Recently Dirt Cheap Beauty had the pleasure speaking of with Margaret Shrum, 'Lingerie Goddess' and expert from Manhattan who specializes in teaching women how to embrace their sensuality from the inside out. Shrum has just launched 'The Lingerie Diet' which is compassionate lingerie consulting and shopping program. Shrum has worked for 20 years in boudoir high- fashion with labels such as Prada, La Perla, and Donna Karan. She has also styled and fit lingerie for numerous celebrity clients including Madonna, Kate Moss, and Nicole Kidman. Dirt Cheap Beauty had the honor of asking Shrum some questions about the fundamentals of shopping for lingerie, and the secrets behind her profession.
So what is a fine lingerie expert?
A fine lingerie expert is a person who understands lingerie fit, style, fashion and how lingerie can enhance the unique needs and desires of each woman she works with. Understanding lingerie is much more complex than clothing because it requires a keen eye, a comfort of the female form and knowledge about intimate apparel that can only be learned over time. Finding a selection of styles that fit a woman's body and compliment her style is like putting a three dimensional puzzle together. It requires the empathy of a good therapist and the confidence of a celebrity to hold space and stand for the woman you are supporting.
What is The Lingerie Diet?
In the simplest terms, The Lingerie Diet is a means for a real transformation. It is a way for you to rediscover your innate sensuality, glamour and beauty.
I have been working in fashion, particularly “boudoir fashion,” for over two decades. My unique combination of life coaching/lingerie consulting—what I call The Lingerie Diet has been transforming the lives of busy New Yorkers for the past few years. Now I am bringing my means of transformation to women everywhere through my online membership site called ‘The Circle’, which is a huge value for women on a budget. You can get access to our exclusive 30 Day Lingerie Diet Challenge for only $27 a month vs. the $250 per hour that my clients pay for one-on-one personal shopping.
How do you take a lingerie wardrobe from good to great?
First, I think you have to take the time to assess what you own and make some decisions about how it looks on you. Does it still fit? Does it look great on you? Do you love it? Once you sort out what you still love from the rest, you have to purge the pieces that don't work for you anymore.
The next step is to take a look at the quality of the lingerie you own and see if it matches the quality of your clothing and your style.
Finally, you create a plan from a list of what's missing from your lingerie wardrobe making sure to include some truly beautiful pieces, not just the practical ones. You should make the decision to go up at least one notch to the higher quality brands.
The end result for all of your efforts is that you feel amazing and worthy of the beautiful lingerie wardrobe that you created for yourself.
How do you think women perceive the word 'lingerie'?
Lingerie is a word that brings up a lot of highly sexualized images and ideas. Most women don't have the right information about lingerie and the lingerie possibilities that exist. Some women don't feel worthy to wear beautiful lingerie; it's just not something they think about.
What women seem to have a hard time grasping is the idea that fine lingerie can be a practical investment. This is true not only because lingerie is functional, but because quality lingerie can lift one’s spirits and self-esteem. Once a woman begins to live her life on par with the quality of fine lingerie she wears, her confidence goes through the roof.
I try to teach women about valuing themselves when it comes to purchasing lingerie. Sure you can buy a 6 pack of Hanes but you can't compare that to the way you feel if you invest in 6 lingerie sets from La Perla. Today, so many high quality brands are affordable for all budgets. If La Perla is too much of a stretch, there are plenty of lovely affordable alternatives. Also, fine lingerie goes on sale twice a year, sometimes to 70% off! Mark your calendars for January and June and save your money to splurge!
How do you know a particular piece of lingerie is right for a woman?
To begin with, it has to fit properly. Studies have shown that about 80% of women wear improperly sized bras. How a woman feels when she looks at her reflection also speaks volumes. Does it play up her assets and flatter her figure? Does it match her personal style and is it age appropriate? Is it the best quality that she can afford within her budget? Other than that, after a while working with as many clients as I have, you develop a sense for when a woman feels good in certain styles. The obvious signs are that her face lights up, she smiles, and she feels playful.
So what advice would you give a woman who wants to work with you but can't get to Manhattan?
Just because you can't work with me in person at this time, doesn't mean that you can't begin your journey. I describe that journey as woman's 'lingerie rite of passage' which is when she first learns about proper lingerie, and second, transcends beyond her natural resistance to accepting the higher level of self-esteem to appropriately match the fine lingerie she adorns. It is exactly this reason that I created an affordable online membership site called 'The Lingerie Diet's Circle Membership'. It's the first ever exclusive lingerie education and empowerment site for woman. Now women everywhere can get access to me as a member. Find out more by visiting: http://thelingeriediet.com/the-circle-membership
