*I Love Their Shoes, Myself

Before WWII, American lingerie was largely utilitarian...and almost never anything but white. In fact, a young man working for a mail-order company was fired for suggesting they sell black undergarments.

The young man, Frederick Mellinger, joined the Army and was sent overseas during the war. Mellinger happened to notice French lingerie was more colorful and racy, and his fellow soldiers seemed to enjoy it.

When Mellinger left the Army, he opened a retail shop in Manhattan. He had trouble getting his "pornographic" ads into the newspapers. Shortly thereafter, he decided to move to less-conservative Hollywood, where he thought he would meet with more acceptance.

Frederick's of Hollywood was born.

Posted by Jennifer at December 15, 2004 05:02 PM

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