It was a sexy Saturday - scratch that - slippery Saturday in the rain in Beacon. It was gray and blowy. Saturday in Beacon means that many of the boutiques are open that aren’t open 7 days during the week. Which means that, if you aren’t at a kid’s soccer game or other event, Saturday (and usually Sunday) is your opportunity to head into one such boutique. Top that with blowing rain, and ducking into Top Drawer is the perfect choice for anyone who needs a lift.

The Top Drawer is Latina and Queer owned by Renita. “Everyone is welcome here. Period,” Renita told ALBB. The shop is fueled by Renita’s purpose, which is to create and maintain a safe space for anyone to walk in, at any point in their life, wherever in their journey or transition, to find what they need to make their body feel beautiful and loved.

The Top Drawer sells lingerie, bras, binders, thongs, tucking kits, nightgowns, robes, toys, and more for all people, body shapes, sizes and pleasure points. Bra fittings are available in the back for the right fit. “You have to love yourself first,” is the theme running through the store.

To the untrained eye, the black lace and white silks look pretty. But there is purpose behind each piece. For example, the complementary black lacy thongs, are for “vanilla couples” that ask for this set sometimes. The pair on the left are for a female, and on the right, fit a male. These lacy delights can be sold separately.

New to ALBB, but maybe not to you, are accessories to make life easier. Like the Tuck Kit, that is for people with male parts who want to smooth or flatten them in outfits.

Or the Bra Buds. Which, Renita tells us, are used by people who are beginning their journey to developing breasts but don’t have them yet.

Bra Buds can be placed in a bra, but key to that bra is that it will hold them, and not let the Bra Buds fall out. Security. Bra security. Outfit security. Because this leads to body confidence and happiness. Renita thinks about these things constantly.

Binders, which look like sports bras, are for females transitioning to males, who want to flatten their breasts. The Top Drawer has a few different styles, all sustainable, that can ease this transition.

Renita likes to repurpose functional underwear for other uses and to be used between gender flows. For example, the traditional male boxers have one element that sets them underwear for men: the pocket. But if there is no pocket, is the underwear for females?

While the tag may say one thing, Renita encourages shoppers to ignore the tag, and buy the briefs if they are comfortable. Male or female designated. Not having a pocket can act as a smoother for those who want to reduce a bulge. But they are also comfortable and sexy for females also.

Skull & Bones has been a popular line, and several styles are available in the store.

Bra Fitting

Several styles of bras are available in The Top Drawer, and so is a fitting room with Renita’s tape measure and knowledge of each style of those bras. For bra fittings, Beacon used to have the Bra Fit Expert, but she moved to Cornwall.

At The Top Drawer, you can be measured from all angles to see which styles and colors work for your body.

Each line of underwear has a story behind it. If sustainable style is what you’re after, there are brands available.

You do not need to go all the way to the Poughkeepsie Mall for a nude bra!