Designer Jennifer Shepard had been toying with the idea in the back of her mind for a while long before attending design school. “My sister and I could never find what we wanted. When we did find a comfortable, attractive bra that fit, we would buy them in every color and then wear them until the elastic threads were popping out. They were a bit embarrassing.”

Shepard believes that a woman should always be beautifully dressed beneath her clothes. With that idea in mind she incorporates the most beautiful stretch laces and trims, most of which are imported from France, into simple, elegant designs, which are fitted and re-fitted to be comfortable and flattering. “I believe that my customer will want to wear these pieces every day,” Shepard says.

The photos sure do look amazing. From now on, we’ll be tracking this petite lingerie label – so expect updates every once in a while!

For more info, images AND online shopping – check out the petite website at lailides.com

Exclusively featuring smaller sizes, Itsy Bitsy Bra Bar was created after its founder and her friends were venting their frustrations with finding nice underwear in their various, smaller sizes. They desired a place where smaller framed women could have an abundant selection of beautiful pieces with fun colors and unique patterns in addition to the basic black and white. As a result, Itsy Bitsy Bra Bar was born! The easy to navigate site is a petite woman’s heaven! On the site, search by Color, Price, Product, or Size. In addition to those features, the site also has New Arrivals and Bargains easily accessible. Itsy Bitsy Bra Bar features brands such as Affinitas, The Little Bra Company, and Julianna Rae. If that isn’t enticing enough, Itsy Bitsy Bra Bar also ships throughout the U.S. and internationally! Also, if you spend more than $80 (which you easily could do!), you receive a free gift.

Want to know more? Check out the website, follow on Twitter, or friend on Facebook! Don’t forget to share your shopping experiences in our forums. Happy shopping!

Emily Lau, founder/owner of TLBC said,

“After I started The Little Bra Company a little over a year ago as a line made especially for petite and smaller-framed women, I met a lot of customers who needed even smaller sizes. Although TLBC’s bras are already designed and cut on a petite scale, customers told me it was near impossible to find a 28 or 30 band size that did not look like a training bra and told me that if they ever found one they liked, they would be willing to pay even more for it!”

Starting with the best-selling Lucia style, the new band sizes are now available in select stores or at TLBC’s website. They are available in the gorgeous new Fall 2008 color combinations of oyster/aqua and peony/tangerine.

TLBC has also included the new sizes in the upcoming Spring/Summer 2009 line, and will eventually add them to the Signature Collection. Like all TLBC bras, these new sizes are designed specifically for a smaller body type, giving a better fit and more natural-looking curve to petite women.

In addition to the official website, you can find TLBC bras at Figleaves US, HerRoom, Journelle, or lingerie boutiques across the US and Canada.

The concept behind itty bitty bra is simple… a line of bras that gives customers the best fit, comfort and selection in smaller sizes. Concentrating on the AA, A & B cups, the itty bitty bra does not gap, pucker or slip! Itty Bitty focusses tackling specific problems of smaller-busted women, and the petite market will surely appreciate this addition to other petite labels such as Lula Lu Petites or Kate Gibson Lingerie.

The Itty Bitty Bra was featured in In Style and Redbook’s August issues as well as the upcoming People Style Watch in October, Shape in November, Health in December and Cosmo Girl early 2009. We obviously want to report too — but don’t have anyone on the team with the right ‘features’. We’ll find a solution — so expect more Itty Bitty on TLP soon!

More info from the source? ittybittybra.com!

TLBC has some big news that makes it easy for you to buy these specialty bras (and matching knickers) from one of your favorite retailers. TLBC is now one of the newest brands available from Figleaves US (only since Monday)! If you are still the kind of woman who likes to try your bras on before you buy, you can visit the TLBC website for a list of over 50 specialty boutiques across the US and Canada.

If you are in or around Manhattan Beach, CA this Saturday, you are invited to a trunk show! Lulu’s is hosting this event exclusively for The Little Bra Company on September 13. Join TLBC at Lulu’s for an afternoon of champagne, treats, and prizes between 1PM and 6PM. Professional fitters (including TLBC’s very own Emily Lau) will be on hand to help you find the perfect TLBC bra for you. For more information, you can contact Lulu’s at (310) 798-4577. The boutique is located at:

300 Manhattan Beach Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

You will also be able to pre-order from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, including new styles, colors, and sizes (28 and 30 bands!). If you aren’t able to make it to the trunk show, don’t worry. Keep an eye on The Lingerie Post, because we’ll be showing you these new styles very soon!

The first fifty women who show up will get a free bikini. Visit the MaxCleavage.com website for more information.

Kate Gibson Lingerie’s workmanship process is extremely fascinating as a new pattern is fabricated for each customer. Even more interesting is the fact that all the pieces are cut by hand even though some bras use upwards of thirty individual sections. The pieces are then sewn together by an experienced seamstress using a highly precisioned machine. Beads, embroidery and other fancy embellishments are then meticulously sewn on by hand. The last stage in the process is to check the exact measurements of the garment ensuring they are correct for the intended customer and then the garment is given one last quality control check. Once the garment is approved, it is shipped to the customer. The whole detail oriented process from receipt of order to shipping takes as many as eight weeks.

So fastidious with sizing and fit, the company does not even use standard sizes of wires, bands and straps. Each add-on piece is custom fitted to the woman’s size so that when finished, the garment is perfectly made. Even the thickness of the garment relates to the woman’s real body so that she does not encounter any discomfort when wearing the undergarments.

Although, the company sells bras, knickers and nightgowns, it is not possible to order knickers alone. The customer chooses the type of knicker, whether it is bikini, demi-bikini or brief, and then the company makes a set to match. In addition to the everyday petite lingerie sets, they also offer a stunning Bridal Collection.

Kate Gibson Lingerie is truly Haute Couture — more info on their official website!

Starting small and convincing manufactures to send her small quantities of product, she and her team have grown the company to a well respected location for women of all ages to find the right size small bust bra. And she even offers a helpful guide for mothers when choosing bras for their young daughters.

To further promote her specialized line, Retha is pleased to announce that seventeen year old, Miss Northampton 2007, was recently chosen to represent her promotional material for a new range of bras for small-busted women. Sophie Harris, the beauty with a great smile and personality will be seen on the company’s website as well as print advertising.

Lula Lu also offers matching thongs for a complete set so you can knock ‘em dead

Fleur’t is possibly best known for its super comfortable and super soft lulu’s boy pant! To accommodate the wide range of women who swear by this staple, lulu’s boy pant are now available in two new sizes – Petite/Small and Large/Large in addition to the already existing Small/Medium and Medium/Large! And the sizes aren’t the only new addition. Fleur’t has added an assortment of fun, eye-popping colors and cute, sassy patterns. I’m a fan of the solids papaya and pink lavender as the patterns lemongrass damask and rose giraffe! Also find these colors and patterns in the low-rise thong, lace v-thong, and g-string. The lulu collection, which in addition to the boy pant and low-rise thong, includes a bralet, criss-cross cami, lace strap cami, long cami, criss-cross chemise, and a new yoga pant! Mix and match them all for a cute and cozy look. The amber collection is a fleur’t favorite featuring pretty lace overlays. Again, the pieces in this group can be mixed and matched. In addition to the camis and chemise, the amber collection is noted for its delicate kimono robe. New to the amber collection are a lace bralet and matching ½ lace thong boy.

Spring/Summer 2008

The Spring/Summer collection is already in stores and will continue to appear in stores over the next few months. One new group for spring, valerie, features heathered rayon spandex in black and grey edged with ivory stretch cluny lace. Both the empire cami and chemise are marked by a very fleur’ty open front. The same stretch lace accents both the tunic and cropped ruffle pant.

I love the chantal group as it reflects a new trend in fleur’t lingerie – prints! Made of silk charmeuse and overlaid with lace, chantal is perfect for lounging or sleeping. In addition to hot pink and aqua, the lace bust cami and chemise and coordinating boxer short also is available in coral swirl or aqua swirl prints.

With spring comes an influx of weddings, so vanessa is perfect for the blushing bride. Choose from a lace front low-rise thong, lace bralet, and lace bust cami and chemise.

Speaking of prints (again), jessica is an all print group that evokes a youthful spirit! Pair the cami with the matching lace brief or long wide leg pant or the chemise with the lace v-thong. Prints include pink leopard, green floral, pink polka dot, and ivory polka dot!

If all of this wasn’t already enough, lulu has to make an impression on spring! Look for lulu in light, airy springy colors like white, sky, and pink! In April, lulu is available in pink, lemon, and seafoam before brightening things up in May with whimsical colors like fuchsia, papaya, and orchid. Perfect for the tropical vacation you will need around that time! After all that fun, it will be time for rest and relaxation. Muted colors like ivory, pink, and black are accented with a silvery shade called dove, reflecting the calm and serene onset of summer.

There are so many other exciting elements to the collection including more prints, more bright colors, and more styles. I love the low rise ruched back panty in the amy collection as I think the ruched looked is absolutely darling and flatters the female form. Additionally, it is edged with a sweet heart shaped elastic, which I am sure will make it popular with lots of ladies. I also like the agatha collection as it offers a new tunic dress for the client who wants a little more coverage. In the caroline collection, there are a range of styles with a variety of coverage options. Choose from the spaghetti strapped, lace bust cami and chemise or the lace tank and tank dress featuring wider straps for additional coverage.

Ready to buy? Where should you go to find fleur’t? Click here for a list of stockists or try online at Urban Minx (a new find for me). Images of the fabulous prints and other highlights of the collection will be up soon!