“they refer to’ as ‘theatre

oo easily.

the art of browsing while budgets tight —

IF CHRISTMAS budgets left little
room for spending in the new
year, your spending sprees may be
limited to window shopping for
the next few months.

Take the opportunity. to learn
the art of store browsing using the
windows as an integral part of the
process.

Displays are not there to deceive
you, they are simply to get you

interested, enough to step inside
the store. ~

Store windows are also full of
fashion information, using the
‘clothing,. mannequins and props
“to provide you with much of the -
information you need to shop in
that store.

Visual merchandisers, the win-
dow display persons, create what

” within
.the framework ‘of the window to
draw your. attention to the store
“and ‘advertise: its products. But
‘once you understand . what - the
. windows are telling you, -you will
‘shop smarter, better and more

‘Here’s what you caa learn from
_ a display. .

Wiat i is new,

Tn the window, stores select
-from the season’s new. merchan-
““dise that‘ best represents the firm’s
image ‘and - the customer, it caters.
PHOS TEE ;

Since the witidow ¢ can ‘hold. only
a‘fracticn of the store’s merchan-
dive, it has to represent the best of
‘the -best;" and the newest. of the
* new, ‘to entice you into the store.”
“Therefore, look to it to show.you
_ the. latest _trends which ; the: ‘Store |

edge high fashion.

When your time or budget is
limited, this visual shorthand real-
ly works.

If, for example, the windows of
the store reveal glitzy evening
wear and fussy suits and you're
the simple black dress type, keep
moving.

You will also be able to tell how
each store interprets the basic

fashions’ at different price ranges.

This enables you to pick the one
compatible with your needs. If
they look to. be priced much
higher than you can afford, you
may simply pass on it.

What’s on sale

This time. of year, window
displays must do double duty.

Not only do they have to tell
you the store’s look, type of mer-
chandise and latest trends, they
also have to instantly tell you

what’s on sale and-at how much »

of areduction._ ..
‘Though: some stores let their

image slip during store-wide ||

clearances by. hanging a huge sale
sign to fill the window, many will
still reveal the merchandise avail-

” able.

Be sure te scout for words ‘
to’?: appearing in small toe before
the words’ ‘50% off”? and ‘‘and
up’? after the dollar amount: on a
window sign.. Those catch’ phrases
are teasers that usually ~ ‘include

most items in the store.

Where to get it

_If you like what you see in the
‘window, look: for any.information
‘which ‘tells you the . ‘price, - the
“department it is located in or the

vo ‘brand ‘of the “merchandise to help -

: ‘By . “window. . shopping, ‘either | i
along‘ 2" street /or.in a.mall, you:
! will notice” the’.store’s ' “mood”;
‘example, whether. *it —is
“ nostalgic,: -modern — minimalist ,
»Buropean- influenced , or. Ameri-
“cana country
You can “also! tell what fashion”
angle. the. store ‘is’ taking, which.
“can. stretch from” ‘Sonservative and:
. traditional: to. - trendy or cutting-

“you find it'and ‘decide whether

you may want to try it before you
ven get into the store. ;
‘Window. . graphics:

can’ often’
‘speak, for the store’s signage as a

‘whether it be. sophisticated,
* reer-oriented,

to direct you to save time hunting.
What to do with it

Window displays suggest ways
to wear new colors and different
styles.

An orange tunic, for instance, -

does not automatically suggest the
mustard: leggings on another
hanger as a perfect coordinate,
but it will if you see them together
in the window accessorized pro-
perly.

You may not have realized that
you could wear the new skirt
lengths in a certain way, or that a
large wrap tied over a suit could
look ‘sophisticated,’ but! a* good
window can show you how in just
a glance.

Smaller displays focus on
details, a certain color or.-pattern

to help show. -how to put thei

together, and they expand your
sense of possibility. :

It the clothes are right
for you

’ Each store has an ‘‘attitude,”’
ca-
ultra-chic © designer
or casual.

Displays often use accessories,
props or scenes, showing you the

: clothing in different settings, to

reveal whether the clothes you like

- are right for you.

: By using different symbols with -
the.same clothes, a display artist
can make them -appear preppy, :
; dressy. Then,.
shoppers can decide if that is the..
fer,

fun, classic. or.

personality they imagine
themselves. ‘
A new. store has a vital task to

present itself to you as-a location ~
‘its; neighboring |
‘ shops. Since the store is new, you

different from

may already be curious enough to

walk in, but the window has to”

draw your attention to it first. ~

whole. .If the window. doesn’t give «

you--any. information’ , about,’ the
merchandise, you probably won't
find: many: signs or..directories to

. help’ you! find it: within: the Store’

“either. :
Rely: ‘on the’ nearest salesperson

Here are two new stores on the
North Shore which use their win-
dows to reveal their merchandise
and their mood. f

Fatal Attraction is a new ‘shop
in the Lonsdale Quay Market
“shich sells lingerie.

‘Lonsdale Quay
Market
“986-4893.
4624 W. 105th Ave.
“ Vancouver®
224-2421" .

The items ‘range from high-end
French silks by Lejabe to. cotton
underwear-“ basics by Canada’s
Vanelle. ; .

It also carries selected specialty

See Discover page 16

” "Shoes
* > Clothing
», Accessorles

"Sizes. infant. to ax
: Reg, $3999 :

: This month with every: °

“suit ordered, receive a gift
of a’ ‘pair ‘of contrasting _
-custom- tailored pants @ and
wear your suits many.
different ways.