Twitter storms, cultural underwear and Easter lingerie

Not cool with Cindy

So … that picture of Cindy Crawford. Let’s start with the facts: she didn’t release it herself, it was leaked; it wasn’t taken this year, but two years ago; it doesn’t mean she’s cool about having it circulated and she hasn’t taken any part in the debate. What debate? Well, when the photo appeared on Twitter it was seen as a shining example of ‘real’ women and a clarion call for the older woman to accept her body as it is. All kinds of celebs weighed in to support and celebrate Crawford’s honesty and beauty.

Then, when it became clear that the photo had been used without her permission, the discussion moved rapidly and uncomfortably to other questions - how should we respond to leaked photos, what is the balance between reducing the unrealistic standards that many women feel compelled to live up to and maintaining everybody’s right to control their own image in public? Cindy Crawford’s picture might have been gorgeous, realistic and appealing, but the fact that she hadn’t chosen to publish it led to an unpleasant sensation that we’ve peeked into somebody else’s private life without their permission. And for us, that means not recirculating the photo - so instead we’ve chosen to feature a picture that we know is untouched and was released by the gorgeous and very body-confident Jamie Lee Curtis herself. We think it’s a stunning shot of a woman who loves her body.

Culturally appropriate underwear - lady in red and the Year of the Geep!

Is it a goat or a sheep? The Chinese don’t distinguish between the two, just as they don’t differentiate rats and mice, so it’s a goat-sheep year. It’s the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac. which are, in order: Rat/Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog Pig.  The lucky colours for year of the Geep are reds, browns and purples, and because red is a lucky colour in many Asian cultures, red undies are seeing a buying bonanza this February!

In fact, across Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, red lingerie sales are ten times higher at the lunar new year than through the rest of the year and with red being a double-lucky in the year of the Geep, and Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day falling in the same month in 2015, lingerie manufacturers were flat out from November, getting stockpiles of undies ready for this month!

Easter winners

But if you’ve had enough of red, we’re on it! Our couldn’t-be-cuter Shirley of Hollywood bunny outfit is smart in black and white, and tempting with its totally touchable fur trim. Or if you’re hankering after something spring-like and pastel, the Jane Woolrich satin robe is floaty, feminine and very pretty - we love the peach shade, which is flattering to all skin tones.