Tina Dunlop has already made one client cry since opening Shalari Boutique Lingerie in Greytown – because she was doing such a fantastic job.
“It was the mother of a 17 year old who was starting to develop a bit of a complex about her double F bust,” says Tina. A cheap, ill-fitting bra meant that her chest had become the first thing people noticed about her.
Tina has seven years of experience as a bra fitter. During her private fittings, a sign goes on the door, so that the client – who may wish to bring a friend or family member - will not be disturbed. Tina fitted the girl with the right bra, and her posture and proportions improved immediately, revealing a slim waist she didn’t know she had. Her mother burst into tears and her daughter was thrilled.
“This is my ‘warm fuzzy’,” says Tina, “and I see it with a lot of women who come into the shop. It’s about celebrating being feminine, which I think starts with lingerie.”
Mass-produced bras may fit well initially but often stretch and sag after the first few weeks. A simple test tells you whether you are wearing the right bra: if there are any noticeable pressure points digging in, you’re not! “The pressure should be equal right around you,” says Tina. “The quality UK and European lingerie I stock, with good care and rotation, will last well over a year. That can be shorter if the client won’t take their purchase off, because it feels so good and they can’t do without out it!”
Tina rarely uses a tape measure. Her trained eye determines the woman’s size, and notes where she carries weight on her upper torso - both important in choosing the right brand and style.
The synergy between Shalari, and Greytown Health & Fitness Studio next door, which she runs with partner Buck, is obvious: “It’s about getting the foundation right,” says Tina. “Then you feel special, and you project what you feel. As we say, its what’s underneath that matters.”
She is looking forward to staging some fun, ‘girlie’ events in the secluded courtyard of her cute, colonial shop this summer. “This is very much a passion for me.”
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