Australia's Lost Department Stores V (Grace Brothers, Spring 1948)

 At last, a lost department store I can remember!  Though Grace Brothers was taken over by Myer in the 1980s, it continued trading under its original name until 1999. 

ME91R—Ensemble of British Delustered Crepe Rayon for smart Matrons.  Frock features the new treatment of self plaiting on shoulder and soft shirring on bust.  Self covered buttons and loops to waist line and pleats in front of skirt.  Matching coat with self plaiting on shoulder and sleeves.

Known as "The Model Store", Grace Brothers began in 1885 when two immigrants—J.N. and A.E. Grace—opened a small shop in Sydney.  Two years later they moved to larger premises on The Broadway, Glebe, and their story from that point was one of expansion—first outwards, into neighbouring premises, then upwards into a purpose-built, multi-story building.

Grace Brothers began its move to the suburbs early, opening a branch in Parramatta and a branch in Bondi in 1933.  Depression and war prevented Grace Brothers from moving further afield until the 1950s, but meanwhile they introduced all the latest conveniences to their main store: Otis elevators, chrome furniture, a hair and beauty salon and an 'American Shop' where they sold the newest fashions from the United States.  They even built an auditorium, which hosted many events, including fashion parades, Christmas pantomimes and farewell dances for soldiers during the Second World War. 

During the war, Grace Brothers' premises was commandeered by the Federal government for use as General MacArthur's headquarters.  This was not quite the disaster for the store that it first appears, as the compensation they eventually received for it enabled Grace Brothers' postwar expansion.  They expanded their suburban empire, introduced an in-house credit scheme (Graceway Home Credit), started a removalist service (still going strong today) and a travel bureau.  They were even the first retailer in Australia to install a computer—a "massive" IBM in 1967.

Grace Brothers was listed as a public company in 1960, which lead to a strange turn of events in 1983.  Grace Brothers moved in on its Melbourne rival Myer, taking over its Sydney and country stores, only to see Myer turning the tables and taking over Grace Brothers in turn!  

Like most other big department stores, Grace Brothers' main business was selling clothing and acessories.  These things figure prominently in their catalogues and in their magazine "The Model Trader".  In the beginning, most of the clothing they sold was made-to-measure, with vast workrooms hidden behind the scenes in their Broadway store.  By the First World War the workrooms were being replaced by stockrooms as people started buying ready-to-wear. 

"Correct Clothing, and How it Should Be Made" (Girl's Own Paper, August 1883)

 It's 1883, and we're well into the "second bustle" era.  Or, as the Girl's Own Paper prefers to call them, "dress-improvers":

So far as "dress-improvers" are concerned, they are extremely moderate in size and generally consist of a few steels run into the back of the dress, which is then tied back with strings... In fact, in the present style of dress there seems nothing exaggerated or immoderate; and both faults, if any such appear, arise from the bad taste of the wearer, not the fashion.

All the newest bodices are cut with much shorter basques than they were in the spring, and all have a waistcoat as a general rule, or else a full chemisette which bags over below. The soft gathered plastrons, often added to cotton morning-gowns, are called Molière, and the first figure of our illustration, dressed in a sateen of the deepest “ crushed strawberry ” hue, wears a basque-bodice, with a Molière front. The lace at neck and sleeves matches the dress. This figure represents the probable style of making-up thicker dresses for young girls, for the autumn, with six or seven narrow flounces, and no extra trimming. Sleeves do not appear to be worn quite so much puffed into the armhole as they were, nor so high at the top of the shoulder, but it is impossible to say whether this change will last.

Plaid Waistcoat (British Vogue, November 1945)

 In the austere 1940s even Vogue was not above suggesting a bit of creative making do and mending.  Here, from the tail end of the war years, is a pattern for making a warm waistcoat from "the unworn parts of a plaid rug, an old tweed suit or coat, or ¾ yd. of 36 in. fabric".

Materials—¾ yd. of 36" material, one buckle.  For bigger measurements, enlarge pattern on dotted line.  Cut front twice, taking care to cut once for left front, and once for right, and back once, from diagram allowing ½" all round for turnings.  Be careful to match pattern.  Make darts in front pieces.  Join shoulder seams and 2" of side seams up from lower edge.  Turn under ½" round neckline and armhole and hem.  Mitre one end and attach buckle to the other.  Join upper edges of belt to waistcoat, easing back into belt to required size.  Press all seams well.

Concerning Coats II (1920s)

The 1920s begin where the 1910s left off: with coats being worn loose and enveloping, with belts, large pockets and lots of trimmings.

Perry-Dame, Fall and Winter 1920

6C2350—There are few fabrics that are better fitted for a general utility coat than WOOL-MIXED VELOUR—the material used for making this smart top coat.  This coating is warm, moderately priced and durable.  The coat is made with a handsome collar of soft, silky, Kit Coney fur.  The back, below the all round belt, displays two deep side plaits trimmed with buttons.  Buttons also trim the novel shaped pockets as well as the cuff effects.

6CC3675—SILK SEAL PLUSH in all its loveliness fashions itself with grace and simplicity into this luxuriously warm winter Coat.  This fabric is manufactured by the world-famous Salt's Company, which guarantees matchless beauty and lasting service in a Silk Plush.  The coat is designed with a convertible collar and button-trimmed cuffs of self-material.  There are two slot pockets.  The belt can be worn half inside or all around outside as desired.

6C1865—That a coat does not always need to be expensive in order to be smart in style and durable is demonstrated by the practical model above.  It is made of one of the most practical and satisfactory coatings—ALL-WOOL VELOUR.  The coat is designed on smart new lines and made with a large, stitched, convertible collar.  The back has rows of pin-cording and button-trimming, as pictured.  The cuff-effects and large patch pockets are also button-trimmed.  A belt defines the waistline and fastens in front to the pockets.

Large, cape-like collars seem to have been in vogue in 1920, and still in evidence in 1921.

National Cloak & Suit Co., Spring-Summer 1921

The separate coat favors loose, straight lines with a preference for raglan or kimona sleeves.  Belts are used on the blouse backed models, but models fitted at the waistline show darts and no belt.

"Paragraphs from Paris", Dry Goods Review (Canada), January 1921

Montgomery Ward, Fall-Winter 1922

The prophecy that this winter would see more cloth coats than formerly has come true, judging from the variety and quality now ready. Many women want something a little different from the Hudson seal and cannot afford more expensive furs. They will welcome, without doubt, the cloth ones.

"In Step With New York and Paris", Dry Goods Review (Canada), June 1922

Miroir des Modes, December 1923

This coat was also depicted in the December 1923 issue of The Delineator, where it is described:

For wear about town, the motor or hacking this top-coat with its straight lines and becoming collar is very smart.  Plaid coatings are used a great deal this season, although one may use Teddy bear, camel's-hair, tweeds, basket-weaves, fleeces, mixtures or soft pile fabrics ... for this coat.

The Delineator, December 1923

This coat follows the fashionable silhouette for 1923, with straight lines and a dropped waist (indicated by a single fastening on the wearer's left hip).

Le Petit Echo de la Mode, Dec. 7, 1924

E 123103.  MANTEAU en serge mouflonne, forme nouvelle à manches montées, avec col et parements de renard.
[E 123103.  COAT in mouflon serge, new shape with mounted sleeves, with fox collar and facings.]

E 123104.  MANTEAU en velours de laine, orné de loutre au col droit, aux poignets larges et au bas du manteau.
[E 123104.  Wool velvet COAT, with otter decorating the straight collar, wide cuffs and bottom of the coat.]

The lines for 1924 and 1925 are still straight and unbelted, with one (or at most, two) fastenings around hip level.

Charles Williams Stores, Fall and Winter 1925

With many weeks of cold, bleak weather ahead, we shall be wearing warm coats and costumes, and the girl who does most of her own dressmaking will be sure of having plenty of opportunities for wearing it, if she makes one of the smart wrap-over, straight-up and down, velour or tweed coats, trimmed at neck, cuffs and hem with a band of fur or the popular teazle wool trimming...

To be quite smart and up-to-date, this coat must be as short as the dress worn underneath, which of course is about twelve inches off the ground, and must show only one button as a fastening.

"Modes of the Moment", Everylady's Journal, July 1925

Weldon's Ladies' Journal, March 1926

74431—A smartly cut Coat for fawn marocain, with roll collar and cuffs of leaf brown.

74428—Face cloth makes this stylish Coat, with flared godets and stand-up collar, trimmed with vermicelli braid.

74429—A new season's Coat and Skirt for reps, with flared godets and rolled collar.  

74430—Made on the newest lines is this Coat for black marocain, trimmed with soutache. 

Stylish coats in 1926 feature flared skirts.

Weldon's Ladies' Journal, August 1927

Any hint of a flare has gone by 1927.  These coats are straight and short, with hems just skimming the knee.  Hemlines would remain at knee-length for the rest of the decade.

77398.  This Coat of hopsack with collar and cuffs of calfskin is made on straight lines.  The belt is cut in one piece with the patch pockets.

77399.  For charmelaine, fancy silk or suiting is this Coat.  The welted pockets are on the sland and the stand-up collar is topped with fur.

77400.  A useful holiday Coat made of light-weight tweed, trimmed with buttons and has pockets at the top of the wide box pleats at each side.

Pictorial Review, November 1928

While some of the leading couturiers occasionally display coats with circular capes and lines flaring slightly from the waist, it is evident that the slim, simple type is most favored for general wear.  

Pictorial Review, November 1929

The November issue of the Pictorial Review illustrates two early versions of the clutch coat—that is, a coat that is held closed by the wearer.  They gained status by being obviously impractical for any woman who needed her hands free.  One can imagine the wearers of these coats climbing into a limousine, but not onto a bus or tram!  Both these patterns were designed by Paris couturiers, whose clientele wouldn't have to worry about the practicalities of getting around or carrying their own shopping.

Coming Fashions, March 1929

And so we come to the end of the 1920s with a carefully matched ensemble:

Frequently the top coat that is slightly princess in effect has a matching skirt or frock of a lighter weight fabric.  A cashmere frock will accompany a llama coat of the exact beige shade, there will not be a shade variation between the blues or the brick reds of the two weaves.  When we match our coats and frocks this season we do it very carefully.

"The Three-Quarter Coat and the Jacket", McCall's, August 1929

Ladies' Treasury (July 1877)

Let's vist the Victorians again.  On the left we have a "HOME COSTUME of ash-grey cambric or cashmere" and on the right is a "PROMENADE TOILETTE OR HOME TOILETTE" in ancient turquoise blue valencia or cambric.  The Ladies Treasury expands:

This colour is neither blue nor green, but the precise colour of old turquoise injured by damp.  The petticoat is not very long ; and one may mention here that the ladies of highest rank wear untrained dresses when walking.

To modern eyes, "not very long" looks very long indeed!  The Ladies' Treasury continues with a description of the latest fashions, not to mention fads and fancies.  Here are a choice selection:

COLOURED CAMBRICS of almost every hue, pink excepted, and cambrics with patterns on them, also foulards are universal... These are worn principally in the morning; but where etiquette or necessity does not prescribe a more elaborate toilette, they are worn all the day till the evening.

 (I wonder why pink was so definitely out of fashion in 1877?)

POLONAISES AND TUNICS—The square form of the latter is generally adopted for tunics, as it falls upon the petticoat, and is not generally looped, but cut up at the sides, as in the coloured plate of this number.  In polonaises, which are very long, there is a tendency to a great deal of trimming, as individual tastes have to be met; but only very thin figures can wear much trimming.

(An oblique hint to the magazine's readers not to overdo it?)

Ribbon bows or rather loops, are seen in all dresses.  These ribbons are literally "two-faced", the surfaces being of different colour.  They are thus exceedingly dressy-looking.  At one time these ribbons were coldly received in England, but now they reign.  Not only are bows and loops made of this kind, but also two or three colours in ribbons are used in one knot or næud of ribbon...

Australia's Lost Department Stores IV (Murdoch's, Spring-Summer 1942)

 Unusually—perhaps uniquely—Murdoch's began as a store selling menswear.  Opened in 1893 as "Murdoch's, Hatter and Mercer" on Park Street, Sydney, it catered exclusively to men and boys for the first thirty years of its life.  (They advertised a wonderful line of goods for "Our Boys in the Trenches!" during the First World War.)  Women began to edge into the picture in the 1920s by way of ladies' "Surfo" brand "bathing costumes".  By the end of the decade it was possible to buy women's accessories from Murdoch's, including gloves, handkerchiefs, handbags and perfume!

Murdoch's was no doubt aware that women did a lot of the purchasing for their menfolk when they placed this advertisement in 1939:

Ladies!  When you alight from the tram, train or 'bus at Park Street to meet a friend, make Murdoch's Rest Room, on the Second Floor, your rendezvous.

Murdoch's introduced a ladies' tailoring department in July 1939, but it seems to have only fully embraced selling women's clothes during World War II.  Perhaps with so many men off fighting, or "making-do" with the clothes they had at home, Murdoch needed to find new customers.

THE 3 SMART GIRLS on FRONT Cover

THE LASS IN PINK—wears a most attractive frock of Sundek linen ... a splendid garment for everyday, Summer wear.  Built on tailored lines, with smart V piece inlet into bodice.  Trimmed with covered buttons.

HER COMPANION looks smart in frock of Striped Wemco Sheer.  Popular shirtmaker style with pockets, contrast buttons and buckle.  Pleat in back of bodice to give extra freedom.

THE YOUNG LADY on the extreme right is smartly clad in a guaranteed "Betterknit" frock... an up-to-the-minute style that you won't be able to resist!  Beautifully cut in shirt style, with two-way neck.

R.A.A.F.—(As illustrated on front cover.) Craftsman's Blue Cheviot tunic and trousers.

Murdoch's was purchased by Waltons Department Store in 1951, which was in turn taken over by Sears Roebuck (yes, the American firm) in 1955. Walton-Sears continued trading at Murdoch's old address until it closed in 1987.

"But Yes, You Have Time..." (Elle, July 23, 1951)

 This one is for my readers who are enjoying a northern summer—a simple pattern for a terry towelling beach coverup.  The instructions are minimal, alas, and the translation my own (with help from the Dictionary and Google!)

Cut, Stitch, Love the Terry

Terry cloth is everywhere, in all bright and cheerful tones ... it washes easily, it does not wrinkle, it has, in short, all the virtues especially the essential: it is furiously fashionable.

The terry tunic.  Two rectangles assembled by the side and shoulder seams, short and straight sleeves, a horizontal neckline bordered by a lapel, two patch pockets, an elastic drawstring at the waist, English seams (so that the fabric does not crumple)...All this is as easy as pie and will make you an ideal bathrobe to wear over a bikini. 
(1 m. 60 by 90 cm)

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