There are moments when life seems black and white and terribly, terribly dull. There are other moments however, when all things monotone exude sexuality, modern classicism and riveting undertones – think Chanel, Helmut Newton pictures and stills of the sizzling Marlene Dietrich dans le smoking – I’d now love to add to that list, Lascivious.

And I’m not the only one, Girls Aloud, the super-sexy Ciara and Britney Spears are also big fans of the uber-cool lingerie label that has my smoky-eyed self dreaming of hanging out on a Parisian rooftop, wearing the Mariette bra and knickers and Wanda tassle suspender with an Absinthe in one hand, and the other clutching the neck of a Dangereux Liaisons.

The lady behind the label? Well, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Chloe Hamblen, the creative and managing director of Lascivious…

Chloe, I completely ADORE Lascivious, it’s stunningly innovative and one of the best high-end labels out there, how did it come about?
Thank you! Well, originally I was inspired when my mum told me about a friend that had run off to Paris to design knickers when they were young, I thought it sounded like the best job in the world.

I specialised in fashion during my foundation course and went on to study a contour fashion (lingerie) degree. Whilst I was there I took on as much work and experience as I could, from retail to design, Agent Provocateur, Alexander McQueen, Myla and La Perla through to Ann Summers, and after my degree moved to Holland to work for Dutch lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers as a technical designer. I then came home to London to set up Lascivious, and here we are.

Who/what inspires you and why?
Love and play inspire me. Its about what will make you look and feel good, provocative and sensual, and how the lingerie will be opened and played with so you can enjoy it with someone else. I’m inspired by fabrics, fashion and other designers, like Chantal Thomass, whose attention to detail encourages me to do the very best I can to make something beautiful and well made

What has been your proudest moment so far?
I think the culmination of certain press pieces we’ve had, like have our lingerie being on the cover of Numero and being in Vogue. I think also the launch parties we have thrown, our playing card projects and my brother Ozzie now working with me full time. I feel proud of collaborations we are doing and that recently I have had interns with me that feel they have learnt something and been inspired, that makes me feel proud.


What 5 tracks would be essential to Ms Chloe’s soundtrack to life?
Don’t give up – The Noisettes
Express Yourself – NWA
Golden – Jill Scott
I want to love you – Bob Marley
Sensual Woman – The Herbaliser

What are your must-have, can’t-live-without fashion and beauty items?
I can’t live without our Kitty Ouverts and Pout bra or our stockings, which are beautifully seamed but developed with a special blend of Lycra to give a modern fit and feel. The beauty items I can’t live without are lip balm and mascara.

What makes you grin like a Cheshire cat?
Dancing to drum and bass, camping with the girls and a day out to the zoo never fails.

What’s your life motto?
Life is circular and everything is connected, so we should help each other out, it all comes back round.

Charlotte’s Sassy List…
Shop: Coco De Mer
Book: The Story of O
Website/blog: thesassyminx.com, knickersblog.com and spotify.com
Hang-out: my house
City: London first, Hong Kong and New York after that…
Must-have beauty item: lip balm and vaseline intensive care aloe vera moisturiser
TV prog: Mary Queen of Shops and Ugly Betty
Food: Chicken caesar salad and the strawberry chocolate from the Lascivious box of chocs.

Finally, to acquaint the sassy Minxes with Lascivious, what are your three favourite pieces from the overall collection?

• Kitty ouverts
• Milla bra
• Playing cards

To check out more Lascivious loveliness, visit: www.lascivious.co.uk