Avec Plaisir

You may consider lingerie as pretty under-apparel that makes you feel exotic, romantic and sexy. While it should make you feel all these things there’s a little more to it than that. To Vasilia Panagakos, owner of fine lingerie store, Avec Plaisir, foundation garments are as day-to-day as bread and butter or a walk in the park and for all the right reasons. “I think that people often forget that the purpose of lingerie is to enhance the outfit you are wearing,” she says. “Do you like close fitting clothing or loose folds? Each type needs different lingerie.”

Vasilia learned from her mother, who took a great deal of care deciding which slip her daughter should wear under a particular skirt or dress. “My mom would select the undergarments according to the fabric of my clothing,” Vasilia recalls. “She was really particular.” Having grown up with her mother and aunts giving prime importance to undergarments, the lingerie business came as second nature to Vasilia. “They dressed from the inside out,” she says. “They would always wear clothing that suited what they were wearing underneath so it looked its best.”

That’s not to say that Vasilia’s stock isn’t as beautiful as it is practical. Lines like La Perla, Chrsities, Eres and Prima Donna delight ladies of all shapes and sizes (she stocks A to H cups). You’ll also find high-end swimwear, hosiery and sleepwear here. “If it’s not good quality, we won’t stock it,” says Vasilia.