Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Baker Masand
Hi Stacy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been someone who’s had trouble identifying myself as one thing, one role, one career path, one way of being. It’s always felt limiting to be put into a box of characteristics or experiences or self-expressions. There is so much freedom when we allow ourselves to play, be curious, try new things. Fashion, of course, is the one of the most universal ways of showing what we feel in a moment. I began tying this POV to lingerie when taking feminine movement classes and pole dancing. I began exploring how different ways of tying, tearing, layering and just playing with lingerie and fashion allowed me to show up differently. I discovered so much thrill in embracing unpredictability, pushing different emotions, letting my body move in ways that stretched me in new directions. Life became a lot more interesting when I let myself explore and experiment. With Lunatic Femme, I want to create erotic lingerie that morphs, layers and plays with you so you live a richer, juicier life in every moment. I wanted to challenge the notion of what “sexy” is and help women ignite what’s already in them by being unapologetically curious, playful and complex. I started the brand during the pandemic when many of us were rethinking who we are, what we do and what our purpose is. And I thought, what if the joy is never knowing and simply leaning into the thrill ride of not being put into a box.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say that creating a fashion brand has been a smooth road, but I’m fortunate because my background is in building beauty brands so I was somewhat prepared for the pace and the workload. What I wasn’t prepared for was the stress and mental load that being a founder requires every day. I had to learn about patience (haven’t mastered that one yet), acting instead of freezing when you’re faced with a difficult decision, pivoting when something doesn’t work out exactly as planned. Being a founder is a dance and occasionally you’ll have some missteps but you have to keep moving forward and remembering to celebrate every single win along the way. We recently had one of those situations where everything you want to happen all happens at once… in a span of about 48 hours we had a mega global influencer request a panty for super-expedited delivery to a Paris hotel for an event, a Tony Awards presenter wanted lingerie next-day for fittings in LA and one of our favorite NYC-based musicians asked for a few pieces for a music video — our small team of 3 (in very different time zones) was definitely dancing the start-up dance. That said, there’s so much joy and richness in being in flow together with your team, working with other creators to ignite their vision and experiences.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We make erotic high fashion, luxury lingerie pieces that can be worn at home or out to play. Our styles are extremely small-batched and made in NYC with innovation, exploration and experimentation as their True North. Making locally in limited-edition quantities lets us have more control over what we make and pivot when we get requests for something new or want to address a need we see in our community. All of our pieces are intentionally designed to mix and match so you can be as curious and playful as you like in and out of the bedroom. For example, we created a little hidden pocket in one of our bras and bodysuits so you can stash a little secret for the night (lube, a condom, lipstick…). Another example is our multiway pieces like our bustier with zip-off cups so you can wear it as a bustier or corset depending on your mood — or you can start the night in a bustier and slowly zip off the cups when you get home. Every design is also luxuriously made to keep your body ignited in every moment. For instance, our kimono has two layers of silk, with the inner lining facing your skin so you’re caressed with softness every time you wear. It’s that attention to detail and play that separates us. We want to create fashion that ensures you’re never bored whether or not you leave the house.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
So many people deserve credit — from friends who’ve jumped in to help me with everything from PR, social media, logos and more to those who’ve helped work pop-ups, create events, ship boxes, stuff gift bags or just remind me who I am and how I want to show up in life. It’s great to have a hype crew and it’s also amazing to have people who will keep you grounded, sane and on your path. I’m lucky enough to have both. Not to mention, we have an amazing production and design team who constantly work miracles. I look back on all that Lunatic Femme has become and see the impact of so many people I love who have loved me back. And of course, I’m grateful to all of our customers who showed a growing brand their love and loyalty. So many people have championed us and I’m forever grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lunaticfemme.com/
- Instagram: @lunatic_femme
Image Credits
photographer: @kelsey_fugere
models: @moestuck @rhiyan @theetr1n1ty
