Lovells Drapery

In a time when the high street tends to serves up the same homogenized experience — I’ve tried hard to love Lovells. With the gorgeous mish-​mash of things on display in the windows: tea towels positioned next to tabards; Nighties next to flannelette blankets, I’ve felt a certain warmth for its batty merchandising but step in off the street and it’s a bit of a letdown. Yes, it’s piled to the ceiling with haberdashery in tradition of ‘Are you Being Served’ but alas without John Inman to keep things light.
I went there all giddy one afternoon hoping to remember my youth and stab at my fingers ineffectually with a needle, no I mean, sew on some buttons. ‘Lovells’ I cried but alas they don’t do buttons anymore. Apparently people don’t repair things. Well I do, so I got them online.
Not to be put off, I went in again to discreetly ask for ‘a slip’. I even whispered it indicate my good breeding and was rather frostily told, ‘We only do full length’. What? In Sydney?! Full length under skirts. Jeez, that’s niche.
I’m sure it serves its target well but it’s clear from the cool reception that I am not the target. Weep.