Elle Macpherson Intimates European Launch Party

The press release noted:

Elle Macpherson, famous for shaking up the traditionally staid lingerie industry, could be considered to be bucking the trend of most business strategies in the current global economic climate by bringing her collection to Europe.  However, this signals the confidence in the strength of the Intimates brand and the unique fashion handwriting which is in demand in Europe.

Elle Macpherson, Creative Director of Intimates says taking my lingerie into Europe feels very much like a natural next step. “The reaction to the launch of Intimates in Europe has surpassed all our initial expectations. It’s a very exciting time for me and my design team.”

Elle Macpherson Intimates is now available in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Greece. In Germany, you can find it at  Galeries Lafayette and KaDeWe in Berlin, Ludwig Beck in Munich, and Breuninger in Stuttgart. When the European expansion is complete, Elle Macpherson Intimates will be available in over 30 countries worldwide. Online, you can find Elle Macpherson Intimates at Figleaves (UK/US), Freshpair, HerRoom, Zodee, and BareNecessities.

BODYLOOK had its debut in August 2002 in Leipzig and in February 2006 the Igedo Company took over as organizers, later moving the show to Düsseldorf, Germany in July 2006.

Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH added: “Since BODYLOOK moved from Leipzig we have invested substantial funds in the development of this event with the aim of responding to the sector’s requests. Ultimately, the market and its key players were not fully committed to BODYLOOK, the commitment we would have needed to continue planning. Without this commitment, both the commercial and strategic risks could no longer be justified.”

“Sales have shown that women are no longer hiding their breasts under minimiser bras but embracing their assets and using them to their advantage….Throughout the last century the trend for feminine pointy shaped bras experienced a renaissance following times of a toughened economy, marking a return of unabashed femininity as women seek to have more fun with fashion as a form of escapism.”

John Lewis also reports that some of their best “pointy bra” sellers are Fantasie’s Belle range and Triumph’s Doreen bra (both of which can also be found at Figleaves).

Pointy Bras

Personally, I’m not entirely sold on the idea that this is all a result of the recent economic turmoil. I think retro styles in general have been becoming more popular in recent years, so it only follows that more vintage-style silhouettes would also come into popular fashion. The hit television show Mad Men has also definitely done its part to glamorize these classic underpinnings to perhaps a whole new group of shoppers. But whatever the reason, I think we can all agree that it’s a fun silhouette to add to your lingerie drawer, and any trend that helps diversify the lingerie available to us is a good thing!

If you’re interested in trying out this trend but the bras pictured above aren’t pointy enough for you, you may want to consider a bullet bra. Bullet bras are the attention-grabbing, conical bras that you might think of when you conjure up images of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, and other “sweater girls.” You might be able to find authentic vintage bullet bras if you’re an adept second-hand shopper; otherwise, What Katie Did and Secrets in Lace both have good new versions modeled after vintage bras. They both also offer bullet bra pads, which will perfect that pointy silhouette.

Bullet Bras

Do you wear pointy/bullet bras, or do you stick to a more rounded shape?

In the last few weeks in the UK a number of small to medium size wholesale lingerie businesses have bit the dust and no doubt many retailers are hanging on by their finger tips if they have so far survived this recession.

This week news broke that Intimas, the company behind brands such as Charnos and Lepel among others, has gone into administration with 200 jobs threatened here in the UK.

Now for those who don’t follow this sort of stuff – administration means that the company could still survive. A specialist firm or firms will have moved in to see if or how they can save the business. But if a big company such as Intimas does follow some of the earlier victims of the recession then the longer term impact on the lingerie buying public cannot be ignored.

Some might say that the lingerie industry is over crowded with far too many designers, manufacturers and retailers, especially after the last few years when so many new brands and companies have emerged. However, as you might expect, I am not one of those people!

The volume and diversity of our lingerie businesses results in wonderful choice for those who buy lingerie. As businesses go under and products disappear choice will decrease and while in the very long term new businesses will spring up and give you choice again, it may be your favourite brand, designer or shop that has gone for ever.

So the money may be tight but this a call to all you lingerie lovers to support your favourite brand, designer or shop where ever you are and who ever they are. This is not a plea specific to our lingerie shop which is still growing nicely, and long may it continue to do so, despite the recession. But it is a plea on behalf of the lingerie industry as a whole. If you want to have choice and diversity in lingerie then spend a little money on it now – after all there are some great offers about.

More TLP reads on the lingerie business and the recession:

• How is the Lingerie Industry Faring in the Economic Crisis?
• The Ups and Downs of Lingerie

Gill Fernandez – Ever So Sexy
A background in finance and sales but a deep desire to do something more feminine brought Gill into the world of lingerie when she decided to form her own company Crysalis Ltd which trades on line under the name www.ever-so-sexy.com and specialises in the glamorous, pretty and down right sexy stuff..

Read all posts by Gill Fernandez right here!

Be sure to check out this great site today and let us know what you think in our forums.  Happy shopping!

(Lingerie.com is a Bare Necessities site – so you’re buying from a big player in the industry.)

Struggling

• Edition 12 TLP
• Intimas TLP, Offsite articles: 1
• Lepel TLP, Offsite articles: 1
• Charnos TLP, Offsite articles: 1
• Karen Millen TLP, Offsite articles: 2
• Freya TLP, Offsite articles: 3
• Ted Baker TLP, Offsite articles: 4
• Agent Provocateur TLP, Offsite articles: 5
• Victoria’s Secret TLP, Offsite articles: 6
• La Senza TLP, Offsite articles: 7
• Fredericks of Hollywood TLP

Rising

• Ultimo TLP, Offsite articles: 8
• M&S TLP, Offsite articles: 3
• Debenhams TLP, Offsite articles: 9
• Agent Provocateur TLP, Offsite articles: 10
• Be Cheeky TLP, Offsite articles: 11, 12

Ramm ND developed these beer cans, which are interesting enough on their own with an image of people walking toward city buildings. But the real charm is when the can is combined with another identical can – they develop the illusion of a pair of panties, a garter belt, and patterned fishnet stockings! The only problem is…once you drink a beer, the image is lost! I don’t know if, or where, these are available for sale. If I learn anything, I will definitely keep you posted.

“We were delighted the show selected a number of our collections including Cruise, Do Disturb & Baby it’s Cold for their military inspired pin-up photoshoot.”

Arctic explorer Pen Hadow, the first person to make a solo journey to the North Pole, said

“It is an entirely genuine situation. If you can get gossamer thin material and attach it to your ski pole, it is particularly useful for this project because we cannot use the compass as we are so close to magnetic north and it is too cold to use GPS…The knickers have taken up a whole new value operationally”

Navigator Ann Daniels explains,

“Due to our proximity to the Magnetic North Pole, our compasses are currently going haywire. The earth’s strong magnetic field on this part of the ocean means that the compass needle simply spins uselessly in its housing. As such, we’re currently relying on more traditional methods for day-to-day navigation, using the sun (for those few precious hours each day when it graces us with its presence), and using wind direction, as indicated by the panties.”

Mr. Hadow said that the panties were “kindly donated by a supporter of the expedition.” Picture of Ann Daniels with the famous knickers courtesy of photographer Martin Hartley.

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.