The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-01
HOW THEIR SHOPPING IS DONE
Where My Lady Buys Her Kuick-
Knacks and What She Pays for
Them.
tCopmriqht 1891

tCopyrigh 1897
New York, March 30-Many a woman
has looked at her own small purse, aud
longingly at the costly fabrics di-played by
the great stores, and has thought that it
would be a glorious thing to shop, If only
she were Mrs Astor-Mrs. Astor stand
ing for the genus Of rich women-and
has pictured TO herself the pleasure which
that lady must take in shopping expedi-
tions
She will be surprised to know that Mrs
Astor knows nothing about the delights
in question; that she has never felt the
pleasant thrill of looking at an exquisite
fabric displayed on a counter, and 81 ying
while others look enviously on, 81 choose
this it is mine" for Mrs. Astor never goes
shopping at all, that is, never in the ordln-
ary way.
The ultra exclusives of fashion disdain the
public shop No buying and haggling in
the market place" for them. An article
which had been displayed on apublic coun-
ter they would not wear; n thing which the
populace could buy or duplicate is shorn,
for them. Of every charm.
To meet their demands are industries
which cater TO them exclusively
Weavers and other manufacturers make
lbSl6Ils WulCu hIb bDll 10 DTlVAI6 houses
only and which the large dealers are not
allowed to handle Thus they manage to
dress in fabrics and styles which have the
desired virtue OF exclusiveness.
Another motive to keep the leaders of
fashion away from the shops is the fear
which they have Of being utilized as adv
tisementS by commercial dealers They are
fully alive to the advantage II would be 10
a shopkeeper to have their carriage waiting
L.. a a l. -
Vanderbilt is one of our customers" or
1--WE made Mrs. Orme Wilson cloak Of
that sort Our aristocrats would never
regard with patience their names or their
pictures affixed to commercial articles
thing which | understand is common in
England, and no dressmakers will eyer be
allowed TO announce over his door, "Cos-
tune 70 Mrs. AstOr." Where our exclusives
buy their clothes is kept profound secret,
and no dressmaker dares TO divulge that
he sold a dress TO one of them, on pain OF
dismissal
This is how it is done. On quiet streets,
out Of sight Of the great thoroughfares,
there are inconspicuou5 offices. The unin-
itiated would not think Of looking ere for
as much as n paper Of pins; but they con
tain, nevertheless the latest Partisan kinks
in womens' wear, from Worth dresses to un-
dergarments. As you enter one Of those
pl1tt5 libblt N W De btbil lOT kDOlh utb ngJ
displayed; but when you ask for "A garment
presto! box after box is brought
out and opened aud, with
rustic of tissue wrappings and Il rush Of
liberated perfumes, you are surrounded
with II bewilderment Of dainty and eKquis-
ite garments, the ne Plus ultra OF their
kind. They have the desired appearance Of
never having been seen before by mortal
eye, but TO have been made for your own
express delectation.
Almost everything is made in Paris, and
Is brought thence by those brokers, who
are constantly going back End forth, al
ways with many private orders. All the
underclothinR comes from there aud is
hand made. IL is the most charming frOu
frcu stuff imaginable as would be seon if |
we're permitted 10 describe it 10 its dif III
erent phases as my lady wraps IL in sue
cessive envelopes about her. May ven
ture2
First comes silk-ribbed shirt. II is Of
white or possibly Of black, but in no in
stance colored even the denI monde have
discarded colored underwear. 10 is low
necked and without sleeves, as is necessary
10 permit the wearing of evening gowns,
and clings like a cobweb. Over IL comes
the corset Of linen coutil. 1t is not very
tight, for women do not lace as tight as
they used 10. Mrs Fortuuatus draws on a
pair Of long, black silk stockings and
fastens them above the knee with garters
clasped by gemmed buckles, Or, IL sue pro-
fers the American method II fastening, with
stocking supporters Then comes the
cdleeORS Of batiste or nainsook. They
reacn just over the knee, are slightly gath
cred there, and the elaborate borders of
needle-work and Valonciennes lace are
caught up each with bow Of ribbon. At
this stage she tucks her feet into a pair Of
Buede sliuDorg aud Duta on n flannel skirt
hand embroidered, which just reaches th
knee, and over it one Of batiste bordered
with Valenciennes lace, which just covers
the flannel There Is corset cover Of
batiste with eleborate frIlls OF Valenciennes,
and at this point rse may be pardoned II
we pause Whorls Of lace above the black
stockings; billows Of lace about the should