For more than 50 years, Petticoat Fair has been the go-to shop for bra fittings and intimate apparel. It started with a couple of dress shops. “All the women would ask what to wear underneath,” says Kali Andrews, the granddaughter of founders Bob and Betty Andrews. “One day, my grandparents thought, ‘Hmm, we should open a store dedicated to undergarments.’ Once they did, Petticoat Fair began to outsell all their dress shops, so they closed them to focus on it.”
Recently, Petticoat Fair has added sleepwear, swimwear, clothing, and accessories to its collections, says Andrews, whose main role is buying and merchandising for the store. We asked her to tell us more about the styles available this season.
Swimwear
Made to Last
“Swimwear is one of my favorite departments to buy for,” Andrews says. “I get to have a lot of fun with styles, trends, cover-ups, hats, bags, and resort wear, so when you’re shopping for your next vacation, you can get everything you need right here. SHAN, one of our higher end Canadian brands, is what we like to call the little black dress of swimwear. Stylish, classic, made to last, it’s a fan favorite every year. We also carry Miraclesuit, Elomi, Freya, Fantasie, Panache, L*Space, Seafolly, and many other boutique brands.”
Clothing
Favorites for Fall
“A lot of our clothing comes from lingerie and swim brands,” Andrews says. “With sustainable, luxurious fabrics, these pieces are made to last. We try to carry clothing pieces that are multifaceted. In the Fall, we focus on the coziest sweaters, leggings, pants, and jackets from brands such as UGG, Commando, PJ Salvage, Beach Riot & L*space. As our ready-to-wear department grows, the options and brands are endless. Being a small business, we love hearing suggestions from our customers about what they’d like to see in the future!”
Fittings
Generations of Service
“What we are known for is professional bra fittings,” Andrews says. “The techniques we use have been passed down from my grandmother who, in the 60s, attended corseting school, which focused on anatomy and how a bra should fit. We keep all our bra stock in a back fitting room, so you work one-on-one with a fitter who will measure you and bring you the best options based on your size and what you’re looking for.”
Style
For Every Age
“We are a one-stop generational shop,” Andrews says. “We carry styles for every age range, from pre-teens to grandmothers. With over 100 brands and thousands of bras in stock, we can help you find what you’re looking for whether it’s an everyday bra, wedding lingerie, or your daughter’s first ‘real’ bra fitting. Not only do we have a huge selection of bras, but we also have the largest selection of swimwear in DFW.”