Featuring ~ Barbara’s New Beginnings

Submitted by: Barbara Gilbert, Owner of Barbara’s New Beginnings in Indianapolis & Fort Wayne, Indiana 

The idea for Barbara’s New Beginnings first came to me when I was in the hospital due to a congenital pancreas illness. On the surgical floor, many of my fellow patients were recovering from mastectomies. They confided in me that they didn’t know where to go after surgery to feel feminine and whole again. I was bedridden for two years, but knew I needed to get well so I could open a lingerie store where ALL women could find their best fit.

As I recovered from my illness over the next year, I took hours of fitting classes and met with insurance companies to learn the coverage process. I knew I wanted have the shop, but I was still unsure of where it would be. The retail space I wanted was unavailable, and the furniture I wanted was beyond my budget.

Then everything started to come together. While furniture shopping, I received a call telling  me that the space I wanted had suddenly become available. When the manager of the furniture store heard my plan, she discounted the furniture so I could afford it. She was recovering from a bilateral mastectomy herself, and was happy to help me. I knew right then that I was supposed to do this.

When Barbara’s New Beginnings finally opened, word spread quickly. Women visited the shop and became my friends. This was 13 years ago. I started the store with 400 square feet with myself as the sole employee. Now there are two stores- one in Fort Wayne at 4,200 square feet and one in Indianapolis at 2,000 square feet.

Today, we fit women of all sizes (AAA-N cup) and from all walks of life and have so much fun making them happy!  Our customers have become more fashion-forward: open to more vivid color and print options in matching bra-and-panty sets, layering brighter pieces under smooth half-camisoles and peekaboo tops. We’ve expanded our swimwear ranges per customer request, offering more options and size ranges year-round. We’ve enjoyed the popularity of retro Hollywood-style high-waist panties and gorgeous European lace bras with rich color and detail. The feminine look is bold and beautiful here in the Midwest!

I adore color, so our stores are bright and welcoming, FUN and feminine! Aside from our eye-catching bust sculptures (of which we own more than a dozen, purchased at auction to benefit our local Cancer Services) our store has chandeliers, new French white-lacquered furniture, custom upholstered chairs,  and art pieces by local artisans.

I love owning a shop that carries lingerie to make any woman feel beautiful! I’ve trained my staff well (with 90 days of training before a fitter can fit on her own) to find the best choices for each woman while making her feel special and pampered.  As the stores grow, I take any opportunity I can to give back to the community: donating bras to women’s shelters and halfway houses, connecting with others in helping professions and those starting new charities that need support.

Barbara’s New Beginnings located at:
4705 Illinois Rd. Suite  108, Fort Wayne, IN.
8635 River Crossing Blvd, Indianapolis, IN