I Heart Lingerie!

Looking for that lovely piece of lingerie to catch Cupid’s eye this Valentine’s Day?

Two well-established, unique boutiques in the Palisades might pull at those heartstrings, no matter what occasion or season suits your fancy. 

Intima Lingerie carries a treasure trove of luxury merchandise, distinctive gifts and everyday wear.

“We do bra fitting and we carry large ranges of sizing,” said owner Karen Richardson. “We have lots of bras, underwear, pajamas, robes, slippers, and we do lots of gifts.”

 The store opened its doors on Antioch Street more than 10 years ago, eventually moving to its current location on Swarthmore Avenue. “Originally, it was opened by Denise Mangimelli, who owns Boca,” said Richardson. “I worked for her part time in sales. I ended up buying it from her, because she was going to close it and open a men’s store. I bought the store from her in 1999.”

From celebrities such as Heidi Montag and Melissa Rivers to local regulars, Intima prides itself on providing one-on-one assistance to its customers, expert fittings and offering top quality name brands.

“We carry Cosabello, Eberjey, Elle McPherson, Hanky Panky, Mary Green, Bed Head and Flirt,” said manager Kathlyn Qualey. In addition, the store caters to women of all ages, including underwear and pajamas for young girls. The friendly, inviting atmosphere makes shopping there fun and easy for both sexes, especially around the holidays and Feb. 14. “For Valentine’s Day we’re doing a lot of Hanky Panky—the most popular thong in America—personalized with names or Valentine sayings,” said Qualey. Plus, customers should keep watch for special sale items the weekend before Valentine’s Day.

Another excellent source for intimate apparel is Special Moments on Via De La Paz. Owner Amelia (“Mely”) Parmalee hails from Turin, Italy, where she transitioned from designing evening and wedding gowns to opening her first store, Mely boutique, in Milan.

But like something out of a sweeping romance novel, her life would change dramatically upon meeting future husband Tim Parmalee, an opera singer studying music in Italy. Parmalee, who was born in Pacific Palisades, eventually brought his bride back to Southern California. Mely acknowledges that her new hometown required some cultural adjustment.

“I come from a big city, so when I would come here on vacation, to meet my future in-laws, it felt like a small town,” she said. While Tim taught music in Los Angeles schools, Mely continued her love for selling bridal clothes by opening La Esposa ("The Bride") in the early 1980s, and then followed with Special Moments in 1988.

“After 25 years, we have so many customers,” she said. “Some come every month. They come from Malibu, Marina del Rey and the Palisades.”

She credits her success to three important aspects. “My inventory is elegant, very good quality and good prices,” she said. Mely carries some exquisite brands, including, Natori, Oscar de la Renta, Priamo, Dana Profili, Artro, La Cera, Stellina and Frou Frou. In addition to stylish foreign merchandise, she also supplies popular, reasonably priced American lingerie labels.

“We only have good quality, using cotton, silk and microfibers,” she said.

In addition to a loyal female following, male customers frequent her store on special occasions.

“Men come into the store for Mother’s Day, Christmas and Valentine’s Day,” she said. “They like to buy a lot of white. You’d think black, but no.”

Like Intima, Special Moments is showcasing a romantic array of Valentine’s Day-themed gifts.

Whatever your heart desires, there’s a good chance you’ll find something lovely at these two excellent lingerie stores.

is located at 1027 Swarthmore Ave. (310-573-3794) and is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

is located at 873 Via De La Paz (310-454-8199) and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.