Why does an exotic dancer need clothes?

When Evola started her business it was a nail salon with a small sideline in clothing. “My taste in clothing is probably a little bit more east or west coast, but not midwest,” she says. “I love sexy clothes.” In search of the right stuff, she traveled to garment shows in California and Florida, but she wasn’t moving much of this merchandise until a substantial number of dancers began patronizing her shop. Soon she was taking special orders for boots, thongs, bustiers, teddies, collars, decollete mini dresses, garters, and other tools of the exotic dancer’s trade.

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In 1998 Evola phased out manicures at The Great Put On, expanded her clothing inventory, and took a part-time job as a cocktail waitress at the Crazy Horse Too, a club on North Kingsbury. Initially her idea was to get to know the entertainers and invite them to her store, but she soon started bringing clothes to the club, a single rack at a time at first. From there, she says, it started to become a circuit.

“So why is it on the rack then?” Sky demands.

“A lot of men like to do that,” agrees Evola. “A lot of men have little fantasies, little fetishes, and they’ll say, ‘OK, you can only wear this for me when I’m here.’”