the pink petticoat opens a new location in palma ceia

I met Lesley Geyer at a friend’s birthday party the weekend of my pop-up shop. I’d hardly heard of her store in Hyde Park, The Pink Petticoat. Why? Because she sells high-end lingerie to the female South Tampa elite, a demographic I’m not part of on several counts.

Brass rolling clothes racks, from the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, are part of the new store’s theme

Those four days were a blur, but I distinctly remember her telling me she already knew my blog, because she’s a big fan. Of course, my mind snapped to attention and I was taken with this warm, friendly beauty. And her tall, dark, handsome boyfriend, of course.

We also happen to have mutual friends, in the Jux-ta-pose owners, Ryne Gallien, a stylist at Level Salon, and Chip North, her middle school classmate and my friend who was just wed in Savannah.

Love this translucent lace bra with frill peplum detail

Two months later, she has folded me into several of her endeavors, including a fashion show collaboration with London Philips and the Make A Wish Foundation, and invited me to see her new store, which will supplement her existing space in Hyde Park Village, but will likely replace it completely around January 2015.

The new space, south of Neptune on South Dale Mabry, is in the former Sunshine Bagels, next to David Gavin Salon, a pediatric dentist, and a bridal boutique. A complete gut job was necessary, and she has transformed the onion-and-sesame seed dive bar into a modern lingerie boudoir.

Lesley & Katie at the Pink Petticoat on South Dale Mabry in Palma Ceia

Central on the floor is a seating area, across from the cash wrap, and between two areas for browsing. She has two spacious dressing rooms in the back. My pet peeve with any store is cramped, chokey-sized fitting spaces.

But the store isn’t stuffed. There’s a pleasant minimalism, unlike many independent boutiques that seek to maximize products in public view at the expense of clean aesthetics.

And then, there’s the merch. Agent Provocateur, Josie Natori, Cosabella, Oscar de la Renta…click here for the full list of lines. Lesley doesn’t mess around with cheap, throwaway undergarments. She’s known to have clients who see pieces they like at Neiman Marcus, but come to the Pink Petticoat to order and purchase them instead.

That is a dedicated clientele!

Agent Provocateur & others at the Pink Petticoat

Why? Because there’s quality here, and there’s service that her customers expect and receive after six years in successful operation. Hanging out in the new store is like being in your sister’s Melrose Place closet. Sexy, modern, and a little bit edgy. Just what Tampa needs!

Congratulations to Lesley on the new store! I’m looking forward to the charity fashion show event in December with London Philips, and to continued collaboration.

Follow The Pink Petticoat on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest arrivals and news. The new store is open 11-6 weekdays and 11-3 on weekends.

The anchor piece at the dressing area

Sitting area decor is all modern, gold, glass, chrome, and pale pink or white