Fortnight Lingerie

This pretty little bra and panty set just made my morning. Named after one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs, how can I do anything but adore this style from Fortnight Lingerie.
I want. I want. I want.

Wear It Again Bridesmaid Dress

Sometimes when I get a little bored I like to shop my own closet. I like to pour myself a glass of wine and pick through my clothes to make some outfits for work, events or just a night out on the town. I love clothes—this is fun for me. I got going last night and as I was tossing out some old, old dresses, I came across this J. Crew bridesmaid dress from my friend Maura's wedding.

I like this dress. And aside from the fact that it is listed on J. Crew's website under the Weddings and Parties category, it doesn't really look like a bridesmaid dress. Now, I can't imagine wearing this to another wedding. It's just my luck that the bride will have picked out the exact same dress for her maids. That would happen to me. But I thought this dress was really worth saving, so I dug into my closet for some style accessories to help me change the look.  Here's what I came up with:

I pulled this cheery yellow J. Crew cardigan on over the dress and added a brown leather belt. I think it helps keep things casual. I don't own these darling Seville Wedge Espadrills  so I slipped on a pair of nude ballet flats instead. Oh and the wine. I always accessorize with pinot noir. And there you have it: A bridesmaid dress has been reborn! 

What do you think of my second time around bridesmaid dress? Have you ever given one of your bridesmaid dresses another day in the sun?

Proper Bra Storage Tips

I have a lot of bras. Truthfully, I wear two or three of them all the time—a seamless nude bra and a padded black push-up are my everyday staples. But I can never say no to a pretty bra. Therefore, I have lots of pretty bras all crumpled a drawer. Additionally, last summer I went through a bright bra phase and now I have lots of bright bras crumpled in the drawer, too. Typing that made me cringe a little bit. My bras—pretty, bright or basic—should not be crumpled anywhere!

One of my favorite lingerie retailers, Bella Bella Boutique came to the rescue with some bra storage tips on Facebook. They say that dividing your bras and panties and stacking your bras, like so, will help them keep their shape.

I used to fold my bras and stuff them into a drawer divider, but I like this stacking method much better. And see that pretty eyelash lace in the front? It used to get all bent out of shape. Lying it flat keeps the lace in place and looking pretty. And when I am spending $50 -$90 on a good bra, you can bet I want to keep it in good shape.

During this cleaning adventure I also discovered that Pepper is a big fan of lingerie. I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised at all. Luckily, I had a cat nip mouse on hand to distract her and was able to save that pretty bra from the claws of death.

So tell me, how do you store your bras? Got an intimate apparel storage advice? 

Spring Wardrobe Lusting!! Plus My Shopping Plan

My mom mailed me the spring Lilly Pultizer catalog. I have no idea why my mom receives this catalog, (because she's awesome,) but now I'm thinking, "Why am I not getting it?" One look at these preppy dames partying it up in pretty prints and I was done. Now I need a vacation and a new dress. (Another new dress, my J. Crew order is arriving today.)

I want to be a smart shopper this spring, so I am going to stick to buying clothes in the same style and color family. I'm trying to buy things that will work well together and with the items in my existing wardrobe, rather than impulse buy the newest trends just because they jump off the rack at me. I started a Pinterest board a week ago with all my favorite picks—a chambray shirt that will pair with colored pants (I've got like 10 pairs, no lie) and classic skirts, a pair of J. Crew chino shorts and a cute short sleeve cardigan (because air conditioners are lurking everywhere). I also pinned some pretty dresses that would be perfect for weddings and other fun summer affairs and lots of yellow. Yellow is going to be my spring color. So now when I shop, I am looking for items similar to the ones I've pinned and I think that should keep me in good shopping shape. We'll see if this works!!! (I do have a few impulse pins. I don't really NEED three Lilly Pulitzer dresses.)

I know this winter has been kind to us, but now that I've got this pin board up and running I am itching to ditch my winter coat. I love my coat A LOT and it makes me feel so put together when I wear it, but lately I've been dreading the moment I have to slip it on.

I want my jean jacket.
I want my J. Crew chino shorts.
I want the Eryn dress from Lilly Pulitzer.

And I want to wear all of these things to a beach somewhere in not too distant future.

That is all. Thank you.

Kate Spade's New Wedding Belles Collection

 Kate Spade Debut Dress

Rise and shine, lovers! I just spent the better part of the morning chasing my kitten off the kitchen table, the kitchen counter and away from the house plant. I think someone slipped somethin' in her coffee this morning because she is literally scaling the walls. I did, however, have a quick second to click open an exciting e-mail from Kate Spade. Her new Wedding Belles collection is out and I am thrilled to see so many lovely white party frocks and darling accessories for brides and their maids. I wish I could go back and give my friends these stunning Idiom Bangles. The dress above is one of my favorites with its frilly, feminine skirt. It is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, but I can totally see a city hall bride rocking this look with a birdcage veil for her big day, too.

Have a look at the rest of the Wedding Belles collection. Which styles are your favorites?  

My Favorite Lingerie

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to take a look at one of my all time favorite lingerie brands—Cosabella. It’s an Italian brand run by the most charming people you can imagine. They recently opened a flagship store in Soho and I was so excited to have the chance to visit and see some of their newest collections.

I’ve been a big fan of Cosabella lingerie since my very first job as an editorial assistant at an intimate apparel trade publication. One of their Soire bras landed on my desk for a photo shoot and I nearly died on the spot. I just had to get one for myself.

I’ve since stocked piled Cosabella’s mesh bras and thongs—they are comfortable enough to wear everyday, but are stylish and colorful enough to make you feel super sexy all day long. I also have a several Cosabella chemises and they are my favorites because they fit just right and feel so good on. Their pieces are so wearable that I just can’t find any excuses to stop buying their lingerie.

It’s starting to become a problem.

Tell me readers, where do you buy your lingerie? And what are your favorites? Will you be buying something new for February 14th?

Wedding Fashion: Bridesmaid’s Shoe Edition

Ladies, I saw something on the red carpet the other day that surprised me—matchy-match shoes. Yes, that’s a correct fashion term. I read it Women’s Wear Daily. (No I didn’t.)

Michelle Williams and Julie Bowen both showed up to the SAG Awards in shoes the exact shade of their gowns.

Behold:

 {via}

I was a little surprised when I saw the shoes. I thought metallic and nude heels had taken over. Those neutral shades are always my first choice for bridesmaids. I wore gold heels with an eggplant gown and nude shoes with a blue dress. And when I scroll through blogs and magazine features I never see girls in shoes that match their dresses.

What do you think of this look? Do you think brides will have their girls running out to have their shoes dyed?

Problem: Wrong bra size. Solution: An Intimate Affair in NYC

Let’s get to know each other a little better, shall we? If you’ve stopped by this here blog more than once you probably know that I’m not a full time blogger, but that I make a living as a magazine writer and editor. Which magazine? Well The Lingerie Journal to be exact. It’s an online trade publication for professionals in the intimate apparel industry. It gives me the chance to talk with retailers and manufacturers and learn a thing or two about how they run their businesses and it also lets me spend some time drooling over the latest lingerie styles. I love fashion to pieces, but I think I love intimate apparel more. Lace, ruffles and chiffon all make me melt a little whenever I see them. And then I usually buy them. There are several drawers dedicated to my underwear in our house.

{via}

 

Now that we’re a bit more acquainted, let’s talk a little bit about intimates. I feel like we’re close enough to talk about this stuff now, don’t you? My good friend Moira of Bra La Mode just told me about a bra fitting event she’s hosting at Bra*Tenders in New York City on January 29. I’m really excited about this event because not enough brides give wedding day intimates their due credit and I think this is just the thing to make people realize how very important they are. The reporter in me needed to know more so I picked up the phone and called Lori Kaplan, the owner of Bra*Tenders to learn about what she’s doing for women. She had this to say: “A lot of seamstresses will tell a bride to come to her first fitting with the undergarments she is going to wear with the dress. The dress will fit a completely different way without them and this is sometimes a huge awakening for a bride.”

What’s really shocking is that it’s not only brides who don’t consider intimates enough. Most women are wearing the wrong bra size, Lori says. “The right bra can make you look ten pound thinner and ten years younger in one minute. It makes a woman feel more confident and a woman who feels good about herself will go out and do good things in the world.”

Whoa.

Will the right size bra help you find the cure to cancer? Maybe. Lori mentioned one customer, a makeup artist, who was wearing the wrong size bra. “The back was riding up and the straps were falling down and she ended up spending the whole day fidgeting with her bra.” So if you’re a cancer research doctor, I suggest you book an appointment with Lori right away.

Here’s how you’ll know if your bra is the wrong size:
-You have side-boob.
-Your boobs are spilling out the side.
-You have four boobs instead of two.
-Your boobs bounce A LOT when you move.

If you’ve experienced any of these boob symptoms, it might mean you’re wearing a bra that’s too big or too small. But don’t let me be the judge of that—speak to the expert.

ATTEND: Bra La Mode’s Intimate Affair at Bra*Tenders 630 Ninth Avenue at 44th street in NYC. January 29, 2012 @ 12:00. 

RSVP here. Then tell me, are you wearing the right size bra?

Brides: Steal These Golden Globe Trends

Did everyone watch the Golden Globes? I watched, but only for one reason—to see the dresses. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been dazzled by the red carpet gowns celebrities wear for these elaborate award shows. Before my prom, and even my wedding, I flipped through the pages of People Magazine to see which award show hair styles I liked best and which accessories would work with my dress.

On Sunday I watched with the same amazement as my favorite TV and movie starts flounced down the red carpet in the most amazing dresses. I don’t remember who won most of the awards, but I do know who looked great. And if you’re planning a wedding, I saw some neat trends I think will inspire you.

1. First up, Claire Danes caught my eye. Maybe it’s because I’m a HUGE fan of Homeland where she plays an incredibly insane person who I love and am annoyed with all at the same time. Maybe. But I thought she looked great. I loved the black and white dress and its open back and I thought her simple bun looked effortless and chic. (I mean effortless in a good way. I really liked the way it looked.) I’d like to see more bridesmaids adopt this look! Perhaps I will.

{via} 

2. Paula Patton was so sexy in MI:3. 4? Was it MI:4? Who cares! The movie was great, go see it. And then let’s talk about her daring yellow dress. I smiled when I saw this color on her. I just bought a really bright yellow bag so it’s kind of my new favorite color. The only problem I have with yellow is that it doesn’t match my skin tone too well. I don’t think I’d ever be able to rock a yellow frock. But I wish I could. I’m a big believer that bridesmaid should wear muted tones like navy or gray, but if your girls have the right coloring and the right attitude (I mean fun, do you have fun friends?) then they might be able to pull this off. I do think this color would work better for smaller bridal parties. Ten maids in screaming hot yellow might be a bit too much.

{via}

3. Dear, Shailene Woodley. I have not seen your movie because it looks like it’s going to make me sad. Also, I think I know you from another movie but I don’t know which one. (A little help here? Oh, The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Thanks, Google.) Now, if your movie is anything like your Golden Globes look then I will run out and see it right away because it must be absolutely stunning. You looked like a goddess with the draping and the sparkle and your hair was so elegant. Thank you for being so great.

{via}

Now take this dress and chop off the bottom. Voila, you now have the most elegant bridesmaid dress known to woman kind. I like this version from WToo.

4. My girl Charlize Theron rocked a sparkly headband. If you’re a bride I suggest you pin this image onto your “Wedding” board, print it out, rush to your hairdresser and ask for this look. As for this headband—you can probably find something close on Etsy.

{via}

I have many more favorites and you can see them on this pintrest board I created. Follow me on Pinterest. Then tell me what you thought of the Golden Globes fashion. Any one disagree with my picks? And what wedding/special occasion trends did you see?

What Did You Wear Beneath Your Gown?

I need your help today, ladies. I’m curious to know what you wore—or are wearing—under your wedding gown. I’m a big believer that the right undergarments make an outfit. And I think we all put some thought into what we wear under our clothes each day. This morning, for example, I had selected a cheery yellow bra only to find that the color showed through my blouse. That was not going to work. So let’s talk about wedding day foundations.

I hadn’t thought much about what I would wear under my gown. (That’s not entirely true, I wanted a baby blue Hanky Panky.) Luckily, I had a wonderful seamstress who thought of this for me. When I went for my first dress fitting I was instructed to bring my shoes and my undergarments. I brought shoes. My dress felt like a suit of armor, I didn’t think I’d need anything under it. As the pinning and tucking began, the seamstress asked again about undergarments. I was barely filling out the dress and she said that if I wanted any cleavage I’d need a bra. Well, duh? I thought. Why would I think my gown would take on the work of a bra? She clipped me into a longline bra from Le Mystere, and sewed some extra pads in for good measure. It was the icing on the cake. Wait, let’s try that again. It was the icing on the cupcakes. I was now officially stacked and the bust of my dress didn’t dent in where boobs were supposed to be anymore.

The bra cost about $130, which is more than I’d typically spent on a bra. But in the end it was so worth it. The bra not only made the dress, it made several other dresses I’ve worn since. In September I wore it under a bridesmaid dress in my best friend’s wedding. When I first tried the dress on without the bra, it slumped down and almost fell off, but it fit like a glove with the bra on. “That’s why it’s so important to bring the undergarments you’re going to wear to each fitting,” said my tailor. When I suggested I may or may not wear Spanx under my dress, too, he just shook his head. You’d think I would have learned by now!


So tell me. What did you—or are you planning to—wear under your wedding gown? Leave your comments below!

To Boudoir or Not To Boudoir?

Source: sarahyatesblog.com via Libby on Pinterest

Boudoir photography Have you ever considered it? I really want to go for it, but nothing has worked out for me yet. I’m not hesitating because I’m too shy. I just haven’t found the right time to sink serious dollars into it. With most packages coming in at over $500, I have not felt financially ready to pull the trigger. I’m getting there. I think boudoir sessions are a great boost of confidence for us ladies. Our bodies are awesome things, all of us. Do you hear me? Yes, you. You’re hot. Sure, a boudoir session is an awesome gift to plan for your man, but I think every woman should also consider this a gift to herself. There, that’s like two gifts for the price of one. Does that justify the high cost? I’m warming up to the idea. When I finally do get there, here’s what I have in mind:

A fun little theme: I always like to do things a little differently, so it’s natural that I want to steer away from the typical lying on the bed/straddling a chair/leaning on the wall poses. I love taking baths, and I love taking baths in big claw foot bath tubs. I love vintage stuff, too. I think it would be fun to stage a pretty powder room shoot with lots of antique props like glass perfume bottles and hand mirrors. In my head everything is the perfect shade of blush pink.
Nice lingerie: I don’t believe in trashy lingerie and here’s why. Women buy that for men. Ladies, you should be buying lingerie for yourself. It should make you feel good, even when, no, especially when you wear it under your clothes and you’re the only one who knows it’s there. If it comes from France, chances are it will make you feel like Julia Roberts.
Hair and makeup: It’s a must. That is all.

Fun money saving tip -----> A lot of photographers offer special group rates. Why not plan a boudoir party in lieu of a bachelorette party? As you can see from the above image by Sarah Yates Photography, it looks like a lot of fun! See more here! Ask your wedding photographer if they offer any special packages for current  clients. Or looking into shooting (and shopping) in a pretty lingerie store like Faire Frou Frou in LA.


So lovely readers of the blog, what are your feelings on boudoir photography? Would you ever schedule a session on your own?

Bye Bye Bye Thongs! Hello High-Waisted Briefs!

This just in: Thongs are out!

What?

Yes, you heard me right. That tiny piece of butt floss Victoria’s Secret has brainwashed you into thinking was sexy, isn’t anymore. That’s a pretty strong statement. I was a little shocked myself when I heard the news last week at a trend presentation on intimate apparel. But how can you argue with a panel of experts who specialize in trend analysis?

Now, don’t go tossing away your thongs just yet. I believe they are still a very functional part of a woman’s intimate wardrobe. We’d all have a much harder time wearing white pants if it weren’t for thongs. But it terms of sex appeal, styles with more coverage—like a retro inspired high cut brief or silky tap pant—have more of it. More coverage equal sex appeal for all! Yippee!

This is great news because tap pants are pretty darn comfortable. If you’re packing for your honeymoon, I suggest you swap in a few pairs of these and wear them with a pretty camisole. They are comfortable enough to lounge or sleep in, which is more than you can say about many other styles.

So what do you say? Are you willing to try out a pair?

 

Stella McCartney via Fair Frou Frou

 

Mimi Holliday via Journelle

What's Your Dream Dress?

Just wondering: Did anyone pick out their wedding dress before they, um, were engaged? I'm 100 percent guilty of this, but I have a good excuse. I interned for a bridal magazine my senior year of college and in addition to researching hot honeymoon spots and fact checking real weddings I had the opportunity to assist the fashion editors. I got to work at one or two shoots, but I mostly just sorted through boxes of shoes and dresses in the "fashion closet". (Which was absolutely not a bad way to spend an entire day.)
I fell in love with this dress from a small designer in Seattle, Madina Vadache.

I died for this dress in, um, 2005. I didn't really think it would still be waiting for me when it came time to marry. I honestly kept my eye on it for years. And then all of the sudden it was Go Time and I kinda forgot about it. I still love this dress--the high lace collar and cap sleeves are so regal. But I didn't see myself in this dress on the big day.

So want to see what I did see myself in on the big day?

Anne Barge 612

Awwww. That was an awesome moment. Basically, I took my initial idea and pumped it up a little. I never tried on my dream dress, but once I was in my actual dress it was like no others existed. 

Am I the only one who picked the dress before the husband? And if so, did you stick with it?

Let's Talk About Diamonds

Almost engaged girls: I've got a great tip for your man. Elizabeth Taylor's famous collection of jewelry is going to be auctioned off this December at Christie's. Among the stash is a perfect, brilliant and probably very heavy 33.19 carat diamond ring set in platinum. What better way for him to ask you to be his wife than with this iconic jewel!!

What would you do with this much diamond? 

Wouldn't that be nice.

But really, let's talk about diamonds. Would you, or have you, ever discussed engagement ring details with your man? Some women say this little chat is a must--they don't want to get stuck wearing and ugly ring for ever. And plenty of other ladies go ring shopping with their guys and pick out their diamond.

I stand on the other side of this debate. Picking out my own ring would have take away so much of the excitement and surprise of getting engaged. Sure, right before it happened I had my suspicions. There were mysterious phone calls and weekends we just had to spend apart. And I thought that was exciting. If I knew there was a ring tucked away somewhere, I think I would have felt pretty impatient and some of the magic would have been lost. We may have talked a little bit about the style of the ring, but I didn't feel any pressure to hint strongly about what I wanted. That's because I didn't really know what I wanted and I knew that Keith would pick out something that I would like, too. (And he did!)


Where do you stand? Who picked out their ring? And who made suggestions about what they wanted? Is anyone willing to let their man do the shopping alone, or am I the only one?

Celebrate Good Times (Come On)! It’s National Underwear Day!

I’m putting the Honeymoon post on hold because right now I've got some breaking news: Friday is National Underwear Day. Hopefully, you’re reading this early enough to slip into your favorite pair. If not, head over to www.freshpair.com to order yourself some new skivvies.

I can’t pick a favorite. I’m a big fan of the original lace thong (low rise, of course) from Hanky Panky. If you’re not a thong-wearer, I swear this will change you. It’s got a wider gusset than most thongs and it’s made from the stretch lace. While it may cost a bit more ($18), it won’t dig into your sides. I have a pair in nude and black and they are absolute wardrobe staples. Fun Fact: A baby blue Hanky Panky was my "something blue".

Pretty and comfy!

Cosabella also makes a one-size fits all thong called Never-Say-Never, which I love just as much as Hanky Panky, and their colors are really fun. I just got one in eggplant that I think I’ll wear to my best friend’s wedding in September since that’s the color of our bridesmaid dresses! Shopping Tip: The "Cutie" style is their low-rise cut.

I would celebrate National Underwear by buying myself a new pair, but I literally just did. (And I’ll likely buy more again soon!) So I’m urging you to throw away those granny panties and try something new. You can thank me later.

What are you wearing for National Underwear Day? More importantly, what new style are you indulging in today? If you could splurge on any new style, what would it be?

It's My Barge in a Box

You get married, you party all night long and in the morning you wake up and your wedding gown is in a huge heap on the floor. (Or in my case, the stiff layers of crinoline kept it standing upright.) Now what? I had spent plenty of time worrying about how my gown would make its grand exit the next morning. I had a team armed with very large garments bags in play. Their assignment was to help guide the dress down to the only vehicle with a trunk large enough for it. That was as far as my plan went.

Later my mom informed me that she had arranged to have the dress cleaned and preserved. “It sounds nice,” she said. “They put a copy of your invitation inside the box with it.” It did sound nice and I was secretly relieved that I didn’t have to make a case for saving the dress for an unknown future daughter. It was just done. But my relief turned to concern when I saw my gorgeous ball gown shoved into a three foot cardboard box. It looked like a silver coffin with a plastic window similar to a box a doll would come in. The bodice was stuffed on a paper body form and only the top of the skirt is visible. It looked like a life-sized Wedding Day Barbie, but without the beautiful skirt.



The tulle layers that I fell in love with were not visible. Scrunched inside this box, I imagined they will come out looking as shriveled as my crushed tutus that still hang in the attic. But that wasn’t really the problem as it’s unlikely anyone will wear this dress ever again. What upset me was that my wedding dress is shrink-wrapped away and my favorite part of the dress, its voluminous skirt, would be gone forever. I immediately wished for a daughter and swore I’ll open the box on her 18th, no 16th, wait 3rd birthday. Then I bowed my head for a moment of silence as I paid my last respects to my Anne Barge wedding gown.

There she is on her (only) day in the sun.
Let's all have a moment of silence for my gown.

Ok folks, has anyone else preserved their wedding dress. Does it creep you out staring at you in that wedding dress coffin? Does anyone miss it? I sort of thought I would slip it on again when no one was home and I’m slightly disappointed I can’t do that. Anyone else?

Image: Cynthia Brown Studio
Flowers: Blush Floral Design
Dress: Anne Barge