xclusive lingerie is something which
e
every woman dreams of owning but
fi nding the right style and perfect fi t
can often prove extremely diffi cult. literally hundreds if not thousands of other women
Whether it is your body shape which is the obstacle in the same position as myself.”
or the fact you long for underwear which covers but Leona’s store, Secret Drawer, in the Whitechapel
is still sexy, it is a dilemma so many women face. mall now stocks a wide range of lingerie in a broad
Young entrepreneur Leona nicholas is someone price range, from £10 for a pair of briefs, up to £500
who found the same problem. At the age of 40 she for a corset. Many of her designs are only otherwise
wanted to wear stylish and classy underwear, but available in the capital city at Harrods and Harvey
most importantly, underwear which was the right nichols. It is not just Merseyside women who are
fi t. Th e situation became so frustrating for Leona – buying into Leona’s range. Some of her corsets,
she was unable to fi nd anything to fi t in the north designed by Susi Henson of eternal Spirits, have
West – she decided to do something about it. been worn by a host of celebrities, including the
realising this was probably a dilemma many Spice Girls.
other women were also facing, she decided to leave to compliment Leona’s wide range of lingerie
the shoe shop where she was working and launch she also specialises in corsets for wedding days and
her own business. two years ago Leona opened other special occasions, together with swimwear.
a lingerie store in north Merseyside with two She added: “Swimwear can so often be a problem
colleagues. today she is in business on her own for many women. It may be that they have a large
and has launched a second boutique in Liverpool’s bust and are conscious about having suffi cient
exclusive Metquarter. support while swimming or on the beach – but at
Leona, who lives in crosby, said: “I had always the same time they do not want to compromise
been involved in retail but it had been with shoes. on style and fashion. I believe I can cater for all of
I did, however, have a secret passion for lingerie these needs.”
and having a large bust I was fi nding it extremely A range of accessories, candles, soaps and
diffi cult to fi nd sexy and pretty underwear to fi t me. massage oils also add to the Secret Drawer
It was something which I could not fi nd anywhere range. Jennina o’neill, head of marketing at the
in the north West. I thought I could not be the Metquarter, said: “We are delighted Leona has useful,” Leona said. And she now has high ambitions
only person facing this dilemma and so decided to decided to join the Metquarter. Her designs are and is planning to open a range of designer boutiques
do something about it. I wanted to bring something something really special and we believe she adds a across the country during the next seven years.
special to the north West and off er something new dimension to what we off er here.” Leona and rob have three children, Heloise, 16;
diff erent to everyone else. I had been forced to Leona is an ambitious businesswoman who is Abigail, 12 and 10 year old cameron.
travel to London to fi nd suitable underwear which supported by her husband, rob, who owns his own  Secret Drawer at Metquarter, Liverpool 0151 236 6399.
was a good fi t and I was convinced there must be shop-fi tting company. “Th is is obviously extremely Also at 140 College Road, Crosby 0151 924 9444.
magazine 33
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