Patricia Naylor.
Have you ever walked into a lingerie store and thought, this bra does not fit me correctly even though it's my size? HPU alumna Patricia Naylor had a similar experience one afternoon, but instead of simply moving on, she took that frustration and turned it into a business idea. Naylor founded Rumeur Lingerie in San Diego, aiming to improve women’s health, psychology, and body image through proper bra fitting.
Growing up primarily in Melbourne, Florida, Naylor was accustomed to a life of mobility. Both her parents served in the Navy, and she moved frequently before settling in Florida. Following in her family's military footsteps, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian cryptologic linguist, serving for four years. Naylor then pursued her education, obtaining a BA in psychology from HPU and later an MBA in Business of Health from the Å·ÃÀAƬ of Texas at San Antonio. Her diverse background in psychology, health, and the military ultimately laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey.
“I always knew I wanted to help people, but I didn’t initially know how. I started as a biology major, but switching to psychology was one of the best decisions I made,” Naylor said. “The small class sizes and personalized attention Å·ÃÀAƬ played a crucial role in my academic experience. I loved having access to professors and mentors. It made a big difference for me, especially as a nontraditional student balancing school and starting a family. I am incredibly grateful for the education I received Å·ÃÀAƬ.”
In 2019, Naylor launched Rumeur Lingerie, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the challenges of starting a business during such a tumultuous time, she was determined to make her vision a reality.
"Every time I went shopping for lingerie at big-name stores, I had a negative experience. Women are expected to figure it out on their own, and I felt there was a gap in the market for personalized, health-focused bra fittings," she said. This gap inspired Naylor to create a curated selection of high-quality lingerie brands, including exclusive European labels known for their engineering and design.
“Wearing the wrong bra can cause significant discomfort and even change the physical structure of your body over time,” she said. “The in-store experience at Rumeur Lingerie is designed to address this by providing personalized fittings. We help clients find the right bra for their body type, which can have a transformative impact on their comfort and confidence.”
The onset of the pandemic made the early days of her business difficult, as she was unable to qualify for state assistance due to being a new venture. However, Naylor's persistence paid off. Now in its fifth year, Rumeur Lingerie is experiencing major growth, and she is hopeful about expanding to more locations in the future.
“I am so happy I found this magical part of life,” she said. “Bringing someone into a fitting room and helping them see themselves in a new light, feeling comfortable and confident, is incredibly rewarding.”
Naylor’s psychology background continues to inform her approach to business as well. “My psychology degree has been instrumental in shaping my approach to business. I firmly believe I wouldn’t be doing what I am today without HPU. I get to help people feel better about themselves every day, and it’s deeply rewarding.”
For Naylor, true happiness comes from knowing she has made a lasting difference in someone’s life. At Rumeur Lingerie, every fitting is an opportunity to help women see themselves in a new light and feel empowered in their own skin. By focusing on the intersection of health, comfort, and confidence, Naylor has turned her passion into a mission—one that continues to transform lives, one fitting at a time.
