Fashion live show

Lane Bryant gets KISSed - Items - Lingerie fashion show - Brief Article

Hoping consumers continue to embrace plus-size apparel as a I bastion of sexiness, Lane Bryant made the savvy choice of retro metal-band KISS to headline its recent intimates fashion show.

KISS' wild image was a perfect fit with the rock-'n'-roll, '80s-influenced styles shown by the retailer. The New York City Roseland Ballroom was wall-to-wall with industry mavens rocking out to the event, which featured the very latest in plus-size skivvies.

The Rock the Runway show came off without a hitch and with spectacular reception, attended by celebrities such as Rosanne Barr.

"I'm thrilled with the way the event went," says Dorrit Bern, chief executive officer of Charming Shoppes, the company that acquired 650-store Lane Bryant in 2001 from Limited Inc. "It couldn't have gone better and is a tremendous vehicle for the brand."

The supermodels of the super-size world who strutted down the runway included Joanie Laurer (who formerly was WWF's Chyna), Sports Illustrated swimsuit stunner turned plus-size model Carre Otis, Mia Tyler (daughter of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and sister of Liv) and that plus-size paragon, Anna Nicole Smith.

The over-the-top show featured lacy corsets, plunging bras, hot pants, slinky nightgowns and femme garter belts in a range of fashion colors from fire engine red to still-sure-fire leopard prints.

KISS flirted with the models as they passed by, accompanied by buff male models such as Marcus Schenkenberg, who recently dated sex symbol Pamela Anderson, and Ralph Lauren model Tyson Beckford.

Backstage, cosmetics guru Bobbi Brown made up the models.

In the tradition of Victoria's Secret, the event was featured in a prime time Web cast. However, the show was not shown live, but was aired the night after the event.

Overall, what was the message from corporate? Big girls rock.