This photo was taken on a rainy day last week by Yours Truly to show the location of Barclays Bank at 68-70 High Street, Rhyl (the 68 part is next to High Street News).
In days of yore at No. 68 was Sidney G. Talbot, General Draper, retailer of dress materials for nimble-fingered ladies, and agent for Butterick dress patterns. Talbot's giveaway leaflet Butterick Fashion News dated August 1940 has just come to hand and here it is in full:
Click on any page to see a bigger version.
Now, three quarters of a century later, how many in Rhyl district would relish the hard work of making their own clothes? These 1940 styles are nice and elegant in a quiet way; I remember seeing variations of them well into the 1950s.
I would prefer to look at the rounded shoulders and shorter skirts of the 1920s and especially 1960s, but male opinion is irrelevant in this matter. Women don't dress for men, they dress to impress other women!
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WED 24th AUG 2016 UPDATE: Ann Hayes of Ruthin writes, I remember going to Talbot’s with my Mum in the 1950s. Her good friend 'Aunty' Rita worked there and I've a vivid memory of her standing behind the counter in a long darkish shop.
Rita and her husband Dixie Williams lived on Vale Road just at the junction with Brynhyfryd Avenue. Dixie worked for MANWEB as a meter reader and Mum said he died of a heart attack during an accident at work. Rita died some years ago.
The couple had no children and were very kind to my sisters and I as little girls and always had sweets ready for us when we visited their home. Here is a picture of Rita and Dixie:
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By the way, sewing is now the new baking and is becoming more and more popular - hence the proliferation of new sewing magazines in the crafts section of W H Smiths!
By the way, sewing is now the new baking and is becoming more and more popular - hence the proliferation of new sewing magazines in the crafts section of W H Smiths!
I'm sure if Talbots were still there they would be experiencing an influx of new customers of the younger generation!
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