Whenever I think of design perfection I think of my old friend and colleague Marcia Bayard with whom I worked for many years, first at Macy’s and later on at the Turkish based NAP, NY where we launched the Crabtree & Evelyn Sleepwear line together. Our symbiotic relationship consisted as me, the merchandiser challenging design viability and cost and Marcia, the designer whose vision often outreached the current trends. We spent many hours together working … Read More
December Rose
What is December’s rose?
She survives to the last minute
Succumbing only to the first snow
I know those winter blossoms
Dark as the early night
Might be a promise; Just a bud
Basking in the fading autumn light
Still she endures
Only one single rose
And when I cut her loose
And introduce her to the bedroom fare
Warm and moist
She blossoms there.
There is something magical about a delicate flower … Read More
I have returned to the East Coast having been catapulted back to reality from paradise. Clearly the holidays are upon us. Trees are up, retailers are stocked with X-mas paraphernalia and the race has begun. Even though all the big stores in Cabo had a similar transformation from Halloween to Christmas, literally in the beginning of November, it’s not easy for a veteran north-easterner to feel the vibe while shopping in a bathing suit and … Read More
By Ellen Lewis
Every merchant wants to maximize sales. Cardinal rule: Add value to a transaction and give your customer not only what they need, but what they want. No one does this as well as Hanky Panky. Case in point, these colorful gift packs. Using their venerable lace thong, widely recognized as a fashion commodity, they have cleverly engaged the consumer in multiple sales. Not only are they a smart merchandising tool, but … Read More
When my children were young, the holiday season was a time for excess. Although I tried not to pamper them with material things, this was one time of the year when I over did it. I wanted to nurture the joy of anticipation experienced from giving much and receiving plenty. To augment this encounter, we made sure that not one single package was in sight prior to Christmas morning. We wanted to create the magic … Read More
Intrigued by the kitschy British design aesthetic
perpetuated by the fun and flirty UK brand, Playful Promises, I sent my sister, who lives in London, to see their store and report back to me on her findings. Result: she spent a lot of money on lingerie that “she did not need but could not resist”. She said she had “a lot of fun” shopping at Playful Promises and I can understand why. Very geared … Read More
