That’s right, ladies and gentlemen….the Black Friday Sale is upon us! It’s been a crazy day, but we’re still here selling everything at Buy One, Get One Half Off (equal or lesser value, in store only.) We’ll be here tomorrow again from 10am to 7pm, with the same great deals - 30% off from 10-12pm and B1G1 50% off from 12-close. Be sure to stop by and make a purchase of $20 for free entry into the drawing that will be held after the fashion show at Frank James clothing at 7:30pm tomorrow evening. Hope to see you then!

There is so much to be thankful for today. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, I have the day off tomorrow, and we have a fully stocked store! So many shipments came in this week, just in time for our big Black Friday sale! The first installment of the VPL Resort market arrived. It includes the Black Bisectional Bra and Undie, which has off-white straps, a grey silky band, and a peach triangle in the center. The matching Doubly Thigh Highs are just as cute as I expected, and perhaps a touch more practical than last season’s fabulous orange ones.

We also received the big Bodas shipment with replenishment from the Smooth Tactel line, matching boyshorts, and new styles from the Narcisse Mesh and Narcisse Smooth Tactel.

New colors of the Vintage Silk Stockings include Scarlet, Tangerine, Charcoal, Fuchsia, Light Black (sort of a Purpley Black), and Light Grey.

With yesterday’s Only Hearts and Si Belle deliveries and the recent Lake and Stars and Eberjey shipments, I am definitely running out of space for all this gorgeous lingerie… See you Friday and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

On my last trip to New York, I was thrilled to discover Si Belle, a new line by Sibel Mesta, a Turkish designer who makes beautiful, romantic lingerie that immediately reminded me of the handmade lace and silk pieces by Elise Aucouturier. Like Elise, who uses French Calais Lace made in the traditional fashion, Sibel employs women in Istanbul for many of the components of her designs, such as the crocheted lace “Oya” which young maidens use to convey their hope or hopelessness in love. The Devonshire collection is made from silk chiffon in a delicate floral print in shades of mauve and grey, not unlike last season’s Moulin Rose and Crepuscule sets. The kimono wrap (pictured above), bralette and brief are all available now at Lille in very limited quantities. More beautiful photos after the jump…. (more…)

Just in time for all your holiday cocktail parties, we received several new slips from Only Hearts in a variety of practical shades. The half-slips and spaghetti-strap chemises from the Second Skins series are wildly popular among celebrity stylists for their comfort, versatility and reasonable price point ($45-75.) It’s hard to find a good, basic slip these days, and many women opt to forgo the arduous task of searching for one, convinced that the garment is archaic and superfluous. But I urge you to revisit the idea of having one or two slips in your wardrobe, if only for those random unlined vintage wool skirts or sheer summer dresses that simply demand one. And even if that silk Philip Lim number doesn’t need a slip, it could certainly benefit from one. In addition to keeping you warmer on a cold winter day, slips offer the added advantage of absorbing perspiration and body oils. Your clothing will thank you, as will your wallet when you save on trips to the dry cleaners. (more…)

I’ve had a lot of requests for swimwear lately from customers who have planned holiday trips to Hawaii or the Caribbean. Unfortunately, there are only two suits left from the Summer stock, (but at least they are on sale.) The good news is that there are new suits en route from the VPL Resort Collection, and they are amazing! The Tidal Bikini resembles the cute tidal bra and striped undie from Spring ‘08 and comes in the most incredible shades of teal (above) and bronze:

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Just in time for the holidays, we’ve received some lovely earrings and necklaces that have been hand made with love here in PDX by Tatiana Sakurai. Comprised almost entirely of one-of-a-kind vintage and recycled materials, Tatiana’s designs have an old-world charm about them. Her work is all about balance - delicate chains juxtaposed with rough gemstones or crocheted bits of lace next to metal icons - hence the moniker Hubris & Sophrosyne. At such a reasonable price point ($20-25 for earrings, $50-60 for necklaces), the jewelry makes a perfect Christmas gift or just a nice way to treat yourself without breaking the bank. I’m loving these vintage crystal bead earrings - they’re so festive!

We’re always excited to receive new colors of The Lake and Stars Opportunity Trench, but this time is particularly thrilling because the long pebble style that just arrived is one of a kind! Made from a water-resistant cotton twill with fuchsia satin lining, it features a removable zippered fleece liner to keep you cozy in the dead of winter. It is only available in Medium, and once it’s gone, you won’t see it again! This classic coat is perfect for the pragmatist who wants her garments to do double (or triple) duty, working equally well on a crisp Fall day, a freezing Christmas morning, or a soggy April afternoon. Pictured above with a gorgeous dress and boots from Frank James, paired with our Vintage Silk Stockings in Navy. Click here for more photos:

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Holiday shopping season is here, and this time around, big box retailers will be trying harder than ever to get you to spend your hard-earned cash at the Mall. But you know what that entails. Long lines, crushing crowds and more of those awful generic gifts you hate getting as much as giving. Unless you’re copping out to buy impersonal gift cards (which probably won’t work in a few months anyway) for all your loved ones, you might as well skip the trip to Beaverton and stick close to home. Fortunately for you, the independent businesses on East Burnside have you covered. For two days only, take advantage of a rare Black Friday Sale and extended hours at Frank James, Lille Boutique and Rock n’ Rose Vintage. Le Pigeon, Doug Fir, and Grendel’s Coffee House are even offering food and drink specials, so you can save a few bucks when you take a break from your retail therapy to enjoy a fantastic latte, classic cocktail or gourmet meal. Sure beats Starbucks and Cinnabon, doesn’t it?

The newest styles from the Lake and Stars have arrived, and boy are they cute! The Antidote set comes in Navy with Black accents or Peach with Yellow and is made from super soft micro-mesh with removable feather details. The bralette resembles the popular Tootsie bra from last year, but the sheer material is even sexier. The high-waisted brief is my favorite cut of the season, and I just love the placement of the contrasting trim - it almost looks like pockets. Speaking of which - the garter has an adorable pocket (also removable) which is perfect for toting your ID, cash and a key on those nights when you don’t want to carry a purse - this would’ve come in handy for me at Rotture last night, where DJ Beyonda’s mad skills kept me on the dance floor all night long - lucky for me no one stole my purse!

The VPL Tri-Unity Belt has a superhero quality that I find very appealing.  I wear mine with a silk Costume National blouse in the same red/tan/black color combo and these crazy soft leather gauntlets by Lisa Nading.  It’s my Eurotrash/Wonderwoman ensemble, and it’s very empowering.  I won’t post a photo, so you’ll have to use your imagination, but I think the look works.  This belt also happens to be one of Madonna’s favorites, according to InStyle Magazine. Click through for recent VPL nods in the press… (more…)