Good things come to those who...

I forgot to say before, but we ended up backing out of that C18th home we wanted to buy when the surveyor told us it was a total disaster zone. It was disappointing at the time, but I'm happy to report that we've now had our offer accepted on a much bigger, brighter and better value castle in the sky  :D

It's a Georgian townhouse with guest bedrooms for putting my model friends up in when they visit, space downstairs for a modest photo studio with French doors leading onto the patio, a library, meditation room and a rooftop garden with lovely views of the Somerset countryside. We can't wait to move in and I can't wait to shoot in it!

 

These photos are from Orchid Corsetry's AW15 campaign, which was launched on Saturday 31 October, shot by Salleh Sparrow in a huge abandoned house. (My skincare was provided by Bareskin Beauty and I did my own hair and makeup.) I love how she's picked up the luxurious texture of the fabric on this corset.

I think ^this^ one might be my personal favourite. It was tough not being allowed to share these images with you until after Halloween! Good things come to those who...

What do you think? Please comment over on Facebook!

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

Beyond Burlesque fashion editorial in British MODE magazine by Dave Kai-Piper! #WardrobeWednesday

... in... November... last year... I am comically behind in my blogging! It seems I either have time to live life or time to write about it, but not both, atm! Must get back into the habit of blogging little and often! It's nice to have a daily/ weekly record of my life as a model to look back on.

Anyway! Four lovely lovely pages in British MODE of bridal fashion by Vivienne Westwood's corsetierre Belinda Chorley, shot by Dave Kai-Piper, hair and makeup by Candy. Yay!

My hair colour is much more orange now than it is here. I kind of miss this red/ rust colour. Might introduce it back in at some point :)

#tbt with Tim Haylock: vintage bikini babe :D

I almost always have the date an image was shot as part of its jpeg name on my hard drive, but obviously forgot with this one. Judging by the length of my hair, and the fact that it's black, I'm guessing it was taken circa 2009/10 EDIT: photographer just Tweeted me to say it was taken in 2008!:

Photographer: Tim Haylock | Styling: moi

I cut my hair yesterday so that both sides are now the same length (just below my chin in a bob). Having one side longer than the other was fun when it was short but just annoying when it started getting long. Maybe I'll grow my hair out long again, if I can maintain the condition- no mean feat considering the amount of heat, hairspray and dye my hair is exposed to.

Makeup and hairspray-free selfie to vaguely show new hair length

Felt inexplicably upbeat whilst retrieving medicinal caffeine from Costa this morning. The sun is shining, the trees are full of blossom and my 1930s lounge finally has double-glazing :p Anyone who has been to my place will appreciate how good this is. I'm not a huge fan of vintage realism, I just like everything to be beautiful and luxurious, so very happy to have a warmer, quieter lounge ready for THREE photos shoots in there tomorrow.

Merrily procrastinating now as I have finished dyeing my hair for tomorrow but still need to finish cleaning and tidying my silver satin 1940s "boudoir", before the workmen leave and I can clean an inch of dust off of everything in the 1930s lounge and move all the furniture back. Hopefully my soy cappuccino will kick in anytime.... NOW

I leave you with another pic from my Playful Promises lingerie/ Fabulously Fetish boots/ Lady Allura's Latex pendant shoot in Cambridge, this time by the lovely David Morley. We work really well together and have already booked in another shoot for the end of the month, when I'm back in the UK :)

Hair & makeup by meee | Nutrition advice and skincare by Bareskin Beauty

#WardrobeWednesday with Bryan Shaw, Playful Promises, Fabulously Fetish, Lady Allura's Latex & Bare Skin Beauty

I started writing this blog back at Norwich Station after three days of shooting in Norfolk and by stealing free wifi from Pumpkin Cafe, and am just finishing at home now! I would have bought a cappuccino but they didn't do vegan milk >:(

Fittingly for "#FetishFriday", Friday was a bondage shoot for me! I was supposed to have another bondage shoot in Norwich the morning before, but unfortunately it was cancelled as the photographer had another emergency with his dog. Annoying situation overturned by thinking about how upset I'd be if one of my cats had to be rushed to pet hospital on the morning of a shoot, or anytime, for that matter. Poor doggy :(

In the afternoon after the cancelled shoot, I had a fashion shoot in Kings Lynn to keep me out of trouble, and the day before that, two fashion shoots in one day in different Norfolk towns! I'm so glad I get Virgin Atlantic air miles from all my train tickets!

When I was up north last week, I also worked for a lovely couple who run a slew of bondage sites. They've just bought new lights and equipment so the photos were extra nice, and they always give me time to get my hair, makeup and wardrobe just right :) Here's an outtake, in case you didn't already see it on Facebook/ Twitter/ Tumblr!

My cat isn't the only one who like to photo-bomb me!

Now for some proper modelling photos ;)

Now I'm home and have some moody black and white lingerie photos from my trip to Cambridge :) The lingerie was a gift from wonderful Playful Promises, the pendant from Lady Allura's Latex, and the amazing knee-high patent leather lace-up fetish boots were kindly lent for the shoot by Fabulously Fetish :)

 ^Click on the images to see larger versions :D

 Photographer: Bryan Shaw | Skincare & nutrition advice by Bareskin Beauty

Really enjoying  my new resolution to take the equivalent of two days off a week, like people with regular jobs do! It seems to have increased my productivity and general sense of wellbeing :) I booked off Monday - Thursday this week to compensate for two weeks without a single day off, and it feels amazing! I've been keeping up with emails of course, but that's it, other than Pilates :) Back to full-time shooting on Friday, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated :)

'Vintage Voyeur': striptease video for #StockingSaturday! & a vintage 1940s lingerie ad

I already posted this video on Twitter yesterday as part of #FetishFriday but I'll blog it today for #StockingSaturday, 'cos it's too good to only watch once ;) It's a preview of a leg/ foot/ stocking fetish film called Vintage Voyeur that I shot with Silk Soles, which is from the same producers as Restrained Elegance. You have to pay to join the site and watch the full film of course, but you can watch the trailer for free :D

I love doing this kind of elegant, sensual fetish work :)

Having a heroically lazy day today: woke up at lunchtime, retrieved soy chai latte and a tiffin from Costa in my peach satin cami-knickers (admittedly with a coat on over the top, but it still felt weird) and did a little 20 minute workout.

Vintage peach satin cami-knickers advert in my 1940s Look book

If I'm not sleeping nude, I'm usually sleeping in these. Mine are 1940s reproductions, kindly gifted to me by my friends at Playful Promises. They offered me money to shoot for them, but I said I'd rather have some of their beautiful lingerie, and this was one of my choices! I'm a genuine vintage lingerie fetishist and so owning the items is more exciting than money to me! I don't think Playful Promises make these anymore, which is a shame as they are so comfortable to sleep in, and my boyfriend loves them, too.

Anyway, sweet dreams...

Anita xxxxx

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Waiting for you...

I was planning on having a romantic evening at the Richmond Grand Hotel in January, but being such a great setting, I simply couldn't resist inviting my photographer friend Phine Ka over to take some photos before my boyfriend arrived! She calls this set Waiting For You :)

Rawr!

I did the hair and makeup and the lingerie is from Playful Promises :)

Love and kisses,

Anita xxxx




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Come into my boudoir...

So what have I been doing since I last wrote to you? Well, shooting lots of latex, vintage and fetish, as usual!

I also took my father to see The Hobbit in 3D at the IMAX as part of his birthday treat- a treat for me as well, it was brilliant! I loved literally every second except the bit where the Great Goblin says, "That'll do it!" That was kind of on a par with Legolas skateboarding in Lord of the Rings :| But other than that, really cool. I started re-reading the book in the bath last night but doubt I'll have time to finish it, I have too many law textbooks to read.

I really want to go and see it again but don't think I'll have time between prancing around in latex, lingerie or nothing at all for photographers and designer clients and studying (I'm doing two courses at once atm, one in law and one in nutrition, phew!). I'm adding the Blu-Ray to my wishlist though! ;)

I should probably post a photo! This was taken in my bedroom...

Photographer: Jim Nemer | Hair and makeup: me

In case you're interested in this sort of thing, the wallpaper is an exact replica of the wallpaper that was in the Ritz Hotel's bedrooms in the 1940s! It is shimmering silver and sparkles by candlelight ♥ One cannot live with magnolia paint when one is living the dream!!

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It's National Stockings Day! Enjoy...

Well, I had to do a special blog for National Stockings Day, didn't I? Whether you favour seamed, fishnets, black, beige, bridal, nylon, stretch, non-stretch, patterned, plain or vintage fully fashioned stockings like I do, you cannot deny that the humble stocking has been a firmly established symbol of feminine sexual allure for over a century and looks firmly set to stay!

Here are some of my favourite pictures of ladies in stockings!

Dita Von Teese

Me in a black wig by Iain Thomson. I honestly hadn't seen Dita's version until just now!

Part of my recent Halloween campaign for Playful Promises lingerie, with Dexter!

My friend Khandie Khisses on the cover of Alan Moore's latest

Marlene Dietrich in Blue Angel

A slightly naughtier one from Dita to finish!

I hope you enjoyed my little stockings slide show and remember, if you like what you see then you can purchase pairs of my stockings in my Shop! I wear stockings every day so I figured they'd make ideal souvenirs- I wear them until they get a ladder and then add them to my "For Sale" pile! I'm saving up for something very special at the moment, so do go and treat yourself, especially since it's National Stockings Day and all...

Love and kisses,

Anita xxxx

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Mae West musings...

I finally finished decorating my bedroom/ boudoir! It is difficult to do when you only have time to do the odd little bit here and there, but it's done :)

My inspiration was Rita Hayworth's boudoir in Gilda, which was all silver and sparkly and 1940s deco. I love the art deco style- it must be the chicest aesthetic in history! I prefer staying at hotels and going to restaurants from this time period and even see all my movies at The Phoenix Cinema, which is over a century old and still has all its original 1930s deco facades inside!

My bedroom is now a dreamy, sparkling silver 1940s Hollywood deco, with a satin king-size bed, crystal chandelier, and mirrors, lots of mirrors. I like to have plenty of mirrors in a bedroom- not on the ceiling or anything cheesy like that, but elegantly worked into the furniture, the picture frames, the headboard. Even the jewellery boxes on my dressing table are made of mirrors! As 1930s movie icon, Mae West, once said, "I like to be able to see how I'm doing!" Maybe that's something else I should add to my wish list- a book of Mae West quotes!

Here are some of my favourite pictures of Mae West. Her curves, complexion and cheeky demeanor remind me of my burlesque friend, Khandie Khisses, a fellow throwback lover of vintage glamour and femininity :)

I suppose that since this is a personal blog, I should chat a little about what I've been doing, other than decorating and admiring pictures of Mae West! Well, I've been very busy, as usual!

I've been:

• modelling for Playful Promises' Halloween lingerie shots with Dexter!

• working on my glamorous Christmas cards and 2013 Calendars- now that they're perfect, they're available to order from my Shop!
• having girly nights out with Ivory Flame and Madame Bink, including taking in Nicolas Laborie's 'Confessions' photo exhibition
• modelling for the Yerburys' famous Boudoir Academy at the Master Photographers Association/ British Institute of Professional Photography workshop
• shopping, wining and dining with Hannah Ashlea, who was visiting from Hong Kong
• working on the amazing members' area of anitadebauch.com, the De Bauchery Lounge, coming soon!
• seeing David Attenborough's Who Do You Think You Really Are? at the Natural History Museum and the Marilyn Monroe exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery (both highly recommended) with Roswell Ivory
• celebrating my friend Dan Hubbert's birthday with some of my other model and photographer friends (it was also something of a housewarming as Dan is now renting our spare room so he has somewhere to stay during his visits from Stockholm!)
• doing some fabulous vintage lingerie shoots with great London photographers! I will post the pictures here if and when I get them, so subscribe now (top right of this page)!

Love and kisses,

Anita xoxo



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Land, Sea and Hair

I've been very busy since my last blog, but thought I would give myself a moment to settle down on the settee in my vintage satin robe and share a little of the last few days with you :)

I popped up to Scotland over the weekend for a shoot at Pavilion Studio in West Lothian, which is owned and run by photographer Barrie Spence. I've shot with Barrie before but this was the first time that I'd seen the studio and I was very impressed with it! It was warm, clean, well laid-out and well-equipped. I had three photo shoots in one day there (8 hours altogether) in great company, so it really was a very pleasant getaway! I will be able to share some of the photos, including Lady Lucie latex and Playful Promises lingerie, very soon, so subscribe to my blog now if you don't want to miss it (top right of this page)!

I watched about half of the Olympic opening ceremony with Barrie, his partner Fiona and shy Labrador Molly, and enjoyed it more than I expected! I even found the bit at the beginning with the suffragettes and soldiers very moving! It's easy for me to be cynical and forget just how much this country has evolved and contributed, considering how small it is. We became a non-slave-owning, atheist, openly gay, scientific, anti-fascist, artistically progressive culture with votes for women relatively early on and I like to think we are still progressing now!

It's a shame that they didn't make reference to important British scientists like Charles Darwin, or the UK's (relatively) thriving LGBT/ queer culture, but I suppose you can't have it all. You know that if I had been organising the event there would have been plenty more latex, 6" stiletto heels and fully fashioned seamed nylons! If you like those things too, then you'll love what I have in my Shop right now!!

Here is a brand new picture, as a reward for you if you actually read all that waffle up there ^

It was taken on the hot, sunny streets of Singapore last December by Singapore's leading photographic team, CaKe! We always shoot together at least twice when I visit Singapore and are already discussing our upcoming shoot this December!

Photographer and wardrobe stylist: Callan Tham @ CaKe! | Hair and makeup: Kenny Tan

On the theme of street fashion, I also have an outtake from a more recent shoot in Camden with my cat, Dexter! It was the first shoot where we've been officially booked to model together and my little boy did me proud! Can't you just tell that this photo was taken in England and not in Singapore?! In fairness though, it was taken at night!

 This has got to be my most successful Mohawk to date! I got this new hairspray and it's like spray-superglue. It kicks the arse of both Elnette and Schwarzkopf, my preferred brands up to now!
Photographer: Donald Ogg | Styling: me! | Male model: Dexter ;) | Assistant: Jo

Little bit of nerdage: the alley we were shooting in is the very same one that Edgar Wright used to shoot the famous "fake gun fight" scene in Spaced. Conveniently, it also happens to be outside my favourite Camden pub, The Black Heart *nods*

Also this week was another first: my first underwater shoot! I was really lucky to get to do it with my model friend Ivory Flame (Holly), who is not only amazing at modelling in general but experienced in underwater modelling specifically, so she actually coached me through the whole thing, from emails before we even got there, to wrapping me up in towels at opportune moments and recommending breathing and relaxation techniques, to texting me after the shoot with further advice and encouragement ♥

It was a very exciting day for me as the learning curve was so steep! Although I don't panic in water at all, the first few photos looked more like I was drowning or had just fallen into the pool and was having a laugh, rather than graceful and ethereal, but by the end of the day I was promptly counting myself in and dropping to the bottom of the pool to pull poses with Holly that would have been impossible on dry land!

I will share the photos when I have them, but for now, here is a little behind the scenes snap I took of Holly and the photographer testing the lights- underwater!

Underwater modelling is so addictive because of the physical challenge and your sudden ability to float! I hope I get to do more! I have tons of ideas, including being a mermaid and floating around in a long silk dress!

Let me know if there is anything that you would like to see me do underwater..!

Love and kisses,

Anita xxx



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Bettie Page, Bondage & Bullet Bras!

I had a fun day shooting "catfights" in Kent yesterday, and only came away with one little bruise on my elbow! I think that's pretty good going! The other model broke a nail, but that wasn't entirely my fault ;)

It was a really fun day with a definite Notorious Bettie Page vibe! The lady we were working for really reminded me of an East London version of Paula Klaw, Irving Klaw's sister, who helped make Bettie Page the most famous fetish model of all time :)

Sometimes I paused and thought to myself, damn, I get paid £50 per hour to wrestle with beautiful topless girls in stockings and suspenders instead of working in an office, unless of course it's an office set for a sexy secretary shoot and I'm wearing a satin pencil skirt and specs. Could I be any luckier?!! I don't think so!

Well, I don't have any photos from yesterday to share, but for anyone else who likes vintage satin lingerie, I have these wonderful photos taken by Seamus Costelloe, one of the very best photographers in the whole of Ireland, who booked me for three days in the medieval city of Kilkenny earlier this month. I shoot with Seamus in Ireland every year but this year was even better than usual :)

The bullet bra and deep suspender belt were lovingly recreated from original 1950s patterns by What Katie Did!

 Collar, lead and handcuffs by Fräulein Kink

 I couldn't decide if I preferred this one in colour or black and white so I posted both!

Why do seamed stockings look so much better with the proper welt and keyhole at the top? I always notice when stockings are missing the keyhole. It's just not the same!

Well, I'd better get ready for a furniture delivery! I'm having a new king size bed delivered, among other things. The old one broke!

So long for now... but subscribe to my blog at the top right of this page if you'd like me to email you when I have a new blog to share with you :) I'd love to share more of my modelling life with you!

Anita xxx

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