Page 42 - 192_
P. 42
including china, haberdashery, confectionery, hardware and even
provisions.
We all do our shopping for clothes in that same big department
store. Last month we bought a nice summer frock for myself. The
assistant showed me a green frock which I liked very much, and all the
more so when I tried it on and admired myself in the dressing-room
mirror. My husband suggested we also buy a hand-bag to match, which
we did.
For suits, my husband prefers all-round wool in gray or navy-
blue. In the department store they always have a broad selection of grays
and blues in the line of men’s clothes. We got him a gray suit but it was
a bit broad in the shoulders and long in the sleeves, so they offered some
light alterations free. They took his measurements and asked us to leave
his purchase in the shop until the next day. They delivered it to our
place. We also decided to get him a tie to match. Some ties were in solid
colors and some in horizontal stripes. He wanted a knit tie, but it was a
problem to tie it properly – without getting too big a knot. So we got a
pure silk tie that tied up very well. The shop-assistant persuaded us to
buy a buttoned down shirt to wear with the tie.
We had some trouble choosing a pair of quality shoes for our
son. He must have outgrown his size. All the shoes that he tried on were
either pinching his toes or were tight through the instep. But when they
offered us a pair a size larger, it fit him well. We paid for it at the
cashier’s counter, and while the bill was being receipted (printed), the
assistant ran a ribbon two times round the shoe-box and handed it over to
us. On the way back we dropped in at the hosiery department and bought
him a pair of nice socks to match. We were perfectly outfitted and went
home quite happy.
***
Text 6
FASHION IS WHAT PEOPLE BUY
European fashion is made in Paris, Milan, Munich, and
Dusseldorf. To be more precise, at wholesale fairs held in those cities at
which the manufacturers of clothes, footwear and accessories show their
offerings for the coming season.
48