The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-23
What 1t Costs to Clothe a Fashionable
Lady.

What 1t Costs to Clothe Fashionabl,
Lady.
One of the largest private dressmakino
establishments in New York is carried
on by seven brothers, six of whom at
| tend to the business here, while one
travels for nine months in the year, send.
ing constant reports of style and change
OF fashion to this country, and forward
ing the newest materials and most costly
fabrics from the various lands he visits.
In this house, the preliminares OF
making dress are carried out by a lady,
who attends the customer in the parlor.
| and takes the measures, etc., for a bust
pattern. Having the measurements she
cuts out a pattern, which is then trans.
ferred to a man who makes a model of
it, to be kept for that particular customer
and used Tor no other purpose whatever
The material is cut to this model bv one
man and given to another to be basted
to the lining, while third undertakes
the stitching, a waist thus passing
through four hands, while the sleeve
cutter and button-hole maker add two
more to the number. The skirt is cut
out by professional man skrt-cutter.
while the trimming for it is the work of
sewing girls. and the drapery is super
intended by q lady who attends to nothing
else: Here, too, the trying on is in
the hands of the gentler sex, but when
the fit is considered perfect, and the
customer is so far satisfied, last iudr-
ment Is passed upon it by one of the
artistic members of the firm, and his ap.
prevail is necessary element of its
completion. Before the dress leaves
the house. it is thoroughly examined
by lady, whose Endorsement of its per
lection is required, and who is response
BILE for its delivery to the right customer.
We gain some idea in this way of the
attention which dress making requires
when it becomes an art. Every detail
is studied, every stitch set as if for mi
croscopical examination. Excepting for
the close stitching of cloth or heavy vel
vel waists everything is done by hand,
and it will take one girl an entire week
to make the shirring for one puff upon
an elaborate skirt. This one statement
also throws some light upon the exorbi-
tant prices asked for by fashionable
dress-mahers, whose reputation depends
upon the excellence of the work thew
turn out. The scale of salaries paid nv
these flrst-class houses is a great deal
heavier than one would suppose. A
fine sewing girl will receive eighteen
dollars week, while the wages paid to
the cutters, filters and diapers average
from $50 to S45. Superintendent and
overSeers receive higher remuneration.
and those bands who do piecework in
such establishments can easily realize
$50 a week. Bearing these facts in
mind, it is not surprising to learn that
the price OF dress-making in such estab-
llshments is high. The lowest rate is
Si5 for the making alone, and the price
ranges up to $40, exclusive of Innings or
furnishings OF any kind. For evening
dress, when the materials are provided
by the firm, 1920 is the lowest price
taken, and this is for very simple dress:
dinner dresses and ball costumes cost
anything from $500 up to $4,000. None
but the best materials and most expen
slve fabrics are made up-brocades cost
ing. for example, from 800 to $50 a
yard, and other goods in a like proper
ton. Ladies own materials are not
made up, nor can they supply trim
mings, except in the case of costly laces
which customers may possess and wish
TO use tor particular costumes.
la several OF these large private estab- |
iShments there are over $50 employes |
who undertake the separate portions of |
/, dress. The large work rooms are we'll |
arranged and well ventilated; lone tables
'nn down the center, and on either side |
Of them the workers may be seen seated |
N order; thus, all the waist hands will
oe together at one side. all the sleeve
lands at another, while skirt cutters
trapers and button-hole makers are by
themselves. One man has exclusive
,harge OF alterations; does nothing else.
Nhen dress returns for alteration-no
natter how slight-it is given into his
lands. compared by him to the model.
which has been carefully kept, altered
~ hlm and returned to the lady SUPER
ntendent. Ladies would be surprised
they could learn how much thev owe
o the saUo'' td're of these artistic dress
makers. a, costume which suits one
lgure may not be equally desirable for
yet people are very apt to desire
0 possess themselves of that which looks
Elective or a neighbor. A stout, mat
only woman may order the counterpart
# the drapery that has excited such
dmlratlon when worn by her tall, slim
elghbor, but her order will only be
arrled out with such amendments as
OF make and figure necessitate.
fold inserted here. founce extracted
here, puff or less will make all the
Inference possible, and the customer
MI be as pleased as she anticipated.
vhereas had her order been carried ont
exact accordance with her expressed
fishes, very different results would have
cen obtained. In the same way with
dior, the artistic dress-maker will not ,
acrltice the effect of dress to the exist
lg fashion. If the prevailing tints are ,
nnous to the complexion of a client
ley cannot be worn-that is all about I
and something equally de haul ton I
lust be substituted.-N. 7. Times. I
DO not let the frost or even cold {
ghts pinch the window plants YOU have s
cen summering out of doors Until I