Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Dreaming of Bras for the Modern Woman

News - New York Times, US


Many of those too young to remember probably know about the ad campaign that Maidenform ran from the end of World War II up through the mid-1960's. It was the one with gorgeous ladies, their bottoms modestly clad but their tops ensconced only in their bras, dreaming they "went shopping" - or rode fire trucks, or crossed the Nile on Cleopatra's barge - "in their Maidenform bras."

It was shockingly risqué for the time - in fact, Mad Magazine spoofed the campaign in 1962, with "I dreamed I was arrested for indecent exposure in my Maidenform bra." But, it sure sold a lot of undergarments.

But you won't pick any of that up from the three-part billboard that since Sept. 21 has towered over the southwest corner of 35th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan - right across the street from Macy's, one of Maidenform's major channels. It sports a beautiful young woman, shown from the waist up, wearing nothing but a bra. The ad copy is equally spare: "Introducing the dream bra."

But while the words say little, the model's look speaks volumes: She manages to be sultry and innocent and, well, dreamy.

"Maidenform has always had this emotional connection with women, an understanding of their aspirations, and that is what we are stressing now," said Elizabeth Morris, Maidenform's vice president for marketing.

For Maidenform, it is a repeat of history even beyond the retro-chic ad campaign. The company was founded during the Flapper Era of the 1920's, on the then-radical premise that women who were routinely binding and flattening their breasts would really rather have them lifted and contoured. Its founders were right - women bought bras in droves, and the company took off.

Dreaming of Bras for the Modern Woman article

Lingerie with all the frills

News - Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom

Through all its ups and downs, Marks & Spencer can at least claim to supply a large proportion of the female population with new knickers.

At the most recent count, a quarter of British women bought their underwear at M&S, although the true figure is likely to be higher.

Lingerie has always been one of the chain's best-selling lines, accounting for 20 per cent of its total clothing sales and helping to bolster the store as its womenswear turnover plummeted in the past few years.

Today, M&S launches Per Una Lingerie, an off-shoot of the label founded by George Davies in 2001. Its range couldn't be more different from the store's main collections - from the outset, girly frills and ruffles have adorned garments, and pinks have been dotted throughout.

read the article

Trend layered petticoats and lacy underwear!

News - Yahoo News, UK

Betty Jackson, one of the well-established designers who took part in London Fashion Week earlier this month. "Spring/summer 2006 it should be much sleeker and sharper," said Jackson, whose dresses and skirts set the scene for a summer of simple whites, blacks, maroons and greens.

As for her fashion must-have, Jackson said: "Something orange."

Flowing dresses also graced British designer Tanya Sarne's Ghost collection in London along with layered petticoats and lacy underwear.

read the article

It is time to buy petticoats, especially vintage petticoats and lace knickers although I don't really need another excuse..

Monday, September 26, 2005

Le Bonitas To Make Frankie Morello Lingerie

News - just-style.com, UK

Italian manufacturer Le Bonitas SpA has signed a five-year deal to make beachwear and underwear for the Frankie Morello brand.

The distribution of the collection will be initially focused on the Italian market. Le Bonitas has also recently signed a distribution agreement with a Russian company concerning the new line, Le Bonitas' president Guglielmo Muratori said.

Frankie Morello is owned by Pierfrancesco Gigliotti and Maurizio Modica who are also creative directors of the brand.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Belfast photographer snaps women for charity calendar

News - Belfast Telegraph

A NEW charity calendar featuring 12 breast cancer sufferers in vintage lingerie will give hope to other women battling with the disease, a Belfast photographer said today.

Pamela Shomer, who captured the women on camera for the calendar, said it was a positive celebration of their courage and beauty.

The calendar, Corsets 4 Cancer, will be available to buy from October 6 and it is hoped will raise thousands of pounds for three cancer charities.

Pamela, who studied photography at Rupert Stanley College in Belfast but now lives in London, came up with the idea of the calendar along with a friend who owns a corset shop and is also a make-up artist and hair stylist.

She said: "I visited my friend Jenny Dodson's corset shop in Brighton and the seeds for the project were sown there.

"We both know women who have had breast cancer and we decided to do something worthwhile that could combine both our talents and raise money at the same time.

Click here to read the article.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Pants HQ has arrived!

Passionate about underwear the site offers,

Reviews on underwear books , links to £10 off when buying lingerie, opportunity to buy underwear art or browse the Underwear Drawer , a sketchbook of underwear notes.


To view the site click here www.pantshq.com

Patagonia looking for used underwear

News - Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA

SANTA CRUZ — Patagonia, the outdoor gear and apparel company, wants your old underwear. But not just any old underwear.

Patagonia stores across the country are collecting used Capilene undergarments for a new recycling program.

Locals are invited to drop off or mail their old Capilene garments — only those made by Patagonia — to the Patagonia Outlet, 415 River St., Santa Cruz, starting Sept. 12.

A bin will be set up in the store for customers to leave their old underwear.

"We’re hoping it’s clean," King said.

Patagonia is launching the Common Threads recycling project with Teijin, a fabric manufacturer in Japan. Patagonia is one of the first global companies to do a garment take-back recycling program, Jen Rapp, manager of public relations, said.

Making new polyester fiber from old results in energy savings and a reduction in greenhouse gasses, she said.

Click here to read the article.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

World's most expensive lingerie!

News - Economic Times,India times



Good things in life don't come cheap. Here, a list of some 'most expensive' things available in the market. Bizarrely exorbitant!
Most expensive bra and underwear: $15 million

In 2002, Victoria's Secret out-did all of their records and created a $15 million bra and underwear titled Red Hot Fantasy. This bra was made of red satin, 1,300 gemstones, including rubies and diamonds. Before this, they had launched a one of a kind bra and underwear set made of platinum, sapphires and diamonds. The Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra is studded with a total of more than 2,500 carats of diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones stones. The rose and leaf motif alone on the Star of Victora is made up of 320 carats. It is still up for sale for $10 million!

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Goodbye Wonderbra?

Everywhere I turn there is articles on the death of the Wonderbra with
strap lines Goodbye boys (and good riddance) to Bye Bye Boys?

Has the Wonderbra really gone for good? Sales of push-up bras have plunged 10 per cent in the past year. In 1994 sales of cleavage enhancing bras grew from 10% of the bra market to massive 25-30%

The much loved “54 separates design features” of Wonderbra have it seems reached a crossroads. Some believe the bra was uncomfortable and with new versions on the market of push up bras the competition got ferocious.

Bioform bra an all day bosom enhancer designed for the larger bust by two British inventors who replaced the strictures of the Wonderbra with plastic cups.

Later came Ultimo bra with revolutionary uplifting silicone gel. (You need to be a weight lifter to pick up one of these).

Other high street stores followed and offered push-up bras meaning Wonderbra lost market share. The Hello Boys bra needs a makeover. If the crisscross on the back of the bra could be redesigned then this would be a good move, as even men know the wonder bra straps under tops. (A friend had hers pointed out while in the pub with a group of friends, quite embarrassing)

With changes the improved Wonderbra can fight back although a lot of this will be affected by fashion. While stars such as Kylie Minogue and Elle Macpherson cover up their bosoms so will the majority. With this in mind Wonderbra should revaluate the current design and pray for the resurge of the bust. Of course Love Kylie x and Elle MacPherson Intimates will have a few push up bras in their collections when the time comes.

As long as Wonderbra moves quickly, is prepared and has an outstanding marketing campaign once the cycle of fashion comes round again it might not be Goodbye boys.

Other articles:

Time to burn your Wonderbra?
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom

Time to burn your Wonderbra?
Easier, UK

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Samantha Mumba Steps Into Rachel Hunter's Lingerie

News - Female First, UK

Sexy Irish singer SAMANTHA MUMBA has signed up to replace RACHEL HUNTER as the spokesmodel for lingerie giants Ultimo.

The curvy star will appear in adverts for the new Per Amore range ahead of its launch later this month

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Lingerie books reviews and recommendations

Confessions of a lingerie addict by Jennifer Ashley
Description:
Addicted to buying sexy underthings from all over the world, Brenda Scott, longing to escape her pathetic existence, reinvents herself after being dumped by her fianc , unleashing her wild side and capturing the attention of a gorgeous stranger on New Year's Day.

Review:
I fell in love with Nick he sounds amazing, defiantly worth a read if you fancy a little fun with a few adorable characters and after all Brenda is a fellow lingerie addict.

4/5 ****

Confessions of a Lingerie Addict

1000 Dessous, A history of lingerie by Gilles Neret
Description:
Tracing the history of lingerie from the dawn of civilization to modern times, this illustrated text includes over 1000 photographs and historical documents.

Review:
A nice book if you want to be inspired by images, some great photography. It does take you through the decades of underwear trends. Not ideal for every coffee table as some of the images are risky. Good for inspiration or just for reference.

3/5 ***

1000 Dessous


The Story of Lingerie by Muriel Barbier and Shazia Boucher
Description:
What do the thousands of images of bras and panties on perfectly sculpted bodies that we see spread across billboards and magazines say about our society?
Many women indulge in lingerie to please men. Yet, since Antiquity, women have always kept lingerie hidden away under outer garments. Thus, lingerie must be more than erotic bait.
Authors Muriel Barbier and Shazia Boucher have researched iconography to explore the relationship of lingerie to society, the economy and the corridors of intimacy. They correlate lingerie with emancipation, querying whether it asserts newfound freedoms or simply adjusts to conform to changing social values.
The result is a rigorous scientific rationale spiced with a zestly humour. And the tinier lingerie gets, the more scholarly attention the authors believe it deserves.

Review:
Coming sooner once the book has been finished so far very good!

The Story of Lingerie


Bras by Stephanie Pedersen
Description:
From the suffragettes to the Supremes, from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna, the bra has had more impact than any other item of clothing on shaping generations of women. The evolution of the bra, from the constricting corset to the liberating Wonderbra, is laid bare in nine uplifting chapters, spilling over with juicy facts, fashion highlights and archive photos of the Hollywood divas that brought the bra to the big screen and into the hearts of men worldwide This sexy, sophisticated and, above all, fun book celebrates the bra and everything it stands for - giving girls the information, inspiration and support they need to make the most of their assets!

Review:
At last a fun history book on underwear, this small yet perfectly formed book glimpses at advertisements over the years, including underwear in films and celebrities turned lingerie designers. A little gem of a book, a pleasure to read and browse the images. This would make an interesting coffee table book and a must for anyone who loves underwear.

5/5 *****

Bras


Panties A Brief History
Description:
You can tell a lot about a lady from the panties she wears. Whether she chooses a gauzy lace thong, snug briefs or frilly bloomers is a secret insight into her character. Find out how something as simple as an undergarment became so important.

Review:
Sweet book with some interesting ideas, of lingerie and designers. How it has been featured in movies and films. A good companion to Bras book above.

4/5 ****

Panties A Brief History


Bras A Private View by Rosemary Hawthorne
Description:
A history of the bra.

Reviw:
A good start if you would like to know where the bra was invented and the basics of the product. However this book is black and white and doesn't have coloured images if that is what you require. Quite dated but facts are so makes a good reference book.

2.5/5 **

Bras A Private View

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Lingerie show reveals Durban to world

News - Daily News, South Africa

A dozen divine models will be showing TV audiences around the globe that Durban can compete with the best in the world.

Their Fire and Ice lingerie show tomorrow night, which is aimed at "melting the winter cold and turning people on" to local fashion, is being filmed especially for the top channel, Fashion TV.

As lingerie shows are shown more often that any other fashion on the channel, Justin Cleaver, a Durban-based former international model and the brains behind the production, knew that if he wanted to reveal what Durban had to offer, he had to stage an underwear show.

And with 10 years of international modelling behind him - he has done shows for Armani and Hugo Boss - he knows what he is doing.

He now aims to bring in international clients to use KZN locations. And he wants to uplift the city's fashion and runway image and give international exposure to local designers and models.

The lingerie show takes place at Krakatoa in the Sibaya Casino at 9pm and will bring together top South African lingerie designers for the first time: Durban's Haroun Hansrot of Hansrot Couture, in demand since showcasing his designs at recent fashion weeks, will feature his work.

Durban's Gideon, will also show off his lingerie range for the first time, and the show will open with a range by Durban's Kevin Ellis.