From the time I moved away from my parent’s home at the age of 21, I lived by the sea.  Something about the ocean calmed me.  When, 30 years later, circumstances led me elsewhere, we always found a path back, even for a short break in life’s chaos; the Florida Keys, Block Island, and now Cabo San Lucas became sanctuaries.   After I started the process of downsizing once my family had grown, eliminating excess and things collected over years of accumulation, I still could not part with my collection of stones gathered from beaches where I had found respite in a very busy life.  For me, the soft surfaces of these natural forms represented the luxury of simplicity in our daily lives. I am not sure whether these places inspired my casual style, or if my casual style led me to these retreats.

One thing of which I am sure, had I owned any of the pieces of the Skin Lingerie and Loungewear collection, I would have been right at home.  The ethos and design aesthetic of this brand is so in tune with my personal attraction to earthy luxury, that I can never decide when I see the line exactly which item I want to highlight.  And, I am sure that my affinity is just, as Skin continues to inform retail sales in stores who are pursuing the growth of what founder and designer Susan Beischel refers to as Every Wear. Staying true to her pursuit of sustainable fabrics in sophisticated easy going shapes detailed with her signature touch, the success of the waffle gauze collection proves my point.  Selling out for spring and back for fall 2014 by popular demand, these 100% pima cotton lifestyle pieces prove the Skin credo “We Spin Simplicity into Necessity. No wonder women collect multiple pieces to layer into their wardrobes.

“My Life Is Like A Stroll On The Beach, As Near To The Ocean’s Edge As I Can Go”
Henry David Thoreau

In her column, Intimate Visions, Marina’s insight into the paintings of contemporary artist Katherine Mangiardi reflects her intimate knowledge of the impact of lace design and the emotions this lost art form evokes. Exquisitely rendered, one can not deny the feminine voice reflected on these canvases.  READ MORE HERE

It’s that time of year again, the bridge between winter and spring in the Northeast, suspended between two major holidays, Passover and Easter.  One might question the validity of this presumption as it is only 45° today in NY and it snowed 2 inches yesterday night in NH. But I can see the crocuses pushing through the grass and in the city the daffodils and hyacinths are planted in force.  Maybe this year the season of renewal is a bit tardy, but these festivities, both of which my family always celebrated in force, are a wash of color seeping through grey winter memories: gorgeous flowers, bright new clothes, pretty painted eggs, delicious candy and fresh attitudes  Color changes everything: mood, matter and merchandising.

That is why while reviewing the Huit lingerie collection last week; I came to a full stop after I assessed their current color palette. As I tend to focus on the virtues of a specific product when I shop the market, I found myself somewhat stymied by which bra and panty was the best example of the Huit intimates DNA.  Quite taken by the innovative design strength of the entire line, there is no doubt that the brand has blossomed since its revival under the Eveden umbrella and sales are proving it.  But what really sets Huit apart is not only its quintessentially French signature but also the rich hues that inform each style.  No less than 12 colors carry the current collection through this season creating a sassy and sophisticated statement for a woman confident enough to wear it with “savoir faire”

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 “The Cut Of A Garment Speaks Of Intellect And Talent
And The Color Of Temperament And Heart” ~ Thomas Carlyle

My first encounter with the essence of the La Perla brand happened during my Macy days when, on a business trip to Italy, my market rep, Gianna, took me to visit this company’s then family owned factory located in Bologna.  It is here where I witnessed firsthand the intricate and time consuming handwork required to perfectly position and delicately sew the exquisitely designed Leavers laces and embroidered tulle pieces that are the DNA of this luxury brand.  To watch these artisans at work is to appreciate an art form not present in mass production.  Later that evening, Gianna and I stopped at her studio apartment in Fiesole before dinner.  While waiting in this tiny, sparsely furnished flat, she opened her dresser where the top drawer was filled with La Perla panties and bras.  “I don’t mean to pry”, I asked her; but how do you afford such expensive intimates on your salary? “Ellen”, she said, “you don’t understand the European female psyche.  These are collectibles, like the earrings you purchased today.  Maybe they are underpinnings, but they reveal who I am and how I want to feel.”  This is a true story and it changed my perspective on Lingerie forever.

Last week while visiting the La Perla showroom in NYC, I had the privilege of re-living that memory. La Perla has been re-positioned several times since the family sold the business.  But now, in the hands of an Italian entrepreneur who relishes the brand’s roots, La Perla seems to be back, unabashedly, in its premiere space.  The coterie of collections: La Perla, La Perla Silver, Studio Basics, Swimwear and Mens, pretty much covers the gamut of the better Lingerie market.  Not everyone can afford to hang original art in their home, but to appreciate it is a different story.   There is something to be said about investing in quality especially when it is so beautiful and promises such a sense of self value.

“Quality Is Remembered Long After The Price Is Forgotten” ~ Ed Sabol

Here’s a bit of trivia that appears to be more and more relevant lately in the bra market: Canadians have been proffering wire free bras for years now. Why? Rumor has it that they believe there is a direct correlation between breast health and the wire worn so close to the source. I, for one, do not buy it. But it might be why it took a Montreal based company, Montelle Intimates to develop one of the best-selling non wire bras on the market. I say this, after hearing lots of retail feedback on this item, launched in 2013. Example: “Finally, a wire-free bra that fits! This bra is a breeze to sell” (A La Mode in Annapolis, MD)

Engineered for maximum underarm coverage combined with a sexy plunge décolleté, this bra is a stylish solution to many fit problems. Adding to the appeal is the 3 way multi-position straps with 10 separate points per wing that is available in sizes 32-40, A-F cups. It’s no secret that the trend towards wireless bras, commencing with the surge in the bralette business, has been escalating over the past few seasons.  The Montelle design is a natural segue.  Delivering maximum comfort with minimum confinement this is an innovative interpretation that really works.

“Design Is Not Just What It Looks Like and Feels Like. Design Is How It Works” ~ Steve Jobs

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The minute I met Michelle Metens, owner and designer of Dollhouse Bettie, at Curve NY, I knew I was speaking to a merchandising soul mate.  Even ensconced in a wheelchair and in some serious pain; she broke her leg while setting up the show, Michelle was determined to make sure I understood her mission.  Deferring to reality, I convinced her that we would wait until after surgery to chat.  The booth was packed anyway, so I saw some highlights of her premiere collection, was impressed and moved on.

The Dollhouse Bettie brand has been on my radar for some time now. I first noticed it on Pinterest and was fairly intrigued at the plethora of vintage underpinnings and pin up lingerie sold on her site.  It brought back fond memories of my 20’s when I used to scour the recycled clothing shops in downtown NYC for retro fashion statements.  These stores were always full of vintage intimates; interesting pieces that could be integrated into a wardrobe.

But the reason Michelle’s story intrigues me is my respect for her pursuit of her passion and her steadfast work ethic even through some discouraging moments as she built her brand. On vacation from a boring pursuit of her music masters in 2003, she decided to empty closets and discard many vintage costumes accumulated from a previous performance career. Michelle put them on Ebay. Shocked at the prices for which they sold, she began to ferret out additional product via Craig’s list.  Befriending a niche group of sellers involved in this category, she learned of a mega source of 1950′s girdle stock from the original Rago stable and, cash in hand, journeyed cross country to scavenge through boxes of inventory in a Brooklyn warehouse basement.  With a healthy stock level, she set up an Ebay store and launched her own website.  The voyage continued as she opened her Dollhouse Bettie boutique in Haight Ashbury in 2007.  Determined to carry a mix of symbiotic brands as well as her own concept of vintage inspired looks, she ventured into design and manufacturing even making an unsuccessful foray to Vietnam to produce her ideas.  Based on the success of her store and her website, Michelle has taken on the mantle of manufacturing her own designs in SF. Fearless in her vision and not afraid of risk, her progression from lingerie aficionado to successful merchant leaves me little doubt that this next chapter in her brand development  will work. Hers is a classic story of entrepreneurial guts.

“Leap And A Net Will Appear”  John Burroughs

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My colleague Jessica, Sale’s aficionado extraordinaire at Le Mystѐre, told me a very interesting wedding lingerie tale last week.  Full disclosure, I am not sure she wants me to repeat it, but it’s such a testimonial to the brand’s bridal solution bras, that I just have to share.  When Jessica got married, she wore a gorgeous strapless low back trumpet style dress.  As some might know, wedding gowns can weigh as much as 20 lbs. and hers was no exception.  Being a lady of a certain shape, she wanted a smooth contour undergarment with the substance required to accommodate both her body and the gravity of her sumptuous dress.  She could not find one.  As a last resort, the Le Mystѐre design team created a garment just for her which not only did the trick, but also became the best-selling Soiree bustier. Hailed by many retailers I know as an essential element in their bridal inventory, Le Mystѐre has now extended the concept by incorporating lace overlay into their new Sensuelle bustier.  CLICK HERE to see more

“Whatever Creativity Is, It Is In Part A Solution To A Problem” ~ Brian Aldiss