Designer Interviews: Myriam Girard of Myriam Girard Lingerie

‘Charmante’This month’s designer interview is with Myriam Girard of the eponymous luxury brand, Myriam Girard Lingerie. Working exclusively in fine silk and Chantilly Lace, Myriam Girard brings a modern French perspective to the world of lingerie. In our interview, Myriam discusses her inspiration, what it means to be a French woman designing lingerie, and shares her favorite piece from her own collections.

1) You were one of my Top Lingerie Designers of 2010, and I unashamedly adore your range. What made you get into the lingerie industry and what was your background before then?

I have always loved lingerie, it’s such a personal and emotional garment. I always knew that one day I would have my own lingerie brand, but it took me many years and experiences to get to where I am now. I have worked in many fields, including the entertainment industry (where I organized fashion shows for luxury brands) and finance. These experiences enriched me immensely and gave me the opportunity to gather enough money to start my own venture.

‘Mysteriuse’2) I believe you’re the first French lingerie designer I’ve interviewed, even though you’re currently based in London.. How does being a Frenchwoman influence your designs?

I learned couture from my mother at a very early age and that taught me to make lingerie and nightwear pieces that fit and flatter the feminine frame. My culture influences me at every stage of the design process, from the first drawings to the choice of materials. I cut my nightdresses on the bias like French couture dresses so women can feel comfortable as well as beautiful wearing them.

I am from Lyon in France, which is the silk capital of Europe. Lyon silk weavers created the beautiful outfits of the kings and queens of Europe. Marie-Antoinette, with her extravagant wardrobe, was a big customer of Lyon silks.

I love silk, it’s such an exquisite material to work with and it’s natural so it lets the skin breathe–soft in summer and warm in winter. I also work with delicate French Chantilly lace which is fragile and rare in beauty…an amazing piece of French craftsmanship.

3) What’s the inspiration behind Myriam Girard Lingerie?

Art portraying women in all their splendor and their natural beauty. I love painters such as Fragonard, Boucher, Ingres, Degas or Klimt, they painted women beautifully with all their natural curves. There was no concept of retouching back then! My lingerie is designed for women of all shapes and sizes and to make them look beautiful just the way they are.

Boucher4) There are so many lingerie brands out there…what makes Myriam Girard different?

My lingerie is timeless, elegant and luxurious. I’d like to think that you will cherish it for years to come and that your daughter or granddaughter will find it in your wardrobe one day and will want to wear it too.

5) When you’re envisioning the Myriam Girard woman, what’s the like?

She’s confident and elegant. She knows what suits her and loves understated luxury. And most of all she’s a “bon vivant” (she enjoys the good things in life!).

‘Envoutante’6) Out of all the pieces you’ve designed, which one is your favorite?

I love the Envoutante slip for its bold “crushed berries” color and beautiful Chantilly lace. I custom made that color myself, I wanted a deep sensual color that wouldn’t be the obvious red. It’s sexy and very flattering and the color looks great on all skin types even without make up. Perfect piece to take on a romantic weekend. Envoutante means to bewitch in French!

‘Reveuse’7) As a designer, where do you see the future of lingerie going?

Like the rest of the fashion industry, lingerie should become more ethical and sustainable. I don’t believe in fast produced fashion/lingerie that uses so much water and chemicals to produce cheap pieces. It’s important to control what you make and respect the countries and the people who work for you.

8) And last, but not least, where can we buy your pieces?

You can buy my lingerie online on http://www.myriamgirard.com/, it will come gift-wrapped and with my nice handmade satin lingerie bag.

For all the lingerie addicts, I would like to offer a special 20% Christmas Discount with the code ADDICT20 at checkout. All prices are available in USD, EUR GBP and Tax/VAT will be deducted when shipping outside Europe.

Thanks so much for your time, Myriam! It was a pleasure to interview you.

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Italian Lingerie Company Celebrates Sexist Berlusconi Culture in Terrible Ad

 

Awful

4:03 pm, November 15th | by Amy Tennery

So Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is out — and he’s got many court appearances ahead of him, including some to respond to underage prostitution allegations. Ugly stuff.

But that’s not stopping one Italian lingerie company from bidding farewell to Berlusconi — in the worst way possible.

It’s an ad from underwear purveyor Yamamay, which, naturally, includes a grinning, topless woman. The tagline is “Bye-bye Mr. President!” — a reference to Berlusconi’s recent departure, according to Leggo, a free Italian daily newspaper. The background is a wash of pink sparkles. The model is holding a small, dog in a Santa hat. It’s all supposed to be very cute, I guess.

I understand that there isn’t any “good” way for a lingerie company to memorialize Berlusconi’s tenure — which is probably why Yamamay shouldn’t have done it in the first place. The reference to “Mr. President” (and the fact that the model is blonde) calls Marilyn Monroe and JFK to mind. But where JFK was plagued by saucy rumors of liaisons with Hollywood starlets, Berlusconi faces far more outrageous charges. The ad is trying to make light of the situation, but there is no criticism in it — there’s no don’t let the door hit you on the way out. It reads almost like a celebration of Berlusconi.

But what is there to celebrate? This is a politician who has been investigated for “facilitating child prostitution” and stands accused of allowing the “commercial sexual exploitation of a Moroccan child,” according to a U.S. State Department report released late last month. Berlusconi’s charges aren’t cute — he’s currently facing accusations that he may have had a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old (which makes her underage according to Italian law). Of course, these are still just accusations. But this ad seems to be a tacit endorsement of the sexist culture that Berlusconi has fostered. Are we to expect gals in barely-there getups to start posing in adverts welcoming Dominique Strauss-Kahn back to France?

It’s possible that Yamamay didn’t mean to send this kind of message to Italy’s “Presidente” (the preferred moniker of Berlusconi, which would explain the “Mr. President” reference in the ad). But there’s nothing in the imagery or the words that broaches the seriousness of the charges against him. As Business Insider put it, “it’s probably the kind of goodbye Berlusconi would have endorsed himself.”

But Berlusconi shouldn’t be allowed to orchestrate the tone of his departure — and this company shouldn’t be doing it on his behalf.

TAGS:
lingerie ads berlusconi | silvio berlusconi yamamay | yamamay bye bye mr. president

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