Friends who get fit together...

…drink mimosas together afterwards. And I mean like, bra fit, not physically fit. Though let's admit that trying on bras can be pretty exhausting, emotionally and physically. Let me explain.

I went to INTIMACY Bra Fit Stylists last week with a girlfriend with the goal of getting her fitted for new bras, and also to donate some old bras of mine to Free the Girls. INTIMACY is pairing up with the non-profit organization to call March "National Bra Fit Styling Month" to raise awareness for Free the Girls' mission and also to remind all of us ladies how important it is to get fitted at least once a year.

Paris-bound plane outfit from last Monday!

I had a really great experience getting a swimwear fitting done at INTIMACY's Madison Ave location last summer, and was expecting the same level of expertise at their 3rd Ave boutique as well. I think what made this visit even more fun was going with a friend. Trust me—especially if you're not boob-shy, it reduces the redundancy of taking off and putting on bra after bra. Plus, Fitting Friend can gut-check your purchase candidates for a final yes or no, especially if you're the type to not quite trust salespeople. (Sidenote on fittings: don't be that girl who brings her boyfriend/husband into the fitting room area, that's really annoying for all the other women around you).

Shown: Marie Jo L'Aventure TOM Convertible t-shirt bra in 32B (black) and 32DDD.

My stylist, Samanta Locarno, brought me my size for a few styles I picked out, then brought a few others that she thought I'd like based on my choices. I'm going to admit here that INTIMACY is a tough shopping boutique for me—I'm a visual shopper, and most of the sizes that are on display are larger cup sizes, so I'm never sure what they actually have in my size and what they don't. But what you have to remember is that they always have more sizes, you just have to ask.

I tried on a tried-and-true style from Simone Perele, the Caressence 3D Full Cup bra in a gorgeous royal blue shade that was on sale, and a couple of styles from Marie Jo. I'd heard rave reviews about Marie Jo, but it's a brand that I've never really gravitated towards for a few reasons. 1, the designs are sort of… well, dated. I like a more more modern-looking bra (listen, aesthetics are important to me) and MJ never really made the cut. 2, the cups look gigantic for even a B-cup. Visually, I'm thinking "how in the world are my boobs going to fill that??" Well, it turns out that my boobs filled them out fine. And if anything, the MJ bras were by far the most comfortable padded bras I've ever tried. Totally sold.

Shown: (from top to bottom) Simone Perele Caressence 3D Full Cup Bra; Marie Jo JANE Balconette T-shirt Bra; Marie Jo L'Aventure TOM Convertible T-shirt Bra.

Moral(s) of the story: even if the design of the bra totally freaks you out, try it on. And go with a friend. If she hasn't been fitted in awhile and she can't believe what her new size is, she'll need some booze afterwards to deal with the news.

Find an INTIMACY near you and go get fitted.

This post was written in exchange for product.

What to Expect at This Year's Journelle Warehouse Sale

Yours truly was lucky enough to score an invite to Journelle's Warehouse Sale VIP shopping preview last night to survey the goods before the sale opens up today at 9am to the public. This year they moved it to the space at 260 Fifth Avenue, best known to lingeristas as where the La Perla sample sale usually happens. The offering is even bigger this year than last, and with champagne flowing for VIPs last night, it helped ease the transactions a bit (but at least I still managed to stick to my budget—within a range of 50 cents, but still, within my budget).

What to expect:

- PUT EFFORT INTO HUNTING FOR YOUR SIZE. I found a few 34-band bras on the 36 racks.

- Bins of patterned Wolford stockings, marked down to $25 flat
- Bins of La Fee Verte silk bottoms (shorties, undies, boxers) in a great assortment of patterns
- Racks of La Fee Verte rompers, robes and camisoles
- Stella McCartney, Myla and Lascivious are on racks on the right side (if you're facing into the space), past the cash wrap; both bras & bottoms are hanging on the racks
- Racks on the left side (if you're facing into the space) are packed with Elle Macpherson, Mimi Holliday, The Lake and Stars (so many items from TLaS) and Simone Perele; matching bottoms for these are in bins sorted by size in the row of tables that run through the center of the space. A few bras and undies from Bodas are here too in black and pale pink colors (sizes seemed limited)
- Timpa bras & bottoms are on tables near the La Fee Verte bins
- A few Arlotta cashmere robes (my dream) are on racks near the back
- A few Eberjey jersey robes on racks near the center of the space
- Clearance bins in the back of the space near the fitting area
- Fitting room is communal, lots of big mirrors and you can only take in 10 items at a time

Phew! I think that covers the big points that stood out to me. I scooped up my dream birthday wishlist  Mimi Holliday Mojito set for a total of $79 (let's remember the bottom itself retailed for $76), an Eberjey fleece-lined robe sample for a fraction of the retail price, and an amazingly comfortable Bodas set—let me just say that I have seen the light and I'm not turning back.

Journelle Warehouse Sale
260 Fifth Avenue, at 28th Street
January 15-18, 9am-7pm / January 19, 10am-4pm

A jumble of La Fee Verte bottoms

One of the two The Lake and Stars racks

A Stella bralette that didn't make the cut

Journelle cares about you

Tempting Tuesdays: Classic Lace by Simone Perele

Simone Perele Nina Demi-Cup Bra & Boyshort

I have a confession to make: I currently have a gift card to Journelle and I've had it for about two weeks and I haven't bought anything. What is going on?? I mean, there's been a lot going on which is why I haven't used it, but I also couldn't really figure out what I wanted. My fellow lingerie lovah Allison showed me this Simone Perele set she picked up in Paris (so luckay) and I immediately fell in love but couldn't commit. What if there's new Mimi Holliday coming soon? Or Stella McCartney?

Fast forward to this past Sunday and I stopped into Journelle to give this set another once over, and my (apparently very observant) boyfriend pointed out that it was on the mannequin. And it looked amazeballs. The way the lace and silk panels are shaped and lay on the body (okay, the mannequin) looks incredible and it's so obvs why this Nina style is a favorite. I love this fuschia color and quite frankly, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, which is probably why I'm writing this post at 6:50am on a Monday to go live on Tuesday. Le sigh. Life is so hard sometimes.

Simone Perele Nina Demi-Cup Bra, $89. Simone Perele Nina Boyshort, $57. Available at Journelle.com.

Say Hi to Thursday: Simone Perele "Nina" Bottoms!

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. 

Whether you're a boyshort type of gal or a thong person, Simone Perele has got you covered (well, slightly cheeky but you know what I mean). The lace detailing on these Nina styles really caught my eye and since it's made of a nylon, cotton and elastin blend, they're sure to fit and to not make you itch! Both styles are come in ivory, black and navy—classic yet sassy. Say Hi to Thursday!

Nina Boyshort, $60; Nina Thong, $45. Available at SimonePerele.com.

Color Stories: Perfect Purple

One of this season's most notable colors is a gorgeous purple, and it's showing up in everyone's fall/winter collections. Here's a roundup of five beautiful purple bras—the Brulee one is my favorite!

1. Brulee Boudoir Collection Corset Soft Bra

Available at Brooklyn Fox, $90

2. Elle Macpherson Artistry Contour Bra

Available at Journelle.com, $65

3. Fleur of England Very Berry Silk Plunge Bra 

Available at FaireFrouFrou.com, on sale $104.40 (regularly $174)

4. La Perla Passion de Fleur Balconette Bra

Available at La Perla, $250

5. Simone Perele Muse Demi Cup Bra

Available at Lindas Online, on sale $107.99 (regularly $120)

Color Stories: Noble Navy

I feel as though black, nude, white and pink bras are ubiquitous, but navy bras are few and far between. There's something noble about navy and I love how it can be classy and seductive at the same time. Some navy bras I love:
1. Malawi Demi Bra by Jenna Leigh

Available at Gigi's Closet, $69.79.

2. Nina Demi-Cup Bra by Simone Perele

Available at Journelle.com, $89.

3. Intemporels Balconett Bra by Vannina Vesperini

Available at FaireFrouFrou.com, $110.40 (on sale).