Back In The Day

[Silver Fox]

So many thanks for all those vivid memories Vienna, that has certainly triggered off a few with me of those times as we must have been growing up, children and teens in the ‘50’s & 60’s?I have always had a weakness for jewellery,not of the precious kind and there was a hairdresser in my small town who in their entrance hall had a showcase of costume pieces etc. My best school friend & I used to stand for hours gazing at this stuff.I don’t think anyone bought because the same things were always there.Woolies ‘ jewellery’ counter was my idea of heaven, those poppet beads?
The shops were small and individual and really special clothes, I remember things I wore then and there is nothing in my wardrobe now to match them.In the 60’s when I went away to college to the BIG city there was C&A & I loved Wallis.I had mink eyelashes and my hair was never going to make the Vidal Mary Quant style bob until he brought out a short curly cut in the mid 60’s & my time had come! I used to go to the Sassoon salon in Bond St. In the early 70’s, the man himself had gone to the US. by then.You were in there for hours, mainly sitting waiting for the stylists to deem to touch your hair!
Biba in Church St. Kensington? But I was not a Biba girl or even Mary Quant.I did have a pair of yellow MQ plastic ankle boots & there was an identical pair in the MQ exhibition at the V&A, was that 2019? Is there a message when you see something like you once owned in a Museum?!

 

[Dame Fondacox]

I was never a fan of Debenhams and for me, it was always one step up from an outlet store. I passed a branch that was open, with "massive reductions" signs in the windows and I wasn't even tempted to see if there were any bargains amidst all the tat.

John Lewis is by far my favourite department store and it's a shame that even they've started to close branches. I think they could have kept them open if they incorporated a Waitrose foodhall in their stores. My local JL has a huge haberdashery section, which is so outdated and much better suited to online sales. I used their curtain service a few years back and all the still had to send me samples of the materials they had on the racks so I could check the various options at home before ordering.

I've noticed M&S are now stocking Jaeger.

 

[Twilight]

In the small town where I was born and bred we once boasted a small shopping arcade aptly named Victoria Arcade because it was built in Victorian times. There were only around a dozen shops in it and each shop had a bay window and wrought iron work around the doors and fancy plaster coving and ceiling roses inside.
There was a herbalist who had large jars of dried herbs on wooden shelves behind the counter and scales to weigh out whatever you bought. The shop smelled aromatic and at one side was a small counter where you could sit and drink a glass of what was called blood tonic. It was served warm and tasted delicious. My Dad used to take me in there and buy me a glass.
There was a tobacconists and under the glass counter were rows of cigars and trays of pipes. They sold smart cigarette cases and cigarette holders and leather humidifiers for those posh folks who could afford to buy expensive cigars and of course there were the usual behind the counter shelves with packets of No 6, Embassy, Benson and Hedges, Senior Service, Players etc.
The two shops which I loved most of all were one on each corner of the arcade entrance which meant they had two windows instead of one. They were both owned by a well know character who I`ll call Mary B. I`ll omit her surname just in case she has living relatives who may read this.
She was a tall ironing board thin woman who spoke with a cultured voice and she wore too much face powder in a too light shade which gave her a kind of ghostly look. Her hair was dyed auburn and even in the early 60`s which is the era I`m talking about, she still wore her hair in a 1940`s wavy style and she always had bright red lips and matching bright red finger nails. Nobody had a clue how old she actually was but she seemed to have been around forever.
One of her shops sold bags, purses, umbrellas and small leather goods. There were sequin evening bags, leather day bags, fancy patterned umbrellas and large cumbersome purses which would last forever. The shop smelled of leather and the bags were regimented in rows by colour and you weren`t allowed to touch them, only Mary or her sales assistant could do that.
She had two tiny yorkie terriers which slept in a wicker basket behind the counter but they`d yap whenever the shop bell rang with a tinga-ling sound and she`d shoo them back into their place.
Her other shop was the one I really liked. It sold costume jewellery, scarves, powder compacts, jewellery boxes and other eye catching fancy goods. Mary split her time between both shops and you`d regularly see her walking through town with her two terriers and she sashayed as she walked, a bit like the runway models of yesteryear did. She always wore a hat which was usually the size of a dustbin lid, a velvet creation in Winter with a fancy pleated crown and a straw hat in Summer with a chiffon scarf tied around it. She wore a real fur coat which reminded me of seeing Liz Taylor on TV and if ever a woman walked tall then it was she. She looked as if she had the World at her feet.
My parents loved ballroom dancing and would hit the floor at Blackpool Tower Ballroom whenever they could and they`d swirl to the Wurlitzer organ as it rose up through the stage. Of course this meant Mum had to own the required silver sparkly dancing shoes and whenever she could afford it she`d go to Mary`s shop and treat herself to a new pair of sparkly clip on earrings or a box of embroidered handkerchiefs.
I remember my Dad buying Mum a jewellery box from Mary`s and it was a wooden piano, handpainted in white with roses on it and when you lifted the lid a tiny ballerina danced to the tinny tune it played. Mum died in 1987 and she still had that jewellery box on her dressing table along with a hand mirror, brush and comb which were large with silver handles and the back of the mirror and brush had embroidered fabric under a perspex covering.
Come the late 1960`s the powers that be, decided Victoria Arcade should be no more and in it`s place they were going to build new shop units for the likes of Burtons, Rumbelows TV rentals, Boots, Freeman Hardy Willis etc and what was once a shoppers delight of character filled Victorian style shops filled with colourful and original wares had gone. No more browsing windows on your way home from school or work, no more Marys or her ilk, no more young courting couples sneaking a kiss in an arcade shop doorway on their way home from an evening viewing at the nearby Odeon and they called it progress.
Long after her shops had gone you still saw Mary sashaying down the streets with her fur coat, dustbin lid sized hats and reminding us soon to be young ladies of times gone by. We all wanted to be like Mary that is until Twiggy arrived and then we all wanted fake eye lashes and a Vidal Sasson haircut and we called that progress too.

A Vienna Special. I could see your memories & have copied this to keep because if you don't write that book I'm going to have use your words in some way, shape or form.

 

[donna255]

I was never a fan of Debenhams and for me, it was always one step up from an outlet store. I passed a branch that was open, with "massive reductions" signs in the windows and I wasn't even tempted to see if there were any bargains amidst all the tat.

John Lewis is by far my favourite department store and it's a shame that even they've started to close branches. I think they could have kept them open if they incorporated a Waitrose foodhall in their stores. My local JL has a huge haberdashery section, which is so outdated and much better suited to online sales. I used their curtain service a few years back and all the still had to send me samples of the materials they had on the racks so I could check the various options at home before ordering.

I've noticed M&S are now stocking Jaeger.

Yes, M&S bought Jaeger went they went under.

 

[merryone]

I'm actually jealous of those of you who've got a Debenhams or anything remotely upmarket. We have nothing left here. It's depressing going down the high street.

sniff
bowed head at the memory of what once was

I shall miss Debenhams. I'm not a great lover of shopping any more, it doesn't excite me like it used to do when I was younger. I used to love trawling round the shops buying clothes and other stuff, but now I shop more from necessity, and I find it easier to tap into google and find the best deal online and order it. What I will miss about the likes of Debenhams is the "one stop shop element" because it's a department store - I've become tired and lazy in my old age, and this does make shopping a lot less strenuous. The original Debenhams in our town also had a lovely cafe, but when it went to the mall it didn't.

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

Yes, M&S bought Jaeger went they went under.

Are all these new brands on line only?

I want changing rooms to open I can’t be bothered with ordering umpteen sizes and taking back.

 

[Twilight]

I went into town this morning & it was wonderful to see so many people in the High Street. My parents moved here in 1965, the town was famous for glass making, there was a fair amount of wealthy residents & most of the shops were independents. Like many places it became over commercialised & quite ugly & the creation of a large shopping mall nearby meant more shops closing & their premises being taken over by charities. Ironically a new Tesco Extra breathed life back into the town centre, we've now got more privately owned shops than there have been for years & there are a few houses being built alongside these.

 

[Deleted member 21102]

Vienna, seriously, I agree with Twilight. You speak about times and places long gone but they seem so real, you should be making use of your gift for making things come alive on the page. I'd much rather read your posts than the rubbish some of the presenters have written and I've read much worse in printed biographies.

A Vienna Special. I could see your memories & have copied this to keep because if you don't write that book I'm going to have use your words in some way, shape or form.

 

[SusieSue]

My little town was really busy yesterday, as was my little store.

We took the most money on a single day since we reopened and there were just two of us working as the company has decided that the best was to afford the new higher levels of the National Living Wage is to cut hours, I've dropped from 39 hours to 30 hours a week (they still expect us to do the same amount of work though!)

 

[donna255]

Are all these new brands on line only?

I want changing rooms to open I can’t be bothered with ordering umpteen sizes and taking back.

I will say Sprucefield will have them. Belfast City Centre one no. I remember asking about different things petite length jeans being one and told oh Spruce only or online. There was something else which I forget now but also told Sprucefield only. It is considered an A store so will have bigger range, Belfast is B and Forestside a C, so it depends on the store rating what clothes etc they will stock. I have looked for v neck merino wool jumpers in Forestside and told no they do not stock them just city centre or Sprucefield.

 

[donna255]

I nipped into town yesterday morning, did my usual Saturday bus just before 9 am on the 11.20 am bus home. Even at just after 9 am loads of people, queues for the clothes shops.

House of Fraser was stated online opening at 9 but did not open until 9.30 and there was a queue. I had been in TKMaxx for a quick nose then arrived at 9.25 to a queue outside. Went in had a chat with a few people at counters I know. Jacqui we talked her new kitten, for ages I have known her for years when she worked in Debenhams. There others at perfume/cosmetic counters.

SpaceNK, I had a £10 voucher used on a Diptyque candle and chatted with them about all sorts. Sad to find out two staff members had been let go, one I have known for years, and we used to talk about all sorts. She even used to talk be out of buying things! Why are you buying that? You already have this one and the colours are nearly the same. Showing me photos of her grandchildren.

There will be so many retail staff let go now and so much harder to get a job.

 

[China Girl]

Vienna, I have just read your post, absolutely brilliant, what wonderful memories to have

 

[ERICS MUM]

We are lucky with nearby Chelmsford. A new shopping area was built from scratch about 5 years ago, with a new John Lewis at its centre. Seems this branch is staying put (fingers crossed this doesn’t change). We now have L’Occitane, Wilkins of Tiptree (jams, fruit gins and cream teas !), The White Store, Jo Jo Maman Bebe, London Grace (nail bar and cocktails) to name just a few, an Everyman cinema, plus lots of eateries along the riverside. All this just off the high street, with its own wide range of shops. Plus our 2 markets. Large Debenhams seemed popular but alas....

we are spoilt, a commuter town into the City of London.

 

[Almerinda]

In the small town where I was born and bred we once boasted a small shopping arcade aptly named Victoria Arcade because it was built in Victorian times. There were only around a dozen shops in it and each shop had a bay window and wrought iron work around the doors and fancy plaster coving and ceiling roses inside.
There was a herbalist who had large jars of dried herbs on wooden shelves behind the counter and scales to weigh out whatever you bought. The shop smelled aromatic and at one side was a small counter where you could sit and drink a glass of what was called blood tonic. It was served warm and tasted delicious. My Dad used to take me in there and buy me a glass.
There was a tobacconists and under the glass counter were rows of cigars and trays of pipes. They sold smart cigarette cases and cigarette holders and leather humidifiers for those posh folks who could afford to buy expensive cigars and of course there were the usual behind the counter shelves with packets of No 6, Embassy, Benson and Hedges, Senior Service, Players etc.
The two shops which I loved most of all were one on each corner of the arcade entrance which meant they had two windows instead of one. They were both owned by a well know character who I`ll call Mary B. I`ll omit her surname just in case she has living relatives who may read this.
She was a tall ironing board thin woman who spoke with a cultured voice and she wore too much face powder in a too light shade which gave her a kind of ghostly look. Her hair was dyed auburn and even in the early 60`s which is the era I`m talking about, she still wore her hair in a 1940`s wavy style and she always had bright red lips and matching bright red finger nails. Nobody had a clue how old she actually was but she seemed to have been around forever.
One of her shops sold bags, purses, umbrellas and small leather goods. There were sequin evening bags, leather day bags, fancy patterned umbrellas and large cumbersome purses which would last forever. The shop smelled of leather and the bags were regimented in rows by colour and you weren`t allowed to touch them, only Mary or her sales assistant could do that.
She had two tiny yorkie terriers which slept in a wicker basket behind the counter but they`d yap whenever the shop bell rang with a tinga-ling sound and she`d shoo them back into their place.
Her other shop was the one I really liked. It sold costume jewellery, scarves, powder compacts, jewellery boxes and other eye catching fancy goods. Mary split her time between both shops and you`d regularly see her walking through town with her two terriers and she sashayed as she walked, a bit like the runway models of yesteryear did. She always wore a hat which was usually the size of a dustbin lid, a velvet creation in Winter with a fancy pleated crown and a straw hat in Summer with a chiffon scarf tied around it. She wore a real fur coat which reminded me of seeing Liz Taylor on TV and if ever a woman walked tall then it was she. She looked as if she had the World at her feet.
My parents loved ballroom dancing and would hit the floor at Blackpool Tower Ballroom whenever they could and they`d swirl to the Wurlitzer organ as it rose up through the stage. Of course this meant Mum had to own the required silver sparkly dancing shoes and whenever she could afford it she`d go to Mary`s shop and treat herself to a new pair of sparkly clip on earrings or a box of embroidered handkerchiefs.
I remember my Dad buying Mum a jewellery box from Mary`s and it was a wooden piano, handpainted in white with roses on it and when you lifted the lid a tiny ballerina danced to the tinny tune it played. Mum died in 1987 and she still had that jewellery box on her dressing table along with a hand mirror, brush and comb which were large with silver handles and the back of the mirror and brush had embroidered fabric under a perspex covering.
Come the late 1960`s the powers that be, decided Victoria Arcade should be no more and in it`s place they were going to build new shop units for the likes of Burtons, Rumbelows TV rentals, Boots, Freeman Hardy Willis etc and what was once a shoppers delight of character filled Victorian style shops filled with colourful and original wares had gone. No more browsing windows on your way home from school or work, no more Marys or her ilk, no more young courting couples sneaking a kiss in an arcade shop doorway on their way home from an evening viewing at the nearby Odeon and they called it progress.
Long after her shops had gone you still saw Mary sashaying down the streets with her fur coat, dustbin lid sized hats and reminding us soon to be young ladies of times gone by. We all wanted to be like Mary that is until Twiggy arrived and then we all wanted fake eye lashes and a Vidal Sasson haircut and we called that progress too.

That brought tears to my eyes Vienna, what wonderful memories.