Bordelle’s Art for Art’s Sake collection is a journey back to the Victorian era and its lavish, extravagant aesthetic. The homage to 19th‑century taste shows first and foremost in the embroidery, lace artwork and colour palette, which, combined with Bordelle’s daring silhouettes, conjure boudoirs of powerful London courtesans. The collection is divided into two stories: Wilde and Kew.
Wilde
The Wilde bras, garters, briefs and suspenders are adorned with breathtaking bespoke embroidery. Inspired by Victorian inventions such as X‑rays and early photography, the voile design traces fading autumn leaves and ghostly photographic imagery, as an homage to Anna Atkins, often cited as the world’s first female photographer and a passionate collector of flora.
Every piece is steeped in decadent luxury, yet thanks to the brand’s signature body‑hugging strapping and provocative details, this is unmistakably 21st‑century Bordelle.
Kew
Kew is dedicated to London’s historic botanical gardens. The range includes sheer bodies, suspender belts and bras made from satin elastic bands and a unique embroidered elastic developed exclusively for Bordelle. Its design is rich with curling, trailing vines, drawing on London architecture and the work of William Morris for inspiration. The palette runs through opulent navy, morello and deep black.
Wearability and sizing
The lingerie is available in five sizes from SS to LL. Alongside classic lingerie, the spring/summer collection also introduces inventive pieces intended for erotic play. Some styles double as outerwear: the sheer Kew bodysuits, for instance, make a striking base for an evening look when styled with tailoring or high‑waisted skirts. So despite the name “Art for Art’s Sake”, this is very much art designed to be lived in.
