In 1969, Sylvia Ayton – formerly in partnership with Zandra Rhodes – took over as head of outerwear at Wallis. She would attend the Paris fashion shows with Jeffrey Wallis and take notes, afterwards deciding which designs would be copied. Then they would return to look at them on the hanger and take measurements. Ayton recalled: "At Saint Laurent, you were only allowed to look, so I would measure it up in my mind." Often this would be enough and the garments would be on sale in Wallis stores before the 'official' patterns arrived from Paris.