A La Folie is Still Open!

To those of you who are inquiring, yes, A La Folie remains open! A note from Shelley:

Bonjour!

First let me assure everyone that A La Folie is not closing its doors. There has simply been a changing of the guard at A La Folie! For those of you who have not met me, my name is Shelley and I have been a partner with Nafissa for several years. Now that Nafissa has needed to step down and take care of personal matters, I am happy to say that very little will change at the store you know and love, except for the ownership.

My passion for the lingerie business and its offerings is now a dream come true. I am committed to carrying the most beautiful fine lingerie, loungewear, jewelry, parfums and so many more objects of desire.

Outstanding customer service and attention to detail will remain our top priorities. Please stop by to say hello, introduce yourself and share with us what you are looking for and let's see how we can help.

Your continued support will be appreciated and valued, as always.

Yours truly,

Shelley Grubb
A La Folie, Owner
shelley@visitalafolie.com

What's New from Marie Jo

We like to think of Marie Jo as the very fashion-forward sister of Prima Donna. Rocking sleek cuts, bright lace, sweet trims and personality to boot, Marie Jo continually surprises us with pieces that are not only beautiful, but are crafted to last. And right now we have quite the bumper crop of Marie Jo lingerie! Come sneak a peek at what's in store...

Marie Jo's Avero Demi and Bikini

The Avero collection has been one of our staples for years! The collection's classic demi works lifts beautifully and imparts exceptional cleavage. It's also convertible! Whether your need is for a regular bra, a halter or a racerback, Avero delivers with one very simple adjustment. There's a reason our customers come back for the Avero again and again, and this season, the Cosmic Blue color is an exciting wardrobe update. The Avero Demi and Bikini are $115 and $42 respectively. We also have the matching Thong ($52) and Boxer ($54).

Marie Jo's Lucas Push Up and Thong

The Lucas collection in Natural is a another sweet spin on the classic t-shirt bra. It's high-end details amp up a simple and reliable cut. The Push Up and Thong (both pictured) are $111 and $42 respectively. We also have the coordinating Bikini ($46) and Boxer ($48) in stock as well!

Marie Jo's Emmanuelle Molded Balconnet and Tanga.

Marie Jo isn't all basics though! We're crushing on the gorgeous Emmanuelle collection in Golden Brown, which features an intricate embroidered net. While the Emmanuelle is all luxury, the lovely bra is just smooth enough to wear under knit tops. The Molded Balconnet and Tanga, both pictured above, are $180 and $110 respectively.

Marie Jo's Elodie Balconnet and Thong

Marie Jo's Elodie collection in Blue Symphony is the perfect collection for summer! Featuring a beautifully printed microfiber and a sweet white lace trim, Elodie reminds us so much of a country garden! The Balconnet and Thong (pictured) are $108 and $62 respectively. We also have the coordinating Boxer ($73) in stock.

There's a lot to love about Marie Jo this summer and we know we have the perfect piece for you, so swing by for a fitting!

A Summer Crop of Prima Donna

We don't have to tell you that we absolutely adore Prima Donna. If you follow our blog, our affection is obvious. Our bra crush has only been intensified, though, with a bumper crop of new arrivals, perfect for summer!

Prima Donna Twist's Coup De Foudre collection.
Molded (top) in Ginger, $127 | Soft Cup (bottom) in Opal, $129.

If your taste is for tee shirt bras, look no further. Prima Donna Twist's Coup de Foudre collection is an elegant update to your average everyday underpinning. We have both the molded and soft cups in stock, and both feature a refined geometric print.

Prima Donna's Amazone Full Cup (bottom) in Pandora Blue, $179.
Prima Donna's Deauville Full Cup (top) in Crocus, $155.

Prima Donna's Deauville bra has been a staple around these parts for a long time, and it's not hard to figure out why. It's our most supportive bra, hands down. For those of you who live in your Deauville bras, we have the perfect summer treat: it's now available in a lovely on-trend light purple hue. If exceptional embroidery is on your lingerie checklist, you'll have to check out Amazone, a stunning collection that features a whimsical embroidery pattern. It speaks to all the best parts of summer - playful color, botanical motifs and undeniable femininity.

Prima Donna's Tamise (bottom) in Natural, $127.
Prima Donna's Stockholm (center) in Geisha, $142
Prima Donna's Kolyma (top) in White, $147.

So bright colors aren't your thing. Not to worry! We also have three lovely new collections available from Prima Donna in the wispiest of hues, perfect for the warmer days! Welcome newcomers Tamise, Stokholm and Kolyma. All feature beautiful embroidery, unparalleled support and sexy summer style.

For all you Prima Donna devotees, now's the perfect time to update your bra collection and get re-fitted, so come check out the new stock before it's all gone!

Seeing Stars, All Because of Pluto

A few years ago, Pluto (the one in space) lost its planet status. With that, a Facebook group was started called When I was your age, Pluto was a planet. The group gave everyone, even the youngest among us, a chance to feel old and nostalgic for the days of elementary school astronomy. These days, Pluto may not be a planet, but it IS a pretty amazing Belgian loungewear brand.

Pluto Sofia Robe - $297

Even though it seems at times that Bay Area rain will last forever, living here means being rewarded with exceptional spring and summer weather. Our warm days are just right - dry, breezy, not too toasty. Just enough heat to break out the shorts, and just enough chill that your leather jacket can remain part of your daily ensemble. If you're anything like me, you never want your good taste to start and end right outside your front door. Just because you're hanging at home for the evening or lounging on a sunny Sunday afternoon, doesn't mean you can't look chic, classic and yes, sexy.

Pluto Esmee Pajama Set - $205

Pluto Matelasse Robe - $282

If your taste is for loungewear pieces with style, exceptional cut and unparalleled personality, then Pluto is the perfect brand to add to your coziest of repetoires. The fabrics run the gamut from impossibly soft matelasse to the slinkiest of jersey knits. Each piece is made with care and we have a great array of pieces to choose from in a variety of sizes. When it comes to comfort, each piece fits the bill - not too heavy and not too thin. Just right for the Bay Area's warmer months!

Pluto Emily Robe - $225

So if you're seeking some sexy summer loungwear, gravitate towards Pluto. It may no longer hold planet status, but it will always be stellar to us!

Learning Lingerie: Leavers' Lace

Before I plumb the depths of my bloggy brain for this post, I'll start with a simple question: Is good lace worth dying for?

I spent this past weekend in Pennsylvania, attending the wedding of my amazing childhood friends. In the flurry of joy, libation and friendship, among the hand-rolled cigars, the 20-year whiskeys, the jubilant attendees and the crisp rush of taffeta, there was the bride. The gorgeous bride, my friend, swathed in the loveliest Alençon lace gown. The gown itself was a simple cut, but you'd never know it by looking at it, because the lace was so stunning that the dress looked painstakingly assembled despite its easy construction. Glimpsing my pal in her stunning ensemble, I was inspired to write a blog post about lace for A La Folie. Because when you think about it, a basic bra construction, while painstaking in its own right, really is a fantastic canvas upon which to display some truly amazing laces. A two piece cup in a plain satin can look, well, plain. In lace, however, that same two piece cup takes on a whole new attitude, one that is imbued with femininity and sensuality.

Lace is a language that takes encyclopedias and glossaries to fully comprehend. There's no way to address all the subtle nuances between a machine-made tape lace versus a handmade one, or how to adequately decipher European filet lace from Chinese filet lace. However, I can at least start in familiar territory!

Cluny Lace which has been produced in the Leavers' Lace fashion

If you're a fan of French lingerie, you may have heard the term Leavers' Lace before. It's exceptionally common in fine lingerie and comes in a variety of different incarnations. Knowing that the name of the lace usually categorizes a specific style or region in which a lace is made, how can that be? The reason is that the name Leavers' Lace describes the machine it is made on, and not the style or the region. From The Lace Book by Jessie F. Caplin:

[The Levers' Lace Machine was] originally able to make lace 18 inches in width, [and] was invented in England by John Levers (sometimes spelled Leavers) in 1813. It is the basis of our present-day lace machines... [The Jacquard] can be repeated automatically across the 230 inches of width of machine, thus allowing many breadths of lace to be made at one time.

The Leavers' Lace machine

Even though the book quoted above was published in 1932, it's apparent that the Leavers' Lace machine is just as important today, as the lace is still regularly used in lingerie collections. The ability to mass produce beautiful figural laces that were previously only made by hand truly revolutionized apparel manufacturing. Also interesting to note is that machine made lace did not find its beginnings in France as many might think, but in England.

The making of lace by machine is usually conceded to have started in England and the inventors of that country receive credit for most of the major developments in this field. England tried to protect the industry and decreed laws to prevent the exportation of machines. These laws carried penalties of imprisonment and even death. Nevertheless, lace making by machine started in France very early. Perhaps the nearness of Calais to teh English coast may explain the early start of this city as a French center for machine-made lace.

How about that? The Leavers' Lace we all covet and wear so close to our bodies was cause for imprisonment or death! I've heard about dying for love before, but dying for lace? So much more romantic (and fashionable)!

Learning Lingerie: Taking the Plunge

Now that we know all about Balconnets, Demi Cups and Full Cup bras, it's time to talk the ultimate in low cut: the plunge bra!

Andres Sarda's Klein Non-Wire Plunge

The plunge bra does just what its name suggests by eliminating much of the center gore, making it perfect for use under low-cut clothing. What's really great about the plunge bra, though, is that it takes countless forms and works on a variety of body types.

For example, The Little Bra Company makes padded demi plunges which feature an open neckline and substantial boosting properties for girls on the smaller end of the spectrum. Other companies like Andres Sarda, even make styles like the Klein (shown above) in a non-wire plunge cut, perfect for girls in a B or C cup who don't want or need the lift of a padded/wired bra, but crave comfort coupled with a deep cut.

Prima Donna's Amazone Plunge

As a balconnet is not always a demi cup, the term "plunge" doesn't necessarily imply less overall coverage. For the girls who need a little more support, Prima Donna's plunge bra is actually technically a full cup. The Amazone (shown above, soon to arrive in store in Pandora Blue) is the perfect plunge for E to G cups -- it doesn't sacrifice support or coverage for the sake of the deep V style. In fact, they have all the lift and shaping of the balconnet and traditional full cup styles. That's why Prima Donna plunges have always been a customer favorite!

More extreme versions of the plunge cut feature a longline silhouette where the band (and thus, the plunging gore portion) extends vertically well past the usual measurements.

It's also important to note that while we may not carry each collection's version of a plunge in store, we can always order it for you! Almost every designer and collection has some iteration of a plunge bra, and we'd be happy to help you find the perfect one for you!

Learning Lingerie: The Fabulous Full Cup

Now that the demi has had it's day, let's talk full cup bras. It stands to reason that if a demi is exactly that, a half cup, that a full should be, well, fuller! That was easy!

Full cup bras (whose cups encompass almost the entire, if not the entire, breast) are often associated with larger sizes, even though they're made in an impressive range, usually from B cup onwards. The correllation between fuller cups and larger sizes isn't without merit, though, because a fuller cut generally allows for more support.

Prima Donna Deauville in Cherry Punch

We'll give a deeper lesson on the mechanics of exactly how bras work at a later date, but for now let's do a mini one. A bra gains most of its support from the band. Because the cups of a fuller bra are larger, the band has to be wider in turn in order to accommodate them. Hence a wider band and more expansive cups mean deepened support, both for the breasts themselves and the wearer's back. These selling points are exactly why Prima Donna bras are cut so wide in the band - it's not an aesthetic choice, but one that makes the difference between comfort and the absence of it.

As mentioned before, full cup bras are not just for well-endowed ladies. Brands like Lejaby, Simone Perele and Huit all make versions of a full cup for modestly-busted girls. A common misconception is that just because a woman is a smaller cup size, she doesn't need a supportive bra. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Age, weight loss and simple genetics play a role in the 'perkiness' of a woman's bustline and sometimes, no matter what her size, she'll need a little help from a fuller cup.

If you haven't yet tried a full cup bra, give one a whirl next time you're at A La Folie. More coverage almost always means more comfort, and springing for a full cup doesn't mean eschewing style or sexiness. There are boatloads of gorgeous styles in our midst!