3. Fetish Shopping Guide - Reviews: Dream Dresser
Description
This article is from the Fetish Fashion FAQ, by Per Goetterup pg@login.dknet.dk with numerous contributions by others.
3. Fetish Shopping Guide - Reviews: Dream Dresser
This section contains a few reviews of some of the many fetish shops
listed in the big supplier lists. They are not the absolute truth but
the personal opinion of the reporter. Perhaps the visit reviewed
occured on a bad day for the shop - or a good one. Use this information
only as a... guide. ;-)
Dream Dresser:
Reviewed spring 1994 by Ms. Margo <margo@netcom.com>
I had called before I came down to see if they had any garter
belts in a 38" waist for one of submissives, I had been told that
they had one in reversible black and red. When I got there I spoke
with Jackie. She was very polite and helpful without being pushy
or in my face. I noticed that the store had started to stock a lot
more "racy lingerie" and less fetish wear since the last time I
was in there a year ago. But it still is a very nice and very
comfortable store. It's very well lit, well organized, not sleazy,
and you won't feel like some sicko going in or coming out. One
couple and a bunch of unaccompanied men floated in and out during
the time that I was there. There was one gentleman there trying on
a red satin maid's outfit ($156.00 US) with matching red crinoline
($59.00 US). I suggested that green was more his color, but he
ended up buying the red one. Jackie told me that they sold quite a
few of them. (Colors available in the store vary, and it's only
available in pink from the catalog.)
They didn't have the reversible satin garter belt in black and red
in size 38, but they did have it in black and pink (which I
doubted that he would like). It was very well made. Heavyweight
stitched satin with elastic only at the hook in the back. There
were 8 adjustable garters, no lace or other edging. The cost was
$47.00 US. It was an item that wasn't in their catalog. They had a
black satin garter belt with black lace trim in an extra-large,
but I doubted that it would fit him. I asked if they would be
getting more of the red and black ones in, but these were all they
had. There were matching bras to the revers- ible garter belts as
well. (Go visit soon if you would like one.) I poked through the
racks of lingerie, and although I found their range of sizes to be
wide and range of styles to be good, I didn't find much that I was
interested in giving as a gift.
I looked for some things for myself. They had some fetishy boots
and shoes on display - predominantly in red, black, and white
patent - but they were very expensive. The 7" heel ballet shoes in
red and black patent were $350.00 US. They had a pair of 5" heel
thigh-high black leather boots that I had seen in their catalog,
but the quality of the leather was not quite what I would have
expected for the price of $390.00 US. I checked through the rack
of leather skirts. I found a leather version of Stormy Leather's
famous spanking skirt, which had elastic in the back instead of
the buckled straps, but was still quite attrac- tive. However,
they only had it in a large and an extra-large. (I'm 5'2" (156
cm), a US size 8 - definitely small.). Jackie found a laced back
leather skirt ($110.00 US), and PVC copy of the Stormy spanking
skirt ($149.00 US) for me to try on. The laced back skirt was a
good design, fit well, but didn't really thrill me. The PVC was
O.K. quality, but PVC in general doesn't do much for me. There was
a lot bigger selection of PVC (which they also call stretch
patent) than there was of leather or latex.
The dressing rooms are fair sized, located well in the back of the
store down a short hallway, had large mirrors, but could *really*
benefit from having something to sit down on. Fetish fashions are
not always the easiest to get into and out of. Paper panties are
provided for trying on items. I checked out a leather halter top
that I had seen in their catalog. It has unusual sickle shaped
clasps in the front. I expected these to be metal, but they were
metallic hard plastic. I was a little disappointed; if the clasps
had been metal I would have bought the halter. The leather
clothing selection was small. The designs were nice, but I would
like to see them use a better grade of leather. The selection of
latex was very good and I was quite taken with several of the
latex mini-dresses with zippered fronts that either buckled over
the zipper, or locked over the zipper, and latex dresses with
fabric linings, but I didn't want to drop $200.00-$350.00 US on a
whim. The latex was available in a variety of colors - with black
and red predominating - and several pieces were in natural
transparent latex. They had a pair of pants in black latex with
transparent latex over the hipbones and over the butt. These were
called "Peek-A-Bum" pants. There was a matching halter top with a
large transparent latex circle in the middle of the chest.
They have a small amount of bondage gear available. It was average
quality and mostly standard designs with a few really interesting
items thrown in. I particularly liked the men's pouch with the
footlocker lock on the front, which when opened would leave a hole
big enough for a medium sized penis. There were chest halters and
a few average-low average quality whips. They have a wall of
collars over the cash register, and some are quite attractive. The
case in front has some small items such as cock rings, dildoes,
tit clamps, and ball weights. There is also a standard selection
of dildoes and other adult toys on the side wall in the back.
It was the first time that I got to see their chain mail in
person. The links are very fine, about the diameter of the stick
on a Q-Tip, and flowed like silk. It was well worth the price of
$175.00 US for the bra/halter. I also got to see the steel
breastplate that is featured on the cover of their current catalog
($450.00 US - covers one breast, $550.00 US - covers both). I was
very surprised by how light in weight it was. I expected it to be
much heavier and cumbersome.
I ended up having Jackie find me a pair of latex panties, ($45.00
US), which had just come in a shipment. She didn't mind letting me
check each pair and pick the ones I liked best. These ended up
being my only purchase, although I had been hoping to find
something more.
OVERALL: Dream Dresser
Service:
Great, relaxed, not pushy
Atmosphere:
Excellent!
PVC:
Big selection, average prices.
Leather:
Small selection, high-ish prices for quality.
Latex:
Small, but very good selection, prices on par with quality.
Shoes:
Small, but nice selection, high prices.
Bondage Gear:
Small selection, but might be worth a look.
Lingerie:
Big selection, average prices.
Extras:
Stockings, cards, adult toys, nipple and clit jewelry,
spandex dresses, feather boas, TV wear.
Store:
Dream Dresser
1042 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
(Georgetown)
Washington, DC 200007
U.S.A.
Phone: (202) 625.0373
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 AM-8 PM
Catalog:
Dream Dresser
Post Office Box 16158
Beverly Hills, California 90209-2158
U.S.A.
(Don't ask me why the store is on one side of the country and
the catalog address is on the other side - I don't know why.)
Phone Orders: (202)625-0377
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 AM-8 PM
Fax Orders: (202)625-2761
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Note: Some prices are from memory and are subject to the failings
of that system. I verified those prices that I could with their
current catalog.
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