Art and Culture

by Richard Vincente

Censorship is a weapon that works best when it’s used sparingly, if at all. It’s the cultural equivalent of a nuclear deterrent.

Most people in marketing, advertising and programming understand this and play by the rules. But the shadowy group of individuals and quasi-legitimate authorities who monitor and enforce community standards have itchy trigger fingers. For them, censorship isn’t just a deterrent, it’s a way of defining what’s acceptable by shooting down … Read More


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BRIEF ALERT! Cosabella

This Week’s Intimate Discovery: Established Intimates Company Takes An Innovative Step

Last week I ventured downtown to see the new Cosabella flagship store in New York’s trendy Soho district. After closing their traditional Intimate Apparel showroom, they have designed a crossover milieu where wholesale and retail staff commingles with customers creating instant feedback and easy access.  Signature product statements stand out in a contemporary white space highlighted with textural surfaces and touches of antique … Read More


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When I am in Paris, if time allots, I try to sneak away to the Musée Rodin, for a moment of artistic reprieve.  In fact, in the past, I mandated that my lingerie design team visit this beautiful sculptural enclave for inspiration.  I believe that Rodin’s work is the perfect manifestation of the sensual form.  One of my favorite pieces, Danaid is carved from a luminescent block of highly polished marble so that the … Read More


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When my daughter Kate was 13, I took her to Paris hoping that the opportunity would broaden her sensibilities.  I literally had to drag her to the Musée d’Orsay to see the Impressionists.  She was much more fixated on the French Patisseries and her new found obsession with chocolate éclairs.  Imagine, then, my thrill, as I witnessed the transformation of her perspective as she began to wander through galleries devoted entirely to one school of … Read More


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BRIEF ALERT! ARI DEIN

This Week’s Intimate Discovery:  Arielle Shapiro wins the prestigious CFDA award for Lingerie

The first time I saw the ARI DEIN line at Journelle in NYC, I had a feeling that a new design star was on the horizon.  Apparently, my intuition was correct, because Arielle Shapiro, the creative force behind this nascent brand was just awarded one of 10 positions in the prestigious Fashion Incubator, a CFDA initiative whose mission is to … Read More


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This Week’s Intimate Discovery: A Gorgeous Boutique Proves the Power of Color in Montreal

I just returned from a quick trip to Montreal during which I had an opportunity to visit some wonderful boutiques.   I have always been intrigued by the Canadian Intimate Apparel business because in many ways it still mimics the European approach where independent stores still dominate the business landscape.  In Canada, the small retailer still reigns supreme.  They do not … Read More


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Inspiration is ephemeral.   To an artist, it happens without thought, a moment in time caught from the corner of an eye, a scent, a sound, a touch, a brief shift in space.  It is not always easy to explain.  I have been writing this blog now for over two years, weaving lyrical musings of my life and its intimate rapport with lingerie.  My connection to this feminine world has lasted more than 25 years and … Read More


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