A ladies-only club, four gloriously eccentric rooms and a barista in a bowler hat: The Dressing House is anything but ordinary. Devizine contributor Charlotte Howard bought a ticket to its second soft launch to find out what was going on behind the doors.
I’d been dying to know what was happening at 40 Market Place ever since I spotted The Dressing House on Instagram, and rushed to buy a ticket as soon as they became available. Numbers were limited to give the new team a chance to settle in. The invitation was intriguingly titled “The Department of Very Important Outfits” and said groups and singles were welcome. So I bravely went alone, while my husband dropped me outside and left me to navigate the world of ladies-wot-lunch.
I’m socially awkward at the best of times, but the team made me feel at home immediately, with a warm welcome and a glass of bubbly thrust into my hand. Then came a tour of four rooms, each decorated in glorious, eclectic, maximalist style.
There’s the main parlour, looking out over Devizes Market Place; the Peacock Room, where colourful clothes are displayed in a rainbow of shades; the Raven Room, dressed in monochrome for more formal events; and the bar, ably run by the token male barista in a bowler hat, radiating reassuringly non-threatening energy.
I quickly made friends and met Jemma and her mum, Sabrina, who lives above the shop and is keen to make new friends in town. I didn’t get to meet Jemma’s sister Tami, who looks after the work behind the scenes. Jemma’s young assistants were an absolute delight, and after a good rummage through the rails of gorgeous clothes, we settled down to lunch in the main parlour.
All the clothes are second-hand and available to buy. You can also bring in your own clothes to exchange for credit to spend at The Dressing House. It’s a brilliant idea for anyone with a wardrobe full of things they no longer wear but can’t quite bear to part with.
Lunch was a charcuterie selection, beautifully arranged on high-tea plates and served with vintage cups. Then the games began. We were each given a character and a mission, and told to dress up using the clothes in the two rooms.
My mission was to play an artist dressing for her first feature in Vogue. Unfortunately, I was too fat for most of the outfits, but I still had a great time putting my former skills as a professional stylist to work, helping everyone else put their looks together. I then shoved a load of flowers into my hair, drew on a monobrow and became Frida Kahlo.
Prizes were handed out, more drinks were poured, numbers were exchanged and new friends were made. Before I knew it, the three hours had flown by. My husband was waiting patiently outside to take his inebriated wife home. Apparently there will be the occasional “bring your well-behaved man” night too: the feminist answer to a Masonic ladies’ night.
It takes guts to turn an idea this big into a real place, and I’m thrilled to see it happening in our town. It’s just what Devizes needs. Jemma already has plans to expand into more buildings once The Dressing House outgrows this space.
The Dressing House is welcoming, imaginative and gloriously different. Wishing Jemma, Tami, Sabrina and the whole team every success.
