Life, The Universe, And Underwear
Virtuous Bread, Wednesday 24 August 2011
Have you ever been shopping for a bra on an industrial estate?
No? Me neither. Funny that. Yet, last week I found myself driving through Wimbledon, through South Wimbledon, and through Merton to find an industrial estate on which, I was told, is a lovely bra shop called Eloise. ‘Benefits,’ I thought, ‘I will be able to park there.’ ‘Concerns,’ I thought, ‘I wish I knew what a bra shop was doing on an industrial estate.’
I still don’t know what a bra shop is doing on an industrial estate. I can only think it has something to do with keeping costs down. What I do know is that its location should not put you off. Once you get there and get in, the shop is lovely. Big and light, plenty of space in the changing rooms, great selection (including swimming costumes), and kind, knowledgeable staff. I was met by Sylvia who is a font of information about life, the universe, and underwear. In a relaxed environment that includes a seating area for husbands or friends, coffee, tea, and magazines, Sylvia brought me about 8 different bras, some of which I would never have picked up. They were whisked on and off again in a professional and experienced manner, their merits discussed, tried with and without clothes (you MUST try them with a top on to see what shape they actually give) and paired with lovely knickers. I encourage anyone in SW London in need of a new bra – either through change of breast size, boredom, maternity, breast cancer, or simply because your bras and knickers are a sad and faded shade of beige or grey and you are on the last row of hooks and the straps are pretty shot – should run to visit Eloise.
New undies in bag, I drove home again to meet with Alice stylist and owner of Dress with Confidence who was coming to do a wardrobe declutter. I prepared for this session by generally tidying up and taking the more obviously tired bits of clothing to Oxfam. I thought Alice would come and give me a lecture on being more organized: arranging my clothes in colour order and folding my t shirts more neatly so that I could ‘find everything and create a capsule wardrobe’. I was skeptical because any tidiness in my life is short lived. Good intentions and all that.
I was wrong. The session with Alice was great – seriously great. Practical and helpful and – yes – confidence building. And I will tell you all about that next time!
Virtuous Bread is an SW London transplant from Canada. A former partner in a strategy consulting firm, she has become a baker, a writer, and a social entrepreneur, founder of Virtuous Bread.
