photography by Caroline Goddard
modeling by Siedah Quirk and Shannon Els

On a crisp, beautiful, winter day I met friend and talented lingerie designer Bess Turner, of Rosa De Rosier in Rockland, Maine. This coastal town was the perfect meeting point between Bess’s studio on Deer Isle and mine tucked away in Portland. Over candles and vinyl gently spinning, we began pouring over silhouettes, favorite artists, materials, and sketched into the evening. Our collaboration began.

detail from Birth of Venus. Botticelli, 1485

silk and lace bra by Warner’s, United States c. 1920’s. archived at the Underpinnings Museum

silk floral applique bra by Maryvon, c. 1930s, France. archived at the Underpinnings Museum.

Naturally we were both drawn to elements of the sea, scallop shells, a palette of deep blue water, shimmering pearls, and silhouettes reminiscent of the thirties and forties.

sketches drawn over photocopy of “Triangles Plus One”, 1928 by Imogen Cunningham

sketches drawn over photocopy of “Nude on Basalt Rock”, 1955 by Fritz Henle

sketches drawn over photocopy of pencil drawing of Helga Testorf, 1977 by Andrew Wyeth

I sketched on photocopies of work by Imogen Cunningham, Fritz Henle, and Andrew Wyeth (hopefully they don’t mind…) visualizing small changes in our design that Bess then brought to life in her studio.

I am filled with gratitude for Bess’s expertise, kindness, and endless enthusiasm. On this note, I introduce to you… lingerie by ENO and Rosa De Rosier.