We are starting to think "Hello" instead of "Bonjour" as we finish our last day here in Versailles, France. Holy cow did we have a blast! As I type I am over the ocean flying back to Colorado. We started our travel day at 6 a.m. in France, traveled by Eurostar to London and then hopped the pond. We should land in Denver about midnight, if all goes well. Would I do it all over again? You bet!!!!

Yesterday Todd and I had planned to go see Monet's lily gardens in Giverney but we were thwarted with car problems. No worries. We hung out in Versailles for a yummy Capri Pizza lunch followed by a lovely last visit to the gardens.

Boy did it look different the next day. We walked through all the gardens we had strolled through the night before (Todd found a glass or two left behind) but the castle was closed. We decided to camp out by the canal in the shade as I sorted through all of the great photos from the party.

Jeanie and Howard met us for our last dinner of traditional French steak and fritz at Bistro Bouchon off the main plaza. Great steak and dessert! We hustled home at midnight to get packed and ready to head back to the US.

I decided we should have some famous quotes from the trip....

Todd's Quote: "You need to have a lot of patience in France". I am a patient gal, but I try extra hard while we visit. Everything seems to take 3 times longer than in America. 

Jeanie's Quote: "It's an adventure, you have to love it!" It is and I do.

Howard Quote: "The French love their rules." It's true and sometimes the words "it is impossible" simply means you have to beg the Monoprix manager to let you enter the store 10 minutes before the store closes so that your wife can buy a hairdryer for the big party. When you call to ask what time they close, reconsider and say "what's the latest time they will let you shop". Two different things....

Cindy's Quote: "Thank the French for making such pretty lingerie." I love my collection of lovelies and my job!

We took a ton of photos for you so you can see everything we did. You can see them all in our album on Facebook.  If you have been recently to France and/or Belgium, or have never made the trip, I know you'll love seeing all our photos. Hard to believe we'll be back in Denver and this blog will be posted soon. This really has been a once in a lifetime experience and I'm so happy to have shared it with you.

Bonsoir!
xoxo,

Cindy 

One word. Magical. That's how I'd describe our night at the Chateau de Versailles. Our expectations were high when we found out we were invited to the 50th birthday party of the Paris lingerie show that we go to. But in all honesty, we had no idea. There are lots of things we love about the French, and now we can add to it that they know how to throw a party! Versailles is incredible to visit during the day, but at night it is truly something spectacular. Since 2004, each January Jeanie and I have gone to the lingerie shows in Paris. This year, the Salon International de la Lingerie is celebrating 50 years of bringing beautiful panties to the world. They did the celebration in over-the-top Parisian style!

Jeanie and I were so excited to attend a black tie affair in the same place that Marie Antoinette hosted so very many parties in her time. I wore a Naeem Khan dress with Bagley Mishka shoes from Neiman Marcus and Jeanie was dressed by Lin from Garbarinis. Don't our husbands look so dapper in their tuxedos? Todd's bow tie matched my gown.

 Feeling so glamorous it was hard to hold in all of our excitement. As we approached the Chateau de Versailles we were guided to front row parking inside the palace gates. Lovely hostesses guided us to the entrance of the palace where we had VIP access to roam the King's Grand Apartment and the Hall of Mirrors. It was an exceptional treat made even more special because they had hired time period musicians dressed in costumes to delight our senses.

After we finished our self-guided tour we exited out onto the Chateau Esplanade (the main terrace) where we were greeted with champagne and enjoyed a view of the Grand Canal and the Palace gardens. We all lost our breath for a moment. It's one thing to be at Versailles as a tourist with loads of other tourists and quite another thing to be there in full black-tie regalia with a glass of champagne in your hand overlooking a view fit for a king.

The setting sun was the perfect backdrop for the many photos we took with our friends. Zee and Erin from Bits of Lace in Charleston, South Carolina looked so lovely in their gowns. Mariela and Ivy from Eberjey flew in from Miami to show their line at the show as well as joining in with us at the party. A very special thank you to Paolo Fabrizio from Empreinte for hosting us at the party. We all had so much fun from the first moments of the night until the wee hours of the morning.

The end of the musical fountain show and a drum line in period costumes announced the third event of the evening. We followed the drummers and other guests down the hill to the L'Orangerie where we had a dinner made by Fauchon. There was no shortage of delicious pastries or champagne to accompany all the yummy tapas. A side note for those who don't speak French...the L'Orangerie is the citrus fruit garden. The evening air was filled with the scent of orange and lemon blossoms. A pure delight for me!

The networking and industry chat was kept to a minimum but we did meet some new colleagues which is always a  welcome. Loda and Isobel from Intimacy of Atlanta shared great conversations with us about plans for their website. Sara from Funky Girl in Helsinki chatted with Jeanie about the new lines she had seen earlier in the day at the panty show in Paris. We couldn't talk shop for too long because the band started up at that point. Paolo scooped us up, gave us a glass of champagne and said "Let's tear it up!"

We danced in a hall that rivaled the Louvre. The 50 foot cavernous ceilings were made of stone and had gently curved arches. Katy Perry resonated off the walls and ceiling as the light show kicked into high gear. We all danced like crazy until 2 in the morning. I dare say we were a bit over heated as we ventured back to the gardens.

We all agreed it was the most fantastic party we have ever attended. Saying thank you to Sandrine for inviting Sol and throwing an amazing party hardly covers our gratitude, but THANK YOU!!! Awesome event and awesome fun with awesome friends.

 I know my blog entry can't do justice to the night we experienced. So, I hope the photos will. Check out the rest of our photos on our Facebook page!

Best night ever.

xoxo,
Cindy

P.S. We're on our final day and heading back to Denver shortly.

A beautiful start to a beautiful night in Versailles

Now hold on to your horses little ladies! You thought this blog was going to tell you everything about the party but I thought I would draw out the suspense for another few hours. This will give you the run down on what Jeanie and I had to do before we went to the party at the Palace! 

After breakfast Todd and I rented bikes for a quick lap around the Palace grounds. 

Howard drove Jeanie and me into the panty show in Paris. 

Just a quick 2 hour round trip for our tickets to the party to see the new 2014 Aubade. WOW!

Then we hustled back to get ready at the hotel. 

I have soooo much to tell you about the party, but I need to hit the hay for our 24 hour return to Denver in the morning. Don't worry, the photos will be posted shortly of all the fun!

Bonsoir!

xoxo,
Cindy

Saturday Fun Day for the Johnsons and Peterson-Lesters

How would you spend an idyllic Saturday in Versailles with your family?

We started with a swim in the pool

 Next...shopping for cute dresses and shoes...

 To the market for a gourmet picnic....

Then...a bike ride into the gardens of Versailles and enjoyed said picnic....

 

We ended the day enjoying dinner at an Indian restaurant where Elliot 
can make friends in the square...

A perfect day for one and all!!!

xoxo,

Cindy

P.S.  Get ready to find out about our magnificent gala - only hours away! 

Sol's Opinion Counts

What fun we had yesterday! I love my job. I've been lucky to have had many special milestones in my business career and one of the best, is the opportunity to guide designer teams in their direction for new

colors and styles. This is the third collection where I have previewed all the new designs we are bringing in for all you Sol girls. I'm thrilled that my expert fit knowledge from years in the fitting room and my love of beautiful lingerie has me influencing future European design collections that women all over the world will wear! I'm honored and flattered that my expertise is sought after in this way, and really, it is so awesome!

We started the day checking in with Igneas Van Doorselaere, the CEO of the company. He's always

Ignace CEO and Inge North America Sales Director of VDV with the gang!

interested in hearing how Sol is operating. He loves the enthusiasm we Americans bring to the lingerie world. We were proud to inform him that the store is stronger than ever and all you Sol girls love the products Van de Velde delivers to us.

Me with Lien, designer for L'Aventure

The meeting continued with all three of the brand designers to discuss my views on colors and styles for their Fall/Winter 2014 collection. No one else in the world, outside of the design teams,  has even seen the designs. We first met with Lien, designer for L'Aventure, then Lieve responsible for all those Daisy bras, and lastly Lisbet who is in charge of PrimaDonna. They head the design teams at the global office in Schellebelle. 
We spent the day discussing their collections, looking at their designs, color selections, fabrics and styles. Although everything we talked about needs to stay "under wraps" I can tell you one thing...they listened to us

Lieve designer for Marie Jo showing the new Daisy color

for the new Daisy color and it may or may not be being named after SOL! And, I can promise you that you're going to love the styles Marie Jo and PrimaDonna have in store for us! It's been a great trip! I'm so thankful to have such a strong and close relationship with Lien, Lieve and Lisbet. Sol is proud to be one of their largest distributors of their brands in the U.S. Being able to provide the Sol touch in their newest collection means everything to me as a panty lover and as a Sol girl. 

Lisbet, designer for PrimaDonna

We're leaving Ghent and we're off to Versailles, France. It's our first time staying in the French countryside and we're thrilled to share some of the sights with you!

xoxo,

Cindy

Bring on 2014. Spring/Summer Collections of Bras and Panties are going to be hot!

Good morning Sol Girls! Jeanie, Amanda and I are in Ghent to preview the new spring/summer 2014 collections from PrimaDonna and Marie Jo. We just got back from the factory in Schellebelle where we saw

 

amazing new designs that you are going to love! The special secret soon to be unveiled is the new swim collection they made for all you PrimaDonna gals.

I can't wait for you to see what we just saw! Get ready for more great colors and laces in spring 2014. We thought the Chloe from Marie Jo was a stunner. The two color ways are natural and spring blossom. The lace was so soft and delicate. Pairing it with the stretch silk played off the lace perfectly. The PrimaDonna stand out was the Stella. The sky fall color was gorgeous in the re-embroidered lace. We can't wait to see it arrive in the store next spring and to see you wearing it! 

Tell us what you think ! Click over to our Facebook page where we're uploading photos of everything we saw during our time with PrimaDonna and Marie Jo today! www.facebook.com/sollingerie

The Italian swimsuit fabric is designed specifically for PrimaDonna. The prints and solids are vibrant with the cute details you have in all the Twist bras. Would you love to have a two-piece,

tankini or a one-piece with the great fit like your bra? Then hold on to your knickers girls, the suits will be here January 2014.

Off to dinner with our gracious hosts from Van de Velde as well as our good friends from Bits of Lace who viewed the line with us today.

I'll finish this blog later tonight...

We just got back from our culinary walking tour led by Leena. We started with appetizers at Allegra Moderato made of halibut. The main course was steak and fries at Oude Vismijn which happened to be an old fish market in the 1700s. Our last course was dessert at Atelier Plus. The downstairs room is a cooking

school to learn the art of making chocolate. I think Todd is ready for a new hobby. Between restaurants we learned cool things about the city and its highlights.

We had a long day working hard to choose the most stunning collection of bras and panties for you. Please enjoy all the fun photos of the new goodies and the tour of Ghent on Facebook. 

Goodnight....
xoxo

Cindy

Goodbye Denver. Hello Ghent. Summer Lingerie Buying Trip 2013

Hello my dear SOL girls, we made it! After a 24 hour plane, trains and automobiles adventure we're here in Ghent, Belgium. Van de Velde was kind enough to send a car to bring us from the train station to our fabulous hotel. We're staying at the most amazing place - Hotel Reylof - while we're in Ghent. It's gorgeous. There's something so enchanting and distinct about European hotels that make you feel comfortable, and at home, from the moment you arrive. I just love the detail in their services and how they engage with their hotel guests. The decor is a source of inspiration. Bold colors mixed with traditional Baroque add ambiance to the main dining and lounge area. I love to discover hotels like this because they help Jeanie and I bring a splash of Europe back home to our Sol experience! 

Todd and me at Hotel Reylof, Ghent, Belgium

This trip is very special to me for many reasons (hint, that's a tease for future blogs I'm writing) but the biggest is that my fabulous husband Todd is with me! I love it when I get to share what I do with him. It's his first time to visit Ghent and Schellebelle (Van de Velde's factory). While the buying team is looking at the spring designs, Todd will be touring the Van de Velde warehouse and shipping facilities. It's fascinating to visit and see high efficiency, especially when it comes to manufacturing bras. I have seen a variety of factories during my buying trips, but I have to tell you, it's truly incredible to see the Belgian efficiency at work. Todd is going to love it! After having listen to me talk about it for years and years, I'm thrilled he's going to get to experience it firsthand! 

The next few days will be busy, in a good way. Tomorrow we'll be seeing the spring/summer 2014 collection from PrimaDonna and Marie Jo. We can't wait to show you the latest styles but for now, we're off to find dinner and a glass of bubble before we fall asleep. 

xoxo,
Cindy
 

A buying trip for the record books! Belgium and Versailles!

I am super excited....Europe here I come! Jeanie, Amanda, and I normally attend two panty shows each year. One in Paris and one in New York, but this year we were invited to a super cool gala being held in Versailles. Of course we accepted the invite and we've brought our handsome husbands as our dates. Since we would be in France, we decided to just pop over to Belgium to see all the new lines from Marie Jo and PrimaDonna before they are shown in New York. So we are adding one more buying trip to the year.

While in the land of lovely lingerie, I will be blogging all about our crazy-busy days filled with incredible designers meetings, viewing the coolest fashions in lingerie, attending exclusive fashion shows, and of course buying amazing European bras, panties and jammies for our SOL girls. However, the highlight of this trip is going to be attending a soiree in Marie Antoinette's castle on Sunday. Check out the move Maire Antoinette (2006 film) by Sofia Coppola. That's what I'm imaging it to be like.

This gala will be the biggest party of the season, hosted by the lingerie show (SILS) that we attend each year in Paris as it is celebrating 50 years of success! Jeanie and I were personally invited by the gentleman that owns SILS for Sol to be counted among the 1,500 people asked world wide.

On a work note... Belgium is the home to your favorite bras, PrimaDonna and Marie Jo, and we’re super pumped to see the latest panties for spring/summer 2014. After seeing the spring collection, the design teams have asked me to review all of their preliminary designs for their fall/winter 2014 collections and I can't wait! I’m giving them my expert advice on their future designs, lace selection and colors. Wonder if they will take my advice on a grass green or orange daisy bra.  Hmmm...

In lieu of you stowing away in my luggage, you can join our week-long adventure in the comfort of your own home while wearing something cool and sexy! I’ll be blogging daily, uploading photos on Facebook and sending out tweets of all the cool things we’re seeing and doing during our time in Ghent, Schellebelle, Giverny, Versailles, and everywhere in between these amazing cities.

We can’t wait to share this amazing trip with our SOL girls!

xoxo,

Cindy