This sale is too good not to highlight on our homepage! Hanky Panky thongs usually cost around $18-$20, and many of you are happy to pay the price for these popular panties. But right now, the Home Shopping Network is selling packs of three plus-size Hanky Panky thongs for only $9.90 - that’s about half the price of what one costs normally! Get over to the HSN website right now to claim your own. What’s even better is that Hanky Panky thongs are generally “one size fits all,” so the plus thongs should fit well if you’re anywhere in the size 16-26 (US) size range.

Looking for more great bargains? Check out our sales page!

How is the lingerie industry doing? Signals and stories are mixed from various industry sources. On the manufacturing front, relocation stories continue. US lingerie giant Frederick’s of Hollywood is moving their remaining US manufacturing to the Philippines. In response to unprecedented macro economic conditions, Frederick’s is “continuing to reduce operating expenses, primarily through reductions in personnel,” said executive chair Peter Cole. While Frederick’s looks to reduce their operational costs, other US manufacturers have shut down including Prima Lingerie Inc., New Waves Apparel Inc., Blue Horizon Logistics & Sourcing Inc. and Sensuous Lingerie Inc. (from Dennis D. Estopace)

Retailers have mixed reports. In a press release BeCheeky reports “a 75% increase in sales volume and an 85% increase in turnover on prime Mega Monday - 8th December 2008, compared with the same day in 2007. The lingerie specialists are now set to be 50% up this December on last, impressively bucking current retail trends, and highlighting how promising growth opportunities can still be found.” (BeCheeky Press Release). In the US, dismal figures were released the day after Christmas. “Overall apparel sales were down 19.7 percent, with women’s apparel dragging down the sector with an astonishing 22.7 percent decline.” Additionally, apparently bad news for luxury lingerie retailers: “Sales of luxury goods at jewelry, leather and department stores dropped 34.5 percent.” (ABC News) As a simple example, Sirens on Third is a lingerie retailer in the high traffic Cherry Creek shopping district in Denver, Colorado. Before the Christmas holiday, Christine Tallerico said she’s not going down without a fight. She has put virtually everything in the store on sale at 50 percent off. “Hopefully, the sale this weekend and Christmas coming, hopefully we’ll have a good turnaround,” Tallerico said. “Things have got to get better.” (CBS Denver) In the UK, retailer John Lewis reported “improved sales in the final four days before Christmas. Its department store sales rose by 2.5 percent between December 21 and December 24. The store benefited from strong sales of items such as iPods, fragrance and lingerie.” (Times Online)

As reported earlier in TLP, the trade show sector will suffer with Lingerie America’s shutting down.

Gilda & Pearl is the kind of sweet and timeless lingerie you would expect to see in a fairytale - perfect for someone very feminine who is looking for something luxuriously self-indulgent. The totally handmade pieces are made of silks, ribbons, and lace, and are inspired by screen glamour of the 40s and 50s. The Marilyn collection has even been adapted from original vintage lingerie patterns! Bras come in sizes 32A-38C, and knickers come in S-L.

You can order collections from their online boutique, and they also take special requests. You can contact Gilda & Pearl if you want a change to the fabric, style, or size of existing designs. If you want a bow removed, or a change of the ribbon color, they can probably meet your requests so you have wonderfully unique pieces. They also accept commissions for wedding lingerie or other bespoke items. If you need to drop a hint so that certain someone knows what to get you for Valentine’s Day, or if you want to request a wishlist from your beloved so you know what she wants the most, you can do both of those from the Gilda & Pearl website.

Faire Frou Frou just started their New Year’s BLOWOUT SALE! Expected to run through the rest of January, Faire Frou Frou is offering amazing discounts on gorgeous designer lingerie!

What can you expect?

• Discounts from 30-75% OFF
• Almost EVERY ITEM that was on SALE, has received an additional discount!
• Enjoy promotional SALE pricing on luxury lingerie brands such as Carine Gilson, Guia la Bruna, ID Sarrieri, Damaris, Stella McCartney, Mint Siren, Fifi Chachnil, Vannina Vesperini, Myla, Made by Niki, Fleur T, Andres Sarda, The Lake & Stars, Dessous, Undrest and many more!

You can take advantage of this great sale both online at www.fairefroufrou.com and in their Studio City, CA boutique (13017 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604; west of Coldwater Cyn).

What a great way to start the new year!

Der Kommissar is a Dutch label. Started in late 2004, the brand has been developed by fashion designer Annelies Nuy. Nuy was educated at the Art Academy of Arnhem. She says “Everyone has one or more alter egos hidden within themselves. You can either hide them but also accentuate them. With my lingerie and lingerie accessories you can accentuate them explicitly. Every woman can show her own fantasies with my lingerie. To others, but especially to themselves.” Nuy believes this so sincerely that her collection is called Alterego and Ego.

For those familiar with the “Four P’s of marketing”, Der Kommissar has defined their own: Please (naïve and innocent), Play (playful and naughty), Passion (tempting and seducing), and Power (strong and provocative). Nuy says that these Four P’s influence each collection.

Here are some selections from the Ego and Alterego lines from Der Kommissar:

Besides the Ego and Alterego collection, Der Kommissar also does fashion shows with specialty pieces including Valentines, holiday, and resort wear. The fashion shows are limited editions and not available through all distribution channels. Watch the video of a Der Kommissar fashion show:
Click here to view the embedded video.

See more of the unique pieces from the fashion shows in these thumbnails:

Here are some bonus pictures from Der Kommissar:

Pictures courtesy of Der Kommissar.

Der Kommissar is available throughout the home country. In foreign countries, coverage is not as dense. Online, I’ve found the best sources is Dutch Designer Outlet. DDO also carries some of the special, limited edition pieces from the fashion shows.

Deborah Fleming is the designer behind Pistol Panties swimwear. The British/Colombian designer aims for combining quirky style and feminine glamour. Deborah began the business in the early 2000s with hand crafted pieces she made in her kitchen. She sold them all to Selfridges and they sold out within a week. From their, the brand took off with a lot of hard work from Deborah overseeing fabric prints, cuts, and manufacturing. Today, Pistol Panties can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Selfridges, Villa Moda, and Deborah’s own store in Notting Hill. Deborah’s site suggests that Pistol Panties are available at Figleaves, but I couldn’t find them. I did find them at NYC’s Catriona Mackechnie and online here as well as Bordello in London and online here. Deborah is also running an online store.

More selections from Pistol Panties:

Pictures courtesy of Pistol Panties.

The US’s favorite lingerie chain, Victoria’s Secret, launched the semi-annual sale in stores this Monday. The sale has been on the website for a while, but you can still find a large selection of panties starting at $3.99 and bras starting at $12.99. Sleepwear, swim, clothing, shoes, beauty, and accessories are all on sale as well.

I already snapped up some great deals this weekend at my store’s presale, and I’ll definitely be going back this week to see what else I can find! Selection varies online and in stores, so if you want to be sure to see it all, check out both. When shopping online, there is a coupon code for free shipping on orders over $100; check our sales section for details. While you’re there, you can also find information on TONS of other post-Christmas sales. All the big-name lingerie e-tailers have sales going on now or have them planned for early 2009, so keep an eye on the sales page to get the best deals!

When I was a very little girl, some of my first sets of underwear were the days-of-the-week style. I distinctly remember being excited to pick out the correct day every morning, and I think they are part of what started my love of fun underpinnings! I’m sure many of you had the same experience - and if you want to relive your childhood delight, or if you simply love being organized, I’ve found the knickers for you! Stella McCartney released a “Knickers of the Week” set in the Autumn/Winter 2008 collection that revive our girlhood memories, complete with dainty ruffles and sweet embroidered flowers. The silk-blend knickers come in a complete seven-day pack, or an abbreviated weekend set. They would be an adorable gift in the dressing-drawer style packaging! Find your own at Net-A-Porter, Boudiche, or Journelle.

With New Year’s Eve only days away, you may be wondering just how to look your best in your slinky new dress after overindulging on Grandma’s pie, Mom’s cookies, and the company’s bar tab!  Take your concerns to Bare Necessities!  With an ample selection of shapewear, Bare Necessities is sure to have a solution for your every concern.  Need support or something seamless?  Want plunge or push up?  The options are endless whether you want to enhance your top or slenderize your bottom!

See below for just a few options from Va Bien, Wacoal, Miraclesuit, and SPANX.

Time is running out so start shopping!

What color knickers will you be wearing on New Year’s Eve? If you’re like me, you hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. But if you’re like many women around the world, you have already picked out your yellow panties in preparation for the big day. In many Spanish-speaking countries, wearing yellow panties at the stroke of midnight as the New Year turns is thought to bring wealth and good luck in the coming year. Yellow is the color of choice because it is most closely associated with gold. Tradition says you must cast away your old undies at the stoke of midnight and put on a yellow pair. There are some details to keep in mind, however: to be lucky, they must be brand new; for extra luck, you can wear them inside out. The folklore only applies to women, not men, and other kinds of lingerie (like bras, slips, and garter belts) don’t count. If your knickers were given to you as a gift, they are said to be the luckiest of all.

The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was forbidden for Spaniards to wear bright colors. People believed wearing yellow would bring them good fortune, so they wore the lucky shade as underwear, which couldn’t be seen. If you’re looking for love next year, wear red instead of yellow. Here are some cute yellow panties I found at HerRoom.com from Honeydew and Ed Hardy, which you can hopefully find at a store near you in time for the big day: