A MILLINERY PARADISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 9

A MILLINERY PARADISE.

BON" MARCHE EXPOSITION 1 . A CREDIT TO NEW ZEALAND. It is not exaggerating to say that the Bon Marche millinery display for this Easter season eclipses anything of its kind ever seen in New Zealand, and much-travelled experts who have been in the world's largest centres have lately declared that nothing to equal this comprehensive showing of millinery is to be seen either in I'aris, London or New York, and this is certainly a compliment and one that reflects credit on Mr. Zahara. whose worldwide experience is reflected in the organisation of this wonderful spectacle, embracing a phenomenal show of hats in an arrangement and blending of colours that inspires imagination. It dazzles and is the kind of exposition—the only word possible- -that defies, rather than beggars, the average meed of description. Hats of innumerable make—small, large, broad and narrow, hats for children and hats for grownups; in truth, hats by the thousand for dress, driving, rain and sun wear, varying from the glorious twenty-guinea kind, surmounted with the splendour of bird of paradise, down to the good value, plain 7/11 hat. mingle in the blaze of colour. The model ribbon hats are a special feature.

But the Bon Marche goes much furIher than the mere retailing of hats in the normal sense. It provides for and encourages initiative on the part of the

''•Home Milliner" who makes and trims . her own h;its. There are llowers, I feathers and mounts—literally millions iof them—that make one wonder how ; such things could be thought of and j made in such infinite variety. The ribbons, too, are magnificent in their pa- ! gentry of colours, the new tapestry de- ' signs and the transparent organdie being very attractive. The firm also sells materials for making hats and I shapes to be covered. A captivating ■ show case inside the main door contain.* J all the latest French head-dress creaj tions and other dainties for ladies. Hair ] ornaments, fancy hat pins and also I evening dress trimmings of exclusive j kinds are beheld. The exposition is ' probably unbelievable to the avcI rage person who has no*, seen it, I especially now that the up-to-j date building is completed. It has a frontage of 100 feet by a depth of -00 foot, with two rows of island windows, 28 in all. It has been designed and carried out by two rising young men ol the city—Mr. Sinclair O'Connor, architect, and A. E. Blackmail, builder. The lighting, which is of the invisible effect, was done by Messrs. (rosher and Sons, and the flooring is done with "Fama" j stoiievvood to match the interior and I exterior colouring and design. J The history of this firm is rather inter- ■ esting. It "dates back only 16 years, ! with "a modest shop of U" feet by i>o ' feet deep, and within this short period !it is without a doubt the foremost and 1 most remarkable store of its kind in the world. A visit would bp as interesting and instructive as if one visited a famous j picture gallery.