I am back in New York and this was a very positive exposition. Major Intimate Apparel trends that will impact the design and merchandising decisions made in Lingerie businesses throughout 2012 were reinforced. Helped by the extensive research presented in the forums and conferences directed by both Concepts Paris at and Nelly Rodi, the color, fabric and silhouette direction was clear. Here are some of their major statements:
- Color palettes are dominated by an infusion of yellows, greens, orange spices. Color infiltrates animal prints, purple and orange make this tried and true pattern new
- Technology continues its revolution as engineered laces and cut layers impact design, especially in the exploding Shapewear category
- Soft, airy laces with big repeats are prevalent
- Embroidery is an important decoration, but very light and in place positioning on garments
- Digital floral prints make it possible to have 25-30 colors in a pattern
- The impact of graphics on style construction is dominant. We see the mix and match of lines and layers resulting in a modern take on established silhouettes. The higher waistline is definite and v neck décolleté emerges in importance
- Classics like easy pajamas make a comeback as in the search for “Timeless Beauty” there is an aesthetic return to the 40’s
- Casual luxury harps back to the country side with larger silhouettes, crochet trims, cotton fabrics and a shabby chic allure.
There was confidant synergy at this show. Vendor feedback was very good. I was very glad that I decided to go and hope that this vibe portends a successful year for both the intimates industry and all those consumers who love to buy and wear gorgeous lingerie. Hats off to the muti-national creative influences delivered from the saucy French, quirky English, modern Germans and the dynamic Americans. Great Salon De Lingerie and Interfilière gestalt!
“I Love Paris When It Sizzles…” Cole Porter
Every single time I travel here, I stop at Sabbia Rosa, the archetypal Intimates shop located in the elegant Rue St. Père on the Left Bank. This time, I had the privilege of chatting with Monette Moat, the founder of this 35 year old boudoir. Sabbia Rosa is a banquet of sophisticated silk underpinnings available in up to 25 colors that are updated every season. Handmade in luxurious silk and Calais laces produced 100 % in France; every piece is cut on the bias to insure this brand’s signature feminine allure. This tiny shop attracts customers from all over the world and is recognized as a ‘must visit’ destination for photographers, stylists and designers interested in the essential art of lingerie.
READ Intimate Intelligence ~ What’s in a Name?
It was a very busy day at the show, crowded, a great deal of energy in the pavilion and definitely a positive vibe. I spent the morning reviewing Shapewear and the plethora of product that has now made this category a major player in Intimate Apparel. 
The Best of Intima presented a global overview of the Shaping phenomenon in a seminar tracking the classification’s evolution from basic to fashion essentials. 
One thing is for sure, no show is quite as quintessentially French as this one. And nothing says French Lingerie with “Ooh La La” flair quite like the saucy 
immediately that I was speaking to a true artist. Asi’s first collection for her personal label,
When I was an art student my inclination was to be focused on more modern disciplines. I perceived the breakout spirit epitomized in the disintegration of form to be a metaphor for my general philosophy of life: only change can bring us to a higher state. From impressionism through abstraction, my aesthetic personal preferences were fixed. Then, in my senior year, I traveled to Rome and had my first encounter with Italian Baroque Architecture. Born and raised in the suburbs of NYC, my perspective on this discipline was rather naïve. I believed it to be a gaudy display of curlicues and gilt. My observations were based on arbitrary encounters with interpretations of this opulent workmanship by less discriminating craftsmen. So the avalanche of ornate shapes that besieged my vision as I journeyed through both the architectural and frescoed chimera that saturate the roman landscape was an awakening. The drama of this theatrical style and the uses of bold, yet delicate detail that controlled and defined large spaces was awe inspiring.
All my work plans just changed and now I am off to Paris next week for the Lingerie shows; thus, being challenged to endure the rigors of international travel. I consider flying in this day and age an extreme sport, so I am very pleased that I own 
sport’s bra (5529). It will journey with me for comfort, and support. Initially I purchased this style for maximum stability during all my physical activities from yoga to horseback riding and it certainly exceeds my expectations. However, what sets it apart from the rest of the field is the soft, microfiber-lycra® fabric that breathes while it controls movement for hours at a time and is available in sizes 32-46, A-H cups. I might be going somewhere but I can guarantee my breasts will remain in place with 
