Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-22
a DRESS MODEL.
She Must ss-inch Bust, a.-
inch Waisf and N 43-inch sLfrt


She Must 3s-inch Bust, a.-
inch Waist and 43-inch Skirt.
Good dress models are always in de-
mand in large houses where women
may go and buy dresses ready made.
Every year manufacturers and mer-
chants advertise for dress models. Their
advertisements are answered by many
women Of good forms, intelligence and
ability, but not many have the require
ments necessary to first class model.
The physical requirement is of course
the most essential. To be good dress
model an applicant for The position must
have long arms. Nothing looks worse
than a dress whose sleeves hang down
over the hands, and as there are many
women whose arms are quite long
models arms must be at least full up to
the average to fill out the dresses made
to meet the demands of these customers.
The other physical requirements are
long waist, S8-inch bust, 22-inch belt
and q 43-inch skirt.
These proportions are what manufac-
turers and merchants have found to be
the average. Very few women, except
the very fat, will vary more than an
inch or two either way from these meas
urements, and if a model is quick and
intelligent and Of the given proportions
almost any dress can be made to look
well on her by the aid of few pins
deftly thrust in at the right places.
These dimensions will always insure
girl good position, for New York fairly
swarms at the beginning of each season
with out of town buyers who are only
too glad by the assistance of a good
model to aid them in the selection o.
their wearing apparel. They claim, and
rightly, too, that it is an advantage 70
see their dresses on another woman.
They can then judge of them better than
they can by standing before mirror
with the dress on themselves, and be-
sides the trouble of donning and doffing
dress, with all its accompanying in
conveniences, is thus avoided.
While the figure is the main thing.
however, girl with pretty face can
obtain a better position than one who is
plain in feature-other things being
equal. A good head of hair of a not
very pronounced color too, is desider-
atum. Besides this model should !,e
able to converse correctly and agreeably;
she must be patient and strong, SO as to
stand all day long if necessary.
English girls are undoubtedly the first
choice for dress models. They are likely,
more than the girls of any other coun-
try, to have what is known as the s'trade
figure" There are also o good number
of French and Americans, but very few
of any other nationalities.
A yearly trip to Europe is among the
perquisites Of good models, who are at
the same time good business women. If
they are shrewd they not only clear their
expenses for their employers, but secure
a good commission besides. They go to
Paris and London and have pattern
dresses made to fit them. These they
wear at least once, then pack them in
their trunks. If the customs officers
challenge one of these returning models
she has but to put on the garments
which have excited the suspicious of the
officers to prove that they were made for
her. They always fit to a T, and the Off
SCA 40 AC<t0Ay OOAVlAOCu buctU " llliSutth0
had been made.
Arrived in New York these dresses
serve as patterns of the latest London
or Partisan designs, upon which are
made many others for consumption in
the home market. But their usefulness
does not always end there. After serv-
ing their purpose, the alterations neces-
sary to make them fit short or slight
figure are very easily effected, and they
bring good price.
Employers are liberal with good mod
els; SO after figuring up the value Of the
dresses, both for patterns and for mer-
chandise, the model is paid generous
commission on the amount over aud
above the expenses of her trip.
Good models are paid good salaries.
Their pay is of course regulated by the
size Of the house by which they are en-
ployed. In the medium sized establish
ments they receive $50 or $25 week.
and in the largest houses they receive
$50, $40 and in some cases even as high
as $50.
But their duties are trying to both
body and mind, and there are very
few who remain in the business for any
great length of time. They are at the
beck and call of every woman who in
tends to purchase dress or cloak and
are turned about like dummies. Often
their figures will not stand the strain
for more than two or three years, in
which case their places. are taken by
fresh models, and often they find the
constant mental strain too wearing and
seek other and less remunerative posi-
tions.-New York Press.
Norr in the Husl.