One of Lismore's institutional businesses will be closing its doors on Monday, December 23, after 31 years in business at the same Lismore CBD location.

Robyn Lattimer opened the Fémme Mystique doors in the Strand Arcade in October 1993 and has not only survived but thrived in the Lismore CBD despite decades of floods.

Robyn worked in lingerie in Sydney when she was a youthful 18-year-old.

"There was a brand called Lovable, it's now been deleted, and I was the original Lovable girl," Robyn reminisced with the Lismore App, "We wore a white uniform with a red heart."

"Then I sort of did various things, interior design, got married, had my children, and didn't go back to work for quite a while. Then, I got a job in a pharmacy. I did a Pharmacy course, was offered a job in pharmacy and was there for about three or so years."

"I was then offered a job at a lingerie in Lismore that had a branch in Coffs Harbour, and worked there for about three or four years."

"Then this shop became vacant, and I was asked whether I'd like to start my own business. So I thought, Well, why not?"

Apart from various lingerie brands, Fémme Mystique was well-known for the brand Amoena.

Amoena is one of the leading brands of mastectomy forms and bras that support women diagnosed with breast cancer.

"A lady came into me one day, and she said, I can't tell you who I am, but I want you to ring such and such a number and tell them who you are and what you do regarding mastectomy for women. So I phoned the number, and it happened to be the Lismore Base Hospital. They offered me a contract to supply and fit breast prostheses for mastectomy women. After my contract with Lismore Base Hospital, I got a phone call from St Vincent's, and they ended up giving me a contract as well.

"And that's been the majority of what I've actually done over the last 31 years."

The sad part of Robyn's closure is that Amoena, at this stage, goes with her. There will be no shop in Lismore which carries the Amoena range.

"There's a lady in Ballina who's just started. So, other than that, I think Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads would be about the closest place.

"I've absolutely loved it. It's been just so rewarding to be able to help a woman get her femininity back. I guess because we women have got bumps in our jumper, and at the time of a mastectomy, most women's femininity and sexuality is very challenged. So, to give them their feminine shape back has been just amazing. I've absolutely loved every minute of it.

"I've made some lovely friends, some lovely ladies that come in on a regular basis just to say hi and have a chat. It's what's been so rewarding for me; I've loved it."

This could be an opportunity for someone in Lismore, although there is a great deal of training involved. Robyn would be happy to pass on contacts to anyone willing to carry the Amoena torch into the future.

Robyn is not keen on closing Fémme Mystique, she is doing so kicking and screaming.

"I guess Warren's retiring (her husband Warren Lattimer), but I'm getting tired, and my health's not what it used to be, obviously, because I'm getting older. But it's time for me to go. There comes a time for everybody when they've got to just learn to say no, which is a very hard word to say."

The final day for Fémme Mystique will be the final day of 2024 (Tuesday, December 31). However, the final day of trading will be Monday, December 23.

Robyn wants to clear the store of all its stock, apart from a few items for her daughter and daughter-in-law and one or two for herself, which means 50% off everything.

"There's the beautiful nightwear, French Country and Schrank. The bras and briefs are Burlei, Triumph, Ambra, Fine Lines and Amoena, the mastectomy bras."

As for what's next for Robyn, and Warren, once Fémme Mystique is closed, family is at the top of the agenda.

"Our family is in Canberra and Sydney, and I'd like to see more of my grandchildren, the little ones are all young. The eldest is 14, he's in Canberra, and then there's two little girls that are three and six and a 12-year-old grandson in Sydney. I'd like to see more of them and go to their sporting events. The younger of the two grandsons plays water polo, so we always go and watch him play water polo, and if we were down there in winter, we'd go and watch him play soccer. The one in Canberra has just taken up tennis, and he was playing soccer too."

"I think it's nice for children to have that extended family and know that they're loved by others than their parents."

Fémme Mystique is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm.

You can call Robyn on (02) 6622 3434.