THE SATURDAY SHOP

come downstairs, my dear

Come downstairs, my dear. By Ruth Spencer

Follow the staircase down to a fluorescent-lit fashion oasis. This is Nicolette, the dress specialists for Bob Potter in 1962. The wall niche on the left holds winter coats, and at the far end on the right are evening dresses. A striking feature of mid-century shopping now lost to history is the assistant’s display technique. Draping a garment on the floor is not currently considered best practice, even in the best-hoovered of salons.

The wasp-waisted mannequin shows off a tulip-skirted evening frock, a silhouette still in fashion but gradually giving way to more forgiving empire lines and sheaths. The light isn’t flattering but the tailoring was getting there.

The white fox fur collar worn by the shopper in the foreground probably originated at Mooneys, one of New Zealand’s main furriers. They processed local and imported furs, making coats but also supplying wholesale fur for other manufacturers.

Full-length fur coats were on the way out in the 1960s; expensive fur became more of an accent in the form of hats, wraps and of course, collars; ladies even brought their old full-length furs to Mooneys for updating into more modern pieces.

One of the constant bugbears of interior design is what to do with the space under the stairs. It can be used for storage, but as we can see from the picture, that throws away the chance to have a rockery. The base of this lunar-like installation will be moulded concrete or plaster over chicken wire. The overall effect is of a small pet desert, perhaps to evoke a chic Californian atmosphere. Starkly modern under the lights, it must have been hell to hoover.