Lingerie thief jailed for breaching Singapore lockdown

A serial underwear thief was sentenced to nearly six months in jail Monday for breaching Singapore's strict coronavirus lockdown to sneak into a backyard and steal women's lingerie. 

Lee Chee Kin was on bail on similar charges when he snuck out of home last month and climbed into a backyard on the hunt for more underwear. 

The 39-year-old had stolen underwear from homes on at least 30 occasions since 2018, according to court documents, and police found more than 100 bras during a raid on his home last year.

He admitted last month to breaking lockdown rules by leaving his residence without good reason, and failing to wear a mask outside. 

He also pleaded guilty to theft and criminal trespass, and was sentenced to 23 weeks in jail.

Lee's lawyer told the court that the former part-time actor was a "late bloomer".

A prosecutor previously told the court that Lee "would select bras and panties to steal based on their appearance", and that he used them "for his own sexual gratification." 

Singapore authorities imposed a partial lockdown in early April, with schools and most workplaces told to close, and people only allowed to leave home for essential purposes.

Agence France-Presse

Flagging Victoria's Secret announces new lingerie CEO

NEW YORK -- US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret announced Monday that it had appointed John Mehas, a longstanding fashion businessman as new lingerie CEO, hoping to boost its ailing fortunes.

Mehas will take over in the New Year, replacing Jan Singer, who resigned with the brand under fire for slumping sales, idealized glamazonian femininity and reluctance to put larger and transgender models on the catwalk.

His appointment was announced as Victoria's Secret, the lingerie market leader in the United States, reported third-quarter results with a net loss of $42.8 million compared to net income of $86 million last year. 

"Our number one priority is improving performance," said chairman and chief executive officer Leslie Wexner of parent company L Brands.

"Our new leaders are coming in with a fresh perspective and looking at everything... our marketing, brand positioning, internal talent, real estate portfolio and cost structure," he added.

"I am confident that, under John's leadership, Victoria's Secret Lingerie...will continue to be a powerhouse and will deliver products and experiences that resonate with women around the globe."

Mehas comes to Victoria's Secret from Tory Burch, where he is currently president. He previously led Club Monaco for 13 years as president and CEO. He has also worked at The Gap and Bloomingdales.

Singer had been on the job since September 2016. No reason has been publicly announced for her departure.

Earlier this month, Victoria's Secret marketing director Ed Razek provoked uproar on social media for telling Vogue that there was no need for transgender or plus-size models in this year's fashion show.

"No, I don't think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It's a 42-minute entertainment special," he said.

Razek subsequently issued a public apology. Victoria's Secret hired some of the world's most famous models and filmed their annual fashion show in New York on November 8. It will be aired globally next month. 

In the United States, it provoked ire for its uniform use of slender models at a time when US women feel increasingly empowered by the #MeToo movement and with lingerie brands that promote all shapes and sizes -- such as Rihanna's new Savage X Fenty line -- making inroads.

Heidi Zak, co-CEO of one such rival brand, ThirdLove, published an open letter in The New York Times saying she was "appalled" by Razek's "demeaning comments" in the Vogue interview.

"You market to men, and sell a male fantasy to women," she said.

"Women wear bras in real life as they go to work, breastfeed their children, play sports, care for ailing parents, and serve their country," she wrote.

"Haven't we moved beyond outdated ideas of femininity and gender roles? It's time to stop telling women what makes them sexy -- let us decide."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rihanna's anything-goes lingerie crowns New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK -- Rihanna celebrated women of every shape, size and color in an outre show unveiling her Savage X Fenty lingerie line, bringing New York Fashion Week to a juddering climax on Wednesday.

The Barbadian superstar stepped out in a figure-hugging coffee dress and sunglasses, smiling and waving to the huge crowd that packed into the Brooklyn Naval Yard.

If there was a theme it was anything goes, be any kind of woman, be beautiful however you are, and Rihanna has all your underwear needs covered -- be it tomboy boxers, sexy thongs or nipple-bearing one pieces.

The models danced and writhed on the astro-turf podium, covered in plants, for nearly 30 minutes, their figures casting long shadows when they stepped in and out of nylon bubble tents.

From femme fatale to pregnant women to girl next door lounging in nice soft pajamas, the underwear garments came in every shape, color and size, worn with matching silk gloves up to the elbow.

Supermodel Bella Hadid, in baby blue, towered above some of the shorter women, holding hands with them at the end. Fall/winter 2018, the collection was available to purchase immediately.

Earlier in the evening, Marc Jacobs, the darling of American high fashion, brought the house down 90 minutes late with a dexterous display of 1950s glamour, pastels and ruffles.

'Very coiffed'

His spring 2019 collection had a 1950s and 1960s feel, all pastels and glamour, but the long delay infuriated guests, some of whom walked out. The designer appeared only fleetingly, for a perfunctory bow.

Guest of honor was rap star Nicki Minaj, dressed in a low-cut red dress with over-sized giant ruffled sleeves.

If there was one word for the Marc Jacobs evening dress it was ruffles and flounces, adorning the throat, shoulders and skirts of frocks that were so voluminous they had a movement of their own, made genteel and lady-like with little pastel-colored handbags and dainty heels.



Elle magazine reported that 37 models in the show opted to have their real hair bleached then dyed in an array of pinks, blues, greens and peaches to color coordinate their dresses with their frocks.

"Marc didn't want a 'fun' pastel, he wanted it to have history and for it to look a little vintage," Redken Global Color Creative Director Josh Wood was quoted as saying backstage by the magazine.

Hair stylist Guido Palau said the looks, which included a high, swinging pony-tail, were a nod to women such as Barbra Streisand and to celebrate a time when women made an effort to always look polished.

"A 'finished' woman is something Marc really wanted to emphasize again," Palau told Elle. "It's a very coiffed look."

'Sunny Side Up'

There was 1980s-style power suiting, hats with netting and plenty of the bang on color trend of the season -- bright yellow and pale lemon.

Earlier in the day, Michael Kors kicked off the end of the bi-annual style fest with A-listers Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones front row for a happy collection inspired by the beach.

The 59-year-old designer created a set of bright, colorful art panels by Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Christina Zimpel that evoked the Caribbean or Mediterranean, a stark contrast to misty views of the Brooklyn Bridge through the windows of New York's sprawling Pier 17.

"Global getaway," "Sunny Side Up" and "From me to you -- spread the joy" was how the billionaire Kors summed up the upbeat celebration of color that is bang on the happiness trend for spring 2019.

The catwalk was a riot of print and color, from turquoise to watermelon, persimmon and lemon, to floppy floral hats, a fringed lime green skirt and metallic green pant suit with matching bag.

Pants came in all styles, but most striking were floral and broderie anglaise flares with enormous bell bottoms. For evening, dresses were cut for the beach but designed for soiree in metallics.

Kors put fringes on jackets, skirts, pants and shoulder bags, a trend this season also on display at Longchamp and Coach, and stayed true to his recent M.O of including curve models on the runway.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Victoria's Secret fashion show struts into Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Victoria's Secret brought its racy annual fashion show to Shanghai on Monday night, making its debut in China's growing lingerie market in typically brazen style but with added Chinese flair.

English heartthrob Harry Styles headlined the musical acts as the world's top models strutted in skimpy bras and underwear in Shanghai's Mercedes Benz Arena, in what the US lingerie brand dubs the sexiest show on earth.

The show, now in its 23rd year, has faced past criticism for leaning heavily towards western models, but this year it features a record 55 women from 20 countries.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Triumph recalls over 20,000 bras

TOKYO  - A Japanese lingerie maker is recalling more than 20,000 brassieres after complaints that underwires suddenly poked out, sometimes while women were wearing them.

The Japanese division of lingerie maker Triumph International, which has made a name for itself with concept lingerie such as a solar-powered bra and an "Abenomics" bra that honored Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic revival plan, said they took the move due to fears of injury.

"We are sorry for the bother, but we ask customers to stop using the bras immediately," the company said in a statement, adding that it deeply apologised and would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

The recall applies to roughly 22,000 bras ranging in cost from 5,600 to 6,200 yen($48 to $53)and sold only in Japan, a company spokeswoman said.

There have been no reports of injuries from the defect, which caused the tips of the underwires to protrude from holes in the fabric, sometimes after washing and sometimes while people were wearing them.

"It would be terrible if it happened again and somebody's skin was scratched," she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com