A new boutique, La Femme Fatale Plus-Size Clothiers, has opened in Bedford’s Sunnyside Mall.
The women’s plus-sized clothing store is the brainchild of earth scientist Warna Downey, who has a Master’s degree in Geology and a Doctorate in Philosophy of Earth Sciences.
“I get asked regularly asked why I would make such a big change and many eyebrows are raised when I tell them that I used to study volcanoes and work in a lab where I made magma and tried to blow it up, along with numerically modelling the process,”
Downey said. “Telling people my background is always interesting because it leads into the greater conversation about why women, particularly those with children, leave STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.”
“Last year I walked by a…store and saw a sign advertising that they carried plus-size clothing. I was so enthralled. Their clothing was cute, some of the cuts fit great and I picked up some fabulous items. I told everyone who asked where I got my new threads and shared the knowledge with my curvy girlfriends. Like me they also didn’t know that this store carried plus size.” she said. “However a few months later I went in to try on a fabulous red dress I saw on their website and, much to my dismay, the plus-size section was reduced to only clearance items”
One-stop shopping tough for larger women
The store had decided to make plus-sized clothing only available online. After venting to staff, Downey realized “The experience with losing a place to shop was a turning point for me. I have been talking about owning my own business. This was my chance to take action and do something I knew I would love with no regrets,” she said. “As large or as small as I have ever been, shopping with a large bottom and thick thighs is tough. I have never not loved myself, though I do have a nefarious relationship with my scale that causes her to stay hidden in the bathroom closet.
“Sunnyside Mall had an amazing space that was in great condition and made it really easy for me to get it up and running fast. As a small business owner, that was so key,” she said.
La Femme Fatale has both a brick and mortar store and an e-commerce site. The store carries sizes ranging from a 12/14 up to a 26/28, depending on the brand availability. It carries dresses, pants, skirts, leggings, tops, T-shirts, and sweaters. Camisoles start as low as $25, with dresses ranging from $65 to $154.
“Being plus-size I know the truth in that,” Downey added. “I have something that I like to call the circuit when I am shopping for clothing because there are so few places to shop, and its especially relevant if I am shopping for a specific item like a dress for an event or a new pair of pants. All plus-size women know what I am talking about – you go to the same 2-3 stores to try your luck at finding a piece. You try it all on and then maybe go back to the first store and buy the items that you may not have been 100% satisfied with.“
La Femme Fatale is open seven days a week.
Here are some more retail highlights and happenings:
- Forever 21, which has struggled financially, is closing all 44 of its Canadian stores including the store in Mic Mac Mall. All sales are final after October 7 and gift cards and credit notes are only valid until October 15. Liquidation is expected to begin next week and conclude by November 30. Forever 2 entered Canada 18 years ago.
- Paderno will be closing all its remaining factory stores in November, and liquidation of stock is expected to begin next week. In 2017 Canadian Tire purchased the Paderno brand, with a long-term strategy to have Paderno as Canadian Tire’s exclusive house brand.
- Dugger’s Menswear will soon be on the move, but just be a block away on the corner of Spring Garden and Brunswick in The Doyle.
- CHKN Chop is open again on North Street to the delight of its many fans. The restaurant had closed in February after an accidental after-hours fire.
- The City of Lakes PharmaChoice in downtown Dartmouth at 80 Portland St. has closed and patrons are being redirected to the sister store in Highfield Park. There’s another closure a block away - Aqua Naturals has closed its store at 116 Portland St.
- Leon’s has reopened a corporate-run store at their previous franchised location in Coldbrook.
- Jamaica Vibes has closed its restaurant/bar on the top floor of Spring Garden Place after moving from Cole Harbour earlier this year.
- Crossroads Gifts & Home Decor in Upper Tantallon is closing in November.
- Speaking of Katch Seafood, its Halifax Shopping Centre food court location will be returning October 15.
- A Korean/Japanese takeout called Ilbunji is opening in the food court area of the Bayers Road Professional Centre.
- Pannizza has departed from Halifax Stanfield International Airport after opening less than two years ago.
- Chops Meat Market in Burnside (Wright near Windmill) has changed hands and has some changes planned, the first of them a re-branding as GD Meat Market.
- Globo Shoes is now open in Mic Mac Mall on the first level where Nine West was.
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