Everybody’s favorite basic bras are back in stock!  We have more of the best selling styles, as well as some new ones.  The Sheer Mesh strapless bra looks exactly like the Eres version we carried last year, but this mesh is softer and it’s half the price!  The Helium Sheer Tactel is new to Lille for the summer - lightweight and soft as butter, the deceptively strong fiber (55% Poly, 35% Elastane) fits like a second skin and dries in minutes.  In addition to the underwire bra, we also received a lightly padded balconette bra with removable straps and a lovely matching garter belt.  These will literally sell out within the week, particularly in the larger cup sizes, so please email or call if you need me to hold your size.  Today would be a great time to stop by because our big sale just started and we’re open until 9pm for our Friday Friday Art Exhibit.  See you soon!

We’re such huge fans of the Eve Giggling series by Stella McCartney that we just had to try the Contoured version since it’s the only one that comes in black (I keep badgering them to make the Underwire Bra in black, thus far to no avail…)  I love the extra-wide silky ribbon straps, and the topstitching on the contour has a lovely vintage vibe.  Though I’m not a big fan of molded bras, this one is very lightly padded, and I understand that some girls like a little extra oomph for those structured dresses that need to be filled out (or when you want to channel Joanie on Mad Men.)  The matching panty is slightly skimpier than the basic bikini, and has an added modesty panel that echoes the topstitching on the bra.

The best-selling Eve Giggling is back in stock!  I am in love with the new Orange Sherbet shade, which has to be the perfect summer bra.  Practically a nude, but a little more fun and flirty, I would wear this set with summer slip dresses, with the pretty straps peeking out subtly. Doesn’t it just make you long for a dreamsicle or a push-up?  Where is the ice cream man when you need him!   As always, act quickly on this one, ladies: these bras tend to fly out the door.

By now, many of you loyal LIL readers have had a chance to check out the Malia Mills swimwear we’ve had in stock for about a month.  The resounding cry from the dressing room has been “WOW! This is the best suit I have ever put on my body!”  Those of you who haven’t should make it a priority if you’ve ever had trouble finding swimwear that fits perfectly (which basically means everyone, unless you’re that enviably gorgeous girl in the one-piece up there.)  The good news is that we received a HUGE shipment today that includes all the styles above and more!  The maillots are sure to sell out quickly because they fit like no other one-piece, accomplishing the heretofore impossible feat of stretching both horizontally and vertically (why has no one thought of this before?!)  The bikini tops fit like the best bras in the world - think Eres, Stella McCartney and Hoff by Hoff - so whether you are woefully flat-chested, modestly sized, amply busted or extremely well-endowed, you are sure to find one that solves your problem.  The bottoms range from fabulously stylish to basic and comfortable, with the added advantage of not riding up or falling down.  While they are all indisputably pricey, I can attest to their durability and assure you that you will have them for years to come, provided you take good care of them.  The material is of the highest quality, and will not stretch out by the end of the season like all those cheap disposable suits we buy at Target or H & M, thinking “I can always use another black bikini.”  In this year of cautious consumerism, I am vowing to no longer rack up my credit card debt with $20 items that fall apart after a few wears and instead invest in perfect wardrobe staples that will survive the recession and carry me into the next decade of *hopefully* sunnier times.  These suits epitomize that sentiment.

My absolute favorite bra and panty sets of the Spring/Summer Stella McCartney collection just arrived!  (I already bought mine and changed into it, I’m that excited.)  The Lauren Whistling underwire bra has the most beautiful box pleats along the band, with vintage lace cups and stretch silk trim.  There is a matching bikini with the same pleated trim on the bum, as well as a thong for those of you who prefer them.  I may have gone a bit overboard with this group, but I loved it so much that I ordered the soft cup bra as well - and both styles in both colors!  The Cameo Pink is the perfect feminine nude shade, and the Black is just drop dead sexy.  I have a vintage Chloe skirt that matches it perfectly - the same box pleats along the waistband - and I can’t wait to wear them together.  With a shirt, of course (though I’ll probably have a hard time covering it up - btw, am I the only one who coordinates her outerwear with her innerwear?  I await your responses in the newly-adjusted-for-non-wordpress-users comments section!) Click through for more pix… (more…)

Just in time for bachelorette party season, we received some great new styles from Eberjey today that are absolutely perfect for blushing brides!  The Whitney Bralette, Boythong and Chemise (pictured above in pink) is made from beautiful spiral lace and comes in white with a pale blue bow.  If you want a little more “something blue,” you could opt for the Côte D’Azur Bralette, Boyshort and Chemise, which will make you long for a honeymoon by the sea.  A sweet organic option is the Natural Woman Chemise - it’s similar to the O Girl, but without the crochet work.  And finally, a set that just about everyone will love, regardless of her marital status, the Namaste Cami and Bikini comes in a Sailor Blue stripe and would make the perfect pjs on that Tahitian vacation!  Everything retails for under $100, with most sets at around $75, so you can send your bridesmaids to Lille without worrying that you’re setting them back a pretty penny.  Don’t forget, we’re also available for private bridal shower parties, and our convenient online Gift Registry makes wish lists a breeze.

Just wanted to remind you about the big sale this weekend - starting on Saturday, we’ll be offering Buy 2 Get 1 Half Off for every non-sale item in the store.  The deal continues through Monday, and anyone who makes a purchase (over $50) is automatically entered into our Free Prize Drawing that will be held at the party on the 18th (must be present to win.)  This even includes the brand new styles from Hoff by Hoff, Only Hearts and Keep Me, so it’s a great opportunity to snag your size at a discount before it sells out.  Hope to see you then!

Ok, I know it seems early.  The skies are dismal and grey, and you’re still sporting scarves and thick winter tights just to keep the damp Portland air out of your bones.  But I urge you to start thinking optimistically.  Take a cheap weekend flight to LA or San Diego, or even (dare I say?) visit a tanning booth for some much needed vitamin D.  But if you’re like me, you really shouldn’t spend more than 5 minutes in those things or you will burn to a crisp like my poor friend, Jessica!

Even if you don’t have a vacation planned anytime soon, you should plan ahead and pick up a new Malia Mills bathing suit before the summer arrives.  Made at their factory in New York City, they are very hard to find if you don’t live in NY state, but Lille has been chosen as one of only a handful of boutiques allowed to carry these incredible suits.  They are sure to sell out fast, and even though they seem pricey, I guarantee you will have them for years to come.  I’ve been gushing about them to anyone who would listen for the past few months, and now they’re finally here!  I am even more impressed with the quality of the construction, superior fit and adorable style than I was when I saw the samples.  Both the bikinis and one-pieces are just amazing - they don’t ride up or fall down the way most suits do, and they stretch in all the right places, offering incredible support.  The material is strong, but flexible, so you can tell it’s going to hold up and not stretch out after a few wearings.  Best of all, they fit EVERYONE!  Whether you’re a tiny Asian model or a buxom pin-up girl, there is a Malia Mills suit out there that makes the most of your assets.  Their sizing is complicated, but with good reason, and we are here to help you navigate it.  I’ll be ordering more, but quantities are limited, so let me know if you have a special request in mind!

A lot of designers are taking a pragmatic approach to the recession by going back to their tried and true designs.  This makes me infinitely happy, because it means that the adorable Tootsie set by The Lake and Stars is back and better than before in the form of the Fiancé bralette, garter belt and brief.  This popular style sold out immediately when we received it almost two years ago, and I predict it will do just as well this time around in the amazing color combos of pearl/platinum and berry/charcoal.  Just a touch of metallic trim adds a space-age flair to an otherwise classic, vintage-inspired lingerie ensemble.

The popular O Girl Chemise from Eberjey Organics is back in stock, along with an adorable cami/panty set (pictured below.)  This cute babydoll is made of soft organic cotton with crocheted trim and a sweet bow.  It has a distinctly hippie vibe, but not in a dirty, hacky-sack, dreaded, patchouli way, but rather a light, breezy, love child of the 70s way.  It reminds me of a publication from my childhood that my mother has long since disposed of, sadly.  It was a soft-focus picture book filled with images of a happy couple walking through a sun-dappled field of daisies and wheat.  They were undoubtedly taken in the 70s, as the girl had long, wavy blonde hair and sported a loose cotton voile peasant blouse in a cheerful sock-it-to-me print.  This set evokes that sensibility, but with a modern, updated spin.  I can’t think of a better way to usher in the next summer of love!