Trained as an accountant, Michael started his career at Marks & Spencer, the leading U.K.-department store, as a merchandiser in the lingerie department. When he noticed a serious lack of well-priced, pretty lingerie and swimwear, Michael launched Pour Moi in 2005.
The brand has been called “the best kept secret” in the business, and Michael is big part of the reason why. “Because I don’t wear bras myself, I’ve always been able to think more clearly about what women want,” he says. “It’s helped me challenge preconceptions.”
Like, say, how to make swimwear that’s as flattering as it is functional without costing an arm and a limb. Style signatures like bold colors and strong prints, in 30D to 42I, always acknowledge the season’s trends without being bound by them. Michael sees Pour Moi’s mandate as to come up with new ideas without looking at what other brands are doing. “Does it look fabulous? Does it fit? Is it something you would love to own?” These are the questions he and his team pose of every piece.
“You should feel fabulous in it as soon as you put it on; if you don’t, we’re not doing our job,” he says of suits designed with hidden underwires, supportive straps and as much convertibility as possible. “Age is not a category,” Michael says. “Pour Moi is all-encompassing—it’s for me, for you, for everyone.”
The craziest thing Mary Latham has ever done: complete her three-year More Good Road Trip.
That adventure was inspired by a conversation Mary had with her mother on the morning of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: “The same time the shooting was taking place in Connecticut, a coworker of mine told me he was being bought a coffee by a stranger down the street in New York City. When I told my mom the two stories and continued to harp on the shooting and all the bad out there, she reminded me, ‘You have to focus on the coffee story. There will always be horrible tragedies in our lives and in the world, but there will always be more good out there. You just have to look for it.”
A few weeks later, Mary’s mother died of cancer.
So Mary carried her mom’s words with her as she began the More Good road trip, a 50-state mission across the United States to compile stories of human kindness: “After I finished, my plan was to put these stories together in a book I would donate to hospital waiting rooms across the country. I spent a lot of time those when my mom was sick, and I thought they could use a book of hope. I know I could have.”
Mary packed up her mom’s old blue Subaru in the fall of 2016 and hit the road. After traversing the country and in the process of writing a book about her journey, Mary shared what she’s seen with Bare it All.
What we wear has a way of defining the times of our lives. In “Life with the Girls” this Valentine’s Day, Janet Siroto sifts through three decades’ worth of memories to find that, though so much has changed, things have actually held up pretty well.
Janet, with Jason, in their new apartment
I was rooting around the back of my dresser, packing up to move out of the house I’d lived in for the last 15 years…years that saw our kids go from boys to men, filling the house with longboards and electric guitars. Years that saw my husband and I through midlife milestones good (woo-hoo, bigger and better jobs!) and not so good (boo-hoo, how did we get this deep into the home-equity line of credit?).
Janet, with Jason, in their new apartment
In the way, way back of the dresser, wedged behind socks, was The Green Bra. It was like unexpectedly bumping into an old friend you barely recognize: Here was this ancient lace thing in a squint-inducing shade of fluorescent green, a memento of single-girl days deep in the past. It brought back waves of memories: gallivanting around NYC’s East Village in its rough-and-tumble incarnation, when crack vials littered the streets and you could still pass Joey Ramone, may he rest in peace, on the corner. It reminded me of flirting in dive bars where tsunamis of cigarette smoke washed over us; of wearing skirts so short they were more like very wide belts; of emerging from clubs as the sun rose.
The Green Bra embodied a transitional time. It was bought when I was a wild young thing and stayed in rotation for a brief period when I was an engaged woman, but it disappeared when I was a wedded lady. No need to send an “eyes over here!” message anymore.
The Green Bra got me thinking. As my marriage nears its 30th anniversary—the same age I was when I wed my husband—I looked back over the pieces that defined the eras of our union.
We see you, ladies who appreciate looking and feeling desirable every so often but don’t really want to peruse pair after pair of pasties and crotchless bodystockings. Maybe you’ve never really dabbled in lingerie before—you suspect it’s not for women like you, or don’t have the kind of time to spend finding a hot needle in a blazing haystack.
It bears a mention this time of year especially: Not all lingerie needs to be scandalous. It’s entirely possible to wear something sexy and stay in your comfort zone.
That’s why we asked Bare Necessities lingerie buyer Kelly Morales to put together her favorite attractive-yet-understated sexy selections. When you’re making yourself vulnerable and putting yourself out on the edge, you want—no, need—to feel like yourself. These make that easy.
Every body is beautiful and deserves its moment in the sun—but still, it’s February, and maybe you’re not ready to strip down just yet at the water park or on your vacation.
Bare Necessities swim buyer Megan Puma firmly believes that’s swimwear’s problem to solve, not yours. “Your bathing suits should be working on your behalf,” she says. “These days, you can always find something to meet your needs without changing anything about your body or your style. All you have to do is identify what you want to gloss over,” Megan says. “Think of it like ordering from a menu. What special benefits do you want?”
So if showing a lot of skin isn’t your thing, or you need to minimize the potential for wardrobe malfunctions on an extended family vacation, be sure to check out Megan’s modest swimwear recommendations.
Despite a less-than-idyllic childhood, writer Lindsay Powers single-mindedly rose through the publishing ranks, interviewing the likes of J.Lo, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Then, working alongside Katie Couric, Bobbi Brown and Marissa Mayer, Lindsay launched Yahoo’s digital parenting magazine.
That’s where the whole #NoShameParenting movement started. The campaign really resonated with overachieving, overstressed parents and evolved into her upcoming book on the topic, You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids, which will be released on March 31. Lindsay gave Bare Necessities an exclusive preview.
A dramatic haircut is legendary for changing your mood, but who knew it could change the way you feel about your body? In this month’s “Life with the Girls,” Suzan Colón had to let go of her hair to regain the sense of control she had been missing.
Suzan Colón, post-pixie
I have a friend who used to patiently listen to me complain about one thing after another. When I was finally done, she’d say, “But the important thing is, your hair looks great.”
My hair has always been one of my most noticeable features. When I was little, that mass of dark waves almost overwhelmed my face, and certainly overwhelmed my Mom when she tried to detangle me every night. As I got older, I grew to like my big, wild hair; it was boho, it had personality, and it equalized my figure, evening out my full hips and small breasts.
This past summer, my feelings about my hair, and myself, changed drastically. A work project ran into problems I could not fix. A family member had a health crisis, and I began making trips, two hours each way, to visit. The weather got hotter, and as the heat index rose, so did my hair’s frizz index. I was somewhere in between a chic spring bob and my usual shoulder-length hair, so I couldn’t tie it back. Heaps of waves sat on my head like an overheated sheepdog, getting in my eyes, refusing to be styled and generally driving me crazy. Each morning, after trying and failing to make my hair look presentable, I’d sigh and slouch in defeat, my breasts almost hidden in the posture of despair.
My husband was the one who suggested I cut my hair off. He’d found an old photo of me with a pixie cut, which I had gotten after a poorly done bob. In the picture, taken during a far calmer summer years ago, I was sitting tall and smiling widely. I looked balanced. I looked happy. I looked like me.
By a certain age, we women know what we want: comfort, ease, to look good, to feel great. Sexy, even, sometimes. We’ve honed our personal style, we avoid trying too hard, we acknowledge the trends without chasing after them. We understand the impact a great accessory can have—like a bra that will never let us down.
In a Bare Necessities Facebook Live broadcast this past fall, we asked what you wanted, and our Bra Fit Experts and buyers have answered. These are the bras for grown women we swear by around here:
As she gets set to turn the calendar page on this decade, reluctant full-bust expert Laura Lifshitz looks back in this month’s “Life with the Girls” on all the bras she’s ever known, loved and lost.
All grown up: writer-comedienne Laura Lifshitz
The first bra I ever bought was in sixth grade. It was white, with a ribbon flower in the middle. Size 28AAA. I didn’t even need it.
I grew up in a house of women—three older sisters and my mother—practically drowning in bras and maxi pads. Wondering when it would be my turn to join the club, I did a few of those “must increase my bust” exercises, knowing full well they didn’t work but also figuring they couldn’t hurt. So when my best friend down the street showed me her new training bra, I refused to wait a second longer.
I stood in the driveway until my mom got home, blocking her car from the garage.
“This is serious business,” I told her.
Looking stricken, she walked me quickly into the house. When she heard the “important news” that I wanted a bra, she was so relieved, she gave in.
Two years later, I was fully developed, and the family big breast gene kicked in. Living above the D-cup line, sometimes I think I’ve experienced all the bras. And just as some women recall past lovers with affection or disgust, on the eve of a new year, I feel the need anthologize the bras that have loved and left me or, rarer still, stayed.
Asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder bra: Surely decomposing in a garbage dump somewhere. At one point in the eighties, the look was one-shoulder tops. I needed to get my fill of the trend to flush it from my system. This unitasker cut into my chest and offered no support, but I had to buy in. I was desperate, and when a woman is desperate, one way or another, she will pay.
Bandeau: If there ever was a style that doesn’t look amazing when you’re top-heavy with ample side boob, it’s the bandeau. I was a stubborn teen fighting reality and destiny when I purchased more than one neon bandeau top. I was, I learned, the subject of much young male conversation. Years later, I tried again with with a nude bandeau bra. I’m happy to report that I have finally learned my lesson and not yet made the same mistake thrice.
Backless: To wear a low-back dress to a wedding, I used the Voluptuous U Plunge Backless Strapless Bra from Fashion Forms. I did the tango, did not droop and got to wear a sexy dress without fiddling with my bra all night long. Thank you, Fashion Forms, for being a hot date. The guy? Meh, he was so-so.
Balconette: Beautiful, feminine, lacy and a little racy. Have you ever felt like a Renaissance queen? If you’ve worn a balconette bra, you have.
Bralette: What unites womankind, I think, is the boundless hope of always finding a miracle in the form of a bra. Previously filed under mission: not accomplished…until I found Cosabella’s Never Say Never Sweetie Bralette.
Chantelle: Once I got into the right size, all was right with the world; ever since, I’ve had a blazing love affair with this bra brand that offers a vast array of sizes and styles.
Convertible bra: I was feeling hopeful for my future when I bought my first convertible bra. Though it took me longer than I care to admit to figure out the different configurations, and I was notorious for losing one of the straps deep in the abyss of my lingerie drawer, the freedom to express my every mood and fashion whim was intoxicating.
Maternity: I spent most of my first trimester in the hospital, braless, throwing up so much my ribs ached. My breasts were becoming massive, as my mother helpfully pointed out. As soon as I was sprung, I loaded up on maternity bras in cups G and H, and I wondered if I might don a Z-cup before my daughter was born.
Minimizer: I know this type of bra is a blessing for many ladies. For so long, it was one of the only options I had. At the time, minimizers were akin to what your Grandma Myrtle wore. While comfortable, I looked like I was 14 going on 90. We’ve come a long way, babes.
Natori: It’s an addiction, really. I’m currently stopping myself from buying another shade of the Feathers Plunge Bra. Actually, that’s a lie. I’m giving in and checking out.
Nursing bras: I breastfed my daughter past her first year. I was a leaker, frequently lumpy and engorged. Suffice it to say these bras were a lifesaver, and I’m happy I’ll never need to wear one again.
Push-up bra: Not generally something a DD+ woman requires, but hey, I was getting divorced and needed a few kicks. What’s wrong with a boost, mental or physical? Padded bras gave me both. Sometimes I look downright pornographic; other times, juuust this side of it.
Sports bra: The right one is serious stuff. It can make or break your workout. Wacoal, one of my favorite brands, made the first sports bra I ever had. Now, when I put on their High Impact Sports Bra, I feel like my breasts rule the world. Or at least the gym.
Strapless: I’ve had many a strapless bra in my time and lived to hate quite a few. (You really don’t know suffering unless you’ve worn the wrong strapless bra.) But I’m also unspeakably grateful for a handful. Though it took a great deal of trial and error, I thank the moon and stars for leading me to Paramour’s Marvelous Strapless T-Shirt Bra.
Wacoal: This brand opened my eyes to the possibilities that existed beyond the austere bras of my early years. Finding this brand was like making a lifelong friend. Water in the desert of womanhood. A real miracle. A reason to believe.
Even if it feels like summer ended ages ago, swim season is still in full swing if you want it to be.
Be it the Maldives or the YMCA pool, if you’re escaping someplace warm soon and need to ease back into a swimsuit, it’s best to default to a sure thing. In our world here at Bare Necessities, that means features like bra sizing, for the best fit and support, and built-in shapewear, because we’d argue we’re all a little squishier this time of year. Add a splash of chlorine resistance for soaking in a hot tub time or doing laps in a pool, and you’re right back in the swim of things.
Check out our expert swim buyer Megan Puma’s of-this-moment must haves:
Ever stop to look—really look—at how much trash you and your household produces? It can be a five-alarm wake-up call.
It definitely was for Deanna Taylor-Heacock. Looking for alternatives to so much disposable stuff but not finding nearly enough to change the way she lived, Deanna opened Good Bottle Refill Shop, the first bulk home care store of its kind in the state of New Jersey, this past fall. You can bring your own container and stock up on everything from essential oil-scented dish soap to laundry detergent, bath salts to toothpaste powder, all designed with a “zero waste” mindset and an elevated aesthetic.
Find out how this former Bare Necessities buyer saw a problem and solved it herself in a way that’s as good for the planet as it is for business.
Monday to Friday are a grind all their own, but now it feels like even weekends require a warrior mentality, what with all the errand-running, kid-shuttling, wine-drinking and other garden variety self-caring that has to be stuffed into 48 fleeting hours.
Loungewear is there to save lazy Saturdays and Sundays from total fashion oblivion by stylishly taking you from AM coffee to PM nightcap and everything you fit in between.
We asked Bare Necessities buyer Melissa McDonald for her best advice on how to leave the house feeling snuggly, but never sloppy.
5 casual weekend fashion tips for any style:
Keep it simple: “Look for solid colors or quiet prints, cozy textures and fashion details like buttons or contrasting trim,” Melissa advises.
Match your separates: “Intentional coordination is the key to looking polished,” she says.
Find the right fit: “Of course you want the silhouette to be roomy and comfy, but anything too big and slouchy can look messy.”
Take a few minutes for hair and makeup: “Ward off the ‘leaving the house in pajamas’ effect by doing a shortened version of your weekday beauty routine.”
Boot up: “Wear athleisure and loungewear with cool sneakers or Ugg boots; leave actual slippers at the door.”
Michael Thomson is the mind behind Pour Moi, the genius fashion-forward bra-sized swimwear label.
