"Gay Silk Frocks" : fashion catalogue & sales brochure issued by Schofields (Leeds) Ltd. : nd c1950 : pages 2 & 3
To many older generations of Leeds residents (Loiners) the name of Schofield's will be recalled as being that of probably the 'best; department store in the city. Formed in 1901 by Snowden Schofield as a drapers and millners the store grew to comprise of a number of units around the Victoria Arcade on what was to become The Headrow. In 1962 the company, still family run, reconstructed their premises as a modern store and they continued to operate until the 1980s. At that time the building was sold to a property company and developer and the store itself passed unto the ownership of the House of Fraser. In the 1990s the building was reconstructed to form the Schofield Centre, let out to other tenants, and the House of Fraser closed their branch here to concentrate on other outlets in Leeds city centre and so the store and name passed into history.
This sales brochure, issued by the Frock Department and Separate Small Size Department, is not dated but feels very post-WW2 and possibly from c1950. It shows a range of 'gay silk frocks' for summer and holiday times and samples of the shades and patterns available. The frock names conclude with the "Joan" - a severe yet extremely sophisticated dress, town-worthy and fun-worthy" at 63/- (£3 3/- in old money - £3.15p in new).
The brochure has a feel of a possible generic brochure that has been overprinted for Schofield's as was common practice. Some of the names and terms used to describe colours are very of their time and are not now considered suitable for use.
"Gay Silk Frocks" : fashion catalogue & sales brochure issued by Schofields (Leeds) Ltd. : nd c1950 : pages 2 & 3
To many older generations of Leeds residents (Loiners) the name of Schofield's will be recalled as being that of probably the 'best; department store in the city. Formed in 1901 by Snowden Schofield as a drapers and millners the store grew to comprise of a number of units around the Victoria Arcade on what was to become The Headrow. In 1962 the company, still family run, reconstructed their premises as a modern store and they continued to operate until the 1980s. At that time the building was sold to a property company and developer and the store itself passed unto the ownership of the House of Fraser. In the 1990s the building was reconstructed to form the Schofield Centre, let out to other tenants, and the House of Fraser closed their branch here to concentrate on other outlets in Leeds city centre and so the store and name passed into history.
This sales brochure, issued by the Frock Department and Separate Small Size Department, is not dated but feels very post-WW2 and possibly from c1950. It shows a range of 'gay silk frocks' for summer and holiday times and samples of the shades and patterns available. The frock names conclude with the "Joan" - a severe yet extremely sophisticated dress, town-worthy and fun-worthy" at 63/- (£3 3/- in old money - £3.15p in new).
The brochure has a feel of a possible generic brochure that has been overprinted for Schofield's as was common practice. Some of the names and terms used to describe colours are very of their time and are not now considered suitable for use.