Tag Archives: Boston
The Cyclist’s Guide to Lingerie!
As soon as the spring warmth entered the air, I went straight down to my basement to reunite with my beloved bike. From mid-April to late October I primarily commute to school and work by bike. I may bike everywhere, but I’m not about to wear sports bras every day, nor will I tolerate underwear that bunches and makes me spend the rest of the day regretting having biked in the first place!
Image courtesy of www.bostoncoasters.com
As my one year anniversary of working at Forty Winks approaches, I’ve tried many different bras and undies for bike rides. I now happily give you the inside scoop on cyclist friendly lingerie:
BRAS
LeMystere Whisper Bra (available in store or by phone order in nude or black)
This bra is supportive both in its wide, snug band and slightly stretchy cups. From the moment you put it on in the morning, it will not budge! And this bra magically achieves all this while being totally comfortable for all-day wear. Beyond support, what makes the Whisper Bra ideal for biking is that the material it’s made out of dries very quickly. So you need not worry about wearing a damp bra for the rest of the day after biking in this beauty!
(Image courtesy of www.lemystere.com)
Marlies Dekkers Dame de Paris Balcony Bra
The Marlies Dekkers Dame de Paris Balcony Bra is without a doubt the most functional and one of the sexiest bras I own. Like the LeMystere Whisper Bra, its band is wide which gives it a sporty kind of feel. Generally speaking, molded cups are more prone to remaining a little sweaty after a morning bike ride, but the material of this bra wicks away sweat more than other molded bras I own. It’s very comfortable to wear during and after rides. And this is not only a bra that’s comfy to bike in, it’s one that’s meant to be shown off!
UNDIES
Dear Kate (nude “leading lady” bikini and lavender thong available in store or by phone order)
Dear Kates are the answer to every problem you’ve ever had with your underwear. I kid you not. Every pair is made out of three layers: two which absorb and wick and an outermost layer that absorbs leaks. Dear Kates are designed with all sorts of concerns you might have “down there” in mind, particularly during your period or pregnancy. They are equally fabulous for cycling (and workouts) because they wick away moisture and don’t allow any sweat to seep through to your clothes, so you’re ready to go as soon as you step off your bike. The first thought I had when I wore a pair was: “where have you been all my life???”
(Image courtesy of www.dearkates.com)
Knock Out! Smart Panties (lacey brief, panty, and thong available in tiger Lily in store or by phone order in “Tiger Lily” (pictured below) , panty also available in white)
We started carrying Knock Out Smart Panties at Forty Winks last summer, and they’ve been a huge hit since. Perfect for feeling sexy in cotton while staying dry and comfy after a commute by bike. As the tag explains, Knock Out! Panties have a special gusset that is made of breathable cotton with wick/dry fibers, and odor-absorbing molecules. The elastic band keeps the underwear in place without digging. The lace is gorgeous and almost feels like silk!
(Image courtesy of www.knockoutpanties.com)
STAYING FRESH
Simply a MUST HAVE for all cyclists. I used to feel burdened in the summer by all the handwashing I had to do after I placed one sweaty post-bike ride bra after another in my handwashing basket. The beauty of the Laundress Delicate Spray is that it not only makes your bras smell clean with its very subtle but fresh-smelling scent. It also actually cleans your bras because it contains an antibacterial ingredient. And best of all, as with all Laundress products, it is entirely allergen-free and biodegradable.
Happy riding!
XO,
Ari
Purge and Splurge (for a great cause!!!)
The origin of a favorite Forty Winks phrase…
A couple of months ago, a customer came into the store and said that she needed to do a bra drawer overhaul. She hadn’t shopped for lingerie in over two years; and none of her bras fit quite right anymore… The nudes and whites weren’t looking quite so nude and white… The material was pilling… And she didn’t feel that her bras were supporting her well.
After doing a fitting and making a slight adjustment to the size this customer had been wearing, suddenly everything I brought into the room fit beautifully! One bra looked better than the next. We Forty Winks gals are happy to tell you which bras we think look better than others and relate our personal experience with each to help narrow down choices… But in this case, it was really hard to eliminate anything.
After trying each bra on a couple of times, the customer said “you know what… I really need to get rid of everything in my drawer at home, so I’m just going to splurge today and buy every bra I like.” Alas, a new Forty Winks phrase was born: purge and splurge.
What better time than early spring to refresh your lingerie? And what better impetus to purge than knowing your bras will be donated to a fantastic cause?
This weekend we will be collected bras to donate to the organization Free The Girls http://freethegirls.org/. Free the Girls helps women who have been victims of sex trafficking make their own living in a way that allows them enough time to go to school and take care of their families. The organization helps these women set up second-hand clothing stores by donating the initial inventory needed for each store, then offering additional items at affordable prices. Safe houses and aftercare facilities train shop owners and workers in business skills, so that they can be successful in their endeavors.
Bras are the most valuable contribution because they are very desirable and difficult to find at a reasonable price in the countries Free the Girls serves. Selling bras is a great way for a woman to feel empowered by running her own successful business; and it also gives her the opportunity to work with other women. This is especially important when abuse by men has tragically altered a woman’s life. http://freethegirls.org/about/our-story/
This weekend, Forty Winks will be holding a bra drive to collect as many bras as we can for Free The Girls. As a thank you for your support, we will offer a 15% discount on your entire purchase.
Feeling like it’s about time to purge and splurge? Come help us help Free The Girls and we will help you find some fresh new lingerie for spring! Hope to see you (and your lightly used bras) this weekend!!!
I really love my…
Zinke Scout Reversible Bralet, $78.
I recently took this little beauty home with me.
Having pretty small breasts, I was a little worried about how it would work but as it turn out the style is perfect. I love the double layer of fabric as it gives me more shape than most bralets.
The vibrant colors and delicate band are so pretty that you wont mind if this bra is seen a little bit, it’s perfect for all the see-through shirts this season. I’m currently loving the orchid colored side under white tees and tanks. The color is close enough to nude and light pink, so it’s a perfectly subtle way to spice up a look without going crazy with the color trend.
Another reason to love the Scout?
This bra is incredibly comfortable, especially in the hot weather…almost felt like I’m not wearing anything at all.
It’s all in the details…
When you want to up the ante on the luxury you might consider reaching for Ari Dein.
Lingerie designer and lover of all things silky, Ari sure does a good job at getting the details just right.
We promise, your beloved’s eyes will light up like never before…
Well done you.
xoxo
Gifts for friends who buy indie
Arin Robinson and Jessie Zinke are sisters dedicated to their 100% made in the USA (New York City to be precise) intimates line. We’re obsessed with their peek-a-boo, mix and match, philosophy on lingerie as well as their personal commitment to the design, production, and sales of their pieces. From start to finish, Zinke is a company run by women who take pride in the quality of their work and have no room for anything less.
The Zinke Chelsea Romper is pure silken perfection.
The cornflower blue color is stunning on nearly every skin tone (also perfect for blue eyed gals), while the grosgrain ribbon back closure is a sweet little alternative to buttons or zippers.
These little black numbers that you’re now lusting over, are from the talented and socially committed team behind the “loungerie” brand Between the Sheets. Josh Verleun and designer Layla L’ obatti are a real life couple who live, work, and run their company in NYC. Josh and Layla are the first people to tell us about the environmental impact making lingerie has on our planet and they’re the first (and perhaps the only) company to explain to us why they use the materials they use as determined by their environmental effects.
And as you can see, the final products are simply stunning. The feather lace from the above “Birds of Play” collection, was hand designed by Layla, resulting in gorgeous pieces of quality lingerie that you can actually feel good about. Pretty cool right?
Some of our other indie lines to watch for…Ari Dein and Fortnight
And did you know that Hanky Panky and Fleur’t are made here in the USA?
But more on these lovelies in later posts!
Need HELP? 12 days of lingerie gift giving assistance from Forty Winks
Sure, maybe you know exactly what you like when it comes to lingerie, but when buying for others it’s hard to know what they’ll love.
It’s just so intimate, so personal, so easy to get wrong…
But we sell a lot of lingerie. And we sell a lot of lingerie as gifts. And we’re pretty good at helping people.
And that’s why, starting tomorrow, we’ll be posting 12 blog posts dedicated to the different ladies in your life and highlighting the gifts that they’ll seriously love.
No gift receipts needed.
Happy Shopping!
Fortnight arrives at Forty Winks
We’ve been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Fortnight for weeks now. The impending sexy-meets- functional vibe has had me eying the UPS man a little too eagerly each and every day.
But it wasn’t delivered by UPS. It came, rather surprisingly, from our mailman.
A little white package containing some seriously gorgeous lingerie.
Wireless. Long line. Made in Canada. All great things.
Welcome to Forty Winks Fortnight.
We’re anticipating a long and prosperous relationship.
Lingerie in the Fairground
I’m loving Vanity Fair’s Fairground so so much this month.
(Oh hello strapless jumpsuit coming down the stairs)
I’m thrilled by how some of these ladies have incorporated lingerie into their looks while still looking sophisticated and classy. It’s a look that’s easy to try and so much fun to wear.
Personally, I’m quite smitten with the sweetly see-through cream top and highwaisted trouser look worn by Bianca Brandolini D’Adda.
Must replicate!
And if you’d like to replicate, we recommend the following bras for your lingerie looks.
Maison Close Villa Cancan Bustier in Noir
Elle Macpherson Lux Noir Contour Bra in Bronze/Jet
Huit Mrs. Wang Soft Cup Bra in Opium
Perhaps the most perfectly wearable piece of lingerie for underneath sheer tops is the Angie long line bra from Fortnight, a Canadian line arriving soon at Forty Winks. Stay tuned!
New and notable from Mary Green
We love all things Mary Green here at Forty Winks. Her silks are stunning and so very affordable.
Below are some of the newest pieces to hit our racks…enjoy!
