The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria

The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria

Nina had been in before, but this time in she walked with a dress on its hanger draped oh so gingerly over her arm.  The dress had that “this is special” look about it.  We could tell by the plastic.  “I think I need a strapless,” she announced. We looked up Nina’s customer file (or […]

Sidewalk Sale 360

Sidewalk Sale 360

Manchester’s Sidewalk Sales started today.  It’s an annual tradition here where the retailers in this gorgeous town of ours pull sale racks to the outside of our stores and the shoppers have a field day with great discounts.  As a shopper, I get it, who doesn’t love a sale?  As a retail shop owner, I have […]

“What’s up with the Barbies?”

“What’s up with the Barbies?”

It’s one of the most-asked questions at the shop and one of my favorite stories to tell. If you’ve been to the shop, you probably have noticed that we have a bowlful of Barbies and a Barbie chandelier. Here’s what’s up. Before we opened four years ago, I went shopping for furniture and other decorations for […]

Fairy Tale Blue

Fairy Tale Blue

I didn’t know a lot about a lot of things when I opened this business four years ago. For example, I didn’t know anything about decorating a retail shop. Lucky for me, I had an interior designer friend named Amy Thebault. In early June of 2013, Amy met me at my empty, white-walled, and not-yet-opened […]

Working for the Weekend

Working for the Weekend

Ah, weekends in June. I don’t have to tell you that they don’t just come together without a lot of preparation. Graduations, bridal showers, weddings, birthdays…we’ve heard all about them all this week! The shop has been abuzz with women needing this or that for special events. It’s been fun!  Bring it on, summer.  In […]

For the Birds

For the Birds

I’ve become obsessed with birds. It started last Saturday when I walked into the bird store. I was immediately immersed in bird-dom. My life hasn’t been the same since. “You know what I mean?” I heard a woman say in the back. “I know exactly what you mean,” I heard a man respond. “I’ll show […]

“That’s so beautiful.”

“That’s so beautiful.”

She walked in nervously and approached the counter and said, “My son is getting married.  I hate bra shopping.  I need a bra.” To top off that introduction she added, “…and my sister says I need Spanx.” By the time we were in the dressing room, I learned that she was no longer married to […]

(Today’s!) Top 5 Reasons I’m Encouraged to Own a Little Bra Shop

(Today’s!) Top 5 Reasons I’m Encouraged to Own a Little Bra Shop

If you have been following the news about retail lately, you might be wondering why anyone would be encouraged to be the owner of a brick and mortar retail store. Just yesterday, there were several reports that department and chain stores such as Macy’s, Sears, and J.C. Penney are closing hundreds of locations due to […]

We the Fitters of Boots and Brassieres…

We the Fitters of Boots and Brassieres…

My friend Stephanie and I were chatting on a sidebar at our book club a couple months ago about our jobs.  She’s a ski boot fitter and I’m a bra fitter.  I casually mentioned that I wondered if fitting ski boots was kind of like fitting bras, to which Stephanie declared, “It’s EXACTLY like fitting bras!”  I decided […]

Let Me Tell You About Anita

Let Me Tell You About Anita

Anita is a company. It’s a brand (with a co-brand named Rosa Faia) that we’ve carried at the shop since Day 1. I can’t entirely remember who first told us about Anita, but when we were looking for bras to sell, Anita responded right away by sending Alice up to talk to us. Alice was, […]