CHRISTMAS AT THE DRAPERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 17

CHRISTMAS AT THE DRAPERS.

The purchase of wearing apparel suitable for Christmas is always a very important consideration in the preparations for that festive season, and a few particulars o some of the chief Wellington drapery shops will be read with interest. ? - c. SMITH, CUBA^STBEET. Theshowroom at this establishment contains a very iarge stock of ladies children’s millinery. The latter has been a specialty of the firm, and this year they are as up to date as ever. In the mantle room is displayed a large stock of blouses, of which a great feature is made this season, and there is also a Targe and varied assortment of raih-proof dust-coats, which ladies will find very useful,, especially when travelling. Brill costumes areulso to be found here in great variety, together with handsome-navy serge costumes and a new lot of silk mantles. The children s pelisses, coats, drill and washing Tunics, &c., are of the best quality and of latest designs ; and the washing skirts .should command a ready sale. The fancy department contains a really fine collection of laces, gloves, ribbons, belts in the newest styles, &c., and is a most attractive feature of the establishment. In the men’s department are the newest things in- shuts, ties,” &c., and the suits both for men and boys’are of good quality and make, and are marked at very low prices. Ip. fact, prices rule low throughout, and as handsonie- presents are . given away to purchasers, the - proprietor. is naturally experiencing a very busy time. TE ABO HOUSE. ‘ Christmas at Te Aro House is truly a time of bustle and activity, and so we found it the other day on entering that wellknown establishment. Right in the centre of the doorway and extending round the whole 6f the horseshoe counter, were the Christmas gifts and presents, embracing everything new, seasonable, useful and ornamental, from the rich hand-painted opal pictures to the latest thing in mechanical toys. ~ These presents are given on a liberal scale to each, customer, and we are told some 4000 have already been distributed.. It' was no easy matter to take particular note of anything, as each salesman was busy attending to the wants of his customer, but here '"and there we saw snowy piles of muslin aprons, festoons of laces and ribbons, dainty gloves in many shades of silk and kid, all fresh from the home factories. The most famous makes of Leicester hosiery are represented at one long counter. At another the products of English and German looms are contending with our own colonial industry for a share of the dress goods trade. This is one of the leading departments, and, judging from the ample stock displayed, ladies should find no difficulty in choosing to suit their tastes. In all departments the same busy | bustle of business was to be seen, the spacious carpet room being filled with ladies buying the thousand and . one things required for the season. ' The extensive resources of . the tailoring department are taxed • to the utmost limit in executing the orders for the holiday

season, and the strain here speaks volumes for the popularity of the well-known cutter, Mr Manifold. The gents’ mercery and clothing departments are also replete with latest novelties from the Home markets, and the choice of everything in gentlemen’s apparel is truly marvellous. During Mr Smith’s visit to Europe (from which he has just returned), we understand he was able to make further improvements to the already elaborate system of buying and despatching goods from the Home markets, so that a constant supply of the latest productions will be insured, and the premier position of Te Aro House maintained. L .. THE D.I.C. The D.I.C. have this year made special arrangements to cope with the usual crush. The large furniture show-room has been converted into a temporary toy arcade, prettily decorated, which is filled up with a most varied assortment of really amusing and inexpensive toys. In the centre is a large Christmas tree, presided over by Old Father Christmas in person, greatly to the r delight of the youngsters who pay him a visit. This new arrangement has the much-desired effect of relieving the great crush which is always experienced in the D.I.C. fancy goods showroom. The large space usually devoted to toys in this room is now occupied by really beautiful fancy goods. The variety and novelty shown in these goods is really surprising. They are all laid out on commodious stands, the visitor being thus enabled to obtain at a glance a comprehensive idea of these articles, and a close inspection reveals the prices marked .in plain figures, which reduces the labour of Christmas purchasing. to a minimum. The Christmas calendars and booklets are an especially attractive feature of this department, and we know of nothing nicer whereby to exchange the greetings of the season than with some of these beautiful and inexpensive little gems. There are also kid gloves, handkerchiefs and fancy drapery in great variety and at prices which cannot fail to tempt purchasers. Off the fancy goods show-room the visitor turns into the refreshment room, where are to be obtained a delicious cup of tea, fresh strawberries and other light refreshments served, up in a manner which renders them additionally tempting to the jaded purchaser. W e must not omit to mention the beautiful glass -ware, quaint China ware and good electro-plate which are displayed in a manner which insensibly tempts the visitor to make' a purchase. We can recommend a visit-to the D.I.C. THE ECONOMIC. The windows of the Economic have been a prominent feature of Lanxbton quay ever since the business first started, and as prepared for Christmas they are even more attractive than, usual. • The festoons of lace, and the stylish millinery there displayed, the fancy goods of every description, are arranged in;a n atmer which reflects very great credit on the dresser, and at once arrests the attention of the passer-by. Inside everything has been done to meet the holiday requirements of the public, not the least important of the goods displayed being some very useful picnic baskets of novel shapes and of all sizes. There are also some very handsome travelling costumes, ladies’ fashionable shirts, some very pretty children’s clothing, and French knickknacks and chinaware in great. variety, including the latest designs in albums.

KIBKCALDIE AND STAINS. This year this old-established firm has departed from the usual custom of showing fancy goods/toys, &c., as they find there is a greatly Tncre.ased demand for more useful gifts, and they have therefore devoted themselves to acquiring a magnificent stock of fashionable and useful drapery goods suitable for. the present season. Their brilliant window display is worth noticing. Before entering the establishment one is confronted with some pretty ladies’ shirts and blouses, ladies tea and dressing-gowns, trimmed in most elaborate styles, ladies’ lingerie, viz., ties, bows, fichus, handerchiefs, frillings, parasols, /lacos, &c. Thore is also a splendid show of summer hats/ and all millinery goods suitable for the holiday season, and an endless variety of children s sun hats • and bonnets. The lace department has some very tempting initial handkerchiefs, lace scarves, lace handkerchiefs, parasols, sashes, collarettes, aprons, and ladies’ blouses in cotton, cambric, lawn, zephyr, silk and delaine. Each successive year has shown greatly increased business in. the ladies’ glove department.

Kirkcaldie and Stains make a specialty of Ernest Calvat’s French kid gloves, and it is no wonder they do a large business with such low prices as one sees marked. Ladies’ umbrellas and parasols are in close proximity to the last-named department, and contains very many pretty handles, and the. next departments are for the display of ladies’ and children’s stockings, ladies’ hand bags and purses, fans, perfumery, &e, &c. The large dress-room is nicely decorated with some really handsome textiles in woollens, delaines, silks, zephyrs and cotton goods; also some special dresses specially adapted for presents for domestics. The display made by this firm is equal, if not in advance of, past Christmas displays. WARNOCK AND ADJUST. No presents are given away by this firm to purchasers, but instead all goods are marked at very low prices, and the great pressure which is being experienced shows that the purchasing public highly appreciate the concessions made. The show-room contains a recent shipment of ladies’ hats of the latest shapes and best makes; the trimmed hats are consistently stylish, and there is also a large stock of flowers and garniture of every description. Among the latest things in teagowns is one of cream satin and striped crepon, trimmed with coffee lace and salmon-pink ribbons, and another shell-pink crepon, trimmed with coffee lace insertion and pale green ribbons. The show-room is well worth a visit. The stock of sunshades is a large one, and there is also a very varied assortment of aprons, of which Messrs Warnock and Adkin have long made a specialty. A large assortment of J. ahd R. Morley’s celebrated hosiery has just been opened, and the show of gloves, laces and fancy goods is of the most complete description. One of the special features in the establishment is the stock of blouses, of which there is a most varied assortment. Last year no less than 140 dozen blouses were sold by this firm, and there is every indication that that record will be broken in the current year—a sufficient indication, if any were needed, of the quality of the goods sold. In the men’s department everything that can possibly be required for outfits is provided, together with a large stock of travelling bags, and the public can confidently rely on getting a really good article at the lowest possible price.