Article: 8 Lingerie Brands I Couldn't Live Without
8 Lingerie Brands I Couldn't Live Without
Every boutique has a list of brands it couldn't function without — the ones that never let you down, that customers come back for season after season, and that you genuinely love wearing yourself. After sixteen years at Caroline Randell, these are mine. Eight brands I would choose above everything else, for eight very different reasons.
We have also just reintroduced a ninth brand we adore — Huit, the iconic French lace brand that went into administration and has recently relaunched. We were one of the first UK boutiques to bring it back and we couldn't be more pleased to have it on the rails again.
1. Empreinte — The Best Fuller Cup Bra in the World
I have stocked Empreinte since we first opened and it remains our single best-selling brand — and the one I would choose above all others for a fuller cup fit. The three-section balcony cup construction does something no other bra does: the underwire sits flat against the sternum and lifts the breast tissue up and forward, creating a neat silhouette that is genuinely flattering rather than just supportive. Available from D to H cup in beautiful French laces. One insider secret: an Empreinte red bra is remarkably invisible under white clothing. If you haven't tried it, that detail alone is worth the visit.
2. Aubade — The Brand I Wear Myself
Founded in Paris in 1875, Aubade is one of the oldest lingerie houses in the world — and the one I reach for most mornings. There is something about the way Aubade fits that feels effortless: the cups sit perfectly, the straps never slip, and the styling is unmistakably French without being fussy. It runs true to size, A to G cup, and every season brings entirely new collections alongside the perennial Rosessence which we stock year-round. If someone asked me to recommend one brand to try first, this would be it.
3. Marie Jo — My Everyday Bra
Marie Jo is the other brand I wear alongside Aubade, it accounts for most of what is actually in my own lingerie drawer. Part of the Van de Velde family in Belgium, Marie Jo has been perfecting the bra since 1919, and the triple-coated underwires are something you notice immediately: they move with the body rather than against it and simply never dig in. The sizing is wonderfully consistent across the range, and the colour palette each season — including beautiful fashion shades alongside the classics — makes building a lingerie wardrobe genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore. A to F cup.
4. Prima Donna — The Ultimate Fuller Bust Brand
Also from the Van de Velde family, Prima Donna has been making lingerie since 1865 with one singular focus: exceptional fit for D cup and above. The same triple-coated underwires as Marie Jo mean wire discomfort is simply not a factor — for fuller cup sizes this is genuinely transformative. Available from D to H cup and 30 to 38 back, it is our first recommendation for customers who want beauty and real support without having to compromise on either. The Prima Donna swimwear is equally impressive — cup-sized bikinis with mix-and-match sizing that make summer dressing actually straightforward.
5. Simone Pérèle — Everyday French Luxury
Founded in Paris in 1948, Simone Pérèle built its reputation on a single principle: that lingerie should fit beautifully, feel luxurious, and be worn every single day. The brand's standout innovation is the 3D spacer fabric used in the Caresse and Andora collections — a three-dimensional knitted material that is breathable, lightweight, and creates a perfectly smooth finish under T-shirts without adding any volume. B to G cup, and one of the most genuinely wearable luxury lingerie brands in the world. The kind of bra you forget you're wearing, in the best possible way.
6. Lise Charmel — The Most Exclusive Brand on Our Rails
Founded in Lyon in the 1950s — the historic heart of France's silk and lace industry — Lise Charmel is stocked by only a handful of specialist boutiques in the UK. You will not find it in department stores. This is haute couture for the body: intricate Calais lace, guipure embroideries, and extraordinary detailing on every strap and seam. It has a devoted following among customers who buy for themselves and equally among partners buying as a gift — the packaging alone makes it feel like something very special to receive. 32 to 36 back, A to E cup.
7. Mey — The Brand for When Comfort is Everything
Mey is the brand I recommend when someone tells me they want beautiful lingerie that genuinely feels like nothing at all. This German brand has been crafting wire-free styles in extraordinarily smooth, skin-soft fabrics for decades — and holds Bluesign certification, meaning its manufacturing meets some of the highest environmental and safety standards in the industry. It is the brand I reach for when a customer wants something seamless, gentle, and completely unfussy — and it never disappoints. Quietly one of the most loved brands in the boutique.
8. Hanky Panky — The One Every Woman Should Own
Hanky Panky is the one brand on this list that surprises people — and then immediately makes sense. The American stretch lace thong has a 35% add-to-cart rate in our boutique, which tells you everything you need to know. It comes in over fifty colours, fits a huge range of body shapes, and is the answer to the age-old question of what to wear under anything fitted. Customers who try one come back for three more in different colours. It is not expensive, it is not French, and it is completely indispensable.
Where to Find All Eight Brands
Every brand on this list is available to shop at our boutique at 6 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5DL or online at carolinerandell.co.uk. If you'd like personal advice on which brand is right for your shape, our team is available by phone or WhatsApp — we fit by eye, not tape measure, and we genuinely love helping our customers find the brands they'll return to for years.
We ship worldwide, with complimentary UK delivery on all orders over £125.
Browse all brands: Empreinte | Aubade | Marie Jo | Prima Donna | Simone Pérèle | Lise Charmel | Mey | Hanky Panky
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