M.J.
The things that have always brought me the most joy are the things that are just for me. The art hanging on the walls of my house; my bodysuit tattoo; my beautiful Pluto pajamas. These three things, in particular, are also the most revealing of who I am. The art is weird and visceral. The tattoo is huge and is a hugely personal project that is nowhere near complete. And the pajamas, in which I begin and end my days, represent my preferred state: not being "on." The ability to not perform, to not turn on the charm, to not be in problem-solving mode, to not be working toward a never-ending series of deadlines is especially valuable to me during this strange and terrible time. There is so much to worry about and so much work to do. But for a few hours in the mornings and evenings, I get to putter around in my pajamas and feel a little bit free.
Danielle
I have always loved vintage lace and lingerie. Adorning myself in lingerie, made of beautiful laces by artisans in France and Italy, makes me happy when I get dressed for the day. It’s my special secret - a secret just for me.
I always appreciate the excellent care and friendship I receive when shopping at Alla Prima. They make sure to remember what I love and always help me to feel beautiful.
I love to wear my lingerie pieces from Alla Prima as lovely backdrops for my jewelry photos. They are a perfect canvas to showcase my collection of antique and vintage jewelry. You can see more of my collection on my instagram account @jasmyntea.
Jeremy
In these days of sheltering at home, I take equal doses of gratitude and pleasure in opening my bureau to choose what I am going to put on first. It always begins with a bra and matching panties. Today, it’s Empreinte.
As an art advisor and accredited senior appraiser of fine art, evaluating and assigning objective researched value is my professional responsibility. In the past, it was a guilty pleasure to put on an outrageously beautiful set from Andres Sarda or La Perla as I headed into court or arbitration. Or, maybe a fabulous piece from Lise Charmel or Cadolle, tucked away under a conservative suit while off to inventory an artist’s estate or catalog a private art collection.
I am now Zoom meeting two or three times a day.
I still go to my Alla Prima purchases for essential emotional and physical uplift, and my daily practice of surrounding myself with beauty. I consider each piece I buy from Alla Prima to be an affordable synthesis of wearable art combining drawing and sculpture - as valuable to me as a painting, print or sculpture by a known artist. Discovering a new brand or designer is much like discovering a new artist.
As you can imagine, my favorite non-profit is the San Francisco Art Institute, where I have served as visiting faculty, staff, and on the board of trustees over the past 30 years. www.sfai.edu
An international disaster, 9/11, began my serious deep dive into daily lingerie. Going all Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve - every day is a special occasion from now on, I thought. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, I find it more true than ever.
Jill
Movement is my primary language. I am able to express how I feel when I dance and teach Pilates. I feel sexy and elegant when I move, but I need another way to communicate when I am not moving. Every day, I put on beautiful lingerie as a way to dress up and feel pretty even though no one else is going to see this while the shelter in place remains. This simple gesture makes every day feel less mundane.
A bit about me....
I have been teaching Pilates for over 24 years. I am an International fitness presenter and creator of FitSprings, an all-in-one system designed to support injury free dynamic movements. Fitsprings are currently in 7 locations across the US with more to come.
Creative movement inspires my training and I love to challenge my clients to see movement through the lens of what is possible. To learn more about me, please visit my websites FitSprings and InformedBody.
I share my home with 4 rescue bunnies and a rescue cat. I volunteer for an organization called SaveABunny in Marin and have spent the last 20 years helping to rescue bunnies. Living with animals, especially during this quarantine, has provided me with a lot of entertainment and much needed love.
Jill Harris
Owner Informed Body / Creator FitSprings
415-350-3069 mobile
Michelle
Lingerie is perfect because it is essential. We need to wear some version of it 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
What makes lingerie special is its ability to create and enhance a mood. What we choose to wear nearest to our skin matters. It is an object that is equal parts form and function. It can be simple or ornate, depending on how we want to be physically, emotionally, and aesthetically supported.
Choosing to wear lingerie instead of just underwear is an act of self care and self celebration. It is a statement of self value. Time and again, over many years, I have brought good friends and even my mom to Alla Prima to shop for bras. In many ways, this shop is my church. I have faith in the transformative power of lingerie that fits like a glove and is made of fine materials. This is not a long journey of future promises. It is an immediate validation that you are beautiful, you are valuable and cherished and, most of all, you are celebrated.
I know this all might sound a bit hyperbolic but, I ask ---have you had the experience of a magical bra? The bra you wear when you want to feel just a bit extra about yourself? The bra you wear because it helps you channel your perfect coquette on a first date? The bra that makes your posture a bit better and helps you lift your chin with confidence? I hope you have had that experience because it is powerful.
It is a rare experience where we get to invest in something practical that can also connect us to our best selves. In this time of Covid-19, I think we all need to dig deeper to find a bit more patience, practice more compassion, and be more aware of others because we are all in this together. I will continue to be there everyday for my fellow human being, washing my hands, wearing a mask, keeping six feet away - all the while, wearing my best lingerie.
Allison
Finding Alla Prima 21 years ago was a blessing. At the time, I was a woman with very large breasts and they had beautiful lingerie that complimented my shape and offered support.
Along came 2012 and breast cancer. Magie and Yolaida walked beside me through the trauma of that experience. My shape changed as did my lingerie.
Covid-19 is another blip on our human radar.
I arise these days and dress, using my beautiful lingerie from Alla Prima as a focal element to the outfit I put together for myself. What you see in my photo is a crop-top bra from I.D. Sarierri with a skirt worn as a strapless dress.
While sheltering in place, nicely put together and adorned in beautiful laces, I deeply hope that this moment will be a learning experience, teaching us to be kinder to one another and our beautiful planet Earth. We must make a greater effort to heal poverty, and bring an end to ignorance and racism.
Allison Knapp Wollam
Land Use and Environmental Planner
Artist
Paint the Void
Many thanks to the artists of Paint the Void for bringing light and beauty to our boarded up neighborhoods during this dark time - and, to whoever left yellow roses on my doorstep.