LONDON'S CALLING...
All the reasons why we love our hometown... and why you should too!
As part of our #BluebellaLoves series, we're currently running an exciting competition for one lucky Bluebella fan to win the ultimate weekend in our hometown of London! The winner will stay overnight at the exclusive Ampersand Hotel in Kensington, get a pair of tickets to this year's most talked about exhibition at the V&A, 'Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear' and get £250 to treat yourself to some Bluebella gorgeousness! Not that you needed any persuading to enter, but we thought we'd give you the low down on what we love about our beloved capital city.
If this doesn't tempt you, we don't know what will!
CITY SUN
London is without doubt THE best place to be in the summer. Whilst we know our typical British weather doesn't always work in our favour, when it does, boy is it good! The city comes alive in a way it doesn't in the winter - everybody flocks to the pubs post-work, spends weekends in the city's many parks or meets friends for brunch al-fresco style. We love strolling around Regent's Park and taking a walk up Primrose Hill in North London, before hopping over to Hampstead for a quintessentially British brunch! Or if we're in Chelsea, we love wandering down the King's Road for a spot of shopping and the occasional celeb spotting too.
London is without doubt THE best place to be in the summer. Whilst we know our typical British weather doesn't always work in our favour, when it does, boy is it good! The city comes alive in a way it doesn't in the winter - everybody flocks to the pubs post-work, spends weekends in the city's many parks or meets friends for brunch al-fresco style. We love strolling around Regent's Park and taking a walk up Primrose Hill in North London, before hopping over to Hampstead for a quintessentially British brunch! Or if we're in Chelsea, we love wandering down the King's Road for a spot of shopping and the occasional celeb spotting too.MUSEUM GOLD
If you're the lucky winner of our competition, then you'll be staying in an area that is famous for its museums, South Kensington. London's rich history and deep-rooted culture means there's many things to learn about and afternoon's can easily disappear within an exhibition, whether it's the Natural History's display of dinosaurs or the Science Museum's state-of-the-art technology. What we're most interested in, however, is the V&A's outstanding showcase dedicated to all things lingerie with their new exhibition 'Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear'. Exploring the journey lingerie has made through the decades, it's a must for any lingerie lover and that's why we're giving the winner a pair of tickets to it... we promise you will not be left disappointed!
If you're the lucky winner of our competition, then you'll be staying in an area that is famous for its museums, South Kensington. London's rich history and deep-rooted culture means there's many things to learn about and afternoon's can easily disappear within an exhibition, whether it's the Natural History's display of dinosaurs or the Science Museum's state-of-the-art technology. What we're most interested in, however, is the V&A's outstanding showcase dedicated to all things lingerie with their new exhibition 'Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear'. Exploring the journey lingerie has made through the decades, it's a must for any lingerie lover and that's why we're giving the winner a pair of tickets to it... we promise you will not be left disappointed!FOODIE FANATICS
If you're anything like us, then you'll be just as obsessed with food! London's vibrant foodie scene continues to grow and whatever your taste buds desire, you can get. Take a stroll up Islington's hub of Upper Street where you'll find every cuisine (that doesn't break the bank) you could ever imagine - we especially love Ottolenghi, whose founder Yotam is widely regarded as one of Britain's best chefs. If you're in Central, make sure you take a good walk around Soho's bustling streets where you'll find yourself immersed in the very best of the city's culture. For a cheap eat of £20, try Burger & Lobster, which does exactly what it says on the tin and trust us, it's amazing! If you want a more boozy brunch, head South to Bunga Bunga which is the spot for all day drinking and eating, plus a bit of karaoke thrown in for fun too.
If you're anything like us, then you'll be just as obsessed with food! London's vibrant foodie scene continues to grow and whatever your taste buds desire, you can get. Take a stroll up Islington's hub of Upper Street where you'll find every cuisine (that doesn't break the bank) you could ever imagine - we especially love THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE...
Show business! And of course, any trip to London wouldn't be complete without West End show. Whilst there is all the great shows that have been around for years (and we thoroughly recommend you go see them) such as Lion King, Wicked and Billy Elliot, there are constantly new and exciting ones that come around for a limited time only and this summer, Branagh's Romeo & Juliet at the Garrick Theatre in Covent Garden is one of them. Starring Lily James (pictured) and Richard Madden, they tell the tale of Shakespeare's heartbreaking story of forbidden love. The show is part of five different plays under the Branagh banner that brings together a remarkable group of actors including Dame Judi Dench, so if you don't manage to get tickets to this show there's another four to choose from. A must!
Show business! And of course, any trip to London wouldn't be complete without West End show. Whilst there is all the great shows that have been around for years (and we thoroughly recommend you go see them) such as Lion King, Wicked and Billy Elliot, there are constantly new and exciting ones that come around for a limited time only and this summer, 
The winner and chosen friend will be guests at the elegant, 5* boutique Ampersand Hotel in Kensington, one of the capital's most exclusive areas. This beautifully restored Victorian treasure is a luxurious hideaway, set near London's museum mile meaning you'll only be a stone's throw away from some of the best culture spots in the world. It's also well located for Harrods and shopping in the renowned areas of Knightsbridge and Chelsea's Kings Road.
The winner will also get two tickets to one of this summer's most sought-after exhibitions, 'Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear' and we think it's the perfect prize for any lingerie lovers like us! Exploring our relationship with lingerie over the decades, it's a fascinating journey through history in one of London's most prestigious museums, the Victoria & Albert. Loved by the likes of Vogue, The Guardian and many more fashion editors, it has had heaps of amazing reviews and really is the place to be for any underwear advocates!
Of course, no prize would be complete without a Bluebella treat too! What would a weekend away be without some lovely Bluebella lingerie to pack? That's why we're also giving the lucky winner £250 to spend on Bluebella! Treat yourself to our fashion-forward lingerie collections or indulge in some seriously seductive nightwear pieces... the choice is all yours!
Your high waisted general rebel-without-caring of a jean is perfectly suited for a French lace cropped top. Wear with a slight front tuck and a spaghetti strap tank underneath.
Balance out the volume of a high-waisted wide-leg with a neat little bodysuit. Bodysuits are denim's best friend when you want the jeans to take center stage.
The little sister of the wide leg, I like my gaucho to swing about 3inches above the ankle. It's the dressier version, but just as comfortable as a loose boyfriend.
This is the "awkward length" cropped flare, ending about 2 inches above the ankle.
Looks great in a super light wash for the full 90's vibe. Balance its toughness with a more feminine detailed delicate top.
Before she was a super star on the Hollywood scene, Marilyn Monroe put her famous curves to good use and starred in numerous lingerie advertising campaigns. In the 40's, the adverts were painted by hand! It's safe to say she definitely carved out her role as one of the leading ladies of lingerie as both a model and an actress.
While most women were in girdles, there was one woman breaking the rules. Notorious pin-up girl Bettie Page made her name wearing rather more risque lingerie and whips, rubber and bondage gear were regular accessories. This was one woman who certainly knew what she wanted...
The cover of Roxy Music's Country Life album featured two models wearing decadent, disco-inspired lingerie that was representative of the glitterball-filled dancing everybody was doing. It was deemed super rude and even the Dutch banned it.
Of course we couldn't look at modern lingerie history without paying homage to the Queen of pop, Madonna, who in the height of her career, ushered in a new way of wearing underwear... as outerwear, of course. Styling up stage outfits like this one from her Blonde Ambition tour, which was styled by Jean Paul Gaultier, she made her mark on pointy bras that will be forever etched in lingerie history.
