“From the smooth textures and tastes of the essential creams and caramels – to the rich and exciting essence of sweet candy and packaging, this collection provides a selection for every taste bud, function and trimester”

If you’re counting calories, you might want to grab a small, healthy bite before reading the scrumptious details behind Cake Lingerie’s new AW12 Collection (We can tell you, from first hand knowledge, we put on a fresh pot of coffee and whipped out some cookies after we read their press release)

Inspired by the beautiful array of colors in a candy shop, Cake Lingerie’s new AW12 collection – Candy Collection is gearing up for release and the talented team at Cake sent us some gorgeous images for us to share with our readers.

“From the smooth textures and tastes of the essential creams and caramels – to the rich and exciting essence of sweet candy and packaging, this collection provides a selection for every taste bud, function and trimester,” said the company.

AW12 also introduces Cake Lingerie’s highly anticipated website. It reaffirms the leading market position for the brand and its commitment to make women feel ‘Beautiful from the Inside Out’.

Cake Lingerie Creative Director, Tracey Montford said, “We’ve created intimate apparel for every occasion, need and stage of pregnancy, in a collection of ongoing basic and fashion pieces.”

Vanilla Cream

Wardrobe necessity, Vanilla Cream, is a sophisticated flexible-wire bra for perfected lift and support. With Seamless Tank Tops (Toffee and Dark Toffee Tank), for ultimate comfort and
coverage that can be worn as outerwear, Cake Lingerie introduces Shortbread, that oozes scrumptious personality balanced with plain cups.

Rocky Road Chemises

Like a marshmallow melting with each bite of chocolate you take, the Rocky Road Chemises, infuse creamy-grey modal fabric with flirty polka-dot prints for women to indulge in. Delicate laces, appliqués, jacquard fabrics, comforting blends of modal cotton and superior European yarn ensure for delectable pleasure.

Toffee Contour Bra

The best selling Toffee Contour Bra has been re-engineered to deliver greater support and shape in the bigger cup sizes with a Jade Green colourway, Mint Toffee. These unique 3-way convertible bras provide for stylish versatility.

Wholesale Questions

Please contact sales@cakelingerie.com
Visit: cakelingerie.com

Full Gallery

“We like to say that we are a lifestyle brand, more than anything else. We are here to serve the woman who wants to feel trendy in their every-day Lingerie,” – Anaïs Bouchard

You can’t help but smile and feel happy looking at Naïs Lingerie’s debut collection. There’s a sense of playful energy emphasized by the designer Anaïs Bouchard’s choice of energetic pastels for her designs. You won’t find pouting lips or noir-inspired come-hither looks from the models in their look-book either. No, it’s all about having fun. And that’s what’s at the core of this brand’s philosophy.

Naïs (pronounced “nice”) Lingerie seeks to inject a fun, positive spirit along with some retro vibes into the lingerie world while at the same time offering women a chance to wear Naïs on a daily basis with their loungewear offerings which includes t-shirts, tops, pants, and skirts – all designed with comfort in mind.

“We like to say that we are a lifestyle brand, more than anything else. We are here to serve the woman who wants to feel trendy in their every-day Lingerie,” added Anaïs.

Inspired by American culture, specifically urban street culture, Anais and her business partner Lin Corte (both from France) started Naïs two years ago. Anaïs had been working as a designer with a few companies in Paris and coming across the pond in 2010 landing in Miami working in lingerie again.

Seeing an opportunity to start her own company she moved to New York City with Lin to develop Naïs Lingerie.

Anaïs and Lin have made the effort to manufacture Naïs here in New York and the brand’s packaging is made from eco-friendly materials in New Jersey.

Video Interview

This past December, Anaïs and Lin invited us to visit them at their SS12 photo shoot. We had a great time seeing some of the behind the scenes action and sat down with them to talk about all things Naïs:

Wholesale Questions

Contact Anais directly at anaisbouchard@be-nais.com and visit be-nais.com for more information.

The Collection

We’ve also included a great selection of images from Naïs. Take a look and tell us what you think!

“For full-busted women, the prospect of shopping for the appropriate swimwear can be daunting…fortunately, in recent years, more companies are offering bra-sized swim options in an array of cuts and colors”

Ali Cudby is the CEO of Fab Foundations™ LLC. She is also an author, bra coach and strategic marketing consultant. Ali’s bra fit advice goes to tens of thousands of people Internationally – both consumers and lingerie professionals – each month. You can find Ali online at www.fabfoundations.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AliCudbyAuthor, and on Twitter at @alicudby.

Memorial Day Weekend means the beginning of swimsuit season. For full-busted women, the prospect of shopping for the appropriate swimwear can be daunting, since the dress-sized offerings in most stores aren’t cut for curvy proportions. Fortunately, in recent years, more companies are offering bra-sized swim options in an array of cuts and colors. I was lucky enough to sample several suits recently – here’s what I found.

AERIN ROSE

SHIRRED FRONT PANEL ONE-PIECE WITH TUMMY CONTROL UNDERWIRE

This one-piece from Aerin Rose features an underwire built into the front of the bodice, with an elastic band that continues to the back, for support. The criss-cross sweetheart neckline with adjustable straps compliments a fuller bust. Bathing suits are sized by both dress and cup size, for ideal fit. Cup sizes come in D/DD and F/G.

The ruched panel that runs over the stomach is flattering, and is backed with a firmer fabric, for light tummy control. The body of the suit is forgiving and might run a tad large.

This particular suit provides generous body coverage, and there is a wide range of one- and two-piece styles in the collection.

PANACHE

NATALIE BIKINI

If you’re looking for a two-piece with support to rival your lingerie, the top of the Natalie bikini is constructed like an underwire bra, complete with three-part cup, power mesh and adjustable straps. Natalie has bra sizing in a D- through K-cup (band sizes 30-38). The folded bottom is fun and enables the wearer to decide how much belly to bare. Bottoms are offered in dress sizes.

PANACHE

NATALIE BIKINI AND SOPHIA ONE-SHOULDER SWIMSUIT
The Sophia one-piece offers a built-in strapless bra, complete with interior backwings, adjustable band and underwire cups. The suit comes in a rich purple and is sexy while providing significant body coverage. The one-shoulder detail can be detached.

ELOMI

ISIS HIGH WAIST BRIEF AND SWIM BRA
Elomi recently launched their swim line, which offers an attractive mix-and-match wardrobe for full-figured women. What is smart about this collection, especially for the Elomi customer, is that it bypasses the tummy bulge dilemma that plagues the tankini wearer. The style of bottom provided to sample was a high-waisted brief, reminiscent of a shaper, that stopped below the bust-line. This is a flattering style on women who many not feel comfortable baring their middles. The top is also bra-sized and constructed in the cut-and-sewn method, with the addition of power mesh for optimal lift and projection. Elomi offers additional pieces designed to be worn over the bra-top – both dress and tankini styles. The swim bra is offered in 36-46 bands and DD-HH cups. Bottoms and other pieces are sized 16-26 (UK sizing, comparable to 12-22 US).

EMPREINTE

SIENNE COQUELICOT
Empreinte’s swim collection offers a variety of styles in one and two pieces, in cup sizes C-F. The Sienne two-piece style features construction very much like an underwire bra. What sets it apart is a firm, contoured cup. This style might be helpful to women who are asymmetrical or wish to have some structure to even out their bustline in swimwear. In the style I personally sampled for this article, Empreinte tended to run smaller in the bottom half of the swimsuit. However, some of their styles run larger than others – some going up to a size 12 and others to an 18. Women who need the combination of full-busted on top and narrower on the bottom (you know who you are, and I am not counted in those ranks) will appreciate having even more options in the category.

You may have noticed that I didn’t discuss any tankini styles, and there’s a reason for that – namely, personal bias. Swimwear is a very individual shopping endeavor and these observations are based on my personal preferences. That said, I have never understood the tankini. It’s a bathing suit for women who want the sass of a bikini but with a little more coverage. A woman who wants that modest two-piece is likely to feel that way for a reason. And yet…the tankini exposes the one area that most women are self-conscious about, the belly roll. I’m sure there are toned, athletic women out there who love a tankini but personally, I don’t get it. And that’s why I didn’t review any bathing suits in that particular style.

The swimsuits covered here are just a tiny fraction of full-busted swim brands – let alone styles – that are in the market today. Options continue to emerge and evolve to better support curves, allowing all women the appropriate showcase for their Fab Foundations.

Read More

Read Ali Cudby’s last article on The Value of Quality – Insights into Lingerie Manufacturing

Curvy Kate witnessed a 117% increase in engagement on Facebook this year thanks to their Star in a Bra competition and the custom made Facebook application that allowed fans to participate and interact in the competition via the popular social media site.

The contest, run through the social networking site Facebook, encouraged ‘fans’ of the brand to upload images of themselves in their lingerie to enter. A shortlist was drawn up and the finalists faced a public vote as family and friends chose their favourite D plus wannabe model at the click of a button. In three months, Curvy Kate’s ‘fan’ numbers has risen by 51% from 14,101 to 21,307 thanks to the innovative concept and new, bespoke design.

The company noted that “as the year begun Curvy Kate’s Facebook Timeline was exposed on average to just under 4,500 engaged users per month, since then that figure has risen to a staggering 9,771, an impressive increase of 117%. The number of natural D plus women entering also doubled and the brand saw a record number of votes with over 320,000 clicks on the application in the two tiered voting period.”
 
The bespoke app, designed and created by social media agency mycleveragency, allowed participants to enter the competition easily. After authorizing the application their entry form was pre-populated using Facebook profile information. People were then faced with three options for uploading their pictures; via a webcam, via a link, or via a file from their computer. Once the Curvy Kate judging panel had made their decision the app changed to automatically reveal which girls had made the top 30.
 
“Curvy Kate supports the UK’s shapely figures by searching for a D plus girl with a fuller body and natural bust. With demand from the public for more realistic models with natural figures, the latest campaign has attracted legions of fans to the bust-loving brand, whilst also promoting their top retailers,” said the company.

“We were amazed at the hordes of gorgeous, shapely women who threw their curves into the competition,” – Hannah Houston

 
Key stockists also played a major part in the success of the campaign by marketing the curve campaign to their customers through promotional inserts, social engagement, in store marketing and staff incentives. Sophie Morgan, was found through AIS Store Creaseys of the Channel Islands who backed the local girl from day one.
 
Hannah Houston, PR and Marketing Manager is thrilled to see the growth and the variety of curvy girls willing to show their shapes to the nation. “We were amazed at the hordes of gorgeous, shapely women who threw their curves into the competition. We are passionate about promoting all curves and its clear the public love to be involved in choosing our next model. Our final winner Sophie Morgan is a great role model and oozes glamour, confidence and inner beauty.  We’re excited about the year ahead!”
 
An identical Star in a Bra campaign is currently running in the United States with the second Australian competition to be rolled out down under in June. Curvy Kate specializes in lingerie for the fuller bust from D to K cups with back sizes from 28-40”. Bras retail from £27 to £30.

For more information on Curvy Kate, visit curvykate.com and www.facebook.com/curvykate

“I created beatrix privé for the woman who appreciates quality foundation garments, luxury fabrics, color and stylish design.” – Jenny Davis

After spending years as a magazine fashion editor and stylist, Jenny Davis realized there was a gap in the market when it came to finding sexy and comfortable underwear for her curvy, fashion-forward friends and personal styling clients.

So Davis spent nearly two years working with real plus-size women to develop beatrix privé, a signature line of one-size-fits-most stretch thongs designed to fit and flatter women sized 16-20.

Each pair is made in the U.S. from luxurious, hand-selected fabrics like stretch silk charmeuse. A wide stretch lace waistband can be adjusted to rest across the hip or the midsection, gently hugging curves with no visible panty lines.

“Researching the plus-size lingerie market, I found a wide selection of beautiful, well-engineered bras, but no underwear options that combined luxury with a cut that flattered the unique curves of a plus-sized woman,” Davis says. “I created beatrix privé for the woman who appreciates quality foundation garments, luxury fabrics, color and stylish design. Now she can buy the bra she wants and pair it with a fabulous panty designed to fit and flatter her shape.”

Every production run is an exclusive limited edition, so colors and patterns will change with the seasons and styles; however, clientele can expect the same signature design in each collection.

The spring collection includes five color-ways in the single-size stretch design. Panties are available wholesale to boutiques and retail through the brand’s f-commerce site.

For more information on beatrix privé, visit www.beatrixprive.com or www.facebook.com/beatrixprive.

Contact beatrix privé

Jenny Davis
817.716.2756

Last week, we showcased GlobLove’s SS12 collection, a whimsical and sensual offering of lingerie. Today, we want to give our readers a glimpse of the brand’s slightly darker Essentials: Film Noir Collection.

Inspired by les années folles, globLove’s launch “Essentials: Film Noir” collection conjures up the 20s reckless abandon with a decidedly modern day aesthetic.

“The era that was characterized by exploration and experimentation saw a changing fashion landscape. Women started donning shorter hemlines and trading in their corsets for ‘bust bodice’ bras as they took to the voting booths for the first time and made their first foray behind the wheel,” explained the designer Liana Artinian. “With this mental backdrop, globLove features a collection of intimates chockfull of coquettish charm and playful airs, reminiscent of those free-spirited, reckless rebels who danced their nights away to jazz music.”

Wholesale Questions

Yunus Chkirate
Director of Sales Relations
globlove.com

E: yunus@globlove.com or info@globlove.com
O: 514.381.7187
F: 514.381.6102

The Collection

Asia’s international trade fair for adult products – Asia Adult Expo (AAE) will be scheduled from Aug 17 – 19, 2012 at the Venetian Macao, China, while its sister show – AAE Taichung will be held one week later – Aug 23 － 26, 2012 in Taiwan Region. AAE Taichung will be co-organized with Expo Union Co., Ltd., one of the leading show organizers in Taiwan. They run several key events in the region like “Taiwan International Green Industry Show”, “Building Taiwan”, etc.

“AAE Macau successfully attracts international buyers to source quality Asia’s vendors and helping both international and local companies to develop the Asia- Pacific market.” Chief Executive of AAE Co. Ltd., Mr. Kenny Lo said, “While the pillar show AAE Macau focuses on Asia-Pacific and International trade in a whole, AAE Taichung aims at helping companies to enter the Taiwan Region, the emerging market which contains huge potential in recent years.”

New Faces like Pipedream, Turkuaz, etc. will make their Asia’s Debut in AAE Macau. Electric Lingerie, Hustler Lingerie, JOYDIVISION, Empowered Product, etc. joined AAE for several years and they will return to the August show again. Electric Lingerie will expand their booth to 252sqm.

Meanwhile, quality Asia’s vendors like Sally’s Massager, Hop Shing Toy Factory, etc. from Hong Kong; Shaki, HBM, Hit Doll, etc. from mainland China; WINZZ, Findom from Taiwan, Mode De Vie from Macau, Kusanoha from Japan, etc. are all ready to meet distributors and retailers all over the world this August.

AAE Taichung will gather a dozens of local distributors from several brands and some Greater China-based Companies. Buyers from several Taiwan cities like Taipei (Northern Taiwan), Taichung (Central Taiwan), Kaohsiung, Tainan (Southern Taiwan) will attend the show too.

Addition of Lingerie

The show organizer will also co-locate a new show called Intimate Lingerie Asia (ILA) with AAE in August. ILA is positioned as a professional event for global erotic lingerie industry players to gather and showcase their best products. With a good mixture of manufacturer (OEM and ODM), private brands and designers, ILA will set up respective zones for these groups as to better cater the needs of the market.

Since March, ILA has already been received buyer registrations from including Australia, Brazil, mainland China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan, Thailand and USA, involving in designing, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, label branding businesses, etc.

As one-stop trade and marketing events, both AAE and ILA feature a wide range of products from sex toys, BDSM, and lubricants to sleepwear, leg wear and fragrances. Both shows aim to supply all-round erotic sources for traders to lead a stylish and enjoyable lifestyle.

ILA website: www.ilingerieasia.com

“I decided to have an agency that would be dedicated to lingerie and lounge wear; therefore always putting them first,” Sherece Rainford

Lingerie PR is thrilled to launch the agency with the announcement of having Claudette as a client.

Lingerie PR was set-up by Sherece Rainford to establish an agency solely dedicated to the media management of lingerie and lounge wear. From her work in the Intimate Apparel industry and from talking to brand owners and other industry professionals she identified that lingerie and lounge wear brands really needed an agency that would put them first.

Sherece said: “I’ve been in PR for over 15 years now, so I’ve been in the game a long time! I’m really excited to launch Lingerie PR. To me lingerie and lounge wear brands always seems to hold second place to the rest of the fashion world when it comes to publicity. So I decided to have an agency that would be dedicated to lingerie and lounge wear; therefore always putting them first. I’m delighted to launch the agency with Claudette as a client and I’m looking forward to working with some great brands!”

Claudette’s lingerie collections are in tune with prêt-à-porter stories of the season, but follow their own unique and singular vision and style. With an expert eye on detail and full attention to fit, Claudette brassiere collections range from an A to G cup and everything in-between.

“Claudette is a contemporary, modern brand from A to G cup. We are fearless with colour and offer a fun, flirty, fashion product.”

Claudette Creative Director Bok Goodall added: “It’s such an exciting time for Claudette in the UK, we are about to launch with figleaves.com and starting to work with Lingerie PR – the UK’s only PR company dedicated to lingerie and loungewear.

Claudette is a contemporary, modern brand from A to G cup. We are fearless with colour and offer a fun, flirty, fashion product. Based in fabulous Los Angeles, designed and developed in London; we can’t wait to give the ladies of the UK a taste of what our US customers love about us!”

For more information:
sherece@lingeriepr.com | 07540 833 063 | www.lingeriepr.com | @Lingerie_PR

“GlobLove: a brand with heart”

One of the first questions I asked designer Liana Artinian about her brand, GlobLove, was “what’s up with the name?”

The answer that followed is both inspiring and simple: “Global Love”

It’s a brilliant concept for a brand name and speaks volumes about what Liana is achieving with GlobLove.

GlobLove Designer Liana Artinian at work

“Inspired by love in all its forms, the brand’s homophone concept Global Love characterizes the very roots of the business: a brand with a heart,” explained Liana. “Five percent of all proceeds will go toward FINCA, an organization that offers microfinance opportunities to women in developing countries. By purchasing the most intimate and feminine of apparel, women all over the world can encourage their peers in less fortunate corners of the globe by giving them the opportunity to build their own buying power.”

Speaking with Liana you can tell that she is incredibly passionate about her business and mission to create a collection that allows women to “embraces their femininity without foregoing their spirit and individuality.”

GlobLove is a beautiful collection and we were thrilled when Liana sent us samples for us to review (stay tuned for that). In the mean time, we wanted to showcase some images from her SS12 Collection “Deux ou trois choses que je sais d’Elle”. Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Wholesale Questions

Yunus Chkirate
Director of Sales Relations

E: yunus@globlove.com or info@globlove.com
O: 514.381.7187
F: 514.381.6102

The Collection

“Soft, misty palettes are punctuated with playful adornments while more daring lace confections speak to our innermost seductress. Dainty bras and panties and alluring slips easily take us from morning escapades to midnight rendez-vous… Meanwhile soft, airy fabrics like lace and mesh disprove that sensuality and comfort are mutually exclusive.”

Kathryn Kemp-Griffin is the founder of Paris Lingerie Tours and offers exclusive lingerie tours as an unusual alternative to the regular tourist attractions.

She is also the founder of Pink Bra Bazaar, a lingerie charity dedicated to fighting breast cancer. Contact Kathryn at: kathryn@pinkbrabazaar.org

Fifi Chachnil never did manage to color within the lines. As a child, she remembers swooshing her paintbrush haphazardly, enthusiastically adding color and life to an otherwise prosaic drawing. “Tsk, tsk,” her older sister chided, waving a finger. “That’s not how it’s done.” As Fifi tried to erase her mistake, the colors blended and beauty spread across the paper, and Fifi was enchanted.

Fifi’s penchant for fashion and creativity manifested in many ways: from bloomers peeking out from underneath a hiked up school uniform skirt, to challenging the conventional monochrome by mixing red and pink. The youngest of five children, Fifi grew up in a family of silk manufacturers and spent her after-school hours next to one of the designers who helped Fifi design her own dresses, selecting fabrics from the rolls piled high in the office near the Opéra.

“Femininity is in my DNA,” – Fifi Chachnil

After high school, Fifi packed her suitcase and headed west to America where she studied graphic arts, and then packed her bags again and headed east to Eygpt where she pursued her passion for singing and songwriting and recorded an album – in Eygptian. Perhaps the ultimate declaration of creative independence was when she selected the pseudonym Chachnil, which doesn’t have any particular meaning, but reflects her admiration and appreciation for the arts and culture of the Orient.

Listen to Fifi Chachnil Ma Robe En Soie

Listen to Fifi Chachnil’s Comme Les Bonbons Anglais

Fifi spent some time designing stage costumes before finally settling on lingerie as her form of artistic expression. “Femininity is in my DNA,” she confesses. And so is pink. “There are so many different shades and nuances.” From the palest to the most vibrant, pink is her signature color and embodies the softness and strength of femininity.

Whether it’s a ruffle, a ribbon, or a whisper of lace, Fifi Chachnil knows how to bring out the girl in all of us.

FIFI – THE DESIGNER

You live and work in Paris, the lingerie capital of the world… what is it about Paris that inspires fashion and creativity?
La Parisienne for style, but the look of wonder in the eyes of foreigners as they take in the beauty and culture of Paris is also an incredible sense of inspiration for me.

What is the distinguishing characteristic of your collection?
Humor, color, and luxurious fabrics. Fabrics must feel soft and delicate next to the skin.

What is the most important thing to consider when designing lingerie?
For the client to feel better wearing it. Not necessarily in the sense of complete comfort, but feel better as in more beautiful. Like the way a corset or waist cincher sculpts a more defined silhouette and makes one feel more feminine and more assured.

What is the biggest challenge in designing your own label?
To be on time. To coordinate design, manufacturing and delivery without sacrificing quality.

Do you listen to music when you work?
Yes, music is very important and each collection starts with a play list. All music inspires me. I think of life as a musical and I find inspiration in the lyrics and the notes.

What would you be doing if you weren’t designing?
Singing. In fact, I’m enjoying a bit of a renaissance with my music and I am performing again.

DREAMS & INSPIRATIONS

Where are you likely to be on a sunny Saturday afternoon?
Swimming off the coast of Normandy. The water’s cool and refreshing.

On a rainy Saturday afternoon?
Again, swimming off the coast of Normandy. The water’s warm and comforting.

Salé or sucré? (Salt or sugar?) Which do you prefer?
Salt. Oysters in particular. And I love a good salad.

Favorite restaurant in Paris?
I have two! A La Pomponnette next to the Moulin Rouge, and an Italian restaurant, Divinamente.

Favorite patisserie?
Anything from Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris. Their brioche prâliné is delicous!

Favorite season?
Spring. A real spring offers so much change and hope.

THE BUSINESS OF LINGERIE

As well as designing lingerie, you have created a perfume. What inspired that project?
A good perfume interprets emotions and I wanted to create an essence of pure femininity. There is freshness in the top notes of citrus and coriander, sweetness in the floral scents of rose and lily of the valley, and insolence and sensuality in the bottom oriental notes. A real mixture to reflect the contradiction and harmony in all of us!

You have two stores in Paris and you are opening another one next week. Any other expansion projects?
It’s very exciting to open another boutique. You are all invited to visit when you come to Paris. It’s 34 rue de Grenelle. I’d like to open as many boutiques as possible.

Where are you sold in the States?
Faire Frou Frou in Studio City, California.

JUST FOR FUN…

Do you remember your first bra?
Of course! I was with my mother. It was a very special day. The bra was white with a little embroidery.

Do you wear mismatched lingerie now?
Yes! I love the surprise.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Designer
Fifi Chachnil
fifi@fifichachnil.com

Press & Communication
Claire Alba
com@fifichachnil.com

Boutiques
68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
75001 Paris, France
tel: +33 (0)1 42 21 19 93

231 Rue St Honoré
75001 Paris, France
tel: +33 (0)1 42 61 21 83

34, rue de Grenelle (Opening May 10th)
75007 Paris, France

48 Beauchamp Place
SW3 1NX London, England
tel: +44 (0) 20 7225 2226

www.fifichachnil.com

Gallery