70 years of Rigby & Peller

Last week Rigby & Peller celebrated 70 years of luxury lingerie with a commemorative catwalk and glimpse at next year's trends. Kyla Manenti went along to learn more about The Queen's favourite underwear brand...

From 1930s roll-on waspies to '90s high-leg bodies, Rigby & Peller's 70th anniversary catwalk show was a spectacle of both sentiment and style. But it wasn't just past success that had guests raising their glasses at the elegant affair in Mayfair's chichi Jalouse nightclub.

While the grasp of economic disarray has reached luxury industries including high-end fashion, the lace and broderie world of lingerie is thriving. This year, Rigby & Peller recorded a 14 per cent increase in sales. We might be cutting back on groceries and heating, but it would seem women and men alike cannot resist the allure of a decent pair of knickers.

And when it comes to quality, you can't beat the royal seal... Aside from attracting a multitude of celebrities, the prestigious Rigby & Peller holds the warrant of appointment as corsetiere to the Queen.

In commemoration of its 70 years, Rigby & Peller has created an exclusive Platinum range (pictured) inspired by chic, old world glamour. What goes around comes around and, rather intriguingly, the cone style bra is back in fashion. To buy into the look of the moment and celebrate Rigby & Peller's birthday will set you back £199 for the set. But don't delay, this is a limited range with just 150 sets available.

In addition to the nostalgic runway show of seven decades' worth of lingerie styles (view photos), last week's event was an opportunity to look to the future, flaunting samples from the 2010 S/S collections of Rigby & Peller and its selected brands.

Aubade's S/S 2010 collection includes oriental-inspired pieces in hot red and deep pinks, Moroccan influenced ensembles with cuneate crocheted embellishment and souk style button detailing, along with a fine array of vintage designs. Aubade's MD Laura McLellan explains that 'it's all about attention to detail.' And the ambassadors for French style certainly haven't sold themselves short, with swarovski-studded net bows and charming detachable accessories for an individual and playful edge.

For seductive nightwear, look no further than Milan-based Luna Di Seta. The sophisticated S/S '10 selection includes a particularly on-trend lemon silk slip with lilac lace detail. "Lilac is very much in style for 2010" explains Rigby & Peller's head of buying, Nicky Clayton.

Rigby & Peller is, in every sense, a family business. June and Harold Kenton have owned the company since the early '80s, when it was a struggling store in South Molton street. Having successfully built the brand's reputation and expanded to a six-store operation, they handed over managerial responsibility to their son David. The Kentons are sole investors and it is their intimate relationship with every aspect of the brand which has seen Rigby & Peller achieve such success.

It is June who sees the Queen for fittings, and it is her own, personal approach to measurement which is taught and employed in each store. 'You won't see a single tape measure in our fitting rooms' she explains: 'we do it all by eye. That's what makes us special.'

Everything seems to be going hunky dory for R&P, given their recent label addition - big-time American designer Donna Karan. Furthermore, there are plans to open the first store outside London, in Cambridge, with a view to further expansion in the north.

So, if all goes according to plan, it won't be long before women across the country can enjoy the experience of stepping through Rigby & Peller's heavy, black gloss doors and perusing drawer upon drawer of luxury undergarments. Recession?... What recession?

View photos of exquisite vintage lingerie here.

For a sumptious selection of smalls, visit rigby&peller.com