Hanky Panky launches online store

released: October 28, 2009 12:40 PM
Lingerie firm knits a better online strategy: Lida Orzeck's and Gale Epstein's Hanky Panky hopes to reinforce business with its new e-commerce site.

interview with the founders

Interesting tidbits reported about Hanky Panky:

"Founded in 1977, Manhattan-based Hanky Panky was the brainchild of longtime friends Lida Orzeck and Gale Epstein, who were inspired by a pair of handmade panties one had given the other as a gift. The duo launched Hanky Panky—with some financial help from their families—to give comfortable cotton underthings a place in the wider world of lingerie.

“At the time, it was a nylon world,” says Ms. Epstein.

Hanky Panky's big break came decades later, in June 2004, when The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page article on the company's signature lace thong."

On facebook

"The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has selected Hanky Panky’s original HANKY LINGERIE underwear and thongs for its permanent costume collection." (multiple sources)--although a search of the MOMA site does not turn up this item. Searching with google is not turning up much either, the only picture I could find of this item is on the company website.

Name Game: "In the 70’s,Hanky Panky emerged, creating intimate apparel constructed of fine embroidered cotton handkerchiefs – hence the company name." (source)

How-to make a handkerchief camisole (circa 1912)

SALES TRENDS: "Women's underwear sales, which include bras, panties and other undergarments, are expected to fall to $13.6 billion year this year from $14 billion in 2008, according to consumer research firm Mintel. Though the sector will recover eventually—sales are expected to top $14 billion again by 2012—retailers are pushing value over luxury."

RANDOM HISTORICAL NOTE:

Panty Raids at OSU

One e-mail was from a man whom Bryans said he thinks could have been a student during the panty raids of the 1950s and 1960s.
The panty raids were part of a period of time when the university had a lot of restrictions on students such as dress codes, curfews and behavioral manners.

“As people began to question the regulations, one of the things that was quite popular among campuses was for male students, usually with cooperation of female students, to raid their rooms and take a pair of panties as a sign of defiance that they were not abiding by the administration wishes,” Bryans said.

(source)

Nipple Enhancers

Bodyperks nipple enhancers are designed as "the latest fashion accessory for your breasts. What are bodyperks?
They are lightweight, natural colored, silicone nipples that you insert into your bra and place directly on your own nipple. You can create your own look and wear them with tight t-shirts, sexy halters, dresses, twin sets, swimsuits and more."

I have also seen this item sold with vintage & retro-styled bullet bras.

Chantal Thomass & Random Finds (HOTmilk, historical tidbits)

Chantal Thomass' company page. It does play music.

Parisian Chic? try Chantal Thomass - "Before there was Madonna, there was Chantal Thomass. Chantal Thomass is credited for the trend “Dessous Dessus” (innerwear as outerwear) and is famous for cutting-edge, haute couture lingerie. Creative fabrics, bright colors, and fabulous trim (tulle, lace, ribbons, flounces) are her trademarks." (The source also promotes La Perla, Rien of France, and, for french panties on a budget, Monoprix, the ubiquitous French department store that is comparable to a Super Target.)

Brand name : Rien
Company : Rien que pour Elle Sarl
Nationality : Française
Address : 14, rue Gorge de Loup 69009 Lyon France
Phone : +33 (0)4 72 01 83 83
Fax : +33 (0)4 72 01 83 89
E-mail : lingrien@club-internet.fr
Website :



French designer

Born: Chantal Genty in Malakoff, Seine, France, 4 September 1947. Family: Married Bruce Thomass, 1967; children: Louise, Robin. Career: Freelance designer selling to Dorothée Bis, 1966-71; partner, Ter et Bantine boutique, Paris, 1967, renamed Chantal Thomass, 1975; introduced lingerie and hosiery collections, 1975, maternity wear, 1981, children's clothing line, from circa 1982; signed partnership with World Co. for distribution, licensing, and boutiques in Japan, 1985; opened second boutique for clothing and household accessories, Paris, 1991; fired from namesake label, owned by World Co. of Japan, 1995; original label went into bankruptcy, 1996; acted as consultant to companies such as Victoria's Secret and Wolford, 1995-98; repurchased rights to her name from World Co. and relaunched label with backing from Sara Lee's Dim division, 1999; first U.S. trunk show, at Saks Fifth Avenue, 2001. Exhibitions: Chantal Thomass: 30 ans de Créations, Musée de la Mode, Marseille, 2001. Awards: Named Chevalier des Arts et Lettres. Address: 346 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France.

Read more: http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Sp-To/Thomass-Chantal.html#ixzz0UqCdc8Dj

RANDOM FIND:

HOTmilk video advertising



S Lingerie is a site presenting lingerie web stores, brands, and news. They call themselves "The lingerie and swimwear portal" and present information in various languages--most recently, Polish.

Crazy Facts Corner

• The amount of material it took to fully clothe a woman dropped by 80% between 1911 and 1922
• A hoop skirt was believed to be "the *only* article of clothing which stands a chance of saving you from quicksand."
• In Iowa it used to be illegal for a woman not to wear a corset.
• Bra-wearers are getting younger. Twenty years ago, 12 and 13 year olds were bought teen bras, now eight and nine year olds are taking the plunge.
• Today the biggest selling colour is white, while ivory and cream come a close second. Tea rose was a hot favourite from the Twenties right through to the Fifties.
• In 1971 skin tones were bestsellers and were second favourites until about 5 years ago.
• About 20% of sales are on fashion colours

I can't vouch for accuracy of these fun facts, but they seem valid enough, fitting in with other research done on this project.

Ancient History:

Greece: "Greek women were corseted. Under the Greek Chiton a leather band style corset was worn and this gave definition to the hips and bust. From birth, girls were swaddled. For six months their arms and legs were bound in swaddling cloths restricting their movement and keeping limbs straight. Adolescent Greek girls were forced to keep trim. Their Greek mothers used woollen bands to keep the developing body slim." (source, retrieved 25 Oct 2009)


Italy: "In 1935, Guia la Bruna’s grandfather founded a lingerie factory in Turin. The Guia la Bruna brand upholds the tradition till today, producing high quality intimate wear." In the 1954 "in Italy, a woman named Ada Masotti, a started making corsets for wealthy women, which led to the establishment of the La Perla company" (source, retrieved 25 Oct 2009)

Berlei

The Berlei company was a founding mother of Australian underwear for women.

Advertisements:

Cinema clips from 1920-1950 taken from the Australian Film and Sound Archive.

"The National Film and Sound Archive holds around 90 Berlei cinema and television advertisements from the 1920s through to the 1990s. These advertisements include examples of silent and tinted film (like Berlei Camp-Berlei Foundation Garments: Physiological Support) as well as advertisements produced in the 1950s and 1960s for Berlei by Artransa Park Film Studios – a Sydney radio production house which went into television production in 1956.

Berlei’s cinema and television advertisements for its products over the course of the last century until today provide an important record of the development of women’s undergarments and corsetry over that time.

The common thread through all these advertisements is Berlei’s commitment to tasteful and comfortable lingerie and corsetry.

more

Tennis star Anna Kournikova was a celebrity model for Berlei in 2005. gallery

Company History

"Berlei foundation garments have a history dating back 1912 when Fred Burley founded Unique Corsets Limited with his brother Arthur. Berlei grew from a small store in Market Street Sydney where it offered ‘made to order’ corsets for discerning clientele. In 1919, Berlei Limited was born and since then the company expanded its product line into the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Today Berlei remains one of the most recognisable names in the manufacture and design of lingerie and underwear in Australia." (source)

From the Berlei corporate history page: "Burley conducted an anthropometrical survey of Australian women, the aim was to identify basic figure types so that ready made corsets might be designed to fit as if made-to-order."

From Wikipedia: "The brand originated in Australia in 1917. Berlei undergarments are now sold in Australia by Pacific Brands and in the United Kingdom by Courtaulds Textiles.

The name came from that of the firm's founder, Frederick R. Burley, who felt that his name as normally spelled was not appropriate to his products.--{side note:" [It is said that this name was chosen as a "French" version of the family name. The original form was not acceptable in refined circles, as in Australia burley is a slang term meaning to attract fish by scattering offal on the water around the fishing boat.]"}

Berlei Limited was one of the first Australian companies to expand outside Australia. Berlei (New Zealand) Limited was incorporated in 1923 and Berlei (U.K.) Limited was organised in 1930."

source "1926-27, Burley commissioned Sydney University to conduct the world's first large-scale systematic anthropometrical survey of the shape of women's bodies. This showed that women's figures could be grouped into five basic types, and led to the design of the Berlei Figure Type Indicator -- an inexpensive circular slide rule which could be used to quickly determine the correct fitting for any woman."

Undercover by Roadshow Home Entertainment. This Australian film actually tells the story of Berlei, one of Australia’s best known lingerie brands. The film was written by Miranda Downes and directed by David Stevens. Released on 11-Jul-2005.

1971

To distract myself from the empty house yesterday afternoon I slid a DVD of the James Bond vehicle Diamonds are Forever into the player. A treat of sexy lingerie immediately presented itself—Jill St John in sheer bikini panties did the trick. Before long the colorful bikinis and sheer fabrics started me wondering, “what is hidden around the internet to preserve lingerie fashion from 1971?”

In the picture above Jill St John portrays Bond Girl Tiffany Case.

Links:

• Ladies Underwear from the 1971 Sears Catalog "This is as sexy as Sears got in 1971."
• Strap assembly for lingerie and brassieres (United States Patent 6904648)

Models:

• Caprice Valerie Bourret (born October 24, 1971). Gallery.
• Brooke Burke (born September 8, 1971). Gallery.

Books:

• Luscious Lingerie and Swim Wear, by Ruth Mouzon (1971, Hardcover)
Author: Ruth Mouzon Publisher: Strode Pub Publication Date: 1971-06-01 Language: English Format: Hardcover ISBN-10: 0873970152 ISBN-13: 9780873970150

Designers:

• Dress and lingerie designer John Kloss (John Klosowski) was born in Detroit, Michigan 13 June 1937. Died: 25 March 1987

"Kloss used vivid colors like lemon yellows, greens, amethyst, and ruby in abstract shapes reminiscent of abstract expressionist paintings. Sophisticated, simple, clean designs were detailed with top stitching, tiny rows of buttons, simple edge trims, or tie closures. These nonstructured designs were adapted for lingerie and loungewear marketed by Lily of France and CIRA. Included were designs for nightgowns and bras, both seamless and underwired, again without superfluous lace trimmings. The most revolutionary of Kloss' designs came about as a reaction to the "ban the bra" movement in the 1970s. He designed a bra that appeared not to exist in 1974 for Lily of France, called the "glossie," which was made from stretchy, sheer, glittery material. The design was seamless, unconstructed, but underwired, so it provided support for those women who needed it, yet wanted the braless look. The "glossie" came in solid colors such as amethyst, indigo, ruby, and mocha. Kloss received two Coty awards, one in 1971 and another in 1974, for his lingerie designs."


This original 1971 print ad for Bestform plays with the "no-bra" theme. It measures approximately 11" x 8" overall.

gallery of patterns Joh Kloss created for Butterick in the 1970s and 80s. A gallery of John Kloss creations presented by Posh Vintage.
• Josie Cruz Natori was born in Manila, Philippines, 9 May 1947.
“The stunning growth of Natori's empire is due to her vision. In the 1980s, she realized her lingerie was increasingly exposed by the women who purchased it, so she created publicly wearable garments inspired by her lingerie. The resulting neologist crossover category "innerwear-as-outerwear" was never her corporate slogan, though it might serve.” (cite)

film still from an ad for Dim lingerie directed by William Klein in 1971. Photo: Agence Publicis, 1971.
Advertising from a more modern era: Here is an article found while mashing up this post. It is about historical reactions to sexy bra advertising campaigns in the UK.
Reprinted historical article: Lingerie And The History Of Underwear (Originally published November 1933 )

lingerie in your hand....

Ramm ND is a designer with influences from American and Japanese pop culture. A link posted at The Lingerie Post led me to his website. I really bad at Cyrillic so can't present much in the way of biography or background on the artist. Just can say that it was interesting to look at his designs--graphic artists may find a contemporary here.

These designs are not available for purchase on your favorite beer....

Holeproof--Austrialian Socks & Underwear

"Who we are and what we do
Holeproof is a leading Australian manufacturer and marketer of high-quality socks, underwear and sleepwear, capable of producing over 80,000 garments per day. Our range includes many prominent Australian brands for men, women and children.

Holeproof began in the late 1920’s originally as a hosiery manufacturer and has continued to develop, expand and adapt to the changing needs of consumers. Today the company is one of the leaders in the Australian and New Zealand clothing and textile industry."

Underwear products include:

• Antz Pantz

sexy, sheeky YouTube commercials (like this one) can be found easily.

Former Miss Universe contestant Erin McNaught appeared in the Hot in the City lingerie show at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week show in Sydney for the new Antz Pantz range (with images and video) from news 9msn 21st August 2009. For a little more coverage on the show....

• Nothing--"Designed to disappear under fashion, Holeproof Nothing features a unique no panty line leg finish, gusset shaping and back seam to help prevent ride up. Made from soft, stretchy and slinky fabric for added comfort"
• Love Kylie--The famous 2003 lingerie range designed by Australian icon Kylie Minogue.
• Underdaks (for men)--check this link for a view of the product from a designer.
  

The site includes a company history.
Proof that a hosiery company selling under the brandname Holeproof can be found in a December 1923 issue of photoplay magazine. Thanks to the Glam Guide blog for the 20th Nov 2007 post.

Bra Fit--get your size right for the best & comfort

Apparently, even with--and maybe because of--all the attention paid to breast size & bra fit over the past few years, there is no post about getting the right size on this blog. Well, time to change that.

Let's start with a quick pointer to "Top Five Bra-Sizing Myths"

Pasties--a "how-to"

Ran across this article on Nipple Tassles & realized that it makes an excellent companion for my previous introduction to pasties.
Too bad that post is old (March 2007) & many links are broken; the Internet moves pretty fast & server space is limited. Try these:

• Craftster tutorial on pasties. The pasties and tassels she made are fun. Just a couple quick steps: "i made a pattern with card stock, a little bit bigger than a nipple, and cut out a triangle, to make this little pac-man shape, so the felt will be a cone shape when its glued...trace the pattern on the felt, and hot glued the edges together..and decorated them...(sequins, feathers, lace...)"

• Quarter Cup, or shelf, Bra

  In certain situations where are regular bra just won't cut it, but breast support is required. For example, wearing a dress with a very low neckline exposes a regular bra. A solution is the quarter cup bra. Covering only about a quarter of the breast (the name is obvious) leaving the nipples and areole completely uncovered. The best thing about 1/4 cup bras is that it can streamline a lot of your looks. They are best worn under plunging necklines; however, if the neckline goes lower than the breasts themselves, a plunging bra works better.
  
  Making clothing look better isn't the only reason why quarter cup bras are popular. They are also sexy. Leaving the nipples exposed provides room to cover or accentuate the nipples using pasties. Like this "mudflap quarter cup vinyl bra shown with the on leash leather collar, cuff and pasty set".

notes in the early hours

It's Summer & the bikini is having a birthday party. This is a great time to update some links and add a few notes--especially when the dogs woke me up while others are sleeping.:

• check out Bridgett Bardot, "The Bikini Girl", in her 1950s style from Entertainment Weekly's list of 18 Iconic Bikini's.
• June 9, 2009: Underwear: a history of hidden assets The exhibition Undercover: the Evolution of Underwear, at the Fashion and Textile museum in London looks at bras and briefs through the ages. A better gallery from the same exhibit.
• Stella McCartney lingerie
• Beneath It All: '50s and '60s Underwear presents a gallery of ads and images
• Rudi Gernreich's political fashions on display on the University of Pennsylvania's Institute of Contemporary Art website and Kent State University installation and in the Glamoursurf catalog (a No-bra Bra) and some biography at Fashion Encyclopedia

monokini

Gernreich’s monokini consisted of a black knit suit that extended from the midriff to the upper thigh, employing two thin black straps to hold it in place over the shoulders. According to folklore, the model, Peggy Moffit, had only agreed to model the extremely controversial garment if her husband photographed it.


Laetitia Casta (right)wears a vintage 1967 Greneich monokini for Sports Illustrated in 2000.

Ancient Egyptian and Greek art showing women in water scenes wearing short cotton skirts that were waisted just below the bust and held up by the same two straps present early versions of the modern monokini. There have also been a number of much earlier undergarments and tummy control devices that look identical in outward appearance.

The Traditional Monokini

The traditional monokini has a rather interesting history. It emerged in an era of American history when the country was on the turning point between the placid, conservative 1950s and the turbulent, explosive 1960s.

Into this climate, European designer Rudi Gernreich presented his new swimsuit design in June of 1964 to mixed review from fashion critics, government officials, and church dignitaries. What he did was suggest wearing the total outfit to make a political statement.

Rudi Gernreich's intention was to 'free' the female breast in an age that forced breasts into unnatural shaped cups. While not often considered, the other part to Gernreich’s monokini principle was simplicity. A garment should have minimal construction and detailing to ensure the body remains the focal point.

Gernreich invented the name, and the word monokini is first recorded in English in 1964.

Despite the reaction of fashion critics and church officials, shoppers purchased the monokini in record numbers that summer, though very few monokinis were ever worn in public. By the end of the season, Gernreich had sold 3000 swimsuits at $24 a piece, which meant a tidy profit for such a minuscule amount of fabric. It was not very successful in the USA, but took the rest of the world by storm in the early 70s.

As a side note: Gernreich also credits himself with having invented the thong, something else that is shown in the art of many ancient societies and was at the time a current Japanese undergarment.

The Modern Monokini

Arguably the modern monokini is regarded as the sexiest swimsuit a woman could wear. It looks nothing like Rudi Gernreich’s 1964 monokini (see image) which, while astoundingly controversial, was technically nothing more than a maillot cut off just below the bust with a couple of supporting straps. The term monokini refers to a bikini bottom held in place by two straps which, at least partially, cover the breasts.

Like all swimsuits, the monokini bottom portion of the swimsuit can vary in cut. Some have g-string style backs, while others provide full coverage of the rear. The bottom of the monokini may be high cut, reaching to the waist, with high cut legs, or may be a much lower cut, exposing the belly button. The modern monokini takes its design from the bikini, and is also described as ‘more of a cut-out one-piece swimsuit’ with designers using fabric, mesh, chain, or other materials to link the top and bottom sections together, though the appearance may not be functional, it can certainly turn a few heads!

While none dare like the original, sex still sells.
Summer 2009 features the monokini in a variety of over the shoulder and cut-out versions.

girdle care

Slip of a girl's blog passes along these washing instructions for your circa 1941 elastic girdles.

"soak in cold water for 20 minutes. wash in lukewarm water, scrubbing gently with a soft brush dipped in a solution of 2 tablespoons first-quality soap dissolved in a cup of hot water, then cooled. Rinse in 2 or 3 waters. Roll in a towel to remove excess water. dry away from heat."

There's a time-costly exercise in hygiene.

Japanese Lingerie: Hadajuban, panthong, and Triumph

Types of Kimono: Hadajuban

Hadajuban is the undergarment worn beneath a kimono attire. So, technically, it is a lingerie. It is name Hadajuban because it is meant to wear next to the skin. Since kimono is always about layering, it is no wonder that you have layers of clothe beneath the beautiful kimono.

Hadajuban is usually worn only with traditional full fledge kimono. And on top the hadajuban a nagajuban is added to give it a more collar definition. So, in this case, you will never see hadajuban worn with a Yukata, the casual kimono.

Other japanese lingerie notes:

"While European lingerie is about being bold, what distinguishes Japanese lingerie is the attention to detail. The amount of effort that goes into selection of fabric, development of a design that guarantees comfort and preparation of a clothing item that not only makes the wearer feel great but also create a powerful visual appeal to the lucky one who get a chance to see it.

Another major influence of Japanese designs has been in how bold the approach is. Several experts believe that thongs may have been revived simply because Japanese women continue to use them and Japanese designers have made them comfortable to wear. Similarly, fishnet stockings are still controversial in many countries but in Japan these are just a little bit bolder than regular tights but definitely not scandalous." retrieved by rmcox on 31 may 2009 from http://www.mynippon.com/gainippon/lingerie.htm.

Japanese lingerie store is an account of lingerie shopping in Japan.

PANTHONG:

"wearing low rise jeans so that panties or g-string can be visible is becoming commonplace. In an attempt to gain a balance between 'old-fashioned' panties and uncomfortable thongs, the Japanese have come up with an answer." The panthong looks like a thong when it peeks over your jeans but is otherwise a conventional low-rise brief panty. INSERT GRAPHIC HERE

CULTURAL NOTE (retrieved 31 may 2009 from wikipedia): Kawaii: "Since the 1970s, cuteness (可愛さ, kawaisa?) has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, entertainment, clothing, food, toys, personal appearance, behavior, and mannerisms.[1] Foreign observers often find this cuteness intriguing, revolting or even childish because the Japanese employ it in a vast array of situations and demographics where, in other cultures, it would be considered incongruously juvenile or frivolous (for example, in government publications, public service warnings, office environments, military advertisements, and commercial airliners, among many others)."
BRA FUN

Japanese Bras: It’s Really Stuffed, Sometimes With Bread! photo gallery of strange clothing

Victoria’s Secret foundation story

For some time I've wandered the web in search of this: a blog post presenting an overview of the early days of the Victoria’s Secret stores. According to the un-cited story, "It all began in 1977, when a businessman Roy Raymond (1946 - August 26, 1993)" opened a store where men could comfortably shop for lingerie for their wives/lovers, etc.

This history is presented at Lingerie Alley Blog. It is written by "Laurela.com, the lingerie authority on the web". Laurela.com is a placeholder website. The blog is well-designed. This blog has categories that include

* Lingerie Brands
* Lingerie Businessmen
* Lingerie Collections
* Lingerie Designers
* Lingerie History
* Swimwear Brands
* Swimwear Collections
* Swimwear Designers

and has a post entitled, Herminie Cadolle, Inventor of the Modern Bra.

Ms Cadolle did not invent the modern bra; she does get create for early attempts that are generally better labeled as corset alternatives. These garments supported the breasts from beneath and often appear as corsets with the abdomen removed. Cadolle's continues to cater to the well-to-do and political leaders' families.

overviews and print resources

this post is a collection of items that provide historical overviews & print resources.

• Gendered Fashion, Power, and Sexuality
  A History of Women's Lingerie from Random History
  "From the Old French linge, meaning “linen,” the term “lingerie” was originally introduced into the English language as a euphemism for scandalous underclothing." This usage as slang is not confirmed in other sources.
  "The history of lingerie, then, is a history of gendered fashion, power, and sexuality." Which is concise manner of the subject as possible.
  

  Ancient Lingerie: From Egypt to Rome
  
  It is impossible to say exactly when the history of lingerie started, but it seems that the first record comes from ancient Egypt around 3000 B.C. In general, clothing was a status symbol for the Egyptians, and higher-ranking women would wear narrow tunics as undergarments that started below the chest, extended to the ankles, and were supported by a crosswise shoulder strap. Sometimes they would draw tunics around to the front of the body to mold the waist. Slave and servants wore no undergarments; they wore only simple loin cloths or went naked. Several female terra cotta figurines found throughout the ancient Near East appear to wear several different types of undergarments. One of them is a Babylonian girl from about 3000 B.C. who is wearing what might be considered briefs that look as though it could have been derived from the loin cloth. Another female figure from 2000 B.C., found in Crete, depicts the first recorded corset-like bodice and crinoline (a caged or hoped underskirt) that shoves the bare breast upward (Ewing 1972). Both are interesting in that they show similarities to lingerie eons later in the western world.
  
  In classical Greece, several female statues wear a crossed band over their shoulders and across the breast, as in the famous statue of the charioteer at Delphi. The Odyssey and Iliad mention women’s undergarments, as does Herodotus, Aristophanes, and the later Hellenistic writer Lacian (Ewing 1972). In these texts, women are described as wearing a band of linen known as the zoné around the waist and lower torso to shape and control them. Other Greek words also appear to describe women’s undergarments, including the apodesmos (meaning a band, breast band, or girdle), mastodeton (or breast band, which actually flattens the bust) and, occasionally, mastodesmos (with a similar meaning) (Ewing 1972). These garments appear to presage the bra as well as the corset.
  
  ancient bikinis
  A famous Roman mosaic from A.D. 400 shows several women wearing what appear to be bikinis or briefs
  Roman women followed Greek fashion closely. The Roman poet Martial describes a cestus, which is similar to the Greek zoné but wider, and Cicero also mentions a strophium or breast band. Other Roman terms describing women’s underclothing include the mamillere and fascia, which were tight bands of cloth that primarily supported the bust rather than the abdomen. A famous mosaic from A.D. 400 shows several women wearing what appear to be bikinis or briefs (Ewing 1972). For both the Greeks and the Romans, underclothing (which sometimes was worn as outer clothing as well) was designed more for function than exclusively aesthetic reasons.



• Undercover Sylvia Giles examines the story of lingerie, and its link to recent history. Expanded from issue 22 of Lucire. discusses briefly the changes in women's social roles reflected in their foundation garments.
  


• References
  
  Ewing, Elizabeth. 1976. Underwear: A History. New York, NY: Theatre Arts Books.
  
  Kunzle, David. 2004. Fashion and Fetishism: Corsets, Tight-Lacing and Other Forms of Body –Sculpture. Thrupp, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited.
  
  Steele, Valerie. 2001. The Corset: A Cultural History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
  Workman, Nancy. 1996. “From Victorian to Victoria’s Secret: The Foundations of Modern Erotic Wear. Journal of Popular Culture. 30.2, 61-73.
  Alac, Patrik. 2001. Bikini: A Cultural History. Parkstone Press USA, ltd.
  Lencek, Lena and Bosker, Gideon. 1989. Making Waves: Swimsuits and the Undressing of America. Chronicle Books.
  The Lingerie Handbook (Paperback)
  by Rebecca Apsan (Author), Sarah Stark (Author) # Paperback: 186 pages. Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (October 20, 2006). Language: English. ISBN-10: 0761143238
  Margaret A. Lowe
  An Intimate Affair: Women, Lingerie, and Sexuality (review)
  Journal of Social History - Volume 42, Number 3, Spring 2009, pp. 793-795

Wonderbra links, company history & assorted items

This post is a collection of items related to Wonderbra history. There is no attempt to organize these items.

• University of Michigan student case study
• Wikipedia article
• Madeleine Begun Kane, Humor Columnist, WONDERBRA SONG
• Official Site

books & vintage lingerie dating

Spent some tired energy this morning & gained some good energy. It seems I am a collector--and not much else. Librarian of my little corner of the internet. Here are a couple things I'm collecting & organizing--books & vintage lingerie resources. (Both of these books were ordered yesterday & should be here in a couple weeks.)

• Janet Reger: Her Story

Product Description
Janet Reger's success rode on the crest of the sixties' fashion boom and all that was perceived worldwide as the swinging London scene. Her name became synonymous with fine lingerie. Janet's marriage to Peter Reger, the man she fell in love with when they were young students working on a kibbutz in Israel, was the vital ingredient in her business liefe: she the designer and creative force, he the business co-ordinator. It was the perfect partnership. Then, at the peak of success, came collapse and liquidation: her business in ruins, her marriage over. Later, tragically, Peter was to commit suicide. Today, Janet Reger is back in business. This is the tale of a woman in a man's world. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Chapmans Publishers (October 24, 1991)
• ISBN-10: 1855925346
• ISBN-13: 978-1855925342
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds

Chastity in Focus. by Janet Reger

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Quartet Books (September 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0704321513
• ISBN-13: 978-0704321519

Seeing Past Black & White Film To The True Colors Of Vintage Lingerie was posted by Here's Looking Like You, Kid as a remembrance/exploration of vintage lingerie (1920s-1930s especially) and the colors enjoyed by those who wore/watched it worn.

I enjoyed reading her post in the middle of last night while waiting for some other things to happen--namely, I've begun using a wireless modem (aircard) to access the internet and company servers through the cellphone network--this is what the government sold off last year & why analog television signals went away & digital radio/tv is being pushed so hard--and the speed reminds me of dial-up!

Anyway, here was a post featuring beautiful underwear & pointing to some resources that may help date and organize when a garment was worn. And since this blog is about collecting those resources and pointers, it seems appropriate to include this reference.

The Sports Bra

In 1972, Title IX of the Equal Education Amendment mandated that institutions receiving federal funding had to spend equal amounts of money on men’s and women’s sports programs. By the late 70’s, over 6 million women were running, hooked on the feeling of health, strength, and endorphins. In 1977, runner Lisa Lindahl was a 28-year-old graduate student at the University of Vermont working as a secretary. She started with a list of features necessary to achieve comfort and support in a running bra, and would not bind or chafe. Then she turned to her childhood friend, costume designer Polly Smith. They were working on a prototype when Lisa’s husband walked into the room and jokingly pulled a jockstrap over his head and around his chest. Lightning struck. Polly fashioned a model constructed of two jock straps sewn together. After a test run with Hinda Miller, Polly’s assistant, Lisa knew it was time to refine the idea and go to market.

Lisa and Hinda built the business up for 12 years, creating a nationally known brand, Jogbra Sportsbras. In 1990, the company was sold to Playtex Apparel, and then to Sara Lee Corp. Miller left in 1997 after serving as President of the Champion Jogbra division.

In 1999, Olympic soccer star Brandi Chastin (pictured above) made the plain black sports bra a national conversation.

Now a generic name like Kleenex, Rollerblade, and Scotch tape, Jogbra has been honored by its placement in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum. Sportsbras generate $500 million in retail sales and are recognized as having as big a role as Title IX in increasing women’s participation in sports and fitness.

In 2008, the sports bra was picked as an all-time top fashion innovation. "Comprising a $300 million annual industry, sports bras account for roughly 10 percent of the bra market."( April 3rd, 2009)

Nancy Howard's guide to the sports bra covers several topics including anatomy, measurement & fit, consideration of type of activity while wearing the bra, bra care and construction.

For more on the development of the sports bra, including a timeline of innovations read Kelly Bastone's article, The Sports Bra Turns 30.

Types of sports bras:

Compression Sports Bras are a one piece style that you pull on over your head ;

Encapsulated or Natural-Shaping Sports Bras encapsulates each breast in an individual cup instead of compressing both breasts together as in the previous example.;

Compression/Encapsulation Sports Bras combine the previous styles by encapsulating each breast and compressing the breast tissue against the chest.

A woman's breasts are composed primarily of adipose (fatty) tissue, mammary glands, connective tissue, and the Cooper’s ligament, which keeps the breast firm and prevents sagging. Because the underlying chest muscles do not support breast tissue, exercising in anything other than a well-fitted sports bra can stretch the Cooper's ligament, leading to greater sagging and even pain during exercise.

"The Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, conducted a study to evaluate five sports bras designed specifically for large-breasted women. Commissioned by The American Council on Exercise, the study recruited 10 women between 20 and 45 years old who played various sports, including volleyball, basketball, swimming, walking, running, yoga, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, tennis and aerobic dance. Dr. John Porcari led the study, which concluded that the encapsulated sports bra offered the most comfort and support. Female athletes’ common practice of wearing two compression bras at once produced more difficulty than just wearing one encapsulated style bra. The combination bra, she said, works almost as well as the encapsulated style, but it rates lower in comfort." (Little About)

LessBounce.com presents some additional information on the research behind women's breast health and exercise.

trends in bra size

An issue in trends that I find interesting is the sizing of clothing. Bra size is a topic that gets highlighted periodically & is used to measure changes in average body size over time.

Your Bra Size: The Truth May (Pleasantly) Surprise You presents (NY Times, April 2009) that bra cup sizes are changing. The reasons: 1) band size is getting smaller for a better fit around the ribs, 2) body fat is increasing, 3) breast augmentation surgery retains its popularity, 4) an aging population relates to changing bust size, and 5) women are getting fitted for their bras & not just buying what they always buy. They also remark that the psychology of a smaller band size (might feel thinner) and a larger cup size (feel like a tramp, feel more attractive) is important for consumers and retailers.

In Australia, the trend is also to larger breast sizes. (FOX news, April 2009). Up to 40 percent of Ausie women now buy bras with a cup size of DD or higher, new figures from lingerie suppliers show. In the 1950s, the most common bra-cup size was a B -- three sizes below a DD. Interestingly, while in Los Angeles and New York women are purchasing larger breasts, Australian women are opting for more breast reductions.

Reductions are related to larger breasts due to increased fatty tissue present. "Sydney cardiologist Ross Walker said artificial oestrogens found in foods, plastics and cosmetics had also contributed to the growth spurt. Oestrogen in contraceptive pills also spurred the growth of breast tissue, Family Planning NSW research director Edith Weisberg said. "I think the higher-dose pills could, because the oestrogen causes development of the breast tissue," she said."

The Times of India reports on a British study (April 2009) "of 1,000 women showed that last year, the average bra size for British women under 30 was 36 inches, but now it has thinned to just 34. Meanwhile, the average cup size has increased from a C to a shapely D, reports the Sun. A spokeswoman for cosmetic surgery clinic Birkdale, which conducted the study, put the changes down to women taking more exercise, cutting down on booze and fast food — and simply buying the correct bra size, spurred on by TV makeover shows."

STATS: "At Wacoal America, one of the largest bra makers in the country, 36DD is on track to replace 36D as its most popular size in 2009. (Three years ago it was 36C.) Bare Necessities, an online lingerie retailer, said 34DD was its No. 10 best-selling size last year, up from No. 17 in 2002." (NY Times).

BRA DOS AND DON'TS

• Do get fitted regularly Always try a bra on before buying. A correctly fitting bra is firm but not tight, doesn't creep up at the back, and is comfortable. Underwires should be clear of the breast tissue.
• Do use a laundry bag when washing your bras wRemember body shape changes as we get older
• Don't expect one bra size to be the same for every bra
• Don't wear an incorrectly fitting bra hanging over the top of a cup means the cup is too small, not filling the cup means it is too big. Creeping up the back means the chest band is too loose.

the Skong, trends & other notes

The Skong debuted in Fall 2008 fashion collections. Here is a gallery.

Style Guru is not impressed: "Only describable as a sore defeat to the whole purpose of the thong’s existence, the Skong is as much a fashion anomaly as it is a retrograded movement of designers who just cannot rake their brains enough to invent something radically original. Drawing shamelessly from the skirted bikinis made popular in the middle of the last century, the Skong is basically a feeble attempt at making a beachwear item look less dated. Since the skimpy and sleazy look is on its way out, the thong has lost much of its appeal in beach/pool party circles. I guess some people out there still think they can redeem that old look by adding a bit of skirting in the front. Unfortunately, it ends up looking just plain tired and a little porn star-ish which unless you’re going for THAT look isn’t such a great thing!"

• Purchase [singer] Fergie’s Panties To Do Your Part For Charity: "An impressive group of celebrities, including Fergie, have donated autographed underwear to help raise money for the New North London Synagogue. The undies are being auctioned off on eBay for charity through March 31, 2009."

This is a great idea to bring attention to a cause, raise some service dollars & have some fun at the same time.

From Trendsetter:

• Top 30 Underwear and Swimwear Innovations in 2008
• Top 20 Innovative Underwear and Lingerie Trends in 2007 (GALLERY)
• 
  

Janet Reger Lingerie

Janet Reger (née Philips; b. September 30, 1935, d. London East End - March 14, 2005 at 630p) remembered by Christine McCarthy and Helen William, PA and Vogue UK and The Scotsman

JANET REGER has been the first name in ladies designer lingerie and nightwear for over 30 years, redefining sexy underwear, and luxury designer lingerie. The ultimate expression of seductive glamour, Janet Reger designer lingerie is the definitive romantic gift for wives and girlfriends, a byword for sexy underwear to men and women everywhere. Fine craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics combined with fresh innovative design is the continuing signature of the janet Reger brand - visible in every item from bra to g-string, from French Knickers to camisole.

Luxury lingerie in silks & satins, "Naughty Janet" with "cutout" bras--shelf bras leaving the breast uncovered, key-holed panties and other sexy items, and tennis outfits are featured.
"The full story of Janet Reger, a UK lingerie designer, reads like a fairytale."

In 1953, Janet Reger presented a matching set of designer lingerie-bras, knickers and a suspender belt-as her final year presentation at the Leicester College of Technology. She then went on to work as an in-house designer for various swimwear, underwear and lingerie manufacturers until starting her own line. Reger's ability to coordinate the cloth with the cut, the line with the fit, and the fashion with practicality and comfort was the key to her success. She always searched for the underlying idea of the garment and then worked out how it was best cut and made. From the beginning, she coordinated matching garments, a fundamental departure from the standards of the time when under-garments were black or white, with perhaps the exception for salmon pink corsets. The Janet Reger brand has become the first name in ladies designer lingerie and nightwear for over 30 years. (source)

[more from lingerie-uncovered.com]

The brand has been carried forward by daughter, Aliza Reger, Location: London, UK. (source)

Announced 11 Feb 2009:

The Janet Reger lingerie brand has signed with The Beanstalk Group to extend its brand into a variety of lifestyle categories, including health and beauty, loungewear, plus-size lingerie and resortwear.

"We are so excited to be working with Beanstalk to strategically extend the Janet Reger lifestyle brand into inspiring new areas," says Aliza Reger, chief executive officer of Janet Reger. "The brand evokes a feeling of romanticism and indulgence and I look forward to building on the existing brand presence to capture new audiences and markets."

The existing licensing program covers watches, eyewear and bed linen. The core lingerie collection itself sells in top-end boutiques and department stores throughout the U.K., Europe and the Middle East.

In addition, the diffusion line Reger by Janet Reger is part of the Designers at Debenhams program.

(source)

Merkins and Pasties

Introducing the merkin and pasties as fashion categories.

A merkin is a pubic wig originally designed in the 15th century to cover genitalia displaying signs of lice or syphilis treatment. They have now re-surfaced for the fetish market. Check out Merkin World for information and designs. The C-Panty is a variation.

Pasties are nipple covers originally intended to skirt decency laws by covering up the nipples & preventing full nudity. Bristol6 and Gothfox Designs offer custom fashion items. The breast petal is an example of pasties designed for discretion, not attention, of nipples.

while roaming the internet today checking out the latest lingerie news I ran across Dollhouse Bettie and her site filled with vintage, burlesque, retro and contemporary lingerie. The site includes several sub-sites promoting lingerie and advertising her store.

There is a short historical gallery, pantieland, and archived photos of vintage lingerie with some beautiful pieces--mostly slips, but a few girdles also.

Barbie Turns 50--still turning heads and wagging tongues

Barbie: 50 years of Influence and Controversy

The story of a plastic doll and how it shaped society

Biography

Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, after Handler's daughter. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie attended Willows High School and fictional Manhattan International High School in New York City, based on the real-life Stuyvesant High School. She has an on-off romantic relationship with her beau Ken (Ken Carson), who first appeared in 1961. Like Barbie, Ken shares his name with one of Ruth Handler's children. A news release from Mattel in February 2004 announced that Barbie and Ken had decided to split up, but in February 2006 they were back together again. (wikipedia)
 

Origin Story

This story takes place in the 1930’s. It’s a story that starts out sounding like one we’ve all heard before. Girl meets Boy. Girl falls in love with Boy. Girl graduates from high school. Girl has visions of great career success in the real world. Girl wants to go to college. Parents are not overly enthusiastic about college since it is more traditional to get married and raise a family. Girl goes to college anyway and marries boy too. This married girl and boy are Ruth and Elliot Handler.

In the mid 1940’s, the young ambitious duo Ruth, the 10th child of Polish immigrants, and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden picture frames. Elliot and his partner Harold Mattson built the samples and Ruth was in charge of marketing them. Elliot began to use the scraps of wood from picture frames to make doll furniture. This was the beginning of their toy business. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form the Mattel company (MATT for Mattson, and EL for Elliot) (dolls4play).

The Handlers raise two children, Barbie and Ken. Ruth notices that her daughter's play dolls are all children (and paper) and that opportunities to try out adult roles are limited with these toys. The search for dolls allowing adult role play begins. This was not necessarily a new idea because there were adult fashion dolls, such as Cissy and Miss Revlon, which were on the market.

During a family trip to Switzerland in 1956, Ruth Handler, was strolling through the charming streets of Lucerne when she spied a plastic adult-figured doll hanging in a store window. Created by Reinhard Beuthien in the early 50's. Bild-Lilli first appeared as a cartoon charcter in the German Bild newpaper on June 24, 1952. Bild-Lilli's adventures found immediate appeal with readers, especially the male readers,and it was decided to create a doll in Lilli's likeness. (bild-lilli.com). The voluptuous German toy Bild-Lilli presented an answer to the problem.

In 1958 the first Barbie dolls are manufactured in Japan under the direction of chief engineer Jack Ryan. Jack Ryan—a Yale-educated missile engineer who was plucked from a defense contractor to design toys for Mattel--has been called the "Father of Barbie" and, by The New York Times, "Mattel's real secret weapon" (newsweek 2009).

In 1959, Handler launched her billion-dollar baby—and enough irate feminist tracts to fill countless women's studies courses (newsweek, 2009)--tat the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. After initial resistance from toy retailers and a successful television ad campaign the Barbie franchise launches.

The marketing of Barbie is driven by Ernest Dichter, director of the Institute for Motivational Research. A PhD who studied psychology at the University of Vienna, Dichter used Freudian analysis to bring a "scientific" approach to marketing.

The phenomenon behind Barbie was that she was an affordable toy that had those same grown up accessories as the other adult dolls.

Fun Facts:

• The first Barbie cost $3.
• Today, more than 1 billion Barbie's have been sold
• At first, Barbie was a teenaged fashion model, but she's had over 80 careers since then, from astronaut to a medic in Desert Storm.
  Barbie didn't have a belly button until 2000.
• Barbie is made from polyvinylchloride.
• Barbie is eleven and one half inches tall.
• If Barbie was human sized, she would stand 5 foot 6 inches tall, weigh 110 pounds, and have a 39 inch bust, 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips.

Timeline:

• "Plastic money", the credit card, came into use in 1958 with the invention of the American Express Card, the same year that plastic was used to mass produce Barbie.

• In 1959, Barbie Millicent Roberts was born 11 1/2 inches tall and weighing 11 ounces. She debuted as a teenage model in a black and white striped swimsuit that came with sunglasses, high-heeled shoes, and gold-colored hoop earrings. Her body was shapely with movable head, arms, and legs.
• Barbie first appears on television on the Mickey Mouse Club show.
• In 1963 "Sex and the Single Girl" is published.
• In 1967 the "Twist and Turn" Barbie is released, with swivel waist and hips.
• In 1971, with the "Malibu Barbie", Barbie's eyes look straight ahead for the first time. Older Barbies' eyes looked slightly down and to the side.
• In 1975, "Skipper", Barbie's sidekick, sprouts breasts.
• In 1979 Barbie gets a new accessory, the "Fur & Jewels Safe" with a security alarm.
• In 1980 Black Barbie is released. She is designed by Kitty Black Perkins, a black woman.
• Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America in 1983.
• In 1984 Barbie is sold with the slogan "We girls can do anything". "Day-to-Night" Barbie comes with a briefcase, calculator, newspaper and business card. And Mattel releases "She-Ra, Princess of Power", promoted with the slogan "The fate of the world is in the hands of one beautiful girl". Also in 1984, Geraldine Ferraro makes a bid for Vice President of the United States. And finally in 1984 (busy year) Drexel Burnham Lambert supplies $231 million to Mattel.
• In 1992 the average American girl owned 7 Barbies. (distorted barbie)
• In 2000 the first Silkstone Lingerie Barbie was released with great success.
• In 2003 Lingerie Barbie #6 is met with controversy surrounding her clothing and sales are stopped by Mattel.

Silkstone:

Silkstone Barbie dolls are made of a very hard vinyl, Silkstone, that mimics the heavy and smooth feel of porcelain. Silkstone is a resin, sand and quartz composite that is easy to clean and can stand almost anything from chemicals to heat and staining. The dolls' heads are vinyl. Most collectible and play Barbie dolls are made of a softer vinyl that "gives" when touched.

Collectible:

Some Barbie® dolls have a variation of this waist. Modern Barbie® All Barbie® dolls produced beginning in 1972. (An "accepted" date among many collectors for the beginning of the Modern Barbie® era.) Vintage Barbie® All Barbie® dolls produced before 1972.

In 2000 the first Silkstone Lingerie Barbie was released with great success. This was the beginning of the very successful Silkstone Fashion Model collection for adult collectors.

Those collectors immediately fell in love with the sophisticated vintage influence. Many vintage Barbie collectors who had never collected modern Barbie dolls began to add Silkstones to their collection, especially using the Lingerie Silkstone Barbie Dolls to display vintage fashions.

These first edition Lingerie Fashion Model Barbies (#1 & #2) are considered to be the most valuable of the Lingerie Silkstones and are the only silkstone Barbies selling to collectors at a premium.

Lingerie Barbie:

• The Lingerie Barbie #1 Blonde: The same doll as as a brunette is the #2 Lingerie Silkstone, the brunette seems to be a little harder to find. They are both Limited Editions and came wearing only a white satin bra and panty ensemble trimmed with white lace and pale pink bows, white stockings and garters. (2000)
• The Lingerie Barbie #2 Brunette: A white satin bra and panty ensemble trimmed with white lace and pale pink bows, white stockings and garters. (2001)
• The Lingerie Barbie #3 Black Jet : Barbie® doll is both striking and sassy in her black satin bra and panty ensemble trimmed with black lace and pale blue bows, black stockings and garters. Her long jet black hair is styled in a sleek ponytail pulled up and away from her delicately featured face. (2001)
• The Lingerie Barbie #4 Bubblecut: The fourth Lingerie doll in the Barbie® Fashion Model Collection, Barbie® looks darling in delicate pink. Intricate pale pink lace accents her heavenly bustier ensemble. Pink peek-a-boo peignoir floats over soft pink, feminine underpinnings. Sheer pink stockings and sling back high heels add flirtatious finishing touches. Barbie® wears her platinum hair in a short curly style reminiscent of the Bubble Cut, and accented with a pink bow. (2002)
• The Lingerie Barbie #5 AA: The Barbie® Fashion Model Collection unveils its first-ever African-American Silkstone™ doll, the fifth Lingerie Barbie® doll. Her enchanting ensemble begins with a delicate black merry widow bustier with pink bow accent. Her matching robe offers alluring cover. Golden hoop earrings and high heels complete this simple but elegant ensemble. (2002)
• The Lingerie Barbie #6 Redhead: The sixth Lingerie Barbie® doll in the Barbie® Fashion Model Collection is simply sassy in a short pearl-grey satin slip trimmed in black lace. Her thigh-high stockings add a hint of flair. Completing her look is a simple black ribbon bow in Barbie® doll's striking long, straight red hair. (2003)

Sources:
A Doll's House Divided: By Eliza Gray | NEWSWEEK Published Feb 21, 2009 From the magazine issue dated Mar 2, 2009 retrieved 22 feb 2009 from http://www.newsweek.com/id/185788
http://bild-lilli.com/
The distorted barbie at http://detritus.net/projects/barbie/ retrieved 22 feb 2009
http://www.honors.umd.edu/HONR269J/projects/wolf.html Barbie: The Early History © 2000, Erica Wolf
http://www.dolls4play.com/barbiehistory.html
http://www.barbiecollector.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie
http://www.loti.com/barbie_mattel_1959.htm
http://www.barbiemuseum.nl/barbie_history.htm

Notes, Body Types, Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret: "According to a press article at Yahoo Biz, “When Wexner bought the struggling Victoria's Secret for $1 million in 1982, the company had just three stores and a catalog operation.

Before Victoria's Secret, the average woman had five bras, noted Edward G. Razek, -- three white, one beige, and one black. 'All five panties were white," he said.

Today, thanks to … Victoria's Secret, lingerie drawers are full of underwear in a myriad of colors, fabrics, and styles. Panties have been replaced by boy shorts, thongs, v-strings, and hip huggers. '

[original] Source:- http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/04122006/244/victoria-s-secret-sexy.html" quoted at 1st bras.

Lingerie Figure Types (Tomima's Blog posted Feb 2009): "The lingerie industry has come up with six figure types that they feel captures every woman. I know this sounds kind of crazy, but the truth is I have yet to find a woman I couldn’t classify in one of them. By knowing your personal figure type, you can make smarter lingerie choices that will enhance your best points and disguise your less-than-favorable ones.

In my next six postings, I’m going to talk about each of these figure types. They are the pear shape, apple shape, column shape, the hourglass shape, the almost hourglass shape and the cornet shape."

Spacer Foam and the T-shirt bra: "A new lingerie term has popped up recently. The term "spacer foam" is being used when describing some new t-shirt or contour bras. Currently several bras on the market use this spacer foam as the fabric in their seamless bras. So, what is it?"

Blogroll additions: I've added Tomima's Blog for Herroom.com to the blogroll because she is interesting and provides information about the industry while talking about everyday topics.

cheerleading trivia

In 1965, Fred Gastoff invented the vinyl pom-pon and it was introduced into competitions by the International Cheerleading Foundation.

don't know how true this is, but it is the type of disposable trivia that clogs up one's memory. Sharing it with you.

newly discovered vintage lingerie resources

• add Glamoursurf to the vintage resources list. They have a great list of vintage swimwear labels to help with dating.
• Vintage Nightgowns is a resource with pictorial indices for Olga, Vanity Fair and other vintage nightgowns.
  

PaMdora & the Lingerie Adventure

While finishing up a post for my print journal--yes, they still exist--I ran across the webpage for Pam Rupert. Ms Rupert is an artist that makes humorous quilts. The image search that led me to her was related to coffee grinders. I couldn't use that image since I've already completed & printed the post. But, she has a character in many of her comic quilt panels named Pamdora.

Pamdora is at the lingerie store one day when it is robbed. The quilt is presented in 5 detailed panels. The panels present several male reactions to panties on display: from trepidation to lustful. Pamdora is clearly not impressed!

Stealing panties is a way to get in the news--and generally be made into a joke. Pretty much every week there are news stories of some guy(s) making off with armloads of knickers--guess there is still an ebay market for Victorias Secret....

Created in 2005, the quilt is sized 51" x 51".

Anyway, check out Pam Rubert's work & have a smile.

The future and the past

The Future...

• Marlies Dekkers' Racy Runway Show

I found this at StyleList.com blog while looking for a futuristic calendar girl for my 2009 hardcopy journal.

"This" is a 5 shot gallery of lingerie for Spring 2009 (maybe? there is no date listed; so, I'm probably guessing wrong--again).

If this is the future of lingerie, then dessous-dessous trends will continue--at least for those who live where swimwear is worn routinely. Not in my town. So, we'll continue to be "behind the times" for a few more years.

I do like the eye tattoo. This may be a future look.

• FASHION designer Kimberly Lim submitted an entry in July 2008 for the Triumph design contest. "Ms Lim said she had never designed lingerie before so decided to have fun, drawing on her love of metallics, graphics and gaming culture.“I love streetwear,” she said. “With lingerie, it’s all traditional like lace and beads and that’s not what I’m used to doing at all.”She substituted studs for beads, abandoned lace in favour of capacitors and added a futuristic twist to the basic entry requirements of a bra and brief set." (This entry may go into the journal.)
  

Lingerie Perspectives:

• a list of articles featuring lingerie from Salon.com. Not entirely sure why I posted this list, except that it does cover how women view underwear. There is an article about Egyptian styles, one describing a long gone museum installation, and other talk by women about their undies.

• I added The "Petite Coquette" thread lingerie blog to the blogroll. She specializes in luxe & sexy.

And The Past...
1930s Futuristic Fashion Predictions includes a youtube video predicting what women will wear in 2000.