Sneak Peek ~ Claudette Lingerie

February 1, 2013

Here is one thing that I know for sure: If you combine the expertise of an experienced merchant with the technical skills of a British trained bra designer, you have an excellent chance at creating a lingerie line that has the potential to generate real excitement at the consumer level. This is exactly what has occurred with the Claudette brand. Between President Robin Levitt’s personal merchandising background with mega branded retailers and designer Bok Goodall’s track record after emerging from the British Bra Design School, success was not unexpected. What was unexpected was the speed of growth. Launched in spring of 2012, Claudette Lingerie has been identified as an aspirational brand built on the credo that every woman should share in the fun. Bras fitting sizes 28 – 38 and A – G cups are developed in bold and fearless colors. Using key item distortion, the color stories cross collections … ...Read more

Yes Master ~ Master Imagination

January 29, 2013

Every once and awhile I come across a creative concept that literally takes me hostage; thus my fascination with the Yes Master brand at the Paris show last week. After several days of focused exploration, it was a welcome treat to sit with Designer Igar Pacemski and listen to his vision of Intimates as a cultural and literary exploration into the Art of Lingerie. The stories wrought by this 7 year old label are not immediately obvious. It takes some time to see the magic. Each season is an evocative tableau that takes a woman on a journey to the “wrong side of good taste”. Edgy, but with style and class, Yes Master is the quintessential British brand. As I tend to “watch” lines for a while, before proselytizing about them, I have kept my distance until recently, when this line caught my attention with its Dreams Collection. Anyone who … ...Read more

Paris Wrap

January 25, 2013

I’m back in NY where I have to say, the single digit temperatures trump the snowstorm in Paris. I have had a few days to filter and as I like to do, I am letting the highlights of the Salon De Lingerie surface as I debrief. As a merchant, that’s my way of finding focus. I’ll leave the recaps to the trend services and press and give you with some of the images that made an impression

GRAPHIC LACES & EMBROIDERIES: METALLIC AND CRYSTAL DETAILS: LIGHT AND AIRY

Lise Charmel

Prelude

Damaris

Simone Perele

Les Chandelles

Mimi Holliday

Lou

PURPLE & BLUE

Beautiful Bottoms

Epure by Lise Charmel

LACE PATTERNS & SHAPEWEAR

Va Bien

Belly Cloud

Rago

CUDDLY, DRAPED LOUNGEWEAR IN CREAMY COLORS

Pluto-robe-and-Maison-Close-bodysuit on Lingerie Briefs

Pluto & Maison Close

INDIE DESIGNERS

Dirty Pretty Things

Made By Niki

Juju Lingerie

Fred & Ginger

Erica M

Lost In Wonderland

Yes Master

Kitten Kouture

… ...Read more

Paris Day Four: Nordic Dreams

January 21, 2013

Parisians are not well prepared for snowstorms. The airport is closed down and the EuroRail was stopped for 2 hours for those en route from London. The streets are still coated with an icy mush: plows and shovels probably don’t go with the French aesthetic. This wintry weather is very auspicious. How coincidental that the major theme of this year’s Salon De Lingerie is “Ice Land”, the main message at the Fall 2013 Trend Forum.

Here we are cocooned in a synthesis of pale neutrals tinged with icy shades of blue, mineral colors, shimmering crystals, translucent and cuddly fabrics and airy laces. There is a sense of visual calm. And as always, the show offers elegance and an element of artistic amusement.

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Paris Day Three: Black Beauty

January 20, 2013

Today at Salon De Lingerie was my general show overview and I did not spend too much time on individual brands. Mostly I took stock of the show and what it had to offer. It was a bit quiet here due to flight cancellations from the snowstorm and European economic woes, but still most of the booths with whom I touched base with were pleased with the traffic.

There is an evolving color story and I promise a full report tomorrow on the prevailing trends, but I was happy to see that the black and lace message I noticed emerging for Spring 2013 at retail yesterday was just as prevalent at the stands exhibiting their Fall 2013 collections. Here are a few:

… ...Read more