New happenings and Curve Expo recap

Hey Lingerie Connections friends!

You might have noticed that following my swim features in July I took a bit of a break from blogging. Since my recovery from Cancer (the sequel) is moving along and vaccines are holding strong, I decided to mask up and go back to an outside the house job. An opportunity came along at just the right moment and I’m now working part time at my favorite clothing store, JJill. I personally love matching lingerie to my clothing for the ultimate feeling of being pulled together and empowered for anything life throws my way. Everyone has their thing I suppose and matching works for me. Sometimes I swear my favorite lingerie brands are in cahoots with the designers at JJill. How else do you explain this coordinating Empreinte and these JJill tops from recent collections?

I’ve been a loyal and passionate customer of JJill for years. The Wearever collections were essentially my uniform while I worked as a professional fitter for almost five years. JJill for me is a brand that just works for me like Simone Perele bras and Brooks running shoes. The styles work without having to think too much about it. Some women love Talbots, some Chico’s and some Ann Taylor. For me JJill just works.

So, moving on, I want to tell you about some of the new fun things that a few of my favorite brands were showing at the lingerie markets that happened in August in New York and Los Angeles. The Curve market is where lingerie store owners and online buyers go to see new collections and decide what styles they think will sell over the coming year. I personally loved to try to find the best one or two styles in every size range from barely there to double K but also every comfort level from “I don’t want to even know I have a bra on” to “I want to always feel locked and loaded” and from “I only wear beige” to “I want things all pretty and fun all the time.” Anyway, there is such a great big world out there beyond a DD to explore! One of my favorites in the D+ range is Elomi. I really love fitting Elomi and most professional fitters do as well. Their designers are some of the best hands down. For the first time ever I was pretty sad about not being able to wear them myself! Check out this great new color way in the customer and fitter favorite Mathilda!

It began with dots, then they did hearts, then stars and now little daisies. I mean, so cute! I really SO want them to size it down just for me.

I’ll just have to settle for this very adorable new style from French brand Simone Perele called Marguerite.

I’m kind of a sucker for floral lace anyway (more examples below!) but I have to say I really also love the gold and the blue! Quite a few brands have added great looking bodysuits into their collections again this year.. This style (pictured at right in the blue) might be a little tricky with asymmetry but I love the round gathered neckline and the slightly blousy fit.

I’m always impressed by fitter favorites Prima Donna and Marie Jo though I’m not as familiar with the fit of those brands. It takes putting different styles on a variety of body types to get really good at knowing a brand. On the left below is Prima Donna and the right below is Marie Jo in a couple of the hottest colors this fall, aubergine and forest green.

It also seems like every brand has a gray style in the mix which is a favorite color of mine. Even Freya got in the gray mood again with it’s Festival Vibe (below) which has been recolored for maybe the third time now.

This is often a great style for those with some asymmetry with its triangle plunge shape. I think it’s helpful to have that type of sheer stretchy cup with the lace overlay. Im also a fan of the matching boyshort bottom.

Let’s just say that it’s lucky for my bank account that I don’t have easy access to trying on some of the other beautiful European brands out there though Uplift in Carmel Indiana does have really beautiful options. I love the floral laces and embroidery of Andres Sarda (below left) and Myla London (below right).

Two more interesting pieces are from Studio Pia shown below with the white trim and garden designs and a set from Elena Di Cuori on the right in the picture below. In that style the flexible wire is meant to adjust to your individual size.

I’m not sure how well any of these would work with a less than perfectly even breast size and shape but it might be fun to try them! Though I’m not sure unique sets like these are available even in New York,

at some point I hope to make a trip to Chicago to do more “research” on fit and sizing, but with my new job, that’s a bit down the road for now! If some of you reading are in the greater Chicago area I can recommend checking out Chantilly Lace North of Chicago and Busted Bra Shop to the South of Chicago. They were a treat to follow on their buying trips to Curve in August and they carry some fantastic lingerie but also seem very responsive to what their customers are looking for when they come to shop. If you’re reading from somewhere else and aren’t sure where to go get fit or find unique styles for yourself, connect with me! You can let my crazy obsession save you time and money by steering you in the best direction to find what you want whether that’s a show stopper or wireless or simple basics in skin tones because I can help in that area as well! For more info on any of the styles pictured connect with me on Instagram or Facebook anytime! Let me know also, if there is something you’d like to read about in future blogs!

Thanks for reading! 👩🏻‍💼