In their Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, the designers at Bordelle continue their mission to elevate lingerie to the level of high art. This is the second collection dedicated to Austrian Modernism — specifically, the Vienna Secession — and the result is breathtaking: bold, beautiful, and entirely uncompromising. Every piece, whether a bodysuit or a matching bra-and-brief set, functions as an art object in its own right, each one a reference to a specific architectural masterpiece.
The Renée Series
The Renée series draws inspiration from the Vienna House of Arts — the Hundertwasser Museum. Take the bra, suspender belt, and brief set: a soft interplay of pastel yellow, grey, and cream, with an intricate lattice of straps that seem to echo the sinuous lines and interiors of that iconic building. Equally compelling is the mesh-and-satin ribbon set in a sporty register, where a deep navy is punctuated by gleaming gold hardware.
Moa and Scala
The Moa line, dedicated to the work of Egon Schiele — the defining painter of Austrian Modernism — trades extravagance for softer, more fluid femininity. The Scala series, meanwhile, references the linear, graphic architecture of the great Otto Wagner. Moa pieces appear to be woven entirely from narrow, gossamer-soft strips of fabric and mesh. And perhaps the most remarkable thing about all of these wearable works of art: they are made not just for the runway, but for real life too.
