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Rules of the Sale: 1920
Submitted by Dave on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:20pm.
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Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Coubro [?] clothing store, interior." Happy shopping, everyone. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
A week's pay for a pair of pants
Submitted by BdgBill on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 6:33am.
I was surprised by the prices as well. This illustrates how much we would all likely be paying for clothes right now if they were all still made in the USA.
Alterations
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Sun, 12/19/2010 - 4:22am.
Well of course you could get alterations, but they're not included in the sale price.
"Sale" prices?
Submitted by Dbell on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 5:12pm.
Wow! For a clearance sale, these seem lofty for the time!
Today, that $24.44 suit (or jacket?) would cost $262, using the Consumer Price Index, or $1350 (!!) using GDP Per Capita, an estimate of "affordability."
Re: "free alterations"
Submitted by OTY on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:33pm.
I take that back. After further scrutiny, I see ONE "battle-axe" facing the camera who IS going to have a voice in her man's attire. She's wearing earrings and a turned-up brim. Sorry.
And free alterations too!
Submitted by OTY on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:30pm.
A couple of the salesmen have tape measures around their necks so they can make the clothes fit perfectly. This looks like the wedding gown sale at Filene's except they are all men and it may be a summer clearance since they are wearing straw hats. Imagine, not a single domineering wife or girlfriend is visible in there to tell her guy what to wear.
[It's spring ("spring suits," palm fronds). - Dave]
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