There is no #fillmfriday post today because of National Intimate Apparel Market Week but there will be a special film photography update tomorrow. Film shooters, you don’t want to miss it. I think you will be amused…
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
If your wearing lingerie that makes you feel glamorous, you’re halfway there to turning heads.—Elle Macpherson
Intimate Apparel Market Week is a time when fashion industry leaders get together and exchange information and ideas about this vital sector of the industry. The Underfashion Club sponsors Intimate Apparel Market Week four times a year during the first week of February, May, August, and November. This nonprofit organization was formed in 1958 as the Corset and Brassiere Women’s Club, Inc but it was changed to the Underfashion Club in1963.
When it comes to fashion, intimate apparel is one of the fastest-growing fashion markets in the world. In 2021, the global industry generated nearly $85 billion. At its current growth rate, the market is expected to reach over $325 billion by 2025.
Women account for two-thirds of the total market share with individuals over 36 being the majority of intimate apparel buyers. Of all the regions in the world, people in Asia-Pacific are some of the top consumers of intimate apparel.
The most popular types of intimate apparel include bras, underpants, sleepwear, shapewear and even thermal wear.
How To Observe #IntimateApparelMarketWeek: 45% of women – that’s a big number – have not received lingerie from their partner but would like to. So, If you’re a man, buy some new intimate apparel for your significant other. 95% of women associate receiving lingerie from their partner with a positive experience. Attend a fashion show in your area. Learn about the intriguing history of lingerie. For example, Lady Duff Gordon (1863-1935) actively encouraged women to ditch corsets in favor of comfortable lingerie. She also famously survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. You can also read the history of intimate apparel, specially see-through lingerie here on this blog.
How we’re going to observe Intimate Apparel Week: During this week I’ve been featuring a different glamour image of some of the best models I’ve worked with (wearing intimate apparel) in the past several years along with some behind-the-scenes images and maybe even a video of the shoot on my YouTube channel. Images of beautiful women wearing lingerie has always been a part of this blog and as long as I can find models will be continue to be so.
About the Model: Joy was a referral from another model who I had worked with many times and she was, indeed “a joy to photograph.” We only had two shoots together, the first was for her portfolio, the second was for fun and, not surprisingly, these are the ones that produced the kinds of images I liked best. Later on, Joy moved almost 200 miles away from Daisy Hill—one way—but late last year she contacted me about working again with her sometime this year—my fingers are crossed that it happen.
How I Made this Portrait: I photographed Joy in my home studio using an almost identical pose that I did with Scarlet Ana in our first shoot together seven years ago. I loved that photo.* Too bad nobody else did. My wife hated it; my pal Cliff Lawson hated it. Recently during one of our monthly coffee/tea meetings, I showed that image of Scarlet Ana to my pal Barry Staver and he really loved it making me feel somewhat vindicated. Listen kiddies: If you like the photo, that’s all that matters.
I photographed Joy with a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and G Vario 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 34mm. Lighting was from my studio’s normal contingent of Paul C Buff lighting: with two DigiBee 800’s and a limited edition Purple Haze Alien Bee B800 monolight. I didn’t make a note or do a photograph of the lighting setup, so my apologies.
Special Note: I’m searching for women who would be interested in posing in lingerie for photographs to be used in this blog as well as my private glamour workshop, for which they will receive a percentage of the fees collected. After signing a simple model release, they will receive a choice of a CD or flash drive containing all the approx 200 photographs that we’ll make during a session to take home the day of the shoot. The model will also receive full rights to use the images however they like. If you’re interested, click CONTACT and let’s talk.
*I regret that I can’t post that particular image of Scarlet Ana here, at least without heavily censoring it, which I am loathe to do. I hope that at some time in the future to have a portfolio website where I can feature those kinds of images. Right now I am talking to my webmaster about cheating just such a website and when, and if, this comes to pass I will be sure to let you know.
If you enjoyed today’s blog post and would like to buy Joe a cup of Earl Grey tea ($2.50), click here. And if you do, thanks so much.
My book Joe Farace’s Glamour Photography is full of tips, tools and techniques for glamour and boudoir photography with new copies available from Amazon for $33.73, as I write this. Used copies start at around twenty-three bucks and the Kindle version is only $19.99 for those who prefer a digital format.