Valentine's Day 2015 and learning what my clients REALLY need

Whew! I'm still recovering from Valentine's Day week! Thank you everyone who came out and visited the boutique. Did you guys know that I sold more bras than intimates last week? Sure, there were some pretty darn gorgeous lingerie pieces that went out the door last week, but overall, there were more bra purchases! Ladies, I AM paying attention to your needs. I'll still continue to offer beautiful intimates and sleepwear, but I'm also working on getting more bra styles in in shapes and wires that work for some of you who need something a little more on the narrow side of life. Thank you all for your patience. I'm frustrated with the ordering process with some of these companies, please bear with me!

Bra Cup sizes are relative!!!

Is it possible to lose weight and still go up in cup size? YES! Suppose you measure last year 34 band and 40 bust, putting you in a 34E (40-34 = 6, A-B-C-D-DD-E) You lose a little weight but the only thing that changes is your band size. Say it goes down to 32 and your bust size stays a 40 (it can happen!) Your new cup size has increased by 2, (40-32=8, A-B-C-D-DD-E-F-FF) putting you in a 3FF. Cup size is in relation to your bust size (the measurement around your body across your nipples), so don't think that a FF is necessarily some big humongous size. It's standard sizing that the industry uses to determine cup sizing. It's geometry, and I struggled through the class but trust me an FF cup is not all that large. JUST.WEAR.WHAT.FITS!!!!"

What To Buy, or Not?

Most men would like to buy their ladies lingerie, but never know the right time or the right place. One of my customers, who I will affectionately call Mr.T, has the perfect procedure for buying his lady love little pretties. He knows what she likes, what she doesn't like; what he does and does not like as well. He also knows her measurements, and her shoe size. This man has done his homework. More of you gents should follow suit. What I love about Mr. T is his appreciation for lingerie, for pretty things, and for his desire to see his lady in pretty things. He has no problem coming into the boutique every few weeks, looking around, asking for particular pieces and browsing catalogs for what he's got in mind. He has great taste and he usually chooses two or three items and takes them home. On a recent visit, I followed up on a previous purchase that Mr.T had made for his lady and he told me she hadn't seen it yet. I asked if he was saving them for a special occasion and he replied, "No, I just hang them on her side of the closet and she'll eventually find them." This.man.is.genious. I have to say, this has got to be the BEST way for lingerie pieces to be purchased as gifts. First, the lady does not feel like she has to put herself on display just because lingerie has been purchased for her. She may have had a rough day, doesn't feel well, or just isn't "in the mood". She will find the lingerie one day hanging amongst her clothes, know that it was her lover who purchased them for her, and smile. There never needs to be discussion; she has the option of surprising him the way he surprised her. She can choose to wear this piece or that piece, and if she doesn't like the lingerie, she'll feel more comfortable discussing it while wearing something she DOES like. Beautiful. No pressure. Intimate, sexy, and she'll always be ready when she wants to be without feeling obligated "to perform"." Ladies, help your man out. Stop into the boutique, and get yourself measured. We will create a profile card for you that can be pulled when your man stops in and wants to get you something. Tell me your likes and your dislikes and we'll note that on your profile card. Start a wish list. Give your man a head start and a clue, so when he's brave enough to purchase on his own, he'll know what he's doing. Men, surprise your ladies. Buy her lingerie JUST BECAUSE!!! And hang it in the closet, or put it in her lingerie drawer, or where ever she puts her pretty little things and let her find it. Chances are, after you've put a few pieces in her closet or bureau you'll start catching her quietly looking for something new. Also, buy some sexy under pinnings for yourself. We like to unwrap you, too.

My Love of Microfiber

I'm really a freak about microfiber. I love it for many reasons, the biggest being that the right blend feels like butter against the skin. It's not scratchy like some lace, it moves with you (which makes it a perfect fabric for sleepwear, IMO) Whether it be summer or winter, Microfiber is as comfortable as you can get. VX Intimates have a few pajama sets I really like. At $54 a set, their microfiber is some of the softest I've ever felt.

Trust and Honoring your Young Daughters

Moms and Dad's, it's important that you take your daughters to get fitted for a bra when the "time comes". When you find yourself in this position as a parent, it's important to understand teaching your young lady the proper way to be fitted, how a bra should fit her and care of her bra. A bra is not just a piece of fabric that covers her breasts; it helps support her and helps her look better in her clothes for overall personal esteem. Buying a bra at a big box store without a fitting is in my opinion, a no no. 80% EIGHTY PERCENT of us wear the wrong size bra so it's important to get fitted. When you take your daughter to get fitted, please remember this IMPORTANT RULE: NEVER, EVER, under any circumstances allow your child (yes, she is still a child!) to be measured, touched, or in a dressing room alone with an adult-any adult. That includes ME. If you and your daughter come into my boutique, I will honor your daughter and her body and insist you sit outside the dressing room and watch EVERY thing I do, because I may have to touch her in places to explain to her how her bra should be fitting and we know how uncomfortable it can be for a stranger to touch us, sometimes in places we are not used to. If a young lady comes in here under the age of 18 and wants to be fitted I will REFUSE this request. This is one of the few times that I will say the customer is NOT right. Please be sure to accompany your daughters for their fittings, one for their personal safety, and the other, to gain some knowledge for yourself so you will be equipped with the skills to help her choose a bra that is right for her body in the future.

I am, therefore, I blog!

I had a wonderful new customer by the name of Kristy come in to do a little shopping. She was very friendly, and was on a mission: She needed intimates. I pointed her in the direction of her side of the boutique and she commenced to picking out sleepwear, intimates.....lets just say she made some great choices. While she browsed, we talked like girlfriends (not that stuffy sales lady stuff. I just can't do it!) about girl things...you know, the specifics are confidential. Anyway, she mentioned she liked my blog and I felt guilty. I hadn't blogged in a WHILE! No need to go back and check my last entry. It's been a few months, I'm ashamed to say. I told her I appreciated her reading my blog and apologized in the same breath for not keeping up with it. It's hard sometimes to keep up with a blog, twitter, two Face Books, a boutique, custom greeting card orders (yes, I still do those for a favorite client of mine) a husband and a household. I will be working on doing better. Stay tuned.

Every Woman Counts

I spent probably one of the best hours yesterday with a couple at the boutique. When they came in, I could tell the woman really didn't want to be in here, but that her husband had insisted they come in. You see, she was a large woman, and the defeat on her face was larger than any hat in Texas. She refused to ask me, but her husband did. "She won't ask, but I will. Do you carry anything in my wife's size?" I had already sized up his wife the minute they walked in the door and I immediately said to her "No, ma'am, I don't carry your size in stock, but I have a catalog and few websites we could sit and visit and see if there isn't something that might work for you." I pulled up a website for plus sized women. They carry sizes up to a 6X, and she said she thought she'd feel comfortable in that size. She didn't find anything on the site that she really liked, so she mentioned she liked long gowns. I pulled out my Shirley of Hollywood catalog and told her that they do have some styles in the catalog that would work for her because they went up to a 6X. By this time, she had let her guard down and she, her husband and I were all giggling about "keeping it spicy" and the importance of intimacy in a relationship. She picked out this beautiful full length sleeping gown and robe set in plum, and I gave her the price and told her she could always pay half down and pay the rest off with layaway. We were both disappointed to find that the item was currently out of stock in the size and color she needed (So yes, she's not the only one). I asked her if she liked wearing caftans, and she said she did, and I told her that I usually don't order them for anyone but that it's something that she could still be comfortable in and feel pretty until the items she wanted were available and I'd be happy to order some for her.She thanked me and said "yes", and I could tell that I had made a friend. Before she left, she asked me about a bra, and I knew I did not have her size nor would I be able to get her one in stock that would be affordable, but I did give her the information for a place that I knew she could order them and get them at a reasonable price. Before the hour was over, she and her husband thanked me for their kindness and my patience with them and for making them feel welcome. I told them the pleasure was all mine and I thanked THEM for taking the chance and walking through the door and that EVERYONE is welcome. THIS is why I do what I do.