The Undie World Of Lili St. Cyr
The Undie World of Lili St. Cyr was a lingerie boutique that was across the street from the Starwood Club for many years. “In 1981, actress Cassandra Peterson became famous for her character Elvira, who achieved her trademark cleavage wearing a Lili St. Cyr deep plunge bra.” The store offered costumes for strippers but also “excitement for ordinary women.”
Lili was a famous burlesque performer; she died about sixteen years ago at the age of eighty. Her later years were “quiet—just her and some cats in a modest Hollywood apartment.”
“She wasn’t low-brow and bawdy like Rosa La Rose, who flashed her pubic hair.” Lili was even acquitted of lewd and lascivious charges. She took the stand and described her sexy yet classy stage act to the jury, which was very convincing – and they quickly brought back a not guilty verdict.
Undie World is no longer there, and the building has been razed.
SW, 
SW, and 
Gayle are discussing. 
SW 8:30 pm on October 16, 2021 Permalink |
After talking with my older sister, it was my father who began the whole mail order business of the Lili products, which later became the Undie World, and he opened the retail store for a few years before selling it. It saddens me that he has received no credit for something that was actually ahead of it’s time.
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SW 11:21 pm on June 23, 2021 Permalink |
Mu parents opened the original Undie World back in the 60’s and had a mail order business selling the same provocative items as the store. Lili was a lovely lady. As as child I loved going to her home, where she had a carousel horse in her living room that she allowed me to ‘ride’ on while she and my dad took care of their business.
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Gayle 1:32 am on November 11, 2015 Permalink |
The whole block is gone, it’s going to be taken over by a giant Walgreen’s. Many of the independent small businesses are disappearing in L.A. Lili St, Cyr had beautiful tasteful lingerie, it was sad when they closed their doors. An interesting fun fact – Jim Morrison’s last U.S. residence is a couple blocks from that intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Heights.
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