When it comes to lingerie, I’m more of a Jennifer Aniston than an Angelina Jolie, if you know what I mean? Yes, the sad truth of the matter is that, barring the lacy red g-string my mother-in-law gave me as a Secret Santa gift one year (I kid you not), my underwear drawer is full of good girl t-shirt bras and modest beige knickers.
Does my husband mind my decidedly unsexy under things? He says no, because all he really wants me to wear is nothing. But when Jeannie – who only owns matching lace sets bought from fancy French stores whose names I can’t pronounce – found out about my sad lack of saucy, she told me I needed to get kaal.
Not kaal, as in stripping down to my birthday suit, but KAAL, as in the new lingerie brand launched by multi-hyphenate, Roxy Louw, who has added business owner to her other numerous talents, including professional surfer, DJ and yogi.
For the uninitiated, this range of premium lingerie, sleep, swim, active, festival and resort wear is not for the faint hearted. It’s sexy with a capital S. Much like Roxy herself, who says the brand was born from her desire to feel powerful in her own skin. As a result, her designs are provocative, and her customers bold, with styles like the bondage-style Fetish Set topping the best-seller list.
“KAAL means naked in Afrikaans and that sums me, and my brand’s spirit, up. It’s about stripping back the shame and stepping into your power. Owning your sensuality without apology or permission.”
Which is all well and good. Except my body is almost half a century old, has popped out two kidlets, and wobbles and sags in places it’s not meant to. Also, after a day of juggling deadlines and driving taxi for my teens, the only thing I’m dreaming of stepping into is my flannel jimmy jams and fluffy slippers. Am I too far past my prime to embrace the siren within, I ask Roxy?
Never, she replies. “Sexy isn’t a size or an age, it’s an energy. And that energy doesn’t expire. When a woman taps into her sensuality, she reconnects with her power. It’s not about how the world sees her. It’s about how she sees herself.”
Okay, but can I see myself in high-cut sheer mesh body suits. miniscule French lace thongs with garter belts and peekaboo bralettes? Or what about that infamous fetish set? Just thinking about them makes me blush so how is a nice girl like me supposed to get her naughty on?
Start small, Roxy advises. Pick one piece that feels luxurious and comfortable, and wear it just for you. “Lingerie doesn’t have to be performative,” she explains. “It can, and should be, sacred. A soft secret between you and your body. The more you wear it, the more natural it will feel.”
Still, picking that all important first piece can feel overwhelming, so I asked Roxy to list her top five styling tips for choosing super sexy lingerie that will still make us mere mortals with middle-aged, non-model bods feel confident in our sensuality. Here’s what she recommended:
- BIG BOOBS: Try underwired bras with added support. Our iconic Classic Floral Lace Set offers beautiful structure with a supportive back panel for strength and softness in one.
- FLAT CHEST: Go for our Moonlight Triangle Silk bras. They’re elegant, minimal, and designed to highlight your natural shape.
- SOFT THIGHS: High-cut bottoms and bias-cut slips create a lengthened, smoothed silhouette. Our Luxury Silk range is slightly stretchy: it hugs (but never clings) in all the right places.
- MUM TUM: Try a sexy bodysuit. Our Roses Are Red bodysuit is a confident choice that offers coverage while still making a sexy statement.
- FULLER BUTT: The sculpted lace and stretch back panel of The Dream panty from our Luxury Pure Silk Lingerie range is designed to hug your body, not dig into it, creating a smooth, flattering shape from every angle and offering just the right amount of coverage without compromising on seduction.
The big question is… Do you dare? I’m one click away from buying the beautifully delicate Black Pearl sheer lace set. My husband will probably pass out when I wear it, but I’m ready for that kind of reaction because, as Roxy says, “embracing your sexy side is a radical act of self-love. And every woman deserves that.”
To shop the collection, visit the KAAL website or the concept store at Cape Quarter Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Green Point. @kaal.store
