Submitted by Erica L. Windle, owner of A Sophisticated Pair in Burlington, North Carolina
For years, I hated bras—a funny statement coming from the proprietor of a lingerie boutique. My experiences bra shopping were nightmarish and traumatizing, sometimes reducing me to tears, but when you’re 17 and needing a UK 30H—a size I, like most other people, had no idea existed, the options are scarce. I was forced to settle … Read More
Submitted by Kimberly Berger, owner of Lion’s Lair Boutique in Islamorada, Florida
I started Lion’s Lair as an airbrush artist, painting on everything from motorcycles to murals to t-shirts to swimwear. Due to the store’s tropical location, hand painted swimwear became a very popular item. In 1996 as a 26 year old, DDD-cup entrepreneur, I quickly realized that I wasn’t the only one that didn’t fit in mainstream sizes and … Read More
Submitted by Lisa Feller owner and partner with Roberta Zahl of Dusty Rose in New City & RyeBrook, NY
Opening a small business is different today as compared to when my mom, Roberta, opened Dusty Rose 34 years ago, but the backbone of a mom and pop store remains unchanged. There is more to opening a store than filling it with merchandise and waiting for shoppers to come in to … Read More
Submitted by Molly Hopkins & Cynthia Decker, co-owners of LiviRae Lingerie in Kennesaw, Georgia. “Cynthia and I met while working together in a lingerie store in Atlanta, Georgia a few years ago. That was really what started our friendship, our desire to help women. After some time at the lingerie store, we both became top sales producers and realized we had done everything that we felt we could do … Read More
Submitted by Jenette Goldstein owner of Jenette Bras in Los Angeles & Pasadena, California
I opened Jenette Bras in 2009 in an old working-class neighborhood in Los Angeles called East Hollywood. I found a great 1920’s storefront, formerly Pak-Am Stationery (for all your Pakistani-American office supply needs) in a sort of off-center bohemian district of bike shops, junk stores and small theaters. It was cheaper than prime shopping district space … Read More
Submitted by Janice Welch, owner of Just For You Fine Lingerie in Waterloo, Ontario
I have always had a passion for lingerie from a very early age; my first set I ever bought at 18 was electric blue (it was the 80s lol) with matching garter. I dreamed of owning my own lingerie store but never in a million years thought it would be a reality. I’m an English girl … Read More
Submitted by Bekah Anderson, owner of The Fitting Room in Grayslake, Illinois
After stumbling upon a part-time job at a lingerie boutique in 2006, I almost instantly fell in love with doing bra fittings. At the time, I hadn’t thought it would turn into a career… but I quickly found a deep passion for helping women feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. 6 ½ years later, I opened … Read More
