What’s available

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 10 (Supplement)

What’s available

UNDERWEAR shopping can be a treasure hunt. The main brands are widely available but smaller labels have to be searched out. In Christchurch specialist lingerie shops stock varying ranges. Some of the department stores carry special collections also. Imported items are harder to track down here than in Wellington and Auckland where several stores show top French brands. Panache does have a limited range of French luxury “Lou” and “Aubade” brands. Minskey’s stocks Gossard from England and some of the best New Zealand-made goods, including the Dunedin-made Butterflies pieces

which are also at Quinns and J. Ballantyne and Co., Ltd. These comisoles, French knickers and slips are in heavy silk. Other labels to watch for are “Chaste” of Wellington, and Christ-church-made “Suggestions.” Phaedra, a new lingerie shop in Christlchurch, offers less expensive lines and a made-to-measure service, with a willingness to interpret customer designers. Following “Out of Africa” fashion influences it even made up an animal print teddy. Suburban and country outlets which might not have the turnover to bulk buy the main brands often replace them with interesting choices worth considering.