Lingerie Store Directory
Agent Provocateur
133 Mercer St., nr. Prince St.; 212-965-0229; agentprovocateur.comThis pink-and-black boudoir is a must-see when picking out undergarments for a wedding day or honeymoon. Frilly corsets are the specialty (from $216), but they also carry darling panties with satin ties at the waist, as well as tons of matching sets.
Azaleas
223 E. 10th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-253-5484; azaleasnyc.comThis neighborhood store is a treasure trove of all things white and froufrou, from thongs and lace thigh-highs to corsets and bustiers, which run up to size 38D. They also offer sweet camisole sets for the honeymoon (from $58).
Bra Smyth
905 Madison Ave., nr. 73rd St.; 212-772-9400; 2177 Broadway, at 77th St.; brasmyth.comThis Upper East Side shop and the newly opened Upper West Side location stock their racks with mostly French labels and high-end companies such as Le Mystère (from $60). The friendly staff helps brides make sense of cumbersome corsets.
Eres
621 Madison Ave., nr. 58th St., and various locations; 212-223-3550; eresparis.comThis intimate Parisian boutique offers the Flavie ($200), a comfortable corset that ends just below the bust, as well as sheer bodysuits with built-in thongs or boy-cut shorts (from $180). Brides going the simpler route will love the bras, most of which come in whisper-weight, ultraromantic cuts and fabrics (from $175).
Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Ave., nr. 56th St.; 212-247-1100The upscale New York establishment has sexy undergarments from more than 30 vendors, including the Henri Bendel New York private-label collection. Well-known designers like Christian Dior mix with newer names like Mimi Holiday.
Journelle
3 E. 17th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-255-7800; journellenyc.comThis Flatiron boutique doesn’t just sell high-end lingerie; they "curate" intimate apparel with pieces from lines like Elle Macpherson, Chantelle, and Andres Sarda. The gracious staff will kindly offer assistance in their oversize dressing rooms (large enough to fit a gown).
Kiki de Montparnasse
79 Greene St., nr. Spring St.; 212-965-8150; kikidm.comKiki de Montparnasse has something for every bride-from the mild to the wild. For lacy panties and bedroom toys, this luxury intimates-and-bath company can outfit wedding nights, the honeymoon, and any day thereafter. Their best seller: a trademark tuxedo panty ($175).
Laina Jane
45 Christopher St., nr. Waverly Pl., and various locations; 212-807-8077; lainajane.comThis friendly boutique attracts women looking for basic bras, as well as those who want sexy, glamorous things to wear under-or as-party clothes. The store offers a seamless corset (from $69) that’s an inexpensive option for brides whose dresses-or bodies-don’t require whaleboning for support.
La Perla
803 Madison Ave., nr. 67th St., and various locations; 212-570-0050; laperla.comKnown for their sexy, lacy black underthings, this legendary Italian lingerie store also carries corsets that big-name designers like Vera Wang and Yumi Katsura swear by and use in their fittings. They come in a range of styles ($200 to $400), and, of course, there are panties to match ($60 to $150).
La Petite Coquette
51 University Pl., nr. 10th St.; 212-473-2478; thelittleflirt.comThe girlie-girl’s favorite lingerie shop carries corsets, bras, and panties in mesh, lace, silk-satin brocade, and microfiber, plus all sorts of pretty garments from up-and-coming designers like Modern Courtesan. Styles can be altered to fit-a service master fitter Rebecca Apsan (check out her book, The Lingerie Handbook) performs with ease. Corsets are $100 to $500.
From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide