Charming friends,

We are walking on a pink fluffy cloud of Gladsome right now because we are realising one of our happiest dreams - to own our own little frock shop where we can purvey beautiful things, hold our Salons, enjoy the company of gorgeous customers and generally relax and have a wonderful time.

The Darling Sisters shop, may we say, is exactly what we wanted - a peaceful, safe and cosy place where everybody is welcome. It is a true little haven of girly-girly retro peace and tranquility with the added pleasure of Chap's Corner, where the gentlemen can relax in sixties gentlemanly comfort and enjoy leafing through a retro magazine or amusing book while the ladies take their time in the cosy boudoir change room. (Chap's Corner has been in high demand already - as has the Boudoir.)

One of our greatest dreams for the shop, however, may take a little longer to properly realise. Basically we want to be able to supply any lady who walks in the door with something that will fit her and make her feel happy. This is a big ask, we realise - humans naturally come in every shape and size imaginable and getting mere clothing to fit every body is challenging. But we can try, can't we?

At the moment we can get sizes 6 to 34 - not by any means the full range of sizing but we think it's a fair start, at least until we expand enough to have a lot more in stock. We may not be able to get every size in every range, and we may not be able to keep every size in stock all the time (to begin with). But we can order in any size that is available in each brand, and we only stock brands that do more sizes across the range - not to mention stocking a variety of brands to cover the different sizes. Ordering doesn't generally take long and we think it's worth it to be certain you can get what you want.

It has been a bit sad that in our very first weekend of opening, we must have heard dozens of women - gorgeous, perfect, fabulous women of all shapes and sizes - say disparaging things about their own bodies when trying on frocks. Almost as though the fault of not fitting lies with the person and not the frock, which is of course quite incorrect.

Of course we say this type of thing, as women. Society tries to convince us in every way imaginable that our bodies are on display and available for comment (although they categorically are not). And ads, especially, tell us in every way imaginable that no matter how conventionally 'good' our bodies are, they will never be good enough. Given that it is normal and natural for humans to be all kinds of different shapes, it is unsurprising that we have learned to fear and blame our own bodies for not conforming to the (often created on Photoshop) very narrow standard that prevails in the media. We tend to put ourselves down as a form of apology for not meeting a standard that simply cannot and will not ever be met by most of us.

At the Darling Sisters we reject this. We like people just as they are. We reckon that if you come by looking for something nice for yourself, or for a friend, then you deserve to find it, and to find it in a pleasant environment that is non-judgmental and helpful. We know for a fact that people of all kinds wear our frocks. You'd be amazed at the range of people who look great - and far more importantly, feel great - in our frocks.

(Some of them are, in fact, like Magic Frocks: they seem to mystically change themselves to lovingly embrace the bodies of people of all varieties. It's as though they fall in love with people and just want to be taken home, like affectionate kittens. Those are the styles we keep on getting in, in as many sizes as we can ...)

So here's the thing, Charming Friends. We are determined that our shop will be a place where this basic truth is realised in every way: You Are Wonderful Just As You Are.

Our challenge is to find something for you that you will love. Your job is just to come and have a nice time and feel justifiably good about yourself. The frocks' job is to fit, and they do their best, but they can't be all things to all people (worse luck). So if something doesn't fit you it is the Darlings' problem for not having your size or style, not the fault of your body which is wonderful (see above). And, we would love it if you challenge us to fix the problem by getting the right thing in for you. Then everybody wins! (Especially the frocks: we always imagine that they look thrilled when they are being purchased, as though they know their adventures are just beginning.)

So next time you are trying something on and it isn't quite right, try to remember to catch yourself before you say something like 'I'm too [blank]' or 'I hate my [blank]' or even 'It will be fine as soon as I change my [blank]'. Instead, give us a holler and say 'Hey ladies, this one isn't for me. Next!' It is then our job to figure out what we have, or can order for you, that will do the job it is supposed to do: fit you nicely and make you happy.

If you have time on the weekend, do come by and try us out. The more people who come along and try things on, the more we understand and appreciate the types of styles that we need to fulfil the ultimate dream of a Frock Shop for All Retro Bombshells.

Yours charmingly,

Darla and Blossom