Sleigh bells ring....

Ah I can almost hear the sleigh bells as Santa’s elves harness up the reindeer. Christmas is just around the corner so knickers are flying off the shelf and Tricia is in and out of the window display like a festive jack in the box. I think she is beginning to regret choosing glittery paper for the giant cracker. The woman has permanent sparkly dandruff!

With only 7 shopping days until Santa tries to wedge his jolly jelly belly down the chimney the gents have started to think about doing a bit of Christmas shopping. Some sensible chaps have opted for our pick it pack it and deliver it service. Others have been organised enough to pop in a couple of weeks before Christmas to get their pick of all the nightwear and lingerie. Then we have those poor souls who come in looking like rabbits in headlights. Terrified at the prospect of getting it wrong, seeing a disappointed or disapproving face on Christmas day. Tricia does all she can to make sure these gents go home with a purple be-ribboned box filled with something gorgeous and from the low number of people coming back in January I guess she must be rather good at it!

I am entering the Christmas fray next week ensuring Tricia doesn’t over do the sherry and mince pies and still manages to crawl in and out the window without getting tangled in the fishing line she uses to suspend various frillies from.

After the hectic days running up to Christmas followed by the festive over indulgence Plums Lingerie will be closed until Monday 11th January. Tricia claims this is to give us the chance to paint the shop, give it a bit of a spring clean and let her have a little holiday. I think it’s more of a case of giving her 2 weeks to dry out!

Christmas sparkle, bubbles and baubles...

Preparations for Christmas are well underway at Plums Lingerie.  The date for the party is set, Thursday 3rd December. I am frantically trying to update the web with all the goodies that have now arrived and Tricia has spent most of this week tussling with a giant cracker.  I come in to the shop to find discarded sheets of wrapping paper, bits of cardboard and Tricia covered head to toe in glue and glitter looking rather pleased with her efforts.  Now I know what feels like to be a primary school teacher at Christmas, at least the 6 years olds don't have access to the combination of art supplies and gin.  I swear I heard her hiccupping!

On the other hand I have been diligently writting a submission for the Jersey Enterprise Small Business Award.  As long as the criteria for winning has something to do with having lots of fun and playing with pretties and frillies we stand a chance.  The lovely Natalie from Jersey Enterprise has been most helpful with our entry, I thought it was because we were awfully nice and a bit special but apparently she helps everyone.

We also have a fantastic new service this Christmas for gents.  We know how tricky it is getting organised and out of the office to buy gifts for your loved ones so we will take care of everything for them.  Afterall one thing we know about is lingerie.  so all a chap has to do is give us a ring or send us and email with the size of his lady love a budget and any preferences and we'll do all the hard work and have something pretty and lovely wrapped, bowed and delivered!

If you would like your gent to receive an email about this service ( subtle hint for them too) just pop us a note at info@plumslingerie.com. You could also pop in and fill in your wish list on the back of your card to help you get exactly what you want!

It's been too long my little lingerie luvers..

Oh how I recklessly and thoughtlessly abandoned you all, while I gadded off to have adventures in Las Vegas.

How on earth have you coped without my little missives on the delights of lingerie and the fascinating goings on at Plums? I would apologies for this neglect but Tricia has done a sterling job of keeping the shop going and to all those of you languishing in cyber space I am sure you have coped admirably.

Normal service is now resumed and we are steeling ourselves for the onslaught that is Christmas. Ah the poor fellows coming in looking like rabbits caught in headlights needing gentle guidance to purchase the ideal gift for their loved one. It is up to us to make sure we have enough lovelies to fulfil their needs.

We are waiting for the final deliveries from Ambra and Simone Perele, I can't wait until the Jospehine arrives. I love the red it's absolutely stunning! Since I've been gone, we've had deliveries from Marjolaine and I am hastely trying to get this all photographed and on the web but stock is limited to it's on a first come first served basis.

I have also got Robby my VA from BPOVIA working getting together some names for me to offer our new Christmas service to. From now one you gents don't need to worry about gift buying any more. All you have to do is give us your loved ones size, colour preference and your budget and we'll do the rest. And before you know it you'll receive a beautifully gift wrapped presents she will absolutely adore. All without leaving the office, who said Christmas had to be difficult!

If you want to take advantage of this service or know anyone you think would like to all you need to do it complete the contact form and we'll sort out everything for you!

Champagne and Corsets

The nights maybe drawing in with winter approaching but for us it means time for more little soirees! Our first was the launch of Eternal Spirits Corsets the delightful Susi Henson came to visit us and brought with her a suitcase full of goodies! The boutique was crammed with delectable goodies... gorgeous corsets and pretty frou frou pants with lace, crystals and ruffles! It didn't take long before the flowing champers gave a bit of confidence to our lovely customers. Before you could say waspish waists, clothes came flying off and the corsets and waspies were being laced up left right and centre. After a good deal ohs and ahs and quite a lot of posing Susi, Tricia and I were surrounded by a silk and satin explosion.

We also found out that Susi makes evening dresses! Susi will design a dress for you and you can pick the fabric etc and all made to measure. Definitely on my wish list! I have contented myself with a gorgeous corset called Bettie perfect for the Christmas party season. After all it wouldn't be right not to wear my own products!

This policy is rather frowned upon by Tricia who keeps an eagle eye on the stock arriving so that I don't avail myself of the new pretties that seem to be arriving on a daily basis. I have so far managed to restrain myself but that was before the arrival of the gorgeous Anais from Marie Jo. I have even managed to be efficient enough to get it on the website already.

Cardboard City

As the summer is in it's dying days so Plums Lingerie begins to resemble a cardboard city! We are deluged by deliveries morning, noon and night and Tricia has to spend her days keeping the boxes down to a manageable level. Unfortunately her success is mixed and the other day I took it upon myself to give a troublesome pile a kick with my red soles, only to hear a rather miffed little grunt. Tricia had decided to take an afternoon nap in a particularly large box after her lunch time pick me up tonic. I have my suspicions that the "tonic" is of the gin variety!

Now the weather will be turning chillier I have been on the hunt for some hosiery to adore my lily white pins so as not to blind the public at large. It was a particularly fruitless task which filled me with angst and frustration. I left 2 department stores and Marks and Spencer in utter disgust. There is nothing else for it, Plums Lingerie is going to have to branch out from the delicious Love Me stockings and hold ups, (simply gorgeous but I think they would prove too titillating for daily wear) to provide something for all those glam professional ladies out there who find the hosiery purchasing experience as frustrating as I do.

I think Jonathan Aston and Levante will be the brands of choice. A good mix of lovely colours and elegant sophistication. Perfect for Plums Lingerie!

Well myself and the entourage are back from gay Paris and it was as fabulous as ever. Staying in the chi chi quarter of Montmatre for 5 nights. The highlight of the trip was seeing Dita Von Teese at the Casino de Paris. I have never seen so many sparkles.. it was nearly blinding.
For you delictation here is a link to some video clips of the show. A spectacular show and although Dita was the star the revue provided fantastic entertainment with a Josephine Baker impersonate, wonderful singers and gorgeous burlesque artistes. Here's a review of the show.

Shockingly I was expected to work while in Paris, goodness knows where I found the time, inbetween visiting Galeries Layfayette, sipping champagne under their beautiful stained glass dome or munching on delicious macaroons at Laduree in St Germain. But work we did, off Tricia and I went to the Mode City Paris to pick pretty pants and beautiful bikinis for next summer.

It was lovely to see Carole from Simone Perele, and fittingly the Implicite range had been rushed to the show specifically for my viewing. Definitely the strongest collection so far however I will never be overly enthused by any collection in lime green. The Simone Perele was equally stunning but I was shocked to hear that the wonderful and popular Fidji is no longer being made. So if you love Fidji it's time to stock up be for we run out! It is however being replaced by an equally pretty style called Romance wth delicate little flowers embroidered on it.

Then it was off to see Roy who supplies our gorgeous Gottex and Gideon Oberson swimwear as well as the Marjolaine nightwear. Tricia and I proceeded to drive the poor man to distraction trying to decide on what collections to choose. Roy was quite surprised to discover that our customers actually expect to wear their swimwear to get wet and even get a suntan!

Autumn Approaches

1st September and Autumn approaches. This week it's all about planning for Paris! It's the buying for next spring summer and 5 wonderful nights in Paris to boot!.

Tricia is taking care of business while I fly out on Friday and then she will join me at the Show on Sunday. So my little lingerie lovers Plums Lingerie Boutique will be closed until Thursday 10th September. Don't be disheartened I shall be taking the laptop with me to make sure the online shop keeps ticking along and I will be updating the blog with some photos from the show.

Tonight I will finally get the Prima Donna Champs Elysees and the Marie Jo Mary online. There seems to have been a slight problem with the listing. How dull!

Well I must dash and find a lovely restaurant for dinner with mon ami Cindy who will be accompanying me for the first 2 evenings and making sure I don't get into trouble.