In these schizophrenic days of Portland winter (I just watched the weather go from misty rain to snow to sun, then back to very heavy rain in under 5 min.) it’s hard to know whether an umbrella is going to be a mandatory accessory for the day or just a cumbersome irritation. Most Portlanders seem to be vehemently opposed to this functional tool, dismissing it as an unnecessary and unfashionable trinket. Perhaps that’s because they haven’t seen my collection of Japanese umbrellas.

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At my husband’s suggestion, I will be presenting a series of educational posts for the men out there who don’t know a chemise from a teddy. They may not all be terribly enlightening for our female readers, but at least they will benefit in the long run by having a place to direct their boyfriends. If the male in your life gives you a quizzical look and his eyes glaze over when you ask for a cami/tap panty set for Valentine’s Day, you know where to send him! So, without further ado….

Part One: The Underwire Brassiere

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Since the other Sara’s on vacation and I miss her, I thought I’d do a Sara post, complete with Wikipedia citations. If you’ve ever wondered why silk is so expensive, read on:

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Not really. A lot of women harbor under this misconception, and although it often works to go up a cup size and/or down a band size, that’s simply because the so-called Standardized Bra Sizes aren’t very accurate. Take, for example, this International Bra Size Converter site, which is supposed to accurately tell you what size you wear in any country. (more…)

Well, you’ve made it through another Christmas - overindulging in those rich, fatty foods, drinking one too many glasses (or bottles) of champagne and feigning gratitude for the 29th ugly sweater from Aunt Jeannie. Going through the arduous process of returning an unwanted gift is such a drag. Thank goodness for Gift Cards! You can skip the hellish mall crowds and shop online in your pajamas, nursing your hangover with a mimosa. Even if you didn’t get the plastic fantastic from the store of your choice, you can always log on to any of the dozens of sites (i.e cardavenue.com, swapagift.com, etc.) that have cropped up lately to facilitate gift card exchanges from big box stores like Target and Home Depot. (more…)

How do you tactfully present your sweetheart with a gift of lacy underthings when it’s time to open presents at Aunt Mary’s? God knows it’s going to embarrass the entire family if there’s a thong in the box. Perhaps this is a gift best given in private. A few cute ideas to make it a surprise: (more…)

If you’re planning a small event for a few of your best girlfriends, such as a bridal shower, bachelorette or birthday party, but you’d rather not rent a big space and the thought of male strippers or penis props scares the hell out of you, then perhaps a lingerie party at Lille Boutique is the answer. Tonight, we’re proud to host our first private event for one lovely bride and her four bridesmaids. They will be arriving via limousine at 6pm to shop to their hearts’ content before being whisked away to dinner at the Rocket. They’ll have exclusive access to our professional fitting and consultation services after-hours at no charge (minimum purchase applies.) If anyone out there wants more information on how to host their own event at Lille Boutique, please email us at info@lilleboutique.com. We look forward to helping you make that night a special one!

I always thought boyshorts were called ‘boyshorts’ because the are like the female equivalent of the boxer short. Which, I suppose, would mean bikinis are the female equivalent of the tighty whitey… or maybe tighty whiteys are the male equivalent of the bikini. Why, then, aren’t good old tighty whiteys called ‘girlshorts’? Hmmm? Is it because we’re living in a man’s world? I think the answer to that is no (although we are living in a man’s world), no I don’t think that’s the reason. I’ll tell you what I think the reason is… it’s because ‘boyshorts’ are NOT in fact named thusly due to their resemblance of a boy’s short on a woman. They are called ‘boyshorts’ because BOYS LOVE THEM. (more…)

You’ve racked your brain trying to think of a present for that special lady on your list this holiday season. You’ve scoured the malls, toured the DIY craft fairs and shopped online in the wee hours of the morning, to no avail. You’ve nixed clothing (the size issue), gift cards (too impersonal) and electronics (not romantic enough.) What’s left? It’s pretty obvious, actually….jewelry. The most romantic gift of all. But don’t be swayed by those cheesy Zale’s commercials. No one I know would be caught dead in a diamond heart pendant. Not only are diamonds expensive, but they’re also controversial. Sure, most mall stores claim their stones are all conflict-free, but can you really be sure? (more…)

Now that the holiday season in upon us, we have been getting a lot more male shoppers coming in to get gifts for their lady friends. Male shoppers… they can be tricky. Many of them come in and know exactly what they’re looking for and in which size, but there are equally as many men who become nervous, uncomfortable, and unsure as soon as they set foot in a lingerie shop. I’m certain that these are confident and intelligent men in any other circumstance, it’s just the whole ‘panty shop’ stigma. It’s not their fault, I get that textbook case of anxiety when I have to take my car in to the mechanic, it’s pretty much the same thing, except I don’t have to talk to the mechanic about “panties”… (more…)