The strange death of the changing room

Brandy Melville has closed all its fitting rooms across stores in the UK, US and Canada, prompting outcry on social media. One TikTok user asked, 'Why does Brandy hate [its] customers?' while another wrote, 'How am I supposed to know if it’s cute on me?!' The move follows other retailers: Sainsbury’s permanently closed its changing rooms in 2025 to 'simplify tasks in stores', and Goodwill shut its rooms in 2023 citing unmanageable staffing expenses.

Brandy Melville has not explained its decision; online reports point to rising shoplifting and the TikTok 'gum issue', where customers use chewing gum to hold thin curtains together for privacy. The removal of in‑store trying‑on comes as the British high street faces a wider crisis.

Inflation, geopolitical events and a shift to online shopping have left many shops struggling; in April British retailers reported the highest year‑on‑year decline in sales in more than 40 years, and boarded up buildings and record shoplifting are now common.

UK, US, Canada

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