Frederick's of Hollywood

"Frederick's of Hollywood" redirects here. For the professional wrestler, see Fred Sampson.

"Frederick's" redirects here; not to be confused with Fredericks (disambiguation).

Frederick's of Hollywood

File:Fredericks hollywood logo.png
File:Fredericks03.jpg Frederick's of Hollywood storefront on Hollywood Blvd
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Clothing
Founded	1947 (1947)
Founder	Frederick Mellinger
Headquarters	United States
Products	Lingerie
Parent	Authentic Brands Group
Website	fredericks.com

Frederick's of Hollywood is a lingerie brand originating in the United States, previously operating numerous mall-based retail outlets nationwide. In 2015, the company shut down all 111 retail locations prior to filing for bankruptcy. Subsequently, the brand was purchased by Authentic Brands Group and transitioned into a purely e-commerce platform under FOH Online Corp. Later, in 2018, Naked Brand Group, Inc. took ownership of FOH Online Corp.

History and operations

The company’s inception dates back to 1946 when it was established in a loft on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The headquarters relocated to the West Coast in 1947, and by 1996, Frederick's operated approximately 200 stores across the United States.

Frederick Mellinger founded the enterprise, credited as the creator of the Rising Star push-up bra, the edible panty, and numerous garments known for their sheer fabrics and ease of removal. The product range included bras, panties, corsets, bedroom slippers, various hosiery styles, bridal lingerie, and special occasion undergarments. Its original flagship location was situated within the S. H. Kress and Co. Building on Hollywood Boulevard, a notable landmark in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Previously, this store housed The Lingerie Museum, which included The Celebrity Lingerie Hall of Fame—a successor to its Bra Museum—displaying an assortment of underwear once worn by Hollywood icons. Exhibits featured items such as Madonna’s black pointed-bustier from her music video for Open Your Heart, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s black lace bra and panties from the 1953 film Lili, Ava Gardner’s petticoat from Show Boat, Mae West’s white peignoir used for a 1952 Life magazine photo shoot, Milton Berle’s drag costume, as well as lingerie associated with celebrities such as Cher, Judy Garland, Cybill Shepherd, Belinda Carlisle, Phyllis Diller, Lana Turner, Shirley MacLaine, Tony Curtis, Mary Wilson, Mamie van Doren, the Pointer Sisters, Ethel Merman, Amanda Blake, and Isabel Sanford.

Until the 1980s when it was surpassed by Victoria's Secret, Frederick's of Hollywood held a leading position in the lingerie market.

File:Frederick's star.jpg

Star commemorating Frederick's on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Frederick’s lingerie museum attracted widespread media coverage after being looted. Among the stolen items was Madonna’s black pointed bustier from her Open Your Heart video; despite a $1,000 reward offered by Frederick’s for its return, it remains missing. Madonna donated a replacement garment contingent upon a $10,000 contribution to an organization providing free mammograms to underserved populations. Other pilfered items included Ava Gardner’s petticoat from Show Boat and a push-up bra worn by Katey Sagal in Married... with Children. A remorseful looter returned some of Gardner’s and Sagal’s lingerie to the pastor at nearby Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Hollywood. An Austin newspaper remarked that Blessed Sacrament's priest "may be the only clergyman in America to console someone feeling guilty over stealing celebrity undergarments." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch described this as an "uplifting story that could only unfold in Hollywood."

In 2001, the company sought protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

By 2003 it had exited bankruptcy proceedings and established its headquarters in Los Angeles.

In 2006 Frederick's merged with Movie Star—a sleepwear manufacturer based in New York City—and relocated its headquarters to New York.

After nearly six decades at its original site, in September 2005 the flagship store moved to the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

In 2008 the company rebranded as Frederick's of Hollywood Group Inc. It was publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange under ticker symbol FOHL.

In May 2014 Harbinger Group alongside other investors took the company private. The corporate headquarters remained located in New York City.

Following store closures in 2015 and another Chapter 11 filing, Authentic Brands Group acquired both its brand rights and online business operations. The company announced plans to operate exclusively online with potential intentions to develop products for department stores and other retail channels.

In late 2018 Naked Brand Group Inc. took over management of Frederick's online business.

Several pieces worn by iconic pin-up model Bettie Page during the 1950s were sourced from Frederick's of Hollywood.

External links

• The History of Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie—Internet Archive
• Frederick's of Hollywood 1977 Catalog—Internet Archive