Over 20 years ago, Tessa Brand bought The Dressing Room on Quiet Street in Bath and has continued the shop’s tradition of selling the very finest in lingerie, beach and nightwear to loyal customers and new friends alike.
The Dressing Room is nothing short of an institution in the city. The original shop opened in 1985 and Tessa took on the business in 2003 – and it has not only survived, but thrived in the face of a global pandemic – not to mention online shopping. But you can’t get expertly measured for a bra on a website, can you?
“I often say to customers – and I’m only half joking – that really good, well-fitting underwear is addictive,” says Tessa. “Once you’ve tried on something that is so comfortable, so supportive and so well made, it’s hardly surprising that you would want to come back for more at some point.”
The lingerie brands at The Dressing Room (with the exception of one entry-point make) are all made by hand, with the overall development – from design onwards – taking about 18 months. “There are 47 different pieces which go into making one bra, four different thread types and 32 different stitching movements. The underwires are all padded and rarely felt”, says Tessa.
The shop also offers beachwear and nightwear and as with the lingerie, there is a fitting service for beachwear, with sizes ranging from 10 to 22 and A to G cups. “It’s so important that a woman feels comfortable, both physically and mentally, when she is choosing a swimsuit (for example) and we will often be able to direct her purely because of our knowledge of a brand’s style, fit and length and this can be very reassuring.”
Tessa hasn’t always been in the retail industry. After serving in the Royal Navy after leaving school, she moved to Aston Martin’s head office under the leadership of Victor Gauntlett, so it’s no wonder that she hunts out the best for her customers and can spot quality from a mile off.
The personal level of service and enthusiasm for the craftmanship brings people back year after year. “I have customers who’ve been shopping with us for more than 30 years,” Tessa says, “but most days we’ll still get someone in who’s never been through the door before and I really love that.”
dressingroombath.com
Main photograph by Joe Short, an award-winning photographer based in Bath. joeshort.com