If you haven’t gone to see the ladies at Forty Winks, you really should!  Rachel & Meredith have the sweetest little lingerie boutique in town, located right in Harvard Square.  I’m so happy to be able to share some of the absolutely drop dead gorgeous pieces they carry with my SMP readers!!

As I’ve said before, Boudoir sessions are about feeling your most confident and sexy, and choosing outfits that make you feel this way are so important!  Which is why I’m especially excited that Forty Winks has extended a 15% discount to all my Boudoir Marathon ladies!!! Just go in and tell them I sent you and get yourself something awesome for your shoot!! (and if you haven’t signed up yet or have any questions, get more info here – there are a few spots still available!)

(Forty Winks feature in Boston’s Crave Book – which is all about women in business in Boston! You can pick up your copy at Forty Winks!)

One of the things I love about Forty Winks is the experience.  And for those of us ladies that find the task of shopping for underthings particularly daunting for one reason or another, you can rest assured that Rachel and Meredith will make you feel right at home as soon as soon as you walk in.

Here’s a little Q&A with the ladies of Forty Winks…. Enjoy!

SMP: How long have you guys been open?

Forty Winks:  We opened on April 9th, 2010.  It’s almost been a year which is incredible!

SMP:  When did you know you wanted to open your own shop?

Forty Winks:  I’ve always wanted my own shop and after a particularly devastating stint in corporate advertising, I knew that I had to figure out a way to own my own business.  When I met Meredith a couple of months later, we knew we would do it together.  You can’t partner with just anyone, but we somehow knew it would work.

SMP: How did you guys get into the retail business? Why a lingerie shop/what attracted you to this category of retail in particular?

Forty Winks:  We both knew we wanted to do something with fashion/retail in a small business capacity.  I wanted to own a boutique and Meredith wanted to do something with fashion/design.  We both worked at Mint Julep for three-ish years and learned so much about the best ways to run a small boutique.  We had great help from the Julep owners, Brooke Garber and Stephanie Nist and also from Rebecca Penner and Laura Macris of Crush Boutique (Charles Street).  While our expertise was in clothing, we knew the Boston market couldn’t handle another dress/clothing boutique.   Conversely, we knew that there was a real need for a lingerie boutique in the Boston/Cambridge area.  We wanted a store where ladies (and gents) could browse a selection that was well-edited and that provided more than just a few sizes.  We have a lot of woman that wear an E (DD) cup or above.  We’re so happy to be able to provide these ladies with pretty bras whenever possible.   Customer service is extremely important to us and we are now proud to call ourselves experts at finding the right fit!

(Forty Winks:  56 JFK St. Cambridge, MA)

SMP: Your shop has such a unique look.  What was the design process like for conceptualizing your brand?  What inspired you?
Forty Winks:  Meredith is the designer between the two of us.  She had a vision for the space and she really took it to a beautiful level.  We wanted a relaxing space where women felt comfortable and at peace with their bodies and the bra-trying-on process.  I offered ideas, opinions, and input, but Meredith really had a vision for the kind of final product that would work best for Forty Winks.

SMP: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Forty Winks:  Being our own bosses, knowing that we’re giving good service in a sometimes difficult industry, the gorgeous lingerie we get to be around everyday, and when we successfully make our customers happier with their bodies and underthings.

SMP:  Whats your favorite lingerie trend for spring 2011?
Forty Winks:  Silk pieces, both the more structured options and their flowy counterparts.  Smaller, indie designers coming to the forefront of the business.

Here’s a little peek at what you’ll find at Forty Winks!

I LOVED the lace details on these!  Just begging to be worn for a boudoir session!

Thanks again to Rachel & Meredith for letting me photograph your beautiful shop!  Leave them some love!!

Forty Winks | visit the store: 56 JFK St. Cambridge, MA | shop online: http://www.shopfortywinks.com/ |follow their blog: http://shopfortywinks.com/blog/ | like them on Facebook