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!

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!

Galatea Chemise

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.

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.

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…)

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!

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…)

The second shipment from our Fall VPL order has arrived!  This time around we’ve gotten several styles, including the popular Breaker Tank, (works as an outerwear piece for now and a layering piece for later,) the futuristic Bellmer Cami/Panty set and two colors of the Insertion Bra/Undie, which is totally reminiscent of 1940s athletic wear - very utilitarian, industrial chic.  I’m in love!!!

This month’s First Friday art installation is work by local artist and Lille photographer (incidentally, my husband) Alan Wizemann, founder of Cularis. Alan’s images approach everyday objects from an unusual perspective, lending his work an approachable quality not unlike the photos of William Eggleston. His graphic design background is evident by his use of color, dramatic composition and textural juxtaposition. He does an amazing job on Lille’s ad campaign, for which I am eternally grateful! Stop by Lille at 1007 E. Burnside between 6-9pm this Friday to check out the work and have a glass of wine - hope to see you then!

I’m a sucker for vintage accessories like finely tooled leather gloves, delicate hand mirrors, and complicated jewelry boxes. Anything superfluous that exists only to please the senses and make you feel like a lady is great in my book! This beautiful Pink Iridescent Art Glass Perfume Bottle fits the bill to a tee. It reminds me of my friend Crystal, who is a big fan of Dorothy Parker, brocade wallpaper, vintage oxford shoes and other beautiful things. She recently gave me a lovely new atomizer, which prompted an enthusiastic house hunt for something to put in it. I never liked the bottle that my Kenzo Flower came in because I was always knocking it over, so I decided to open it up and transfer the contents. What seemed like a simple enough task ended up taking nearly an hour and giving me a nasty metal cut on my index finger, but I finally managed to crack it open. Fortunately for you, we have an easier solution: the Violet Eau de Toilette by Côté Bastide comes in a glass bottle with an easy screw-on cap, so pouring it into this lovely antique perfume bottle is a breeze. I don’t know much about its history, but the brass fittings look very Art Deco to me, and the top needs some work in order to function properly. This website seems to specialize in antique atomizer parts, so if you’re looking for a weekend project, you could certainly get it working again.

Ok, I know I just posted about the arrival of the fish suits less than 48 hours ago, but the bikinis are already sold out! I told you they were cute, but seriously, that has to be a record. Here’s a pic of the adorable Fish One-Piece with hidden underwire, which we still have in most sizes (32-36 B-D.) They are literally flying off the racks, so if you are one of the many ladies who waited for this cute print to arrive, I urge you to act fast! They will be gone soon.

We got a cute little chemise and bikini in from Eberjey today. The Colette is very reminiscent of the Tangled Love, only in an even better color - a dusty mauve that they’re calling “Mocha.” It’s made from a sheer, super-soft rayon that feels a lot like the Dessous viscose camis, with a delicate scalloped lace bodice and a dainty bow. The matching panty is constructed from the same galloon lace, which is incredibly soft for nylon and has a pretty Princesse-Tam-Tam-ish pattern. At just under $100 for the set, it would make a perfect bridal shower gift or just a nice way to treat yourself without breaking the bank. Judging by how fast we sold out of the Tangled Love last spring, I’d be willing to wager that these will be gone by the end of the month!

It’s officially hot in here. When the heat index hits 90 degrees, I always have a hard time figuring out what I’m willing to wear under my clothes, not to mention what to wear to bed. I’ve never been able to sleep in the buff (too worried about emergencies in the middle of the night forcing me to stand naked in the street with my neighbors!) PJs are usually unbearable in the summer, so I typically opt for a pair of my husband’s boxers and a tank top, but sometimes even that is too much. (more…)

I know we’ve been a little Araks-crazy with our blog posts in the past week, but the new stuff is just soooo good- we simply can’t stop gushing about it! Take, for example, the Agnes tank, pictured above. It’s made from the sheerest, softest organic cotton in the world, so it’s incredibly breathable and lightweight. The cut is basic and clean, with a low neckline and long torso. Though my shoddy cell phone pic may fail to transmit its elegant simplicity, you must trust me when I say this is no ordinary wife beater. Unlike those thick cotton rib knit, indelicate things, the unbelievably flat seams on this close-fitting tank make it the perfect layering top, and its sheerness evokes a much more sophisticated sensibility. It’s lingerie for the modern woman, like all Araks’ genius work!

We’re still working hard on the new site, which will launch soon, but I wanted to let you know that we’ve updated the sale section online and added some of the new Araks items to the webstore. We also have a ton of bathing suits in stock from Araks and Princesse Tam Tam that aren’t yet online, so feel free to drop us a line or call us if you can’t make it in to shop and want to know more.

The summer sale is in full effect, with discounts of up to 60% off of great designs by Beau Bra, Vera Wang, Poet, Dessous and more! Here are some of my favorite picks to help make your shopping experience a little easier…

1. Lilly Boyshort - $26 - super sheer and comfy cotton/modal blend short that you’ll want to live in

2. Divorcée Bralette - $56 - adorable bra with flying fish charms by The Lake and Stars

3. Leland Panty - $85 - take advantage of a rare Araks sale on a beautiful cotton/silk piece