The Cleveland Plain Dealer

PLACES IN STYLE DETAILS
Allure Inside Out
For women who've outgrown the teddy set

It's kind of funny that designer Cathy Watterson lives on a Chagrin Falls street named Wisteria.

Wisteria Lane, of course, is where the fictitious frisky women of "Desperate Housewives" live. The women of the television Wisteria clique are smart and successful, and all but one of them have children. Most of all, the Wisteria Lane women exude that certain middle-aged sensuality that comes with having confidence and being comfortable in one's own skin. In other words, from inside out.

These are the kind of women - real women, not make-believe - Watterson has in mind with Allure Inside Out, her Lounge-wear and sleepwear line for mature women who know that they're still desirable in the bedroom but are a few years and a few pounds beyond skimpy teddies.

"I wanted to offer loungewear that's designed so that you don't have to be 6 feet tall and weigh 100 pounds to look good in it," Watterson says in an interview at her home on Wisteria Drive, where she also has her workroom. "A lot of women can't wear Victoria's Secret, but they aren't ready for granny gowns either. It's hard to find anything in between."

Watterson knows, because her own search for pretty pieces that camouflage problem areas such as upper arms and a soft tummy proved pointless.

"I was looking for sleepwear that's flattering, but not too revealing," she says. "But there didn't seem to be anything flattering or feminine."

Watterson had a background in fashion design, having studied off and on between other careers since college. She recently finished studies at the Virginia Marti College of Art and Design in Lakewood.

Her biggest supporter has been her husband, an international management consultant whom she calls "the prince," because he has been so positive about her company venture.

A few years ago, she set out to create what she had been looking for, with the design motto "sexy at any age" in mind.

Watterson's Allure Inside Out is a line of silk separates that softly cascade over a woman's curves, rather than clinging and constricting. The pieces are made of silk, rather than synthetics because silk breathes instead of holding in heat, and middle-aged women need no explanation of the importance of that.

Watterson's designs, priced from about $75 to $200, have inviting names such as China Moon, Spring Bouquet, Summer Sunrise and Noir Swirl. From the spring collection, China Moon is a medallion print, short-sleeve V-neck white blouse with silk Chinese ball-button closures, worn with either black pants or black shorts. Spring Bouquet, which comes in buttercup yellow or a selection of other soft shades, pairs a comfortable V-neck sleeveless top (some women feel perfectly comfortable going sleeveless) with pants accented with ankle slits.

For resort, there's Summer Sunrise, a mock wrap top with short flutter sleeves paired with capri pants adorned with a delicate ruffle at the bottom. Also from the resort collection, there's Summer Garden, a V-neck tunic hand-painted in vivid colors, with black silk satin side-pleat pants.

The summer and resort Allure Inside Out collections are featured on the Web site www.allureinsideout.com. All of the models are "real" women who range in age from late 30s to early 60s.

One of the models is 40-year-old Debbie Rathbun of Chagrin Falls, a former marketing analyst who has two children, ages 5 and 8.

"I have the China Moon outfit, and I call it luxury loungewear instead of sleepwear, because I have actually worn the outfit to entertain," Rathbun says. "It really flatters your figure if you have kids, or you are a little out of shape. With Victoria's Secret, you have to feel confident about your body before you put it on. With these designs [Allure Inside Out], you feel confident after you put it on."

Franklin & Main boutique in Chagrin Falls sells select Allure Inside Out pieces. Owner Ann Crump says she's learning from her customers that many of the items are worn outside the boudoir as much as in.

Allure Inside Out clothing is made in China. When Watterson went to China to find a manufacturer for her line, she was pleased to find the right place.

"I found a factory in Suzhou that's owned by a woman," she says. "I think it's wonderful to be able to support that."

For Watterson, battered women are a big concern, because a friend was killed by her boyfriend 25 years ago. A portion of the company's profits are donated to survivors of domestic violence, she says. And her Web site addresses domestic violence under the heading "Embrace Peace."

Watterson says thus far Allure Inside Out is getting thumbs up, but not just from her female customers.

"I've had a few husbands who have thanked me for getting their wives out of wearing just sweats around the house," she says.

What: Silk loungewear and sleepwear for mature women.
Where: Select pieces available at Franklin & Main in Chagrin Falls.
Web site: www.allureinsideout.com.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Roxanne Washington
Plain Dealer Reporter

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
rwashington@plaind.com, 216-999-442