Off the Rack is off for the long weekend this week, so look for a new post from Leah next Friday.
My latest foray into swimsuit and everyday bra shopping has highlighted some physical features that make a positive difference to the customer experience. After seeing these, I hope you’ll share what your favorite stores have done to make sure your time with them is a good one.
First, does your store have sheer fabric at its doors and windows that lets the light in while keeping inquiring eyes out? Until I paraded back and forth from the dressing room to where my mother was sitting in Sea Cup and Up, I never even considered this as an advantage, but I loved being able to move around so unselfconsciously. (It would have been different if there had been male customers in the store, but while I was there, we had the whole place to ourselves.)
Second, does the spacious dressing room with feminine touches also have a little fan to keep you cool? Even though Sea Cup and Up was the perfect temperature inside, we all know what hard work bra shopping can be. This little fan kept me fresh for the entire experience.
Next up is the Town Shop, which I discovered had just moved into its new space this past Tuesday!
July 9 Edit: After publishing my post on July 5, I realized I’d gotten ahead of myself in my enthusiasm to write about the changes at Town Shop. They’re still in their soft launch stage, so writing about them now is like reviewing a Broadway show while it’s still in rehearsals. If you’re in town, however, definitely pay a visit. And be prepared to want to spend! The calmer feeling in their dressing rooms, the different departments (a veritable lingerie department store!) and the luxury of space made me want to try and buy everything.
I love to look at stores with vibrant colors and all household item stores wheter they are kitch, modern or country romantic but prefer online shopping in general, especially when it comes to clothes. Dislike all stores with pushy sales people and they quickly make me want to leave and not buy anything.
I like the little touches that show the store isn’t a cookie cutter store like VS- there was one store my mom and I would day trip to that participated in or hosted a fantasy lingerie contest fundraiser for breast cancer. Different bras would sit behind the counter- I remember one was pirate themed with treasure chests over the cups, and little gems and coins with netting sewn about. Definitely non-wearable but neat to see all the same.
BTW- Darlene, did you make it to any stores in the DC area when you guys were down last? I think you mentioned you were thinking about it but I can’t recall.
Sorry for the late reply, Katie. I didn’t make it to the DC area stores . . . we spent most of our time at the Newseum. Have you been to any that you’d like to review here???
That’s the thing- I actually need to find one. I’ve been ordering online, which is great for 3-piece where I can get a good idea from the construction how it will fit but I need a good moulded/tshirt type and that means I need to try on a couple brands since I’m just not happy with the Deco and some others I’ve tried. You would think that with the metro the size it is, there should be a couple- I might need to expand my search up closer to Baltimore.
Yes. I’d love for you to try Bralala and to report back on it.
Hmm… they are close to my fall internship. I might have to schedule in a stop after work one day.