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You are here: Home / Archives for inspire

ask L – "Hoorah for the Bra" book review

02.06.2011 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

hoorah for the bra, bra book, lingerie book, review


While I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology a favorite weekend activity was to browse through the then old and musty shelves of Strand Bookstore for used and rare books on fashion and lingerie. At that time, when I wasn’t busy with a business I also averaged about one book a week… I miss those days! One of my goals for the new year is to start making time for myself and to read again, and also to share some of my favorites since I know a lot of our readers and fans are just as wild about lingerie as me!

So my first review I thought to keep in mind the playfullness of brands and review a fun and playful book, and that is “Hoorah for the Bra – a perky peek at the history of the brassiere”.

If you’re into the nitty gritty advice or laborious historical facts this is not a book for you, instead this is a fun tongue in cheek POP-UP book about the history of bras- yes, you read that right, it’s a Pop-up book! Now imagine my surprise as I perused the shelves at Strand and came across a lingerie title I had never seen before, I saw the little bra hook clasp holding the pages together and a little smile came on my face, and I opened the clasp (gave me one of those moments I think guys go through where they try to open it one-handed and I can’t remember if I succeeded or not) to find the most amusing graphic pages with pop-ups that made cute reference to boobs and brassieres without actually having a set of pop up boobs… well at least not til the next to last page where there is a set of wine glasses over a pair of wonderbra boosted boobs with a little tab that says pull- ok I take the bait, and the pull tab makes the two glasses tilt in and TOAST! *CLINK* I nearly laugh out loud, and reading the line below “Cheers to the Brassiere” – if i had been drinking coffee I would’ve almost snorted out my nose! I am not sure if its intended to be so funny, but there is something so amusing to me about the concept of pop-ups that I adored so much as a child being attached to a book about something most adults blush to talk about!

For nostalgias sake alone I say this book will make you feel like a kid again, the fact that you can interact with it by pulling, turning, and peering into the pop-ups… well no 3D tv, no technological advancement can replace those things that we can touch and feel and hold in our hands, at least in my point of view. I still love the feeling of turning and folding the pages, and even the SMELL of a book with age.

The happy bonus I got from discovering this book at Strand? I realized it was autographed by the author on the inside cover… yeah, pretty sweet if you ask me. So what if its addressed to Rena… or Kena and not me?! I find even more amusement when I read dear Cheree Berry (can we talk about how fun her name is to say out loud in your head?) sign her name below XOOX with two little dots inside the O’s – yes, a little boobie kiss!

So if you’re looking for a fun coffee table book for your lingerie store, a cute little conversation piece for your mantle, or a fun way to introduce your pre-teen to bras I think this is the perfect book for you!

Buy Hoorah for the Bra- only $12 from Strand

Categories // ask L, book reviews, her perspective, inspire Tags // lingerie, reading list

inspire – The rich history of Coney Island

02.05.2011 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

A gritty, beautiful, birthplace of dreams, Coney Island sits in the furthest reaches of Brooklyn on the Atlantic Ocean. Like a Siren, there is something alluring about this small ribbon of sand that has called to New Yorkers since the 1800s. In many ways the rise and fall and rise and fall of Coney Island is a story of the American Dream and the promise of the great city of New York. If you board the N train where it begins in Astoria, the bustling neighborhood in Queens that Layla and I, and Between the Sheets call home, and travel through the heart of Manhattan, across the East River on the Manhattan Bridge, through Gowanus and Sunset Park, through Fort Hamilton and Gravesend to Stillwell Avenue where the rails meet the sand, you have reached Coney Island.

 

luxury, resort, historic, coney island, carnivale, summer

 

Today Coney Island is an odd mix of amusements, arcades, abandoned buildings and vacant lots: home of the annual mermaid parade, a freak show, a baseball stadium, and Nathan’s Famous (home of the annual hot dog eating contest), thrown in for good measure. Still reminders of Coney’s former glory and of the American Dream pulse just beneath the surface.

Between the Sheets is connected to Coney Island in more ways than sharing opposite ends of a subway line. The magic and history of Coney Island is an embodiment of the American dream, elegant, brash, never afraid to reinvent itself in the face of change. Something we here at Between the Sheers aspire to as we’ve set out to build a thriving “made in the USA” business out of the ashes of the economic crash. The choice to set our Spring/Summer 2011 photoshoot at Coney Island was inspired by the magic of Coney’s rich history–tapping into the heart of New York and America.

 

 

An encyclopedia could be written about the history Coney Island. From upscale beach resort in the 1800’s to home of four amusement parks in the early 1900’s (at the time the largest amusement area in the United States).

Beginning after the Civil War Coney Island became a major resort destination as transportation to the beach was built and Manhattanites looked for a vacation spot within a few hours of the City. Luxurious hotels where built on the sandy beaches and millions of visitors packed Coney Island every summer.

Hotels such as the Manhattan Beach, the Oriental, and the Brighton Beach featured lavish ballrooms, hundreds of guest rooms, and were the epitome of luxury.

 

With the building of the railroads that would eventually become today’s subway lines millions thronged to Coney Island. As vacationing New Yorkers flocked to the beach the upscale resort quality of Coney Island transformed to one of amusements, sideshows, and entertainment for the masses. Coney Island in many ways was the birthplace of the American tradition of Amusement parks, thrill rides, and circus entertainment. Coney Island was a playland for New Yorker’s of all ages. On a hot summer day the beaches would be packed so that you could barely see the sand. Like a glittering jewel the amusement parks would light up with thousands of twinkling little lights every night.

Since its glory days in the early 20th century Coney Island has fallen on hard times. The classic beauty of the architecture, the glamour, and the spectacle have declined. All of the original resort hotels have fallen victim to time and redevelopment. The amusements, theaters, and shows that were once a jewels on the ocean have also fallen victim to the wrecking ball. The Cyclone rollercoaster and Wonderwheel are all that remain of this time. They are reminders of the faded glory and of the glamour and opulence that once defined this far-flung Brooklyn community.

 

The BTS photoshoot took place during another time of great transition for Coney Island. Coney’s last great amusement park, Astroland had closed, after operating since the 1960’s. 2010 saw the first season of the new Luna Park amusement park, the first new major amusement park in decades and a re-imagining of one of Coney Island’s golden era parks. A glittering vision of Vegas-style luxury hotels, bigger amusement parks, and luxury condos is now being considered for Coney. Will this return the area to a modern version of its former glory or erase what is left of the beach’s history? Only time will tell.

No matter how Coney Island is reborn the history and vintage glamour will always remain below the surface. This classic Americana was a constant inspiration while we worked to put together our photoshooot. Months after our Coney Island trip we continue to be inspired by the spirit of reinvention and larger-than-life dreams that are part of the fabric of America and Coney Island’s history. These are the values that drive and inspire us as Between the Sheets continues to grow and evolve.

click to see Between the Sheets Collection – Spring/Summer 2011 lookbook shot in Coney Island

Categories // his perspective, inspire, made in the USA Tags // coney island, inspiration, spring summer 11

inspire- art deco advertising

01.27.2011 by btslingerie // Leave a Comment

As members of MOMA here in New York, we often go to see the latest exhibits and on one visit back in late 2010 I saw a series of deco posters that really caught my eye, they were framed along the wall next to some vintage furniture and other curiosities (sorry I cannot remember the name of the exhibit, I wish I had written it down!) and so the idea of applying the deco look to our brand had been stuck in my head for a while. Part of what I love about that period is that reference to things that were grander than life, the way the posters made the subject whatever it may be stand out and prominently juxtaposed against it’s surroundings. I also love the way that they played with color blocking and fonts. I thought I would share some of the posters and inspired graphics side by side…


Categories // ask L, designers, inspire Tags // design, inspiration

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Between the Sheets Inc - purveyors of luxury lingerie, designer loungewear, and luxurious lifestyle products brings you a blog about our brands, collections, and life's simple luxuries.

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