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…)

My husband and I were at the Doug Fir last night, having a grand old time, when we were assaulted by an overpowering cologne so offensive that it seemed to permeate every log. The poor waitresses and bartenders were pinching their noses and gagging into their aprons, while the unsuspecting patrons went on about their business of polluting the air. Having been blessed/cursed with an unusually powerful sense of smell, I was immediately nauseated and began to scan the room for the offenders. (more…)

Sometimes when I’m sitting around, listening to Pet Sounds, I have this longing to be a beach hippy (much like how when the first hot days of summer come, I tend to have this burning desire to dress like a 70’s mom, and in the winter time I often long to look like Mary Tyler Moore). Those tomboyish beach hippy girls from the 60’s and 70’s, with their ratty hair and their perfect little bodies… you’ve seen them in old surf/skate footage, or at least in movies like Dogtown and Z Boys or Endless Summer. Sigh. I want to cooly slink around snapping my gum and wearing next-to-nothing, but not looking slutty. I’d love to get away with never doing a thing to my hair. I’ve always had a thing for old OP. (more…)

The Keyhole. Who invented the keyhole? When? I think I got my very first pair of panties with a keyhole some time around the late 90’s or so… I’m awful with time lines. Anyway, I don’t remember the date, but I do remember falling in love those underwears. There wasn’t much to them aside from the keyhole. They were plain black cotton/nylon/spandex/whatever bikinis with black lace trim and one of those ubiquitous bows, but I just loved the simplicity and sexiness of that keyhole. It is always a selling point for me: cute panty, bad color… keyhole? Done! I’ll take it. Great color, chintzy fabric… keyhole? Chintz schmintz, I’ll take it. Cutting out an elegant little hole right at the top of the- pardon my french- ass crack is a brilliant way to turn a pair of ho-hum drawers into hum-dinger panties. I’m sometimes tempted to take a pair of scissors to a few lack-luster top drawer denizens that I own just to spruce them up. (more…)

Stylish, timeless and iconic, a trench coat can be a girl’s best friend, especially when it’s as elegant as the “Opportunity” trench by The Lake and Stars. Made of a water-resistant cotton twill in a perfect shade of beige, or more charmingly, “Oyster”, it will keep you dry in the rain and warm all year round. The cut is traditional, but inspired, with interesting details like a silky contrasting vintage lining in baby blue with navy ships.

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I just got back from the dressing room and boy are my arms tired! But seriously folks, we got a shipment in today and after the whole receiving, tagging, steaming, hanging business, I couldn’t help myself… I snuck off to the dressing room with one of the We’re On Break rompers that those lovely ladies at The Lake and Stars just sent us. (more…)

Check out these great pix from our holiday photo shoot last night:

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So I’m sure you’ve all seen the Victoria’s Secret commercials advertising the new Spice Girls CD and touting the power of pajamas as a Christmas gift. I always change the channel too quickly to find out if they’re actually selling the CD or giving it away free, though I can’t imagine it’s the former and not the latter. Regardless, I just wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate the difference between huge corporate retailers like VS and small boutiques like Lille. (more…)

Like so many Pacific Northwest transplants, I believe I am afflicted with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), though I have yet to confirm this self-diagnosis with a medical professional. When the interminable rain begins in Portland, usually around Thanksgiving, the optimistic, happy-go-lucky persona I employ for the greater part of the year takes a 180, and I become markedly irritable, nostalgic and melancholic. In a word, SAD. Fortunately for my loved ones, it doesn’t rain every day here, contrary to popular belief. We do get the occasionally respite:

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One of my favorite things about Sarah, my dear dear partner in crime, is how different we are from one another. I love the dynamic of it. People often ask me with a puzzled look “how on earth do you know that chick?” I’m sure she’s been asked the same. (more…)

Lately, Lille Boutique has gotten a lot of nods from random sources - international blogs, online mags, local papers, and national publications are all catching on to our presence. This is great news for a small, locally owned boutique on an up-and-coming street in a city of just over half a million. Word of mouth goes a long was for us, which is why we pride ourselves on our customer service and ambiance - any regular can tell you, there’s no pushy salesclerk rushing you out of the store or trying to talk you into something that’s just not you. (more…)