Save 65% off retail prices for all Discontinued Items at Mary Green -including this Dear Santa silk knit boyshorts gift set. You get 7 knickers in 7 different color combinations, each embroidered with a different request (Santa bring me: a puppy, diamonds, love…) reg. $123, now only $43, perfect for early Christmas shoppers. Sale lasts from May 28th to June 6th and all sales are final.

Save up to 60% during Underwear Options Clearance Sale. You’ll find designer lingerie from Janet Reger, Aubade, Ritratti and more. The Aubade’s Baiser Brulant demi-cup bra and tanga set was $165 now it’s $80. They also offer free shipping -within the U.S., for all orders over $100.

And BeCheeky is giving away something truly from Sex and the City. What would Samantha wear? The infamous Bracli Mallorcan pearls thong, that’s what. 10 lucky winners will receive their own pearl thong (a £35/$70 value), so enter now. If your luck is like mine don’t fret, you can still get a free pair of boyshorts with a purchase of £35 or more and free shipping -within the U.K., for purchases over £50. And of course don’t forget to take a peek at their Sale Page where you can save up to 70% off designer lingerie from Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers, Madame V, Damaris and more.

Today I’m reviewing Kiki de Montparnasse and East 13. Alas, I didn’t make it to Coco de Mer (co-owned by Dave Stewart -of the Eurythmics) maybe next time.

I probably caught Kiki de Montparnasse on a bad day, because per Yelp Los Angeles, I should have been greeted with a glass of champagne. Instead it was 100 degrees, no air conditioner and next to no service, the salesperson did offered me a glass of water. Unfortunately, she didn’t know much about the stock or the KdM line -like who designed their corsets (Cadolle) or whether a rack of clothing was vintage (it wasn’t). The store manager ignored me, probably frustrated by the non-functioning AC. Sadly I left without anything . On the upside Kiki has a beautiful shop and patio, they carry several pair of Strumpet & Pink knickers -absolutely divine, the Paul Seville laser-cut masks are decadent and their website sale page allows mere mortals to actually own a bit of high-end kink. Right now most things are half price, but there should be an end of summer sale shortly where you will see prices marked down by 75% like they did back in January. I will probably stop by again if I’m in the area, just to see if it was an off day.

East 13 was much larger and nicer than I expected -I only had their website to base my opinion. They have large beautiful dressing rooms, lots of lovely pieces and the Vagin Pouvoir Sale ($55 a set), but once again trying to engage the salesperson wasn’t easy, once I did, she determined the Elle MacPherson line was best for me -oblivious to my bust size or the sizes available for that brand. As for Vagin Pouvoir the designs are beautiful but, sadly, the fit is just ok which was a bit disappointing -originally these sets were $500. I didn’t buy anything at East 13 but it’s worth a visit, especially if you like to shop -E. Colorado Blvd is wonderful, so you will come away with something eventually. If you’re not in the area do check out their great sales page and additional online discounts.

What I’ve learned so far is that customer service is what separate the boutiques in business from the ones going out of business. They can’t compete with big box stores like T.J. Maxx Runway or Neiman Marcus Last Call as far as prices are concerned. Selection helps a lot -though I saw past seasons stock selling at current seasons prices, but service is key. A knowledgeable staff, excited about lingerie will make a sale, it was the difference between Faire Frou Frou and East 13.