Rigby & Peller is one of the UK’s leading luxury lingerie retailers, not only renowned for their expert bra fitting and styling advice, but also for their Royal Warrant of Appointment. For more than 75 years, the lingerie specialist has curated the best lingerie brands and must-have products to create an extensive collection of stylish, quality ready-to-wear lingerie and swimwear.
Founded in 1939 by Gita Peller and Bertha Rigby, with a single store in the heart of London, Rigby & Peller has since expanded, with stores in the most prestigious cities and postcodes, together with recently launching their flagship Middle East store in Dubai. The new store features the pioneering Rigby & Peller 3D mirror, which uses body scan technology to create a model of the upper body, recording over 140 measurements, thus determining the customer’s exact bra size.
Synonymous with style, quality and service, Matthew Hazell, Managing Director of Skelmore Retail & Fashion, the Middle East franchise partner for Rigby & Peller, talks to us about their new venture in the Middle East and what keeps this English corsetière as a favourite with customers made up of royalty, stars from the stage and screen, and the world of fashion.
How does Rigby & Peller differ to the other lingerie brands on the market?
With over 75 years in the lingerie business, Rigby & Peller is known for being the go-to destination for women looking for beautiful lingerie, nightwear and swimwear. Our pioneering lingerie styling service is a unique service that helps women find the perfect lingerie to match their shape and style. As a multi-brand boutique, our range of premium lingerie brands caters to a wide array of styles and sizes, ensuring every woman who visits us feels more confident and beautiful in perfectly fitted lingerie.
Does the store and collection in Dubai differ from what you offer in the UK?
Rigby & Peller customers will find some of the same premium brands in the Dubai store, such as PrimaDonna, PrimaDonna Twist, Marie Jo, Marie Jo L’Aventure and Andres Sarda. However, we have also introduced some new brands to the market, to cater to our Middle Eastern customers.
Will you be tailoring specific ranges for the Middle Eastern customer?
We have tailored our offering to be inclusive of the styles and size curve that is particular to the region. In addition to this, we have a beautifully curated selection of loungewear, nightwear, and bridal lingerie, which are popular with Middle Eastern customers, from brands such as Marjolaine, Mimi Holliday, Lise Charmel and Silent Assembly.
Has the Royal Warrant been key to successfully growing your business?
The Royal Warrant is a recognition of our heritage, quality, and lingerie expertise, which has made Rigby & Peller one of the most talked about brands in London. Internationally, the Royal Warrant serves as a symbol of the high standards our brand operates under, helping us to tell our story and build stronger brand awareness globally.
How are you ensuring that you remain loyal to your traditional British roots while you expand globally?
As a heritage brand, our British roots are an important part of our story when introducing the brand to new markets. From our inception in 1939 by two corsetieres, to the thriving 1980’s under June Kenton’s leadership, our history is full of exceptional moments, working with everyone from crowned heads, rock royalty and iconic female figures. Our heritage, combined with our pioneering lingerie styling service and curated premium lingerie collections make up the pillars of the brand that are the mainstay of the Rigby & Peller experience, no matter which store you visit. In each store, our story wall serves as a visual timeline of our history, linking back to our British roots.
Where can we expect to see future expansion from the brand?
Over the past few years we have been expanding internationally with boutiques across USA, Europe and Asia, our focus is now on further expansion in the Middle East.
The Perfect Fit
How to choose wedding lingerie
Getting the fit right in lingerie is very important. But it’s not everything. Not only should your set of lingerie fit to perfection, but it should also work seamlessly with your lifestyle, wardrobe, likes and dislikes.
Here we chat to one of Rigby and Peller’s lingerie experts about selecting the ideal lingerie for your big day, to perfectly suit your shape, dress, style and skin tone.
What lingerie works best with these dress styles?
Boat neck
This neckline tends to be fitted to the bust, so going for smooth, seam free styles is a good idea. The boat neck is a good style for fuller busts, so going for a full cup means you are less likely to have any over spill.
Sweetheart neckline
A balcony shape will push you up a little bit, together with giving you a good cleavage.
V-Neck
When wearing a V-neck, opt for a plunge bra. It gives a great décolletage, centres the breasts and draws the eyes inwards to make you look slimmer from the front.
Ballgown
If the bodice is very structured you might be able to get away with not wearing a bra. Otherwise choose a good supportive strapless bra. Due to the full skirts why not go all out and choose some beautiful lacey briefs, suspenders and a garter.
Fishtail
Opt for high waisted shapewear, so that lines won’t be visible, yet they will give structure to your silhouette and enhance your waist.
When is best to start shopping for bridal lingerie?
We really encourage women to select their lingerie before the first dress fitting, to ensure that they can shape the dress around their ideal silhouette. It’s not just the dress you need to think about, your foundations are just as important. Many brides lose weight before their wedding so we advise you plan a couple of fittings to take into account any weight fluctuations.
What type of bra is best for a backless gown?
Many wedding dress makers will offer to sew in cups to the bodice of the dress to give a good shape, however these provide minimal support, so only work well for smaller busts. Whether a backless gown will work for you really does depend on your breast size, so it’s always a good idea to have a lingerie fitting either before or just after you first shop for your wedding dress to ensure your expectations are realistic.
Do you have any recommendations for the best strapless bra? How can you ensure that it stays in place?
It is essential that strapless styles are fitted correctly so that you feel comfortable throughout the day, and they feel firm and secure. Strapless bras that are silicone lined around the back or have an elastic border around the upper part of the cups can give added support and ensure the bra fits closely. There are some great practical options like the Marie Jo Avero strapless, which has multi-way detachable straps so you can use it in a number of ways for different necklines.
If the wedding dress has structure will it offer sufficient support to negate the need for a bra?
If you have a smaller bust, then you wouldn’t necessarily need a bra as a corset or structured bodice should provide enough support. However, if you are fuller busted we would still recommend wearing a bra, so you get the shape that you want and enough support.
When it comes to colour of the lingerie, is it best to go for white or skin tone?
If it works under your dress then nude and blush pinks are very elegant and easy to wear, and are colours that compliment most skin tones. We often see brides choosing nudes over white as they are more practical, less visible and are not as harsh as pure white.
What would you suggest between a beautiful set of lingerie or shapewear?
It depends on your dress style and what you can get away with. We see many brides who choose two sets, one for support and structure during the day and then a second wow piece for the wedding night. If you are self-conscious about your stomach, a waist clincher or basque are great options, and most of our shapewear pieces are surprisingly comfortable, pretty, and functional.
What brief style is best for avoiding any visible lines?
Again it totally depends on the style of the dress, but high-waisted briefs or control briefs are usually safe options as they won’t be visible and will give you a smooth, sleek outline. Also look for seam styles. Marie Jo Colour Studio briefs and thongs come in a silky soft fabric that is almost like wearing a second skin.
by Eliza Scarborough
