

The most important thing about this time of year is to take stock of what is important to you and enjoy time off work to spend with those you love. We only get a limited amount of time to spend with anyone in one lifetime, so quality time really is the most valuable gift :) If you aren't able to see certain people over Christmas, use the time to make plans with them for the New Year. You'll remember the time you spent together more than you remember what you got for Christmas last year.

Much love, and season's greetings!

Anita

Natural eye cream review: Bareskin Beauty vs Dr. Organic

If you follow my blog, you'll know I'm a big fan of natural, ethical skincare products! And like Oscar Wilde, "I have simple tastes- I only like the best." It's important to me to have bright, youthful eyes for photo shoots and to feel confident at go-sees, so I'm always looking to improve my skincare regimen.

In this blog, I'm going to compare my old eye cream, Dr Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Eye Perfect, with my new eye cream, Bareskin Beauty Illuminating Eye Serum.

 Looks life-size on my screen!

I should declare a potential conflict of interests from the start- I'm sponsored by BsB and so the Eye Serum was a gift- but I will still try to be as honest as possible with my review here. As they say, the proof is in the pudding- if you're not convinced by what I'm about to say, please do put me to the test by trying out the creams yourself! :)


Test 1: Price

Let's cut straight to the chase! Great skincare is never going to be hiding in the 99p bin at Superdrug, sadly, but how much do these eye creams retail at?

• Bareskin Beauty: £19
• Dr Organic: £8.99

Winner: Dr Organic, a whole tenner cheaper per 15ml than BsB!


Test 2: Ingredients

It's what's inside that counts! Bareskin Beauty Illuminating Eye Serum has the full ingredients listed on the jar itself:

Aloe Barbensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter*, Glycerine, Glycerine Aqua Sucrose Laurate, Ribes Nigrum, Tocopherols, Mauritia Flexuosa Oil*, Argania Spinosa Oil*, Daucus Carota Fruit Oil, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
* organically sourced

The full ingredients aren't listed on the Dr Organic Eye Perfect, either on the tube itself or online. Maybe it was on the cardboard packaging it came in, which has long since been recycled. It does say that ingredients include:

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil enriched with Coconut Fruit Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Sea Plankton, Papaya Fruit Extract, Mango Fruit Extract, Cocoa Seed Extract, Mangosteen Fruit Extract, Fig Fruit Extract, Orange Fruit Extract, Bergamot Oil, Lemon Peel Oil and Vitamin C

Frankly, I don't know which list ought to be superior for eye care as I'm not an expert, but the fact that I am actually able to see everything in the Illuminating Eye Serum makes Bareskin Beauty a clear winner for me.

Winner: Bareskin Beauty, simply because Dr Organic don't provide a comprehensive ingredients list, for some reason.


Test 3: Packaging

... seeing as I mentioned packaging in the last paragraph! Here's that picture again so you don't have to scroll up.

• Bareskin Beauty: Recyclable glass jar with white plastic lid. The lid has a cardboard seal inside, so the cream never actually comes into contact with plastic, and has a soft pink and white Bareskin Beauty sticker on it, with the cherry blossom logo. Clean design, quite simple but pretty, and reasonably environmentally friendly. The jar could also be upcycled into a "small things" storage facility if you washed it once it was empty (I think mine might become a travel antihistamines pot, boo hayfever). If I blob a bit too much out onto my finger, I can scrape it back off into the jar, and I can wipe every last drop out with my finger, so there's no wastage.
• Dr Organic: Non-recyclable plastic tube which came in recyclable but unnecessary throwaway cardboard packaging. The shape is convenient for storing in the tooth mug if bathroom shelf space is severely limited with all your other products, but unfortunately means that if you accidentally squeeze too much out, you can't get it back in again, and you can't get the last of it out unless you cut the whole thing up with scissors, making the tube run out faster than it probably should do. The shiny silver lid was pretty initially (shiny shiny!) but rubbed off over time, so it looked a bit scruffy:

Winner: Bareskin Beauty. Jars are better than tubes!



4. Scent & appearance

• Bareskin Beauty: natural creamy colour cream with a slippery texture, leaving a soft oiliness on the skin after being rubbed in. My sense of smell admittedly isn't great, but I would call it fragrance-free.
• Dr Organic: bright ice white cream with a slippery texture, becoming slightly sticky after being rubbed in. Smells of coconut, which is always a plus, in my book!

Winner: Bareskin Beauty. Might not smell of much, but looks and feels more inviting.


5.  Efficacy

Which one was better for filling out my fine lines?

• Bareskin Beauty: slight results visible immediately, improving with twice daily use.
• Dr Organic: I will probably always have a soft spot for Dr Organic because it was the first natural skincare product I ever bought. I bought the eye cream to replace evil Clinique, and sadly, the results just weren't as good as evil Clinique, much as I wanted them to be :(

Winner: Bareskin Beauty. It seems you get what you pay for.


Conclusion

Bareskin Beauty Illuminating Eye Serum is the overall winner for me, beating Dr Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Eye Perfect with four advantages to one. I love a bargain as much as the next girl, but even for £8.99, I think you could possibly get a better eye cream than Dr Organic.

Bareskin Beauty might be a well-kept secret among models and celebrities atm but I would rather spend the extra £10 every other month (or however long it takes you to completely use up a whole tub of eye cream) and get something that actually works, not to mention the detox aspect of the cream not coming into contact with plastic, and the environmental impact of less wastage.


Where to go from here?

To learn how to eat for bright, beautiful eyes, I recommend reading Kimberly Snyder's new book, The Beauty Detox Foods, and booking a holistic facial with Juliette Scarfe at Bareskin Beauty, London.

Stay beautiful!

Anita x

#WardrobeWednesday with Damian McGillicuddy, Olympus & Bareskin Beauty!

Hi everyone!

I'm writing this on my sofa, in a peach robe, with Lilith purring in it, and drinking almond cappuccino with cinnamon sprinkles from a big china mug. Apparently people like to know these things.

Anyway!

Check out this new photo shot in Finland last month with Damian McGillicuddy using Olympus! I borrowed my boyfriend's tie for this shoot.

I'm quite impressed by just how much you can see my nipple through that blouse. I don't know if it actually looked like that at the time or was enhanced in Photoshop. I did the hair and makeup, skincare is by Bareskin Beauty :) The hair was super easy, I just used coconut oil to slick it down.

Bought some new makeup online today, in fact; I'm gradually converting from MAC to organic pure mineral products. Less talc = less spots. I recently got a bunch of new BsB natural products and my skin looked better immediately after using the Clay Mask and Antioxidant Toner, which inspired me to think, "what else can I do? Improve my makeup case!"

Yesterday's lips =

BsB lip balm + Rimmel Dynamite pencil + MAC Girl About Town applied with MAC lip brush

Here's a little video of me visiting the BsB kitchen in London last weekend, in case you didn't already see it on Vine:

Full day shoot yesterday, spa mineral bath with Thornton's Champagne truffles courtesy of boyfy last night, and full day's domestic goddess activities today. I've already done last night's washing up, three loads of laundry, scratch-made two kinds of soup (Kim Snyder's detox vegan Thai soup, and my own vegan Italian tomato & Chanteray carrot), baked preservative-free vegan wholemeal with coconut oil and BsB Himalayan pink salt, and assembled a huge pile of clothes for mending. I feel super-efficient. Now to see if I can remember how to thread up my digital sewing machine!

 Oh and guess what?

I've officially been modelling for EIGHT YEARS this month.

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Cheers everyone!

PS, does anyone know where I can buy a pair of these in the UK??? They are actually my perfect pair of sunglasses. I think I could handle paying 250 bucks for them if I had prescription lenses put in and wore them forever.

Meeting Dita Von Teese

In case you didn't already know, I met DITA VON TEESE in Bloomingdale's in March!

I know!!

How I looked on the outside:

Photographer: Jennifer Mitchell

 How I looked on the inside:

Dita's book Burlesque and the Art of the Teese is what first inspired me to actually try modelling nearly eight years ago, and along with my now quite decent library of vintage photo books and glamour icon biographies, has been a part of my creative make-up ever since. I might never have tried to make a living from doing and being what I love if it weren't for this amazing lady!

I was interviewed and photographed by Dita's team before proceeding to blather to her in an exceedingly starstruck but totally honest way about what a big fan I am, how inspiring she is, etc. I handmade her a personalised little "business" card in case she ever happens to need a well-informed pin-up model for one of her events in the UK!

It could happen!!

Photographer: David Prutting/ BFA Photo

I got a pair of Dita's Madame X knickers, too. The Madame X range is awesomes for petite/ athletic ladies. It kind of marks out where your curves are so they can't be missed.

Also, I got this :)

***Squee!***

Hair fashion shoot for Robert Owen Haircutters with Fabulously Fetish and Bareskin Beauty

Hello, faithful blog readers! I have so many photos to post from shoots and general travels in the UK and US that there are far too many for just one post :)

I was shooting in New York for ten days, flew back to London straight away for two more shoots, then got sick for four days (just a cold but I was laid up in bed and looking at the laptop screen made my eyes hurt >.<), then it was back to photo and music video shoots and trying to catch up on emails! So I haven't really properly updated here for like a month >.<

Thanks for keeping up with me on Facebook and Twitter (if you are), but as we all know, the blog is the place for *extensive* photo set publishing and rambling details ;)

So I'll be catching up on what I've been doing in upcoming blogs:

1. I have a cover and 14 page interview and pictorial in BeDeSeMe magazine :D
2. I shot with lots of lovely people in New York and New Jersey, met Dita Von Teese, and found time to do a bit of tourist-ing and vintage clothes shopping too :D
3. I shot a combined Bo Ningen music video and fashion film for Nowness with Marie Schuller, Head of Fashion Film at Nick Knight's SHOWstudio (and director of Oyster), which I believe is out 5th May :D

I also have some fab new photos from a hair fashion shoot that I did with Andrew McMeekin and his team at Robert Owen Haircutters in Norfolk last month. I know people always say this,  but this was a truly wonderful day with a wonderful photographic team. Thank you Andrew for specially ordering in my vegan lunch- it was much appreciated ^_^

Please click the images for larger versions:

I did the makeup and wardrobe styling- the dress is inspired by Rita Hayworth's scintillating gown in Gilda (1946) and my shoes are by Fabulously Fetish :) Skincare by Bareskin Beauty.

I think I've answered all my emails now, just need to dig through my Facebook inbox and reply to those messages!

I have already found time to post this week's #NakedSundays shots though, which are by Stephen Perry: 

http://anitadebauch.tumblr.com/post/81868876400

x

Anita De Bauch's guide to Valentine's Day, for him, for her, for you.

Photographer: Phine Ka | Wardrobe: Fabulously Fetish | Skincare: Bareskin Beauty

I'm a full-time vintage glamour and nude model, I'm in a long-term relationship, and I love any excuse to celebrate something.

Sometimes I just celebrate the fact that I finished my emails early and there's something good on telly. I've just sort of become like that in my twenties :)

So, even though it can be almost as hideously crass and commercial as Christmas, but with added pressure to "be attractive", I do celebrate Valentine's Day every year, as long as I'm actually home and not on a shoot in some exotic country overseas.

Fun, romance, sexiness, closeness, feeling special- these things aren't restricted to Valentine's Day, but then why would anyone want to avoid them, either? Roll on, 14th February!

With this in mind, I've written my own little guide full of personal Valentine's Day tips for everyone, whether you're in a relationship or not. Enjoy!


For Him

Traditional gifts are perfectly acceptable as long as they are given thoughtfully- a silk tie he'll definitely love, a bottle of his aftershave, a DVD of his favourite porno (NOT a knock-off!). This isn't a day to try and mould him into something he isn't, so avoid cuff links if he wears button cuffs, tickets to an event he isn't interested in or a bottle of wine if he's a whisky drinker. Find something he'll enjoy receiving that you'll also enjoy giving.

Which brings us conveniently to the sex. Not that any man worth dating should be making negative judgements about you in the bedroom, but to make yourself feel even more sexy and secure in your skin, prep your body at home in a candlelit bathroom with a Spicy Spa Body Scrub followed by a high quality, intensive raw chocolate body butter.

Create an atmosphere in your boudoir that makes you feel sensual: soft lighting, incense (I find men seem to like Indian Nag Champa!), silk sheets, romantic music. I mean, do it right now! Don't wait until Valentine's Day! Get comfortable in that room alone as well as in company, so that it always feels natural to be relaxed and confident in there :)

If you're a girl dressing for your partner, wearing classic sexy lingerie that makes you feel great is always advised! The classics have stood the test of time for a reason; they are flattering to all women, regardless of age, body type or skin tone. Playful Promises do wonderful bra, suspender belt and knicker sets, as well as corsets and one-piece lingerie, which are super flattering for everyone, especially if you like to feel more "covered".

 Playful Promises bra set by Jim Nemer and suspender dress by CJ Chmiel.

Tip: wearing your knickers over your suspender belt is much more convenient for taking them off!

For Her

Now, there is a lot of nonsense out there about how women don't like traditional romantic gifts, usually perpetuated by companies trying to flog silly crap to worried people! Honestly, I don't know a woman who doesn't love being given roses or jewellery. There is a reason that these gift ideas have stood the test of time, too!

The key to success with any gift is to make it personal and thoughtful, and go for quality over quantity. One exquisite gift is infinitely better than an off-the-shelf selection from Boots or Tesco. Approach your local florist and get creative with them in designing the perfect bouquet for your darling instead of picking up a cheap posy from a supermarket. Similarly, instead of buying mass-produced jewellery, or showing off by buying expensive jewels, collaborate with an ethical artisan like Anathema Designs to create something beautiful and utterly unique :)

My personal favourite Anathema Designs jewellery- she does do fine, subtle pieces as well, but I like jewellery to be BIG :)
Photographer: Ian Cashman

On the other hand, a plastic statuette of a frog could be an ideal gift, if you know that your loved one happens to have a thing about plastic frogs! In this case, I would recommend balancing the idiosyncratic gift with a traditional romantic one like the roses or jewellery, and never ever buy a woman something practical for Valentine's Day!

If you'd like to surprise her with lingerie, check her lingerie drawer first. Read the labels to figure out what sizes to get and see what colours and styles she likes.

Valentine's Day isn't a good time to start springing new things on your partner- a lingerie "gift" that you kind of know she'll hate, or fetish items that she's never shown an interest in. Start small. Some beautiful fetish-friendly gifts for Valentine's Day could include retro lingerie, seamed silk stockings, a bespoke pair of skyscraper heels, a hardback erotic novel with a handwritten dedication, or some custom-made latex hair bows and flowers in pretty colours (generally, pastels work with blonde hair, jewel colours for brunettes and redheads, anything goes with jet black hair, and black goes with everything).

 Leather boots and suspender belt by Fabulously Fetish.
Photographer: Phine Ka

Tip: if you haven't figured out how your partner likes your facial fuzz yet, ask! Use the best raw shaving products you can find to make your skin look and feel kissable.


For You

Wearing Lady Allura's Latex, shot by 3 Elements

I've saved the best till last!

Whether you choose to date on Valentine's Day or not, you should take some time out to love yourself, for sure. I love getting Juliette Scarfe on board to take care of my body, inside and out, and buying myself any of the items listed above: latex, lingerie, jewellery, flowers, the works!

This year, I bought myself some scented beeswax candles, an exotic orchid with red heart-shaped flowers, and I'm even collaborating with Lady Allura's Latex to create a signature Anita De Bauch capsule collection. As an experienced rubber-wearer, I've always wanted to design latex that was of an elegant and beautiful quality, easy to wear and affordable, which is what this collection will be! at least we'll know what to buy next year ;)

Anita xx