The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-03
A VISIT TO WORTH'S.
The Famous Establishment Where the
Fashions are Formed.

Paris Correspondence San Francisco Chronicle.I
OF all places that hate to enter the first is
a dry goods house, and next unto it the one
most feared is dressmaking establishment.
Year before last, 70 oblige one of the best
women in the world, ventured into Worth's
place to see her dresses, and last year l
called on Nine. NORM for the same charming
Californian, but I'd rather go anywhere else
than into one of these feminine resorts. Re-
Gently, however, / interviewed Worth and
learned more about modes IN two visits than
/ ever knew before. This famous dressmaker
is by no means the only great one in Paris
The firms of NORM & Blossier, of Pelix, of
Nine. Martel, and of two or three others,
are quite his equal; but this is the one most
talked about. He occupies the entire build
ing at rental of l20, 900 francs, year, and
in the height of the season employs about
1000 persons, all of whom are paid by the
month. They are given their meals in the
house, but must lodge themselves, and that
elsewhere. Two short flights lead up to the
floor where feminine employees are ready to
attend all visitors. A few are saleswomen,
but most of them are models on which the
STYLES are shown. Model women in dress
making establishments are different Crea-
lures from model women in painters studios,
and, judging from what / have heard, they
are when at work more warmly attired;
both, however, may be classed together as
auxiliaries in the world of art, and are very
useful members of society, in their way, you
: know. The floors of all the rooms are I'M
carpeted. and l noticed millions of dropped
pins in the cracks between board that are
daily shined up with doses of beeswax and
manual dexterity. Besides all these lost pins
/ noticed hundreds and hundreds of them
stuck into every woman's dress.
The head of the house said he would show
me some new dresses which he had Just I'm
ished for Russian Princess who was going
to leave for st. Petersburg the next evening.
He pointed her out to me when she came in
-atall stately lady of thirty-six, who moved
with much grace andquiet dignity. She was
accompanied by young lady whom the
Princess introduced as a daughter of the
Russian ambassador, and who desired to as
sist at the essayage. This grande dame of
the great Northern Empire had ordered nine
of the finest dresses l ever saw. | did not
stay TO see all of them tried on, as could
have done had l been so minded. IL took
two hours to get rid of four OF them, aud as
l had dinner engagement at o'clock, and
as my poor head was already in that dizzy
condition which may be imagined but not
described, / took il for granted that the 9TH
er five were what they should be, and have
no doubt the bill for them will be quite large
enough even for Muscovite Princess.
ought to tell you, though. that the robe he
made for her to wear when she goes to call
on the Empress is of rich red velvet, with an
enormously long train; corsage simply made,
and bonnet consisting of a blackbird, with
all but his breast and head hidden under a
turban arrangement of the same velvet as
the dress.