Q. I own a wonderful bra which gives me the
best support and silhouette but which, because it belonged originally to my grandmother in the 1950s, has become a disgusting colour (even though it is clean). It has some sort of rubber in it so cannot have the discolour taken out no matter what. I am at boarding school and people come into my room all the time. As is the norm we all look through one another’s clothes when visiting rooms and everyone screams when they see this bra and they insist I bin it. I want to keep it to wear with home clothes so how can I resist this ‘peer pressure’, Mary?
Name and address withheld A. Address a white padded envelope to ‘Rigby & Peller’, but leave it unstamped. Use a clip envelope fastener to store the bra in there and put it among your papers. If anyone asks, say you are going to send it off to Rigby & Peller (corsetières to HM the Queen) to see if you can commission a copy of the bra, but are waiting till you have enough money. Meanwhile, take the bra in and out of the envelope and continue to wear it at your convenience. Even if you are caught out wearing it, your known good intentions will allow you partial exculpation.
If you have a problem write to Dear Mary, c/o The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP.
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