Holiday Wishlist: Jill H., Writer

Esther's Note: I want to introduce you all to Jill, one of PLU's new team members and a writer at a luxury fashion & beauty company. Girl has brains, sass and impeccable taste—and a gift for punning on the fly. If any/all of that + her holiday wish list isn't enough to make you want to be her friend, then God help you. Enjoy reading her first post on PLU! xx

1. Stella McCartney Georgia Glowing Bodysuit

A little lace never hurt anybody, right? I’m a sucker for feminine details, especially when they’re balanced with bolder touches, like these striking, geometric panels. Layer this bodysuit under a dress, a cashmere sweater, basically anything you want… and boom, you’re in bombshell mode.

2. Chantelle Mouvance Demi Bra and Boxer Brief

Refer back to part one about the lace. This chic grey set is just the right amount of playful, with deco adornments and touches of gold. The perfect way to upgrade the everyday.

3. Proenza Schouler Printed Silk-Georgette Mini Dress

Let’s do some math: this dress + a leather jacket + some rag & bone Newburys + a red lip = one serious party (sorry for the long equation, but it’s important to keep the mind sharp). The monochromatic palette makes this drop-waist style endlessly versatile, perfect for any time of year.

4. Dressing for the Dark by Kate Young

Call me a cliché, but seeing the golden Vera Wang gown that Michelle Williams wore to the ’06 Oscars is still one of my favorite red-carpet moments (you know you loved it, too). So if Kate Young, the celebrity stylist behind said red-carpet appearance, wants to release a book about iconic fashion moments in film and unforgettable eveningwear, I’ll certainly be reading that.

5. Byredo Mini Candle Set

Ahh, time to relax. And what better way to relax than with a crazy-elegant trio of candles from Byredo? The black wax and black glass add instant ambiance, even before you strike a match. I think they’ll look great on my coffee table next to that Kate Young book…

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Shop Jill's Wishlist:

1. Stella McCartney Georgia Glowing Bodysuit, $200 at Journelle.com.
2. Chantelle Mouvance Demi Bra, $82 and Boxer Brief, $45. Both at Journelle.com.
3. Proenza Schouler Printed Silk-Georgette Mini Dress, $1250 at Net-A-Porter.com.
4. Dressing for the Dark by Kate Young, $45 at Amazon.com.
5. Byredo Mini Candle Set, $120 at Net-A-Porter.com.

Market Week: Chantelle F/W 2012 Collection Preview

Alors, mes chéries, finally I share of the lovely events I had the pleasure to stop by during market week a few weeks ago: the Chantelle F/W 2012 collection preview. A bunch of editors, bloggers and social media mavens got to visit the Chantelle showroom for a bra fitting while we nibbled on macarons and sipped on champagne. 

The F/W 2012 collection comes in four color stories, each inspired by different gemstones: 

• Ruby — obviously inspired by rubies and comes in different shades: deep red, raspberry or burnt orange
• Amber — described as "casual chic", these are your basics with signature sophisticated touches to white, nude and black
• Black Pearl — inspired by Japanese black pearls, which have an iridescence of greens and purples
• White Gold — this is where I could probably insert many different 50 Shades of Grey puns, but I'll refrain. Greys with touches of blues are here, including the Python Gray print for an animal print to bring out yo' wild side that isn't leopard. Yay.

So I know that all sounds so fabulous and classy and chic, just like Chantelle does ('cos they do what they do best) but I'm sure you'll accept my apology when I say that I was so busy trying to absorb what was going on that I forgot to take more photos. But these show some of my favorite sets, so really that's what's really important. Haha, just kidding.

My favorite set of all the tables: the Icone demi & shorty in Python Grey (the lovely Instagram filter I chose made it more blue). Part of the White Gold color story.

A Dose of Summertime Pretty

I stopped by Journelle last Friday after work to drop off some of my old bras for their Spring Cleaning Bra Drive that supports Free the Girls (pun intended) and to refresh my lingerie drawer with some new pretties. I may or may not have shed a tear when I realized that some of the Mimi Holliday bras I had been eyeing weren't available in my size at the Union Square store—and almost every other bra I tried on wasn't my exact size because mine was either sold out or wasn't carried.

I was bummed, handed over "my failed attempts at happiness" to the sales associate, and then saw this Chantelle Icone set in Tropical Blue and figured it'd be worth a shot—even though the black Icone was too big on me. I tried on the same size I had tried in black—and hollerlujah, it fit perfectly. So, naturally with a bra this pretty, I had to get the bottoms too. The color makes me think of summertime in this chilly NYC spring we've been having, and just looking at it makes me smile.

Moral of this story? Try on every damn bra because manufacturers are sizing differently even among their own collections. And who knows? You could be pleasantly surprised.

Chantelle Icone Demi Bra, $88. Icone Shorty, $88. Available at Journelle.com.

Guest Blogger Wishlist: Allison Beale's Top Five Picks!

I met Allison, the creator & founder of george PR, back in September during Fashion's Night Out and it's been a total love-fest over Twitter ever since. A North Carolina transplant residing in downtown Manhattan, his lady has got a style and music taste that will blow you away. You need to read her wishlist. And follow her on Twitter. 

On my list this holiday season, in case I’m on anybody’s!

1. YSL Mail Y Wallet

This chic little number touches on my love for travel – and fashion. I love it’s clean lines, whimsical exterior and the fact it forces me to carry my change elsewhere (like my Grandmother did).

2. Zinke Dear Eleanora Chemise in black

I’m a huge fan of Zinke and this chemise is classic but still sexy. And, I wouldn’t mind finding it under the tree.

3. 3.1 Phillip Lim Bralet + Panty Set

These flirty florals remind me of oil pastels my Grandmother used to paint for me. It’s the epitome of carefree living.

4. Chantelle Chantilly Demi Bra + Shorty Boyshort

No one – no one – does lingerie quite like the French. (And I’m a Francophone.) I’m also smitten with black lace and this set c’est parfait!

5. Block Lamp (Harri Koskinen, 1996)

This lamp had me at the red cord. It’s such a brilliant design piece and would be perfect on an end table. MoMA, $130.

Shop Allison's wish list!
YSL Mail Y Wallet, $475. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Zinke Dear Elenora Chemise, $158. Available at Forty Winks.
3.1 Phillip Lim Bralet, $115. Panty, $115. Available at Barneys.
Chantelle Chantilly Demi Bra, $105. Shorty Boyshort, $56. Available at Journelle.com.
Block Lamp, $135. Available at MoMAstore.org.

Follow Allison and george PR on Twitter: @abeale10 and @George_PR.

Sale Alert: Chantelle at Gilt Groupe!

Loads of beautiful Chantelle bras, undies and even a bustier on sale right now at Gilt Groupe! Prices are starting at $29 for bottoms and $69 for bras. There are some really gorgeous items still available, so snap 'em up before other Gilt members do!

Don't have a Gilt membership? Get one here.