In my most recent release, Candy Hearts, one of the heroes, Benji, loves wearing lingerie and sexy undergarments. This is part of his self-expression, and he was a very fun character to write. He has connections to a lingerie company in the story. His sister (the heroine of Stocking Stuffers) is head of marketing for a lingerie and sex toy company, and one of the other side characters in this story is a lingerie designer. Benji wears lingerie throughout the story, and by the end of the book, he has started his own Instagram account as a form of self-expression.
I love viewing lingerie from an artistic standpoint. I had to do a lot of research for this book, and one of my favorite parts of that research was discovering lingerie influencers, designers, and brands as inspiration. Below are a few of my favorites. They are all worth a follow!
Origami Customs is a lingerie shop out of Montreal that creates customized and handmade lingerie and swimwear for all genders and body types. They specialize in gender-affirming products. I love how organic and badass their lingerie is. One of their harnesses inspired a pink harness that Benji wears in more than one scene.
Cora Harrington, the Lingerie Addict
Harrington is an author and founder of the largest lingerie blog in the world. She has changed the way I view lingerie. A quick look through her Instagram and it’s impossible not to see the artistry involved. She works hard to highlight how lingerie isn’t just about sex but self-expression and self-affirmation.
KnickerRocker is a company that started on Etsy and specializes in cotton underwear. Their designs are inclusive and focus on cute and fun designs. Some of my favorite pieces are superhero designs and animal designs.
Sohail isn’t necessarily a lingerie influencer, but his Instagram helped me imagine what an Instagram account for Benji might look like. He’s incredibly funny and definitely worth the follow.
Menagerié is a men’s intimates brand based out of LA. Their pieces inspired several of the ones that Benji wears throughout the story. I especially enjoy their lace designs. You might have seen some of their work on the red carpet
Rebirth is a lingerie and undergarment company that specializes in wearables for queer and disabled people. Their Instagram is full of bright colors and interesting patterns. I love the vibrancy of their collections.
Estelle X is a queer Chinese-American lingerie model and stylist based out of California. Her Instagram is the other main influence for how I saw Benji’s Instagram in my head. It is quintessentially queer, intimate, and badass. Her style is the most similar to how I imagined Benji’s. She’s also written about how she sets up her own photoshoots.
About the Book
Candy Hearts, So Over the Holidays #2, by Erin McLellan– available now.
Mechanic Benji Holiday is so over Valentine’s Day and men who don’t get him. A weekend getaway with friends to escape the holiday hubbub is exactly what he needs. But William O’Dare—a stern and silent nightclub owner with “Be My Valentine” practically stamped on his forehead—throws a wrench into Benji’s plans.
William has spent years focused on his career, and it has cost him friendships and love. Inexperienced in the business of romance, he’s on the hunt for the perfect partner, and he’s armed with specific criteria to guide him. But William didn’t expect a hunky mechanic wrapped in satin and lace to show up on his doorstep.
Unable to resist their attraction, Benji and William agree to be secret fake valentines for the weekend, but secrets have a way of getting out. William gets struck by Cupid’s arrow, and as the weekend winds down, he doesn’t want fake or secret. He wants Benji to be his valentine for real and for keeps.
Candy Hearts is a male/male Valentine’s Day novella featuring a house party power outage, meddling friends and siblings, naughty lingerie and naughtier toys, homemade Valentine’s Day cards, and a happily ever after.
About the Author
Erin McLellan is the author of several contemporary romances, all of which have characters who are complex, goodhearted, and a little quirky. She likes her stories to have a sexy spark and a happily ever after. Originally from Oklahoma, she currently lives in Alaska and spends her time dreaming up love stories set in the Great Plains. She is a lover of chocolate, college sports, antiquing, Dr Pepper, and binge-worthy TV shows.
Connect with Erin:
Facebook Group: https://smarturl.it/ErinMcLellansFBGroup
Newsletter: https://smarturl.it/mclellannewsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmclellanwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emclellanwrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorerinmclellan/
Website: https://www.erinmclellan.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/erin-mclellan
Website: https://smarturl.it/erinmclellan
What a neat post, Erin! I can imagine that you had a fun time researching for your book. Best wishes for the success of Candy Hearts.
I love your book. thank you, Candy