My first real introduction to the Pacific palette happened some years back when I attended my brother in law’s wedding in San Obispo, California. I came prepared in classic NYC cocktail attire, a simple black knit tank dress with matching flats. Everyone knew where I came from and this time, it had nothing to do with my accent. It became clear that casual on the West coast is a synonym … Read More
Did you know that Halloween is the second biggest holiday of the year; $6 billion spent annually to gratify that childlike urge, to dress up in costumes, and satiate the sweet tooth that often gets the better side of our willpower. What happens behind closed doors after dark is up for question, but one thing for sure, the pursuit of naughty nonsense after the witching hour and the sexy attire … Read More
Without a doubt, my favorite job was being a hosiery buyer at Macy’s in the 80’s. It was a different era of merchandising then. No one signed my orders or approved my selection decisions. I was given goals and expected to meet them. When I was recruited into the position, I was directed to change the face of the department from boring beige to must have legwear. In those days … Read More
Submitted by Patti Hartlove Platt, owner, à la mode Intimates in Annapolis, Maryland
In French, à la mode means “in the fashion,” and I believe every woman should have the opportunity to feel beautiful and stylish in all her fashions. Before launching à la mode, I struggled to find bras that fit, and the few times that I did, they weren’t exactly pretty. So, I set out to find beautiful … Read More

Weddings are definitely an individual journey. Personally, when I was first married I was 22 and not too savvy about reality. I insisted on wearing a Mexican Peasant Wedding gown, to which my very traditional mother acquiesced. But she put her foot down when it came to the invitations, insisting on engraved notes from Tiffanys. I thought she was crazy. However, light years later, I see her point. There is … Read More

Lola by Curvy Kate (28-40,D-K) & Marcie by Cleo (28-38, D-J)
Many ions ago, when I worked for a company that sourced product for Victoria Secret, I was introduced to the verisimilitude of the lingerie babydoll. It was one particular style, whose endless sales and reorders blew me away; a simple open front spaghetti strap chiffon design with matching panties whose sexy centerpiece was a very large satin bow begging … Read More
By Ali Cudby
Welcome to the fourth installment of this series on branding in lingerie. Today we’ll be talking to Claire Chambers, Founder & CEO of the amazing Journelle stores in New York City.
If you are new to the branding series, you can take a look at previous articles about Lingerie Briefs, Secrets in Lace and INVISTA/Eurovet. The goal in these articles is to offer lingerie retailers … Read More


