Lingerie to die for

The man behind modern lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret did not imagine that the business would become a global brand.

Leslie Wexner, the founder of The Limited, bought Victoria’s Secret – then a small chain in San Francisco more than three decades ago. By that time, the small company was headed into bankruptcy.

In the past, American women had been wearing popular brands such as Jockey, Fruit of the Loom and Hanes. However, with the emergence of television and fashion shows, Victoria’s Secret products have made its way in the medium and eventually in the global lingerie industry.

The company earned nearly $11 billion last year. Retail experts say that the lingerie giant has made department stores become more aggressive in promoting the products because of its high quality and reasonable pricing.

Wexner, now 73 years of age, continues to help the community by helping out. In the 90’s he gave more than $250 million to create the Ohio Higher Education Trust and other philanthropic activities.

Jacqueline Gold, the owner of lingerie retailer Ann Summers and Knickerbox, got married four months after losing her baby boy due to a terminal brain disease.
The 49-year old tycoon married City trader, 33-year old Dan Cunningham, at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace.

The grand celebration was attended by Lord Jeffrey Archer and wife Mary, Nancy Dell’Olio, Junior Apprentice star Karren Brady, Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati, EastEnders actor Sid Owen and television presenter Sian Lloyd.

Among the noted performers in the ceremony were X Factor’s Danyl Johnson and soul singer Beverley Knight.

The couple suffered tragedy a few months ago when their young son Alfie, the twin brother of their daughter Scarlett, died last January. He was eight months old and was treated at the Children’s Trust, a home in Surrey that assists young children with complex diseases.

Gold said that the past year was bittersweet for them but added that the tragedy brought their family closer together.

A lingerie store in Texas grabbed headlines in the local scene after authorities required the establishment owners to secure a food permit in order to continue with the operations.

According to reports, the store Shades of Love owned by Rosemary Benitez has been required to secure such permit because aside from selling modern lingerie, the store also offers edible-type underwear.

Benitez claims that the permit is not necessary and expensive on her end because she needs to shell out about $230 a year, not to mention the announced and unannounced visits from the health department for inspections.

In an interview, the owner said that the edible items are novelty items and not something that a customer takes, sit down and actually eat at the establishment.

Sanitarian Services Manager Stephen Berschewski defended their decision saying that establishments selling edible substances have to secure the permit plus they want to trace where the items were sold should there be a product recall.