Fashion Friday

 by Devon Kenny

Fashion Friday – PSA Edition | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyThis week’s post is a little less fun than usual, but I think it’s an important reminder.

Ladies – have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered if maybe the girls should be sitting a little higher? How often do you find yourself tugging at rouge bra straps and pulling at underwires that are jabbing you in the ribs?

This has been me for longer than I’d like to admit.

To give you a little backstory, I had my first real bra fitting ever at Besos Lingerie in Campbell just a few years ago, right before I had a boudoir session with Boudoir Coterie. Like most women, I was shocked to find out that my cup size was actually two sizes larger than what I’d been wearing. While the numbers don’t lie, I kind of figured the sizing was just related to what the store carried, and that I couldn’t possibly be that size. Anyway, I purchased a fun bra for my session and promised myself I’d go back for some new every day bras in a few months.

Well, I got lazy and never went back, so I’ve STILL been wearing the wrong bra size. Last week I had enough and decided I REALLY need to get some new bras. I’ve since moved to Southern California, so I wasn’t really sure where to go for a fitting, but I settled on Nordstrom since they’re known for good bra fittings.

Needless to say, the Nordstrom salesperson put me in the same size Besos did. Alas, this truly is my size. I only purchased one bra because they’re pretty pricey and I want to give it a real test drive before going back for more. Here’s what I ended up with:

Natori “Pure Luxe” Underwire T-Shirt Bra

I also really liked this one, which will be my next purchase after testing driving the “Pure Luxe” for a bit.

Natori “Hidden Glamour” Contour Underwire Bra

I really can’t believe I went so long in the wrong size. I feel like a whole new woman, not to mention how old and stretched out my previous bras were anyway.

I think as woman we all know the importance of a good bra, yet still don’t bother to get one. It’s easier to just rotate the same three old bras every week than to think about shopping for a new one. While spending $70 on a bra makes me cringe a little, I don’t think the $20 TJMaxx bras I’ve been buying previously have done me any favors.

I’d love to hear your experience in the comments. Have you ever had a bra fitting? Were you surprised by the size? What kind of bra is your go-to for every day?

Nicole

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in Boudoir Must Haves / Fashion Friday / Main / What To Wear 1 comments
 by Danea

Curvy Girl Sexiness |Fashion Friday Boudoir Blog

True story:

One day I was getting coffee at the drive through coffee shop(Caffinos) near my house when I noticed a fancy bra that the barista was rocking on her low cut t-shirt(she looked great, not trashy, just wanted to make that clear!). I commented on it’s awesomeness because that’s how I roll… ever since she has let me know of some of the cool lingerie that she finds at Lane Bryant. I knew Lane Bryant carried some beautiful bras because I have photographed a few. BUT I often hear big busted girls complaining that there just isn’t a selection of comfy + sexy undergarments out there. Ooooh, but there is…

Well a few days ago this same sexy barista gave me the heads up on some of the new releases from Lane Bryant and I felt them worthy of a Fashion Friday blog post. **Side note– Nicole, who normally does the Fashion Friday feature is living the glamorous life and is off traveling again… hahaha** So here are a few of my favorite which reminded me a bit of Agent Provocateur. Yum!

What’s even more awesome… right now all there Cacique bras are buy one get one 50% off!!! Yeah Baby!

Best San Jose bay Area sexy portraits

And for those looking for something pretty for a Bridal Boudoir shoot…

San Jose Bay Area sexy portraits

Be sure to tell them Danea sent you… haha, just kidding, they would just look at you like you were crazy because they have no idea who I am. But the thought made me chuckle. 😉

Sexy Portraits San Jose Bay Area

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

 

 

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Keep updated on all that is happening with Boudoir Coterie by joining our VIP Mailing list. You’ll also be the first to hear about upcoming events and specials, be privileged to VIP only offers, makeup and fashion tips and much more! P.S. We do not share or sell your info and you can unsubscribe at any time!

 

in Beauty/Glamour / Boudoir Must Haves / Fashion Friday / Main / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Danea

Fashion Friday – The Intimate Britney Spears | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyHappy Friday, everyone!

So Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was a few weeks ago, and I have to admit, although I blog about fashion (and watch Project Runway), *that* kind of fashion is something I know little about. Even when I lived in New York City all it really meant to me was a few extra crowds on my commute.

Anyway, I caught a snippet of news a week or so ago from Fashion Week that I thought was interesting, and filed it in the “I should blog about that” part of my brain. I nearly forgot about it, but thankfully it popped back into my mind just in time for this week’s post.

Ready (I guess you probably already know what it is from the title of this post)?

Britney Spears has launched her own lingerie line called The Intimate Britney Spears (pretty clever name, huh?). While I’ve never been a huge Britney fan, and she’s far from the first celebrity to have a lingerie line, I was very curious about her designs. I didn’t really know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. They’re cute, classy, fairly affordable, and appear to be pretty wearable too! Here are some of my favorites: This bra and panty are from the Angelica Story (story=collection) and I think the colors are so soft and pretty. My favorite part, however, is the back of this panty, which has Tushy Tuesday written all over it!   I also love this soft pink kimono, which is also from the Angelica Story, and is perfect for a boudoir session. It could be paired with a pretty bra and panty set underneath – or nothing! Taking a turn from soft and pretty is the Anemone Story, which is a bit more overtly sexy, but still has some soft touches. And finally, this set is from the Amaryllis Story, which is totally sexy and super timeless. You can’t go wrong with black lace and cream! The Intimate Britney Spears is available online and in a few select boutiques in North America and Europe.

In addition to boudoir-worthy styles, the line also features quite a few everyday basics too. What do you think of Britney’s new line? Let us know in the comments!

Nicole

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 by Danea

Tulle Skirts on Fashion Friday! | San Jose Boudoir & Glamour Photographer

This is a sneak peek of a fun session to come. My girlfriend Devon(who you’ll see featured below) helped me make my first tulle skirt for the studio. It’s black and it’s really pretty! I have plans for at least two to three more(white is next, which will be amazing for bridal sessions!!!). These are pieces that will be available for use in the studio. We already have a few items and I’m excited to add some more glamour piece for clients to use. I’ve had one client wear the skirt topless with strategic arm placement. *wink, wink*

So many possibilities!

This first look is softer and brighter.

beautiful portrait photography

This second look is a little more artsy.. in the hallway with an edgier processing. So MANY possibilities!

Boudour Coterie Beauty Glamour Lingerie Photography_0017

So there you have it, a fun and fabulous skirt that is now available for use during your Beauty or Boudoir session.

Watch for more images coming soon!!

Sexy Portraits San Jose Bay Area

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

in Fashion Friday / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Devon Kenny

Fashion Friday – Fall Fabulous | San Jose Boudoir Photography

I love Fall! Starbucks and Peet’s tell me it’s already here with their sweet pumpkin treats, but the weather here in sunny Southern California proves otherwise. This is my fourth Fall in California and I wish I could say I miss East Coast Fall less and less, but the opposite is true. Of course, these feelings quickly fade when my old hometown is buried in snow and it’s below zero outside, but I do long for the beautiful foliage and crisp cool days.

This year I’m in luck because I’m heading to Connecticut to visit my folks next week. While it’s 88 degrees here, it’s about 68 degrees there, and I couldn’t be happier.

The irrational part of me wants to go shop for some new Fall clothes, but with a new home currently under construction, that’s probably not the best use of cash right now. Besides, my warm clothes have been hidden in the back of my closet for so long now that they’ll probably feel new anyway.

I will, however, be getting a nice Fall mani/pedi next week. I’m a little too excited about this, and already purchased my polish at Target a few days ago. (I like to use my own polish for mani/pedis before I travel so that I can easily fix any chips.) I decided to go with Essie’s Berry Naughty, which is a gorgeous deep berry, and thought it’d be fun to daydream about some new Fall duds to go with it. Here are some of my favorites:

Fabulous Fall
Even if I don’t need a whole lot of warm clothes here in California, I really love all of the rich and warm colors. What’s your favorite part of Fall fashion? Let us know in the comments:-)

Nicole

 

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 by Devon Kenny

Fashion Friday – On the Inside | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Friday already? My brain is still on Labor Day Weekend mode, but I guess I’m a little behind this week.

I’m still in a post-vacation fog after returning from my second trip to Las Vegas this summer, so I took to Etsy this week to dig up some fun fashion finds for you. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of Etsy and have a real appreciation for anything hand made.

Since just about anyone can open an Etsy shop, there’s often a lot of junk to weed through, but that’s kind of the fun part, and makes it even more rewarding when you find something good.

It didn’t take me long to find something good this time around, and that something good is a handmade lingerie shop called “On the Inside.” I was immediately drawn to this shop because of their tagline, “Comfortable Lingerie, Lovingly Made.” Sexy + comfortable is a winning combo in my book, and I think shop owner Elise Olson really hit the nail on the head with her company description.

“I love making women feel good, inside and out. I truly believe that if you are comfortable, you look and feel more sexy. This is what I strive to do with every piece of lingerie that I make for you.”

In addition to being incredibly cute, most of the lingerie can be ordered in a standard size OR custom made based on your own measurements at no extra charge, which really alleviates the risk of buying lingerie online.

And now for some of my favorites from the shop…

**Please note that these are not Boudoir Coterie images, they are directly from the Etsy shop**

I love everything about this set! I love the color, the fact that it’s made from soft bamboo jersey fabric, it’s sexy, and being modeled by a gorgeous woman with curves.

I’m a sucker for a pretty nightie that’s actually comfortable enough to sleep in, and this one looks like it fits the bill.

Here’s another great set. I love the how the black lace and bold colors make it perfect for a boudoir session, but it’s also practical enough for every day wear.

In addition to all the unique styles on the site, On the Inside also offers panty and lingerie set of the month clubs. How neat is that? It’s never too early to start holiday shopping!

Feeling inspired by something you saw here? Give us a call or shoot us an email to schedule a boudoir session today!

Nicole

 

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 by Devon Kenny

Fashion Friday – Summer Sales | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyHappy Friday!

I don’t know how it happened, but Fall is already creeping up on us. As someone who hasn’t been a student for a long time, doesn’t have kids, and lives in the land of perpetual summer, I get pretty bummed when I start to see the telltale signs of Fall. I guess I should clarify and say the “commercial” signs of Fall, like the back-to-school displays that go up at the end of July, since there are actually zero signs of Fall here in Southern California.

I actually really miss Fall in good old New England where I grew up, but somehow this back-to-school display in July makes me a tiny bit sad. Thankfully, there’s an awesome silver lining (okay, I know it’s not THAT bad anyway) – summer sales!

Ahh yes. I love sales! Summer sales are even more awesome in Southern California because I can buy things on clearance that I can still wear in the coming months, but even if you live somewhere where that isn’t possible, there’s always lingerie! Colors and styles might vary a little by season, but lingerie is lingerie all year round.

I’ve been doing a ton of summer sale browsing online (who goes to the mall anymore?), so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite sales and finds.

One of my favorite stores to browse for sales is Anthropologie. I love their clothes, but most are ridiculously expensive, so I almost everything I own from there was a gift or purchased on sale. Their site also has really great user reviews, which I find super helpful. I have purchased a few nighties from there over the years and they are SO comfortable and cute. I love this body suit they have on sale now. It’s simple, sexy and fairly tame in the front, but is unexpectedly revealing from behind.

Next up is Journelle. I have to admit, I feature their lingerie on this blog a lot, but I’ve never actually purchased anything from them. What I love is that they have a HUGE selection, lots of fun styles, and a variety of price points (though they’re still kinda on the high-end). I might just have to finally splurge on something from their summer sale. Most of their sale items are bras and panties in every color you could imagine. Here’s one of my favorites.

Gap Body isn’t typically the first place I think of for lingerie, but I like how most of their pieces look cute and comfortable and are more reasonably priced. It’s definitely more every-day than special occasion stuff, but isn’t that what most of us wear most frequently anyway? Here’s a cute comfy nighty that totally fits the bill.

If you’re looking for something extra special, there’s always the La Perla outlet. Most prices are still pretty hefty, but definitely help make these gorgeous pieces just a little more attainable. Here’s one of their more “affordable” pieces, which is still totally gorgeous!

And finally, since Boudoir Coterie is a big fan of the Dita Von Teese line at Bloomingdales, I have to mention that a few of her pieces have made it to their sale section!

There are so many great summer sales, I could go on forever, but I won’t. Have you scored any awesome lingerie deals lately? Let us know in the comments…and perhaps think about a boudoir session to show off your new pieces.

Nicole

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