Free The Fashionista Files by Karen Robinovitz Page B

underwire. It felt racy, dangerous, and indulgent. Soon enough, however, I stopped wearing the bras. They became a hassle. Yes, I liked what they did for my chest, but I always felt the presence of the bra against my skin. It didn’t seem natural. So I gave up.
    Until I visited Alice Cadolle in Paris, one of the most luxurious lingerie shops in the world, first started by Herminie Cadolle, who invented the bra in the late 1800s. Couture lingerie! Custom-made pieces for the rich and international jet set. Now, I am neither rich nor international. But I was twenty-eight years old and in desperate need of help. If I didn’t find a bra I liked, my breasts would sag more and more as the years went by. I saved a good amount of money and had a fitting. A blonde Frenchwoman, wearing a pink pincushion on her wrist as if it were a watch, took my measurements and handled my breasts with gentle care. “They fall flat,” I was told, as if I needed to hear that! I needed a bra shape to promote them to point upward from the bottom. She asked me what I wanted out of a bra. I thought for a minute and came up with this: something so natural and perfect, I wouldn’t even know it was on me. I was not interested in the ways of seduction—I have my Agent Provocateur for that. Instead, I requested form, fit, and shape. I wanted my girls to look like they did when I was fifteen.
    Sketches were made. She talked about where the elastic should be (apparently more in the back, less in the straps is ideal). And we discussed fabric. Silk is not good. It’s not supportive or long-lasting. Lace is better. But nylon netting, somewhat transparent, is best. Obviously, I want the best. We also contemplated color. I went with a plush pinkish nude to match my skin tone. After the visit, hours (actually weeks) of fine craftsmanship went into cutting, fitting, constructing the perfect bra for
moi.
When I finally got it and put it on, it was like a giant white light shone over me, the heavens opened, and the angels sang. My breasts never looked so immaculate, so plump, so fine. With clothes I appeared a good few pounds thinner, at that! I was in awe, so enamored that I didn’t even mind the $700 price tag . . . until I lost the bra on a trip to Florida three months later!
    I have been devastated—and braless—ever since.
    Let’s Take a Peek into the Fashionista Lingerie Drawer
    Thongs—Make sure they’re nice and low for those hiphugger jeans. We love Cosabella. But then, who doesn’t?
    Boy-style briefs—No ordinary panties for the true fashionista. We adore ones that have funny sayings all over them, like “Welcome,” “Spoil Me,” and “Ring My Bell.” Or fifties-style ones with the ruffled bottom or a peekaboo bum to reveal tushie cleavage. They are especially cute when worn with a button-down for nights when you’re entertaining your man at home. Target has a great selection at very reasonable prices.
    Everyday fashionista bras—They’re utilitarian, and fashionistas know where to find nude bras in all subtle hues in order to find the right one for their skin tone. Lingerie designer Jean Yu is known for that. Though fashionistas appreciate the go-with-anything nude tone, they may make an exception for the leopard print.
    Tank tops with built-in bras—All the support, none of the nuisance.
    Hanro camisoles—Supercomfy to wear in lieu of a bra.
    Nipple tape—To wear underneath all those plunging gowns and backless halters. (Just make sure you pluck stray nipple hairs before sticking it on!)
    Sexpot possessions—When fashionistas go vixen, they do it right. Agent Provocateur’s playful pieces are a must when you’re feeling saucy (fringe panties, sequined pasties, lace bras with nipple cutouts), and La Perla’s sexy sophistication is always classic for exotic honeymoons.
    Silk nightgowns—Diana Vreeland insisted on getting fitted for her nightgowns. While custom-made couture nightwear is a thing of the past, true fashionistas insist