The Sexiest Lingerie Shops In L.A. By: KATE MULLING (Refinery 29)

You may cringe at the thought of dressing like a Playboy bunny, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be channeling your inner sex kitten this Valentine's Day—and every other day of the year. Lingerie is the ultimate foundation for any outfit...especially if you plan on stripping down with your special someone come February 14. Before you start planning your romantic rendezvous, make sure you check out the City of Angel's sexiest resources for bras, undies, and everything in between. Whether you want to go tasteful or tart-y, Jackie or Marilyn, covered-up or baring it all, we've rounded up the best lingerie shops in town to suit any of your intimate needs.

Kiki de Montparnasse:
Top of the line intimates and sexy accessories—tassels, whips, you name it—are all available at this beautifully curated space. Plus, the art on the walls and the books are all on sale, too.
8280 Melrose Avenue (at North Sweetzer Avenue); 323-951-9545
http://www.kikidm.com/shop/home.php

Frederick's Of Hollywood:
Sure, you may feel like a porn star here, but is that such a bad thing? There's even a lingerie museum in house, so you can check out the history of this famous Hollywood brand and grab some Marilyn Monroe—or Jenna Jameson—inspired unmentionables.
6751 Hollywood Boulevard (at Highland Avenue); 323-957-5953.
http://www.fredericks.com/

Undrest:
Undrest is the ultimate in girly and glam—plus, the in-house line is great. The shop girls are super helpful, which is really comforting if you happen to be in a pinch—or in a bra that pinches you.
1136 Abbott Kinney Boulevard (at Westminster Avenue); 310-314-1180.
http://www.undrest.com/

Trashy Lingerie:
For pure kitsch, Trashy Lingerie can't be beat. The windows may seem like an homage to bad taste, but if you want something to really make a theatrical statement in the bedroom, this iconic L.A. establishment is a must-visit and an experience you won't soon forget.
402 North La Cienega Boulevard (at Oakwood Avenue); 310-652-4543.
http://www.trashy.com/

Under G:
While it's all well and good to have sexy undies for when the lights go down, if you need the perfect undergarments for the ultimate romantic-date dress, this is your spot. They are experts here, and you'll appreciate the service. We swear.
417 North Bedford Drive (South Santa Monica Boulevard); 310-273-9333.

Intimacy:
This is the woman responsible for Oprah's bra revolution. Just make an appointment with one of Intimacy's bra specialists, and you'll find the most amazing fit, whether you're looking to eliminate back fat, or get a lift sans surgery. It's the ultimate bra destination in town.
10250 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Avenue of the Stars); 310-734-8598.
http://www.myintimacy.com/find-a-store/list-all

Panty Raid:
Come here for labels like Elle Macpherson, Hanky Panky, or Calvin Klein. They even have video games in the "BF nook" to distract your dude if he isn't into the sexy lingerie on display.
2378 1⁄2 Glendale Boulevard (at Brier Avenue); 323-668-1888.
http://pantyraidshop.com/blog2/

Bittersweet Butterfly:
The lingerie is heartbreakingly perfect here: Stella McCartney, Mimi Holiday, and Princess Tam Tam, just to name a few. You'll want your honey to pick you up some stellar knickers here, so drop a not-so-subtle hint before V-day.
1406 Micheltorena Street (at West Sunset Boulevard); 323-660-4303
http://www.bittersweetbutterfly.com/



Article was written by Katy Mulling for Refinery 29.

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

The "MANE" Queen

When I met Debbie Reynolds-Crooks, I knew there was a God.
I've always had many hairdressers... one that cared for the hair, one that styled it, one that cut it, one that colored it & one that blew it out. I was so tried of driving to the 4 corners of Broward County just to get the look & feel that I wanted from my hair.
Until, I met Debbie...

Debbie Reynolds Crooks was the ultimate hairstylist that I had been searching the globe for. She did it all... care, color, blow, style, cut... whatever you wanted Debbie did it and did it well too. I had found the "IT" hair girl and I was not about to lose her.
When I sat in her chair I was confident to let her do whatever she wanted to do and knew that I would walk out of that salon getting my money's worth and feeling like a million bucks... and Tony was ALWAYS pleased LOL.

I became her walking billboard. Everywhere I went "Who did you your hair? Omg, your hair is so healthy. Wow, I love your cut, who did it?" And if you know me you already know that I love to promote people and share great information... so it was always wasy for me to yell out "My hairdresser Debbie, would you like her card?" LOL. Hey, the more clients I referred, the better for me LOL.



No only did my hair grow but our relationship grew as well. Debbie & I became true friends. I can be myself around her and I always look forward to getting my hair done by Debbie, not only because she does such an amazing job but because we get to catch up on life and just vibe.



Debbie was there for me before my big day, on my big day and I know she will continue to be there for me for many more big days to come.
Not only is Debbie the proud owner of TOUCH OF INSPIRATION HAIR STUDIO INC. located in Fort Lauderdale, but she's also a loving & dedicated wife to her life & business partner Mark Crooks and a great mother to a beautiful little girl name Dominique & a charming little boy name Jordyn.

Well my lovelies, if you're looking for a stylist that will care for your hair just as much as she cares for hers, one that is able to give you whatever style you desire... short, medium or long and one that will tell you the truth concerning your hair, then look no further. To schedule your hair appointment, call 954-718-1005. You will not be disappointed.



Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

Need a trainer before the big day?

I hate working out! And way before I was even engaged I had a personal trainer whom I also hated during the work out sessions (LOL) but love with all my heart when we are not on the mat ☺.
I did fall off course a couple of times but she was very understanding and worked with my schedule & my moods (lol).
So of course when it was drawing close to the wedding and I knew that I wanted my body to be nice & tight for my gorgeous trumpet style gown... I had to call on my girl again... and of course she came running with no hesitation.

NICOLE NATAVIA LATTY... Trainer Extraordinaire, is a Native Floridian with Jamaican parents. Nicole is known for her fierce body which she happily parades during the carnival season... the envy of lots of ladies and the joy of all the men. Don't hate people, she earned the right!



I wanted to get a better knowledge & understanding of this passion for fitness that Nicole has and what drove her to become a personal trainer. Nikki (so fondly called) mentioned to me that 8 years ago when she went to the doctor it was a wake-up call for her. She was not happy with the way she was breathing, the way she looked in her clothes and also the fact of seeing her dad going back and forth to the doctors because of health issues. She was determined to do something about it... and that something turned into a passion of hers. A passion that's also fueled by her current job at a Chiropractic & Physical Therapist Office. In her own words, "I see the difference when my patients come in and when they leave after their treatments & workout sessions... they feel good, look amazing and still want to continue even after their treatment has been completed."

While her favorite food is pizza, chicken wings & Jamaican Cuisine (my kind of girl), Nicole agrees that moderation is the key. Her favorite workout regiment is kickboxing and everything legs but when training her clients she focuses on the whole body and not just one part of the body. She explains "Just like myself, some of my clients cannot go to the gym everyday, so when working out or training them I have to focus on the whole body... from head to toe."


Even though she can kick your butt in the gym (and on the street too if need be, LOL), she is also an amazing dancer. She enjoys reading & writing and spends most of her Saturday mornings at dance rehearsals. Nicole is currently in school for her bachelor's degree, and her future endeavor involves starting a Physical & Mental Fitness Boot Camp which focuses on encouragement, self-esteem & healthy living. Talk about a "gal" on the move.
When asked, "so what are you learning these days?", she happily replied, "I'm learning to enjoy life to the fullest... and learning to live... even though I'm alive I'm learning to live... with a smile."
After that, what else is there to say?


So my lovelies, if you're looking for someone that is able & willing to get you in check physically and mentally for your big day (and after too)... NICOLE NATAVIA LATTY is the trainer for you. And if you reside in another state & Nicole is far away from you, then find another trainer in your area that will have you looking and feeling great on your big day.
Nicole resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida & can be reached at 786-213-5109 or nicolepoet@yahoo.com
You will not be disappointed.


Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

Still be YOU...

Being married is a wonderful thing and the idea of two becoming one is great... BUT, I'm finding that many women are losing themselves after they become married. What's up with that? Yes, it's a new journey with many wonderful things to share... there will be lots of sharing... sharing your body, sharing your space, sharing your time, sharing your energy, sharing your money, sharing your goals, sharing your dreams, sharing your food, sharing your bed etc... a whole bunch of sharing will take place... so all mean & stingy people, this may not be the venture for you LOL.

With all this sharing taking place, if you find that you are slowing sharing yourself away, and who you are as a person or individual is depleting and vanishing, then you should slow up and put things in perspective.

Marrying the love of your life does not mean you disappear or take a back seat. Marriage is the coming together of two individual hearts, sharing the same love for each other and cultivating their individual dreams, goals and vision to create a strong united foundation and a lasting legacy... one on which both individuals will still be recognized and accounted for.



It's not God's intention for you to get lost in your marriage... he wants you to shine just as bright as you did before the marriage, only now the light will be brighter & stronger because it's now two lights shining as one. He wants you to still soar, still pursue greatness, still take time out for yourselves, still do the things that makes you happy, the things that define you, the things that you are passionate about. He still wants you to be you... only better because now he has provided a life partner to support you in all your endeavors (granted it's within reason, lol).

So ladies, if you feel yourself slipping away... STOP... RE-ADJUST... RE-ALIGN, RE-FOCUS and RE-CHARGE. Now that you have done so, you may proceed.
Don't allow marriage to be the end of YOU... instead it's the beginning of a BETTER YOU. Knowing who YOU are makes all the difference.
Don't forget about YOU and lose YOU along this beautiful journey... take YOU with YOU for the ride! YOU will be glad YOU did... and so will your husband ☺



Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

Bling... a girl's best friend.

It's a known fact that ladies love accessories... especially if they BLING!
Like all the other factors, searching for the right accessories for your big day is just as important.
On my wedding day I wore a gorgeous pair of Showstopper Sterling silver plated Earrings with Swarovski crystals and glass stones by Badgley Mischka.
These over-sized dangles were ornate yet sophisticated... so of course there was no need to further bedazzle myself with a necklace... my earrings & headpiece were already doing the talking.

All that was left to complete the look was a delicate bracelet... so I shopped around and fell in love with this Star Light Star Bright Bracelet by Nicole Miller... a beautiful fourteen karat gold plated bracelet with Swarovski crystals... the perfect match for my earrings. The only problem was that it was gold plated... and gold was not a part of my accessory scheme. *Le sigh*


So I painfully passed up the idea of the Nicole Miller bracelet and kept searching.
At one point I had forgotten about the bracelet because I was back to focusing on more important things concerning the wedding and before I knew, it was the day before the wedding and I still did not have a bracelet... YIKES!
I decided to run to David's Bridal to see what I could find and low and behold there it was... A simple, yet sophisticated piece that caught my attention... SOLD!


Headpiece, check... Earrings, check... Bracelet, check... I was set. The look was clean and sophisticated and made the right amount of statement that was needed.

Ladies, ensuring that your accessories compliment not only the dress but also each piece is very important. Make sure that you pick pieces that are not dated. Make sure that your color/tone & stone selection are in sync.
Diamonds are not the only precious gem out there that will have you looking beautifully accessorized. There are so many other choices... Swarovski, crystals, pearls, rhinestones, black stones, Czech stones, silver plated/gold plated combined with any of the above stones. Studs, clusters, dangles, whether clip-on or pierced. You can even get funky with it and throw some COLOR in the mix. Think outside the box & make your earrings your "SOMETHING BLUE"... Endless possibilities & guess what? THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

Find what makes you shine and go for it!


Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺

Your HEADPIECE should have a voice.

I always knew that I never wanted to wear a veil on my wedding day because I was never a conventional girl so why start now. Besides, I was having a morning wedding, in a garden/gazebo and was not convinced that a veil was the option for the occasion. Don't get me wrong now, I think veils are beautiful and they come in so many beautiful styles... and it serves its purpose... just not on me.
So, with that said I definitely had to search for a headpiece that had "KEESHA" written all over it... and like my heels... the search was on.

I first started looking at the Tiger Lilly's collection... GORGEOUS! I had selected my piece and saved the image and so forth so on. It was set...


until I decided to browse www.etsy.com and found the site of my dreams http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeathersandFrills?ref=top_trail">http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeathersandFrills?ref=top_trail


All my plans of purchasing my couture headpiece from Tiger Lilly went up in smoke and out of the smoke came my genie, FEATHERS & FRILLS. The site had me written all over it... a modern day vintage lover.
Actually in the words of Krystle, the owner of such a great site with such FAB pieces, Feathers & Frills is a "Vintage Inspired Lovelies for the modern bride and glamor girl! Each piece is handmade with love using only the highest quality materials and attention to detail. The Feathers and Frills stylista has an eye for modern design and an affection for old hollywood glamour!" NUFF SAID.

I had a found my dream headpiece, the "Whitney-crystal rhinestone comb" and the order was placed immediately. My package arrived in less than 2 weeks and to my surprise, it was beautifully boxed with a hand-written THANK YOU CARD from Krystle... or course I cried (As if), LOL.
Take a look for yourself and tell me if you wouldn't cry too.


OK, now that you have stopped crying yourself, I have taken the liberty of showing you a few of Krystle's pieces. Whether you want flowers, feathers, crystals, rhinestones or a combination. Her pieces are custom-made to order and you won't be disappointed.
Adored-Bianca deco glamour crystal headpiece-


Garbo bridal feather hairpiece-


Cordelia-vintage glamour crystal rhinestone and silk headpiece or sash-


Adored-Lana vintage glamour crystal rhinestone and silk headpiece-


Lillian-old hollywood double crystal rhinestone comb-


dahlia floral chrystal rhinestone-


Evangeline- bridal feather hairpiece with vintage rhinestones-



Well my lovely brides-to-be, don't go crazy thinking you can only wear a veil on your wedding day. WRONG! Gone are the days!
Play it up, glam it up, spruce it up... think FABULOUS, think DIVA, think OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAM, think SOPHISTICATED, think CLASSY, think MODERN. And all my VEIL WEARING LOVELIES, you too can do the above along with your veil. You can wear the veil at the ceremony and then change off into another headpiece for the reception... one that will have you walking around like the bell of the ball (which you already are) times ten. It's your day... there are really no rules... just be FABULOUS.. whichever way you choose!
(Feathers & Frills is also featured in Martha Stewart's Wedding Magazine 2011).

Until next time,
Smile, you're on camera ☺