In late 2012, a close colleague of mine asked me to look at a new foundation’s brand, Curvy Couture™ being prepared for a 2013 market launch. It’s not easy to break through merchandising barriers when it comes to bras and panties. I was immediately impressed by the quality but recognized some clear merchandising voids. A cohesive presentation in extended sizes was not yet available and so, as I need to … Read More

What I love about the NK iMode brand from the Canadian based Kenan group is their grasp on key item merchandising and product expansion. Once they hit a bull’s-eye, they know how to exploit it. The Morgan silk charmeuse chemise has been a best seller at retail since 2007. In fact I originally highlighted this style in Dec of 2011 and it is still going strong. Based on the stellar … Read More
By Ali Cudby
In preparation for the upcoming lingerie industry trade shows, Ellen Lewis and I have been discussing the art and science of buying for lingerie retail stores, and particularly specialty stores. In parts one and two of this lingerie buying series, we covered the basics of buying strategy and how open to buy works in a lingerie boutique. In this article, we will tackle the more complex area … Read More
By Adrine Bimanand

How about a silver inspired wedding to ring in the new year? A platinum color scheme is the perfect way to compliment the winter bridal season. Think of the exquisite snow queen and her fairytale winter wonderland; replete with wonder.




As many of you might already be aware, we have taken a dive into our own Swimwear Briefs column. Written by Jennifer Cermak, swim professor, maestro of Nani Nalu beachwear boutique and designer of Jenna Sea, an emerging luxury brand fitting D-G cups, we have watched this category evolve from a touch of fashion to a major margin builder in Lingerie stores across North America. Swimwear is the … Read More
By Marina Rybak

I was only waiting for the right moment to highlight one of my inspirational influences – Edward Steichen (1879–1973), a 20th century artist, renowned for his groundbreaking photography. His iconic Chantilly lace-veiled portrait of Gloria Swanson is one of my favorites.

As an award-winning horticulturist with an experience in combat aerial photography Steichen once stated that he was “a painter first, last, and all the time” and … Read More

Today is New Year’s Eve and that time each year when we reminisce. I was thinking about how I became so enamored with Intimate Apparel. I was never a girly girl. It was never about the concept of sex appeal. When I was a young woman, I shopped in vintage and recycled clothing stores because I had a proclivity for old things. Somehow they made me feel unique, independent and … Read More

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