Lingerie Bargains

Archive for the ‘Lingerie News’ Category

Being a lingerie model can be dangerous. Especially if you work for French label Etam, which keeps finding new ways to generate buzz by putting its models in harm’s way.

The label is in a heap of trouble after it sent three models wearing trenchcoats into Paris’s famed Musee d’Orsay (above) to perform an unauthorized striptease in front of amused art lovers, before getting chased out by security guards.

That episode followed two other recent ‘flash attacks’ on French landmarks by the scantily-clad trio: stripping down to their bright skivvies during a security check at Charles De Gaulle airport, and holding a chilly impromptu skate at the outdoor rink at the Eiffel Tower.

Those stunts (see videos below) were posted on Etam’s YouTube channel. However, the clandestine video of the museum stunt has disappeared from the Etam site after museum authorities threatened legal action. A spokesman for the Orsay said the museum wasn’t informed of the Etam stunt and called it “a serious infringement of the Orsay’s rights and the rights of others.”

The museum houses, among other things, a vast collection of Impressionist masterpieces and, ironically, is about to open a new exhibit featuring its catalog of Degas nudes (below).

Etam’s latest escapades are meant to promote the upcoming live webcast of its spring runway show, which happens on Jan. 23 at 9 p.m.

And it’s not the label’s first adventure in guerrilla marketing. This time last year, the sexy flashers drew lots of stares — and plenty of press — when Etam sent them into the wintry streets of Paris in January to talk to passersby about the spring collection and show (see it here on our list of the best lingerie videos of 2011).

Think nobody pays attention to underwear? Think again.

The busy, creative, controversial and rapidly evolving world of lingerie and intimate fashions made a lot of headlines in 2011.

Here’s our look back at some of the year’s news highlights, lowlights and just plain unforgettable moments.

Way back in January, Courtney Love almost single-handedly killed the underwear-as-outerwear trend by appearing at the Cannes festival in this silk playsuit. For her sake, we hope the airline lost her luggage.

In a trend that had been building for a few seasons, lingerie styles were everywhere on fashion runways in 2011. In fact, it was hard to find a couture womenswear brand that didn’t incorporate corseted silhouettes, sheer panels, nude colorways and lacey negilgee cuts into their latest collections.

A highlight was Dolce & Gabbana‘s fall Paris show, with its glittering parade of models in bejeweled bodysuits — that’s the main photo at the top of this article. Close behind was Sarah Burton’s magnificent piece, above, from the latest Alexander McQueen collection. Want further proof? Here’s a handful of other runway images showing the world’s leading couture houses looking to the boudoir for inspiration.

By now, everyone should know Nancy Upton. She’s the Texas student who posed for a hilarious lingerie photoshoot last summer for American Apparel‘s poorly conceived “Next Big Thing” contest to find a plus-size model. Nancy won the fan vote but was denied the prize by the supremely PO’d garment maker. She was, however, invited to spend a couple of days in L.A. to tour the AA factories and basically try to patch things up with the red-faced marketing team. You can read about her surreal trip (hint: cream puffs and all-night drinking with the AA girls!) here, and see her original photoshoot here.

You don’t need us to explain why Lady Gaga was the fashion (and lingerie) world’s woman of the year. In addition to her fruitful association with Mugler, she helped elevate fashion-forward intimates designers like Obey My Demand, corsetry label Maya Hansen and couture latex creators like Kudo and HMS. But Gaga’s most vital style moment might have been her appearance on Good Morning America, dressed in a condom-inspired latex suit to draw attention to the plight of women infected by HIV around the world.

Human question mark Andrej Pejic confused more people this year than Rick Genest, Bjork and Rick Perry combined. The boyish 20-year-old male model walked in Gaultier’s womenswear show in Paris, had a magazine cover banned (because it showed his bare chest) and was named to FHM’s list of the 100 sexiest women in the world (not really a compliment, since they also called him the next big “thing”.) But he took gender-bending to a new level this fall when he modeled a push-up bra for Dutch label Hema. Crass provocation or savvy marketing? Depends on how broad your comfort zone is. Andrej thought all the fuss was a bit much. “It’s kind of insane,” he tweeted. “The world is at the brink of depression, military conflict and ecological collapse and me in a bra is global news.”

The weirdest collab of the year was the limited edition cranberry-and-chocolate lingerie ensemble created by Marlies Dekkers to promote a new flavor from Magnum ice cream. Seriously, what the hell was that? A sexy lingerie brand teaming up with the world’s most fattening dessert product? Hmmm, maybe MD is working on a new plus-size line …

How’s this for inflation? A pair of bloomers worn by Queen Victoria fetched £9,375 at an auction in London in November. That’s more than twice the amount paid in 2008 for another set of Vicky knickers. The 2011 sale piece dates from the 1860s, has a 35-inch waist and is embroidered with the royal insignia.

Vogue Italia made headlines in June for featuring three plus-size models on its cover (eating spaghetti!) and more inside, all shot by Steven Meisel. It also launched a mini-site, Vogue Curvy, that recently named Adele its woman of the year. One day, this sort of thing won’t be considered news.

It was a big year for Rihanna, to say the least. She not only snatched the job as Armani cover girl away from Megan Fox, but the resulting print and video campaign was chosen the year’s sexiest ad in a poll by Advertising Age.

2011 was also a big year for Josephine Baker, the late singer, dancer, actress, civil rights activist and wartime double agent. Not only did she have a background cameo in Midnight In Paris (did you spot her?), but two UK lingerie labels referenced Josephine in 2011 collections inspired by female WWII spies. (That’s Kiss Me Deadly on the left and Artemis South on the right.) It’s hardly a coincidence: Josephine has inspired a number of fashion and lingerie pieces over the years and one label — Princesse Tam Tam — is named after one of her films. Now that’s a legacy.

Retail giant H&M was left a little red-faced this year when it was revealed they used CGI and Photoshop to create identical torsos for models used in their lingerie catalog shoots. Wait a minute … does this mean all women don’t have the same belly button?

It’s been nearly two years since we first heard talk of a Madonna-designed lingerie collection in the works for Macy’s, but alas, nothing has materialized … yet. Madge and daughter Lourdes launched their glam-rock streetwear line Material Girl in 2010, and it includes a few undergarments like the one seen on Kelly Osbourne above. But the wait for a couture collection may be nearing an end. Madonna’s Truth or Dare fragrance will debut in March, with lingerie and jewelry expected to follow under the same brand. Watch her Superbowl performance for style cues!

In May, the Japanese arm of Triumph unveiled this unusual bustier-skirt combo imprinted with real messages of support from around the world that the company received following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in April. The style wasn’t for sale.

Innumerable lingerie brands jumped on the eco-bandwagon this year, but none so thoroughly as Marks and Spencer. The UK retailer unveiled the world’s first carbon-neutral lingerie line, called Autograph Leaves, after an exhaustive process to make its Sri Lankan manufacturing facilities environmentally friendly. The company’s initiatives affected every step in the supply chain and included local economic development programs. M&S also bought carbon offset credits to reach the carbon-neutral designation, which was certified by the Carbon Trust.

The most adorable accessory of the year award goes to French label Etam, which had its models carry spring lambs during its Paris spring runway show. Awwwwww ….

In September, the K-girls unveiled their self-promo du jour, a lingerie collection for Sears. Three months later, Sears announced it was closing 120 stores nationwide after seeing a 5% sales drop. We’re not saying the two events are related, but hey, you connect the dots.

Aline Skaf unwittingly became the world’s most famous lingerie model — briefly — in October. The wife of Muammar Gaddafi’s son Hannibal was featured in several provocative photos that Libyan rebels found on a laptop that was recovered after the notorious couple fled the country before the fall of Tripoli. The images of Aline and Hannibal came to symbolize the extravagant lifestyle and hedonism that helped incite the public uprising against the dictator. As for Aline, she reportedly gave birth to a baby in September in Algeria.

Corset and underwear pioneer Triumph celebrated 125 years in business this fall by releasing a limited edition vintage collection that referenced some of its past designs.

The gigantic pop beehive known as AKB48 has had an impact on Japanese music, fashion and culture that is almost impossible to calculate. Imagine a teen star like Selena Gomez cloned — 100 times! — and you start to get a sense of its scale. The too-cute supergroup (whose numbers range from about 60 to more than 90, and which sells more records than Justin Bieber) is also a phenomenal marketing powerhouse. This year, the “band” endorsed a signature “Heart Bra” for lingerie retail chain Peach John, and it sold out in hours. So be warned: this kind of all-encompassing teen marketing juggernaut will eventually reach our shores one day soon. You can bet Victoria’s Secret has already enrolled its Angels in singing lessons.

It’s called the Chinese Boob Clamp, and it was a viral hit on YouTube last spring. It’s really just a front-lacing corset, but clever engineering creates enough compression to really amp up the cleavage. You absolutely know this will be copied everywhere this year.

Were you excited about the new lingerie label Tantrum Intimates? Well, forget about it — the brand doesn’t exist. This ad featuring Karen Elson (wearing Agent Provocateur) was one of 9 fake ads sprinkled throughout W magazine’s November issue in a clever concept from photographer Steven Meisel. The shot of Ru Paul in glittering undies hawking a fake fragrance was even funnier.

Rotterdam illustrator Bodil Jane created this ornate, experimental paper bra using a lasercutter provided by the public art facility FabLab in Amsterdam. The design was inspired by paper flower hats from Chanel, and the artist created versions in felt, fake leather and different types of paper.

Think your fine intimates boutique is special? Well, there wasn’t a lingerie shop in the world that had a better year than the Angela Knight Lingerie boutique in tiny Hungerford, England. AKL guarded the industry’s biggest secret last spring by outfitting the Middleton girls before a certain royal wedding — and not blabbing about it until the newlyweds were safely away on their honeymoon. At the end of the year, the 2-year-old shop was named the UK’s Best Lingerie Shop by Underlines magazine, which created the new award specifically to acknowledge Angela Knight’s banner year.

We’ve lost track of how many models were named “the new face of Ultimo” in 2011, but one thing’s for sure: Ultimo chief Michelle Mone is a genius when it comes to stunt casting. This year’s newcomers included Amy Childs, The Only Way Is Essex star who is a kind of ironic poster child for unnecessary breast augmentation; billionaire heiress and self-promoter Tamara Ecclestone; and Argentinian beauty Luisana Lopilato, the new bride of Canadian crooner Michael Buble. And Ultimo’s celebrity squad seems to be earning its way: the company reported record earnings in 2011. That’s Tamara above, in the year’s strangest photoshoot, surrounded by £1-million of her own money. The shoot was meant to promote her new reality show, Billion $$$ Girl.

The tassled bustier worn by Madonna during her 1987 Who’s That Girl? world tour fetched $72,000 in an auction of celebrity memorabilia in October. The iconic outfit was custom-made by L.A.’s Trashy Lingerie.

If you haven’t yet seen Chicago’s almost indescribably tacky 26-foot-high fiberglass Marilyn Monroe statue, better book your plane tickets — it’s coming down in the spring. The Michigan Avenue sculpture by Seward Johnson recreates the famous updraft scene from The Seven-Year Itch (complete with visible undies), although one critic cleverly called the monument The Seven-Year Kitsch. No word on what will happen to this monstrosity, although the city is apparently looking for a 27-foot-deep sinkhole.

A truce was finally reached in the long-running “Dutch bra war” in October when the owners of Sapph Lingerie quit the battlefield and ceded the victory to Marlies Dekkers. The two brands had been in court since 2008 over Dekkers’ claim that Sapph infringed on their copyright by selling almost identical (but cheaper) bra styles. (That’s MD on the left, Sapph on the right above).

A judge ruled in favor of Dekkers’ claim in May, and this fall Sapph abandoned its appeal. At issue was whether Dekkers could rightly claim ownership of her signature multi-strap style and, more importantly, whether she was entitled to damages from a competitor selling similar products. Her victory adds a substantial legal precedent in the field of fashion copyright … but the long, costly court battle will be discouraging to other designers who feel similarly abused.

Canadian lingerie boutique The Boobie Trap found a chilling way to encourage women to get a bra fitting. The Newfoundland shop created a series of posters and videos resembling horror movie ads, with names like “The Sagging” and “The Quadraboob” and a memorable slogan, “We can stop the horror.” The two videos for the campaign have been viewed more than 370,000 times on YouTube since their launch two months ago.

We filed this item under the Didn’t-See-This-Coming category. The question of whether maternity lingerie could be too sexy was raised this summer, sparked by a New York Times article that looked at the growing number of new maternity labels such as Cake (above), You!, HOTMilk and others. The debate gained steam on Jezebel and parenting blogs, with some asking if it was desirable — or even possible — to combine sex appeal with the more functional aspects of nursing. Various brands responded by talking about the importance of boosting women’s self-confidence during and after pregnancy, yet one blogger argued that “sexy nursing bras [are] just another thing to make me feel inadequate.” An interesting discussion on the blogosphere shed some light on women’s love/hate relationship with their post-pregnancy bodies.

One of the year’s most problematic marketing efforts came, not surprisingly, from Calvin Klein. The CK One campaign last spring was one of the most ambitious and expensive of the year. It not only featured Lara Stone and other hotties disrobing and cavorting with their pals in a box-sized studio, but CK also set up photo booths in major cities encouraging average folk to do the same — after which CK One would post the amateur strip shows on line. In a year dominated by exhibitionism in underwear advertising, CK One went one step further by promoting a new social ethic in which goofing off in your undies was a cool way to fit in with the crowd. What’s next? A new unisex underwear label called Calvin Klein Homies?

The baby parade at Victoria’s Secret continues. Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio is expecting her second child with BF Jamie Mazur in 2012, while newlywed Lily Aldridge and husband Caleb Followill are also expecting. They follow much-publicized recent deliveries from VS Angels Doutzen Kroes, Miranda Kerr and Adriana Lima. That’s Ale above with 3-year-old Anja.

A Catholic high school in Ottawa got more than it bargained for when it told students they could be sent home for wearing yoga pants to school. The ubiquitous form-fitting pants — known as “lulus” after the brand Lululemon — were permissible on female students only if they wore a sweater or long top that covered up their butt, the school said. Yeah, that’ll stop teens from thinking about sex….

There wasn’t much good that came out of this year’s ugly John Galliano trial. Except maybe this: Galliano’s label surprised everyone by simply surviving the debacle, and this fall released a very bold new lingerie collection and this ballet-themed photoshoot featuring Erin Heatherton.

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen had a killer year that included her own signature brand with Hope Lingerie. Our favorite image of the world’s highest paid model, though, was this fabulous cover from Elle which mimics a classic (and much-imitated) Bardot pose.

No point in dredging up that ridiculous controversy over the fall photoshoot by New York label The Lake & Stars again, except to have one more look at this wonderful painting by Dutch artist Nop Briex. He based this piece on the original mother-daughter photo by Tom Hines, which sparked one of the biggest and strangest fashion controversies of the year.

And finally, this is our favorite photo of the year. It’s a candid shot taken during a launch party in August at the SOL Lingerie boutique in Denver. When we are that age, hopefully we’ll look as snappy as this dude — and still be shopping for lingerie!

Our new year’s resolution for 2012: This year, I will always come home wearing the same undies I had on when I went out.

Have a good one, everybody! And if the Mayan calendar turns out to be right after all and 2012 brings the end of the world, for goodness sake make sure you’re wearing something hot like our friend in the photo above. It’s from the 2012 fashion calendar produced by the Italian coffee maker Lavazza. (You can find it here.)

The pinup calendar is such a low-tech relic from the pre-smartphone generation it’s a wonder anyone still makes them — or buys them. Are there really that many college dorm rooms and greasy mechanics’ garages out there?

Maybe it’s their enduring retro appeal, or their sheer kitschy-ness, that makes them a perennial favorite as a (sometimes ironic) holiday gift. Whatever the reason, girlie calendars are still going strong and don’t seem to have much of an equivalent in the world of iPhone apps and ubiquitous online skin.

These days, pinup calendars have become a dependable source of income for busty models hoping to build a brand name and charities looking for an attention-grabbing promotion. But they’re more than that, too.

An artfully conceived calendar can become a powerful promotional tool for a lingerie label — just ask Aubade — and can even stand alone as a cultural touchstone — just ask Pirelli.

With that in mind, we’ve assembled a baker’s dozen of some of the most amusing, artistic and just plain sexy calendars available for 2012. Some ape the vintage style of original post-war era pinup calendars, while others are decidedly more modern.

We’ve skipped the obvious (Sports Illustrated), the perennial retreads (Playboy, Dita, Bettie) and ones we’ve already written about (Secrets In Lace, Zombies) in favor of some of more creative new projects out there.

The Great Britain women’s team has an unfair advantage heading into next summer’s Olympics: they’ve got lingerie designer par excellence Nichole De Carle on their side. That’s synchronized swimmer Jenna Randall above, posing in NDC’s awesome diamond knickers set, as part of a charity calendar to support the medical research organization Wellbeing of Women. 10 UK Olympic hopefuls posed for the calendar, which you can buy from Nichole De Carle’s webshop.

The 2012 edition of this timeless series is a perfect gift for aviation buffs. Inspired by the wartime nose art that pilots added to their bombers and fighter planes, the Warbirds series manages to seem fresh each year. Buy it here, and check out the rest of their aviation memorabilia.

Sorry Pirelli, but THE must-have fashion calendar for 2012 is this gem from German Vogue in partnership with Swarovski Elements. The magazine’s 2012 Horoscope calendar, shot by Lado Alexi, is also one of 2011′s greatest fashion editorial shoots, with each month featuring models representing zodiac signs while wearing embellished garments and undergarments that illustrate their theme. It’s exceptional, but since it came with the current issue of Vogue Germany only, it may be hard to find. You can see the entire series here.

Hard to believe, but this perennial favorite of the UK lads’ mags has been putting out an annual swimsuit-lingerie calendar for almost 10 years. Good thing too, because we haven’t heard a lot from Kelly since she ditched modeling for an “acting” career (remember Piranha?) more than a year ago. Find her 2012 calendar here.

British luxury lingerie label Leurre uses an arty, super-sexy calendar as a way of introducing their 2012 collection. It’s very well done, with more than a passing resemblance to the annual black-and-white calendar from Aubade, which is always a treasured collectible. The Leurre calendar was shot by London studio The Round Peg, and you can buy it here for £10.

This Portland, Oregon-based collective of models, artists and performers look like they have a whale of a time doing campy stage shows and photoshoots. You can check out their 2012 classic pinup-style calendar here.

The well-known Italian fashion photographer produced the 2012 Mercedes Benz calendar as well as a very inventive Burlesque calendar shown here. We’re not sure where to buy it, but you can at least see the rest of photos on his website.

This sexy French label is literally building its brand around super-spokesmodel Bar Refaeli, who now has her own collection with the company. And good news: Passionata’s 2012 calendar, with 12 classically sunny shots of Bar, will be available for free download on their website in January. (Look under the “Goodies” section.)

These annual rustic fantasy shoots have turned into quite a cash cow (sorry!) for Magic Fox Media, which also produces the German Farm Girls calendar (below) and a companion German Farm Boys pinup set. Save mega-Euros if you buy all three here.

Real women, real bikes, real outfits. This unique project invited female cyclists from the Chicago area to apply for a spot in the 2012 Thought You Knew Pinup Calendar, which supports a community outreach project to get more women cycling (it’s called The Monthly Cycle … get it?). Learn more and see the entire calendar here.

This annual bestseller from UK’s equestrian set actually raises money for air ambulance services. All the models are amateurs, but there’s nothing amateurish about this very cool project, which you can explore here. The bottom photo above is from a companion project, the Country Unclothed calendar, which was included with The Field magazine.

Pinups For Heroes was set up two years ago to raise money for the Help For Heroes charity, which supports UK soldiers and their families. The 2012 calendar is their third, and it drew more than 300 applicants from would-be models keen to support the cause. Learn more here.

And finally, because we DO get asked about this, a sad update on the annual Cofani Funebri calendar that we wrote about last year. You might recall the Italian coffin-maker created both a scandal and a marketing coup with its 2011 sex-and-death calendar. Cofani DID produce a 2012 edition (that’s a rare image from it above), but it was quickly banned by Italian authorities, who obviously don’t want the rest of us believing that Italians think about sex ALL the time.

If you grabbed one before it was yanked, you probably have an E-Bay bonanza on your hands. Otherwise, you might still be able to get a non-branded version of the calendar from photographer Maurizio Matteucci, who is selling it here. Or you can check out this lame alternative from the Polish coffin-maker Lindner, which actually started this bizarre trend.

The annual Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra had a surprisingly modest public debut this week — a quick photoshoot, an appearance on a morning talk show, then back into the vault. Model Miranda Kerr didn’t even try it on for the cameras.

A bigger surprise, though, is that none of the gushing FOX-TV hosts asked Miranda the obvious question: “How can Victoria’s Secret justify such a pointlessly extravagant gesture now?”

It’s a question that has nagged the lingerie retailer every year since it introduced its first million-dollar “miracle bra” back in 1996, but it has never been more relevant than it is today. What does the Fantasy Bra say about Victoria’s Secret’s corporate values? Wouldn’t it have shown more sensitivity to retire this opulent bauble until Americans have crawled out of the economic wreckage of the past three years?

Of course, no one has ever bought one of company’s fantasy/dream/miracle bras, but that was never their point. It’s purely a marketing ploy that pays for itself each year with millions of dollars worth of free, fawning press coverage that promotes the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and the retailer’s annual Christmas collections.

And as an attention-getting device the jewel-encrusted bodice has served the company well. It was always fun to see something so ridiculously showy, with its over-the-top glamour and in-your-face price tag. The Europeans might have the market cornered on fashion lingerie, but no one can beat the Yanks when it came to pure showmanship. This wasn’t underwear; it was entertainment.

At its height, when everything was booming, the diamond bra became a symbol of the almost limitless rewards of American capitalism. $15 million … for a bra? Sure, why not? If you’ve got that kind of dough — or enough credit — who’s going to tell you how to spend it?

But that was more than a decade ago, back in the days when Tyra, Heidi and Gisele took turns hoisting the glittering hardware, and no extravagance seemed too extreme — or beyond our reach. Back in the days when aspirational marketing — enticing people to buy things they couldn’t afford — wasn’t a moral quagmire.

Today we are living in a post-Madoff world, where 25 million Americans have no job and protesters are camping out in front of banks and brokerage houses demanding more corporate responsibility. Entire nations — not to mention tens of millions of consumers — are foundering in a bottomless pit of debt.

Viewed in such a context, the VS Fantasy Bra has become the kind of let-them-eat-cake symbol of wealth and privilege that Marie Antoinette would have worn to her beheading. To borrow a phrase from the Occupy Wall Street gang, this is underwear for the 1%.

To give Victoria’s Secret some credit, the Fantasy Bra has been downsized over the past few years in deference to global hard times, from the record-setting $15-million contraption that Gisele wore in 2000 to the paltry $2-million piece that Adrian Lima showed off with obvious glee last year.

The 2011 version, called the Fantasy Treasure Bra, is likewise a modest affair — if you can call $2.5 million worth of bling modest. It’s also exquisitely pretty — one of the nicest ones they’ve ever done.

Even so, it’s still obscenely extravagant and hopelessly out of synch with the world we live in. Ostentatious displays of wealth and entitlement are out. Crass commercialism and frivolous splurging are out. And the Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra is no longer an aspirational touchstone — it’s just something else that is beyond everyone’s reach, an ironic commentary on America’s failing fortunes and a reminder of its blind hubris.

Once a source of awe and delight, the Fantasy Bra has become an awkward anachronism. It’s not sexy, it’s not practical and, finally this year, it is beyond all rationalization.

With all due respect to the talented craftsmen and marketing people who have worked so hard on these productions over the past 15 years, it’s time to send the Fantasy Bra back to the vault. For good.

Feeling chilly yet? Starting to bundle up? Well, if you’re looking to make a fashion statement about fall before you head off to hibernate, this graphic print ensemble from Canadian indie label Juma seems to capture the season perfectly.

The Toronto-based clothing line specializes in original digital prints and this one, called Branches, has a timeless autumnal quality: like a black-and-white photograph, it mirrors the way autumn strips everything bare, draining color from the landscape and light from the sky.

This set (which was actually part of Juma’s S/S collection) includes a drapey T-shirt and leggings — perfect for lounging around indoors on blustery fall days. The same print can be found in a tank, a tuxedo dress and even an oversized silk-wool scarf (below). For their fall collection, Juma also used the Branches print as contrasting side panels on a black cap-sleeve dress.

For those who haven’t heard of Juma, they’re a brother-sister team who have built quite a following since launching their label in 2003. Last spring, Juma was chosen to close LG Fashion Week in Toronto and, this week, they were picked to open the fall edition.

As for the source of the image in this print: it looks very North American, but it’s probably not. Most of the prints in the past two Juma collections were inspired by (but not copied from) their travels in Africa and Asia. Still looks like my front yard, though.

Juma is widely available through high-end boutiques and retailers such as Holt’s, Harvey Nichols, Ron Herman and more.

Today is the 14th annual Love Your Body Day, which was started by the National Organization for Women to educate women about body image issues and eating disorders. It’s also meant to draw attention to the relentless barrage of print and TV ads that make women feel inferior about their bodies and seek improvement through diets, push-up bras and cosmetic surgery.

There are a variety of local activities being held to mark LYB Day across the U.S. but, in the busy calendar of public ‘awareness’ days, this important occasion too often goes by unnoticed. (Wouldn’t Michelle Obama be a fantastic public ambassador for this issue?)

For its part, NOW asks women to do one simple thing on LYB Day: talk about it.

To promote that message, NOW created the Let’s Talk About It campaign earlier this year to get women to open up about a subject that is very private and often wrapped up in shame and self-loathing. They invited women, including some well-known faces from the fashion industry, to submit personal videos that document their experiences with the bottomless pit of anxiety that is our self-image.

Here’s a gripping and articulate testimony from Crystal Renn, the supermodel who has often been the subject of humiliating public scrutiny because of her fluctuating weight. If you only think of Crystal as a plus-size model, wait till you hear her talk about how a battle with anexoria got her down to 95 pounds — 95 miserable, self-hating pounds. Watch the whole thing, as Crystal’s final comments are terrifically inspiring.



There are a total of 14 short videos in this series on NOW’s YouTube channel, featuring other models, writers, actresses and average women too.
As you watch these films, keep these statistics in mind: 80% of women say they are dissatisfied with their appearance; 50% say they would consider plastic surgery; and only 4% say they would use the word ‘beautiful’ to describe themselves.

Talk about this, girls, and don’t stop talking about it. There is huge power in collective action, as NOW has proven throughout its history.

In the meantime, if you do nothing else to mark Love Your Body Day, read the helpful list below of ‘15 ways to love your body‘. It’s reprinted from Margarita Tartakovksy’s insightful blog Weightless, which offers tons of advice, support and perspective for anyone affected by these issues. (You can find the original post here, which includes links to other parts of Margarita’s blog that address each of these points specifically.)

1. Look at your layers, and begin with the inside.

2. Be aware of habits that hurt your body image.

3. Consider the moments you feel best in your body, and keep recreating them!

4. Figure out what loving your body even means to you. Body love isn’t some abstract, nondescript term. It’s made up of certain perspectives, attitudes and actions.

5. Remember that loving your body is a daily process. Just do one thing.

6. Spread the body love by helping others, which will in turn help you, too.

7. Remember that loving your body (and accomplishing your goals and practicing your passions) won’t happen X pounds from now. Don’t you see,  you don’t have to wait?

8. Pamper yourself, regardless of how you feel about your body.

9. Consider ditching dieting and the mentality that comes with restricting yourself and focusing on calories, points, etc., and ignoring your internal cues.

10. Reflect.

11. Cultivate a sense of gratitude for all the amazing things, big and small, your body helps you accomplish.

12. Get past body envy and comparison-making.

13. Think about five things you love about yourself and these four other body positive pick-me-ups.

14. Reconnect with your body.

15. Bask in life’s beauty.

NOTES: The main image above was created by Shanti Rittgers and was one of the winners in the 2008 Love Your Body poster campaign. … You can find Crystal Renn’s gripping 2010 autobiography, Hungry: A Young Model’s Story of Appetite, Ambition, and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves here.

We are constantly amazed by the creativity shown by young lingerie designers in 2011. Case in point: Kriss Soonik, the Estonia-born, London-based indie designer who calls her work loungerie because there’s really no traditional category that defines what she does.

Soonik’s fall collection contains some dazzling strokes of ingenuity that, quite simply, you won’t see in any other lingerie or loungewear range on the market.

You want original? How about a jersey turtleneck suspender top — that’s right, it’s a suspender belt, a bodysuit and a turtleneck all rolled into one.

You want fashion forward? How about a backless, open-front velour wrap with oversized hood, all bundled up with a satin bow?

You want fearlessly daring? How about the wide-open lace Susan Motion body (you can wear the opening in front or back)?

You want a conversation starter? How about those peek-a-boo lace wing cutouts on the the elegant Diana Wings wrap?

But the unquestionable highlight of Soonik’s current collection is her unique take on that old staple, the kimono. Soonik’s versatile Diana Patent Wrap (top photo) is a housecoat with attitude and ambition — wear it as a coat, a gown, or a wrap for just lounging at home. (Though I’m willing to bet this piece will be seen much more often on the street than indoors — like so much of Soonik’s work, it demands to be shown off.)

Made from soft velour and offered in jet black, the Diana wrap is decked out with metal eyelets, satin bows and patent leather shoulder detailing in a way that makes it both classically sophisticated and edgy too. It’s offered in both shortie and mid lengths this season, and you won’t want to miss this must-have fall accessory — matching velour bloomers. (The photo above shows the short Diana wrap with the Liisi bloomers.)

Watch for both these items to show up on everyone‘s year-end best-of list, and more than a few Christmas wish lists as well.

Kriss Soonik’s aesthetic is so driven by originality there’s not a single piece in the new collection that doesn’t stand out and, at the very least, invite curious inspection. Even her take on mesh undies — fast becoming de rigeur in designer lingerie collections — makes clever use of bands, lace patterns and detailing to create distinctive looks.

Just about everything that Soonik creates can be described as layering pieces that work as undergarments and streetwear, although figuring out how best to display these pieces isn’t always obvious (the Inge hooded wrap, for instance: street-worthy, or strictly stay-at-home?). For some hints, visit Soonik’s Facebook page, where she offers a photo album that gives you some ideas on how to style such statement pieces.

Some of the items in this collection have appeared previously (ie., the popular Greta coat and the Susan body) but the styles have been tweaked and offered in new color combinations. Soonik isn’t recycling her ideas; she’s building a catalogue of ultra-hip, modern classics that will endure for some time.

Have a look at some of the new pieces from this exciting designer label. Soonik was one of the young designers showcased during Fashion’s Night Out by the New York boutique Journelle.com, which is a good place to start your shopping.

Nothing says Christmas like a pretty package elegantly wrapped and finished off with playful bows. Especially when that package is yo.

And UK luxury brand Myla is giving women lots of ways to gift themselves this year with a super-romantic Christmas collection that is already in stores.

The seven-piece capsule collection may be small but it offers a nice variety of flirty boudoir looks that make use of traditional yuletide colors.

The most dramatic piece is likely the Gail set pictured above, with its pearl halter and decorative waist cincher. Handle this with care!

Other sure-sellouts include the classic Marlene set in a lipstick shade, and the Azalea set in a dazzling emerald satin. We love green at Christmas!

It may only be mid-October but Myla’s Christmas range is already available at Selfridges and Harrods in the UK, although it hasn’t shown up yet on the brand’s webshop. If you don’t live in London, you may have to do some detective work to get your hands on these holiday must-haves.

For starters, here are images showing the rest of the collection. Just remember, no unwrapping before Christmas morning!

Putting on erotic, sensual lingerie can change an ordinary romantic evening right into a unforgettable and stimulating occasion. There are several selections for you to select from. Starting from naughty snug fitting leather to any scenario that a person’s imagination … Continue reading →