Penelope and Monica Cruz to Launch Lingerie Line with Agent Provocateur

In a bid to extend its appeal beyond the 1%, superluxe lingerie brand Agent Provocateur has announced the creation of L’Agent, its first diffusion line, in partnership with sisters Penelope and Monica Cruz. More than a dozen styles are anticipated, each containing pieces such as bras, underwear and corsets.

Intended to be a standalone collection, L’Agent will be designed independently from the main line and sold at various retailers worldwide, though not in Agent Provocateur’s own stores or website (better not to cannibalize its own sales, we assume). Slated to launch on Aug. 1, the diffusion line’s price point will be significantly lower than Agent Provocateur’s—a bra will run you $300 and a corset $1190 in the brand’s stores, while the average price of an item from L’Agent is $64.

(MORE: Target Announces Prabal Gurung Collection)

Agent Provocateur was founded in 1994 by Joe Corre, the son of British designer Vivienne Westwood and punk artist Malcolm McLaren, along with Corre’s then-wife Serena Rees. The brand has always embodied an aspirational decadence and sensuality, but now it seems to have set its sights on a slightly younger, more cost-conscious customer as well.

The company is confidently banking on sultry sexpot Penelope Cruz and her sister Monica to be the faces of L’Agent, in addition to their behind-the-scenes involvement. The CEO of Agent Provocateur, Garry Hogarth, told WWD that he envisioned their partnership lasting a minimum of five years.

“It is so exciting for me and Monica to embark on this new adventure. We have always been huge fans of Agent Provocateur and both of us are very much looking forward to this long-term collaboration,” Penelope told WWD.

Monica Cruz also appears in the Agent Provocateur’s latest ad campaign, though this sort of partnership is nothing new to the duo: previously, Monica and Penelope have collaborated with Spanish retailer Mango, as well as handbag designer Samantha Thavasa.

If L’Agent can make the average woman feel as sexy as either of these sisters, Agent Provocateur should have quite the moneymaker on its hands.

MORE: Chanel Debuts Brad Pitt Perfume Campaign

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Is This Video About Sexy Halloween Costumes Satire Or Slut-Shaming?

A video has been making the viral Internet rounds that chides women (in a catchy way!) not to dress like slutty tramps on Halloween.

In it, the two members of humor rap duo Emotistyle tell women they don’t have to be naked, then run through various classier options: a real cat, a real nurse, a cop, Bill Cosby, Louis CK, or even The Color Purple, starring Oprah Winfrey. Some of their lines are funny in a cheesy sort of way (“it’s called Halloween, not hard weenie”), some of their costumes are rather creative, and their deconstruction of the sexy cat thing is spot on (why would you want to get sexual with your pet?). But something about it rubs me the wrong way.

In our haste to mock the (admittedly ridiculous) “sexy ____” tradition, do we really need to make women who do like to dress sexy on Halloween feel like shit about themselves? After all, it’s entirely possible to mock the trend in a clever way without shouting “keep your tits in!” I mean, how is that any different from the Toronto cops telling women to stop dressing like sluts to avoid the wrong kind of attention? I don’t know how many times I need to say this, but it’s not “feminist” to shit on another woman for choosing to dress sexier than you do.

Or maybe I’m just so tired of slut-shaming that I’m overreacting to this. What do you think?

(Via Jezebel)

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