Whether it’s modeling it or designing it, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley knows her lingerie. She was the face of Monsoon’s first underwear line, starred in a sexy Agent Provocateur commercial and got her Victoria’s Secret Angel wings in 2006. Now, the British model is trying her hand at designing her own lingerie line in partnership with Marks and Spencer, whose campaigns she’s fronted since 2011.
Rosie for Autograph is Huntington-Whiteley’s first foray into designing. In an interview with Elle, she said her inspiration came from the Hollywood’s golden age and from her friends and family, who offered up their wish list of what they looked for when shopping for undergarments. The result is a 33-piece collection adorned with rose-print motifs in muted tones and deco-inspired detailing. The silk lingerie sets, kimono robes, French knicker sets and delicate camisoles are romantic and incredibly feminine.
"We are so pleased to have Rosie on board to design her first collection for us - she really understands beautiful lingerie and what works on the body," said M&S executive director of clothing Kate Bostock. "With all her modeling experience she has great eye for colour and style which, coupled with our extensive knowledge in lingerie design and technique, is a winning formula that we can't wait to share with our customers."
In a video of her being shot for the campaign, Huntington-Whiteley looks coy in her Bardot-inspired hair and make up. She tells us, “I think we’ve struck a really great balance between it being young and modern while still being classic and sexy”.
Huntington-Whiteley isn’t the first model to design a lingerie line. Elle MacPherson, nicknamed “The Body”, made the successful transition from swimsuit model to a designer/business woman. In 1990, Elle MacPherson Intimates was created and has since grown to be the best-selling lingerie line in the U.K. Gisele Bundchen also collaborated with Hope lingerie last year. The collection showed in Sao Paulo to an exclusive 500-person guest list and a second collection launched earlier this year.
Rosie for Autograph will be available from 30 August.