Halle Berry gets intimate with new lingerie line

When it comes to looking and feeling sexy, who better to turn to for tips than award-winning screen star Halle Berry?

The actress donned a new hat recently as curator of the French lingerie brand, Scandale Paris, which will make its Canadian debut in mid-August at La Vie en Rose locations across Canada and online.

“What I love about the brand is its timeless, sophisticated style and how well it is made,” said Berry in a recent interview with Postmedia.

“When I first tried on one of the bras from the collection, it made me feel sexy. And that’s what I think of when I think of the Parisian woman, the Scandale woman – confident, feminine and beautiful.”

While Scandale Paris was founded in 1932, Berry now co-owns the brand and serves as creative director. She first launched the collection in the U.S. last fall.

When you’re feeling a bit scandalous yourself and want to add some Parisian chic to show off, Berry says all you have to do is reach into your intimates drawer.

“Wearing lingerie that is both feminine and comfortable makes me feel incredibly sexy and confident,” she said, adding “I believe that what you put under your clothes is the first step to making yourself feel good about yourself and truly feeling sexy.”

The collection has five basic bra styles from push-up to bandeau. And, in case you were wondering, Berry’s favourite piece is the Dream Bra, a full coverage T-shirt style, which she describes as “sexy and feminine, but also comfortable and functional at the same time.”

When looking for new lingerie, it’s important to keep fit in mind and do as the French women do – update, update, update.

“I have learned that French women are always updating their lingerie, and if they were to take off their clothes, they would still be fabulous under there,” said Berry.

“There’s a reason that women like to wear sexy lingerie: It empowers us and makes us feel stylish and sexy.”

With the collection starting anew in Canada, Berry, who stars in the new sci-fi television show Extant, says the collection is made with a broad range of different women in mind, but is focused on making pieces that are well-made and affordable.

As for the future of Scandale Paris, Berry says expect luxury: “Eventually I can see expanding the brand with a black label that is more high-end, but our goal in launching the brand has always been to bring sexy, affordable lingerie to the every woman.”

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Victoria’s Secret is missing out on a multibillion dollar opportunity

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Victoria’s Secret is the most powerful lingerie brand in the world, controlling an estimated 35% of the market. 

But the brand could easily drive sales by offering plus sizes. 

The plus-size market is worth $9 billion, IBIS World reported in July. Yet, like many other retailers who are missing out on this opportunity, Victoria’s Secret doesn’t offer larger sizes. 

Thousands of people have signed petitions in recent months for Victoria’s Secret to offer larger sizes.

The largest panty size it offers is XL, or equivalent to a size 16. The fashion industry defines plus-size clothing as sizes 12 to 24, though many retailers offer up to a size 28 to meet demand. 

Bra sizes are inconsistent. Some styles are offered up to a D, while others go up to a DDD. 

Still, many women feel they don’t have a good selection at Victoria’s Secret. 

The author of one petition, Dana Drew, says she loves her California Victoria’s Secret store so much that she has a credit card there. 

She can’t, however, buy lingerie there.

“My money and my credit are good enough for them, but the fact that I can only buy items like perfume, lotion, and body spray sends the message that my body is not,” Drew says. “Every year I watch the Angel fashion show and would love to purchase the items I see on my screen but can’t because Victoria’s Secret doesn’t sell plus sizes.”

Victoria’s Secret hires so-called “angels” to be its namesake models (the brand recently hired 10 new stunning women).

These women are known for their svelte physiques. 

Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

But the brand might need to consider offering more diverse body types on the runway, Jeetendr Sehdev, professor of marketing at the University of Southern California, told Business Insider. 

“At one stage, Victoria’s Secret had a very fresh, new perspective,” Sehdev said. “Women were very much aware that this is a media ideal of beauty, and they bought into it to a set degree.”

Plus-size model Brittany Cordts launched a petition asking Victoria’s Secret to hire bigger models.

Cordts, who is a size 14, said she was upset after watching the runway show and seeing small models — especially since the store sells clothing beyond a size 0.

“My petition is to encourage them to send models [that are the same size as the lingerie] that they currently offer  … 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14— just so there’s diversity, so its not all size zero and two,” she said. “If they extend their sizes in the future,great, but right now I’d like to focus on stopping that negative image that they send to all these women and teens.”

Further, Cordts told Business Insider she believes Victoria’s Secret has a unique opportunity because of its influence. 

“There are all these clients that offer plus size and other lingerie brands,” Cordts said. “Victoria’s Secret is the number one retailer of lingerie in America, and they reach tens of millions of women and teens with their show, and those other brands don’t have the reach and impact that Victoria’s Secret does.”

Victoria’s Secret didn’t respond to a request for comment. 

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