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beyondhonest

Ladies, let’s talk about lingerie!

(pronounced lan-jah-ray NOT lee-nga-rieh)

For today’s review, let us start with a funny story.

So, I was on my way to Double Dee’s Kenya store located at 44 Riverside Drive with a rather pleasant Uber driver. We didn’t speak much during the trip but I could tell that he (David) had an easy-going demeanour about him, a likeability. We shared a few sentiments about some of the drivers we encountered on the road that day and then continued to quietly enjoy what that Saturday morning had to offer.

When we arrived at 44 Riverside Drive, the gate was opened and, in 1 to 2 metres, we were in front of Double Dee’s. David did his part by ending the trip on the app and showing me how much the trip cost and so it was time to do mine and pay him. So, I take my phone out and ask David, “Can I pay you by M-Pesa?” to which he gladly says, “Haina shida (No worries).”

As I look down on my phone to start the M-Pesa payment process, which every Kenyan knows requires focus- lest you send money to the wrong person, the Uber driver gets acquainted with his surroundings and stumbles upon the word “lingerie” on the Double Dee’s logo. Payment sent, David confirms that he has received the money and just as I am about to step out of the red Nissan March and head to Double Dee’s, David feels the urge to share his thoughts about what he believes my purpose that morning was at Double Dee's.

He says, “Umeamua mzee hii Valentine’s lazima afurahie?!”

The less funny English translation being:” Seems like you have something very special for your man this Valentine’s.” Had I not been dying with laughter at that out-of-the blue comment, this is what I would have replied to him.

First of all David, it’s mid-January. Surely! Surely! How are you already thinking about Valentine’s Day?!



Secondly, lingerie is a collective term for undergarments, sleepwear and lightweight robes for women that includes bras, panties, stockings and so much more.

Last and most importantly, whatever I am going to buy is for myself and not a man, regardless of the time of year and my relationship status, okay?


With that icebreaker, let’s get back to what we are gathered here for.

 

I have to say that for a while I understated the value of good lingerie. Not only does good lingerie enhance your outfit, ladies, it also boosts your confidence in a way that no self-help book will.

To this end, I began my search for well-fitting, comfortable and high-quality lingerie, a bra in particular, for a #fullerbust than most lingerie stores/stockists I have visited in Nairobi cater to. I also needed a store that I could always go back to in future to fulfill my lingerie needs. So, I once again looked through the streets of Instagram and found two stores that seemed to check these boxes.


My experience with both stores revealed only a slight difference in what they offer, from the when I first inquired about their products to the when I made a purchase. However, it is in this slight difference that one of these stores captured my heart in a way that the other did not.

But before I share what me fall in love with one of the two stores, let me highlight the similarities in experience when I shopped for a bra at Double Dee’s Kenya and My Curves Kenya.


  1. Both stores are quite active and responsive on Instagram albeit in varying ways. I struggled to get prompt responses to my questions when I sent a DM to My Curves Kenya while the experience with Double Dee’s on DM was very fast and efficient. However, My Curves responded quickly to comments I had left on their posts.

  2. The first question I was asked at both stores is if they had fitted me for a before. Both stores were thorough in their process of determining my exact bra size. They each offer an in-store and virtual fitting for first time shoppers. FYI, if you do the fitting in-store you will have the pleasure of experiencing their aesthetically pleasing and very well thought out changing rooms.

  3. Variety! Variety! Variety! For ladies like myself who have a #fullerbust, and sometimes this means anything bigger than a B-cup, you understand the struggle of easily and consistently getting a cute yet well-fitting bra. Well, you won’t have to struggle anymore with Double Dee’s and My Curves around. From t-shirt bras to #straplessbras. Plain and flowery bras. #Padded and non-padded. You are spoilt for choice!

  4. The price of bras is within the same range at both stores. For somewhere between KES 5,500 and 6,000 you will smile your way out of the store with a #highqualitybra. You may find that that there are other bras that fall outside this price range.

  5. Lastly, is the packaging. With every purchase from Double Dee’s and My Curves you get a classy, sexy and sophisticated bag to go with it. Yaani, those bags that you store somewhere in your house, even if you won't ever reuse it. I have to give special recognition to My Curves who envelope the bra in a handful of fragrant potpourri before packing it in the bag.

With all these amazing qualities, I would gladly go back to both Double Dee’s and My Curves to purchase a bra and anything else they have to offer.


However, as mentioned before, one of these stores had an extra something that put them a few points ahead of the other.



Before I tell you which one it is, let me explain what earned them the extra points.





  • In-store shopping is on appointment basis. This may not be a plus for everyone but for me, it is often a sign that I will receive higher quality service than in a store that doesn't take appointments. The attendant(s) tend to be less overwhelmed by the struggle of managing several customers at a time and are instead focused on ensuring that I leave satisfied. My review of Instafamous Hair Salons for Naturalistas in Nairobi(Part Two) highlights how a rushed service can negatively impact the experience a client has and reduce the chances of them becoming a repeat customer.

  • Location! Location! Location! I found that the location of this store improved my experience. I felt that there was more privacy as I changed into and out of bras. Not to say that I was exposed in the other store, which is located in a mall. It's just that the lower traffic estate-type location of this store provided a more serene, no rush, let's take our time environment than the high-traffic mall setting of the other store.

  • Despite both stores having great customer service, this store takes theirs notches higher. Without prompting the attendant, they took the time to explain to me how to wash and store my new bra (and any other bras I have), to what level I should adjust the bra as well as how to put it on correctly. I also gained a better understanding of how to know if a bra fits me well. Their willingness to share this information made me feel encouraged to ask a few questions too. To my surprise, I received an email from the store a few hours after my appointment with a summary of the information I received at the store as well as the loyalty points I had earned from my purchase 😁.

  • The cherry on the top is the 14-day return/exchange policy that this store offers. I was encouraged to have a feel for the bra I had just purchased and if I had a change of heart- as long as the tag was still on and it was within 14 days of purchase- I could return the bra. The fact that they once again volunteered this information made me feel that they had my interest at heart. I could not find any information about a return/exchange policy for the other store.

 

If you haven't guessed it already, the store that won my heart is Double Dee’s Kenya 🥳🥳

As I said before, I would gladly go back to either of these stores. Their pieces are worth the while and worth every shilling.


Have you visited any of these stores? Have you visited any other stores in Kenya that offer #qualitylingerie for #curvywomen? Share your experience in the comment section below.

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