Do Polish Bras Have A Future In North American Boutiques? Ewa Michalak

May 23, 2018

By HOLLY JACKSON

Years ago Ewa Michalak bras exploded onto the North American lingerie scene through private Facebook communities populated by full-busted lingerie lovers. It was the wild west of bra buying. Group members shared sizing advice and posted purchases. The few members who spoke both Polish and English translated customer service emails and helped compose replies in Polish, allowing purchases to be smoother. Since returning bras to Poland was prohibitably expensive, the community also functioned as a place to buy and sell bras to try them out before you committed to an international purchase.

complements of Broad Lingerie in Toronto photographed by Maxwell Lander

Ewa Michalak bras have started to make their way into North American boutiques, ensuring that customers have ample access to sizing advice as well as … Read more

Like, Totally 80s! ~ Andres Sarda Swimwear

May 21, 2018

By ALISON CONNOLLY

Somebody at Andres Sarda must have been listening to Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” on repeat while creating this runway collection. Inspired by all things 1980s, the Spring/Summer 2018 swim collection was heavily styled with legwarmers, shoulder pads, Robert Palmer-esque models (remember “Simply Irresistible”?), and bold colors. If you’re able to look beyond the eye-catching details that make this runway show as period-specific as it was, you will see the foundations for a classic swimwear collection. Striped and solid bikinis and one-piece suits are the first layering component for each look, and part of the collection that will be available at a retail level. Granted, if you’re looking for ways to dress up your beach attire, this show is filled with creative ideas! Every F/W and S/S season, Spanish … Read more

A Lingerie Star ~ Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless

May 18, 2018

By ELLEN LEWIS

When a star in any industry rises to the top of their trade, you often will see them on the Red Carpet. They are lauded for excellence in performance and recognized among their peers for superior skills. I started thinking about this several weeks back while reading Charles Dickens classic novel, David Copperfield. Dickens gained notoriety during his life time for his beautifully configured prose. Dickens was a master of the written word and I never really understood it until I listened carefully to his extraordinary ability to turn a phrase. His technique mesmerized me. The descriptive detail engineered into the pages weave a tale not easy to forget. I could not put the book down.

As you know, this blog is about incorporating everyday observations into … Read more

A Woman’s Bounty ~ CLO Intimo

May 16, 2018

By ELLEN LEWIS

I love evaluating product with Claudia Ochoa, founder and creative director of the CLO Intimo brand. Every time we chat, she has a story to tell; her catalyst for a new collection of intimates. What appeals to me in these tales is how Claudia celebrates the Columbian culture and the women who inspired it. I have written several blogs about this since I discovered the brand some years ago when the iconic Fortuna chemise caught my attention. The brand, birthed in 2003, was one of the first labels to zero in on the bralette as a seminal piece of any retailer’s assortment. Clo remains a key supplier whose vision has stayed on message as this shape took hold and has now become a critical piece of many … Read more

Love & Marriage, Love & Marriage ~ Bridal Part 2

May 14, 2018

By TINA WILSON

So many beautiful pieces to choose from… that was my dilemma when sitting down to illustrate bridal themed ‘sleepwear’, though I probably shouldn’t call it sleepwear considering there is very little slumber going on. The category is usually consisting of short flirty baby dolls, revealing corsetry, skimpy teddies and wispy wraps but sometimes a brand goes rogue like Amoralle. They do “long and refined” like no one else, I love their flowing columns of silk and tulle that are accessorized with gloves and headpieces. A few years ago I had the pleasure and the privilege to design Oscar De La Renta sleepwear, and bridal was a significant component. While frilly is not my thing (I am more about clean lines and silhouette) I really loved designing … Read more