Sheila Burnett – Working our way through the shop

Simon: So, what was your destination floor and location then?

Sheila: Well, I’d start off on the ground floor and I might be looking at twin sets as we had in those days, …

Simon: So, that was accessories, that sort of stuff.

Sheila: Yes, and then obviously things like tops and skirts and things like that, jackets, and then I’d go upstairs because … not the one at French Frank’s but the other one, she had the big wide staircase and she would have a model half-way up the stairs wearing a summer outfit and it was nearly always a cocktail or a full evening dress. And then you’d get up to the top of there where you would then go into … I would always go through all the tops, all the dresses to see if there was anything I wanted.

Simon: And they were hanging on hangers? Or folded?

Sheila: Yes, basically on hangers, yes.

Simon: And presented in … I’m just trying to sort of think between what the shopping experience is like now and what it used to be like.

Sheila: Oh yes, I mean the Bridal Suite was in a big room off to the left when you got to the top of the stairs, and they were all in covers over them and whatever, although we had one or two on display, and then when you got to the top of the stairs, there would be the very posh hats and things like that. One or two outfits and then you’d go into the next piece and oh I think she had underwear as well, lingerie, and tops, blouses and things and evening dresses, short, long, whatever. And then you’d go on round, a couple of palm trees I seem to remember into the Café.