It was just a year ago that Expect Lace opened its doors in Philadelphia. Twelve months later, it's still at the top of my list of the best lingerie store in the city. It is the only lingerie store in the city to offer cup sizes up to J cup and offersTommy Johns for men. With over 12 years experience in the lingerie industry, Shaw Lewis has a resume that includes stints at Nordstrom’s and as well as an expert Bra Fitter / Store Manager at several other high end lingerie shops. Shaw hopes that her 3-story shop ...
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A Special Mother’s Day Workshop
The day before Mother's Day, last weekend's Bra Making with Madalynne workshop was extra special. A percentage of the sales from class went to Breastcancer.org. I made the donation the morning after in honor of my mother, and I feel honored that I can contribute to beating breast cancer even in a small way. Miss you mom, Miss Margo. This class was also different in that half the class made a lingerie set and half the class made a bikini. They used the same pattern - the Madalynne X Simplicity 8437 for the top ...
Bra Making in Full Bloom
Bra making was in full bloom last Saturday at the first workshop of the spring season. Even though the studio was decked out in all things spring - pink + white roses, pink gingham dinner wear, pink notebooks, pink pencils - it didn't feel like it. The week prior, temperatures were spring-like. You could even say hot. Then, the Friday night before, a storm came roaring through with cold temps behind it. Ugh. I kept in the spring spirit by wearing a blush pink maxi skirt ; ) Five awesome ladies attended and made ...
Introducing the Raquel Bralette
Just like snowflakes, not all bralettes are made the same. While I agree that it's the best invention since the sewing machine (duh!), soft bras vary greatly. At Madalynne, there is the Barrett bralette - a tried and true staple that is meant to be an everyday basic that is elevated with fun fabrics and trims. Then there's the Sierra wrap bralette - a beginner bralette for two reasons. One - for a beginner lingerie sewist wanting to dip into the world of elastics, hooks & eyes, and stretch fabrics, but doesn't ...
What’s it like to get a custom Madalynne Intimates? Here’s the scoop
I met Alisa Kahn, a local Philly lifestyle blogger, when I wasn’t wearing my lingerie hat. Some of you may know, some of you may not, but before Madalynne Intimates was my full time gig, I was the photographer, graphic designer, blogger for URBN, which encompasses the brands Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Free People, BHLDN and terrain, and handled all internal communication and PR for all brands. When I first left, I was a freelance photographer while I got Madalynne up and running. I don’t take on photo gigs ...
Video Tutorial! Using Scallop Lace for the Barrett Bralette
Can you believe that it's been a little over year since the Barrett bralette was released? Thirteen months later and it's still going strong! Since the day it came out, I've loved seeing all your variations, and one of my favorite has been using a scallop lace. If you follow the directions, the Barrett is finished with picot elastic at the center front neckline. Today, I’m going to show you in a new video series how to use a scallop lace so that it has a decorative edge at the center front neckline. In just a few ...
How to Draft + Sew Foam Bra Cups Tutorial for Madalynne X Simplicity 8436
Foam bra cups can add so many things to a bra - provide a nice shape and add support, comfort and coverage. I started offering DIY lingerie kits for the Madalynne X Simplicity 8436 and 8624, and today, I am showing you how to draft the foam bra cups that you see in the product photos. Any kind of drafting, whether it is for “normal” clothing or lingerie, can be intimidating. It is my goal to break it down into super simple, laymen terms. I swear, lingerie is super easy and fun to sew, once you know what you’re ...
CURVENY Recap: I left Corporate for this
Up until recently, the DIY side and the RTW side of Madalynne were separate. There were DIY kits for lingerie sewing patterns, and then there were RTW lingerie that were sold in boutiques as well as Anthropologie and BHLDN. If a sewist wanted a DIY kit for a RTW piece, it didn't exist. On the flip side, if someone who couldn't sew wanted a RTW piece of a DIY, it wasn't offered. I did this because I believed one side of the biz would take off and the other would fizzle out. Not the case. Both sides have grown and ...
Bring Your Boobs & Butts: Madalynne X Interwoven
The newest boutique to carry Madalynne Intimates, Interwoven, hosted me at their super trendy, Asbury Park boutique to celebrate. It was a cold Sunday, and the Sunday before Valentine's day. From 12-5PM, men and women stopped in to scope out the newest label in town. Sweet Dani B Bakery donated the cutest and coolest boob and bra cookies. While women tried on the styles, I did a live demo, making a Barrett bralette from start to finish. So thanks to all the boobs 🍈🍈 and butts 🍑 who came ...
Somebody Caught the Love Bug: Bra Making with Madalynne Recap
Somebody caught the love bug at Saturday's Bra Making with Madalynne workshop. It was me! I'm not a big Valentine's Day person, but this year, I got into the mood with not 1, but 2 V-day themed workshops. The pink folders with matching pink notebooks and pencils, the red velvet waffles with fried chicken, the berry parfaits, the red bralettes and all the other red and pink from January's class was so great that I did it all over again! It was a jam packed sewing sesh with 7 students. Usually, there are only 6. It ...
