"When I graduated from KU, a friend and I decided to teach school in Atchison, Kan. It was a very restricted time. Teachers could not wear pants, you were not seen in public doing anything but going to church or a movie, and you certainly had to behave yourself. We abided by all those rules, and our only outlet was on Saturdays we could go to Saint Joe, Mo., to a store called Einbender's. Mrs. Einbender became our best friend; she would welcome us, offer us lunch, we'd go into a private dressing room, and she would bring us dresses. The price was negotiable and depended on how many you bought. Mrs. Einbender had a gift for sales and making it fun.

"When I got married in 1958, I wore a dress that I bought at Harzfeld's on Petticoat Lane downtown. At that time, Harzfeld's had a special room in which brides could have their photos taken. You could pick your dress out and then invite Strauss-Peyton to come and take your picture at the store. The photo would be used then for your wedding announcement in the Kansas City Star.  Harzfeld's also provided an artificial bouquet for the bride to hold in the photo.  I think probably every bride, for years, held the same bouquet in her bridal portrait!" —Sue Brownlee, Prairie Village

Sue Brownlee