The minute I met Michelle Metens, owner and designer of Dollhouse Bettie, at Curve NY, I knew I was speaking to a merchandising soul mate. Even ensconced in a wheelchair and in some serious pain; she broke her leg while setting up the show, Michelle was determined to make sure I understood her mission. Deferring to reality, I convinced her that we would wait until after surgery to chat. The booth was packed anyway, … Read More
by Shirley Freeman
From the very practical to the glamorous and sexy, undies haven’t really radically changed though the years. Panties, bloomers, knickers, skivvies, briefs, thongs, girdles, smoothers and unmentionables… whatever they’re called, women have had a love affair with the coverings of their beautiful bottoms for decades.
Were these perhaps the first thong? Roger Schaal Diana lingerie – Paris c.1925, and today, Mimi Holliday Bisou Bisou Pearl Lace Bow Thong compares nicely.
In 1954 … Read More
Last year, Paris was all about the snow; unusual and dramatic. This year it was the rain. Perhaps I am being a bit politic but there was a palpable austerity in the air; a general aversion to the current administration. The wealthy are fleeing the city to avoid sledgehammer taxes leaving shops void of some of their tried and true customers. Nonetheless some things never change in Paris and all the usual suspects; outdoor café … Read More
By Tomima Edmark
I’m a big fan of the series Mad Men. The plots never fail to draw me in, and I couldn’t love the authentic look and feel of the sets more. I most look forward to seeing what the show’s women are wearing. The time period’s fashion staples – pencil skirts, snug sweaters, capri pants and dresses that nip in the waist – are meticulously recreated, right down to the garments worn under … Read More
By John Festa
Rago
Recently, I conducted an unscientific survey on women’s thoughts on shapewear; just a bunch of questions on the topic. I was happily surprised by the quantity and quality of the responses. It was spectacularly enlightening and actually very entertaining. Some of you broads are funny! (Can I say that?) My sincere gratitude to all respondents for their time, their forthcoming and for sharing intimate information.
Shapewear is a wonderful tool to … Read More
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 … Read More
By Morgan O’Neill
So Ellen, Lingerie Briefs executive editor, has been on my case because I haven’t published much lately. I have many great excuses I am prepared to defend myself with, notwithstanding the key one being my utter inability to intelligently connect what I am reading or reading about to lingerie. Essentially, that is the theme behind the blog. So, without that connectivity I remain speechless. Or, blogless as it may be. That combined … Read More