Ellen Straatman-Klein has been in the bra business for over 30 years. Originally from Germany, Ellen began her career selling bras and girdles to European women looking to shape their appearance with high-quality lingerie. In 1996, Ellen departed to start a new life in in Canada.
“I moved to Edmonton and worked in the retail industry to get an idea of the Canadian market,” Ellen says. In 2005, when the opportunity for a good location came up, she felt ready to make the leap into owning her own business, and Bijou Lingerie & Swimwear was born.
Located in the Westgate Shopping Centre, the store is open Monday to Saturday, with later hours on Thursdays. The swimwear here is meant for busty ladies — suits are available in cup sizes D to G. In addition to several cute one-piece swimsuits in a variety of colours, they also sell beach cover-ups. Pick up a bottle of their special swimwear wash to use on your new suit to keep it looking sharp for as long as possible.