Let's get down to basics...

You know you need everyday bras. You know that they need to be supportive, comfortable, and durable, in a variety of basic colors. As much as I love my lacy, girly French bras (think Nina Ricci, Eres, etc.) and my avant-garde, fashion-forward American bras (think Lake and Stars, Araks, etc.) I cannot get past my Stella in the morning. I will grab the Eve Giggling without thinking twice, and never regret the decision. It must be the British pragmatist in Stella - she really has "utilitarian sexy" down to a science. We just received replenishment of the Eve in Lippy Red, Sherbet Orange and Coral, so act fast to get your size before they sell out. You'll need spring-time bras soon, I promise you, and this will be your go-to style for the entire season. The new Jessica Bathing underwire bra is another fantastic nude option, especially for those of you for whom the Eve doesn't fit just perfectly. (I have found that the ladies with narrow torsos like mine adore the Eve, but the Jessica is set slightly wider apart, so if you've been bemoaning the lack of a basic Stella option for a more athletic build, look no further than this style.) The other truly exciting news is the forthcoming Daisy Dreaming organic cotton styles, which fit like a dream and rival the quality, fit and comfort of a similar bra from Eres that retails for *gasp* $330 (which is why we don't carry it.) The Daisy, on the other hand, comes in at a much happier $120 price point!  The colors are black and pale pink (almost white) and there are thongs, bikinis and boyshorts (my favorite.)  Let me know if you'd like to place a special order and there will be a perfect cotton set with your name on it here in less than a week!

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Inspiring Color Palette

The Green Fairy Gets the Blues by Gatsbygirl featuring Theory dresses

I can't wait for Fall! This always happens - just when I have cabin fever and start thinking about riding my bike in espadrilles and a white cotton dress, Market comes along and makes me long for cozy cardigans and patterned tights again! As I mentioned in my last post, next season's colorways are amazing: navy, chartreuse, rusty persimmon, cobalt and shades of nude make up the predominate palette, with a few splashes of jewel tones like teal, emerald and fuchsia thrown in for good measure. It seems that Navy Blue is definitely the new black for Fall '10, which is great news because we always get a ton of requests for this color, and very few lingerie designers have used it in the past. We delight in anything that strays away from the conventional "lingerie" colors of red, pink and black - it's just not our style - so rest assured that Lille will always be filled with these lovely underpinnings in fashion-forward colors that beg to peek out from beneath your ready-to-wear wardrobe!

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Fall/Winter 2010 Market

Greetings from chilly New York!  We're here snapping up the goodies for our lovely PDX ladies, sifting through gobs and gobs of unmentionables (and believe me, many of them are better off unmentioned!) It's wonderful to see that the recession is indeed a thought of the past, at least in the mind of the fashion world - while last season's offerings were somewhat meager and the turnout at market a bit bleak, this time around it's a bustling affair and a veritable smorgasbord.  Designers are really stepping up to the plate, offering larger collections in more colorways, with an emphasis on strong, clean design and quality construction, though it does seem that they've learned their lesson in the price department and are concentrating on value for a change, dropping price points from seasons past and really providing value for the consumer by eliminating superfluous design elements to make garments more versatile.  We are having a tough time restraining ourselves, so good are the collections!  You will be particularly excited (as am I) about the new lines we have unearthed from independent designers.  One of them left me breathless - I literally professed my love to the designer at one point during our appointment when she agreed to alter styles to our specifications! Think silk tap pants and bralettes with hook-and-eye closures and grosgain ribbon accents.  The color palette is phenomenal next season: chartreuse, navy, persimmon and teal were the standout shades that kept popping up at our favorite showrooms.  As for style trends, look for tons more rompers/teddies, high-waisted undies, bandeau bralettes and racerback styles in the coming months.  We can't get too specific on the blog about new styles for obvious reasons, but stop by Lille soon to hear more!

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New Designer: Mimi Holliday

We've just received our very first shipment of lovely silk chiffon styles from a new designer: Mimi Holliday.  Youthful, sweet, and full of whimsy, they are a breath of fresh air in shades of periwinkle, ivory and nougat.  Fans of the Duet Lace Underwire Bra by Timpa will be crazy about the cut of the Jolie and Ooh La La Plunge Bras.  My personal favorite is definitely the Ooh La La Romper (they're calling it a teddy, but this style was built for romping!) I'm a sucker for polka dots, as you well know, and the combination of a fun print on such light, delicate fabric has me longing for Spring.  It is lovely here in Portland today, so I'm soaking up the sun and thinking of warmer weather as I prepare my heaviest layers of clothing to take to New York for lingerie market.  I'll be trying to blog daily to keep you abreast of my activities and give you a sneak peek at the trends for Fall/Winter '10.  Please let me know if you have any special requests for me (i.e. the perfect strapless bra, more silk tap pants, etc.) in the comments and I'll find those styles just for you!

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Valentine's Day Giveaway!

In honor of our new and improved Life in Lingerie blog, we are doing our very first free giveaway today!  A few days ago, we told you about our new arrivals from Red Flower in the Bath and Body department.  Today we'd like to share our favorite scent with you: Japanese Peony.  Noble and grand, generous and fragrant, this heavy pale pink flower blooms on small trees in the north of Japan every Spring.  It is prized for its poised beauty and infinitely soft petals, so you'll see the lovely blossoms often in ikebana arrangements.  The adorable Little Candle, about the size of a roll of film, burns for 15 hours and is made with 15% unadulterated pure flower fragrance, whereas the industry standard is only 2-6%.  Yael Alkalay uses slow-burning, cosmetic grade, vegetable based wax that ensures an even and clean burn from top to bottom in all her candles, which are made with love in New York City.  For a chance to win, please tell us about your best Valentine's Day memory in the comments section below, and feel free to pass this on to a friend!  We will select our favorite comment to win (need not be a Portland resident- free USPS Priority Mail shipping) and notify you tomorrow.  Happy Valentine's Day!

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Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Part IV

We get a lot of requests for comfy, cozy PJs here at Lille, particularly in the winter when cold, drafty Portland homes allow the damp chill to invade our bones. I always recommend Eberjey's Prima Ballerina Pajama Set, which sells out almost immediately every time I order it, but for Valentine's Day, I would suggest something a bit sexier: the Prima Ballerina Sleep Shirt. This soft, sweet nightshirt is great for cuddling up by the fire with your sweetie, with the added advantage of not being constricting in bed or too warm under a heavy duvet. At just $75, it's an affordable gift for someone you love and strikes the perfect tone of "I love you and care about your comfort, not just about seeing you in your underwear." We currently have this item in stock in S, M and L in basic black, so stop by today from 12-6 or tomorrow from 12-5 to pick one up.

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