Sorry the posts have been so sporadic lately - what with Spring/Summer ‘09 market week, the big end-of-summer sale, and the total webstore redesign, I’ve been a busy little bee. Speaking of the webstore - have you seen it lately? It’s pretty impressive, thanks to the geniuses over at Cularis. We’re nearly ready to formally announce it to the public, but just a few more tweaks need to happen - I’m so amazed by all the changes that I just had to point some of them out:

1-Revamped home page design with featured categories and products

2- Sale section with slash-through prices to indicate reductions

3- Product image gallery with multiple views and detail shots

4- Related product links for ease of shopping for matching sets

5- Zoom feature on main product image to see details on garments

6- Inventory-accurate pull-down size/color selection menu

7- Personalized log-in that saves preferences and keeps track of orders

8- Press page and photo gallery - video coming soon!

9- Streamlined checkout process with updated shipping calculator

10 - Gift registry/wish list- share your favorites with someone you love with a gentle nudge and a wink!

If you or someone you love needs a website, I highly recommend calling Cularis. Granted, I’m a bit biased, but I think they’re the most affordable high-quality option out there in the e-commerce world. And if you’re in Portland, they will hook you up with a sweet locals only deal!

garters by gatsby

Just a quick note to let you know that some sample Garters by Gatsby are in the store now!  All items are handmade in my workshop from vintage silk and lace.  As you can see, I have used buttons (or snaps) in place of the traditional garter fasteners, so these only work on knit or crocheted stockings by putting the loops through the holes.  The vintage silk thigh highs are strong enough to support this method, but I haven’t yet tested them on any other material.  I will be offering custom garters based on these prototypes, as well as some teddies and elegant silk chemises inspired by 1920s French nightgown patterns.  Here are a few more photos for a sneak preview:

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I’m very excited about the new line I discovered on my last trip to NYC - Loup Charmant, which means “the charming wolf.” Color me charmed by the sweet styles Kee Edwards crafts from 100% organic cotton voile.  Her crisp, white, summery pieces are not unlike the Bodas Cotton Mousseline series, but with a more modern edge - think racerback camis, halterneck maxi dresses and loose peasant blouses.  Kee is part of an independent design collective in New York called Ekovaruhuset, whose core focus is on sustainable, environmentally responsible and humanitarian friendly textile design and clothing production.  A very noble and timely cause indeed - Portlanders are always receptive to responsible consumption, so I am sure that Loup Charmant will be well received at Lille Boutique!

I received my shirts from the Rebecca and Drew Sample Sale, and I’m pleased to report that they fit perfectly! I was a bit skeptical, since sizing according to cup/band measurement is a tricky endeavor, even for lingerie manufacturers. But they did an excellent job of tailoring the waist so that it nips in under the bust in a really flattering way, unlike most dress shirts which leave you looking like a sad hobo clown if you buy them large enough to not bust open at the crucial spots. I applaud their innovation and look forward to their Fall collection!

I got an exciting package in the mail today - no, unfortunately, it wasn’t the Stella McCartney Fall order, but close…the Fall Catalog, with a disc of the images. I thought it would be fun to share some of these lovely photos with you, so without further ado:

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I’m pleased to report that the new shipment of Poet that just arrived includes the popular Chloe Chemise with some vast improvements -the straps are elasticized and adjustable, and the pesky gaping issue that tended to occur on the side boob has been resolved. We have the chemise in stock in both Black and White, and we also received some new styles that are just perfect cotton basics:

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We just got the first shipment in from our Fall order with Dessous. The Amelie jumper (pictured above) has the same great racerback cut as my favorite cami, the Alice. It comes in a soft rib knit with gorgeous floral embroidery on the front and can be worn as an over- or under-piece, not to mention the lounging possibilities! We also received the simple Lillian slip in ivory and the adorable Antonia romper in black. This one is a best-seller, so it’s sure to go quick! Keep your eyes peeled for more designs from the lovely Sophie Simmons, coming soon.

I’m so thrilled to announce the soft launch of the new webstore!   This is a bit premature, as I haven’t yet uploaded all the new product images or added video and photo galleries to the site, but I wanted to give you the heads up because I just couldn’t wait to share some of the new and exciting features with our regular customers.  As you can see, we have updated the overall look of the site with a cleaner interface and many more categories.  We now have featured products, product image galleries, slash-through prices on sale items (an actual sale section coming soon), an inventory-accurate size/color matrix, and much, much more.  The checkout process has been streamlined, and we will soon be accepting paypal and google checkout, which will make international purchases a breeze.   Happy Shopping!

We just got some new earrings in from a local designer named Susie, who uses only cruelty-free feathers in her simple, elegant designs that retail for just $24 a pair. She crafts interesting combinations of peacock, chicken, rooster and duck feathers that are very trendy and of-the-moment, but somehow classic in their appeal. (more…)

I’m so over this summer already. I can’t wait to pull out my cardigans and wool skirts and don my stockings again! For Fall, I’ll be dying the vintage silk knit thigh-highs the most gorgeous shades of charcoal, navy, olive, espresso, and maybe even an orange to coordinate with the forthcoming VPL B-Fractional Bra pictured above. To make room for all our fabulous new Fall styles, we’ll be marking down all Spring/Summer merchandise 30-70% off over the next week. The official End of Summer Sale starts next Thursday, but you loyal LIL readers can email me if there’s something you need first dibs on. Happy Bargain Hunting!

The Eve Giggling bra and bikini by Stella McCartney was a huge hit this Spring, so we got a full size run of the Lippy Red (pictured above), which just arrived today, and the Coral will be coming soon. This bra fits like a dream, as anyone who has tried it on can attest. It reminds me of the Eres Insolite, but it’s softer and more supportive. The new color is really fabulous too - more burgundy than the pix above seem to indicate - such a great shade for the Fall!

This is a bit silly, but I’ve had a real aversion to mannequins ever since I was about 21.  At the time, I was working in a vintage clothing store, where I would stand relatively still for long stretches of time, and people would often mistake me for one of the mannequins.  (It stands to reason, as I’m tall and ghostly pale, with a wig-like bobbed haircut.)  It got so irritating to be constantly startling people that I had to shift positions frequently and alert them of my presence so as not to give anyone a coronary.  Because of this, not to mention the creepy glass-eyed stare they give you, I decided against mannequins in the shop.  But I finally broke down and bought an elegant white one the other day.  This will enable me to update the webstore daily, rather than having to wait for a photo shoot with a model to showcase new merchandise.  And this one is headless, so I won’t have to endure the aforementioned mannequin syndrome.  Keep your eyes peeled for the Lille webstore redesign, coming soon!

Having just recovered from my Market Week experience, I’m finally ready to share some of the highlights of my trip with you. Some of the trends I’m seeing for next season include: (more…)

Today we received a shipment of the best-selling Pima Goddess Classic T-Shirt Bra and matching Low Rider Bikini by Eberjey. I have good news and bad, so which do you want first…I always prefer to hear the good news first, so here we go:

1 - The new colors are awesome. Garnet is a fun, bright fuchsia shade, and the Charcoal is even better in the T-Shirt than it was in the Deep V.  Also new in this cut are the Mocha and the White, just to round out the collection.

2 - We got a brand spanking new style called the Soft Cup Plunge Bra, which is sure to become a favorite, particularly for you fans of Araks and Bodas bralettes. Who needs underwire anyway.

3 - I doubled up on our sizes that sell out immediately, so there’s a good chance we will still have your size in a few weeks, which will be a nice change of pace!

…and now for the bad news, and I’m really sorry to have to be the one to report it, but Eberjey has decided to stop producing the Classic T-Shirt cut. I know, I know, it’s shocking. My jaw dropped when I heard the news, as it is surely my best selling bra. They will continue to produce the Deep-V style, and they have some leftover stock of the T-Shirt bra which I can still order from for another season or so, but once they’re gone, they are gone, so stock up while you can. It’s a sad day for all those who worship at the feet of the Pima Goddess.

The first shipment of romantic lingerie from Sabrina Nadal has arrived and is already flying out the door! Sabrina’s French sensibility is evident in the gorgeous silk chemises and chantilly lace bras that she painstakingly crafts from the finest materials. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that she is a friend of Elise from Elise Aucouturier. These artists are truly original in their aesthetic, drawing inspiration from vintage lingerie, but taking a modern approach to construction, color and design. Take, for example, the Chantilly Slip in violet (please excuse cell phone pix): (more…)

We’re very proud to be featured in this month’s issue of Portland Monthly! Check out page 54 for a full page photo of the shop and yours truly (so embarrassing to smile and pose…) in the Cornershop section. Also keep your eyes peeled for our mention in the 2008 edition of Eat.Shop.Portland, coming out this September. And one last plug - any loyal Lille fans who write us an honest review on Yelp or Citysearch describing their experience at the shop will get 15% of any single item in the store. Just print out a copy and bring it in, and your discount will be applied to your purchase. Thanks for helping us spread the word!