Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Denholms 1958 spring windows



  Presently, this is my personal screen saver at home.  I love the mannequin on the left with her clam shell hat, low chignon, and animated pose.  Pure 1950's fashion!  I also love the animal on the left announcing fur storage for the summer.

4 comments:

  1. Oddly enough, a few years ago a friend attended an auction for the Worcester Historical Society where he won two mannequins (identical twins!) used to sell Buster Brown shoes in Denholm's children's department in the late 1940s or early 1950s. He dubbed them "Denholm" and "McKay" and gave them to me.

    Seeing this picture makes me wonder if any of these lovely ladies may be their mother.

    In all seriousness, I love this site. I was 8 when we moved to Worcester County in 1973, so we only shopped at Denholm's once: during their "Going Out of Business" sale - and even then, that was in their Auburn Mall store, so it really doesn't count.

    By the time I was old enough to hang out downtown Worcester, the store had been shuttered for the better part of a decade. I can remember staring at that big hulk of the now-shuttered store while waiting for the bus. Those big blue signs were still up above the entrances on Main Street, as was the white neon "Denholm & McKay Company" sign, so it was rather easy to pretend the store was still in business.

    Even though both Jordan Marsh and Filenes were operating branches in downtown Worcester, I somehow knew they paled in comparison to what Denholm's once was.

    Looking at your pictures, I now know that I was not wrong. Dang! Why couldn't stores like this survive?

    Retailing lost so much when they let stores like Denholm's die. One "Denholm's" has more personality than 100 "Macy's"

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  2. I love the innovative idea of that little animal advertising fur storage! How sweet and right next to the Spring fashions. Could anything be more right with the world? Everything was seasonable and proper. Love it!

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  3. Denhoms was an institution. It had chic. It was an impeccably run store. Exquisite. Raised on shopping at Denholms, I expect the same standards when I shop today. A high standard? Yes. Quality of service is what sets Denholms apart from the others (then and now).

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