Lingerie Briefs ~ by Ellen Lewis - Daily lingerie blog featuring news, reviews and the latest insights in the Intimate Apparel world.

A Leg Up ~ Pretty Polly Hosiery

September 22, 2017

By ELLEN LEWIS

All this conversation about integrating lingerie into ready to wear wardrobes got me thinking about my years as a legwear buyer and our mission to take hosiery from basic nude to lingerie for the legs. In those days, choices were limited. Finding color, pattern, extended sizes and eccentricity was a fishing expedition. I know I am dating myself, but seeing the Pretty Polly brand, memories flooded back. Leave it to the British to cover the gamut of leg fashion. From Kate Middleton’s comeback nude pantyhose to the trend loving tights and leggings that can make or break an outfit, Pretty Polly has such a plethora of styles; it’s quite difficult to zero in. These fishnets, one example of the breadth of design within a specific fashion niche, reflect the versatility of the brand’s collections. This once edgy style is now a viable participant in a layered closet. It’s not easy to showcase velvet, shine, metallic, and subtle texture. Added to the mix is their bestselling secret socks and mock pull ups. Pretty Polly is a bounty of leg candy. One feels compelled to open each package, make a fist and stretch the patterns over the hand. But, alas, this can’t happen on line.

Pretty Polly is not just a fashion brand, even though it was their famed suspender tights that brought them ashore in North America several years ago. Their global business has been built on a foundation of respected basics. Recognized as an iconic British super-brand, Pretty Polly has been “dressing legs” since 1919. There’s great added value here: another lifestyle wardrobe layer and an easy up sale at the register. What better than customer satisfaction coupled with added retail volume?

“Not Adding Value is the Same as Taking it Away” ~Seth God

The Reality of Expanded Sizing ~An Interview with Dottie’s Delights

September 21, 2017

By HOLLY JACKSON

Dottie’s Delights is one of those brands that has been on my personal radar for years. I’ve bought several pieces through them and adore their retro yet wearable aesthetic. Notably, they’ve always made pieces in larger sizes as standard, so I was surprised to hear that they recently went through yet another stealthy revamp to make their plus-size range even more friendly to curvier and larger figures.

“Expanded sizing is a great thing to do and not just for “feel good” reasons but also for the increased sales.” says Stephanie Kuhr, the owner and designer behind the brand. She also explains that it was clear early on that demand for larger sizes also meant adapting various designs to fit differently. “… Read more

A New Kind of Bra ~ Etched Lingerie

September 19, 2017

By ELLEN LEWIS

Once and awhile I come across a product that makes me break my “blogging rules”. That is, I don’t believe in reviews; (they are much too partisan) and a product needs to be around for several seasons before I accept its viability in the market. However, I have made an exception for the nascent brand, Etched Lingerie. I first heard the name in the lead up to their launch at The Lingerie Selection in August. Believe me; I was skeptical when I learned that this collection consisted of one bra style, Maya and its matching Misha brief. Although I was born and bred on the concept of key item merchandising, a foundations brand usually needs a broader base of product to … Read more

Cool Tracings from Curve NY 2017

September 18, 2017

By TINA WILSON

A trio of floating butterflies on each strap…
A statement of profanity worn with pride…
Bits of tulle and lace, raw and exposed and dripping from the frame of the bras…
Multicolored paillettes dangling from a bomber jacket…
Long mesh skirts with laser cut applique flowers….
The details were many, as were the number of vendors vying for attention.

I mean this in the most complementary way; being a designer I have the utmost admiration for the talent and artistry that was on display at Curve recently during a few warm muggy weeks in NYC.

There were quite a few notable new brands. Some were eclectic with combinations of lace, guipure, mesh, and prints like Ellipse, a brand out of South … Read more

The Changing World of Lingerie ~ Concepts Paris Comes to NY

September 15, 2017

By ELLEN LEWIS

On September 28^th, the inimitable Jos Berry founder, and creative director of Concepts Paris, will be hosting the Creativ’Lab live at the New York Interfiliere show. (Details Here) For me, personally, Concepts Paris has, for the majority of my career, been the premiere source for researching the creative process in lingerie design and development. The information that Jos and her team share is substantiated by the global access that Concepts Paris has to worldwide trends in textiles, color, print and style.

There are always multiple messages that will be delivered at Jos’s seminars. But this season, the critical story, in my opinion, is the evolution of lingerie as it spreads its wings and travels beyond the boudoir to … Read more

Defiance ~ Lingerie Challenges the Status Quo

September 12, 2017

I debated the inspiration of today’s article, torn between the rage that is Hurricane Irma and the visit I made Saturday to The Metropolitan Museum of Art to participate in The Shady Ladies Tour. The dichotomy of these two experiences speaks for itself, or does it. Challenge, either by Mother Nature or the courtesans depicted through Art History can still be defined as provocation, rebellion and confrontation. Both are symbols, organic or artistic, of defiance.

Hurricanes historically and currently continue to viscerally disrupt our lives. My house in Cabo has just sustained substantial water damage as a result of the recent tropical upheaval, Lidia. Irma had the state of Florida under siege. Most of us here in the Northeastern US were treading water in anticipation … Read more

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