FASHION ALMIGHTY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1932, Page 7

FASHION ALMIGHTY

CONFERENCE OF DRAPERS,

LONDON, September 7

“The country that controls fashions controls the world!” That is the view of some delegates at the drapers’ summer school, and they are all agreed that fashion is commerce’s greatest stimulant. Women’s wiles and whims are generally under dissection of the school. ‘There are fashions in everything nowadays,” said Mr Holbrook Jackson “even in the human face and form. Parents are uncertain whether their daughters will come to dinner with the same face" which they -wore at breakfast, and nobody is able to forecast, the shape of woman ten years lienee.”

The manager of Harrods delivered a blow at a feminine' foible by saying that no modern store could disregard the “on approval” system, but,Harrods had been, forced to affix immovable metal' tabs on furs, wraps, and coats to prevent women wearing them once and then returning them. During a discussion on women’s changing of buying habits, delegates emphasised that whereas the pre-war draper satisfied customers with five sizes! of garments and six styles of shoes, he now must keep thirty sixer of garments and 150 styles of shoes. Victoria Chappelle, writing in the “Daily Mail,” says that the hair line is such an important feature in the choice) of the new season’s hats that a: visit to the hairdresser to obtain tile latest coiffure should precede a hat-buying excursion, Otherwise women might be forced to buy last year’s styles,