Maybe I am dating myself, but listening to the Beach Boys while suffering on the treadmill today got me in to a summer thinking mode.  After all, Memorial Day is nigh. Bathing suit season looms. That’s another story.  I found the perfect camouflage in the market last week at The Nightwear Network showroom from the hot LA based brand, Cover UP by VP.  Twelve dynamic prints in nine easy silhouettes complete this fresh collection of lounge and cover up styles.  Designed in airy light poly chiffon and available in sizes S-M-L, they are made in the USA. Splashes of color, blazing sun, blue water, a cool ocean breeze, white sand beaches and sultry nights:  At least a girl can dream! Inquiries: NNetwork@aol.com

“Summer Is The Time When One Sheds One’s Tensions With One’s Clothes. . .”
Ada Louise Huxtable

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READ BREAST BRIEFS:”Lingerie Options After Mastectomy”
by Elisabeth Dale

READ LINGERIE THAT LINGERS:”Vintage Design Technique~Honeycooler Handmade”
by Layla L’Obatti

READ BRIDAL BRIEFS: “Modern Vintage Bride~Samantha Chang”
by Ellen Lewis

I am not much of a TV watcher, but once in a while I find myself totally absorbed in a series that manages to capture my imagination.  I usually wait a season or two for positive buzz and then I settle into Netflix, commercial free and non-stop. My most recent obsession is the highly acclaimed “Revenge”.  The story contradicts everything I believe.  It is a testimony to over-indulgence, payback and blind ambition but I am hooked.  I will say that the underlying theme, that any problem can be solved with perseverance, appeals to me. Excuses aside, I think it’s the guilty pleasure one gets watching the rich and famous and the glamorous lifestyles they perpetuate. Nothing showcases it better than the sumptuous South Hampton parties that weave through this provocative tale.   It’s fun to pretend that life is a party, even if the moment never lasts.  I think, perhaps, that “Revenge” is the modern Gatsby.

My question is: what’s underneath the gorgeous fashions that these characters wear?  I would not be surprised if many of these dresses are supported by Va Bien’s new Marquise Collection.  This venerable brand has already established itself as a major player in the lingerie solutions market, but the feedback on this sexy new collection, anchored by this strapless basque (2527) demands attention.  Engineered with the same patented ultra-lift bra construction for which Va Bien is known, the low back combines drama with function insuring that all bases are covered.  Fitting sizes 32-38, B-E cups, this style is sure to play a major role in Va Bien’s famous repertoire.  Party Smartly.

“Design Is A Constant Challenge to Balance Comfort and Luxe,
the Practical With The Desirable” ~Donna Karan

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Available At:

Marc & Max: New York, NY
Bare Necessities: Lutherville, MD
Trousseau: Vienna,VA
Whispers: Milford, CT
Corset Shop Intimates: Saginaw, MI
Top Drawer: Houston, TX
Top Drawer: Bedford, NH
Laura’s Corset Shop: Glendale, CA
La De Da Lingerie: Webster, TX
Lingerie by Susan: Edison, NJ
Blossom Boutique: Guaynabo, PR
The Dain Shoppe: Morristown, NJ
G Boutique: Chicago, IL
The Ivory Corset: Andover, MA
Lady Olga’s: Hamden, CT
Mme Pirie’s: Albany, NY
Arabella: Marblehead, MA
BareNecessities.com

READ CURVY BRIEFS:
“Bravo! Bravado” by Lindsey Borchard

READ AN INTIMATE VISION:
“The Home of Heartbeats~Murano Lyrical Wonder” by Marina Rybak

READ RETAILER GALLERY:
“Featuring Bella Intimates” in Rye, NH

I am always looking for the unexpected, that special something that peeks through the mundane and catches my eye.  I call it street fashion, the take no prisoners personality that defines charisma.  When it’s personal, intimate and just the right amount of flirty, than the dynamic is irresistible.  There are so many girls searching for affordable feel good lingerie.  I walked into the Kensie showroom a few weeks ago and was totally overwhelmed by a banquet of color, pattern and texture.  Finally a brand dedicated to fun.  Summer is coming when whimsy chic plays well with the confidence that comes from exploring new options.  I believe in youth!

 “I Believe That Happy Girls Are The Prettiest Girls” ~ Audrey Hepburn

READ RETAIL BRIEFS: “Growing Through Change” by Ali Cudby

READ LINGERIE THAT LINGERS: “All Tied Up ~ Knickerocker” by Layla L’Obatti

My personal pipe dream was to one day relinquish all the “stuff” that clutters our lives as we “grow up” and return to a lifestyle of simple aesthetics. For me, the more tropical climates answer that call. There is something about the heat and the light that influences the local complexion. There is a perpetual aura of contentment in the air. I first discovered this in my 20’s while vacationing in Columbia and once again it surfaces now in the seductive underpinnings of CLO Intimo. Inspiration comes from many places, but it is owner and creative director, Claudia Ochoa who shows us how the juxtaposition of color in provincial architecture has evolved into the eclectic designs of her bralets and panties. In this video, Claudia describes the origin of the popular Malla Collection.

When my eldest daughter graduated from college she embarked on a classic rite of passage and departed with her best friend for a 6 week trip through Europe.  Having saved for this journey for months, they left with only backpacks and great expectations.  On a very tight budget, it was pretty obvious that souvenirs would have to be mostly in the mode of life forming memories.  So when she returned home with nothing but dirty laundry, some crumpled postcards and several pairs of Cosabella’s signature Soiré thongs, I should have been surprised.  For a cash challenged young woman, these were not the least expensive panties she could have found.  But she grew up exposed to my world; lingerie designers, sample rooms and shopping trips.  She was hooked early. So when I suggested that perhaps her money might have been spent more productively, she pushed back asserting that I had taught her to buy less, but buy the best.

That was 10 years ago and now at age 30, her taste has only grown even more discerning.  So when Cosabella launched the new Trenta collection to celebrate their 30^th birthday, I knew that they already had a fan.   Trenta is a rich assortment of intimates that reflect this brands quest for satisfying young savvy women with an adventurous lifestyle. The thong, shown here with the cropped cami, is constructed with a single back seam in a very sheer lace, 6 years in development. One size fits all, it is available in a slew of colors.  My Dad always told us that character is defined by the age of 30.  These styles clarify that Cosabella knows who they are: savvy, sexy, sophisticated with a penchant for fun and a thirst for a colorful lifestyle.

“Teach Your Children Well”  ~Graham Nash

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Available At:

Rabat, San Francisco, CA
Panty Raid: Los Angeles, CA
Picket Fences: Los Angeles, CA
Zitomer: NYC, NY
Sugar Cookies: NYC, NY
Laina Jane:NYC, NY
Journelle: NYC, NY
Petticoat Lane: NYC, NY
Silk Worm: Essex, CT
Deborah Winthrop: Portsmouth, RI
Red Cat Melissiana: Taos, NM
Crescent Moon: Oklahoma City, OK
By Request: Fayetteville, AR
Soho Botique: Portland, OR
Jinjor Boutique: Olympia, WA
Comme Les Filles: Sun Valley, ID
Lace Silhouettes: Princeton, NJ
Le Soutien: Denver, CO
Ella’s Room: Jacksonhole: WY
Fife & Bootzie: Maui, HI
Barbara Silverman: Miami, FL
G Boutique: Chicago, IL
Allure Intimate Apparel: Mequon, WI
Harp’s Fine Lingerie: Birmingham, MI
Hush Intimate Apparel: Brighton, MI
Knickers of Hyde Park: Cincinatti, OH

READ INTIMATE PLEASURES:
“Lingerie Trends Inspire Spring Fashion”
by Margaret Shrum

When I was young, I used to give my mother a single rose on Mother’s Day.  She told me that to truly appreciate the perfection of this flower, it needed to stand alone.  Eventually this offering became a tradition and now, every time I see one, I am reminded of this extraordinary woman, her warmth, her class, her beauty both inside and out.  I have never made much of this holiday, since one day a year seems a sparse concession to a person whose job lasts a lifetime.  What could one really offer her to compensate?  When I discovered the Julianna Rae II Cieli Spa wrap I knew I had finally discovered a gift worthy of my mom.  Practical, elegant and uniquely designed, this bathrobe is completely reversible serving two sides of a woman’s needs.  The finest Egyptian terry paired with a luxurious silk charmeuse makes this robe, sizes XS – XXL, as precious as that exquisite single rose..

“To Give Anything Less Than Your Best, Is To Sacrifice The Gift.”
~ Steve Prefontaine

READ BRIDAL BRIEFS: “Shower Her With Lingerie” by Aimee Guthinger

READ CURVY BRIEFS: “Bras For Breastfeeding” by Lindsey Borchard

READ AN INTIMATE VISION: “Paper Couture by Caterina Crepax” by Marina Rybak

When I was in college, my British born boyfriend introduced me to Bassett’s Licorice Allsorts.  Every time I see this confectionery mixture I have a Proustian moment.  It forever brings me back to those halcyon days when I was captivated by him and the possibility of changing the world.  It was the late 1960’s. We were fresh, earnest and very serious about our futures; we had no idea how joyous our lives really were.  It was a very charmed time; the sweet taste of freedom, the delicious knowledge that our lives were before us and the power we held in our bosom to make a difference.   Those candies will forever be a symbol of great expectations and promise.  I have graduated now to the deep richness of truly dark chocolate, but when I see those licorice sweets, I am always reminded of the temptations of youth.

When I first saw the b.wow’d plunge push up bra assortment from b.tempt’d by Wacoal, I had a piquant flashback to the delightful memories associated with college days.  They evoked a comparison to those mouthwatering treats on which we always splurged; particularly this black sample with purple highlights. It recalls the seductive flavor of black licorice, colored sugar and feeling special about oneself. This style (943187), sewn in one piece and fitting sizes 32 – 36 B – DD cups, is available in 6 different color combinations. Young women with a fashion appetite might choose more than one. No wonder this bra has become a best-selling item in those stores who have decided to indulge.

“That It Will Never Come Again Is What Makes Life Sweet” ~ Emily Dickinson

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Available At:

A Fitting Place: Memphis,TN
Bare Essentials Plus: Wilmington, DE
Basics Underneath: New Orleans, LA
Bloom Lingerie:  Hingham, MA
Blums Corset Shop: Patchogue,NY
Bra-La-La: Fulton, MD
City Drawers: Belfast, ME
Confidentially Yours: Champaign, IL
Dain Shops: Morristown, NJ
Donna Bella Lingerie: Corvallis,OR
Feminine Fancies: Barrington, RI
Freudian Slip: Eugene, OR
Girlfriends: Peru, IL
Harps:  Birmingham, MI
Intimate Designs:  Independence, MO
JB’s Express: San Luis Obispo, CA
Lilibeas: West Reading, PA
Muriel’s Intimate Apparel: Holland, MI
Muse: Tulsa, OK
Perky Peacock: New Braunfels, TX
Queen of Hearts:  Newport, OR
Ribbon and Bows: Lubbock, TX
Ruth’s: Cranston, RI
Tina’s Closet: Lisle, IL
Top Drawer LLC: Exeter, NH
Barbara Graves: Little Rock, AR
Knickers of Hyde Park: Cincinnati, OH

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READ RETAILER GALLERY: “Featuring Flannel & Lace”

READ RETAIL BRIEFS: “Sell The Product’s Heritage ~ Fit Britches” by Ali Cudby

READ LINGERIE THAT LINGERS: “Dottie’s Delights Channels Liz” by Layla L’Obatti