Why Everyday Luxury Lingerie Is Replacing ‘Special Occasion’ Sets

Most women admit they live in the same bra until it dies.

Not because it’s exciting — but because it works.

It works with most everyday outfits: shirts, T-shirts, knitwear, fitted tops. It removes choice paralysis in the morning. Over time, it becomes comfortable simply because the body gets used to it. When you wear the same thing repeatedly, your body almost stops noticing it.

That reality is where my approach to lingerie begins.

I design lingerie because I couldn’t find pieces that worked the way I needed them to. I wanted everyday luxury that could be worn repeatedly, under real clothes, without discomfort — and without becoming basic. That philosophy is the foundation of Vivi Leigh London: lingerie designed to live with you, not wait in a drawer.

And it’s the opposite of how much lingerie is still made.

Everyday life needs different design rules

A lot of so-called “special occasion” lingerie is built around visual impact rather than daily use. Push-up padding, rigid underwires, heavy lace, frills and decorative details might look good briefly — but they often dictate what you can wear over them, or how long you can tolerate wearing them.

For some women, underwires are essential for support. For others, they’re no longer an option. Bodies change. Needs change. There is no single solution that works for everyone.

What does matter is whether lingerie integrates easily into everyday life.

If a bra only works with one outfit, or only for a few hours, it’s unlikely to become part of a woman’s routine.

I don’t design lingerie for a single outfit or a single moment. I design it knowing it will be worn under shirts, T-shirts, knitwear and fitted tops — again and again. If a piece can’t survive a normal day, it doesn’t belong in my wardrobe.

Fabric is part of the decision

Many women avoid synthetic lingerie because they dislike how it feels against their skin. Synthetic satins and laces don’t breathe in the same way. These fibres are cheaper to produce and widely used by many brands to increase margins and simplify care.

I’m not trying to compete with mass brands on ease. If a woman wants lingerie she can throw in the washing machine and forget about, my brand isn’t for her — and that’s intentional.

Natural and more considered fabrics require care. They ask the wearer to slow down slightly — in washing, in storage, in use. That trade-off isn’t for everyone. But for women who care deeply about how something feels on their body, and what happens to it after, it matters.

Not basic — designed to be relied on

Everyday luxury lingerie sits between two extremes: basic cotton underwear on one side, and highly performative lingerie on the other.

At Vivi Leigh London, everyday luxury means considered design, thoughtful materials, and pieces that earn their place through wear. The lingerie becomes familiar without becoming dull. It adapts across different outfits and moods, rather than demanding a specific version of the wearer.

When a woman wants to shift the energy, she can — through styling or layering — without needing an entirely different set.

That flexibility is the luxury.

Lingerie that fits real life

The move away from special-occasion lingerie reflects a wider shift in how women relate to their bodies and their time.

Less discomfort.

Less saving things “for later”.

More intention.

I don’t design lingerie to be admired once. I design it to be relied on.

And once something truly fits into your life — once it works, feels right, and disappears on the body — it tends to stay there.

Find your new favourites here.

-Arena Page (Founder)