Modern Goddess
When it comes to retail therapy and delicious indulgences, Malinda Williams, the founder of Modern Goddess lingerie, has a sweet spot for pretty lingerie.
“I shop when I’m really happy, or I shop when I’m really depressed,” said the actress, who is best known for her role as the character Tracy “Bird” Van Adams on the television series “Soul Food.”
“Like some people go for shoes, I’m going to go buy panties. I love it. It makes me feel beautiful. Shoes make me feel beautiful too, but I really go for a great piece of lingerie,” she explained.
Designing lingerie was originally planned as a creative outlet-type hobby for Williams, who thought she would give the lingerie to friends as gifts. Williams received so much support from her friends and colleagues about designing a lingerie line that she decided to launch Modern Goddess. “It’s kind of amazing to watch my idea blossom the way it has. It’s leading me now,” Williams said.
The actress admits she has no formal lingerie design training. So to help her with the technical aspects of producing a lingerie line, Williams collaborates with pattern maker Frank Richards, whose experience includes work at BCBG Max Azria and 7 for All Mankind. She is also working with wardrobe stylist Tiffany Hasbourne who consulted on 50 Cent’s clothing line, G-Unit Clothing.
Despite a busy schedule that includes caring for her baby son, Omikaye, and working on an NBC television series called “Windfall,” scheduled to air this summer, Williams works closely with Hasbourne and Richards to translate her creative vision.
“When I set out to do this, the one thing I didn’t want to be was the face behind someone else’s line because then it’s not my contribution. It wasn’t me. I wanted to stay involved as much as humanly possible,” Williams said.
For the debut collection, the new designer chose vibrant red, uplifting yellow, lilac, blue and pink colors and a tie-dye print in forgiving nylon/spandex micromesh and stretch lace fabrics to fit a range of body types.
“I went through this period where I was wearing anything that was a watermelon color or bright yellow because it gave me a very happy feeling. I want people to feel the way I feel when I’m wearing my beautiful lingerie.”
Retail price points range from $15 to $45.
For more information, call (818) 448-9051. —Rhea Cortado
