Anybody who knows their lingerie knows that Agent Provocateur is the good stuff. It is among the best of the bunch, the Jaguar of frilly underpinnings, its cachet recognized all over the world. So it did come as a bit of a surprise to see a flagship boutique in little old Warsaw. And yet the location on the swankier strip of Mokotowska makes perfect sense, just a few steps away from the hoity-toity Zień boutique. It’s a tiny shop, but it makes the most of its limited square footage with sex appeal from floor-to-ceiling. My mouth began watering as soon as I walked in at the sight of so many sumptuous bits of strategically-placed satin and lace. It felt like Christmas again with all those bows and ribbons. These pieces are – if you can imagine such a thing – tastefully sleazy, respectably risqué. They’re the sort of thing you’d imagine the sexiest cast members of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills wearing underneath their Chanel and Valentino.
The boutique is stocked full of the latest collection – gorgeous lacy bras with scrumptious attention to detail, matching panties, teddies and a bunch of strappy get-ups you can only get away with if you’re very fit or very confident, but preferably both. The color palette ranges from the classic blacks, reds and nudes to full-on fluorescent lime and juicy grape. My favorite number must be a tasseled peek-a-boo one-piece that looked like what you might wear to do a bit of Gatsby-esque role play with your very own financier. Then there’s the tiny green bikini with a sparkling strawberry charm between the boobs and the bondage bikini that Rihanna made famous last summer. If you’re looking for a statement swimsuit, this is definitely the place to get it. Of course, it’ll cost you at least four figures – in zlotys, mind you, so that should soften the blow somewhat. And if that’s not enough, they’ve got sexy stockings, silk robes, perfume, satin gloves, a blindfold and nipple tassels. Try it all on if you dare in the sweet little fitting room decorated in cherry blossom wallpaper. Bringing sexy back couldn’t be sweeter… (AMG)
