Lingerie 101 - a man's guide

Lingerie 101

A man’s guide

Gentlemen, even if you’ve never purchased lingerie before in your life, given a little forethought, celebrating the most romantic holiday on the calendar with a seductive gift that ends the evening sweetly for both of you is easier than you think.

Lesson one: Find out what she likes

Broach the subject carefully. As you’re sipping wine, perhaps you could mention you’d enjoy seeing her in (fill in the blank). Gauge her response. After all, she should feel totally comfortable with the selection you want to see her in.

Lesson Two: Find out her bra sizes

Yes - sizes - as in more than one. Since they’re sized numerically by band circumference (32, 34, 36 etc.) and alphabetically by cup size (B, C, D, DD etc.), you’ll need to figure out both. If you dare, snoop through her drawers for a bra and make a note of the size indicated on the tag located on the back of her current one. For all other lingerie items, knowing her pant or dress size will help our sales associates figure out the rest.

Lesson Three: Picking out what you like

Walking into a store filled with a seemingly endless variety of fun, sexy and romantic bits of silk and lace in a bevy of fashionable shapes and styles can easily be overwhelming. Plus, it’s easy to feel embarrassed, intimidated or even ready to bolt when you’re speaking in public about terms with which you aren’t familiar or unaccustomed to, but wait! Here’s a short primer to get you acquainted with ‘the underworld.’

BRA: Designed to shape, support, enhance or minimize a woman’s breasts. They can be utilitarian or make fashion statements. You no doubt, will be looking for the latter.

Shopping hint: providing the sales associate with “She’s a C” is not enough information, you really need an idea of the numeric and letter size she’s currently wearing.

PANTY: Available in a variety of styles and sizes, panties are a great way to ease into buying lingerie. Given a woman’s correct pant size, the sales associate can guide you to a pair that fits. Some of the more popular styles include:

· Bikini – full coverage in front and backside

· Thong - full coverage in front with a bare backside

· G-string – less coverage in front and a bare backside

· Boy short – coverage on the backside, but a bit cheeky,

· Boy thong – like a boy short only with the bottom half missing – very cheeky

Shopping hint: buy a sexy pair of panties as a “first course” to the Valentine gift presentation. Send them early by mail to help set the stage for a triumphant holiday.

CAMISOLE: Can be worn under jackets or by themselves depending upon the sheerness of the fabrics and lace. Practical as well as sexy, women like to layer with camisoles.

Shopping hint: Camisoles with matching panties make a great gift set.

BUSTIER: Somewhat similar to a camisole but with built-in bra support. Often worn as outerwear. Paired with a long silk skirt for a black tie event or casually with jeans, bustiers are versatile and always hot.

Shopping hint: Knowing correct bra size is extremely helpful when purchasing a bustier.

CORSET: A very specialized garment. Starting at the bust line, made with ‘boning’ to lend support and shape, the corset narrows to cinch the waist. Some have a hook & eye closure but others are often laced in the front or back to adjust the fit.

Shopping hint: Since the best corsets are often European in origin they tend to be pricey.

CHEMISE: Also known as a “night gown”, the chemise is offered in several styles. From figure flattering baby doll style fitted under the bust and flaring out to a very short length and usually worn with a matching panty, to long, romantic and flowing gowns. Often available with matching robes or bed jackets.

Shopping hint: Pay special attention to fabric, does your love feel comfortable in a sheer fabric or something more opaque?

GARTER BELTS: Hands down, one of the sexiest little items in the lingerie world. Women like to wear them and men like to see women in them. Some bra and panty sets have matching garter belts available.

Shopping hint: Don’t forget the stockings.

Stockings vs. Thigh-Highs?

Stockings require a garter belt in order to stay up. Thigh highs or “Stay ups” have a silicone band around the top to keep them in place without a garter belt.

* EARNING EXTRA CREDIT POINTS

It’s no secret ladies love a little romance delivered right along with their lingerie. Since she’s going to be the one wearing it, make sure you let your lady know it’s all about her. Pull out the stops with lots of candlelight, chocolates, champagne and strawberries to accompany your beautiful, playful, sexy little fluff of something and you’re bound to go to the head of the class.

Well, that’s it, course over. Now that you’ve got a fair understanding of what your options are, picking out what you’re looking for should be a piece of cake. But just in case, get a gift receipt. Oh, and once she knows you’re shopping with us, make sure she stops in the store soon. We’ll take all her measurements and even keep her ‘wish list’ on file to help you shop for her next time around (birthday, holidays or just because she’s special days).

Turning Leaves

We hang onto summer as long as possible. Inevitably, the lush green of summer will fade or burst into shades of orange, red and gold. Finally, there are more leaves on the ground than the trees. Here it comes. Fall. Temperatures drop, the days get shorter, but the good news is the nights get longer.

I love crawling into a bed decked out in a down comforter, wearing soft and cozy pajamas. Engulfed in the luxury of it all is so very delicious. Sleep is welcome and waking well rested is the reward.

Fall is the season of apples and pumpkins and red wine, a crackling fire in the hearth and football and Halloween. Oh yes - and fall fashion is the best! Fall is a season to be enjoyed and cherished - as it soon disappears we will be shoveling snow.

Ten Years Ago

The last day of my last job where I collected a paycheck, my co-workers took me out for a few drinks. The excitement of my new venture got under their skin a bit and one of them, Heather, was dying to see the space where I would incorporate Miss Groove. Imagine her shock when she saw 1225 East Brady Street - under construction. Prior to my landlords purchasing the building, it was a disgusting dirty smelly pet store that sold rats for snake food. Sawdust, drywall mud, cracked green asphalt floors and an incomplete ceiling stood before us. I was beaming, she was horrified. Somehow, she did not see what I saw.

Six weeks later, after long hours of painting walls, and tables, installing a hardwood floor, begging my bother in law to put up the track lights, waiting nervously for my chandeliers to arrive from New York, moving fixtures and unpacking merchandise - it seemed as if Miss Groove would never open. I exhausted my family, friends and myself and we were down to the wire. I was at my wits end. It was Friday, May 5th and there was so much more to do to get the doors open for Saturday.

That Friday, we pulled the "under construction" paper out of the window so the stickers with the Miss Groove logo could be installed. Progress. My friends Erin and Joel came by after work to check on me. They rolled up their sleeves to help me with the final push.

Around 9:00 PM, Joel stepped outside and called me to join him. He turned me around to look at Miss Groove. He saw what I needed to see. A store that looked legitimately ready for business. I will never forget that day - seeing my dream realized.

The next day, we quietly opened our door and the neighborhood was buzzing. What a thrill to sell things that you like to others who actually agree with your taste! I did not have any employees, so once again, Erin and Joel stopped by to play store with me. We actually took in $1500 the first day of business. Very encouraging. And believe me, when you own a retail business, you need that encouragement to survive the days that aren't so successful.

Ten years later, I owe a debt of gratitude to the MANY people who have kept me in business. To my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, friends and faithful customers who have become friends, I say thank you. Then there are the Groovettes. No business can run successfully with out good employees. But the Groovettes are more than employees - they have become their own little family as well.

I don't know where the next ten years will bring, but I can say that the last ten were incredible.

Why are women wearing the wrong size bra?

They say 80% of the adult female population is wearing the wrong size bra. Of course, everyone thinks they are in the minority. Believe me when I say that statistic rings true.

Case History

About eight years ago, I myself was wearing the wrong size bra. I thought it was okay that I was bursting out of the cups. Giselle, Heidi and Naomi wore them that way. Even though the first thing I did when I came home at night was to rip that torture device right off, I was sure I was on the right path.

When I finally got into the right size bra, I almost cried - it made such a difference. What that experience taught me is that the marketing of bra's did not measure up to reality.

A Lost Art

Women burned their bras in the 1970's and wearing a bra became outdated. All those little old ladies that used to fit bras had no one to pass on their valuable knowledge. Bra fitting became somewhat of a lost art. Until Oprah had her bra fitting revolution, women were left to fend for themselves. Who didn't hate shopping for a bra?

A B C D DD DDD - when does it stop?

Then there is the somewhat confusing size issue. Not only do different manufacturers vary slightly in sizing, but US letters their sizes differently from the Europeans. And the British letter their sizes differently from the US and the Europeans. Then, when you go down a band, you must go up a cup to maintain the same cup size. And everyone thinks they are a B,C or D because those are the most common cup sizes on the market. I could go on....

The point is, don't go it alone. Find someone who is a professional bra fitter. Then go somewhere where they carry a breadth of sizes. Miss Groove carries bra sizes starting at a 30 band up to a 42 band, and A cup to a G cup, and we can fit you.

Do it for two reasons:

1. You will look a whole lot better. The right size bra makes you look younger - the girls get perky again, they are lifted off the rib cage and you actually look thinner.

2. You will feel a whole lot better. If your straps are digging into your shoulders, if you feel like your bra is strangling you alive, or if your wires are poking you to the point of pain, my dear you are in the wrong size bra. You will be a whole lot of happy if you have a comfortable correct fitting bra.

I used to hate Valentine's day

Exactly how much fun can a holiday like Valentine's Day be if you are single? What if you have a schmuck for a boyfriend or an absent minded husband who forgets? Valentine's day adds up to misery for us types, right?

Wrong.

The truth is - I have learned long ago not to hitch my happiness on someone else's wagon. You gotta love yourself before you can love another or expect to be loved. When women tell me - I love all of this lingerie, but I don't have anyone to wear it for - I cringe. If you are not wearing this stuff because you love the luxury of a silk chemise against your skin or because you feel super sexy and confident in a black lace bra - why honey you missed the point. And how do you expect to attract another if you aren't exuding that certain something?

So back to Valentine's Day. If you are without a mate or with a clueless wonder, don't let that stop you from enjoying the season of love. Treat yourself. If not jewelry, lingerie, a new handbag (from Miss Groove, of course) - how about grabbing a bottle of wine and a good book? Better yet, make it a steamy beach read and pretend it is warm outside.

I'm so glad it's 2010

We are putting one hell of a year behind us. 2009, YUCK. 2010, HOPEFUL. I am so looking forward to the new year and all of its potential.

For one, I love the spring goods we ordered. New vendors will grace our four walls including a terrific not so basic basic cotton knit line called Pure & Simple. This line is great for layering with jeans, leggings or in some cases, wearing as a short sassy dress. The prices are right, too. Then there's Green Dragon. Great linen items and some tie dye pieces to boot. Last year we touched breifly on a line called Haven. We're bringing them back for some terrific silk shifts and the like. We like. And Loveappella - you must see to believe. Watch the new arrivals page for all of the updates.

And the old favorites - The first shipment of Language Los Angeles for Spring I has arrived. I personally love all things Language and there happens to be a top in the bunch for me. (the perks of owning a store...) Plinio Visona fine Italian handbags are making a return this spring. Of course - one of those has my name on it as well (what can I say?). And more David Kahn Jeans...

Just the tip of the iceberg. Are you starting to get why I am sooooo very excited for 2010?

Benny loves the holidays

Poor little Benny. He is constantly being humiliated by me - his dog mom. He looks a bit like a scrooge here. Don't feel too sorry for him. He got his favorite treat right after the photo session.

Happy Holidays from Benny the canine greeter.