Rise of the school prom suits Moss Bros This is partly down to a decline in hire bookings as couples waiting to be married delay ordering their wedding outfits until closer to the event. Mr Brick said: "There is a 50pc deposit for hire and money is tight out there, so people are waiting longer." The comments from Mr Brick follow similar remarks from Lord Wolfson, the chief executive of Next, that the opening weeks of 2013 have been "quiet" for retailers. John Lewis said that sales fell by 0.3pc in the week to March 16. The department store group has been reporting seemingly unstoppable growth in its weekly sales figures. However, the decline in sales last week was led by fashion, which dropped 6pc. John Lewis said this was due to poor weather and Mother's Day falling a week earlier this year. Shares in Moss Bros rose by ½ to 67p. It will pay a final dividend of 0.7p on June 27.