I went to my friend Gale’s farm yesterday. I was in dire need of a “horse fix”. Leaving the greyed out light of my Connecticut apartment complex and the damp city streets, I was expecting the temperatures to be colder, but I didn’t care. I needed the comfort of space and the clarity of purpose that equine activity always delivers. But, as I drove inland, the real surprise was the … Read More
Last Spring I was having coffee with a colleague in Greenwich, CT and decided to stop by Petticoat Lane, one of five lifestyle boutiques owned by Jason and Yami Palmer. I walked in to analyze the Lingerie content and walked out with a new handbag. It’s hard to resist Jason’s selling charisma which is substantial since it’s not my inclination to shop when I do these store visits. The … Read More
Valentine’s Day is one month away. What fantasy besieges you? Seduction appears in many forms, none as provocative as lingerie. This season the teddy is the star. No one does sexy bodywear quite like Maison Close.
“SHE OCCUPIES THE FRONT OF THE STAGE”
“SHE TENDERLY TRIES TO ENTICE HIM, AND THEN BRUSHES HIM OFF TO INCREASE HER DESIRE”
“QUEEN OF THE MODERN AMAZON”
“SHE CHOKES HIM AND LEADS HIM
Once and awhile I happen upon a retail stage that is so inspirational it’s worth mentioning. Controversial, entertaining and just plan creative, The Dover Street Market, recently opened in NYC, approaches merchandising with a whole new buzz…READ MORE… Read More
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
Maison Lejaby
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