Earlier this summer I co-hosted a fabulous boudoir retreat with my favorite lingerie shop, Sugar Cookies and it was an amazing time. Here’s a recap:
About 2 years ago, I teamed up with Sugar Cookies NYC, a boutique I already loved, to bring boudoir into their shop for mini shoots a few times a year. We always had such a good time with our events, and so we wanted to find a way to take these in-store events to new heights. Each time we hosted mini Boudoir photoshoots at Sugar Cookies, we were delighted to see women of all ages, sizes and walks of life coming together to shop and cheer each other on as they got their photos taken. What we aimed to do with Boudoir in the City was bring a group like this together for a full weekend to connect, empower each other, and enjoy luxurious perks as an act of self love and self care… and I’m going to say we succeeded!
The weekend began with private shopping appointments full of bubbly and lots of lingerie. Attendees shopped on their own or with a friend as we discussed the most flattering silhouettes, the best ways to pose and what to expect from their upcoming photoshoot. This was the perfect introduction to our retreat and gave everyone the opportunity to get in the Boudoir mood!
Later that evening we headed downtown to the iconic Duane Park for a burlesque dinner show. I had been once before and it felt like the obvious choice for our retreat. The Duane Park experience is nothing short of decadent from start to finish. From the decor to the cocktails to the incredible performers, every detail is of the place is just perfect. A live band and singer accompanied glamorous burlesque performers as we ate a beautiful three course meal and sipped on Rosé. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate confidence and to inspire each other for the following day of photoshoots.
Finally the day had come! Attendees were welcomed to the beautiful Wythe Hotel and led upstairs to our room drenched in sunlight and enveloped by a view of the New York City skyline. Bubbly, snacks, and lingerie awaited as I prepared each attendee for an epic photoshoot.
All of our attendees brought their brand new lingerie pieces from Sugar Cookies and posed all throughout the gorgeous room. This was a very special opportunity to shoot with me outside of the studio! After their shoot, many attendees took to the stunning rooftop of the Wythe for a celebratory cocktail. What a dream!
I even got to photograph my style icon, Susanne, the owner of Sugar Cookies (finally!) in some amazing silk pajamas by Skin Worldwide. These pjs made such a splash when Susanne wore them to the Curve Expo a week prior - literally everyone stopped her to ask about her look. It’s the perfect daytime or bedtime look. And great news - Susanne will start selling these pjs at the shop later this summer. It’s always such a special experience photographing a woman you admire. More images from that shoot will be coming soon.
Our ultimate goal for Boudoir in the City was to allow space for women to simply enjoy and indulge in some of the most unique experiences New York City has to offer. We had women from the city and from farther away joining us, and we loved sharing a full weekend dedicated to celebrating and empowering yourself through glamour.
If you missed the retreat, fear not - I will be teaming up with Sugar Cookies once again for something that’s … shall we say...next level. But before we make the big announcement we want your input! Our next retreat requires a flight & will combine all the fabulous elements of past events into one epic mini trip.
So whether you attended this retreat OR if you missed our Boudoir in the City weekend & are interested in a glamorous getaway in the future, we’d love for you to fill out this quick questionnaire so we can tailor our next experience to YOU.
xoxo,
Stephanie