“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. . .”
In his poem Mending Walls, Robert Frost queried the necessity of separating individual purpose. Why not crossover? Surely there is virtue in sharing each other’s space? This is not easy, states his neighbor, or so he was taught by his father’s generation. “Good … Read More
By ALISON CONNOLLY
Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that people either love or hate, but personally, I find it delightful. From my days at Faire Frou Frou and onward to my new ventures in life, I have had a love affair with hearts. The season leading up to February 14th is essentially “lingerie high season” for both consumers and designers. Most lingerie designers use the holiday as an opportunity to promote … Read More
By ELLEN LEWIS
Without a doubt, the foundations business is a force at the Curve NY show. It is a showcase of practical, functional, solution based, and fashionable bras and panties. However the prevalence of sleepwear and loungewear, traditional, eclectic, elegant and commercial can not be ignored. There was a plethora of pajamas, lounge pieces and soft support styles all focused on comfort first.
Adding to this mix is the networking element, the extraordinary … Read More
By ELLEN LEWIS
A Brief summary of the Curve Ny show: ENERGY. For tried and true merchants, there’s nothing better than live interaction, face to face meetings and touching the merchandise. I got positive feedback: satisfied buyers, satisfied brands. Of course, there was some pushback, but how else do we rise to new challenges. Traffic was definitely up. This show was larger than the February show. The product mix was somewhat eclectic. Barbie … Read More
By ELLEN LEWIS
Dita von Teese
Curve New York took place at the Javits Center this February in a venue flooded with light and elevated above the conventional trade show jamboree. Many of the stories I noted reinforced the Paris themes: glitter and glow, bodysuits, intricate embroideries, graphic laces, and seduction. A carousel of dynamic prints in vivid colors merge with a palette of deep pink, purple and blue soaked hues, bright greens, yellow and … Read More
By LINDA DYETT
Le Petit Trou
Full disclosure right at the outset: I’m a lingerie aficionado who happens to live a tantalizingly short block-and-a-half away from an absolutely knockout-terrific underthings store—Azaleas, located in the heart of New York’s East Village. The ultimate indie retailer, this is a white-walled intimates general store—a Downtown lifestyle mart filled with essentials and esoterica that takes its cue from and is a perfect fit for my offbeat Downtown … Read More
By ELLEN LEWIS
While I intend to showcase visual highlights mined from the Curve NY show, I have a few macro-observations I want to present. As a merchant, I am not only charged with identifying product with sales force, but also, I must sniff out shifts in consumer interest at a visceral level. This is the lingerie trade show where such vibes emerge. It is, by default of space availability, the only venue capable of … Read More