A VISIT TO W. STRANGE AND CO., HIGH STEEET.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8589, 16 September 1893, Page 5

A VISIT TO W. STRANGE AND CO., HIGH STEEET.

(By a Visitor.)

I After an absence of some years from ! Christchurch, several new "and enlarged buildings attracted my intention. Prominently among these was the business premises of the above-mentioned firm grown to such dimensions that it is scarcely recognisable, for it has taken in what used to be known as the premises of Messrs Lake and Wilkinson respectively, and an old landmark in Lichfield street known as " Uncle Sam's." The appearance of the present! pile of buildings is very handsome, with a splendid frontage on Hijjh street, and another in Lichfield street. The High street frontage is the show position, and the handsome plate-glass windows, perfectly dressed, attract the attention ot* passers by, not a few of whom, as I did, cuter on a tour of inspection. The department approached by the MAIN ENTRANCE is 100 ft by 36ft, perfectly lighted from the roof, and "tinted and pricked out in dove colour, salmon and gold. The busy scene to which one is here introduced is but a hint of thit which prevails over ; all the various departments. Household i linen, French goods, shirtings, and the j lighter wares of ribbons, laces, trimmings, j gloves, hosier}*, &c, are here in abundant* variety, and had there not been so much to see elsewhere, one might have loitered away half the morning admiring the various goods. From this large compartment there leads off the Tailoring Department; also ready-made clothing, men's mercery, &c. This also has a frontage and entrance from High street, and is replete with all the newest of gentleman's goods. A stairway leads upstairs to the cutting and fitting rooms and the large work rooms—one set* apart for the tailors and the other for the tailoresses—where the busy machines told their own tale. The showroom for the tweeds was well stocked, and everything that a man's heart could desire in the way of clothing seemed to have been provided. Descending to the Ladies' Show Room, one seemed to have strayed into a spring garden. The millinery is exquisite this year. I saw so many workb of art in bonnets and hats that it is difficult to particularise. Heliotrope and gold seem to take the lead, although there are in all the diverse colours that are worn exquisite millinery to choose from. A bonnet should be seen and not described. The description does it es much harm as rough handling. Indeed, memory has grown confused trying to recollect half what I saw. There were dainty little shapes in the new leather and twisted straws, lovely flowers, gold wings, cunning knots, and the " one* o'clocks" one used to gather in the fields, looking as though a puff would blow them away; bullrushes, apple-green ribbons, tan and nutmeg colours, and a profusion of jets, and all the new Cashmere - tints, Japanese straws, Russian shapes, flop-trimmed hats, with trimmings piled high, and among all the colour and tinting the old-fashioned puce, that is neither heliotrope nor violet, holds its long-waited-for day. The mantles, like the millinery, are better seen than described. They are for the most part quaint shoulder capes, in which velvet, silk and lace play a prominent part. Some have bunched epaulettes and others long flat capes, that should, to complete the picture, be surmounted by a poke bonnet. The old day of simple, severe dress has passed; and' we are, at least for the present, in a season of oddities, pleasing because of their picturesqueness. The jackets are as uncommon as the mantles, Zouave among other shapes, and almost invariably made with deep shoulder capes. The colours are not at all dull, greens and tans playing a prominent part in these out-garments. The dust cloaks even are mostly in colours, and a variety of quaint little capes reminded one of old pictures where the maidens wore "cottage"' bonnets. Charming tea gowns made one loiter with subdued exclamations of delight. The blending of colour in these delightful indoor garments was perfects-terra cottas and Einks, cornflower blue and tan, crimson and lack, black and antique silks, heliotrope and creams, gold, purple, greys, with exquisite lace and design; it would be impossible for a woman to look anything but pretty in such a garment. The CniLDRENS" CLOTHES were beautiful. These were the daintiest of embroidered costumes in soft silk and woollen stuffs, with quaint little bonnets to match. Such costumes make little pictures of the children, so different from the old, ugly, stiff styles of a few years ago—all starch and blue. These French' smocked frocks look sensible and soft to wear. THE DRESS DEPARTMENT, large, well-lighted and lofty, came next, and an hour was spent in studying the new designs and colours. This will be the gayest of gay seasons. There are shots in all shades and materials, and green takes a prominent part among the tans, which, in various shades, will perhaps take the lead. Diagonal spotted goods in delicate shades of grey and other colours are particularly enticing, he* cause there is only one dress of each piece, and no woman likes to meet a dozen duplicates of her gown the first day she wean it. One dress I saw was in the new scroll pattern in grey, another in Hopsack coarse cloth in slate. Fawns, crepon, scrolls, violet, puce, green, drab, all were in large variety, with the old Paisley pattern. Innumerable silks and velvets are for trimmings, and velvet I see will enter largely into the trimming of gowns as well as mantles. THE FUBNISHIXO DEPARTMENT has a large frontage on Lichfield Btreet. It is a very long and lofty department, and is well stocked with carpels, rugs, matting*, curtains, art muslins, etc Upstairs, leading from this, is another large department where the reserve stock is stored, and from that there are handsome suites' of offices. Every way one turns there is a fresh surprise. The establishment of Strange and Co. is certainly an ornament to the city. A business of such dimensions— the centre of so much industry, cannot fail not only to draw attention to itself and the excellence of its management —but to be a public good, and that the management ia excellent is undeniable. The very large number of assistants in the various departments, well trained and methodical, ail work under their various heads skilfully and with dispatch. No request seems too trivial to meet with courteous attention, n» order too large to secure prompt execution. Under such management a youth entering this establishment has every chance, if he be diligent and persevering, of gradually working himself into a place of trust. There is a smart briskness about the movements of all connected with the establishment that testifies to the fact that they are interested in their department, and customers soon discover that they are dealing with men and! women whose desire is to meet their wants. The growth of the business is no doubt largely due to that attention to detail which is an important factor in all success. It is scarcely credible that the business has made such enormous strides since its ' reorganisation in February of last year.