Top 10 Lingerie / Underwear Brands

Just a bit a lingerie news to darken an already dreary Friday in NYC:

According to WWD, 2008 retail sales are really hurting long established intimates brands especially those distributed by department stores.

"Battered by consolidation, depleted margins and a glut of inventory, department stores have increasingly given smaller space in innerwear departments to national bra brands, many of which are promoted day in, day out, and have a generic look."

As a result most are cutting advertising, marketing and merchandising budgets drastically. Heavy hitters like Victoria Secret are still doing OK (formaldehyde bras notwithstanding) due to the teen focused PINK lines and international expansion.

Here are the top 10 Intimate Apparel lines by sales in the US

1. Hanes
2. Victoria's Secret
3. Fruit of the Loom
4. Playtex
5. Jockey
6. Bali
7. Joe Boxer
8. Maidenform
9. Vanity Fair
10. Calvin Klein Underwear

If you are anything like me , you looked at the above list and shook your head. Joe Boxer, Really???!!! Is the entire Unites States in 8th grade? Fruit of the Who? Well, I never...

Where does this list and this economy leave grown ups who prefer silk to rayon and sensual glamour to pink cheetah prints?

Don't worry ladies, I will not forsake you. You still deserve the best even if you now must pay less for it. No need to go to the dark side (read Hanes and ugly nude bras). The pictured Dechelles bra and panty set from Brazil (all silk and lace) retails for less than $65. It does not come in a pack of 3 and it shouldn't...

All is not lost.

Soon,

Dames and Broads

Gorgeous and Affordable imported bras and panties

Jan 2009

FORWARD!!!

"Courage doesn't always shout. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, "I will try again tomorrow."--- UNKNOWN


So traveling to Brazil to search for a lingerie manufacturer did not produce the results I thought it would... After scouring the city for 4 long, rainy days, I did not find anyone who was willing to work with me, the US dollar and my size Ds.

I have to admit I felt tired, drained and defeated. I was ready to throw in the towel and return to my normal life and hideous nude bras.

But my girl, Monica, told me that if I am going to make it, I have to be ready to adapt. The point was to bring to market affordable, wearable, but sexy bras and panties and by god, wild horses could not keep me from it... After all, they say evil triumphs when good women do nothing...

The Brazilian trade show showed me that there actually are many high quality yet cost conscious lines that we Americans have been deprived of simply because of our geography. The problem is that only a few pieces can actually be worn underneath clothes. In fact, some of the sets made me wonder if Brazilian women ever put on anything at all over these elaborate devices. No wonder thousands of men endure 10 hours in coach just to lay eyes on these creatures...

But every once in awhile I would stumble across a miracle (like the one pictured). Pretty little things that could actually be worn by mere mortals. I wondered if there were similar products in other parts of the world. Then I wondered, would I would be willing to traipse all over the globe to bring these items to American women? Yes, yes I will.
The saga continues...

Dames and Broads Version 2.0