"I was exasperated with current lingerie options, which until Bodyhints were large, cluttered, imposing department stores that were unfocused, poorly merchandised and almost always understaffed," she said.

"I knew there had to be a better way to shop for lingerie and loungewear."

This led to the recent opening of the Bodyhints flagship store in Soho. The store stocks every imaginable type of lingerie from naughty knickers to simple, seamless basics. Some of the current labels they carry include Mystere, Millesia, Beau Bra, James Perse, P. Jamas, Bonsoir, Patricia Fieldwalker, Frou Frou, Hipster G, and - of course -- HankyPanky.

Interior of Bodyhints Retail Store

This isn't the first saucy venture for husband-and-wife team Lauren and Allen Blankenship. They were the original founders of rouze.com, a sexy lifestyle and entertainment website, dubbed the new, cool Playboy. It was bought by Playboy Enterprises early in 2000, where Lauren and Allen worked as Senior Vice Presidents, before leaving to start Bodyhints.

So how has their response been to such a lovely array of undies under one roof? "So far the reaction to the store from new customers and casual browsers has been nothing short of amazing," Laura says. "While the current downtown environment is very challenging, we're doing quite well all things considered. Next on the agenda is a spring 2002 completion of a consumer-centric online store for designer lingerie to be located at www.bodyhints.com. From there, we hope to open a 4000-plus-square-foot Los Angeles location by Fall 2002." Read: it's going well.

Bodyhints
462 West Broadway
between Prince and Houston sts
New York, NY
Tel: 212.777.8677