Female Tatler on shopping (1709) [ Practices ]
… creatures; and, by their elegant address and soft speeches, you would guess them to be Italians. As people glance within their doors, they salute them with--Garden-silks, ladies Italian silks, brocades, tissues, cloth of silver, or cloth of gold, very fine mantua silks, … and bid him ten shillings a-yard for what he asked fifteen; 'Fan me, ye winds, your Ladyship rallies me! Should I part with it at such a price, the Weavers would rise upon the very shop. Was you at the Park last night, Madam? Your ladyship …
Shopping
Anthology