I’m usually the behind the scenes person that handles all the logistics for tradeshows so it was nice to attend and meet many of the faces that I only knew through email correspondance. I stepped into the showroom and was surrounded by the most beautiful and luxurious lingerie. You know, the kind that you save up to buy that will make your partner’s jaw hit the ground. I actually aquired a few new pieces that I’ll talk about in a later post.

Lacey was formally introduced to all of our lingerie stores and she was an instant hit. Our customers couldn’t wait to add her to their store collection.

While on the topic of pretty shoes, I wanted to share some great whites ones that we saw at Lille Boutique in Portland.

This lingerie boutique was very minimal in their selection but every item looked like it was carefully hand picked and beautiful .

All in all, it was a very successful and fun week but boy was I ever happy to sleep in my own bed again.

Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!

Wednesday night, the highlight of the week, Lingerie Française Paris (the French federation of lingerie and swimwear) hosted its annual French lingerie fashion show in Toronto. The beautiful (why on earth have I not been there before?) Wychwood Barns  was the venue for a hot and sticky night of fashion and fun. 

I was the guest of the lovely and talented shop owner Jen, from Secrets from your Sister (2 shops, one on Bloor, one on Yonge, in Toronto). We sipped champagne (followed by many glasses of water) and enjoyed a cabaret style fashion show filled with singing, dancing and style.

We brushed shoulders with industry insiders, distributors, sales reps and shop owners, including Soak retailer, Christine from Brava Boutique.

Following the extraordinary event we dined with friends such as owners Joan and Greta of The Spa on Main in Georgetown. Our dinner was hosted by Paul from Empreinte makers of my favorite bras. (Dear Paul, I love my new IVA bra, especially the Feather detail!)

No fashion event would be complete without a fun filled swag bag. We opened it up and divided the treats at the office just this morning. The bag wasn’t as photo worthy as the event itself, so I leave you with my favorite parts of this cabaret inspired performance. The open scene featured dancers en pointe with parasols and elegant lingerie. The lights were hot but you barely noticed for the lovely lingerie.

Mid-way through, between scene changes and singing, hosiery collections were shown in true cabaret style. With hats, gloves and canes, dancers showed the latest styles and textures, fall is sure going to be stylish and fun. Visit the Lingerie Francaise website for all featured brands and retailers.

We had a very busy day at the frolic last weekend. Carrie and Phil’s popularity soared as they flew off our tables and into the welcoming arms of their new families. Carrie and Phil have many uses and this week, I’m going to talk about my main use for Carrie.

How many of you have one hamper and end up mixing your delicates and hand washables in with the rest of your dirty laundry? How often have you accidentally thrown one of these hand wash only items into the machine? I have enough slightly pink tinted white shirts, bras with bent underwires, and stretched out lace panties that I’ve learned to carefully sort my dirty laundry instead of throwing it all in the washing machine together. Carrie makes the job of sorting slightly less painful.

I keep Carrie in my closet where she discreetly holds my not-so-fresh undergarments and delicates. My silks, cashmeres, panties, bras, lace, and sequins all go in her instead of with my everyday laundry. Trust me, your pretty bras and expensive garments will thank you for this little extra bit of care.

At the end of the week, I just grab her handles, and easily take all my delicates to the sink to hand wash all at once. Nice and painless.

While at the International Lingerie Show, these spunky black and pink bags from Tia Lyn’s Lingerie caught our eye.

Tia, a fellow female entrepreneur designs delicate modern lingerie inspired by vintage looks. We love that she has designs that accentuate your curves no matter what size you are.

You can find the Tia Lyn Collection in fine boutiques, bridal houses and department stores. Along with the lingerie she also designs yoga sets and loungewear. She will be updating her website soon so stay tuned to see her spring collection.

Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!

Their romantic collections feature soft colors, ruffles and gentle details in a stunning and intimate retail environment. Yes, I love the pink bags with little black cat, who wouldn’t. Next time you are in Soho, stop by and have a visit. You’re sure to find yourself a lovely treat that is as cozy and delightful as the store is itself.

Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!

While the store is simply lovely, the fitting rooms are brilliant. One even has a cork board for fitting women to exchange business cards! Each has a unique theme to make every woman feel at home.
I brought my pink bag back to the office and I just can’t part with it. It has the style and durability of a re-usable bag, but it’s crisp lines and un-tarnished surface makes it more suited to visual display than daily carry-along. So, we’ve decided to use it as a mini-soak display. 

We also shopped and danced ’till we dropped with Marianne at the CurveNY Lingerie trade and fashion show in NY… but that’s a story for another day. Does your shop have a unique and lovely bag? Merchandise with it. Don’t forget to send us the pics!

They make a great lingerie product called Bra Smart. It’s a unique product designed to keep bras in their original shape while they dry, after hand washing with Soak!  Check it out.