
Of course, women usually have their own breasts, so the fake pair's inclusion alongside a range of frocks, gowns, and lingerie might seem a little peculiar at first. But, as owner Alan Freedman explains, "three-quarters of our customers are men"—a sex not typically known to come equipped with a natural bosom.Now in its 60th year, Doreen's is one of the longest-running suppliers of outfits for cross-dressing men in the UK. However, as with most cult phenomenons, this wasn’t the original intention. “It started off as a woman’s shop,” says Alan. “Then, in the 1960s, the transvestites started coming in. Mom had a good rapport with them, so they just kept on coming. They were often showbiz types—she liked showbiz.”Alan’s showbiz-loving mom Betty opened the first branch of Doreen Fashions in 1953. Part-time secretarial work was giving her repetitive strain disorder, so she decided to pack it in and start her own business. At the shop's peak in the 1970s and 80s there were five branches—other locations including Trafalgar Square, City Road and Baker Street. Unfortunately the chain was hit hard by rent hikes and, more recently, the recession, so now the only branch left is the Leytonstone shop I'm currently standing in.

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