Forum: Casterbridge Clothing

The clothing departments, menswear and ladieswear, specialise in outdoor and countryside clothing- the sort that frequents foxhunts, grouse shoots, and the owners' enclosure at Epson, Ascot and Cheltenham. Labels include all those familiar to the huntin'-shootin'-fishin' fraternity, and some need no labels at all- Harris tweed, Fair Isle sweaters and tartans. Yachtsmen and climbers are not forgotten with ranges of modern British outdoor-pursuits clothing brands. Shoppers in the menswear department can find flat caps, deerstalkers, straw and felt hats; they can also deck themselves out in true James Bond fashion if that takes their fancy. The ladies' section has every type of skirt-suit, demure dress and fanciful headgear a woman could possibly want to choose from for Ladies' Day at Ascot, and also a select, tasteful collection of little black dresses. The children's clothing department is full of miniature versions of the adult outdoor clothing sections and pony-and-pet themed casual wear, and also has a range of amusingly patterned Wellington boots. Items in specific Clan tartans are available by special order. Positioned beyond the main clothing department one can find what could be loosely termed the Costume Department, although it is not separately signposted. Here can be found quality Victorian-inspired clothing- crinolines, bustles and corsets, gowns and and tailcoats, velvet and lace, top-hats, parasols, button boots, full-length gloves, pocket-watches, opera-glasses and monocles (the latter made to prescription if required). Everything is available made-to-measure or off-the-shelf. The department also has a range of adult costumes such as British policemen and women, firemen and postmen, all of very good quality. All the mirrors in the changing-rooms are within well-sized, curtained cubicals.