No Longer Carrying KAS Silks

Hi all. We regret to inform you that we are no longer carrying KAS Silks. We still carry many other types of silk but will no longer be carrying that brand.

We hope this doesn't cause inconvenience.

Lingerie Trends in 2012 (Part 2/2)

(part one)

Structure Makes Your Current Closet Work 

You’ll be finding more structured pieces next season. These pieces will make the what’s already in your closet even better by providing you with a great foundation.

A keyword this season is “couture” as body-hugging designs look like they were made just for you. The classics will be meticulously reinvented and adorned with humor and surprise.

Loungewear Making a Comeback 

And in opposition to constricting structure, loungewear is making a comeback with housecoats becoming a new, multi-functional, must-have piece. Bi-stretch and easy comfort pieces make lounging particularly decadent.

Glamour Hosiery Trends 

The four key themes of hosiery in 2012 include words like, “diva,” “naturalle,” “sheer delight” and “rebel.” These looks include full-on glam with retro themes as well as looks that take advantage of the latest in fabric technology. Seaming, micro-mesh, fencenet and seductive patterning all exemplify these styles.

And look for all of these trends and more to be featured at the Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris at the end of the month. For more information you can check out http://www.lingerie-paris.com/http://www.lingerie-paris.com/.

Lingerie Trends in 2012 (Part 1/2)

Lingerie is subject to trends as much as any other fashion. This is why, at Secret Drawers Lingerie, we bring in pieces all year long that reflect the very latest trends in silks, lace, colour and print. And this year you can expect to see spirit-lifting colours and prints to fight the feelings around the current economic climate. Nothing is too matchy-matchy this season with an emphasis on being artistic and original.

Spring is About Colour

This spring is going to be all about colour: violet, chartreuse, scarlet red, azure, cognac, indigo and beetroot. These colours will be seen in naturalist looks that celebrate upcylcing, pastoral eccentricities and plant life. The broadest sense of nature is in mind as the source of lasting creative energy and well-being. Fine embroideries and backstitching are seen on these often thin-stretch, layered looks.

Amongst these strong fashion statements lay the palest of pastels like whipped cream, cappuccino and icicle to freshen the palette. Prints may be oversized as in large rose blooms or miniature as is tiny rose buds covering a pair of panties. Prints can be seen in a traveller’s palette including tribal, primitive and blanket prints. You’ll also notice Mediterranean and Spanish influences throughout.

In part two learn about trends for structured pieces, loungewear and hosiery.

New Holiday Hours and a Reminder

We know everyone is extra busy this time of year so we're open extra hours to make sure you get a chance to stop by to pick up those lacy bits for under your tree.

• Monday Dec. 19 - Tuesday Dec. 20 10 AM - 5:30 PM
• Wednesday Dec. 21 - Friday Dec. 23 - 10 AM - 8 PM
• Saturday Dec. 24 - 9:30 AM - 3 PM
• Sunday Dec. 25 - Monday Dec. 26 - Closed

After that we're back to our regular hours of 10 AM - 5 PM. Also note that we are closed New Year's Day.

 Don't Forget Her Size

If you're popping in to buy something for the woman in your life, make sure you take a peek into her drawers to see what size she wears. It's just a little tip from Santa to make your shopping life easier. And if you can't get her size, don't worry, a gift certificate fits everyone.

Upper 5th Up at Night - A Success

Last week was our birthday and we were hoping to spend it with our clients. Luckily, you did not disappoint, and many of you joined us for cookies, entertainment and shopping specials.

We wanted to say thanks to everyone who joined us for the Upper 5th Up at Night event. We spent the evening chatting with old friends and making new ones too. We enjoyed your company just as we have enjoyed your patronage for the last 15 years.

Didn't have a chance to join us? Stay tuned and we'll let you know the next time we have specials Up at Night.

It's Our Birthday - Enjoy the Gift

As we mentioned yesterday, Thursday just happens to be our 15th birthday and so to celebrate, we're giving you the gifts. And as promised, we are having a sale, along with some of our upper-5th street neighbours.

We present, Upper 5th - Up at Night. Please join us from 6-9 PM this Thursday night for exclusive savings.

It's Our Birthday - Celebrate with Us

Time has flown by, but as it turns out, as of this Thursday, we are 15 years young.We've weathered the storms of being a new business, a lagging economy and even our store being burned to the ground, but we're still standing tall as ever.

You Get the Gifts

And because we know that without our clients we wouldn't have had 15 years to enjoy, we're giving you the gifts.

Thursday night, from 6-9 PM we will be holding our birthday celebration with surprises in store for you. Fun entertainment will be provided by Glenny Davidson who does reiki and colour therapy readings and Darlene Jones the author of Embattled about what if 3 wishes could come true.

And yes, we might just be having a sale. Stay tuned tomorrow for more details.

TODAY - Feature Burger at the Mad Chef Cafe

If you're crazy about great food, the Mad Chef Cafe will make you absolutely insane!

Today, the Mad Chef has created a feature burger for Secret Drawers Lingerie. The Mad Chef has created a salmon burger with a twist. Join the Mad Chef for lunch to find out what kind of twist he has come up with.

The Mad Chef Cafe is less than one block away from Secret Drawers Lingerie. We hope to see you there for lunch.

Wacoal Bodysuede - Discontinuing Black

Wacoal has been a staple at Secret Drawers Lingerie for 14 years. In fact, the Wacoal Bodysuede design specifically has been one of our, and your, favorites for over a decade.

The Bodysuede is a full-figure-friendly bra that's comfortable enough to make it a superstar. It contains hidden features to keep the curvaceous shape of a full bosom while still offering plenty of support, and extra-padded straps to avoid shoulder discomfort.

Unfortunately, we have some bad news, Wacoal is no longer offering it in black.

Is This Your Favorite Bra?

If this is your favorite bra and you need it in black, we do have a few black Bodysuedes left. We recommend you drop by or give us a call to see if we've got your size.

Because darn it, the color of underwear matters too.

Enter for Your Chance to Cruise

Secret Drawers Lingerie is proud to support the Comox Valley Soropimists while, at the same time, possibly giving you a chance to win a cruise.

We are giving away three tickets to the Soroptimist's drawing for a cruise for two Sep. 24 - Oct. 1.

Cruise Vacation Details

The prize:

• Cruise (4 nights) from Vancouver to San Diego in a veranda cabin on Holland America's MS Zuiderdam
• Transfer to Las Vegas (2 nights)
• Return flight from Las Vegas to Vancouver

Includes taxes and fees.

Enter to Win

To enter to win a raffle ticket leave a comment here, on our Underwear Matters blog, on our Facebook page or visit us in-store. Make sure you include a way to contact you in your comment. One entry per person, please.

Entries must be in by midnight May 8, 2011. Check back for the ticket winners. The cruise drawing is on May 13, 2011.

Pack for Your Cruise

To look great on the desk, check out the new designs for summer: Hanky Panky's new spring colours, silken creations by Kenan and Mary Green, Chantelle and Prima Donna.

 

Good luck!

KAS Price Increase - Starting Next Week

KAS silks are an intimate essential for many. It's not just a fine, silk knit that feels luxurious on the skin, it also wicks moisture away from the body keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Knowing how many love to have these silken underthings to pull out of their drawer everyday, we wanted to warn you: KAS is going up in price by 20% - 30% starting next week. This is a price increase from our supplier, so you'll want to stop by and pick up your KAS as soon as possible.

Dragons Should Have Gotten Naked

If you've been in our store recently, you might have noticed Naked, the new boxer briefs for men, on our shelves.

Those of you who are fans of the Dragon's Den on CBC may remember the Naked Boxer Brief Clothing Company from September 2009. Back then, the Dragon venture capitalists decided not to invest in Naked, but if 2010 is any indication, they might be regretting that decision.

Naked ended up raising more money than they asked for from the Dragons and went on to start manufacturing their seamless Italian microfiber underwear in Vancouver, BC.

Recently the Dragon's Den caught up with Naked at their Canada launch party in Toronto.

Toronto, Canada Launch Party at Gotstyle - September 29, 2010

Joel Primus, president, CEO and founder of Naked had this to say about life since the Dragon's Den:

... after the Den, when I flew home, I was working a sewage pumping job, now I’m living the high-fashion life, it’s fantastic. We’re going to hit a million gross sales this year.

... now we have six products already out there and 12 more coming down the pipeline and we’re in stores across Canada.

And Secret Drawers Lingerie is proud to be one of them.

We have to echo Primus's thoughts when he added, "Dragons, you missed your chance to get Naked."

Drop by; you don't want to miss yours.

Lingerie and Underwear as Economic Indicators

Economic indicators aren't in the forefront of our minds as we think about upcoming spring lingerie lines, but the idea of lingerie as an economic indicator piqued our interest.

Men's Underwear in 2009

According to former Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan, men's underwear are a good predictor of the economy. Greenspan suggests this is because no one sees men's underwear (save themselves and their wives, who apparently Greenspan doesn't count) and so underwear are one of the first things men stop buying when times get tough.

Women's Lingerie in 2010

Smart Spend on MSN Money reported that the key indicator this year was the push-up bra. An analyst explains,

Strong sales of lingerie would also suggest that shoppers are willing to indulge. That would be a change from last year when they stuck to basics.

Another analyst noted a messy table in a lingerie store is probably a good sign.

Well, at Secret Drawers Lingerie, we can't promise messy tables, but we can provide fine lingerie, women and men's underwear, nighties, silks, pjs and other items to prove that the economy is on the way up in Courtenay and in North America. It seems that even to the economy, underwear matters.

(Photo Provided by: The Lingerie Addict.)

Secret Drawers Lingerie Top 10 - part 2

Last time, we revealed numbers 10 through 6 of our 2010 top lingerie, lounge and underwear picks. Today we'll reveal our absolute top 5 lingerie items in our drawers from 2010.

5.  Daring Fashion Hosiery By Trasparenze - These are not your average leg wear. These are the kind of pantyhose and stockings you wear when you want to make a serious statement entering a room.

We can't help but love Trasparenze's thigh-high stay-ups and pantyhose that masquerade as a garter belt with stockings. When we're feeling extra sassy, these are the pieces to which we turn.

4.  The Elixir Cassiopée by Lejaby - This piece has to make our list simply due to its beautiful, high-fashion look. The Elixir Cassiopée by Lejaby reminds us that sometimes basic black or a neutral just isn't enough for a lingerie drawer.

We also love that the Elixir line produces the Cassiopée up to an H cup. The larger bosom needs these type of gorgeous options.

3.  New Cuts of Hanky Panky Underwear - We have said again and again that we love our Hanky Panky thongs and that they are the most comfortable thong in the world. However, some of our clients simply prefer a little more coverage. It's OK, we understand. That's why making our list are the Signature Lace Bikini, boyshort and V-kini underwear designs by Hanky Panky.

2.  Naked Underwear for Men - We couldn't complete a top-ten list without including an option for our male clientele.We love The Naked underwear's seamless, fitted underwear with no constricting waistline. It's made of a superior Italian micro fiber that will make your man say goodbye to cotton for good. Frankly, these underwear make us and our men equally happy.

1.  Diamond Tea and Bella Notte Robes - We admit, we couldn't decide between Diamond Tea and Bella Notte, two lines of superior robes. On the one hand, the Diamond Tea robes are made in Canada and have options to wrap, zip, shimmer and stretch. On the other hand, Bella Notte robes are a celebratory satin with a unique design of a button and elastic at the waistline.

They are both so impressive and indulgent the only thing we could do is put these robes at a tie for the number one spot.

Disagree with us? Do you think there's a must-have item that we missed? Let us know. We're always open to hearing your thoughts.

Secret Drawers Lingerie Top 10

As this is the new year we thought we'd take a look back at some of our favorite lingerie, loungewear and, of course, underwear items from 2010. Today we'll reveal numbers 10 - 6.

10.  Bedhead Pajamas - These are a top-of-the-line pajama that wash and wear beautifully a are a long-time favorite of ours. They are a finer cotton flannel than is normally found in pajamas.

Many were snapped up for Christmas, but if you weren't lucky to find a pair under your tree, stop by and try on a pair.

9.  The Empreinte Lingerie line - The Empreinte line keeps coming out with superior bras and matching underwear that make a full-figured woman look her very best. We wear it and we love it.

8.  The Unbelievabra - The Unbelievabra Ultimate by Shapeez is a unique foundation garment that is known for both slimming the torso and also removing bulges on the back with it's slimmer and bra built-in-one. And we absolutely had to have it on our list as even a chiropractor loves its benefits of reducing back pain.

7.  Plus-Size Camisoles by Hanky Panky - At Secret Drawers Lingerie we embrace any company that does justice to a plus-size figure, so we were excited to see the expected Hanky Panky style and quality available in plus size camisoles. In granite, white and black they go with almost any outfit.

6.  Fashion 78 from the Felina Conturelle Dessous line - OK, we admit, that's a mouthful, but the sophisticated beauty of this piece makes it worth it. The Fashion 78 from Felina does look extraordinary on the hanger, but the reason it makes our top 10 list is because of the superior way it compliments a woman's body all the way up to an H cup.

Next time find out our absolute favorite top 5 items of the year. The best underwear that matters is yet to come...

Happy Holidays - A Boxing Day Gift

We've had a joyous holiday season helping men and women find the perfect comfy, svelte or sexy item for under the tree. We hope that today there are many faces filled with delight while unwrapping our apparel.


Open Boxing Day

As an extra gift, for the first time we will be open on boxing day. Select Lejaby bras, lacy Hanky Panky, Frankie and Johnny pajamas and assorted exquisite bras and undies are up to 50% off.

Join us for an after-Christmas treat.

Meet Estar McMillan – The Woman Behind the Window

December marks the Walk the Windows contest in downtown Courtenay so it’s the perfect time to talk about E. M. Interior Design, the firm behind the window displays of Secret Drawers Lingerie.

Seen above: Chantelle bra with CASS body-shaper and a Diamond Tea robe.

Estar McMillan is the woman behind E. M. Interior Design and we always look forward to seeing her monthly vignettes. She shows a deft hand in creating seasonal displays featuring our products in sophisticated and fun ways. We sat down with McMillan to learn more about her design ideals.

“I make it (the window design) exude what we’re selling… my goal is to make it sensual, flirty, but not over the top or cheesy,” says McMillan, “I try hard to make it as classy as I can. It’s beautiful product; it’s a joy to be able to work with it. And every time my client is happy, I’m happy.”

McMillan started working with us about a year ago and immediately she was a natural fit.

“I really believe in their philosophy in dressing from the inside out, so I think about that all the time when I do the windows. It speaks loudly,” says McMillan.

Seen above: Prima Donna bra and panty, Chantelle bra and panty and Naked underwear for men.

The stunning window designs show our lingerie in its most desirous light. Her creative talent really shines; and maybe most creative of all is her ability to reuse, repurpose and even create some of the stunning elements seen in our windows. This season’s five-foot high snowflakes are her latest creation.

“I use my imagination a lot in a time when the economy is a bit tricky. It’s important not to throw everything out and start over. I believe design should be affordable for everyone not just people with money.”

And it seems that McMillan is as happy working with us as we are working with her,

“Pulling all the elements together, the plan of the space, and the materials for the end product: it’s a passion; it’s a joy. Lighting, colour, everything we use… (I love) helping people see the vision and see how pleased they are with the end product, it’s the compliments when they’re thrilled with the job.”

And while her designs are always topics of conversation for both us and our clients, we’ll give McMillan and her designs the last words,

“I like to let my work speak for itself.”

You can contact E. M. Interior Design at emid1027@shaw.ca.

[Remember, voting for your favorite window display enters you to win a $1000 downtown shopping spree other other great prizes. Come by and vote today.]

Cleavage, stilettos and afros, oh my!

Nena and I love it when we get the chance to support women outside the doors of Secret Drawers Lingerie as well as inside, and this event: Big Hair, Low Cut Dresses, High Heel Shoe Party, was the perfect example.

We got to spend the evening eating canapés, drinking, flirting with the barmen and dancing with beautiful women of all sorts all against the breathtaking views of the Schooner restaurant in Tofino on Vancouver Island. We kicked up our heels inside the rich interior and outside on the deck - so much so that the neighbourhood dogs decided to join in to the revelry with their barking.

Women came baring stilettos, plunging necklines and hair teased to within an inch of its life. The heels might have been removed for dancing but the daring cleavage was on display all night.

Mare Bruce, the hostess of this bash and owner of the Schooner restaurant, looked stunning in a copper gown and attracted attention all night long. She was celebrating her 55th birthday but the way she and the rest of us giggled and gallivanted you could have sworn we were a group of twenty-year-olds.

We cavorted into the wee small hours of the morning, but still found the energy to wake up to a spectacular breakfast and another appearance from our hostess.

We spent the afternoon meandering between downtown galleries and shops amid the surfers, families and tourists. Our day ended withe the sun on our face and the sand between our toes looking out over the blue-green Pacific Ocean.

We'd like to say a big thanks to Mare Bruce, the Schooner, and all the women who proudly bared their hair, heels and decolletage. These lively women, in this lovely place, simply left us wanting more.

Hank Panky Winners Announced + News Catchup

Firstly, Vashti and I would like to thank everyone who visited us last Friday during Market Day. The weather was gorgeous and we heard the entertainment was amazing, but we barely had time to take a glance thanks to all our clients. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Second, thanks to the Comox Valley Record for featuring a piece on the three-year commemoration of the fire that burned our old location to the ground:

Secret Drawers Looking Forward

Three years after the fire that destroyed the Palace Theatre on 5th Street in Courtenay, Secret Drawers Lingerie, also destroyed, is rising from the ashes.

Their third year anniversary this year found owners Nena Bill and Vashti Lehrle, looking forward and looking back...

And finally, we'd like to announce the winners of the free Hanky Panky thongs:

• Lucky Cate won her Hanky Panky by commenting on how she loves her bright green pair.
• Bev S won for reminding us how great it is to have a great-fitting bra.
• And Lynette won for singing the praises of her Prima Donna Lingerie.

Thanks to all those who entered. Keep reading our blog for new promotions and deals.

For those who won, you will be receiving an email from us shortly. If you haven't heard from us, drop Secret Drawers Lingerie a line to arrange pickup or delivery.