I have been a part of the Intimate Apparel Industry for 30 years and worn many hats: Retailer, Merchandiser, Brand and Sale’s Director. The one lesson I have learned that trumps all is the critical importance of fabric sourcing and development when securing the integrity of the Lingerie product. Completely oblivious during my buying days; intent on fashion and margin, I did not grasp the complexity of the piece good … Read More
Struggling all my life with the fashion limitations confronting well-endowed women, I spent many more years than necessary frustrated by the Western profile of style defined by the “less is best” crazed media. It wasn’t until I began my college journey into the History of Art that I realized that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. 400 years ago, Peter Paul Rubens defined feminine mystique by painting … Read More
I have been following Conturelle’s product emergence in North America ever since I was introduced to this legendary German brand 5 years ago. Entering the US market sometime around their 125th birthday, Conturelle began its ascent here with an introduction of some of their established European styles. One of these, Provence, a gorgeous 3 part Swiss embroidered, guipure trimmed underwire bra has played an enormous role … Read More
All my life I have been a dog person. Always had one living by my side; sometimes 3. Cats on the other hand were an afterthought. Somehow or another, the cats in my house were there because someone brought a kitten home, promised to covet it for eternity and then, left the poor feline there to fend for herself in the grasp of a canine domicile. Cats make very few … Read More
Many years ago, during my tenure as a buyer at the venerable Abraham & Straus, now part of Macy’s, I was given a choice of positions, most within my comfort zone; ready to wear and accessories. However, there was an opening in the Cosmetics Division and I decided to take that job, because I was curious about this category where merchandising was driven primarily by the vendor and marketing ruled … Read More
Every time I look at the In Bloom by Jonquil collection, I am amazed at the way they merchandise prints. As somewhat of a connoisseur of curated product, I am always impressed at how this brand finds a way to mingle visually dynamic lingerie fabrics to form a composition of coordinated sleep and lounge designs. What could be chaotic is in fact a captivating collage. Renown for their molded cup … Read More
Today, we are very excited to introduce a new column on Lingerie Briefs, An Intimate Gallery by Marina Rybak. Guided by her extraordinary vision, Marina has re-imagined a classic basic. Based on my long standing knowledge of Marina’s unique insight into the creative process and her ability to identify products that stand “outside of the box”, we have decided to re-direct her column to the discovery and execution of … Read More