In these troubled economic times, some of my customers are expressing concern about whether or not it is responsible to buy fancy lingerie in the middle of a credit crunch. My response is usually that it depends on how much you love it and/or need it. If you aren’t that crazy about lace, then you certainly don’t need the Chantilly Bra by Sabrina Nadal. If rompers seem complicated and fussy, then I would discourage you from trying on the new Silk Tapsuit by Lyell. Maybe you love Eres and Stella McCartney, but you need one or two simple staples that you will be able to wear for months, like the Bodas Smooth Tactel Underwire Bra or the Poet Chloe Chemise. Or perhaps you are like me, and you have a lingerie obsession. (more…)

It’s hard to resist the urge to make the world wide web your own personal soapbox, especially in such a crucial time for our country, but politics and lingerie don’t really mix, in spite of the popularity of the Panties Against Palin sign. So, as much as I’d like to go off on a diatribe about last night’s debate and the mind-bogglingly immoral tactics the McCain camp has been employing as of late, I will restrain myself. Instead, I’d like to talk about a debate of a very different nature - that is, padded or molded bras vs. natural underwire or bralettes. I haven’t gone so far as to state publicly that I am anti-padding, but I think I have made my stance on the issue clear - women should not feel that a foam shield is mandatory armor for the workplace. Most of my customers come to Lille for our vast selection of alternatives to the many uncomfortable, synthetic, padded options available at tacky chains (ahem…Vicky, that means you) and department stores. They are tired of having that “Get this thing off of me!” feeling at the end of the day and want to treat themselves right in the morning when they are getting dressed. A nice, soft, pima cotton t-shirt bra like the Pima Goddess by Eberjey, or a supportive, fancy, mesh bra like the Eve Giggling by Stella McCartney is a surefire antidote to the bra fatigue caused by one too many days in an itchy foam contraption. Beyond comfort, there is an added bonus: your breasts will look like… well, breasts rather than two halves of a smashed grapefruit. (more…)

The fabulous photo above was snapped by Alan Wizemann at our fashion show during Fir Fest last Saturday. (Thanks, Alan!) It was also featured in this week’s Sold Out column of the Mercury. (Thanks, Marjorie!) I’ve added a gallery of Alan’s Fir Fest snapshots to the Photo section on our site, which you can view by clicking here. In the next few days, I’ll be adding more photos from previous events, as well as video. Enjoy!

The new Fall styles that just arrived from I Heart Anna are from the “Walt Whitman” collection, and I have to say that it’s her best work to date! Soft, curved edges on the vintage leather fringes of The Bridge Between and Ariel Beauty (pictured above) lend a romantic quality to the pieces, and the vintage brass charms are so pretty! I’m having a hard time deciding which ones I can’t live without, but I’m leaning towards Fine Spokes of Light earrings and an Adorn the Parlors of Heaven pendant, although In Love With Touch is pretty great too. The pendants are all available online now, with the earrings soon to come…

Fans of the recently closed East Burnside staple ‘Denwave’ mourned the loss of the shop and the gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry by Hazel Cox contained within. Fortunately, although Hazel is leaving our fair city for new digs in San Fran, you will still be able to find her gorgeous necklaces and earrings at select stores throughout Portland; Lille Boutique is one of the lucky ones! Her Fall collection is inspired by 19th century photographs of Native Americans by Will Soule and is truly artistic and unique. This is just a sneak peek of the items - they will be available in our online store soon!

I just wanted to share a little bit of press with you: the Willamette Week featured my Gatsby Gown in this week’s “Lights, Camera, Fashion” feature, where they recreated the tone of noteworthy films shot in Portland this year.  Lille was chosen as the lingerie boutique to represent “The Auteur,” and you can read more about it here:  http://wweek.com/editorial/3446/11569/

Thank you to everyone who made it to our Fashion Show on Saturday. Fir Fest ‘08 was a great success, with a huge turnout for the big Lower East Side (I’m officially boycotting the use of the word LOBU, and I encourage everyone to follow suit) event that featured Rock n’ Rose, Hattie’s Vintage, Frank James and, of course, Lille Boutique. The theme was ‘Business You Can Believe In,’ and everyone got in the Election Spirit by sporting picket signs with a political agenda like the one above. I’ll be posting video and an image gallery to the site in the next few days, so stay tuned!

I have a newfound appreciation for the Ivana/Karin/Petra group after trying to make a silk night shirt with pleats last week. What a pain pleats are! Particularly when you’re working with delicate fibers like cotton crepe and silk charmeuse. I have the utmost respect for Araks and the quality of construction on all her garments, and I know I’m not alone in my enthusiasm. You’ll be pleased to note that we’ve received the Graphite, Prussian and Black sets, pictured above, as well as the Petra cami in Graphite. If you haven’t tried this group yet, now is the perfect time!

Just a reminder that our Fall Fashion show will be held tonight at the Doug Fir at 8:30pm. Please join us for drinks by Dewars and loads of free entertainment - art, music, fashion and fun! You’ll be the first to see the amazing Lyell lingerie, Hazel Cox and I Heart Anna jewelry, VPL and Araks Fall sets, a sneak preview from The Lake and Stars Spring line (with guest appearance by one of the designers!) and a few new pieces by Gatsby, designed by yours truly. How can you miss this?!!!

The gorgeous Tapsuit and Scallop Panties by Lyell arrived today, and they are even more spectacular in person! The quality of the construction is impeccable, the materials exquisite, the styles unique, the cuts flattering…I could really go on and on. I literally gasped when I opened the box, they are that beautiful. Sizing is limited - 2, 4, 6, just one of each, and I predict they will go fast. These are the type of undergarments that transport you to a different time and place (i.e. a circa 1920 society lady’s boudoir, complete with crystal perfume bottles, long strands of pearls and an art deco vanity.) Slip the scalloped silk charmeuse tap panties on with Stella McCartney’s Grace Waking bra and just try to not feel glamorous! It’s not possible. There are Lyell bra and undie sets on the way too, and I will definitely continue to follow the evolution of their lingerie line in the hope that an expanded collection will be coming soon!

More great Araks styles arrived today - fans of the whiskers group will rejoice at the return of the Jasmine panty, which we were sold out of for months.  The new pieces come in the most gorgeous shades of Prussian Blue, Sterling Silver and Basic Black, for the utmost pragmatism.  The pleated group will be in soon, so keep your eyes on the blog!

The first shipment from our Fall Princesse Tam Tam order arrived today to much fanfare. The Whiskey Brown and Grey Mascara sets are made from the prettiest lace, and the cuts are perfect - a simple soft triangle bra and a boyshort. The Jalousie sets also came in Chinese Midnight Blue and a sort of bronzey mustard color (see photos below.) The high-waisted panty from this style is particularly cute, with diagonal lace inserts and trim around the legs. Conveniently enough, the new blue Bodas bras match this panty almost exactly!

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I have some exciting news! Lille’s Fall Fashion Show will be held on Saturday, September 20 at 8pm in the courtyard of the Doug Fir/Jupiter Hotel to coincide with Fall Fir Fest ‘08, their FREE outdoor music and art extravaganza (21+ event.) If you haven’t yet attended any of our shows, this is the perfect opportunity to check it out - you can enjoy complimentary cocktails by Dewars while you admire some lovely local ladies displaying our wares alongside models for Rock n’ Rose and Hattie’s Vintage Clothing. For those of you who managed to squeeze into the shop for our last show, it will be a welcome opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy the show! No need to RSVP, but be sure to get there early for a good spot - the festivities kick off at 5pm with a Craft Bazaar by Crafty Wonderland and run until 10pm, with live performances by Loch Lomond, Bark Hide & Horn and Y La Bamba. Hope to see you next Saturday!

The cruelty-free feather earrings sold out so fast that I just had to get more! This time around, there are some lovely Guinea Hen and Peacock combos in a nice, neutral palette that works perfectly with the somber Fall tones, as well as more of the Deco-inspired Peacock Eyes and new Peacock Spears (so dramatic!) I’ve taken a few snapshots, but the earrings are not on the webstore, so if you see anything you like, feel free to call. All are just $24:

What an exciting time! I can hardly keep up with the Fall shipments, but I’m trying to give you loyal LIL readers the heads up before I sell out of these great new styles. VPL fans are rabid, indeed. They pounce on the new sets faster than you can say panty. We received the wonderfully geometric Delineation bra and undie (pictured above) along with some incredible thigh-high stirrups. Also the popular Beckham bra, in honor of Posh’s W magazine shoot in VPL skivvies. But my favorite has to be the awesome B-Fractional bra in Tar (also available in Orange!) Here’s a quick pic:

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The new bestseller, Eve Giggling, by Stella McCartney, has arrived in a nude coral shade. Anyone who has tried this bra on agrees with me that it is the perfect mesh bra, with tremendous support, beautiful details and a great fit. It is so much softer and more comfortable than the Eres mesh bras, and at a more affordable price point - it doesn’t get any better than this!

“Build, Destroy, Rebuild” by Andrew Glennie is the next installment in our First Friday artist’s series. The subject of this new mixed-media exhibit is the contrast between the traditional idea of the home as a secure and safe place and that of the force of destruction.  His pieces incorporate materials that can be found in houses, such as linoleum flooring, paint and wood, adding a connection between the subject matter and the physical materials that are used to render it.  Their textures, colors and surfaces were utilized to create a stark and graphic contrast in the work.  Glennie had this to say of the concepts behind the show:

“The idea of questioning the permanence of one’s primary sanctuary in the world was the beginning of putting this work together. When someone’s home, their foundation in society, is destroyed, they suddenly find themselves uprooted, exposed and helpless. Our personal dwellings are more important to us than we may realize: they offer us protection and stability in an unpredictable world.  It is my hope that this work will inspire the viewer to reflect upon the role that where they live plays in their life, how it affects their state of mind and their emotional connection to their home.”

Please stop by tonight between 6pm-9pm to have a glass of wine and meet the artist.  We hope to see you then!

The new Fall Araks styles are so incredible! I haven’t had a chance to shoot them on the mannequin yet, but I plan to do that tomorrow. I just wanted to give you a sneak preview, so please excuse the quality of the image above. At the top of my list of favorites is the Gwyneth bralette and matching Regina high-waisted panty (middle bottom.) Made from an amazing cotton rib knit in black, it is supremely sexy and amazingly comfy. The popular Lily teddy is back, along with the Lois/Sylvie set. I’m still waiting on new Dasha teddies, but the Ingid/Filippa is in stock now. Of course, all the silk/crepe sets are still en route, but they will be here soon. The color palette this season is really lovely - charcoal gray with deep blue trim, silvers, blacks, etc. It all puts me in the mood to layer and have a cup of tea. Yay Fall!

My favorite bra in the store, the Dolly Snogging racerback, has just arrived, and one lucky customer snapped it up before I even put them out on the floor! It’s exactly the same stunning set we featured in our promotional campaign, but instead of black, it’s now available in a beautiful shade of pearly gray/mouse brown. It is a great nude color that would be ideal under the many racerback dresses and tops we’re seeing so much of these days. These will sell out fast, so contact me asap if you need one!

Guia Lab, the exciting new line from world renowned Italian designer Guia La Bruna, has just arrived at Lille Boutique! The floaty feminine styles are made of silk with ruffles, ribbons and ruching - sort of the lingerie equivalent of sugar, spice and everything nice. Guia was thoughtful enough to ensure that every piece is interchangeable, so the espresso bralettes coordinate with the pink thongs and vice versa - ensuring that you can mix and match to your heart’s content. The construction is absolutely impeccable, and the price point is mind-bogglingly reasonable, ranging from $64 to $180 (given that her signature line is literally “the most expensive lingerie in the world” according to Forbes!) Get your set exclusively at Lille Boutique.