With Easter, formals, proms, weddings, graduations, and all sorts of spring and summer occasions upon us, dress-shopping season is here. I felt it start the other day when a woman came in, dress slung over her arm, looking for a strapless to wear under a low-cut black number she’s wearing to a wedding in a couple of weeks. Do you have an event coming up? Is your daughter going to the Prom? Wondering where to shop for a dress in Manchester? Allow me to suggest bra shop neighbors Zippy Chicks and Apricot Lane!
Ellen at Zippy Chicks always knows what’s up when it comes to fashion and style. I took a spin down there (ZC is located right downstairs from the bra shop) yesterday. Because it’s a consignment shop, Zippy Chicks always has a new selection of one-of-a kind clothing.
Ellen has started adding “boutique buyouts” to the mix, which means she goes to boutiques that might 
have a size or two left in a style and “buys them out,” brings them to Manchester, and sells them at Zippy Chicks. These items are #NWT – New With Tags – and priced way below retail. I was impressed by the #NWT rack full of formal wear right when you walk in the door. If you are looking for a statement dress, give this rack a look! Looking for a pair of dressy heels? There’s a whole rack of shoes #NIB – New In Box. At 60-75% off retail, these are a steal for one-shot events like proms and weddings.
If you’re looking for something less formal than a gown, Zippy Chicks has that too. I found the dress section of the store chock full of all sizes and levels of “dressiness” with a combination of consigned items and more #NWT, including some great what I like to call “resort wear,” perfect for vacation.
Apricot Lane is new to the bra shop neighborhood and is located where the Banana Republic used to be. This large “boutique” is full of just about all clothes styles you and your daughter might be looking for with dresses being high profile, especially this week. Through Easter, all dresses are 20% off…and…they are having a special “Prom and Occasions” event on Wednesday from 5-7 pm where all dresses are 30-60% off!
Shop associate Linda took me on a tour of the dress selection yesterday. Lots of colors (yellow, red, blue, etc), lots of lengths (short/cute especially) and lots of choices for as Linda described it, “all occasions” vs. “special occasions” which I thought was kind of clever. Whether it’s prom, graduation, Easter, spring wedding, formal, etc etc, Apricot Lane sure has been a great addition to town for dress shopping and they also have coordinating accessories like shoes and jewelry. They’ve invited me to come over to the event on 
Wednesday and bring some dress “solutions” like strapless bras, “sticky boobs,” and slips. I’ll have a little rack set up and maybe can help that dress sing with some underthings consulting!
YES to dress shopping in Manchester. See you around the neighborhood. And, of course, if you or you daughter have found that perfect dress, but it could use the right bra, slip, or other underthings…come see us at JOY all things underthings. We love helping figure these things out. Bring the dress!
Dress on!
xo Joy
Joy Proft is the owner of JOY all things underthings in Manchester Center and never hesitates to wear a dress. She found this off-the-shoulder one back in 1978 when she entered her first beauty pageant. She didn’t win, but boy did she feel spectacular in that dress.
