Friday, December 28, 2007

Lingerie Word Search Puzzle

Are you bored at work this week? Try our custom lingerie Word Search Puzzle:

K Q E A I U U Y N H H O L H L
Z R M L I E J O N Q U I L C C
W I X L L W L P H R Q E B D E
Y Y C E J E B E S R F R V P T
S O H B I A T C R A V I T R V
A V E A F W C N U E P J O G P
K G M S Z I L B A O P H D B B
M A I O L U A Z A H S L I B B
S K S C D D B M L Y C K F K M
C A E B E G V A O E N O M I S
Z G X O A W H B R Z B W A R P
Q Q I N K Z O D Z B D Q O Y C
V G Q D N V Y G E F A Z U Y Y
Z N Y R R R Q D X P M R B C H
T Q Q K T Z U L E C M I A T W



AUBADE
BARBARA
BOYSHORT
CHANTELLE
CHEMISE
COSABELLA
JONQUIL
PERELE
SIMONE

Create your own puzzles at school.discoveryeducation.com

Sunday, December 23, 2007

New Aubade Resort Swimwear




Whether you're heading off to the British Virgin Island this holiday season or walking the decks of a cruise ship (lucky you!), the little black swimsuit is a no-fail option. Good timing...we just received the latest resort swimwear collection from Aubade: the Cuba Collection.




Ok...we are not sure why Aubade pick that name, Cuba, especially for the US market. Cross cultural marketing blunders happen all the time and to the best company too. (see our entry blog on how do lingerie/swimwear designer pick their name of collections?) . Hopefully you won't be forbiden, arrested or fined for wearing it.

Bathing suit only available in Black and based on your true bra size (because it is stylish, sliming and flatering....). You are sure to get some compliments.

.






Thursday, December 13, 2007

Lingerie Project Runaway?

We are thinking of introducing a new lingerie designer to the store.

Now, you would think that picking a new lingerie designer might be easy..Think again. Criterias to introduce new lingerie designer/lines include (but not rank in terms of importance) Fit, Brand Recognition, Price range, Appeal to customers, Color, Style, Production (i.e Made in France vs Made in China), Size range available, Quality, Distribution, Delivery, Terms and conditions.

To add on to it, we usually purchase new lingerie collections about six months before it is shown in the store. Therefore, we must be able to anticipate trends in fashion and consumer needs. Crystal ball ....anyone?

Are you up for a fashion challenge a la Project Runaway? (Yes we must admit we love that Bravo TV show..even though we have no design experience) Do you feel like you could help us in our retail buying decision? We will post in February on this blog new pictures of Fall 2008 collections from new lingerie designers and will invite you to vote on your favorite ones. So, you will be the one to decide who is “in” and who is “out.” But..please...no drama!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Top 3 Lingerie Stocking Stuffers










Running of ideas for stocking stuffers this holiday season? Look no more...












For the Traveler: How about a lingerie travel bag? Now there’s a way for your innocent intimates and your naughty little numbers to blissfully coexist: the Lingerie Bag. With "wash me" on one side and "wear me" on the other, the Lingerie Bag lets you button shut the dirties so you’re always reaching for the clean. Protect your panties and don’t be negligent with your negligĂ©e.



For the Hanky Panky aficionado/fan : She is the type of person who only swears by her favorite and most comfortable Hanky Panky low rider thongs. No itching, digging, or shifting....They are peeeeeeeeeerrrfectt....She collect all colors it comes in every seasons...She has at least 15 pairs of those...because she might not have time to do laundry every two days. I bet she does not have yet the limited holiday collection from Hanky Panky..Time to surprise her with new festive colors and fun design for the holiday.


For the black dress enthusiast (minus the deodorant marks):
How many times have you been running late for an appointment, meeting or date trying to find the perfect thing to wear and when you finally do, you notice there are deodorant marks along the side of your outfit? Gal Pal is quick, easy and reusable and the best thing you can remove the deodorant marks in seconds without having to remove your clothes.
We always have one on hand at the store and we can tell you that it really works. So much magic in this garment deodorant remover!

Monday, December 3, 2007

How to avoid a fashion bra faux pas





More from the desk of our undercover lingerie agent.....







Life has a way of throwing in little snafus along the way to those holiday parties. How about the: Not noticed until you're on your way visible bra straps (VBS)? The annoying slipping spaghetti strap? The cold nipple look? The buckling out cleavage of a strapless gown? Pssst. Your strap is falling down....The list of potential fashion faux pas, alas, goes on and on.


But you need never worry about them again. Now, with the Fashion Forms Bag of Secret you'll face every special occasion and fashion challenge with confidence this holiday season.


Bag of secrets includes:

  • Garment and Body Adhesive tape with dispenser to take with you on the go. (works better than your Scoth Double sided tape....)
  • Strap Tamers bra strap concealers are the easiest and most effective way to stop falling bra straps.

  • Ultimate Silicone Gel Petals with a travel case for a smooth look with or without your bra

  • Lightweight and comfortable, invisible bra straps are convenient to use for those times when you don't want bra straps to show

  • Our Bra Strap Converter converts any regular bra into a T back for those cut away fashions

  • Our Lingerie Bag protects delicate bras, panties, slips and hosiery from snags, tangles, and also extends the life of the garments while machine washing and drying.

Now you are ready for the red carpet...Oops.. I meant the holiday company party..

If I were you, I would also get a few "bag of secrets" as stocking stuffers. Your friends and relatives will thank you for making them look so good!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Bra Makeover or Bra Revolution?

From Tim Gunn's Guide to style, TLC's What Not to Wear to the Oprah Winfrey show, the importance of bra fitting has been extensively mentioned in the media.

"Undergarments are the most important part of dressing. They are the foundation on which a good outfit is built on" says Tim Gunn.


Are you or do you know someone in need of a bra intervention?


Give the gift of a bra makeover session to your mom, sister, significant other, co-worker, friend or yourself this holiday season! Get a gift certificate at Coup de Foudre Lingerie and schedule your bra fitting appointment today. Your body won't regret it!

Now, let's hope that between now and your bra fitting appointment, Tim Gunn's assistant Veronica Webb will not be inspecting your underwear drawer! (...frightening).

Saturday, November 17, 2007

What to wear underneath a Low Plunge dress?


Dear Coup de Foudre Lingerie:



I baught this low plunge Hugo Boss navy dress at Betsy Fisher for my office holiday party but don't know what to wear underneath it. None of my bras works. I guess...I was too excited about the dress and did not think finding a bra would be an issue. I look forward to your suggestions on appropriate under-attire.

Thanks - Amy B


Dear Amy B:

Great dress! We suggest the U Plunge Bra from Fashion Forms. It's a seamless deep plunge bra that lifts and shapes. It also has padded cups to enhance our cleavage and convertible straps so you can wear it as halter or criss cross or conventional. It comes either in Nude or Black (size 32B to 36D). Happy holiday!

Coup de Foudre Lingerie

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

What's in the name of lingerie collections?

Adelaide. Feria. Couture. Marquises. Andora. Chantilly. Tulip. Africa Wild.

The lingerie designer community typically exhibits great creativity with the names of their collections. When looking at these collections, I always wonder: How did the designer pick this name for this collection? Is the name based on a partciular theme, color, or material? Or, are the names chosen randomly, such as based on the names of family or friends? Or are the names chosen simply in alphabetical order, based on the fist letter of the name, similar to how the National Hurricance Center picks the names of hurricanes and tropical storms??? Sometimes I wonder….

Undoubtedly, exotic places get big play in lingerie collections: Simone Perele offers the Fiji Collection, Hawai Collection, Caracas Collection, and Rio Collection, all of which seek to transport you to those exotic places and experiences. (Now, if only purchasing the Fiji collection would come with an all- expense paid vacation to Fiji!) Simone Perele doesn’t have license on this theme, however. Chantelle, of course, offers the very popular Africa collection.

Then there are the “fruit” names, which appear to be designed to associate the collection with one’s appetite for delicious, sweet, and sensual fruit. Our experience suggests that this theme is a winner. We recently had tremendous success with the Simone Perele Cherry collection. We even had some female customers say that their men were just hypnotized with the Cherry Collection!

It's also common for lingerie collections to be named after the various laces and fabrics used to make the sets. For example, Chantelle offers the Chantilly and Chantilly glamour collections, a clear reference to the type of lace used in these collections.

French Lingerie collections, in particular, seem to be inspired by the anniversaries of famous musicians or royalty from the 18th Century (i.e., Marie Antoinette). Simone Perele, for instance, offers the the Opera Collection and the Marquise (courtesan) Collection, an obvious reference to the various titles of French nobility.

Some of the names, however, seem to have been picked randomly, and not based on the themes discussed above. For instance, Jonquil offers the Ambrosia, Anita, Melody, Liz, Lydia, Natalie and May collections. Jonquil must have a lot of friends!!! I bet her friends are grateful for the celebrity!

Whatever the name, it is clear that the name of the lingerie collection has the power to transport customers to that exotic spot or that bite of fruit. These names illustrate just how much we match our feelings and personalities with our intimate apparel.

Indeed, at Coup de Foudre Lingerie, we sometimes re-name lingerie collections to reflect the Washington, D.C. culture. The Chantelle Couture collection was quickly re-branded as the "Corporate" collection, which was picked to reflect the corporate nature of the pin-stripped bra and panty set, a very popular set amongst our clientele.

With the U.S. Presidential election fast approaching, should we re-name one of our lingerie collections after Presidential candidates? Some would argue that you need to support your candidate in any way possible! I think I’ll leave that debate to Wonkette.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

What to wear underneath a Backless Dress



Our undercover agent is back with a full report on what to wear underneath your cockail dress this holiday season. Today, we are discussing what to wear underneath a backless dress.



Challenge: Backless Dress

A sexy backless dress from Graham & Spencer (Available at Terra) requires to wear the NuBra because even a multi position bra does not come low enough in the back. This is trully a very sexy dress that requires a bra that stays under wraps. You will definitely get noticed in this dress but please don't go braless...that would be a terrible fashion faux pas. Unless you want to be the object of male fascination and fantasy at the next holiday party!

Solution: NuBra Feather Lite from Bragel

We recommend to wear the NuBra Feather Lite from Bragel in black. (Comes in size A to C). The NuBra features bra cups with adhesive inside cups, plus front closure for cleavage and lift. You can create different degrees of cleavage by positioning the bra cups closer or farther away.
The NuBra Feather Lite works because it provide a totally smooth and seamless look. No more re-adjusting or checking in the mirror if your bra band is showing underneath your dress.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

What to wear underneath this holiday season cocktail dress?


Tis the season to be merry! Well... it will be soon. This can only mean one thing...it's time to start thinking about what to wear to all those fabulous parties that you have been invited to. However, it would be nice to avoid a fashion bra faux pas at your company holiday party.

The one-shoulder dress from Dolley Clothing (available at Alex Boutique in DC) is a style that you will all see a lot of this holiday season but if it’s not paired with the right undergarment, the look could be all wrong. This dress is just amazing. It's a relaxed fit mini-dress made of washed silk creponne and silk charmeuse lining with a bold and romantic one-shoulder strap of silk velvet. I love it!

Send us a picture of your dress or top at info@coupdefoudrelingerie.com with a brief description of your dress or top with a challenging neckline (i.e strapless, backless, low plunge, etc... ) from your favorite store and we will help you solve your fashion bra challenge this holiday season. We will post on this blog a picture of your dress, where you baught it and match it with the right bra! It's that simple!
With our expertise and help, you will find the perfect foundation for that stunning holiday cocktail dress or top this season.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Top 10 Reasons Why Women Buy Lingerie

1. A Bra Makeover – Your bras don’t fit like they should. We’ll change the way your bras fit and the way you look with a 20-minute bra makeover!
2. A Big Date – You don’t want him to catch you wearing those old granny panties! Feeling sexy and irresistible will bolster your confidence and leave him wanting another date.
3. Wedding – You need the perfect foundation underneath your wedding dress. A beautiful wedding dress requires beautiful lingerie.
4. Honeymoon – A different lingerie set for every day of your honeymoon will surprise and amaze your new husband! The best way to get your honeymoon lingerie collection is to organize a lingerie bridal shower.
5. Wedding Anniversary – Surprise your husband with some cotton, silk or lacy lingerie set on your (2nd Year), Silk (12th Year), or Lace (13th Year) wedding anniversary!
6. Falling in Love – Beautiful lingerie will make your romantic evening with that special someone even more special.
7. Having an Affair – Shhh…. Our lips are sealed. We promise.
8. Newly Single – Your re-entry into the single life will be much easier with new lingerie. Feeling and looking beautiful in new lingerie will lift your look and spirits!
9. Pregnancy – Pregnancy brought HUGE changes and uncertainty in your bra size! Time for a bra fitting and new bras!
10. New Cleavage – Your investment in new cleavage requires a similar investment in new bras. Not only do your old bras not fit, but new beautiful bras will maximize your return on investment.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Chantelle Bra Fitting Event at Coup de Foudre Lingerie

Join us and a Chantelle Bra Fit expert for a special bra fitting event to benefit Dress for Success. Get 10% off Chantelle Collections (Africa, Graphie, Senso, Body Sculpt, Chantilly, Africa Wild & Couture )during this event.


For every bra purchased from November 1-November 30th, 2007, Chantelle will donate 2% of retail sales to Dress for Success, with a minimum donation of $100,000. In addition, during these promotion periods, one bra for every 100 sold with be donated to Dress for Success, with a minimum of 5,000 bra donated.



When: Thursday & Friday November 9th, 11:00AM - 7:00PM; Saturday, November 10th, Noon-6:00PM

Where: Coup de Foudre Lingerie 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (Corner of 11th and E Street).

Call now (202) 393 -0878 to schedule your bra fitting appointment