It's been awhile

Hello Boston! ...and lingerie lovers and sewists from all over! It has been awhile since we last posted. Intimate Underpinnings has been very busy since we relocated to Boston. We have been working with clients to create custom bras in Boston, New York City, and Vermont. Thank you for finding us so quickly after relocating from Portland, OR.

Intimate Underpinnings would also like to announce that we will be releasing our first ready-to-wear line in early 2017. This line will be exclusively sold on our website www.intimateunderpinnings.com.   More posts and pictures will follow as we near our release. Our bras will range in size from 30A-38D, and our panties will be size XS-XL. We are so excited to offer you a new bra line made entirely in the United States, with beautiful custom details like those we provide to our custom bra clients.

We are currently accepting new custom bra clients in the Boston and New England area. Schedule your initial consultations at info@intimateunderpinnings.com before the rush of the holidays. We look forward to working with you!

Much love to you all!

Intimate Underpinnings

We are packing up shop and moving to Boston

Yes, you read that correctly. Intimate Underpinnings is moving to Boston, Massachusetts mid June. My significant other is beginning his surgical residency at Boston Medical Center, so Intimate Underpinnings will be supporting those in need of custom, bespoke bras and lingerie. Boston, for those of you who do not know us yet, we specialize in custom mastectomy bras and breast forms, as well as fashion, bridal, supportive, posture, and nursing bras.

To all of my lovelies in Portland and Seattle, if you are interested in purchasing a custom bra from us before we leave the west coast, please schedule your initial consultation by May 10. You can reach us by emailing info@intimateunderpinnings.com or calling 503-516-5131.

Much love to you all!
Holly

Seattle here we come!

Hello Seattle friends and bra lovers! Intimate Underpinnings will be visiting your town the weekend of March 5th and 6th. We will be spending Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and afternoon conducting fittings and initial consultations. If you are interested in scheduling an initial consultation with us, please contact info@intimateunderpinnings.com. We look forward to seeing you!

Embrace the lace in 2016

 Happy 2016 everyone! I haven't posted much lately because Intimate Underpinnings has been moving and getting settled in our new sewing studio in SW Portland! We are thrilled about the move and have created a wonderful and inviting space to create all of your unique, custom pieces. With the move complete, I decided to make myself a new bra. It's been awhile since I've made one for myself, and I have been holding onto this small amount of lace that I snagged from Beverly the last time I was up in Ontario, Canada. I knew I wanted to use it to make a special piece for myself, and with my small bust, I really didn't need anymore than what this small piece provided. 

I was inspired by a lovely bra that I discovered several years ago, and thought this lace would be perfect to test out some techniques that I haven't shown you yet. I enjoy vertical seam bras, as they compliment a small bust and it was the most appropriate for my vision. Here is my inspiration photo.

Now to decide which fabric/s, elastics, and findings will compliment the lace. I have this lovely modal in gold, which is great for panties and interior bra pockets. It's much too stretchy for a bra, but it is SO soft and the color was perfect. I decided to use it anyway. I'm always impressed that I can find and match the exact color of my project with Gutterman thread. It puts a big smile on my face. 

Here are the pieces all cut out and ready to go...

The lace has more stretch than I can use to create the sheer illusion on the upper cup area, and the modal has more stretch than I can use for the back band. So, I used beige sheer cup lining to attach the lace, and to give me something to sew the gold modal and edge lace to. My skin is pretty pale, so you can't even see the sheer cup lining when I wear the bra. The lace straps are also supported by sheer cup lining, and I used sheer cup lining to to stabilize the bridge of the bra, as well. It worked fantastically, and does not stretch at all! Finally, I decided to use a beige lightweight power net to layer under the modal for the back band. It now provides the kind of support that I like to have in my bra band. Here is the final product, as modeled by Bettie, my dress form. Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving from Intimate Underpinnings

As I fly to Southern California for Thanksgiving, I begin reflecting on what I am thankful for this year. First and foremost, I am thankful for my amazing clients, who have shared their stories and creative bra ideas with me. And, who have in turn, allowed me free range of creativity in designing unique and special lingerie for them. I am so thankful for my business teachers, mentors, networking groups, and fellow small business owners. The support that you have all given me during this first year of business has been tremendous. My suppliers, and there are many, deserve a big thank you from Intimate Underpinnings because without them, we would have a tough time bringing that special component to your undergarments. And most importantly, I am thankful for all of my incredible friends, family, and co-workers who have been behind Intimate Underpinnings from the start, and who continue to support me and the business with each new step that we take in our journey. 

I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving, and their own special reason for being thankful this year. Thanks for sharing in ours.

XO

Holly

New fabrics for fall

I love searching for new fabrics. When I discover something unique, something beautiful, or just something with a great feel, I get very excited. During my short visit to Toronto, I found some great bra fabrics. Here is just a tease of some of the new laces that flew home with me.

And check out these cool power nets. The polka dots are velvet! Power nets make great back bands in your bras.

 

There are many more fabric choices to view during your consultation and the bra making process. We look forward to creating a bra that fits with your personality.

Shout out to the large breasted ladies

You know who you are. Whether the cups of your bra aren't fitting your breasts correctly, or your straps are doing too much of the heavy lifting and leaving divots in your shoulders. Maybe your back band is digging in around your rib cage and causing "back fat", or perhaps it's not snug enough and causing you back and shoulder discomfort. Have you gone to wearing sports bras because it's the most comfortable thing you can find in your size? Whatever your frustrations with your existing bra may be, I understand your pain. 

As a custom bra maker, it is my goal to help you feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident in your bra, and provide you with the best fitting bra that I can. Unfortunately, the issues I just mentioned don't help you in feeling any of those things, or very few at best. My professional training as a bra maker has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to create a pattern specific to you and your measurements, as well as providing the internal structure that your bra needs to do the job that it is meant to do. And ladies, believe me when I say that I can also make your bra beautiful in addition to functional. Schedule your initial consultation with Intimate Underpinnings to begin the process of creating your custom bra today.