HOTmilk

Curve NY and NY Showrooms Part 2: Fall Trends

March 10, 2011 by Krista

Curve NY was a great chance to see the Autumn/Winter collections from some of our favorite brands (as well as some newcomers!). We know you will be falling for fall just like we are! See below for my Five for Fall (five trends + a special shout out to some brands to keep your eye on) and stay tuned to TLP for more on these brands in the upcoming months. Don’t forget to let so know what you think on Facebook or Twitter!

Color, Color Everywhere…

It looks like color will be pervading the drawers and racks of your favorite boutiques and department stores this fall. Color palettes include elegant and opulent jewel tones like deep hued purples, full bodied wines, and strong sapphires as well as rich and robust autumnal shades like spice, poppy, and olive. Even the absence of color makes a bold statement with luxurious, creamy colors like blush and oatmeal.

Favorite Brands for Color: Zinke, Brulee, Amulette, Affinitas, CLO

It’s All in the Details!

Prints are back! I’m a huge fan of prints from a little accent to a bold statement. This fall, prints are airy and ethereal and include feature everything from florals to birds to symbols. Other favorite details for fall include the timeless eyelash lace, cheeky ruching, flirty ruffles, edgy hardware, and pretty piping.

Favorite Brands for Details: Beautiful Bottoms, Marlies Dekkers, Lelo, ARI DEIN

Mix it Up

One of my favorite new trends is the concept of mixing and matching. For all you recessionistas out there, this is the perfect way to maximize your lingerie wardrobe. From camisoles, chemises, and robes in alternating colorways to solids and patterns with similar color palettes, there are limitless options for creating a unique look. With so many options, it will be tough to decide!

Favorite Brands for Mixing and Matching: HotMilk, Between the Sheets, La Fee Verte, Amulette

The Romper is Here to Stay!

I’ve proclaimed my love for the romper before and am glad it is here to stay! This fun and flirty silhouette continues to be a trend in many collections that speaks for itself.

Favorite Brands for Rompers: Else, La Fee Verte, Brulee, Zinke

Vintage Inspired Looks

Many brands are using classic looks of the past and reinventing them to be fitting for the modern woman. Long lined bras, high-waisted knickers, and wide straps are just a few of the details that characterize this look of years gone by.

Favorite Brands for Vintage Inspired Looks: Dirty Dolls, Made by Niki, La Filled’O, Else

Five Brands & Products to Watch Out For!

Two Figs – This amazing, new, San Francisco-based company does exactly what its tagline says and supports sleeping beauty in its chemises, gowns, and more designed for cup sizes D-G. Stay tuned for more including stockists!

Beautiful Bottoms – This darling, U.K. brand isn’t new, but it just emerging in the U.S. after experiencing much success abroad. Known for affordable airy pieces, this brand is bound to be one of our favorites (and yours as well!).

Lelo – Lelo isn’t a new brand, but since introducing its first lingerie and loungewear line, I’m excited to see where they continue to take their collections.

HotMilk – HotMilk is on the cutting edge for luxurious pregnancy and post-pregnancy lingerie looks including everything from bra and panty sets, camisoles, and chemises to post-pregnancy shapewear, mix and match pajama tops and bottoms, and my favorite, the new wrap dress.

Pure Lime – This Scandinavian-based company that specializes in fitness attire is revolutionizing the sports bra with the addition of a detachable Polar heart rate monitor. The runner in me is dying to know more and will bring you the information soon!

Sexy new video from HOTmilk

September 18, 2009 by Kelly

HOTmilk has released the first of what they promise to be a series of sexy videos featuring their maternity and nursing lingerie. Take a minute to watch this cheeky and steamy video!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9KO-Oq_SZU[/youtube]

Maternity Bra Fitting Guide

June 8, 2009 by Kelly

We hope you are already following our bra sizing guide to ensure that you’re in the correct bra size. But if you’ve become pregnant lately (or plan to), you’re entering a whole new world of bra fitting! There are unique aspects and challenges to determining your bra size when you are pregnant or nursing, and our friends at HOTmilk have shared some maternity bra sizing information with us.

A well-fitting bra is incredibly important during pregnancy and nursing. During these times in a woman’s life, there are noticeable changes in your breasts – they will become heavier, may be become fuller during pregnancy, and

more sensitive during nursing. You need more support during this time, and it’s important that you are fitted by a trained professional. Most traditional lingerie rules don’t apply to maternity or nursing bras and you need a professional bra fitter to help you make an appropriate choice – do NOT just buy your old style in a bigger size! It is recommended that you see a bra fitter 3-4 months into your pregnancy, and again at 7 months (as well as any time you feel that your bra is restrictive or doesn’t fit well).

When choosing a bra, look for one that provides excellent support and flexibility (to allow for fluctuations in breast size). Slide your hand into the upper cup section to guage whether there is enough room for you to expand and/or insert breast pads. The cups should be comfortable and provide good coverage. The cup lining should be cotton, and seams should not irritate your nipples. Be sure that you can undo the maternity clip easily and with one hand. The A-frame should sit comfortably across the top of the breasts. The opening should be large enough to expand, and should not cut in to your skin. Make sure that there is enough overlap between the top of the cup and the A-frame cutout. If there is a gap, this may mean that the cup is too small and the breast is straining the cup. Look for a bra whose cup drops down far enough for feeding. The cup should sit lower than the A-frame at the center front so it drops down further.

Just like any bra, your breast tissue should not be bulging over the top of the cup or at the underarms, and the cups should not wrinkle. The back should not ride up or cut in on your back. The straps should rest comfortably on your shoulders. The decision of whether or not to wear underwires when you are pregnant or nursing is a source of some controversy. Many lactation consultants recommend against underwire bras for nursing mothers, as they can restrict the growth of the breast during pregnancy and can put pressure on the breast, leading to blocked milk ducts.

Again, many thanks to HOTmilk for providing us with so much wonderful and helpful information! HOTmilk is a great choice when looking for maternity and nursing bras because they are not only comfortable and supportive, but sexy as well! (Read about the HOTmilk controversy here.) HOTmilk bras are specially designed to provide gorgeous support and coverage all the way up to a G cup. You can find your own HOTmilk lingerie at Figleaves (US/UK).

New Collection, Website, and Contest from HOTmilk

April 4, 2009 by Kelly

Remember when we gave you a sneak peek of the new HOTmilk collection? If you’re an expecting mother-to-be you no doubt took notice of the sweet and sexy designs. We just heard from HOTmilk and the good news is that these styles are now making their way into shops! Now available at 484 retailers around the world, the new HOTmilk collection has arrived just in time for spring fever 😉 You can find stockists on the HOTmilk website if you’re not sure where to go.

HOTmilk is also boasting a brand new website! It’s saucy and sexy, and you can see all of the new collection there. They even have a message board for HOTmilk moms to come and review their favorite products or ask the label any questions.

There is also a cute new milkMAN competition, which you can enter to win an ultimate romantic getaway experience with your man! This is a perfect way to have an exciting second honeymoon before your new baby comes. To enter, you just submit an image of your man in boxer shorts, which will be posted on the HOTmilk website for voting. He’ll have to answer a few questions which “delve into his manliness,” and that’s all you have to do! The first prize winner will recieve $5,000 (USD) to spend on any luxury travel of your choice. The winner will also be named the HOTmilkmilkMAN and secure him the role as the model for the 2009 milkMAN boxer shorts, which will be sold for charity. Head on over to the HOTmilk website to learn more. The contest ends on May, so be sure to enter while you still have time!

HOTmilk to Lower Risk of Sexual Abuse in Zimbabwe

December 25, 2008 by Kelly

HOTmilk, one of our favorite maternity lingerie lines, is sending special shipments to the women of Zimbabwe. HOTmilk is sending underwear to help lower the risk of sexual abuse of the young women in the villages. My first thought, of course, was “How on Earth would that help?” Morag Roy, a former Zimbabwean teaming up with HOTmilk for the project, discovered during a trip back to Zimbabwe that the sexual abuse of young girls was rampant. When he asked a priest what would help keep the girls from becoming victims, the priest told him that “underwear gives a woman prestige, shows that they have money, and means men are less likely to assault them.“ Roy returned to Zimbabwe six months later, with a suitcase full of bras, and saw first hand how much it helped.

During the trip, Roy also discovered that most girls and their mothers often only own one pair of tattered panties, and so they often just won’t wear any. “They also desperately need knickers, but I guess a Catholic priest wouldn’t have thought about mentioning that!” said Roy.

When HOTmilk learned this, they set out to help. HOTmilk co-owner and co-designer Angie Crosbie said,

“Sometimes we can take a lot for granted, from the roofs over heads right down to the fact we own underwear. When we heard that something as simple as undergarments had the possibility of giving young women in Zimbabwe a better chance to live a life free of sexual abuse, we knew that we wanted to help. Morag had done such a great job in gathering thousands of bras for her cause and we were delighted to donate 6,500 brand new pairs of underwear for her project.“

HOTmilk’s freight forwarder, Express Logistics, also helped the cause by sponsoring the transport of the underwear from New Zealand to Zimbabwe. HOTmilk has sent the underwear is currently awaiting and update from Roy.