By Michelle Metens
Most women have a never ending desire to deck themselves out and flaunt their best assets, and party season is the prime time of the year when we have a legitimate opportunity to do just that. But when it comes to Halloween, which is the kickoff for the fall party season, just exactly where does the urge to dress up as sexy bumble bee come from??
This 1880’s Victorian hornet costume shows … Read More
By MICHELLE METENS
It wouldn’t be possible to talk about the history of sheer and slinky lingerie without talking about the science, research and development that went into creating the miracle fiber that most certainly played a role in the massive baby boom of the 1950s – nylon!
“Good heavens Miss Sakamoto – you’re beautiful!” Wallace Carothers, DuPont scientist and inventor of the nylon polyamide fiber.
Innovation in textile development was bustling during the first … Read More
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 Ali Cudby
In my last Retail Briefs column we began looking at branding in the world of lingerie. The definition of branding – for the purposes of this series – is simple to say, and extremely difficult to execute. Namely, branding is “your promise to your customers.”
One company that is exceptional in this regard is Secrets In Lace. Secrets In Lace began as a bricks-and-mortar store in 1984 – almost 30 years … Read More
Layla L’Obatti
Putting together my last few posts it was hard not to see a distinct trend emerging, the revival of the appliqué. I think handmade brands like Honeycooler and Knickerocker (both coincidentally from California) are pioneering some of the most innovative and inventively playful design. Then, I started to take note of more established luxury brands: Carine Gilson and La Perla who have started incorporating shaped appliqued surface designs into recent collections albeit in … Read More
By Layla L’Obatti
Flashforward/ Flashback – Frisky feline’s
Flashforward: Knickerocker’s adorable applique cat face bodysuit doesn’t initially strike you as something vintage inspired but more anime and cartoon with its blue-haired styling. Like my previous post on Schiaparelli highlighted, the use of trompe l’oeil to create false forms on the surface of designs has been around for a while and merely awaits a modern take to bring it into modern day.
Flashback: I came across … Read More
By Layla L’Obatti
Remember my post about Trompe L’oeil in reference to Schiaperelli a while back? Here is a perfect example in both vintage and modern lingerie. Bows that are not bows in function or really in any way other than “shape”.
Flashback: Classic 1930’s girdle from the McCord Museum’s archives features a gorgeous example of trompe l‘oeil applique in a pink satin on lighter pink … Read More