PrimaDonna
PrimaDonna has existed for more than a century. Since its inception it has sought to design perfect-fitting lingerie for naturally curved women who take a large cup. Available all the way up to a J cup, PrimaDonna gives women the right support, always fits perfectly and creates an elegant female form.
Today, the Lise Charmel Group encompasses four individual brands: Lise Charmel for the fashion connoisseur; Eprise with the same fabrics and fashion forward designs for the fuller figured woman; and Antigel and Antinea, which is aimed at a somewhat younger customer with a more moderate budget. Regardless of age and shape, the Lise Charmel woman is a woman of high expectations who wants the perfect fit, the best materials and the highest quality available.
Lise Charmel was among the first in the industry to use guipure (those without a backing) and elastic laces using the finest silks and other fabrics from Switzerland and France. Lise Charmel designs also incorporate special design and construction techniques that are unique in the industry. Designs feature rich embroideries, opulent fabrics, soft tulles and fine attention to detail. In short, Lise Charmel lingerie is designed to please the most refined tastes, and devoted to the service of women who love fine lingerie.
We carry a full line of Lise Charmel lingerie and exquisite sleepwear, which we replenish as much as four times per year. We also work to ensure that we carry a broad range of colors and designs for every occasion. Case in point, the Lise Charmel bridal collections are the highlight of our store.
Andres Sarda
Andres Sarda lingerie was founded in the early 1960’s in Barcelona, Spain, and quickly developed a reputation as one of the most beautiful and sexy lingerie lines in all of Europe. From the outset, Andres Sarda targeted the woman with a mind of her own looking for luxury, quality and comfort combined with innovation sensuality and a daring color palette. The designer also designs exquisite swimwear.
Several years ago, the Andres Sarda line and design team was acquired by the Van de Velde Group in Schellebelle, Belgium, the parent company to the PrimaDonna and MarieJo brands. Van de Velde has wisely retained the Sarda design and fashion flair, while significantly expanding the range of available sizes and dramatically improving the sophistication and functionality of the actual bra designs to support fuller figures.
While we always carry a wide range of Sarda lingerie and sleepwear in our boutique, we can also now special order sizes, designs, and colors directly from Van de Velde on a personalized basis, taking advantage of the company’s advanced electronic ordering and production system, which is virtually unique in the industry. As we sell one of the largest volumes of the entire range of Van de Velde lines in California, we maintain an excellent working relationship with the company, with significant benefits for our customers.
Marie Jo
Marie Jo is the younger sister of PrimaDonna. Designed by a team in Finland that is dedicated to the creation of beautifully detailed and expertly engineered pieces, Mary Jo lingerie features refined designs for today’s fashion conscious women.
Marie Jo maintains a panel of women of all body shapes and cup sizes to ensure the highest standards of fit and function. Each Mary Jo item receives 25 to 30 minutes of hands-on quality assurance before leaving the warehouse.
With many styles and designs to choose from, the Marie Jo Avero (the famous “daisy” bra) is by far our best selling item at Ela. We have one of the largest Bay Area collections of Marie Jo lingerie in an enormous range of sizes, styles and colors.
Marie Jo L’Aventure is a sub-brand with designs intended for the young, or young at heart, at moderate price points that reflect the same quality standards as the Marie Jo lines.
Marlies Dekkers
One of the only lingerie designers we can think of to have been asked to serve as a major museum’s guest curator (at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum), Marlies Dekkers hit the fashion world like a bomb with her first “undressed” collection in 1993. We bought our first Marlies Dekkers pieces soon after opening Ela, and were among the first boutiques in the US to carry her lines. We love the refined, edgy look and the exquisite and sophisticated design, engineering and construction that beautifully fit just about every body on the planet.
Worn by celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic, The Marlies Dekkers signature collection of lingerie designs has become iconic. As an early pioneer of the “innerwear as outerwear” trend, Dekkers’ designs are seen nationally and internationally as trendsetting, innovative and pioneering.
Aubade
The Aubade brand was founded in France more than a half century ago and has become known for one of the most successful, fashion-forward lines in the entire industry. If any of our lines can be described as “sensual,” Aubade would be the first to come to mind. Still designed and manufactured in France, Aubade maintains long-term collaborations with Calais makers of the famous leavers lace and Swiss embroiderers to create lingerie of elegance and distinction..
The Aubade customer learns to love the refined sexiness of the lines, and the way that the lingerie can totally change the overall appearance of the clothed body. Aubade is the very essence of refined French lingerie. We carry a wide range of it, and also selectively offer Aubade swimwear.