The Second Chance Boutique

by Louisa Leaman

  You work for the Victoria and Albert Museum, researching and writing about archived gowns. Why were you drawn to this kind of work?

  I’m creative to the core. I’ve always loved clothes. I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was younger, but equally I loved art and writing. At one point, I thought I was destined to become a portrait painter and secured a place at art school, but then I worried I’d miss writing. I traveled and did a bit of soul-searching, then eventually, I decided to combine interests and study art history. I spent a lot of time hanging around the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Art Library, then became distracted by living the rest of my life, so it was lovely when, years later, the opportunity to write for the museum came along. I immediately felt at home. The museum is known for its fashion and textiles, but I don’t just write about gowns. I’ve covered all kinds of objects and design eras, from art deco to David Bowie memorabilia. There is a secret part of me that still wonders whether I should have become a portrait painter, but hopefully one day I’ll have some spare time to explore this!

  You and Fran share a love of vintage clothing. Are there other parallels between you and your protagonist?

  I think we both have a sense of fun and curiosity. We’re both optimists and we’re both intuitive. I’m interested in psychology, and like Fran, I’m drawn to helping people. Also like Fran, I’ve made the mistake of focusing too much attention on others while ignoring my own problems. Fran throws herself into finding perfect dresses for other brides, while her own fateful dress lurks in the back of a closet, barely looked at but quietly scaring her away from love. I became happier when I learned not just to listen but to talk, to admit my troubles and let people in. And that’s the journey I sent Fran on. She has to confront her fears and insecurities and let Raf in. So, in other words, yes, I think Fran’s a little bit of me—but with better sewing skills!

  Rafael, Fran, Janey, Mick, and even Mimi grow in their own ways. Did these characters teach you anything about love and happiness?

  I think Mick says it all when he tells Fran “You have to show yourself, really show yourself.” Growth to me is about developing self-awareness. If you know and accept yourself—not just the veneer of you, but the inner you, warts and all—then you’re in a much stronger position to have an honest, healthy relationship with another person. Fran tries to achieve this for others through her dresses, but ultimately, she’s burying her own head in the sand. She can only move on in her relationship with Raf when she faces her hidden hurt. Likewise for Raf, he is freed by confronting his family demons. Crucially, the Alessandra Colt dress helps them both do this. As for Mimi, well, she’s one of a kind, but I think she’s quite comfortable in her cold-blooded, pragmatic skin. I like that the thirties dress gets her to loosen up a bit though—the glamour of backless full-length satin is potent.

  You’re from just outside of London. Did you choose to set the story in London for any significant reason?

  If I jump on public transport, I’m only a twenty-five minute ride from the center. It’s my city. I love it. I know it. The east, where Fran has her shop, is so vibrant. There are lots of vintage clothing stores and markets in the area, so it was fun to shop—I mean research! I wanted my characters to be based in London, with all its frenzy, excitement, and action, but equally, I wanted them to have an escape, somewhere they could be quiet and reflective. We all need a different pace from time to time. Their escape, Dryad’s Hall, where Fran finds the dress, is based on an actual house near where I live in Epping Forest. The house was knocked down a few years ago and replaced with something modern. It broke my heart to see such an extraordinary old building, with so much history, suddenly disappear. I guess that got me thinking about the life and stories that inhabit old things.

  What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

  I hope readers will feel assured that inner demons—whether they are doubts, fears, insecurities, or emotional scars—don’t have to be a barrier to happiness. I also hope that readers might think a little more about the clothes they wear each day. And if a wedding is on the cards, that they’ll think of Fran and go vintage!

  acknowledgments

  With thanks to my agent, Sarah Such; to Shana Drehs and the team at Sourcebooks; to Jo Jones for reminding me how much I love the V&A Museum; to Eirian Walsh-Atkins for being on hand with sewing advice and motivational wedding dress photos; and to my family, especially Julian, Tove, Harper, and Emil.

  about the author

  Louisa Leaman was born, raised, and now lives near Epping Forest in England. She studied art history at Leeds University before becoming a teacher working with children with special needs. After winning the Times Education Supplement’s New Writer’s Award, she turned her hand to writing books for children. Louisa currently writes content for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, but has also been published in the Guardian, the Observer, the Independent, and the Times Educational Supplement. Her interest in the arts is often inspiration for her plots, and her first book, The Second Chance Boutique, was inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum’s large wedding dress collection and fulfils her dream of writing romantic fiction. When she isn’t busy writing or rearing her three lively children, she paints portraits, takes long walks, and spends far too long browsing vintage clothing shops.

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