'There's nothing vulgar about it': Designer hits back at criticism of lingerie for girls as young as four

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A French lingerie designer has hit back at criticism over her use of 'unsettling styling' to promote lingerie targeted at girls as young as four-years-old.Sophie Morin of the embroiled Jours Aprs Lunes label responded to furore over promotional photos showing girls in make-up and with voluminous up-dos wearing panties, bras, camisoles and T-shirts from the range.Ms Morin says she is 'extremely surprised by the current uproar' over the lingerie for four to 12-year-olds.

Too much too young? New French lingerie label Jours Apres Lunes is designed for girls aged between four and 12Industry commentators argued that the underwear, which features striped bras and frilled panties, is 'entirely inappropriate.'Fashionista.com said: 'Whats disturbing about Jours Aprs Lunesis... that its lingerie for people who probably shouldnt be old enough to even know what lingerie is.'Marilisa Racco, author of Le Snob Lingeries told NY Daily News: 'It's inappropriate to sexualize children. A pearl-encrusted triangle bra on a little girl does not sit well with me.'In a letter to Fashionista.com, Ms Morin defends her choice of embellished underwear designs:

Nothing vulgar: Designer Sophie Morin has as defended Jours Aprs Lunes'All I wanted to do was offer underwear that is soft and pleasant to wear... that is suited [to] their age, and that wasnt an extension of womens labels, which are often vulgar,' writes the designer.'The materialshave no vulgar connotation: they are totally opaque, nothing transparent. The style is inspired by childrens fashion, with spots, bows, etc.'It is the art direction of the photos - featuring young girls in poses and styling that seem far too premature for their ages - that caused the most controversy.
Wearing bras a! nd panti es, they play with make-up and jewellery, strings of pearls wrapped around their small frames.In one shot, a girl wears Jackie O-style sunglasses while lounging back on a pillow, her modesty protected by just panties and a cropped polka-dot tied top.Ms Racco said: 'It's cute when a little girl dresses up in her mom's clothing and jewelry and high heels.'These pictures are not cute. It's entirely inappropriate to put a 4-year-old in a bouffant like she's Brigitte Bardot in And God Created Woman,' she said to the newspaper.

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• 'It's entirely inappropriate': Fashion industry outraged after French label launches lingerie for girls as young as FOUR

Ms Morin remains adamant that the shoot's styling was nothing but innocent:
'All the photos show children playing childrens games, as weve all done. If you look at the details, youll often find elements of childrens games: dolls accessories, wooden animals etc,' she wrote in the email.
'A second reading is needed no vulgar connotation. There is only one interpretation: children playing together, no more.'In another photo, three young girls play together, their hair set in Amy Winehouse-style beehives and their lips painted bright pinks and reds.'The children arent wearing high heels nor nail polish nor lipstick. The hairdos are over the top, but so are childrens games. Yes, the models wear sunglasses, like every single kid. Yes, you see their stomachs and legs, like you do on the beach. Yes they wear necklaces inside the house, as do all little girls for fun,' writes Ms Morin.

'A second reading is needed no vulgar connotation. There is only one interpretation: children playing together, no more'She notes that all of the girls are professional models and suggests that double standards may be at work:
'Youll often see childrens productions inspired by the theme of cowboys and Indiansdoes this make children future criminals?'Referring to the French habit of placing adult maga! zines on sale in full view, she says: 'It is time to worry about serious problems, such as pornographic magazine exposed in kiosks on a daily basis, for every child to look at.'Certainly, there seems to be an element of cultural translation involved in the Jours Apres Luns furore. 'Id also like to remind you that in France, the term lingerie refers to the entire field of underwear, including men, women and children. This term alone doesnt have a sexy connotation,' says Ms Morin.
Luis Paredes, from Lingerie Journal agreed that Europeans will be less offended by the pictures:
'Recently, a lot of fashion magazines and fashion brands have come underfire for using kids in their photo spreads.'I think that at least here stateside, this company will come under fire as well,' the publisher told NY Daily News.Ms Morin suggests the uproar is a direct result of the controversy surrounding a Thylane Blondeau shoot for Vogue thatjust last week whipped up a global storm over the 10-year-old's languidposes for the Tom Ford-edited January edition of French Vogue.Outcryover her vampish make-up, sexualised styling and pouting lips forced the young model's mother - a TV personality - to close her fan site on Facebook.