The night before my Christmas party, it’s almost here. I don’t know why, but this is the second time I have put off shopping for clothes. With barely half an hour to spare before I have to start mingling, I am in need of a festive top – and while I have tried to give up ‘fast fashion’, when needs must there’s only place that springs to mind: Zara.
My office is 150 metres from the High Street Kensington branch. It feels homey after 10 years of visiting it on my lunch break.
I am familiar with the layout: downstairs is for menswear; upstairs is for casual and kids wear. Ground floor houses women’s clothing and changing areas.
It takes me very little time to find a top in sequins and to navigate to the changing area to put it on.
The good news is that there’s no waiting and I get quickly assigned to one of six booths, which are set up in an oval-shaped arrangement around a shared space and include a communal mirror. Things take an unexpected turn when they get out of control.
After I’m done cleaning my cubicle, an assistant leads two tall men into the changing area. It seems like the normal thing to do in this world.
After I’m done cleaning my cubicle, an assistant takes two tall, very handsome men into the changing area. It seems like the normal thing to do in this world. Charlotte Griffiths writes.
Two men clearly dressed as men appeared to be completely comfortable in the changing rooms of what I thought was women’s. It made me genuinely happy, if not offended.
It was something I had read about in high-street shops but didn’t expect to see for myself. Like the vast majority of women, I expect women’s changing rooms to be just that – for women.
It is obvious that I would like to know what the 6ft-high, muscular looking men are purchasing. They each seem to have a mixed pile of garments to try on – and one of them was the very same sequined top I had just tried.
Flemingly, I ask the assistant at the cash register if Zara has allowed men to use her feminine changing rooms.
She tells me the young girl in the changing room is brand new. It was probably a mistake. She promised to fix it.
I remain positive and continue my search for the perfect party top.
I return to the changing room after a while. It is now that I have very little time, and the bathrooms are all full. In a rush, I locate a spot in the common area and I take off my top. It’s okay to do so.
Or so I thought.
Again, I hear two male voices. I turn to see the two male voices from the previous night, still present in the changing area. I hear them talking over me as though I’m invisible. However, I feel visible. It’s my bra that makes me feel naked.
Crossing my arms across my chest as best as possible, I try to cover myself. I look at the ground, even though I don’t usually shrink from it, hoping that it will swallow my soul.
Once again, I call for assistance from the assistant.
“What’s the best thing we can do?” She shrugs and looks apologetic. “If this is their way of classifying themselves?
While she seems eager to help, she’s not sure what to do. So I decided to let it go.
I was mainly offended by the fact that I had to use a booth for my personal needs.
I was mostly offended by the fact that I had to use a booth for my personal needs. (file image).
Imagine if the woman was more reserved. In a room filled with semi-naked women and men, being shy can be difficult enough.
Later, I texted a friend who is a fashion editor to inquire about her thoughts. She replied that she thought it was hilarious and my teenage daughter would be terrified.
Instead of resigning to this communal space, I think I could have made my own way to the men’s changing area to check if they had a booth.
But in that scenario I would feel really uncomfortable – what woman would feel safe surrounded by half a dozen men, protected only by a flimsy curtain?
Later, I spoke to the manager of the branch and he said that they didn’t believe they had any specific instructions from headquarters regarding this issue. Zara’s spokesperson could not be reached last night to comment.
The manager stated that there have been complaints in certain stores about allowing men to enter the female changing room. In other stores, complaints are made when the managers don’t allow them.
I would have preferred to use the community area and walked to the men’s change room instead to find a place to rent a space (stock image).
We must be cautious, this is a sensitive time. People can easily offend.
“We simply have to be kind and not upset anybody, but we also need to take each case individually.
“As a general rule, women can take along women’s clothes for trying on. They may use the change rooms on the women’s floor.”
When I asked another employee if she was aware of the policy, she replied that she did.
How does it work when there are also women from conservative cultures in the change room?
The manager admits, “Yes, it is a problem at our Marble Arch branch.” This area houses a large Arabic population.
“Our decisions have to also depend on the ethnic profiles of other customers in this room at that time.” It’s a problem that’s been surfacing for at least two to three years.
Although she may seem to think I’m late, it doesn’t mean that I am. This is something I’ve never experienced before – and I hope to never experience again.
And I was late to the party – my office party, too.