Cora Harrington — empire coven

Age || 35

Company Name || Treacle Media, LLC

Job Title || Founder and Editor in Chief

Years Living In New York || 2

Social Handles || IG: @thelingerieaddict; Twitter: @lingerie_addict; FB: facebook.com/tlafans

Company Website || the lingerie addict

What did you want to be while growing up?

I thought I might be a doctor, then later I wanted to be a fashion photographer. And then, after that, a researcher.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were starting The Lingerie Addict?

It might surprise you, but I actually didn’t receive very much advice when starting The Lingerie Addict, other than that it was a waste of time and I should quit (which motivated me to keep going).

How do you define success?

I believe success is living the life that makes you happiest, to the best degree possible, and that means something different for everyone.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?

That there are a lot of factors to success (or lack of success) that are out of your control. You can work hard, do everything right, try your very best, and still not “win.” So you have to make sure your motivations are internal and self-sustaining, as opposed to a constant quest for external validation. For me, that kind of awareness is extremely valuable.

What made you interested in starting this website?

I started my site as a hobby because I was interested in buying lingerie, but couldn’t find any reviews or advice or shopping guides. Like so many people, all I knew was Victoria’s Secret, and, once I discovered there was more, I wanted to share it with others.

How did your background help you in this venture?

My degree is in sociology and anthropology with a focus on race, class, and gender. My first career was in the nonprofit industry working directly with clients as a case manager, crisis line manager, and so on. That background enables me to approach the intimate apparel industry from more a social and cultural perspective, rather than just having a surface level interpretation of trends or events. It also taught me to be a very good researcher, and to ask questions rather than accepting statements at face value.

How do you champion body positivity through your site?

For almost a decade now, my site and social platforms have been a “Body Snark Free Zone,” in that I don’t condone body criticism, negative body talk, or comments about how people should “fix” themselves. In that way, The Lingerie Addict stands out from many other social platforms, and this rule helps to ensure the conversation on my site and social channels (such as the The Lingerie Addict Facebook group) stay focused on the garments—not how people “should” look in the garments. I also have 3 columnists across the major size categories of intimate apparel (core, plus size, and full bust), and we regularly include content dedicated not only to size, but also LGBTQ concerns, concerns around disability, and so on. I see inclusivity and body positivity as a journey, not a destination, so it’s something you constantly work towards and are aware of.

Why is more open discussion about the intimates world so important?

Because (almost) everyone wears underwear, but almost no one knows anything about it. Underwear, as the garment that’s closest to your skin, says so much about the time and place we live in: ideals, rules, gender, ethnicity, religion, size, sexuality, gender identity, and so on. You can truly understand the world through intimate apparel.

What changes would you like to see in the lingerie industry?

Inclusivity and sustainability have to be at the forefront of the lingerie industry in coming decades. There is a constant need to both expand sizes and to offer more options for trans, non-binary, and queer people, as well as for people of color. Furthermore, as we become more aware of the effects of the fashion industry on the environment, it will become an increasing necessity to limit waste and find new ways of making our clothes.

What can readers gain from The Lingerie Addict?

I hope The Lingerie Addict helps to make the world of intimate apparel more welcoming and accessible to all types of people. I won’t say we’re a perfect platform, but I can say we do our best with the resources we have. We’ve written thousands of articles over the last 12 years, and there is a very high likelihood that at least something we’ve written will apply to you.

Which women inspire you?

I draw a lot of inspiration from historical figures who crossed boundaries like Hatshepsut and Empress Theodora. While I wouldn’t call their lives “relatable” (after all, they are royalty, and I am not), their refusal to simply accept the circumstances they were born into inspires me.

How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?

First, I allow myself to feel it rather than denying it. I think that trying to suppress emotions only amplifies them, while addressing your feelings head-on, admitting and validating them, give you room to process them. After that, I try to be objective about my own career successes. I have a body of work that cannot be denied, so I refer myself to that in the same way I would refer a friend to their own successes if they came to me with self-doubt. Finally, sometimes I just go to bed and stop working for the day. I’ve noticed I feel more self-doubt when tired or stressed, so resting and allowing myself to come refreshed the next day can help.

How do you balance your schedule?

I am terrible at schedule balancing. There is so much to do, and, as I’m the only person who can do most of it, keeping my time balanced and also meeting deadlines is a constant struggle. One thing that helps, as far as taking breaks, is making sure I spend every evening with my husband. It’s a reminder there is more to life than work (especially important when you work from home), and helps to make sure we’re connected and talking about each other’s lives.

How do you handle situations where you feel overwhelmed?

Oh I feel this way pretty often, and I’ve found what helps best is scheduling my tasks on paper. Being able to list what I need to do and then check items off that list helps me feel like I’m making forward progress and also helps to keep me organized. It also lightens much of the cognitive load of having to remember each task.

What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?

Writing a book, beyond a doubt. It always felt like a pipe dream, like something that would never happen for me, so having an actual book on actual bookshelves is amazing.

What advice would you give to other women trying to enter your field?

It would depend on what area of my field they’re trying to enter. The career track for a designer is not the same as a career track for press (which is what I am). But I do think the most important things, no matter which path you choose, are being open to learning, being willing to research, and to know that it’s going to take you years before you’re proficient in this field. You can’t skip the hard work. You can’t skip over the stage of being an amateur. The only way to get where you want to go is to mess up—a lot—at the beginning.

What is your creative process like?

I’ve never thought of what I do as creative, especially as I move into less of a hands-on role at my site. Much of what I do is plan our content and our themes for the quarter, as well as the big picture goals I’d like to accomplish by the end of the year. I would describe my process as a lot more pragmatic than creative, but if I had to say any part of it is creative, it would likely look like the research and free thinking portions, when you’re able to let ideas and connections just percolate and naturally develop in your mind.

What are some of your goals moving forward for The Lingerie Addict?

I have so many, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise! But I will say one major goal looking forward this year is to ramp up my video channel. It’s long overdue and I finally think I’m ready.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.