Debenhams build wind tunnel so shoppers can check if their dresses have unwanted lift-off

Avoid embarrassment and test out your dress
The Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to Calgary, Canada (left) and Sophie Atkins and Abbie Leek test out the wind tunnel at Debenhams in Oxford Street (Pictures: Rex/Alex Lentati)
Rex/Alex Lentati

Whether standing on a Tube platform as the train rushes past or posing for photographs at a wedding, most women have experienced it — the mortifying moment a gust of wind whips up their dress and reveals more than they intended.

Even style icons such as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Moss and Kim Kardashian are not immune to “gale fail”.

So Debenhams has come up with an answer — a wind tunnel where customers can check whether their outfits can cope with the vagaries of the British summer.

The “wind-test” service will be available over the bank holiday weekend at the retailer’s flagship Oxford Street store. Customers can book a session with a stylist who will advise them on which outfits and accessories will be the most windproof. After the consultation, in the personal styling suite, they can test out the outfits in the wind tunnel.

Its two industrial fans can be adjusted to mimic everything from a gentle breeze to 40mph winds.

Alain Mehada, head of personal styling at Debenhams Oxford Street, said the store was keen to provide the service in time for summer weddings and sporting events. He said: “It can ruin a special day when someone has spent a long time choosing what to wear, only to find themselves battling with the wind and holding on to their hat with one hand and the hem of their skirt with the other.

“A big part of many summer events is wearing a special outfit that makes you feel confident you look your best, but relaxed enough to enjoy the day. It is very difficult to do that if you are worried about your dress flying up, or your lovely new hat soaring off into the distance.”

His top tips include wearing mid-calf to maxi length dresses, as they are less likely to lift — and avoiding large-brimmed hats, as they tend to fly off in a breeze.

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