Written by Myra Truong
We’ve enlisted the expertise of lingerie connoisseur Myra Truong to teach us all there is to know about her world. Myra works with intimates authority Agent Provocateur, making her a wealth of knowledge. From fittings to trends to tips and tricks, Myra is here to help us take our unmentionables and make then a little more mentionable.
I have always had a petite bust. For the majority of my teenage years and my early twenties, I never really wore a bra. I would mostly wear non-wire bralettes, but felt that lingerie was only for women with a large bust and women who were confident in their bodies. Even though I didn’t wear lingerie, I had a secret love affair with it. I had always loved pin-up girls and burlesque dancers. Betty Page, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Dita von Teese – I was in awe of them. These women were confident and strong. They oozed fearlessness and wore these beautiful pieces that I only dreamed about wearing, never thinking I could be as glamorous or beautiful.
It was only when I fell upon British luxury brand, Agent Provocateur, that I would change my perception. The very first time I went on their website, I was obsessed. I came upon their blog where they boldly wrote “Celebrating and empowering women. Beautifully made lingerie. Designed by women who understand women. Provocative whilst leaving something to the imagination. Do it all with a very British sense of humour – Agent Provocateur.” They were delightfully designed pieces made with the most exquisite fabrics. The models in the photographs looked spectacular. French leavers lace and silks…I had only dreamed of such fabrics against my skin. At the time, they were only available online and the prices were way over my budget. My best girlfriend was living in Manchester and generously bought me my very first Agent Provocateur piece. I used to go on about the brand and she knew how much I wanted to own a piece. And so I received a pink box tied with satin black ribbon. Inside was this gorgeous thong made with a beautiful soft stretch lace and it had two silk pink ribbon bows — one strategically placed in the front, the other strategically placed in the back. For the longest time, I would secretly wear this thong at home, staring at myself in the mirror. It made me feel beautiful. It made me look at myself differently. Being able to put on this racy piece of clothing, I felt more confident and daring. To me, this is the main reason why lingerie is so powerful. It can transform you into any character you wish to be.
Slowly, during sales, I would order one piece at a time. I remember getting my first bra from Agent Provocateur — she was a stunning scalloped lace piece. Not only did she fit beautifully, she felt amazing to wear.
The bug had bitten me. I started going into shops, looking for pieces similar to what I found through Agent Provocateur. Some years later, and I would find myself working for the brand that started it all. Thus began my rich love affair with lingerie, Agent Provocateur and my desire to be a part of its world.
