BOOKSHELF THE BRA’S THE STAR
June Kenton is the queen of British lingerie and has measured up everyone from royals to celebrities.
looks back at her career units in Brixton with her future husband Harold back in 1961. They built up the business over the years and made Contour – their company name – a success before they bought bespoke corsetry company Rigby & Peller in Mayfair in 1982.
The business was struggling at the time, but it had a Royal Warrant and had provided a service to the Queen for 22 years.
It was the last made-to-measure corsetry business in the UK and June remembers signing over a cheque for £20,000 and then working hard to build up trade and customers.
Her royal clients included Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother. They were also asked to make monster bras for The Benny Hill Show and The Two Ronnies over the years, but their main focus was on helping women to be fitted with the right bra for their body shape.
June points out: “Most women think twice about spending, say, £75 on a bra, but once you have one on, you immediately feel the difference.
“Someone who understood this right away is the wonderful comedian Jo Brand. Jo first came into Rigby & Peller with Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine to film an episode for their hugely successful television series, What Not To Wear. Jo needed help but was not 100% convinced that was possible. A short spell in the fitting room changed all that.”
Jo was so thrilled that she came back and bought £2,000 worth of gift vouchers so her friends and family could enjoy the same experience.
June has always been passionate about mastectomy after-care and had to face her own battle with breast cancer in 2007. She says: “I try hard not to dwell on the sad things of the past – or the sad things of today – because I have led a full and rich life.”
Meanwhile, the secrets of the Queen’s undies are safe with the discrete 81-year-old. June says: “Don’t think for a moment I could be tempted to share intimate details of anyone, let alone the Queen of England. I’d rather be sent to the Tower.” June’s most high-profile client, Her Majesty the Queen. Inset above: The launch of Rigby & Peller’s new range back in 1988