It's Sample Sale Season!

Alright kids, here's a quick rundown of three awesome sample sales that you're not going to want to miss (that sounded really convincing, right??):

Zinke Intimates Sample Sale, Saturday November 10—starts at 10am

image courtesy of GeorgePR

147 West 22nd Street, Ste 3S, between 5th & 6th Avenues


Hanky Panky Sample Sale, Monday November 12-14—see below for times

Chelsea Market, 410 West 16th St, between 9th & 10th Avenues


Araks Sample Sale, Thursday November 15—8am - 8pm

137 Grand Street, 5th Floor, between Crosby & Lafayette
Autumn Collection, RTW, Sleepwear & Lingerie

Beat the Heat: Summertime Bra Roundup, Part 1

If you live in NYC (the tri-state area, including eastern Pennsylvania), you'll know what I'm talking about when I say "IT'S TOO DAMN HOT TO WEAR A BRA". These seemingly incessant heat waves even continue with thunderstorms that aren't powerful enough to break the miserable weather.

But let's be serious—I love wearing white in the summer, thus I can't not wear a bra. But I do have a few that have been my saving grace these past couple of months, mostly made of the softest mesh and lace that are still utterly breathable and comfortable even as I run around the city dripping with sweat (SO ladylike, I know). Beat the summer heat with these styles (mostly wireless) that won't add another layer of sweaty misery to your outfit.

1. Mimi Holliday Tarte Tartin Non-padded bra, $90, on sale for $63. Available at journelle.com.   2. Only Hearts Whisper Bralette, $58. Available at charlieandlee.com.  3. The Lake and Stars Miracle Box honeycomb mesh & fishnet bra, $135. Available at net-a-porter.com.  4. Only Hearts Venice Lace Bralette, $53. Available at charlieandlee.com.  5. Araks Antonia Softcup, $72. Available at journelle.com.

Say Hi to Thursday: A Delicate Neutral Set from Araks

Say Hi to Thursday, a special day of the week when there's only one more work day before a glorious weekend awaits. Pretty Little Underthings will showcase a weekend-perfect piece we'd love to wear.

Uma Bralett & Mirabella Hipster by Araks

Don't you just love this Araks set? The color is called "foundation", which is about right (for some people, anyway. I mean, if my foundation was this color then I'd be way too dark). But the sheer cotton crepe with silk trim is so Araks, so irresistible, especially when it comes with those delicate pleats in the center of the bralette and the tummy area of the bottoms. Ya'll can fight with me on high-waisted bottoms all you want—but I'm tellin' ya, they're a great motivator to tone up the abs. Just think Lara Stone in this editorial. Yeah. Just think about it.

Uma Bralett in foundation, sold out (nooooo!). Mirabella hipster in foundation, $110 (yay!). Available at Araks.

Tempting Tuesdays: Araks Absinthe Teddy

Tuesdays will feature a lustworthy lingerie set and a suggested retailer. I think we all need a little something beautiful to at least look at to get us through the week. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Absinthe Teddy by Araks

I know this is part of their fall collection, and it's named for an intense alcoholic beverage, but this lush green (pun intended) makes me excited for spring! A gorgeous texture combo of cotton crepe and silk charmeuse with thank-god-you-can-pee snaps, it's perfect to pair with skirts, shorts, or jeans. The scoop back will make people look twice when you take off your cardigan, too.

Absinthe Teddy, $220. Available at Araks.com.

Guest Blogger Wishlist: Rachel Wentworth's Top Five Picks!

I met Rachel Wentworth when I was in Boston last month visiting a friend. We happened to spot her shop, Forty Winks, and she & co-owner Meredith allowed me to take some photos and post a write-up of their boutique. I asked Rachel what her top five wishlist items are this year, and she picked some snazzy items!

1. MORE of Zinke’s Twilight Panty

While all Zinke pieces are simply beautiful, I’ve gone a little gaga for their ruched back undies. I think it’s because they make my rather, well flat, derriere look all shapely and hot. Thank you Zinke, for giving me something I didn’t think I had.

2. Penguin Clothbound Classics collection

I’m irrationally giddy over these books. In fact, I’ve strategically asked my family and friends for specific titles to ensure that I get the whole collection on December 25th, with no overlap.  I get really conniving and greedy over pretty books.

3. Mimi Holiday Beinvenue Plunge Bra

We actually carry Mimi at our own store, but for some unknown reason, we passed up on this particular gem when we wrote orders. Lesson learned; something this pretty belongs at Forty Winks…and also in my personal collection.

4. Araks Lily Teddy

This Spring, my beloved and I are heading to Cali to visit friends and drink wine. Maybe I’m jumping the gun, but I’m already obsessing over how I’m going to bring this romantic, yet sexy teddy along for the ride. Fingers crossed for success on December 25th.

5. Ikat Pillows from Etsy seller Kyoozi

I found these Ikat pillows on Etsy during one of my monthly “I need to update my apartment” freakouts. Knowing that these might be under the tree this year, really helped calm me down.

Shop Rachel's wishlist!
Penguin Clothbound Classics, $20 each hardcover. Available at your local bookstore, or at Penguin.com.
Zinke Twilight Panty in Slate, $56. Available in-store at Forty Winks, contact them for more information.
Mimi Holiday Beinvenue Plunge Bra, $85. Available at Faire Frou Frou.
Araks Lily Teddy in Fog, $220. Available at Lille Boutique.
Ikat pillow covers, $35. Available at Etsy.com.

Guest Blogger Wishlist: Erica Paik's Top Five Picks!

Erica is one of my best friends—we've known each other since 5th grade and we've seen our styles evolve over the years, but she's still one of the most stylish ladies I know. Here's her top 5 wishlist picks for this holiday season!

Sometimes all you want is something sparkly during the holidays. Leading to the first item on my wishlist.

1. Cartier Trinity Star Ring

I love stars. Add diamonds and the iconic trinity band and this is a ring I probably wouldn’t take off that often. What would go well with this ring? Oh right.

2. Araks Elena Bralette Sea and Lia Panty Sea

How sexy, futuristic fun is this? Maybe I’ve seen one too many Tron: Legacy ads, but I can imagine this under their suits, if one could wear anything under those suits. Where would I zoom off to in this cute set?

3. A Trip to Korea

I blame Korean dramas for this one, but I really would love to go to Korea with a bunch of girlfriends, eat at a pojangmacha (sidebar: a kind of roadside food cart that sells all those delicious, yet so bad for you food that pairs perfectly with soju/beer. For more info go here), have a drink or three, and basically have a two month vacation from life. I’d need something comfy for those long days of lounging.

4. Steven Alan Holiday Jenna Romper

In my perfect (dream) apartment, you would find me reading in front of a blazing fire in this adorable romper. Doesn’t it evoke images of winter, scrunchy ski socks bunched down, and hot cocoa? But in the real world, oh wait this is a Christmas wishlist, so for my final wish I wish for...

5. La Perla New Venus Balconette Bra and Lace-Trimmed Short Briefs

Champagne and pearls please! That’s what I thought of when I first saw this set. Oh wait, I would be wearing the Cartier ring... luckily pearls go with everything, right? Love, love, love the details and in the end isn’t that what life is all about—the details.

xoxo, e

Shop Erica's Wishlist!
Cartier Trinity Star Ring, $13,100. Available at Cartier.us.
Araks Elena Bra, $110 and Lia panty, $80. Available at Journelle.com.
Steven Alan Holiday Romper, $168. Available at StevenAlan.com.
La Perla New Venus Balconette Bra, $225. Lace-Trimmed Short Briefs, $115. Available at Net-a-Porter.com.

Araks Sample Sale Notes

I miraculously dragged my butt out of bed super early this morning to make it to the Araks sample sale this morning downtown before work. There was no line, but the elevator in the building is broken so you'll have to climb 5 flights of stairs to make it up there.

As far as sample sales go, this was one of the most organized ones I've seen. There are the usual bins stuffed with camis, thongs, and swimwear that you'll need to dig through to find your size. Bras and fancier camis are on a rack and an associate will retrieve a size foe you.

What surprised me the most was how helpful some of the associates were. A lovely Araks employee helped me dig through the swimwear bins to help me find matching bottoms to the adorable floral-print top I clung onto, and she ran back and forth looking for bras that would match the color of the bottoms I found.

Even for us uptown girls, I think its worth a trek to check out. Bras $35-$65, thongs $15, swimwear $20 per piece (read $40 for a set), camis $20-$65, sample bras $15-$25, and there's more!

Araks Sample Sale: Ready to wear, lingerie and swimwear are 60-80% off.

137 Grand Street, between Crosby St & Lafayette St, 5th floor.

Thursday 11/11, 8:30am to 7:30pm

Friday 11/12, 9am to 6:30pm

No phone.

Sample Sales: Araks, Hanky Panky & La Perla [NYC]

It's that glorious time of year again: sample sale time! Araks, Hanky Panky and La Perla will both be having sample sales, so get your game face ready.

I haven't been to an Araks or Hanky Panky sale before, but I did check out the La Perla summer sample sale last year. There weren't any A-cup bras (32/34B was the smallest), and it took a good amount of digging to find anything cute in my size. There were plenty of bottoms though, and in retrospect I wish I had invested in more bottoms at that sale. I did get there about an hour before it was scheduled to open and was still 25th in line, and my friends and I waited about an additional 45 minutes to an hour before we were allowed in. Luckily this one also starts on a Sunday, so for all you working ladies, get up early, check it out with your girlfriends (or your boyfriend!) then head over to brunch with some mimosas to celebrate your coup d'thongs!

Araks Sample Sale: Ready to wear, lingerie and swimwear are 60-80% off.
Refinery29.com says: lingerie up to 80% off, organic cotton lingerie (bras, panties, tanks, camis, teddies) up to 60% off.
137 Grand Street, between Crosby St & Lafayette St, 5th floor.
Thursday 11/11, 8:30am to 7:30pm
Friday 11/12, 9am to 6:30pm
No phone.

La Perla Sample Sale: Lingerie, sleepwear, swimwear and ready to wear up to 80% off.

Refinery29.com says: Don't worry if you can't get there early…stock will be replenished throughout the sale.

225 Fifth Avenue, at West 27th St

Sunday 11/14, 12pm to 5pm

Monday 11/15, 9:30am to 6pm

Tuesday 11/16, 9:30am to 6pm

Wednesday 11/17, 9:30am to 6pm

Thursday 11/18, 9:30am to 7pm

212.725.5400

Hanky Panky Sample Sale: Lingerie up to 75% off.
260 Fifth Avenue, between West 28th & West 29th Sts
Tuesday 11/16, 8:30am to 8pm
Wednesday 11/17, 8:30am to 8pm
Thursday 11/18, 8:30am to 7pm
Friday 11/19, 9am to 1:30pm
212.725.4996

Spotted at NYFW: Bras as Outerwear!

Looks like the innerwear as outerwear trend will continue for at least another season, judging from these TwitPic shots. Refinery29 showed the Twitterverse these photos from the runways these past couple of days. I'm excited for next spring!

At Araks: "Pretty sheer dresses at Araks... modern twist on Dutch traditional pinafores."

At Y-3: "Rock out with your bra out at Y-3."

Tempting Tuesdays: Araks Elena & Lia Set

Tuesdays will feature a lustworthy lingerie set and a suggested retailer. I think we all need a little something beautiful to at least look at to get us through the week. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Araks Elena Soft Bra and Lia Panty

Bra ($110) and bikini ($80) available at Journelle.com.