The Cleveland Women's Journal
August/September 2007
Not Your Mother's Nightwear

A 35 year deferred dream has a local woman, Cathy Watterson, hoping to join the ranks of the giants of the apparel industry to reach baby boomers like herself. When Watterson started to look for sleepwear that was flattering and romantic, without baring more skin than she cared to show, she became convinced that it wasn’t readily available.

Looking for nightwear with sleeves led to either t-shirts and sweatpants or granny gowns. She did not want to look like her daughters or her mother, nor did she have the ideal hour-glass figure for the slim fit clothes offered by national brands. Large department stores offered many designers who seemed to ignore the baby boomers body and need for breathable fabric. She found herself buried in a sea of polyester and nylon. Watterson’s marketing research found other women also shared her frustration in finding suitable and appealing sleepwear. Not only was it hard to find sexy sleepwear with sleeves and coverage, but it was next to impossible to find it in natural fibers.

Of the natural fibers, she found pure silk offered the most versatile comfort in hot and cold temperatures. It can absorb perspiration and oil from the skin, and yet shed dirt easily. That’s why she followed the Silk Road to China, to find the best in the world. With the luxury appeal of silk, the comfort of designs for the mature figure, and the advantages of traveling light, she is ready to bet that there are other women who share her appreciation of classy and sassy “dreamwear.”

Her Allure Inside Out™ brand is building awareness, and is already available in unique shops from Palo Alto to Hilton Head, S.C. She has also appeared on Channel 3’s, Good Company, to talk about her concept and showcase some of her designs. Last year she became a member of Ladies Who Launch, national group of like minded passionate women entrepreneurs. www.ladieswholaunch.com/launchpad-read.cfm/launchpadid/2308

Looking to grow older with wit and style, she says Allure Inside Out™ is more than a style; it’s an attitude. Testimonials include “Every man should see and buy your designs for their spouse or significant other, they’ll be doing both of them a favor!” and a mastectomy survivor “I enjoy wearing your sleepwear as once again I can and do feel sexy, not only for myself but also for my husband.” To contact the office and to learn more call 440-543-2514 or go to www.AllureInsideOut.com.

BIO
A Cleveland area resident since 1971, Cathy Watterson married her “prince” nineteen years ago after twelve years as a single mom. They have a combined family of five adult children and two grandsons. After they became empty nesters, Cathy returned to college to hone her interior design skills into the fashion career she had long ago shelved, while raising a family. Now she is ready to tackle the high stakes world of fashion from Cleveland, as she develops a network of boutiques to market her designs. At age 55 she launched the business. Quick to give credit to her supporters, like her husband, an international business consultant, and her family, as well as her team of professionals, including her SCORE mentors, she is a driving force as an entrepreneur.