You Can Get Anything You Want at Alice Rae's

Dorothy has been telling me to visit Alice Rae Fine Intimate Apparel since my first trip to Tucson.  I finally made it, although in drab.

My problem with intimate apparel shops is, they're usually outside my price range.  I know quality lingerie, like quality wigs, is expensive.  I just hate going into a shop where I know I'm out of my price range.

I was looking for serious shapewear.  They seem to focus on bras; more on that in a moment.

I made it clear I was looking for items for myself.  Terry, who was behind the counter, had no problem with that at all.

I saw one interesting corset ~ it was a heavy material, the better to swear off the inches, and could be put on by one person.  There were two rows of eyes for the heavy-duty hooks so as you shrunk your waist you could go to the second set.  Terry offered to let me try it on, so I did.  She suggested a small might work.

It didn't.  I could close one hook on the bottom and that was IT.  They had no larger sizes at the moment.

I also tried a shaping camisole, so tight that it had to be pulled up instead of over my head.  It did a good job of pulling in my tummy but it also emphasised the fact that I have NO hips at all.  Without a bust, I looked like I was stuffed into a sausage wrapping.

Camisoles and shapewear where on racks in the front of the store.  As I was looking around I did notice one padded panty, but I forgot to follow up on that.  I have one, but it's kind of unsatisfactory and I'd like to try something else, maybe with hip pads as well as butt pads.

I mentioned that I'd like to look for a bra, but I'd need my forms.  She pointed out a series of bras that all have pockets for pads.  I told her Victoria's Secret measured me and said I was a 42-B but I generally wore a 38-C and closed it to the smallest band I could.  She measured me and suggested I might even be a 36, but in that case I'd need a D.  (Victoria's Secret doesn't even carry 40 and above and the saleslady tried to sell me a 38, even though she just told me I was a 42.)

Bras seemed to be in the $50 range, which I think is reasonable, even though it's probably twice what I normally pay.  I get the double advantage of personal service and helping a small business.  I'd rather shop at an Alice Rae than a Victoria's Secret.

It was now approaching closing time and I still had to check in and locate Crossroads, where I had agreed to meet Andrea.

And after I left, I realised I did something really stupid.

Since I hadn't checked in yet, my pads and everything else were in the car.  I probably wouldn't try the dress over the pads and new bra (in the shop) but I could have tried on the bra and pads and seen how they fit and how it looked.  The store was mostly devoid of customers; it wouldn't have been a big deal since I hadn't hidden what I wanted at all.

Stupid stupid stupid.

Next trip, I'll stop by before I dress if after I dress it'll be too late, and I'll have my pads with me.

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I'm A What?

In response to yesterday's post, Pat commented that I crossed another bridge.  You ain't seen nothing yet, Pat!

Maybe I was feeling more comfortable as Meg.  Maybe I walked past a paint store and the fumes got me high.  Whatever it was, I was just... comfortable.  I felt I was Meg, not playing Meg.  I know I have a long way to go, but I think it's like that hurdle when you're not translating a language you're learning ~ your brain just understands it.

I didn't care about the woman grinning at me on the way in.  I didn't care about the guy in the jewelry store.  I wasn't playing a part, I was the (female) customer and he could play or not play his part as he saw fit.

Maybe it was the great experience with the woman in the first jewelry store.  Maybe I was high from that.

Whatever it was, I did something I've thought about but never have done.

I was asked the "can I help you?" question in this particular store, and I no matter what I rehearsed, I said "I'm just looking around, thank you."  Even when she'd come back with "just let me know if I can help" or "if you buy two, you get one free" or whatever the follow-up du jour was, I just nodded and said "thank you."

This time, when the saleslady in Victoria's Secret said "can I help you find something?" my brain said "I'm just looking" but my mouth said "I wanted to look at bras, but I'm never sure what size to get."

If she was surprised, she didn't show it.  I hope I didn't show my surprise at asking!

She shrugged and said "I can measure you."  She pulled a tape measure out from somewhere and asked me to raise my arms.  I did so, and before I could even think to move my purse strap, she had taken her two measurements and she told me that they no longer carried my size.  I was a 42B!  Huh?  OK, I know I have little idea as to what I'm doing, but I've been wearing 38C for a while.  It seems to fit well and look right.  I think if I wore a 42B I'd look tiny, bustwise.

She said they started carrying more styles and stopped carrying 40+ bras.  She said I could wear a 38B if I used the loosest band size.  She then proceeded to find all of the 38Bs (there weren't many) and left the each drawer open so I could see what they had.  There were some I liked, and I wondered if the padding would help push up what I had without forcing the forms into public view, but I didn't think I should buy a bra that I was just told wasn't really the right size.

The saleswoman flitted around, showing me what they had and then she... disappeared.  I think another customer came in and she had to greet her, and she figured she did all she could with me.

I did not buy.  But I do want to get a second opinion, and I will, on another day.  If only that lingerie store was open later!

42B?  Really?

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