Local lingerie shop a sexy treat
T-Bar is not your typical bar on Pearl Street, though it is aimed at the young, hip, and sexually-charged demographic.
The third anniversary for T-Bar is Nov. 14. This western-inspired lingerie store was opened in 2004 by Debra Caplin, who originally hails from Miami.
“I moved here for crime reasons and to raise my kids somewhere that was safer,” Caplin said. “And Boulder had a void in cute lingerie. I came here for a better life.”
“T-Bar” is actually another name for a thong, and that is what the store is named after. It was voted “top of the town” for lingerie in 5280 magazine this year.
“I spent all this time in the Boulder Bookstore, and there were all these amazing, strong women who came to Boulder 100 years ago,” Caplin said. “T-Bar is a tribute to those strong, independent women.”
T-Bar carries a wide variety of lingerie, as well as a small selection of bath and body products, children’s clothing and men’s clothing.
“We definitely try to make it a comfortable place for everyone,” said T-Bar employee Maia Bogert, 27. “Often times, a guy will step in here and look like a deer in the headlights.”
Located at 1500 Pearl Street, the retail store was built to look like a saloon, complete with shot glasses, and an actual bar. This single location in Boulder is even made from recycled wood from an old barn.
Victoria’s Secret is one of T-Bar’s local competitors.
“When you say T-Bar, is it a bar, is it a workout thing?” said Amy, 22, a manager at the 29th Street location who refused to give her last name due to corporate policy. “We have a prestigious name. We have a reputation and it’s a hot, sexy one.”
Caplin said that she was nervous when Victoria’s Secret opened down the street.
“People ask me if I was upset when Victoria’s Secret came here, but it’s interesting that people will go there before looking for a locally-owned place first,” Caplin said. “When we first opened it, people were scared. There was backlash when we were opening.”
T-Bar carries different lines of popular designer lingerie, including Cosabella, Betsey Johnson and Hanky Panky.
The lingerie for sale runs a bit pricey for the typical college student budget, with bras ranging from $40 (Betsey Johnson) to $130 (Cosabella).
The more expensive bras are high-priced because of their fine quality. For example, Cosabella bras are imported from Italy and made with pure silk to suit the pampered clientele.
To shop their merchandise online, check outT-Bar’s Web site.
“Lingerie should be for you,” Caplin said. “It should be empowering. You have somebody to wear this for you!” Caplin said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sarah Stern at sterns@colorado.edu .
