Many years ago, during my tenure as a buyer at the venerable Abraham & Straus, now part of Macy’s, I was given a choice of positions, most within my comfort zone; ready to wear and accessories. However, there was an opening in the Cosmetics Division and I decided to take that job, because I was curious about this category where merchandising was driven primarily by the vendor and marketing ruled … Read More
Every time I look at the In Bloom by Jonquil collection, I am amazed at the way they merchandise prints. As somewhat of a connoisseur of curated product, I am always impressed at how this brand finds a way to mingle visually dynamic lingerie fabrics to form a composition of coordinated sleep and lounge designs. What could be chaotic is in fact a captivating collage. Renown for their molded cup … Read More
I have been to the New York Botanical Gardens many times, but our visit there this past weekend was a very different kind of experience. Maybe it was because it was the end of the summer and the rage of color was less acute, or maybe it was because there weren’t any special exhibits attracting hoards of visitors, but the park was virtually empty and very serene. No one could … Read More
Over the years I have made a few savvy personal purchases, mainly on instinct. Something unexpected about the item alerts my style radar. That is how I felt when I found this pair of UGG boots 20 years ago in a small cold weather shop in the Hudson Valley. It was like discovering a hidden treasure. Preferring fashion that lives comfortably outside of the box, I was glad that the … Read More
By John Festa
So they tell us. Then why isn’t there more cotton in our underwear? Sure, there’s plenty of cotton panties, but what of bras? Is this only the domain of lady golfers and Mother Earth types? Perhaps there are compelling reasons why cotton is only a small percentage of the marketplace. I’ve checked in with some of my retailer customers on this topic. The marketplace always bears the … Read More
Silk Color Selections for Fall 2014
I could go into a poetic interlude on the importance of silk in a lingerie library, but I’ll save that for another time. I am currently more focused on where to source it, given the recent demise of several resources known for their rather well-priced assortment of this luxury fiber. In fact, in the past several weeks, I have had several retail buyer inquiries … Read More
Urban Muu Muu and Jammie Beans
SNOA and UGG
PJ Salvage
Mere Basics
J’Attire and Elila
Tutti Rouge
Christine Lingerie
Naja
Lise Charmel
Gilda and Pearl and The Muse Intimates
Lise Charmel
Empreinte
Simone Perele
Lahco of Switzerland
Le Mystere and Naked Princess
Zimmerli of Switzerland… Read More