PRETTY LITTLE UNDERTHINGS

The One That Got Away (Kind Of)

2012-05-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

Elle Macpherson Obsidian Raquel Set

Sometimes the lingerie gods are kind, and make your Chantelle dreams come true. Sometimes they like to slap you in the face and laugh for having boobies too small to even produce bras in your size. Haha, just kidding they're not that harsh. But I'll be dramatic to bemoan the fact that this gorgeous set by Elle Macpherson Obsidian will never be mine.

I saw this on Journelle.com a couple of weeks ago and was ready to pull the trigger on it during their Memorial Day sale, but sadly my 34A size was sold out. Journelle's wonderful Mara did some searching for me, even going as far as emailing their Elle rep, but sadly A cups weren't even produced for this style.

I mean, it's not that big of a deal. At the end of the day it's just a lingerie set (a beautiful one with amazing keyhole detailing and abstract leopard patterns) so whatever. But it made me think of this AWESOME photo of Hilary Swank as Raquel Welch in the book Face Forward by the late Kevyn Aucoin. (By the way, if you're a makeup junkie or love portraits or are a sucker for heart-wrenching stories about the power makeup has to lift your self-esteem, you need to read it).

image via wicked halo

Okay, anyway, that's it. It comes in a B cup and up, so enjoy. And sorry if my animated panties are giving you a seizure. They were both just too pretty and I couldn't decide between the two.

Elle Macpherson Obsidian Raquel bra, $90. Raquel thong, $50. Raquel culottes, $50. Available at Journelle.com.

Who Wears Short Shorts?

2012-05-23T16:13:00.000-04:00

Solange Knowles does, that's who. And looked freakin' amazing in this Flaminia Saccucci knickers/skirt hybrid outfit at the MoMA Garden Party yesterday. You go, girl.

Image by Steve Eichner, via WWD

"Confessions of A Bra Fitter"

2012-05-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Small-chested women think they have to wear a lot of padding, but that usually makes the breasts look unnatural. No matter your size, an underwire is the best way to get a perky look. Leave the flimsy bra lets to the 17-year-olds.

The only thing that bothers me more than a woman wearing the wrong size is when she treats her bras as if they don't matter. I see women in Chanel suits with raggedy bras underneath. If you rotate your bras daily and wash them by hand after ever couple of wears, they can last a decade."

Preach it, sister.

via Allure for iPad, May 2012.

Bradelis New York: It's Incredi-bra!

2012-04-27T11:17:00.000-04:00

Okay, I confess: when I started hearing about Bradelis New York opening a Nolita boutique, I had no brand recognition at all whatsoever. I RSVP-ed to the event, marked it in my calendar and didn't really think about it too much.

A week ago I was having drinks with my friend Jiabei who mentioned that she has an incredibly hard time finding a bra to fit her frame since most stores and brands don't make 30-bands, so the only brand she comfortably wears is Bradelis. My ears perked and I immediately emailed Allison at GeorgePR to ask if my friend could come with me. Jiabei told me a bit more about Bradelis and why she likes it so much, but I was definitely not prepared for what happened last night.

Jiabei and I were chatting and observing when another party attendee ran over and exclaimed, "I HAVE CLEAVAGE!" I asked her what size she normally wears (34B) and I couldn't believe it. She seemed so confident that the fitters could give me cleavage too, so I hurried to the fitting room to wait my turn. Mind you, I'd had a glass of wine by this point, which was probably around 7.30pm, and hadn't eaten since 1, so I knew I was in for a doozy. Jiabei told me to be prepared to be manhandled—which called for a glass of champagne to calm the nerves.

While we were waiting for our turn, NiNi (the manager of the store in Flushing) explained to us that there's a three-part philosophy to their bra fitting: 1. reshape the breasts, 2. lift the breasts, and 3. support the breasts. As your bra starts to stretch out and become looser, she said, and when you've used up all the hooks, just bring it back to the store and they'll do free alterations. (Mind. Blown.)

When I went into the fitting room, NiNi measured me (after she struggled with my Stella McCartney Irene Gardening bustier, haha—the sucker has five hooks and I don't think she realized that), then brought me back a simple black bra that had a bit of lace trim and a bit of removable padding in the cups (retails for around $68). After I had it hooked on, she came back in and started scooping. Yes, SCOOPING. She finessed the fat and tissue from my sides into the cups, then scooped and lifted everything. The end result? CLEAVAGE. Foreal. NiNi started laughing at my utter disbelief and said, "You can put a flower in there!"

Then NiNi brought back a lacier bra that didn't have any extra padding in the cups. I didn't think this one would have the same results, but I have to say that it looked even better. It might have been because the bra was a bit sexier and the lace trim along the cups was a beautiful enhancer? I don't know. But I'm kicking myself for not buying it on the spot.

You're probably thinking that there's no way this could possibly feel comfortable. A few of my co-workers were wincing as I was telling them the scooping story this morning. But honestly, it was probably one of the most comfortable bras I've ever worn. It didn't dig into my back at all (probably because all the fat was in my bra), and when I raised my arms and moved around, the bra didn't shift! My boobs felt supported and lifted, and that's ultimately the most important.

I asked NiNi if she was going to come over every morning and scoop me into my bra for me, and she said, "No no no, you will learn quickly!" Yes, I'm sure I will.

Bradelis: their bras scoop, lift and remember, whether you're an A-cup or a D-cup. This is a game changer.

Bradelis New York, 211 Elizabeth Street (Between Prince & Spring)

The Bra-Short Suit. Yes, Suit.

2012-04-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted an editorial recently and so when I was flipping through this Vogue US editorial in the new May 2012 issue, I had to fight the urge to post it immediately. Like, I started looking for iPad apps so I could post it immediately and then had to control myself because let's face it: I was sitting in my doctor's waiting room and was going to be interrupted anyway.

But y'all know how much I love beautiful long-line bras and shorts (well, this is more apparently on Polyvore and Tumblr... and my own personal wardrobe during the summer months), so this amazeballs editorial was slightly mind-blowing for me. They're like bra-short SUITS! SUITS! And while they may not be exaaaactly work-appropriate, a girl can dream. These three were my absolute faves. Enjoy!

All images via Vogue for iPad, May 2012 issue.

Tempting Tuesdays: A Stella McCartney Beige Bra & What Not To Do At Work

2012-04-17T10:30:00.000-04:00

Tuesdays will feature a lustworthy lingerie set and a suggested retailer. I think we all need a little something beautiful to at least look at to get us through the week. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Stella McCartney Maria Bouncing Set

image via journelle.com

A few weeks ago I posted about the beautiful Chantelle set I got at Journelle with my discount code for participating in their bra drive with Free the Girls. So, this is the other one I settled on (bra only, no knickers but you know how I do—gotta show you the set!)... and it was kinda tough. I wanted a nude bra since one of the ones I had donated was my go-to Elle Macpherson beige bra and I needed a simple beige one in my repertoire. But you know, even with 20% off, a $150 bra isn't an easy decision to make. But I did it, especially once the sales associate told me that they did have it in my size, and I figured, "I'm celebrating spring, a new job and a new phase of my life—this calls for a new... beige bra." Yeah.

What's pretty cool though, is that you can remove the straps to make it a strapless bustier-style bra, or a racerback! Just make sure that the straps are adjusted to the correct length and they're not too loose. Otherwise it might slide out in the front and hang out of the sleeve of your silk blouse when you're walking to the restroom at work and leave people staring at you, puzzled... and you're wondering if your eye makeup is smeared all over your face when in reality, your bra strap is hanging out of your sleeve and you don't realize it until you're in the stall.

"Aw, fuck."

Good thing no one else was in the restroom.

But otherwise, it's a really, pretty bra. Stella McCartney long-lines FTW.

Stella McCartney Maria Bouncing Bra, $150. Maria Bouncing Bikini, $70. Available at journelle.com.

A Dose of Summertime Pretty

2012-04-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

I stopped by Journelle last Friday after work to drop off some of my old bras for their Spring Cleaning Bra Drive that supports Free the Girls (pun intended) and to refresh my lingerie drawer with some new pretties. I may or may not have shed a tear when I realized that some of the Mimi Holliday bras I had been eyeing weren't available in my size at the Union Square store—and almost every other bra I tried on wasn't my exact size because mine was either sold out or wasn't carried.

I was bummed, handed over "my failed attempts at happiness" to the sales associate, and then saw this Chantelle Icone set in Tropical Blue and figured it'd be worth a shot—even though the black Icone was too big on me. I tried on the same size I had tried in black—and hollerlujah, it fit perfectly. So, naturally with a bra this pretty, I had to get the bottoms too. The color makes me think of summertime in this chilly NYC spring we've been having, and just looking at it makes me smile.

Moral of this story? Try on every damn bra because manufacturers are sizing differently even among their own collections. And who knows? You could be pleasantly surprised.

Chantelle Icone Demi Bra, $88. Icone Shorty, $88. Available at Journelle.com.

Lingerie Spring Cleaning For A Cause

2012-03-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'm in the middle of a career transition right now, so I've been aggressively getting other parts of my life in order too. Like finally cleaning out a few boxes from when I moved into my new apartment (last July, oops), throwing out makeup I haven't used in the past six months, getting rid of clothing that I haven't worn in a year... and it feels effin' amazing to start fresh! Especially with this freakishly warm spring-to-summer transition weather we've been having in NYC lately.

So that also brings me to my lingerie drawer, and out with the old bras that don't fit me properly anymore (yoga the past year has brought me down a size, *sob*). But what to do with them? It was as if the Journelle ladies read my mind when they emailed me about a promo they're doing this week—and for a great cause.

Journelle is encouraging y'all to do a lil' spring cleaning too! Starting tomorrow, Wednesday March 21st, they'll gladly collect your used bras to donate to charity in exchange for 20% off any new bra. They'll also be donating $1 for each bra they receive, and PLU favorite wash creators The Laundress will be donating a gift with purchase too. Pretty sweet, right? So if you bring in three bras, you'll get 20% off three new bras, just make sure you bring them in on the same day. You can only get the promotion on one of the days during the Bra Drive.

This year they're partnering with Free the Girls, which provides job opportunities to women rescued from sex trafficking in Mozambique. The girls & women are given bras that they sell in used clothing markets — bras are a luxury and bring in top dollar there. According to this article on CNN, "the girls can make three times the average wage, more than enough to support themselves and not be trafficked again."

Pretty rad. So what are you waiting for? Oh yeah, probably for Wednesday. Heh. Check out Journelle's gorgeous flyer below for more info!

Lingerie That Smells Like Roses

2012-03-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

Or at least, make your lingerie smell like roses. My dear friend Allison gifted me this luxurious bottle of The Laundress x Le Labo Rose 31 delicates wash for Christmas, and I finally used it the other day because I finished my bottle of Ovacion. Let me just say: Best. Lingerie. Wash. Day. Ever.

I have to admit that I'm not completely crazy about rose-scented anything, but the only rose scent I really adore is the one Allison wears from Le Labo. It's not overpowering or old-lady smelling; it's fresh and feminine and really effin' classy (heh, had to get that third 'eff' sound in there). You don't need to use a lot. It left my bathroom perfumed with the rose scent (and your hands! I kept smelling my hands), as well as my room, where I had all my bras hanging on a drying rack. Every time I opened the door to walk in, I was softly pow-ed with roses in my nostrils and I couldn't help but take an extra inhale.

Try it for yourself—it's a bit pricey, but put it on your wishlist to indulge in one day. My bras now not only look gorgeous, they smell beautiful too.

CURVE NY Recap: Kriss Soonik, Catwoman

2012-03-13T10:30:00.000-04:00

Kriss Soonik, Catwoman

I had the pleasure of meeting Kriss Soonik in person at CURVE NY last month, and I loved hearing about how she got started. Her edited collection is created with some of the best materials—stretch jerseys so soft to the touch and non-itchy lace—pretty crucial considering most of her pieces have absolute innerwear as outerwear power. She thinks about how anyone would wear her Kristel turtleneck suspender top in daily life, and she thought about how the fabric may change or shift as you sit down, stand up, walk around, fight crime, what have you. Her thought process behind her collections' function and design was fascinating to learn about, and as a non-cat person, I'll admit her kittycat logo is pretty darn cute too.

"The label has been running for three years now, but I’ve been designing lingerie for eight years now. I tested it for my 20th birthday for the first time and before that I did womenswear, and ‘cause I’m from Estonia, no one was doing lingerie, so I thought, ‘Hm, there’s a niche there’. I tried it and never looked back.

So six years ago, I moved to London. I did my M.A. at London College of Fashion. I worked at Agent Provocateur just to get experience, to see the lingerie world inside out. And then 2009 January I jumped in. So… here I am three years later.

My favorite piece… it’s hard to say really. They’re all my babies. But I think definitely the Susan Motion Lace Body and the Suspender Top with the turtleneck because I was practically living in it all of winter this year. So those two."

Kristel Turtleneck Suspender Top

Susan Motion Lace Body

Images courtesy of Kriss Soonik

Tempting Tuesdays: Classic Lace by Simone Perele

2012-03-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

Simone Perele Nina Demi-Cup Bra & Boyshort

I have a confession to make: I currently have a gift card to Journelle and I've had it for about two weeks and I haven't bought anything. What is going on?? I mean, there's been a lot going on which is why I haven't used it, but I also couldn't really figure out what I wanted. My fellow lingerie lovah Allison showed me this Simone Perele set she picked up in Paris (so luckay) and I immediately fell in love but couldn't commit. What if there's new Mimi Holliday coming soon? Or Stella McCartney?

Fast forward to this past Sunday and I stopped into Journelle to give this set another once over, and my (apparently very observant) boyfriend pointed out that it was on the mannequin. And it looked amazeballs. The way the lace and silk panels are shaped and lay on the body (okay, the mannequin) looks incredible and it's so obvs why this Nina style is a favorite. I love this fuschia color and quite frankly, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, which is probably why I'm writing this post at 6:50am on a Monday to go live on Tuesday. Le sigh. Life is so hard sometimes.

Simone Perele Nina Demi-Cup Bra, $89. Simone Perele Nina Boyshort, $57. Available at Journelle.com.

Milan Fashion Week: Lingerie Inspirations at Jil Sander F/W '12

2012-03-05T10:30:00.000-05:00

Yep, it was Raf Simons' final collection for Jil Sander and it was pretty sweet, clean and full of lingerie inspired details that I loved. Bustier shapes, kimono robe silhouettes, bra-like keyholes in dresses—these were some of my favorites (and the coats are gorgeous. So gorgeous).

Images via style.com. To view the full slideshow, click here.

Good Night Gilda, Hello Gorgeous Full-Cup Lingerie

2012-02-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

Good Night Gilda: Luxury Lingerie for the Busty Gal

Yep, I don't really write about lingerie that caters to fuller-chested women because quite frankly, I have no idea what that feels like. But I had to write about Good Night Gilda, created by Whitney Galitz in Los Angeles, because it's impeccably made. I'm all about quality—"high-end" and "luxury" to me don't just mean high prices, it's also about craftsmanship. And in Good Night Gilda, it's definitely there. Whitney is a vintage lingerie conoisseur with a theater and art background. Pair that with her career as a shopper and stylist, and BOOM: lingerie that will make you want to watch black and white movies all afternoon. While you're wearing it. And possibly eating chocolate. Whatever, just read what Whitney had to share about how she got started and why she created Good Night Gilda. Okay, bye!

"I launched it back in August officially. I did a soft launch in February a year ago and I actually walked CURVE in February last year just to get a feel for the industry and to see where my niche would be, where my voice would be for this collection. ‘cos I’ve had this idea for awhile now. My background personally is I’m a shopper and I’m a stylist back in L.A. I’ve been working in the Hollywood industry for 8 years now, dressing celebrities, working with custom designers and I absolutely love it, but being there in the shopping world and really understanding the retail industry from my perspective, I realized there was a quite a lack in good lingerie that catered to a little bit curvier of a body, a higher cup size, more full cups and I really wanted to fill that niche.

I have a costume background, my major in college was art and theater design. So I always loved the costume feel and wanted to bring the drama of that world to a high-fashion lingerie line. So that’s what I’m trying to do here with my brand. It’s a high-fashion kind of vintage inspired edgy line and it marries all those together. And it happens to cater to full cup sizes ‘cos also I’m my own customer. I grew up wearing a D cup and on a smaller frame, it’s really hard to shop for lingerie. There just isn’t really a lot of stuff out there. That was part of the motivation as well.

I only use high-end fabrics; that’s something that I have a love for, good textiles. This [Gilda romper] is silk charmeuse stretch, it’s the reverse side but it has that quality of the charmeuse in it so you can really feel it. So once you see it, you can see the luxury in it. But it’s simple and that’s what I love. I really want my designs to speak through the design aspect and not all the frills. So I use really high-end fabrics, really good quality manufacturing—it’s all made locally in Los Angeles which is really important to me. We’re a big supporter of small businesses and local economies, so that’s something I knew I would do from the beginning.

For my first collection I kinda went with a very old school, kind of Golden Era of Hollywood kind of feel using like vintage colors—this nude is a very old looking color—it’s something I wanted to convey. The big inspiration for this collection was the screen sirens, like the Rita Hayworths and the Ingrid Bergmans, Marilyn Monroe.

For fall, I was so inspired by the ‘60s era of film, like dark moody, James Bond girls—I got stuck watching all these James Bond movies—and then I was like, oh yeah, Gypsy Rose Lee!—which was what the collection was named after, it’s called the Gypsy Rose Collection, and I just went into this darker burlesque sixties film noir type look. So it’s a lot darker and moodier, and it’s a lot of fun. Sexy but sophisticated, that was the angle I was trying to go for."

CURVE NY Recap: ARI DEIN's Got an Art Deco-Inspired Fall/Winter

2012-02-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

Going East with ARI DEIN's Shanghai Waldorf Collection

A favorite of PLU (meaning it's one of my favorites), ARI DEIN's Fall/Winter 2012 collection is imaginative but still so true to the core of what makes ARI DEIN a standout line. Art Deco-inspired and already a wardrobe classic that doesn't rely on trends to make it desirable. I love the shimmers paired with matte silk, and the handmade knot details that add a special touch to the Shanghai Waldorf pieces. Here's a closer look at some of the pieces we saw from NYFW and Creatrice Arielle Shapiro's take on her F/W '12 efforts.

"So I was very inspired this season by the city of Shanghai, which has the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world. So when I was designing this season, I wanted to think very much about the colors and the color meaning in Chinese culture. And also hand details like good luck knots and signature borders in jacquard this time instead of a plain charmeuse, so I tried to play with texture and incorporated prints for the first time in the Boutique Hotel sort of style but we updated it this season to call it the Shanghai Waldorf Collection. So it has that authentic ARI DEIN art deco and retro vibe we always go for.

One of the pieces that really helped launch ARI DEIN and brand the collection was the Boutique Hotel Collection—specifically the chemise—and every season I listen to our customer feedback and make little updates so over the past I guess now 5 seasons we’ve added darts for breast contour, sometimes we do elastic in the back of the ribcage so that we can expand the chest circumference for fit, adjustable straps, we added a second button on the side opening so that we could limit the gaping of the … I guess just the opening of the side. I’m trying to use all these fancy words! [laughs].

But what I really like this season is that we’ve done it in a chiffon with prints so it’s a little bit sexier. The trim is a jacquard so it has that beautiful floral texture. The strap is a double strap—it has a little skinny adjustable area in the back but then the front part is jacquard to match the rest of the piece, and we have a beautiful little cutout in the bust area. So it’s a much sexier kind of take on this really classic, sophisticated cut that we do."

CURVE NY Recap: Rad Colors & Perfect Fit at Claudette

2012-02-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

Rad Colors and Perfect Fit at Claudette

I stopped by Claudette's booth yesterday at Curve NY and talked to Bok Goodall, Claudette's designer, to learn more about the line and why Claudette stands out. With bright hues like these, how could they not?

"So Claudette is a fashion line that goes from an A cup to a G cup we are working on up to a K cup at the moment, and the idea behind it was to make something that was really fun, fashionable but fit and gave support all the way up to a G cup but didn’t look like a traditional large cup product, so color is very, very important to us and you can see the neons, and we always contrast everything, so you never get a purely nude bra, it would always have a contrast trim. Fit is the most important thing to us—we always start at a G and then we work down if it’s going to work at a G, then we know it’s going to work at a B. so we go that way instead of trying to go the other way.

And the company is based in Los Angeles. Robin Levitt, who is the president of the company, I was introduced to her a couple years ago through a friend and I worked in the UK in lingerie the last 10 years and I sort of specialized in large cup. And we just got talking and decided ‘let’s do it’. There is definitely a niche in the market in the States for large cup product that’s fashion. We just launched in the UK where we thought it would be much more difficult since the market is so saturated—everyone loved it. And so we’ve had a great season so far.

I think the neon pieces are amazing I just think the colors are fabulous, but this is a new style, that we’re just doing for fall, which is fantastic. So it’s satin with mesh. Everything is very supportive, even these which look like there’s nothing to support you, but they do really work—we work more on fit more than anything, really."

Cool Dyes & Mystical Elements by Clare Bare

2012-02-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

Clare Bare at the Lingerie Designer Showcase

"I did fashion for two semesters then I dropped it, then I did fine art and printmaking and I was really into doing a lot of texture-based artwork, whatever it was; mosaic, printmaking, etc. So when I first started making underwear, it came about kind of through a printmaking project that I was doing so it was really nice to get back into that this time around and this is one of my prints that was made from a fabric collage that I made, it was actually layered pieces of fabric that I scanned and then manipulated & flipped. I’m really inspired by symmetry and mystical elements and things like that. And then I have another print that’s really subtle, it’s just black on black it’s like a nice texture. And you can’t even really see it when it’s on, so that’s something that I thought was really cool—that you can’t see it from very far away. And then everything is hand dyed, so this teal color is made from Caribbean plants that are ground up and then I learned about all these unusual processes and hand dyeing things and using aluminum as a mordant to allow the dye to adhere to organic fabrics. So I’ve been doing a lot of tie-dyeing and dip-dyeing so this is the Caribbean plant dye, and this is logwood from Brazil mixed with lac from India, it creates kind of like a pinkish color. Pinkish purple. And then the other colors that I’m using—this is logwood just by itself. So it’s a nice purple. And I’m using a lot of nice heavy silks and a lot of different fabrics than last time. So it’s fun, it’s been a lot of experimental pieces this time that I’m really excited about.

I think this [Anatomical Harmonia Bodysuit in Rubelite Dye/Hyper Floral] is my favorite—it’s really cool layered and I’ve worn this out and gotten a lot of response from this. The way I line it up is you know, very anatomical—even these lines kind of almost act as darts or shape you in a way without the actual darts being there and then the V is strategically placed, you know [laughs]. And just the way it lines up from the side is really nice ‘cos the flowers are kind of like a mirror. I also really like this set [Calliope Bewilder Bralette and Sheer Panty]—this teal color is really amazing. The fabric soaks it up. I only really dye it for 2 minutes and then I have to fish it out otherwise it gets too saturated. So that one is really fun but functional at the same time."

From top to bottom in order: Eternal Daze Cut Out Romper in Cloud Dye; Eternal Daze Cut Out Romper mesh print detail; Anatomical Harmonia Bodysuit in Rubelite Dye/Hyper Floral; Veda Totem Garter Tank in Hyper Floral; Ouvert Open Back Tank Dress in Logwood Dye; Calliope Bewilder Bralette and Sheer Panty

Visual: A Little Bridal Lingerie Inspiration

2012-02-20T16:36:00.000-05:00

Beegee Margenyte by Hunter & Gatti for Vogue Spain Brides

Just a little visual bridal lingerie inspiration for a Monday holiday afternoon before the craziness of CURVE NY starts tomorrow! I loved how lingerie takes the focus in some of these photos and there's one with a bodysuit as an untraditional wedding... dress? Makes you think, right?

More photos after the jump. Enjoy!

All images via Fashion Gone Rogue. To view more images from this editorial, click here.

Fashion Friday: Sunshine Dreams

2012-02-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a Fashion Friday in awhile and I'll admit this one's on a whim. Haven't been feeling well between losing my grandmother this week and what I think is probably food poisoning (sorrryyyy, TMI), but this light, breezy editorial perked me up a bit. I love the shorts and hints of lace here and there—and I'm so, so excited for warmer weather to come.

Emilia & Hannah by Cara O'Dowd for Fashion Gone Rogue

All images via Fashion Gone Rogue. To view more images from this editorial, click here.

ARI DEIN Fall/Winter 2012 NYFW Presentation

2012-02-10T11:49:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of attending ARI DEIN's Fall/Wintter 2012 presentation for NYFW last night at Cellar Bar (Bryant Park Hotel), and it was pretty amazing. The location couldn't have been more perfect—Cellar Bar has a really dramatic medieval-esque design to it, and combine that with mood lighting and a LIVE opera singer? Well, as my boyfriend so astutely summarized, "It's kind of like that scene in Taken."

Great movie, but definitely no virgin trafficking going on here. Just an incredibly expanded offering of Ari's classic silk pieces. There's new bralette designs, reworked robes and ready-to-wear! Including a bodysuit! There's some new cuts and details for F/W '12 but the feeling of contemporary luxury is still there. It's classic without being stuffy, yet still appeals to all age ranges. It's magic.

P.S. Boyfriend, I want a set of those pajamas. Or the printed top on the second photo, on the second model from the right. Kthxbye.

All photos mine.

Ruffles and Raspberry Layers for Valentine's Day

2012-02-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Lascivious Simone Raspberry Set

images via lascivious

Helloooo loverrrrr. I feel like this set just purrs and speaks for itself, no? The way that suspender belt is cut is unlike any other I've paid attention to in almost a year—and with the amazing silhouette it helps shape, how could I resist? I love the raspberry gradients in this set, partially created by black mesh overlays that add a bit of naughtiness *tsk tsk*. I normally hate that adjective (naughty) to describe lingerie, but this one's a little nice with a little spice. You agree, right? Yep, that's what I thought.

Lascivious Simone Raspberry Bra, £119. Simone Raspberry Suspender, £92. Simone Raspberry Brief, £69. Available at Lascivious.co.uk.
In the US, available at NancyMeyer.com.

An LBL is Always, Always Right

2012-02-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

Stella McCartney Florence Acting Underwire Bra & French Knickers

images via journelle

LBL: Little Black Lingerie. Honestly, you really can't go wrong with black lingerie. Especially when it's in the form of this lacy set from Stella McCartney. I may or may not have silently freaked out when I saw this the other week (really, my internal monologue was something like this: "OMGOMGOMGOMG WHYYYYYY IS IT SO PRETTYYYYY") and I haven't been able to get it out of my head ever since.

Gentlemen, if you're reading this particular post, Valentine's Day lingerie gifts are not limited to red and pink, nor outrageously sexy and borderline inappropriate for life in general. Black lingerie may seem ordinary, but LBL's as stylish and classy as this one are a bound to be the perfect gift. Boom.

Stella McCartney Florence Acting Underwire Bra, $105. French Knickers, $60. Available at Journelle.com.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For the Snow Bunny

2012-02-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

Ah, the snow bunny. The more daring ones will actually ski or snowboard (or at least attempt to) and want gear and undies to make them as comfortable as possible when they inevitably tumble down the mountain, while the less risk-averse will will want to be as comfortable as possible (and look adorable) while they lounge in the ski house or the lodge bar. Either way, these picks are sure to please.

A sports bra that isn't too stiff but will still hold your ta-ta's and a moisture-wicking thong that's also super-comfortable (I know, it sounds weird but these are also TERRIFIC for yoga - multipurpose!) are ideal underwear choices for the active love of your life. And you'll also want to give her a super-soft and comfortable loungewear set (and yes, I'm including this BTS Lingerie set again because I LOVE IT) and a super-chic hat to top it all off. Trust me, you'll get extra points for going to Barneys.

Shop this gift guide:
1. Nux Focus Bra, $38. Available online at NuxUSA.com.
2. Lululemon Premium Technithong, $16. Available online at lululemon.com.
3. K2 Fling Snowboard, $399.95. Available online at k2snowboarding.com.
4. BTS Lingerie Well-Played Cardigan, $125. BTS Lingerie Well-Played Yoga Pant, $105. Available online at BTSLingerie.com.
5. Mischa Lampert Fro Tri Two-Tone Pom Hat, $109 (reg. $175). Available online at Barneys.com.

Hump Day Pick: Silk-Chiffon Ruffles from Jenny Packham

2012-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

image via net-a-porter.com

Don't lie to me—you love this too, don't you? I love the possibility of versatility with this jacket, read: just because it's called a "bed jacket" don't mean you gotta keep it in the bedroom. As long as you're not wearing heavy jewelry that'll snag it and ultimately make you sad, I think it's safe to say this would look amazing layered over jeans, a black bodysuit and riding boots.

But you know, this picture below totally sold me on keepin' it boudoir (I'm so going to trademark that) too:

image via net-a-porter.com

Ugh, Jenny Packham—why must you torture me with your silk confections of amazingness? Hump day indeed.

Jenny Packham Silk-Chiffon Bed Jacket, $565. Available at Net-A-Porter.com.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Pour La Francophile

2012-01-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

Oh, the Francophile. The fille who dreams of Paris, strolling along the Seine while nibbling on macarons and carrying a baguette under her arm. Adores Chanel and Hermès, and is constantly trying to learn the infinite ways French women seem have to tie a simple scarf (which somehow seems to create a whole new outfit, even if it's the same thing she wore the day before). Repeatedly watches Les Parapluies de Cherbourg and Amélie, playing La Vie en Rose on a loop on Saturday mornings while making breakfast...

Okay, you get the picture. But in case you still have absolutely no idea what to gift your French-loving lover for Valentine's day, here's a few suggestions.

Paris background image via.

Shop this gift guide:
1. Rituel by Carine Gilson Natalia soft-cup stretch-silk bra, $205. Natalia lace-trimmed stretch-silk shorts, $205. Available at Net-A-Porter.com.
2. Coco Mademoiselle EDP Spray, $64. Available at Chanel.com.
3. Hermès J'aime mon Carré vintage silk twill scarf, $325. Available at Hermes.com.
4. Macarons from bisous, ciao, pricing varies. Check here for details.
5. Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Inès de la Fressange, $18.02. Available at Amazon.com.

Hump Day Pick: A Pre-Valentine's Tease

2012-01-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

Mimi Holliday Frappe Lace and Silk-Satin Bra & Briefs

image via netaporter

I saw this set on at least the first four websites I browsed while looking for items to include in the gift guides I have coming up, and of course I couldn't resist posting this one on it's own. IT'S JUST SO PRETTTTYYYYYY. Y'all know I'm a sucker for Mimi Holliday's plunge bras, and the eyelash lace detail in this set is just to die for. Can you imagine that lace fanning out on your fanny? Bee-yoo-ti-ful. Make sure you do your hamstring exercises to tone and lift your bootay for these gorgeous undies.

Mimi Holliday Frappe Lace and Silk-Satin Plunge Bra, $90. Frappe Lace and Silk-Satin Briefs, $70. Available at Net-A-Porter.com.