We recently connected with Ashley Sutton and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I first dreamed up Moonlight, I wanted to create a space where everyone could shop and feel comfortable and beautiful. As someone who used to be plus size, I knew how hard it was to find lingerie that actually made me feel good about myself. Even after losing weight, I found that most chain lingerie stores were expensive and didn’t carry many inclusive sizes.

So when I started Moonlight, the vision was a size-inclusive lingerie shop that carried everything from XS to 3X without charging extra for curvy sizes. I wanted people to have access to both comfortable everyday bras and gorgeous lingerie pieces that celebrated their bodies.

I’ve always been inspired by vintage lingerie—the elegance, the drama, the way women in old movies like Eva Gabor could slip into something glamorous just to lounge at home. That feeling of beauty and self-expression has always stayed with me. Over time, I also began hearing stories from customers about the beautiful lingerie sets they remembered wearing back in the ’50s and ’60s, which sparked an idea.

One day while out shopping, I stumbled across a 1940s hand-beaded wool coat that had been tossed aside, and it completely inspired me. When the local economy slowed down and road work made foot traffic tough, I decided to try something new and brought in one small rack of vintage nightgowns. They sold quickly, but I realized most vintage lingerie needed restoration to really shine. That’s when I started learning the process of carefully mending and restoring vintage pieces.

That small experiment grew into a core part of Moonlight. Today, we carry both modern, size-inclusive lingerie and fully restored vintage styles—giving people the chance to feel beautiful in something timeless and unique.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always worked in customer service, and I’ve always loved making people feel good about themselves and giving them an experience. Fashion has fascinated me for as long as I can remember, especially vintage fashion, because it really is an art form. Even before starting my business, I loved watching other creators take pieces most people would throw away and restore them into something beautiful again.

What drew me in most was vintage sleepwear. It’s such a beautiful and private form of luxury. At the end of a long day of working, caring for others, or just carrying the weight of life, you could slip into something silken and elegant as a simple act of self-care. That small ritual of putting on a lovely nightgown or robe was—and still is—such an easy way to treat yourself with gentleness and beauty.

That’s what inspired me to make restoration a central part of Moonlight. I take pieces that may be worn, stained, or damaged, and carefully bring them back to life so they can continue inspiring others. The process is incredibly intensive—I’ve poured hours into researching different cleaning and sewing methods, practicing, and learning by hand. But for me, it’s worth it when someone sees one of these restored pieces and it sparks a memory.

At the end of the day, that’s what I’m really preserving—memories. These garments are more than just clothing. They’re pieces of history, carrying stories of the past, and they continue to inspire styles today and tomorrow. What sets Moonlight apart is that blend of inclusivity, artistry, and history. I’m proud to offer a space where people of all sizes can feel beautiful, and where vintage treasures are lovingly restored to be worn, cherished, and remembered.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, I’ve definitely had to pivot in my business. When I first opened Moonlight, it was strictly a lingerie shop. At the time, being size-inclusive really made us stand out, but as more stores started expanding their sizing and road construction in my area made it harder for people to get here, I realized I needed to adjust. On top of that, with the rising cost of living, lingerie started to feel like more of a luxury purchase, and I saw many businesses around me closing their doors.

That’s when I began thinking about how I could stay true to my mission—helping people feel beautiful—while also reaching a wider audience. I had always been inspired by vintage fashion, especially lingerie and sleepwear, so I decided to start small with a rack of restored vintage nightgowns. It was a hit, and over time it grew into what is now our Vintage Vixens collection, which has become a core part of Moonlight.

That pivot not only helped keep us afloat during a challenging time, but it also allowed us to carve out a really unique space in the market—blending size-inclusive modern lingerie with lovingly restored vintage pieces that carry history and charm. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

My all-time favorite sale was with a client who came in to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. She wanted to buy a nightgown for the occasion, and as we were chatting, I mentioned our new section of vintage nightgowns.
As we were talking she started describing the set that she had worn for her wedding night, and lamented that she no longer had it.

As we spoke, I remembered I had just placed a very similar set in the back. As I pulled it out from the rack, she suddenly gasped! It turned out to be a nightgown and peignoir set that looked exactly like the one she wore on her wedding night 50 years earlier. She tried it on, and when she stepped out of the fitting room, she was absolutely glowing. It was like 50 years had melted away and she was reliving that joyful moment all over again.

Seeing her so excited, surprised, and radiant reminded me exactly why I do what I do. These pieces aren’t just clothing—they’re tied to people’s most cherished memories, and I feel lucky to be part of bringing that magic back into their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Moonlightintimateapparel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonlightintimateapparel?igsh=MWw4aWZ0Y215c3hpcQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19frn2DzZw/