Features

Celebrating curves since 1932

Dor-ne Corset Shoppe

BY MARJORIE CLARKSON
PHOTOS BY JULIE WIATT

Girls and women from nine to 96, with curves and contours of all shapes and sizes, know the Dor-Ne Corset Shoppe in Silver Spring. They know it because they go there to be fitted for bras that will make their breasts look larger or smaller, or rounder or pointier, or cuter or firmer, or some combination thereof, all while eliminating the discomfort of the ill-fitting brassiere.

"I find out what you want, what color, what design, what attracts, and the right size," owner Zina Leshchiner explains. "The perfect size."

Washington women have shopped at Dor-Ne since 1932, according to Zina, who bought the business in 1995 when it was still located at 9th and F streets in northwest Washington.

She moved the shop to 8126 Georgia Avenue in 2001, when the city block where the store stood was slated for redevelopment. She had lived in Silver Spring for 25 years and thought it would be an excellent place for shopping. She also chose a suburban location because parking is important to her customers. (The shop offers free parking.)

The business' fortunes since moving to Silver Spring have been "positive, absolutely," Zina says. "We did not unpack yet when a customer came in to ask, 'fit me for a bra.'"

Corsets are not just undergarments belonging to those early generations of Dor-Ne shoppers. The lace-up corsets displayed in the store are big sellers and "always in style," according to Zina. One style, the Lady Marlene–a satiny black corset that looks sweetly old-fashioned yet naughty–has been wowing customers for decades.

Even brides love corsets, and they are a big part of the store's business. Zina and her staff always advise brides-to-be to bring their wedding gowns to the shop so the corsets can be fitted perfectly to the shape of the wearer and her dress.

A lacy baby-blue bra and frilly red garter belt displayed behind the counter whet the appetite of those who desire color and flair in lingerie. But whose appetite are the pretty lacy things supposed to stimulate–the wearer or the viewer? Do women buy for themselves or their men?"

"Women buy for men," Zina said with a smile. "They say 'he likes this' or 'he loves that.'"

I wondered if the gorgeous red satin mules with feathery pom-poms I saw on display would be fun to wear if no man saw them on me. You can also buy rhinestone tiaras, costume jewelry, and white evening gloves.

Strapless bras are the biggest sellers in the store, particularly the long-line ones that give tummy support. Comfort and support are critical design elements in bras for fuller busted women, a group the store specializes in serving. A minimizing bra, the Edith Lances brand, offers a size range from 34 C to 44 H. The store carries even larger bra sizes, the largest a 52 J. The store also sells swimsuits, filmy negligees, and peignoir sets designed expressly for large and extra-large sizes.

"It is important for women not to be intimidated by skinny girls," Zina believes.

Because the Dor-Ne Shoppe has been in business for so long, it has many loyal customers. It does not need to rely on holiday sales to guarantee an annual profit. Valentine's Day may bring in a few male customers who will buy a gift, or more often a gift certificate, for their sweethearts. But word-of-mouth, not walk-ins or holiday buying, has kept this store in business for over 70 years.

The day I visited the store, an older couple came in. The man sat down on a chair next to the counter and his wife walked slowly back to the dressing room, accompanied by a saleswoman.

In a few minutes, both women emerged from the dressing room, the saleswoman holding up a garter belt, which her customer had just chosen to buy. The customer came to Dor-Ne because her sister-in-law used to go to the F Street location.

After a scheduled operation, she said, she would come back to do more shopping.