November 25th 2007
What do you think of when you put the words Russian and Lingerie together, for many it will be the images of Daniella Biancha playing Russian secret agent Tatiana Romanova in from Russia With Love, Sean Connery has said it was his favourite Bond film and we can see why. Have a look at the video below featuring the many pictures of Daniella wearing lingerie in the film.
But of course Miss Universe runner up Daniella Biancha was not actually Russian, in fact they had to dub her voice in the movie becuase of her strong italian accent. But now you can get a real flavour for Russian lingerie by visiting the Vendetta store in Bluewater. Bluewater is a leading shopping destination in Europe with over 330 stores and Vendetta is an interesting addition. This seductive and fashionable lingerie store comes all the way from Russia with love. The glamour stakes are high with designer labels such as Christian Dior and Roberto Cavalli featuring alongside Vendetta's own label.
Founded in 1992, lingerie retailer Wild Orchid has 216 stores in Russia and Ukraine and opened Vendetta its first UK outlet in August 2007. It started as a distributor of Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Cotton Club and Nina Ricci lingerie, but also sells its own Vendetta brand. It has 53 luxury stores branded Wild Orchid, 156 mid-priced outlets named Bustier and seven men's underwear stores, VI Legion. The company has annual sales of GBP50m. See the new store in this video.
Two Irish private-equity funds took a $50m stake in the company earlier this year, so with the luck of the Irish combined with the high quality lingerie on offer we expect them to take Europe by storm. You can visit their English language website which has an amazing flash presentation of their range. It takes an age to load but is well worth the wait.
You can see their 2006 & 2007 ranges being modelled in the these picture galleries:
2007 Gallery
2006 Gallery
It may be 45 years since 'From Russia with love' but as the Moscow time reports today in Russia, there is an established culture of lingerie. Women in Russia are eager to keep a good stock of lingerie that will titillate their lovers, and of course impress their friends. In fact, lingerie is usually intended to be seen, and the word on the street from shop assistants is that women normally arrive at shops in couples when trying to find something special.
The buying-lingerie-with-girlfriends men generally fall into one of two distinct camps. There are the unashamedly enthusiastic ones, who will be full of suggestions and informed opinions. And there are inevitably the mortally embarrassed types. Pity them, as they try to skulk by the exit, waiting for the moment when either their shopping companion/slave driver releases them from their torment or a large hole opens up in the ground and provides the same liberation.
Of the two, the former's views are most likely to be listened to in Moscow. Russian women prefer bold and exotic lingerie.
Licensed to thrill - Lingerie from Russia with Love