Out with the (c)OLD! and in with 30% off spring styles 🌷🌷 SHOP SPRING CLEANING
Today might be Valentine's Day, but to Carlie Quezada, celebrating all things sexy should be a part of your regular routine. Carlie is the owner of Birmingham, Alabama's most magical underthings emporium: Supernatural. We chatted with her about all things amor, including how to choose the right lingerie styles and why she's prioritizing inclusivity and incorporating sustainability into her brand. Slip into our interview, below.
What made you open a lingerie shop?
I opened Supernatural in 2017 after an eclectic career history in retail, an art museum, a big advertising agency, and a boutique design firm. I always loved lingerie and in my younger years, but the offerings in my local area weren’t really my style. I started researching indie brands and discovered a whole wide world of ethically made, interesting designs that felt like a more modern and fashion-forward approach to lingerie, and began collectsing some of these gems myself. One night, in maybe 2015, I had a dream that I was running a lingerie shop—and voila, the idea was born.
How'd you land the name Supernatural?
This is partly the result of my interest in esoteric arts like tarot and astrology, and partly (but most importantly) about the magical and transformative power of great lingerie to influence our moods, confidence, and literal physical comfort. It is often the first thing we put on and the last thing we take off every day. Lingerie can be an exquisite blend of engineering/technical expertise and artistry, not unlike astrology. “Supernatural” is also a nod to many of the materials used by our designers. Many are synthetic, but are OEKO-TEX certified, while many others are peace silk, organic cotton, and other natural fibers. I also love the connection to lingerie as adornment of the body, like jewelry. Our approach is to celebrate the natural form as much as possible. So, Supernatural is natural with some extra flair and mystery!
What considerations go into being an inclusive, body-positive brand?
I thought about this question quite a lot—and at first it seemed simple and obvious. Diverse representation in imagery, size range, etc. Boiling it down, though, I think the most important consideration is being a good listener and sincerely passionate and in love with the human form. We want people to leave our store feeling better about themselves than when they walked in, and that can sometimes be challenging to accomplish in a short interaction. But hearing people, validating them, and incorporating their concerns and desires into each visit and future buying decisions makes it easier and easier to make sure we are offering a service and products that make them feel seen and supported.
What’s your best advice for someone looking for new lingerie?
First and foremost, look for something that's going to make YOU feel confident and beautiful. That's where the sexy magic lies, not in putting on a costume that makes you uncomfortable for someone else's pleasure (excluding role play, etc.). We always say that lingerie is not exclusively a costume for sex, but rather a powerful tool of personal expression. And along these lines, you don't need a partner to wear beautiful underwear. Often we see people being a bit precious about lingerie—saving it for special occasions or when they have a boyfriend, etc. I say why not wear the good stuff every day? I promise it will change your whole attitude!
Finally, don't be afraid to ask a ton of questions. There are so many little details that affect fit and feel, and small lingerie shops and brands are very good at providing personalized advice to make sure you find something you love on the first try (or as close to it as possible). It can be so tough buying online, but I promise I love geeking out over all the details, so I'm always happy to be of assistance and support to anyone who can't make it into the shop.
How do you incorporate ethical, sustainable practices into your company?
I'm kind of a freak about low waste—so, in terms of sustainability, we reuse a lot of packaging materials for shipping, storage, and more. I compost appropriate packaging materials that we can't store or reuse, along with food scraps, and I refill cleaning products in reusable containers from our local refillery. We also use very minimal, but still elegant, packaging for shipping customer orders, and all of our exterior packaging is compostable including the tape. In terms of ethics, we work exclusively with brands that share these values and have committed to using low-impact materials and providing a fair wage and safe working environment. We are transparent about the materials and production location of every item in its product description.
Check out the four Supernatural pieces Carlie loves most right now (and why!), below.
This sheer dress is such a rich and romantic color, and the polka dot mesh adds some playfulness. It's great as a lounge look on its own or with a skirt or dress that nods to the dramatic, romantic style of Poor Things. Truly, the layering potentials are endless—it's cute over pants, with a slip dress...so many ways.
Bordelle pieces are always a classic showstopper and this bodysuit is absolutely stunning from all angles. I'm obsessed with the back—so cool under a low-back dress or sweater, or just as your own special treat under any outfit. It's also super cool under a button-up with that harness detail in front.
This lace is so beautiful in person and has a really substantial feel to it. This kimono makes a super cool swim cover-up, light jacket in warm weather. You can also style it as a very cool wrap dress layered with a slip or a bralette and briefs cinched with a big belt. With spring breaks coming up, it's a spectacular go-to to pack for multi-use!
I'm in love with the whimsical and romantic embroidery of all Love & Swans designs, but this thong in particular seems like an obvious choice for the V-day season. The embroidery says "love conquers all" in Latin, and the sun and moon allude to a cosmic, eternal love story. The low-rise cut and super soft mesh make it very wearable, and the hand-beaded pearls and accents make it so incredibly special and exciting.
